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

[Big Cuddly Bear]

BTW, folks, not that I don't want to mingle with you on other stuff, but my history on the DIS is either that I do say dumb stuff, or people try to make what I say sound dumb. So, I think I will stay on point and just keep it to cooking stuff.

The bad part is that if people really knew me, they would probably think of me as one DIS poster called me in a PM....

"An Absolutely Wonderful Jerk" ( just like her husband, she said ) She meant that mostly as a compliment, she said. Basically she meant that I can act like a jerk sometimes, but when push comes to shove, I'm one really good guy, who will do anything for friends.

And I pretty much agreed. So, probably better for me to stay on point rather than have any issues in this thread. Just know that I wish you all have things go your way.

 

[TigerKat]

BCB – We’ve all had disasters in the kitchen at one time or another! I can’t wait to see your spice cabinets.

Becky – I’m chuckling as well over your tomato tart fiasco.

Marie – That recipe sounds great!

Gretchen - I hope your work is finished before Friday. I hope you & Mom get to gout and have a nice dinner tonight!

Lauren – I hope Tom made out OK with his tooth and hopefully you got a real good look at it. You’ve got a lot going on woman, don’t worry about catching up here, we know how busy you are. I do miss you terribly though.

Ellen – That’s what friends are for.

Bethany – I hope you’re feeling better.

Nan – My prayers are with the soldier’s family and with everyone in the area, please stay safe.

 

[liamandcaili]

Okay, I am trying to catch up, but I'm not sure I will do a good job. I am so tired today! Liam's game went late, they lost by a score of what he describes as "a lot to a little" and I went to bed too late. I did manage to get through my workday (the job is going pretty well, thanks for asking!) without falling asleep at my desk. Dinner was burgers at my parents' house because I had to go to the school for a meeting.

Glynis -- I'm glad the documentary is going well.

Ellen -- I'm sorry you had so much damage. That is really scary. At my meeting tonight, one of the parents got a call saying his kids just went down to the basement because the town sent out a tornado warning.

I love cranberry or blueberry buckle (I use the recipe from King Arthur flour), but I'm the only one in my family that likes it.

Really? What's not to like? I hope your job is going well. I was surprised at how easily I got back into the routine.

Last night's dinner was a disaster, and I cooked it.... I'll leave it at that.

I've been there. However, you managed to eat it, so it couldn't have been too terrible. And wow on all the spices! I probably have more spices than the average American household, but I don't use most of them on a regular basis. If I threw them out according to the spice catalog guidelines, I would have very few left.

We're finally getting the pavers installed around the pool and I think poor Hailey (and the therapists) have suffered through most of that aggravation.

I hope it is all done in time and it is worth the aggravation. Hailey must miss the pool!

So, 2 questions I would like to ask:

1. Favorite pot: I have a Le Crueset skillet and pot that are used almost daily.
2. Favorite kitchen gadget: My wine opener. If that doesn't count, my immersion blender.

Drew has practice tonight and that wont be pretty since they lost last night 15 - 0 and the coach had a fit.

I am expecting Liam's practice tomorrow to be ugly as well. The coach doesn't throw things, but the team was just absolutely awful last night, Liam included. I do hope Andrew was exaggerating a bit, although I have seen some pretty awful displays of unsportsmanlike conduct by some coaches (not Liam's).

Nancy -- I'm glad Joanie is doing as well as can be expected.

I know there was more, but I'm beat. Have a good night, and if I don't see you tomorrow, I'll catch up Friday.

 

[Nancyg56]

BCB-don't worry about chatting if you prefer not to. Speaking for myself, I don't read into posts, I just take them at face value so it would be pretty hard to offend me. I figure that most people mean well on a post but that things can get skewed when they are trying to write what they think. But anyway, we take you as you are

 

[TigerKat]

BCB-don't worry about chatting if you prefer not to. Speaking for myself, I don't read into posts, I just take them at face value so it would be pretty hard to offend me. I figure that most people mean well on a post but that things can get skewed when they are trying to write what they think. But anyway, we take you as you are

Well said, I agree!


Laura - I'm hoping Liam's practice wont be too hard. I'm glad to hear the job is going well!

 

[MrsHerbie53]

The roofers will be out here shortly to start on my roof, I see a headache on it's way. Back to work in a bit, then the gym.....

Hey Kat -- Good luck with the roofers!!!!

Heck, I have about 15 kinds of salt.

BCB -

It happens to all of us. I have set my oven on fire, and even set MYSELF on fire! I think one of my most spectacular disasters was the time that I was removing a beautiful fresh tomato tart from the oven. Somehow the edge of the pan caught on the lip of the oven rack, and the tart went flying into the air, turning over completely, and landed halfway in the oven and halfway on the oven door. Of course it left a molten trail of tomato, cheese, and tart dough all along its path. I was scraping cheese out of the seams of the oven for about a year afterwards!

Becky - I usually have my grill in major flames! I have exploded a glass baking dish before. Like an idiot, I poured water in for a ham while it had been baking for awhile.....

So, 2 questions I would like to ask:

1. What is your most used pot or pan? Mine is either my Dutch Oven or my HUGE - like it weighs 20 pounds - cast iron skillet.... must be 15" wide.

2. What is your favorite kitchen gadget? ( other than a food processor ).... mine is this really heavy duty garlic press. It even - sorta - self cleans.

BCB - 1) My Pampered Chef set of pans. They cook so much better and evenly than my Revereware, plus I love the glass lids.
2) Probably my garlic press....

But I just got a new kitchen and we still have to put the finishes on...so not everything is away or in use yet. But I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new double ovens!!!!! I use them all the time (even today in the heat!!!!) So my favorites could change soon....

We just met with the adjustor. He was out at the house for over an hour. On top of everything else he found cracks in our bedroom ceiling that we didn't even see. It seems to be much worse than we first thought. We shall see!! It is what it is and life will go on. What a mess.

Ellen - OH MY! Hang in there. It is good to have them examining everything, so that something didn't get missed and cause problems later.


Things are crazy here. Thinking about you all!!!

WFD: Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, and corn on the cob.

 

[Nancyg56]

Ellen- Buddy and I were talking about the amount of damage that you sustained. He is uneasy with the severe weather pattern that that the country is experiencing and how we are seeing some craziness here in the NE. Normally we are blessed in our little area when we compare the drastic weather everywhere else so we really cannot complain. I hope that he is wrong about the severe weather this year.

Welby is coming back with the girls this morning because Brian is still on nights. I have got to figure out how to baby proof this house, Rylee is like a house on fire racing through to see if she can get to anything she is not supposed to touch and this old gal cannot keep up with the little Spitfire! We keep laughing because they thought that Nola was a handful and that Rylee was going to be the easy going one but Holy Canoli! She is one little Miss Mischief!

Dinner will be some sort of chicken I think. Nola wanted to stay for dinner last night but I had no hot food so we are having dinner together this evening. She has requested "Bocci Chicken" I have no idea what that is but If Welby cannot translate it is going to be chicken and broccoli.

 

[HERSEY]

Nancy I sure hope Welby knows what Bocci chicken is. When Mr A was little he had a habit of rushing the words out. Rhinoceros was a short word compared to some of the others he poured out. AHH he was was so cute.

Last night I made pan fried beets really tasting I wonder why I never thought to do that before. I could have eaten just that.

BCB Don't worry if you want to chat with us chat with us. Share what you are comfortable. Humor does not always translate well in print. God knows I have flopped in that arena many a time.

I have a small prayer request Mr A has is Geometry final on friday, he has put too much pressure on himself. He want to get a A or a high B on the final. He is currently a .20 from a B it is an honors class so the grades are weighted differently. I am pleased, this is a kid who in 3rd grade his teacher said he was never going to be able to keep up the math. I told him after that meeting that the teacher was wrong he can do anything he wants.

WFD is fish tacos with the fixings. That is his favorite dinner.

 

[TigerKat]

Nan - The crazy weather all over the country has me very uneasy as well. I am really worried about this hurricane season. Good luck with Riley and I hope Nola enjoys her Bocco chicken.

Janice - Praying A breezes through his final. You must be so proud of him!!

WFD - Hamburger Stroganoff, corn and salad.

 

[liamsaunt]

BCB: My favorite cooking item depends on the time of year. In the winter, it is probably my le Creuset dutch oven or my pizza stone. In the summer, it is my cast iron skillet, which I use both stovetop and on my grill.

My favorite gadget: definitely my screwpull wine opener.

Don't worry about not chatting about non-cooking stuff--we are all just as interested in talking about the food as everything else that goes on here!

Kathy, I am worried about the hurricane season this year too. There has already been so much unusual activity.

Janice, I hope A does well on his final.

Bethany, I hope you are feeling better today.

WFD: turkey burgers, if I can stand to cook anything. I noticed that my garbage can has maggots in it and I have to hose it out when I get home from work.

 

[Glynis]

Morning all! It's a sunny day here, but it's really chilly.

I'm hoping our Mass. friends are all ok. Scary weather! Nancy, you stay safe, too. Buddy is right, this is totally odd weather!

Dinner last night was pretty good. I added a tub of the Philadelphia cooking creme to some spaghetti sauce and hamburger, cooked up some wide egg noodles, and made a "deconstructed" lasagna with layers of noodles, sauce, and tons of cheese. Yummy! Everyone ate it! I was hoping there would be some leftover to send to work with Alan, but no such luck!

Not sure what's on the menu tonight. I may let Katie cook, as I have book club tonight.

Question for all you foodies: I got 2 bulbs of jicama in my bountiful basket last week, and I'm not sure how to use it. Anyone got any good recommendations? Thanks!

 

[bigmerle1966]

As usual I am lost again. Trying to read and I seem to be missing lots.

Oh well, once all this craziness at work is over I can get back in the swing of things.

Hope everyone to the north stays safe, this weather just keeps getting crazier.

 

[Big Cuddly Bear]

Morning all! It's a sunny day here, but it's really chilly.

I'm hoping our Mass. friends are all ok. Scary weather! Nancy, you stay safe, too. Buddy is right, this is totally odd weather!

Dinner last night was pretty good. I added a tub of the Philadelphia cooking creme to some spaghetti sauce and hamburger, cooked up some wide egg noodles, and made a "deconstructed" lasagna with layers of noodles, sauce, and tons of cheese. Yummy! Everyone ate it! I was hoping there would be some leftover to send to work with Alan, but no such luck!

Not sure what's on the menu tonight. I may let Katie cook, as I have book club tonight.

Question for all you foodies: I got 2 bulbs of jicama in my bountiful basket last week, and I'm not sure how to use it. Anyone got any good recommendations? Thanks!

Check out -- google - Jicama Salad.

Or from Food Networrk:

* 1 large jicama, julienned
* 2 large carrots, julienne
* 1 cup red onion, finely sliced
* 1/2 red pepper, julienned
* 1/2 yellow pepper, julienned
* 1 tomato, julienned
* 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
* 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
* 1 teaspoon honey
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* Pinch of cayenne
* Salt and freshly ground pepper
* 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Directions

Combine jicama, carrots, red onion, both peppers, tomato in a medium bowl. Whisk together the lime juice, vinegar, honey, olive oil and cayenne and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the cilantro and let sit for 30 minutes.

 

[figaromeetsmarie]

Chicken with Mustard Marsacpone Marsala sauce

 

[Aimeedyan]

It happens to all of us. I have set my oven on fire, and even set MYSELF on fire! I think one of my most spectacular disasters was the time that I was removing a beautiful fresh tomato tart from the oven. Somehow the edge of the pan caught on the lip of the oven rack, and the tart went flying into the air, turning over completely, and landed halfway in the oven and halfway on the oven door. Of course it left a molten trail of tomato, cheese, and tart dough all along its path. I was scraping cheese out of the seams of the oven for about a year afterwards!

So, 2 questions I would like to ask:

1. What is your most used pot or pan? Mine is either my Dutch Oven or my HUGE - like it weighs 20 pounds - cast iron skillet.... must be 15" wide.

2. What is your favorite kitchen gadget? ( other than a food processor ).... mine is this really heavy duty garlic press. It even - sorta - self cleans.

I also just bought, but have not used, and old fashioned hand crank meat grinder. I actually have one for the stand mixer, but I like old fashioned stuff.

1. The most used is probably my 2.5 quart saucepan, since it's so versatile, but my favorite pan is my castiron skillet(s). Love them!

2. I really love using my mini chopper and my immersion blender.

Aimee ~ Are we going to get to see pictures of the finished project? I bet it is amazing.

The painting is complete and looks great - the art wall is going to be a work in progress, since we are going to slowly acquire paintings for it. I need to get a few up, though, so I can start getting an eye for what we need. I'll post pics!

on the other damage! Glad the adjuster found it all.

Dinner tonight is a huge salad and hamburgers. It is freakin hot today and my air conditioner refuses to start so we are just not hungry. the air man is coming in the morning.

Hope it's not a pricey repair! Our upstairs unit went out AGAIN but since it was just repaired recently, we hope it's under warranty.

It's 99 again here today

Also, I just heard we lost a soldier in Afghanistan, he was from our neighboring town so please say a prayer for him and for our men and women in uniform.

BTW, folks, not that I don't want to mingle with you on other stuff, but my history on the DIS is either that I do say dumb stuff, or people try to make what I say sound dumb. So, I think I will stay on point and just keep it to cooking stuff.

The bad part is that if people really knew me, they would probably think of me as one DIS poster called me in a PM....

"An Absolutely Wonderful Jerk" ( just like her husband, she said ) She meant that mostly as a compliment, she said. Basically she meant that I can act like a jerk sometimes, but when push comes to shove, I'm one really good guy, who will do anything for friends.

And I pretty much agreed. So, probably better for me to stay on point rather than have any issues in this thread. Just know that I wish you all have things go your way.

No worries Share as much or as little as you'd like. We're fairly nice people ~ and, speaking for myself, I'm pretty darn hard to offend

I have a small prayer request Mr A has is Geometry final on friday, he has put too much pressure on himself. He want to get a A or a high B on the final. He is currently a .20 from a B it is an honors class so the grades are weighted differently. I am pleased, this is a kid who in 3rd grade his teacher said he was never going to be able to keep up the math. I told him after that meeting that the teacher was wrong he can do anything he wants.

I'm sure he'll do GREAT!!

WFD: turkey burgers, if I can stand to cook anything. I noticed that my garbage can has maggots in it and I have to hose it out when I get home from work.

I'm not sure why I'm checking in - we aren't doing any cooking around our house! I go in spurts; cook meals for days in end and then eat out for days on end. Summer is officially HERE and I'm already running around like a maniac!

Dinner is but I'll be menu planning and grocery shopping tomorrow. I hope.

 

[Rogue26]

Just a real quick checkin, taco salads for dinner tonight.

Ellen- I'll get you the peanut dipping sauce recipe, just not sure when! It's really tasty (at least we think so) and use it alot.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Just checking in...I did feel better for most of yesterday, but then last night and most of today I have been feeling a bit crummy. I must have a virus or something. Thanks for asking, though.

We went out to lunch today during work. We went to a Mexican restaurant and the food was good.

I wasn't too concerned about the weather; I was thinking it has been a fluke, except that it JUST KEEPS ON COMING. I can't do anything about it but keep an eye on it though, so I guess that's what I'll do. And pray!

 

[liamandcaili]

Still floundering here, but here goes:

I have exploded a glass baking dish before.

Been there, done that. I didn't realize glass dishes had a maximum heat. I think I put a Pyrex dish under the broiler. Bad idea.

Rylee is like a house on fire racing through to see if she can get to anything she is not supposed to touch

She is a daredevil! I hope you were able to figure out bocci chicken.

Janice -- Good luck to A tomorrow! I am sure he will do well.

Chicken with Mustard Marsacpone Marsala sauce

Sounds yummy!

the art wall is going to be a work in progress, since we are going to slowly acquire paintings for it.

That sounds really cool!

Just checking in...I did feel better for most of yesterday, but then last night and most of today I have been feeling a bit crummy.

I hope you feel better.

Kat -- The coach didn't kill them. Liam thought it was a positive practice.

Dinner tonight was bratwurst, sauerkraut, spaetzle and cherries. Normally it would have been apples, but I didn't have any, so cherries it was. The kids didn't mind.

 

[Nancyg56]

Janice- Waiting to hear how A did! I know he will make the grade he wants!

BCB- I am going to try that slad- it looks good!

Laura- as long as Liam thinks practice is positive....that's what matters! How is the new job going?

Bethany- feel better tomorrow!

Dinner is out of the fridge. Buddy had a lot of errands to do this evening and normally we would have had dinner out but he worked late then spilled gas on his clothes so no way we could walk into any restaurant.

 

[TigerKat]

Janice – Wishing A good luck tomorrow!

Becky – Hoping you got your trash can cleaned out and were able to cook.

Glynis – Your deconstructed lasagna sounded really good, I may have to try that.

Marilyn – It’s hard for all of us at times to keep up, we understand.

Aimee – Whether you’re cooking or not, I love when you check in. I especially love when you are on your cooking spurts though.

Bethany – I’m sorry to hear you’re still not feeling well. Maybe you’d better go to a doctor.

Laura – Glad to hear Liam thought it was a positive practice, good for the coach!

Well y'all, I'm finally coming out of my cave and getting a smart phone! I'm really getting excited!