The What's for Dinner Thread - August 2014 (recipe index in OP)

[dgbg100106]

Mine have been very bland for the past couple of weeks, grilled chicken, steamed/roasted veggies, fruit for dessert.

 

[PrincessInOz]

OK, but I will warn you I have a picky husband, reflux (so no spice dishes or tomatoes), and I have never eaten vegan. Let's just say my plan will be very boring and bland.

No tomatoes???

Does that mean....no red pasta sauce?

 

[PrincessInOz]

I have to see if I can steal some of DH's pictures of the food he's been cooking.

 

[dgbg100106]

I have to see if I can steal some of DH's pictures of the food he's been cooking.

Yes please.

 

[PrincessInOz]

So.....a number of the threads have been suddenly active again this morning/evening!

It's getting on to 11 pm here, so I better get to bed. Hope to catch you again, Brandi. Nice chatting....and nice seeing some of the regular threads being a bit more chatty.

 

[dgbg100106]

Have a good evening and sleep well!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Have a good evening and sleep well!

Have a great day, Brandi. Hope you get a bit more energy back.

 

[dgbg100106]

Have a great day, Brandi. Hope you get a bit more energy back.

Me too!

 

[franandaj]

It has been pretty crazy around here and I am hoping that I can get back to normal but not today/tonight.

I know what you mean. Enjoy your dinner and hope you get some noreal soon!

I have to menu plan to lose weight so I am joining you guys.

WFDT? Grilled sirloin steak, baked potato, green beans. Nothing exciting but now that I have printed it here it is set in stone.

We'll do our best to help!


WFDT? I plan on making Chicken Parmesan and roasted Asparagus. I haven't decided whether or not I'll make some kind of starch to go with it. We'll see what I decide.

 

[Nancyg56]

Good Afternoon ladies!

I am back!!! WE had a huge season and any healthy choices I had been making got tossed out of the window, but this is my new week.

Brandi- The Pentagon? you have a good time!!!

PIO- I would love to see some of your DH food. Kady has decided to try a vegetarian diet, and is still going strong. Marisa supports her choices, but wants to be sure her options are well balanced and interesting.

I'm sure you missed your boy, but what a nice experience for him!

I have to menu plan to lose weight so I am joining you guys.

WFDT? Grilled sirloin steak, baked potato, green beans. Nothing exciting but now that I have printed it here it is set in stone.

Welcome! A few years ago I followed CORE Weight Watchers and did very well. I started on my own again not too long ago but let myself get derailed. I am hopping back on this week but will finish up what I have on hand first. I'll share some of what I make. It is more swapping whole foods for processed, and has made a huge difference for my DH...the stinker lost 5 pounds and his BP went down.

WE had a belated Easter dinner yesterday...Prime rib, pork roast, roasted orange cauliflower, roasted heirloom carrots, corn, sautéed mushrooms, mashed potatoes and gravy and potato rolls for my son. Shirley Temple Cake and butter cookies for dessert.

Saturday night was hamburgers and potato chips for dinner....to thank Buddy for Friday night. it was.... wait for it.....


A vip Red Carpet dinner with Jacques Pepin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes....he arranged for a limo to pick Marisa and I up and take us to the Union Grill in New Haven for dinner and a book signing with Jacques. He talked about my heroine...Julia. My gosh, I was floating on air and then he Kissed my Hand!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a truly nice man he is. Marisa is still trying to recover that evening with me! LOL!!!! Girls, I am still a mess!

Tonight for dinner is probably going to be left over pork and a salad, or a rotisserie chicken and salad.

 

[franandaj]

A vip Red Carpet dinner with Jacques Pepin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes....he arranged for a limo to pick Marisa and I up and take us to the Union Grill in New Haven for dinner and a book signing with Jacques. He talked about my heroine...Julia. My gosh, I was floating on air and then he Kissed my Hand!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a truly nice man he is. Marisa is still trying to recover that evening with me! LOL!!!! Girls, I am still a mess!

This is what I want to hear more about!!!!! I saw the pictures on FB, so more details please!

 

[Nancyg56]

This is what I want to hear more about!!!!! I saw the pictures on FB, so more details please!

Oh Alison, the whole evening was marvelous! The meals started with butler served appetizers. Croque Monsier I immediately thought of Becky!) salmon topped with caviar and a crabmeat over an avocado mousse.

First course was house cured gravlax with a fennel salad. I was not a fan, however I had watched Julia make this and wanted to try it. Marisa was served an asparagus dish with the fennel salad. The wine airing was a Sancerre, and it was delicious!

The second course was house made sheep milk ravioli with swiss chard and topped with morel mushrooms. The sauce was so darn delicate!

Entrée was braised short rib of beef. Marisa was served a chicken that she sais was melt in your mouth.

Dessert was a hazelnut torte topped with a candied hazelnut and some sort of hazelnut crisp. This was served with a ruby port. YUM!!! I had never had this wine, but I found that it was beautifully paired with the chocolate.

The highlight of the night was meeting with Jacques Pepin. He was a gentleman, very kind and gracious. He started the evening just talking about Julia Child, and his stories made me smile. She is a role model I have tried to emulate since I was very young, and as he spoke about her it was very clear that he also admired her for way more than her cooking. As do I.

Buddy knew I would appreciate this kind of evening and as much as he might have enjoyed it, he knew that Marisa would be a perfect companion for me, and that she also would enjoy spending that time together. I am still smiling because one of the folks from CPTV sat with us and she knew who we were immediately, and Marisa recognized her voice. I guess Buddy had Marisa calling a LOT. LOL! I called my friend who owns the limo company, and she was hysterical. Bud had never met her and wanted this to be a surprise for Marisa so she did not have to drive. He also called her numerous times because he was afraid she did not charge enough. She said being in cahoots with him was a blast...and her only regret was that the Hummer was in the shop. She thought Marisa would like it, so she pulled out a stretch instead of the town car Bud had asked for. Talk about feeling like Cinderella!

 

[franandaj]

Was this some kind of contest you two won? Was it an invitation only kind of thing? How did you get invited?

Sounds like the dinner itself was fantastic, well except that I don't like salmon, but other than that. I'm sure meeting Jacques Pepin would make up for all that!

 

[PrincessInOz]

PIO- I would love to see some of your DH food.

I've asked him for the pics. He'll get round to dropping them in a dropbox and then I should be able to share.
We live in the same house/room....but it's easier to use dropbox than copying it from one laptop to another!! LOL

A vip Red Carpet dinner with Jacques Pepin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes....he arranged for a limo to pick Marisa and I up and take us to the Union Grill in New Haven for dinner and a book signing with Jacques. He talked about my heroine...Julia. My gosh, I was floating on air and then he Kissed my Hand!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a truly nice man he is. Marisa is still trying to recover that evening with me! LOL!!!! Girls, I am still a mess!

That sounds like such an AMAZING experience. Bet you're still on cloud 9.

 

[PrincessInOz]

It's Tuesday night and it was a public holiday in Australia for ANZAC day. That's our Memorial day. I spent the day just relaxing on the couch and practising some guitar.

We stuck to the normal dinner schedule so it was back to the baked potatoes and fixin's. DH made a chickpea curry with zucchini and pumpkin. I ended up having that with some salad and guacamole.
Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday.

 

[Nancyg56]

Was this some kind of contest you two won? Was it an invitation only kind of thing? How did you get invited?

Sounds like the dinner itself was fantastic, well except that I don't like salmon, but other than that. I'm sure meeting Jacques Pepin would make up for all that!

No, Public TV has funding drives, and Buddy made the donations for two tickets. They generally have a few different event per year that appeal to whatever kind of programming is on during that time. FOr instance, there are often Moody Blues Meet and greet that includes food, special parking, special seating and a meet and greet session with the artists.

 

[Nancyg56]

It's Tuesday night and it was a public holiday in Australia for ANZAC day. That's our Memorial day. I spent the day just relaxing on the couch and practising some guitar.

We stuck to the normal dinner schedule so it was back to the baked potatoes and fixin's. DH made a chickpea curry with zucchini and pumpkin. I ended up having that with some salad and guacamole.
Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday.

WE were discussing your potato bar on the way to work this morning. The family has ben getting together for board games on Saturday late afternoon to evening and we thought this would be a fun meal hat we could prepare a little early.

 

[PrincessInOz]

WE were discussing your potato bar on the way to work this morning. The family has ben getting together for board games on Saturday late afternoon to evening and we thought this would be a fun meal hat we could prepare a little early.

It's actually perfect for a family evening.

Just pop the spuds in the oven and then if you have everything else prepared, the cooks get to play as well!

 

[dgbg100106]

PIO - Potatoes sounds like a great meal, I might put that into rotation this week.

Nancy - your evening sounds divine! I loved the photos, you looked amazing and on cloud 9! Pentago is where I used to work, so it lost its appeal very quickly when I had to go thru all of that everyday, but it was nice to go to a retirement ceremony for a friend.
Alison - normal - that is my new goal! lol

 

[franandaj]

No, Public TV has funding drives, and Buddy made the donations for two tickets.

Ah....that totally makes sense. Definitely sounded like a fun evening!