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

[LindsayDunn228]

Orange Tea​

2 family sized tea bags
8 cups water, divided
1 cup sugar
1 large naval orange*

Bring 4 cups water and tea bags to a boil. Turn down to very low and let steep until desired strength. (I usually just let it sit there 10 minutes or so on "1" on my stove)

Add sugar and stir until dissolved.

Add another 4 cups of water to pitcher and add oranges. Mix in tea and stir well. Chill.

Yields a 2 quart pitcher. Simply double the recipe for a 1 gallon pitcher and so forth. It works just fine.

*I cut the orange down the middle (not across). I then cut 1 half in half (so you have half-half-moon slices) and slice thin. You can use the whole orange if you want, but for a 2 qt. pitcher I find that half of a large orange is enough.

NOTE: This tea is veeeeeeeery sweet so I always serve it with lemon wedges

 

[bigmerle1966]

Kat- nice! I loved BLT. We got to stay on the top floor where the observation deck was.

Glynis- glad you had a nice time and the kiddo feels better.

Nan-

This weekend was great weather but busy, busy, busy! This week and the weekend are going to be a scorcher! Am hoping the tropical storm comes by later this week and wipes some of that out. We have an annual festival Saturday and last year it was record over 100 degree heat, we were dying!

The swim meet was great, my baby beat her own records and her little sister did great as well. We were at the pool from 5:30am to 1:30pm, let the kids swim after the meet, then home to shower and get ready for the movies. Took them to see HP7, then dinner and 5 Below. Left there for home at 9pm and my godson was asleep less than 15 minutes down the road.

Did training class yesterday and shopping and today I am just bushed. Have to try and get myself together and get things done today.

Dinner tonight will be salmon, going to sprinkle it with some African Smoke spice that I got at TJ's yesterday. Probably have that with some zucchini and I don't know what else.

 

[TigerKat]

Aimee – Glad to hear both events went well! Try and rest up now woman!

Lindsay – Enjoy your lunch with the hubby!

Janice – We’ve had rain for the past few days and it has cooled thing off nicely. However, early this morning we had over 5 inches of rain in a short period of time which has caused some street flooding. Once again, we can’t just have rain, it has to turn into “an event”. Try and stay cool my friend.

Marilyn – Whew, that was quite a hectic weekend!

I wish Johnny was as excited as I am about staying at BLT. He just loves the BWV and would be happy staying there all the time. My thinking is that we'll always try and stay at BWV or BCV for Food & Wine trips but I want to explore all of the DVC resorts on the non Food & Wine trips. That's part of the reason we bought in!

WFD – White beans & rice and grilled Italian chicken sausages with a Creole tomato salad.

 

[HERSEY]

Kathy I have my fav resorts too, but since I have DVC I want to stay at all of them at least once.

 

[Glynis]

Good morning! We are getting ready for a day of errands!

Katie left this morning for a girl's camp with our church. It's only overnight, so she'll be back tomorrow afternoon. Jacob is going to the local water park with his best friend, and he won't be back until late tonight. So, it's just me, the twins and Timothy! We are going to run errands, and then out to lunch. Gotta make the day special for them, too!

I don't have any ideas for dinner tonight, so I'm hoping that inspiration will strike while we're at the store. Maybe taco salad. Hmmm. We'll see!

Have a great day, everyone! And try to stay cool!!!

 

[TigerKat]

Kathy I have my fav resorts too, but since I have DVC I want to stay at all of them at least once.

We've stayed at SSR, BCV and of course BWV and they are all amazing and I'm determined to explore the rest!

 

[liamsaunt]

Becky - Did you have any good southern eats?

Not really. We were not there for very long. We flew in Thursday night and had dinner with John's cousin and his partner at Market at the W Buckhead. It was really great to see them, I know you all said prayers for them after the bike accident and he is doing amazingly well. The food at Market was very good, but not southern. I had some frothed pea soup and a seared cod dish.

Friday was the wedding and it was a traditional BBQ meal with pulled pork sandwiches, slow cooked green beans, etc. I didn't eat anything because I don't eat pork but people that did said it was good. Saturday we went right to the airport and had lunch there at a place called One Flew South. It was actually really good especially since it was airport food! I had a salmon hot pot dish. I took a kind of crummy picture with my iphone:

WFD: it depends on the weather. If it thunders I am probably making breakfast for dinner. If the weather holds I am grilling pizza.

 

[TigerKat]

I have never seen airport food that looked that GOOD!!!!!!!

 

[scotlass]

The swim meet was great, my baby beat her own records and her little sister did great as well. We were at the pool from 5:30am to 1:30pm, let the kids swim after the meet, then home to shower and get ready for the movies. Took them to see HP7,.

Well done on the PB's.
Swim meets are as much a trial for the grown ups.My friends kids all swim and she is never away from the pool side.Its all been worth it tho because her son won bronze in the last special Olympics and is training for London.
What did you think of HP...I LOVED IT !!

I wish Johnny was as excited as I am about staying at BLT. He just loves the BWV and would be happy staying there all the time.
.

I have to say Kat that I just dont get The Contemporary.
It holds nothing for me but since visiting Gretchen at BLT I would stay there in a heart beat....
Im sure Johnny will love it.

It was actually really good especially since it was airport food! I had a salmon hot pot dish. I took a kind of crummy picture with my iphone:

.

WOW.....its cold burgers and fries at Edinburgh,nothin as fancy as this......I guess they match the food to the clientele !!

Im on holiday this week and the weather is murder.But it is summer in Scotland so no big surprise there.
Just had to change some plans and look for fun indoor stuff to do.
We had a great day up in Edinburgh doing touristy things.
I have put ome pics on FB....if you like yer whiskey have a wee look !!

The boy is buzzin tonight, he has been asked to train with one of the top bboy crews in Scotland.
He knows them from battles and comps and they have been watchin him and got in touch to ask him to join them.
He pretty much idolises them so he is soo excited.
It will be hard work as they are all much older but he is so up for it.
Thankfully he got the go ahead from the doc to start up again.

Have a great night lassies...x

 

[HERSEY]

Vic Congrats to the boy. I am glad he is feeling better.

Even though I thought they changed some things in HP I really liked it. A thought it was well done. The first half really bugged him. He thinks the movie should follow the book no change to the story, it is not the directors business to change what the author wrote.

Off to get my salad made and to relax. today felt like a whole week happened in one day. I am beat.

 

[TigerKat]

Vickie - Congrats to Matty!!!!

 

[LBKB]

Woo Hoo way to go Matty

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

We had a crazy 8 inches of rain here this morning, most if it falling in about 2 hours. My house and car are fine, but my garage took in a few inches of water. We got the water out but it's still damp in there. My house is raised but the garage is slab and we don't keep anything valuable in there, especially not on the floor. We know that it gets water inside when there is a heavy rain. Here's some news coverage of the rain if you are interested.

Vickie - That is great for your boy!

Marilyn - What a long day at the pool! The kids did great, though!

WFD - I don't know but I hope it involves a baked potato.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Bethany, I hope nothing was damaged due to the water. And please send that rain this way!!

Vickie, congrats to the boy!


I worked a few hours today but mostly took it easy. We went to Chili's for dinner.

I got a new phone! It's an HTC EVO 3D. Still figuring it out... I love new toys!

 

[Glynis]

Vickie - Way to go, Mattie!!! That's fantastic!!! We loved HP, too! Every minute of it. We knew there would be changes, and we were ok with that. I figure if Rowling is producing the movie, then she must be ok with the changes, too.

Bethany - Wow! That's some rainfall! Glad that it was just your garage that flooded! Smart to not keep anything important there.

Kathy - I bet Johnny will enjoy it once he gets there! It's WDW! How can you not love it anywhere on property???

Dinner is something with hamburger. Not sure what, yet. I just defrosted a pound, and Alan and I will figure something out together. I haven't felt like cooking for the last couple of days, so poor Alan has to throw something together if he wants to eat. I'm assuming it will be hamburger patties. Jacob is still gone, and Katie won't be back until tomorrow, so it's just the 4 of us, really (Timothy doesn't eat much, so we don't really count him).

 

[bigmerle1966]

What did you think of HP...I LOVED IT !!

It was great although a little sad that it is all over.

Congrats to the boy.

Dinner was good, if a little interesting. I ended up using curry with the salmon, sauted zucchini and tomatoes with garlic and basil, and had grits with a Mexican cheese blend.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Oops! I forgot to post the cake recipe!

Piña Colada Cake​

French Vanilla Cake Mix (if you can't find French Vanilla, use yellow or white plain cake mix)
1 Can Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut (medium tall slender can)
1 can Eagle Bran Milk
8 oz. cool whip
16 oz. pkg. of coconut

Bake cake according to package directions in 9x13.

While baking the cake, mix together the eagle bran milk and cream of coconut. I do this in a 4 cup measuring cup so it is easy to pour. After cake is done, let cool for a few minutes. Use a straw of poke holes in top of cake. Pour mixture into holes and let absorb.

After cake is completely cool, top with cool whip. Then top with coconut. You can use as much as you want. I usually put about 3/4 pkg. on top. I sprinkle it on and then kind of push down into cool whip.

Store in fridge.

***Cake is better if you make it a day ahead of when you will need it. Gives time for all the flavors to absorb.***

(This is, word for word, my mom's recipe)

If you make it, let me know what you think of it!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Janice - Your midwest heat made news out in the provincial outpost today. It got reported on the radio news I listened to on the way home from work. Those temperatures are what we can hit in our summers. So keep cool and well hydrated!

Nancy - My version of cauliflower soup is coming up next.

Marilyn - That's a busy weekend!

Kat - That's a lot of rain!

Bethany - You too! Hope you're staying dry.

Vickie - I'm hoping to go see HP soon. My son hasn't yet gotten into HP yet; so DH and I are hoping to sneak out mid-week next week whilst he is at school and catch the movie.

Glynis - Hope Katie had a good time.

Lindsay - That's an interesting recipe for Pina Colada cake...but it seems to be missing the Pina Colada!!!


Another day in the salt mines tomorrow, so I'll probably be on night shift again on the Dis. Have a good day all.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Cauliflower Soup


My starting ingredients:

• Cauliflower, 1 whole head cut into large florets
• Onion or leek, sliced
• Potato, 1 peeled and cut into chunks
• Curry powder, 1 teaspoon (or cumin power, ½ teaspoon)
• A piece of parmesan rind, about 1 x 2 inches
• Stock or water, enough to cover the vegetables
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Oil, 1 tablespoon

In a large pot, gently fry the onion or leek in the oil.
NOTE: I prefer using leek as it has a milder flavour that doesn’t overpower the cauliflower taste.

Add the cauliflower florets to the pot and fry for another 2 – 3 minutes.

Add the spice and fry for another 1 – 2 minutes.
NOTE: If you are using potato, then add the potato at this stage. The potato acts as a natural thickener; but you can omit this ingredient should you choose to.
NOTE: In the picture here, I’ve used curry powder. But I’ve recently taken to substituting with cumin as I think it complements the cauliflower better than the curry powder. I’ve used less cumin in the recipe as it is a stronger spice than curry.

Add the stock or water until it just covers the vegetable.
I took some inspiration from Becky’s cauliflower soup (reference here) and started to add some parmesan rind to my cooking process. If you are using the parmesan rind, then add it at this point. The rind will add a light cheesy taste to the stock as it cooks.

Allow stock to boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 20 – 30 minutes.

Remove the piece of parmesan rind before blending all ingredients together. Serve with shaved parmesan slivers on top. Enjoy!

 

[TigerKat]

Good morning!

Princess - That soup looks great!

WFD - Oven BBQ baby back ribs, baked beans and leftover baked mac & cheese.