The Official What's For Dinner thread:Thursday 1-24-08? Recipe finder in OP. Enjoy! Part 3

[Glynis]

Tonight is easy for me. I'm making salmon patties from my mom's recipe. Very fast, easy and something my kids will eat. I do need to pick up some lemons, since my kids love squeezing fresh lemon juice over them. We'll have steamed broccoli on the side, and ice cream sundaes for dessert.

 

[Nancyg56]

Thanks for all of the tips. I was worried about the two roasts together, I'll check her oven to see what I can fit. I also will cook the mushrooms first, I worried about the liquid but was not sure how to avoid it. The crockpot is a great idea for the potatoes. I'll use that tip as well.


I love okra! Wish you were cooking it for me and Jeff...we really enjoy fried okra, but I never cooked it myself.

Scary spider stories! I cannot imagine kids getting bit...adults are one thing but I hate to see kids with these bites!

 

[zipuzee]

Stephanie - I add my vote on taking DD to the doctor. You just never know how bad it can become with spider bites, so better safe than sorry.

Glynis and Becky - thanks for sharing those gross yet interesting stories. Becky - I can see why you wouldn't care for meat!!

Gretchen - I can add my vote for the steaks from Omaha. Never tryed the Sole though, I'm not a fish eater.

Anyone ever cooked fresh okra? They had some at the veggie stand really cheap so I bought some but now I'm afraid to cook it! I know being a southern girl I should know this, but I've only tried it fresh once for gumbo & it came out slimey, yech! Why did I buy this stuff?

Yea - just why did you buy that yucky stuff?

Okay, Ladies....I need so help this morning. Remember teh dinner party my sister wants for her DH...well soon to be DH, they are getting married Sept 14 in Mexico. Tomorrow is the dinner......

Wonton cups can be made ahead of time, I an going to buy the filling at Costco..I think it is pretty good. I do have to see if I can fit in the convection oven, I need to heat the potatoes somewhere

I have a microwave/convection oven and really love it. I done pork tenderloin in it and it comes out great.


No idea whats for dinner tonight - it will depend on when we actually get home...

 

[cajunmommy]

Why don't you do a creole smothered okra? Onions, ham, tomatoes, basil & Tabasco, served over rice.

or.. you could substitute shrimp for the ham. Yum - smothered okra over rice! I've heard the lemon trick before, but never used it. I've just cooked it low & slow until it starts to break down. I'm thinking I may have added a bit of water to stop it from sticking.

 

[cajunmommy]

Just remembered, the kids LOVE fried okra as well. I bet you could adapt the Liam girls' eggplant stick recipe & do an oven-fried version! In fact, I saw a recipe for oven-fried not that long ago, but can't remember if it was in So.Living or The Baton Rouge Advocate.

 

[shovan]

Yea - just why did you buy that yucky stuff?

I have a microwave/convection oven and really love it. I done pork tenderloin in it and it comes out great.

No idea whats for dinner tonight - it will depend on when we actually get home...

It was cheap & I thought my DH would love it! Although he was much less enthusiastic than I thought he'd be. I can tell you're not a fan of okra! What kind of microwave do you have? I have an advantium that can bake with convection.

When you're cooking it throw in a sliced lemon. It somehow reduces the slime factor.

I love okra! Wish you were cooking it for me and Jeff...we really enjoy fried okra, but I never cooked it myself.

I do like it fried, but boy I hate frying!

or.. you could substitute shrimp for the ham. Yum - smothered okra over rice! I've heard the lemon trick before, but never used it. I've just cooked it low & slow until it starts to break down. I'm thinking I may have added a bit of water to stop it from sticking.

I think I'll try this! The oven fried idea is a good one though! Might have to try that, it they still have cheap okra at the veggie stand next time! I wanted to try some kind of old fashioned method I thought DH would like. I've finally started cooking all the stuff his Maw-Maw used to cook for him, butter beans, greens, etc & thought he would like this. But apparently he's not a fan of okra like I thought he'd be. But I think I'm still gonna try something cajun. Besides I need to use up all that seafood in the freezer before we get another hurricane threat!

 

[TigerKat]

or.. you could substitute shrimp for the ham. Yum - smothered okra over rice!

That sounds great!

 

[TigerKat]

I forgot to post WFD - beans & rice - Surprised?

 

[HERSEY]

Okay, Ladies....I need so help this morning. Remember teh dinner party my sister wants for her DH...well soon to be DH, they are getting married Sept 14 in Mexico. Tomorrow is the dinner.

I need some critique on my menu plans to make sure you think it will be balanced and will work out for a buffet type meal. She is hoping that Mike will have the garage cleared out because I believe that space will be better there. Mike can arrange for his brither and his roommate to enter the home from teh front, but dinner would be in two separate rooms and way too crowded IMO.

Appetizers:
Shrimp Cocktail on a large tray
Artichoke Wonton cups

Main meal:

Heirloom tomato, mozzerella and fresh basil 'salad" drizzled with balsamic vinegar adn olive oil, salt and pepper

Make ahead mashed potaotes (sour cream and cream cheese) topped with fresh chives

Fresh green beans and cherry tomatoes seasoned with a little basil and fresh garlic

Spinach gratin on top of portabello mushrooms

Boneless prime rib

Prosciutto Roast pork

Some sort of gravy ( I only want to make one)

rolls and butter

Cake ordered from a Franklin Ave bakery ( I really don't want to make dessert


I am trying to have food that I can prep ahead of time. She has only one oven, although I can use the microwave as a convection oven if I need to. I have never done this.

I am going to see if I can fit both roasts in the oven at the same time, I will need to get them in the same roasting pan, I think.

I want to make the stuffed mushrooms like a casserole, sliced mushrooms for the bottom and topped with a spinach and gruyere and parmesan cheese mixture almost quichlike, I think recipe calls for heavy cream, a little flour, tons of chopped onion and some nutmeg.

I can change to a crabmeat stuffing if you think it works better.

Wonton cups can be made ahead of time, I an going to buy the filling at Costco..I think it is pretty good. I do have to see if I can fit in the convection oven, I need to heat the potatoes somewhere

There will be about 20 people. I have two bottles of Rosa....do you think it will be enough to bring? I don't think I can get more, and Gail and Mike do have a good wine selection at there home.

I agree about not cooking the roast in the same pan. It may throw off the cooking time and they may not brown well. I like the idea of the spinach stuffing for the mushrooms. I'm available on a moments notice so let me know if you need me to help cook or I will even sacrific and eat too

I like a horseradish sauce with my prime rib. It's very easy just sour cream and a little of the jarred horseradish add as much as you like. Some people add a little sugar, I was raised on horseradish so the hotness doesn't bother me. Those two tastes the Prime rib and the horseradish sauce are yummo.

 

[Zandy595]

Woo hoo, my internet connection is back.

Tonight I'm making grilled pork tenderloin, tater tots, peas, and salad.

 

[TigerKat]

Woo hoo, my internet connection is back.

Back to normal now!

 

[liamandcaili]

DH is going fishing this evening, so that means he can't complain if I make pasta, so that's what I'm having....pasta with fresh tomato sauce, garlic bread, and maybe a salad if the lettuce in my fridge isn't dead.

 

[TheBeadPirate]

Hey ya'll! It was a chatty weekend! Thought I'd never get caught up. I just got Rick off to the airport, now I can get some work done!

The bookstore next door has a cookbook in the window I'm dying to go and get. It's called the Storm Gourmet- Tasty recipes that require no electricity. I just wanna see what's in there!

I'm outta some staples so WFD is still up in the air. Maybe lamb shoulder chops that I got marked down last week.

 

[zipuzee]

It was cheap & I thought my DH would love it! Although he was much less enthusiastic than I thought he'd be. I can tell you're not a fan of okra! What kind of microwave do you have? I have an advantium that can bake with convection.

I have a GE Profile. We've only had it a few months; still learning the convection part.

 

[Zandy595]

The bookstore next door has a cookbook in the window I'm dying to go and get. It's called the Storm Gourmet- Tasty recipes that require no electricity. I just wanna see what's in there!

The author, Daphne Nikolopoulos, is from my area. I borrowed the book from the library last summer. I copied down one of the recipes, bought all the ingredients, but never made it.
Here are a couple recipes.

Chipotle Chicken Soft Tacos
7 ounces (1 can) premium chicken breast, drained
1 cup canned diced new potatoes, drained
1/2 cup canned sweet corn, drained
2 tablespoons sweet onion, minced
1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
2 to 4 chiles chipotles
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
salt and pepper
soft tortillas

Combine chicken, potatoes, corn, chipotles and onion in a medium-sized bowl. In a screw-top jar, combine lime juice, salt and cilantro and shake vigorously. Pour over chicken mixture and toss. Season with pepper. Let sit for 30 minutes to allow ingredients to meld. Mix in avocado before serving. Place in soft tortillas and fold.


Gazpacho 'Martinis'
1 (14.5-ounce) can petite-diced tomatoes
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
1/2 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
Tabasco sauce

Combine tomatoes, garlic, lemon juice, oil, vinegar, parsley, salt and pepper in a martini shaker. Shake vigorously (about 10 seconds). Pour into martini glasses. Add Tabasco to taste. Garnish with avocado cubes. Serve with breadsticks or flatbread if desired. Makes two servings.



Salad Nicoise
2 (6-ounce) cans light tuna in extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 (14.5-ounce) cans sliced white potatoes
1 (14.5 ounce) can French green beans
1 cup marinated artichokes, quartered
1 tablespoon capers
1/4 cup pitted and halved Kalamata or other black olives
Anchovies (optional)
Salt and pepper

(dressing)
7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons prepared Dijon mustard
Pinch salt
1/4 teaspoon cracked pepper

In a small bowl, toss tuna with lemon juice. Set aside.
In a large salad bowl, combine potatoes, beans, artichokes, capers, olives and anchovies. Season with salt and pepper and toss well. Add tuna. In a screw-top jar, combine dressing ingredients. Shake vigorously until creamy and frothy. Pour over salad and serve. Serves four.

 

[Glynis]

Hey, Lindsay - I finally tried a variation on the blueberry muffins. I made them with cherry pie filling, and mini chocolate chips instead of cherries. They are really good! My kids have given them 2

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Hey, Lindsay - I finally tried a variation on the blueberry muffins. I made them with cherry pie filling, and mini chocolate chips instead of cherries. They are really good! My kids have given them 2

Ok, my husband is sitting behind me absolutely drooling. What is the measurement on the chips and what kind (semi, milk, etc.) did you use?

 

[Glynis]

Ok, my husband is sitting behind me absolutely drooling. What is the measurement on the chips and what kind (semi, milk, etc.) did you use?

I used about a cup of mini semisweet chocolate chips (nestle brand). I put them in a baggie with flour, just like the recipe says to do for the blueberries. It kept them from falling to the bottom of the muffins. I used about a cup of cherry pie filling as well. It kept in the moisture that the fruit would have done.

Next up: Blueberries with Lemon pie filling!!!

 

[HERSEY]

Ever have one of those moments when just as you thought you were the most cleaverest person in the world, something happens? I just had one of those moments I was minding my own business making manwich sloppy joes and mashed potatoes. I looked on the label of the can to see how much ground meat and Darned if they didn't steal my idea of serving the sloppy joes with potatoes.

Glynis I would like your recipes for chocolate cherry muffins to please. I won't steal it either

 

[Glynis]

Ever have one of those moments when just as you thought you were the most cleaverest person in the world, something happens? I just had one of those moments I was minding my own business making manwich sloppy joes and mashed potatoes. I looked on the label of the can to see how much ground meat and Darned if they didn't steal my idea of serving the sloppy joes with potatoes.

Glynis I would like your recipes for chocolate cherry muffins to please. I won't steal it either

Just use the Blue Blueberry muffin recipe I posted here. Substitute mini chips for the blueberries, and cherry pie filling for the blueberry pie filling. Everything else is the same.