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

[PrincessInOz]

Ellen - Jimmy Johns?

Alison - I hope Fran is getting some relief!



Work is frantic!!! I don't know whether to laugh or cry that I have a short break right now. I took time off 3 months ago when we were expecting to have launched the project by now....but here we are.....absolutely critical time for the project and I don't go back to the office until Tuesday. If I could have cancelled this break, I would! But we're heading to Sydney and I booked flights 3 months ago. It's a lot harder and expensive to cancel over here or even to put them into 'holding' for another trip. Oh well. I'm just going to make the most of it.

I have a few things to do today....pack, clean the house etc....but I'll be back to post some pictures of soup weekend.

Have a great day all.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Chicken Soup





It's soup weekend and I chose to make chicken soup for the soul. Everything from scratch. Where possible, I use free range, hormone free ingredients and my local chicken shop does source their produce to meet that criteria.

My starting ingredients:

• A bag of chicken carcasses (there were 4 in my bag)
• 6 - 8 chicken wings
• 1 onion, chunky cut
• 4 - 6 carrots
• 4 celery stalks
• Bouquet Garni, which consisted of bay, thyme and parsley from my garden
• Water

Place all ingredients in a large stock pot and cover with water.






Allow to boil and then simmer for at least 3 hours. I did skim off the excess oil and I was cooking the stock but you could wait to the end and strain the liquid, let sit and then scoop the oil off the top. I didn't throw the oil away but rather kept it for something else.








My ingredients for the soup.

• 2 Chicken maryland - I normally get the standard maryland but the chicken shop had sold out. So, I got the maryland fillets.
• 1 leek, sliced
• 4 - 6 Celery stalks, diced
• 6 - 8 Carrots, diced
• Dill

Place the leek, celery and carrots in a large stock pot with a little oil and gently fry/sweat for 3 - 5 minutes.







Add the strained chicken stock to the pot and bring to a boil.






When boiling, take the heat down and allow to gently simmer. Place the chicken maryland into the pot and cook for 20 minutes.








The something else? For this weekend, I also made some kneidlach or matzo meal dumplings. My general mix is for every 1/4 cup matzo meal, add 1/4 cup water, 1 tablespoon fat (I used the skimmed off chicken fat for this) and 1 egg. I also chopped up some of the dill and added it to the mix. I used 1 cup matzo meal for this recipe and also added 1/8 teaspoon bicarb soda. The bicard soda makes the dumplings lighter in texture.






Allow to rest in the fridge for at least an hour. After the mix has rested, roll the mix to form golf-ball sized balls and place in a pot of boiling water.






Cook for 20 minutes.






Remove the kneidlach from the water and add to the soup.







Flake the poached chicken maryland into pieces and add it back to the soup.






When ready to serve, ladle the soup into a bowl and add a few fronds of dill. YUM!

 

[EJ4Disney]

Stormy Thursday ............. again!!

PIO ~ Your soup look positively divine. Wow!!
Enjoy your time away if at all possible. All your work will get finished and the project will launch. Look at the big picture if you can. I will be thinking of you, but jeepers have a great time.

Jimmy Johns is a chain restaurant here (I think they are not just in Nebraska) that have the BEST sub sandwiches. Their bread is amazing, but their lettuce wraps - un sandwich - are just as good. They use really fresh ingredients and fresh baked bread. The smell alone will get you!! There is one in Kearney - about 35 miles away that every time I am there I will bring them home. YUM!!

Golf has been cancelled as has Ethan's ball game. We are just to soggy. We really have had enough rain.

WFDT ~ Pulled chicken sandwiches, cucumber and onion salad with sweet potato chips (home made)

Make it a great day!

 

[dgbg100106]

Morning everyone...

Sorry I have been MIA.

Life is just crazy right now. Work Uggggghhhh, PT ugggghhhhh

eating ughhhh, I am not allowed to work out, so I have gained 10 pounds


Jimmy Johns = https://www.jimmyjohns.com/

 

[franandaj]

PIO your soup looks very good. I relay want to find the time to make mine. Maybe tomorrow night. Have fun this weekend.

Hope the PT goes well Brandi.

Sounds like you have been having a busy time, Ellen!

 

[PrincessInOz]

I'm home. It was a great trip...but I'm completely stuffed. We ate a LOT!

 

[dgbg100106]

good morning everyone,

I was up until 10:30 last night trying to get out my latest project, we started at 5pm...

and again up this morning at 5am, I am tired and happy at the same time. Hopefully everything will work correctly.

PT hurts but I am doing it and feeling better, I have learned a lot of new exercises and stretches, plus I have gained about 12 pounds in the last three weeks. So as soon as I can workout, I hope to lose some of this.

Hope everyone is feeling blessed and healthy

 

[franandaj]

I finally made my soup. MaybeI can find some time to post the pictures and recipe.

Brandi - that's a lot of work to be doing. You need your sleep! Good luck on the 12 pounds. I would hate to put that on, that's what I've lost since February.

PIO - did you guys go to some food and wine fest in Sydney? Do we get a mini TR?

 

[PrincessInOz]

I finally made my soup. MaybeI can find some time to post the pictures and recipe.

Brandi - that's a lot of work to be doing. You need your sleep! Good luck on the 12 pounds. I would hate to put that on, that's what I've lost since February.

PIO - did you guys go to some food and wine fest in Sydney? Do we get a mini TR?

We ate but didn't make it to the f&W fest in Sydney. We have one in Melbourne that I don't even get round to.

I'm thinking about a short synopsis to add to that thread on Sydney from last year.

 

[EJ4Disney]

Good morning friends,

So very sorry I just dropped off the grid. Doug and I had a chance to get away for a few day and we jumped at it.

I am back today, but am swamped. I have 2 days to get the week finished. I don't even have the time to read back and comment. But I will!!

Everyone have a great day and prayers are with you all.

WFDT ~ I have no idea.

make it a great day!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Good morning friends,

So very sorry I just dropped off the grid. Doug and I had a chance to get away for a few day and we jumped at it.

I am back today, but am swamped. I have 2 days to get the week finished. I don't even have the time to read back and comment. But I will!!

Everyone have a great day and prayers are with you all.

WFDT ~ I have no idea.

make it a great day!

Glad you're okay!

 

[PrincessInOz]

It's Saturday here and a beautiful crisp, cold day. All the chores are mostly done. I have no idea what we're doing for dinner tonight.

 

[PrincessInOz]

New TR started for the Sydney trip. It's probably going to be a short and sweet one. Hope to see some of you there!


http://www.disboards.com/threads/it...5-short-and-sweet-tr-starts-01-13-06.3419012/

 

[franandaj]

Ugh! I'm in the tail end stretch of a couple weeks with no wiggle room. It hasn'tbeen all bad. Thursday night we went out to dinner and the theater, but between getting #2 ready for the contractor, trying to get the band moved out, and just going through daily life, it's been a whirlwind.

We were able to call off yesterday's band room moving activity and I got a deep tissue massage. That rendered me useless for the rest of the day. I did make us some skirt steak and zucchini boats for dinner, but my muscles were so beat up I felt like I had done a huge workout. Today I feel better which is good since I have two more days of intense moving.

WFD tonight? Sausages with grilled onions and Sauerkraut.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Ugh! I'm in the tail end stretch of a couple weeks with no wiggle room. It hasn'tbeen all bad. Thursday night we went out to dinner and the theater, but between getting #2 ready for the contractor, trying to get the band moved out, and just going through daily life, it's been a whirlwind.

We were able to call off yesterday's band room moving activity and I got a deep tissue massage. That rendered me useless for the rest of the day. I did make us some skirt steak and zucchini boats for dinner, but my muscles were so beat up I felt like I had done a huge workout. Today I feel better which is good since I have two more days of intense moving.

WFD tonight? Sausages with grilled onions and Sauerkraut.

Glad you're feeling better. Sounds like the massage did you good.

I hope you get #2 ready.

 

[PrincessInOz]

We have a music thing for DS today and I slept in today. I never sleep in!!! So, this morning is a bit of a rush to get things done before we head out for the rest of the day.

I might take out some pasta sauce from the freezer and have pasta for dinner.

 

[EJ4Disney]

Happy Monday my friends,

Alison & PIO ~ Glad to see that things are good for both of you.

Hopefully I am back for a bit. We have a really busy next 2 weeks, but nothing that will take me away during the day. We have the rodeo Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And the next weekend we will be away to a couple of concerts. But that's it - then it is cracking down for the new rooms at the house.

We were able to get away last week and we had a great time. Doug golfed in a 2 day tournament with a Calcutta and even ended up wining about $600. SCORE!! There was a steak dinner on Saturday that I was invited to.

Sunday, Elizabeth, Stephanie and Matthew and I went to Kearney and ran a 5K - Matthew did the 1/2 Marathon. It was awesome running with all of my kids. We had a ball and this Momma was a very happy girl. I was back home by 1 and as soon as Doug got home from the tournament we took off for Lincoln.

On Monday we met, in Omaha, with our Financial Advisors. Doug would really like to retire in 3 years (he is only 55). We will see. We have done very good, but it is really scary to go from saving to spending.

Tuesday saw us back in Omaha, as I had a Dr. Appointment. Then we did some shopping.

Wednesday we saw Matthew off to work and did a bit of shopping and left for Kearney. We took the kids out to dinner and played with the girls and we're home by 9.

It was so nice to get away for a few days and I have a couple of great ladies that watched the office. It is so slow right now.

We had the girls over the weekend. Man we had a ball. Liam came out for the day on Saturday. You have NO idea how busy 2 - 3 year olds can be. Harper was perfect. We really did have a good time, but Doug and I were in bed at 9pm last night!!

Liam has his first Tball game tonight at 5:30. He is SO excited!!

WFDT ~ We are going to Dairy Queen after I have been told. So it will be a grilled chicken salad for me and Doug.

Make it a great day!

 

[dgbg100106]

I finally made my soup. MaybeI can find some time to post the pictures and recipe.

Brandi - that's a lot of work to be doing. You need your sleep! Good luck on the 12 pounds. I would hate to put that on, that's what I've lost since February.

PIO - did you guys go to some food and wine fest in Sydney? Do we get a mini TR?

Alison, I had to do that same work again every night Monday - Thursday. Friday I had a massage, Saturday I went shooting, and Sunday I did laundry and cleaned.
Monday back to work. Ughhh, I need some serious down time.

Monday was another PT session, and it was better, did not hurt as much, she suggested another massage so Thursday I get another one, only lower body and mostly on the left side. and so not the relaxing feel good kind, This is deep tissue on parts that are hurting. I was so sore after Fridays massage.

hmm as far as cooking is going, I have been eating lots of green from CSA. I made mashed turnips for David and he LOVED them. So if we get any more in the basket I know what to do with them.

I got two heads of fennel, any got a recipe to use up fennel?

 

[EJ4Disney]

Morning girlies,

Gee it is good to be back in here. I really do miss you all when one of us is away.

Brandi ~ I am so sorry to hear you are hurting. Hopefully the massages will help. Don't worry about the weight, as soon as you are back to 100% it will come back off.
Can't help you with the fennel as I do not care for it at all. Sorry!

Alison ~ I think of you and Fran all the time. How is Fran feeling? I am glad to see you went for a massage - you need to take care of you. Bless your hearts.

PIO ~ I am loving your Sydney trip report. I have traveled to Australia and New Zealand. Sydney was a favorite as well as Melbourne. You are a lucky girl to live in such a beautiful part of the world.

I am so darn mad. I think I am getting a summer cold. I NEVER EVER get one, but last night I felt that tickle and this morning I am blowing and blowing. These 2 weeks are the weeks Doug and I look so forward to all year! In North Platte (about 55 miles to the west of us) they have their BIG celebration - NEland Days. We are going to each night of the Rodeo starting tomorrow night thru Saturday. Saturday all the kids and grandbabies are going to the parade and then the Rodeo that night. The next weekend, Doug and I splurged and got a hotel room for Friday and Saturday night as we are going to Florida Georgia Line on Friday and Thomas Ritt on Saturday.
I DO NOT have time for a cold!!!

Liams Tball game last night was a hot mess. As Elizabeth said, "It's like herding cats." Oh my I just sat and laughed, it was precious.

Ethan has his last ball game tonight about 35 miles from home. Doug and I will travel there. I can't believe how good these boys are. It is so much fun watching them grow in the game.

WFDT ~ leftovers real fast - maybe just a sandwich on the way.

Make it a great day!

 

[dgbg100106]

Ellen,

You have so much going on and I agree no time for a cold, but please take care of yourself.

I am so looking forward to being able to move painfree!