The What's For Dinner Thread - March '11 (recipe index in OP)

[TigerKat]

Jen – I’m so glad J is enjoying school and you are already enjoying your students. I hope your follow-up goes well today.

Nan – I am keeping all of y’all in my prayers. I hate hurricane season but having gone through so many hurricanes we know the drill all too well. I hope everyone in its path understands the severity of what could happen and prepares accordingly.

Lindsay – Glad to have you back with us, hope all is well.

WFD – Ellen’s eggplant lasagna and a salad.

 

[Goofyluver]

Jen - You and I will get on really well together. I can be OCD with cleaning too. You, your 3 family members, 2 dogs and moody cat will have to blend in with me, my 2 family members (and let's not count my extended family) and 2 cats (one temperamental, the other skitzoid).

You'll have to be nearer the bush if you want to frolic with kangaroos.

I can give up the kangaroos if I get to be nearer the ocean.

Good Morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am normally a snow storm phobic who is over prepared but Hurricanes????????????? I plan to do my shopping today because I work tomorrow and refuse to deal with the grocery stores on Friday or Saturday. Buddy is going to fortify the sheds because they behave like giant wind tunnels. I will collect all the plants and furniture and toys that can blow around. We are inland and I worry about our coastal neighbors.

Good luck!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, no work today for me. But, a day full of appts.

I stayed up too late last night playing on the new phone. So far, I've figured out a grocery shopping app, where I can keep my lists. That took me an hour.

J has left for school so I have a few minutes of alone and quiet time before I have to get up and at 'em to get everything done today. And here I sit on the DIS.

Everyone have a great day!

 

[Glynis]

Good morning!

I hope all of you in Irene's path are safe and prepared! Hurricanes scare me! Well, actually any bad weather scares me! I used to think we were really safe, here in our sheltered mountain community, then I found out our town was built on top of a HUGE fault line! Yikes!

Lindsay - Hope all is ok with you. Your meal sounds wonderful!!

I have pack meeting tonight, so dinner is whatever Katie can throw together before Alan gets home from work.

My bowling league starts up tomorrow morning, and I'm so terribly excited! I really need the interaction with grown ups!

 

[zipuzee]

I hope all my northeastern friends are battening down the hatches and staying away from the coastlines. The storm surge is gonna be wicked awful. Take care my friends!!

 

[liamsaunt]

Hi, everyone! I am sorry I've been MIA lately. I've been under the weather and crazy busy. Looong stories I won't bore you with.

I was just wondering where you were yesterday. Hope you are feeling better!

Hurricanes....waaaa! I don't think we have had a hurricane here since Gloria which was back in the 80s. Luckily the track changed last night. Yesterday they said it was going over us as a category 2 and now they are saying tropical storm. Either way is it going to rot!!

Dinner last night was pasta in a roasted eggplant-tomato-ricotta sauce. It was very good but I forgot to take a picture.

WFD: I am meeting up with Laura. Not sure if she is cooking or if we are going out.

 

[shovan]

I haven't caught up yet. Wanted to finally post some pics!!! I know it's been forever. Last night's dinner was so good & looked so pretty, I had to take the time to upload some to photobucket.

Thanks to Angelina I had time to cook a nice dinner! She left work early, picked up Alexis at school, then came get Jude & took Alexis home with her!

This was dinner. A basic Saffron Risotto with spinach. Seared Scallops with a brown butter wine pan sauce. So good!

Here is some of the better meals we've around here the past month or so. Most I have done in one version or another in the past. Probably have posted them before, but since Jude, my creativity & time to cook has gone way down. So this is the best I can do to contribute for now!

Pan seared Halibut with Fennel Tomato Salsa, Grilled Garlic Bread with arugula.

Easy dinner. Roasted Eggplant Cherry Tomato Bruschetta

I have a few more, but want to make sure I get this up before Jude wakes up.

 

[EJ4Disney]

Becky & Laura ~ you girls stay safe. Prayers are with you all.
Loved the pictures. Oh how I missed them. Thanks!!

Glynis ~ How did Jacob get along yesterday?
Have fun tomorrow bowling. I know how you love it.

Kat ~ I sure hope Kyle likes his classes this year. And I agree, practice is so much better in the morning and out of the hot sun. Smart coaches!!

Janice ~ Tests already - what is up with that? Good grief, poor Alex, I hope this isn't a precursor to what the rest of the year will be like.

Jen ~ Good luck at the Dr. today. I hope all is on track.
I agree - just sit and play with that Droid. When I got my Iphone I learned more by just playing with it. Have fun!!

Princess ~ OMG your puffs look delicious.

Nan ~ good luck with the fitting. I am sure you are gonna be one HOT Momma.

Lindsay ~ I missed you and wondered how you were doing. Feel better my friend.

Sheryl ~ How is our sweet boy today? Bless his heart and yours too for being such a good Nana.


Well Girls, the moon was bright, the stars were lined up just right, whatever because it all worked. Doug's golf team won last night - CAN YA BELIEVE IT!! They have 2 leagues - National and American. His team is the Nationals. They took first place and now next Monday they will play the first place team of the Americans for the whole banana. I just can't believe that they have done this. It is so cool, as they were not even in the top 5 to win. WooHoo!!

My prayers and thoughts are with all of you in Irene's way. Please stay safe my friends.

WFDT ~ grilled Mai Mai, cucumber & tomato salad and corn on the cob.

Make it a great day all.

 

[shovan]

A couple more, Jude's still napping!

This one was a Sunday dinner. I worked on this all day Saturday. I had a small lamb shoulder that I had bought at the Farmer's Market. I didn't know what to do with it. This worked & I think got the most out of the pricey organic lamb. I rubbed the roast wth a puree of garlic, rosemary, thyme, black pepper & sea salt. I seared the roast on the grill until it was dark brown. I carmelized some onions in the dutch oven, then added the roast & braising liquid. I used beef broth, red wine & a can of fire roasted tomatoes. Braised it until the meat fell off of the bone. Pulled out the roast, shredded the meat, while cooking the sauce to thicken it & concentrate the flavors. This was a lot of work but I got a lot of praise from the family on it.

Lamb Ragu over Cheese Polenta.

One more. A favorite Creamy Avocado Buttermilk Soup also with a Fennel Tomato Salsa.

 

[HERSEY]

HELP!! I want to buy a pressure cooker. I need reviews, do you like cooking with one. Does it really cook faster? I think I may just want another gadget.

 

[liamandcaili]

Glynis -- I'm glad to hear that your kids are off to a good start at school. That is awful about Jacob's classroom though. How did he make out the past couple of days?

Sheryl -- Beautiful food photos! Everything looks great. How is Jude doing? I hope he has settled down.

Janice -- I hope Alex did well on his test. It seems a little early for that sort of thing. How much could they have possibly learned by now?

Afterall, dinner made by someone else is always preferable to making it myself.

I am taking your approach tonight. Beck, the kids and I are going out to eat.

Robin -- Good luck with the job!

Vickie -- Happy birthday to your boy!

Ellen -- Congratulations to Doug!!

I will collect all the plants and furniture and toys that can blow around.

That is all I plan to do.

Jen -- I hope all went well at your appointments.

Liam had an allergist appointment today and he got clearance to start incorporating food with egg in it back into his diet. We'll see how that goes. He is looking forward to being able to get a dessert at dinner tonight.

 

[Goofyluver]

I haven't caught up yet. Wanted to finally post some pics!!! I know it's been forever. Last night's dinner was so good & looked so pretty, I had to take the time to upload some to photobucket.

Thanks to Angelina I had time to cook a nice dinner! She left work early, picked up Alexis at school, then came get Jude & took Alexis home with her!

This was dinner. A basic Saffron Risotto with spinach. Seared Scallops with a brown butter wine pan sauce. So good!

*drooling*

Well Girls, the moon was bright, the stars were lined up just right, whatever because it all worked. Doug's golf team won last night - CAN YA BELIEVE IT!! They have 2 leagues - National and American. His team is the Nationals. They took first place and now next Monday they will play the first place team of the Americans for the whole banana. I just can't believe that they have done this. It is so cool, as they were not even in the top 5 to win. WooHoo!!

My prayers and thoughts are with all of you in Irene's way. Please stay safe my friends.

WFDT ~ grilled Mai Mai, cucumber & tomato salad and corn on the cob.

Make it a great day all.

Yay for the win!

HELP!! I want to buy a pressure cooker. I need reviews, do you like cooking with one. Does it really cook faster? I think I may just want another gadget.

We have this one:

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/...-4-Qt-Digital-Stainless-Steel-Pressure-Cooker

It cooks much faster than stovetop, oven, or slow-cooker cooking. Every time we've used it, we've enjoyed what we've made! Although it's been a while since we've broken it out!

Liam had an allergist appointment today and he got clearance to start incorporating food with egg in it back into his diet. We'll see how that goes. He is looking forward to being able to get a dessert at dinner tonight.

Good thoughts for Liam. J just got cleared from his peanut allergy within the last few months and we've been slowly introducing him to peanuts, which he happens to love!

 

[Glynis]

HELP!! I want to buy a pressure cooker. I need reviews, do you like cooking with one. Does it really cook faster? I think I may just want another gadget.

We have one, but don't use it much. I'll confess that it scares me somewhat. Alan really likes it, though. Yes, it cooks things faster, but that's bad for me, as I don't do other things faster, so my meals in it tend to burn.

 

[Glynis]

Ellen - Congrats to Doug and the team!!!! That's fantastic news!!

Sheryl - Your dinners look amazing! Have you shared the avocado soup recipe? If not, will you? Please, please, please!

Thanks, everyone, for asking about Jacob. He came home from school yesterday in fine spirits. No headache, he didn't feel icky, and he was excited to buckle down and finish his math homework! He told me that he drained and refilled his water bottle 3 times during the day. I sent him off this morning with water, and he knows he has to keep drinking. Jacob and dehydration are a bad, bad combination!!

 

[shovan]

Laura & Becky, So glad to have y'all back! The food from the trip looks fantastic! The local fresh fish must have been really delicious.

Very sorry that y'all have come back to the possibility of a hurricane at home! Who would have guessed that?

Janice, This is the one I have. (bummed that it's not in stock) It's a regular old fashioned stove top model. I've used one forEVER! It is faster! I use it to speed up cooking for all types of beans, pot roasts, greens. I say speed up but I'm talking about dishes that would simmer for 3-4 hours, cuts down that time to 1-2 hrs.

Glynis, I do think I posted the Avocado Soup recipe. I will check. ( It's a cold/room temp soup.) Very glad to hear that Jacob is better.

Lindsay, Sorry you haven't been well!

Nancy, Angelina has called the dr to discuss Jude. Hasn't spoken to them yet.


Gotta run, Jude's awake from his afternoon nap!

Dinner is leftovers.

 

[shovan]

Oh I wanted to say:

That I am praying for all of you who could be affected by Irene! Go away Irene!

 

[Rogue26]

Just a quick check in, chicken sausage and red beans and rice for dinner (well it's my work week monday). A big salad on the side.

All ready for the hurricane/tropical storm. I guess we are going to get the windy east side of it, but hopefully it will have slowed down by then. I think the main issue is going to be our beaches. It's a new moon monday night so we are going to have astonomically high tides, and of course high tide is about the same time the storm is supposed to happen. Hoping for the best. I'm sure it will be fine.

Okay, I don't think the dog will wait any longer to go out. Have a good night all.

 

[TigerKat]

Aren't Becky & Laura in/near Boston? I've been hearing on the weather channel that they are going to have some of the most severe weather?????

 

[bigmerle1966]

Did you read the book? Good luck getting through the week!

No I haven't, not yet. I didn't know there was one until one of the other ladies mentioned it. I will try to order it from the library now though.

To all of you in the northeast, are y'all preparing for the possibility of a hurricane? I am praying this storm changes its path and heads out into the ocean.

They have started evacuating Ocean City, MD. For those of you who may not know OC is actually a strip of land with the ocean on one side and a pretty wide bay on the other. Not a good place to be during a hurricane.

We have plenty of food, water and TP as well as flashlights and candles. I may run out Saturday morning and grab a bag of ice just in case.

Now to just clean off the deck. We will need to move of all of my mothers plants somewhere and are planning to flip the table out there as well moving or strapping down the grill. Either way we are unhooking the tank and bringing that in the house. I am also going to park my van in the middle of the parking lot away from the trees.

DM is getting a chicken at Costco for dinner tonight.

 

[Rogue26]

Kathy- As of right now it's supposed to go west of Boston, I'm sure we'll all still notice it, but not as bad a predicted a couple of days ago. The land is really going to slow it down (fingers crossed.) I've been pretty much stalking NOAA's website. Both boston and my town say tropical storm conditions, so that's promising. Keep in mind our water is much colder, about 60 degrees, and the cold weather breaks apart hurricanes. My biggest concern is the 250 POUNDS of beef I have in my basement freezer.

Marilyn- Thanks for reminding me about the car, I need to do a little cleaning in the garage. What are the weather predictions for you?

 

[TigerKat]

Kathy- As of right now it's supposed to go west of Boston, I'm sure we'll all still notice it, but not as bad a predicted a couple of days ago. The land is really going to slow it down (fingers crossed.) I've been pretty much stalking NOAA's website. Both boston and my town say tropical storm conditions, so that's promising. Keep in mind our water is much colder, about 60 degrees, and the cold weather breaks apart hurricanes. My biggest concern is the 250 POUNDS of beef I have in my basement freezer.

Marilyn- Thanks for reminding me about the car, I need to do a little cleaning in the garage. What are the weather predictions for you?

Robin - That's what I'm concerned about. If you are on the east side of the storm that's the wet side, actually the worst side. They're saying there could be major and extensive flooding.