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

[Aimeedyan]

We had a wild night, one that I don't want to repeat. 70mph winds and tons of water. I just finished walking around the house just a few branches down but no other damage. Thank God.


I have to get in the car now to go to work. I try to get back on tonight.

Glad you didn't have any major damage!

Well I've decided my daughter needs another year of 5th grade, I'm just not ready for her to graduate elementary school. Today they had a little end of the year show, I wish I had known to bring tissues! Tomorrow is graduation, wish me luck.

That elementary/middle school transition is hard



Of course on my CRAZIEST week, our downstairs AC unit went out overnight. Grrrr. And the poor AC repair people are incredibly backed up with so many units going out so they have no idea when they will be here. I think DH and I concocted a plan but it's going to mean that I'm behind in my work. oh well. AC is much more important to me right now! It's 84 in the house now, and it's just Noon. DH wanted to put it off and we sleep upstairs tonight but I can't leave my pups downstairs in this heat. I'm such a sucker

But the good news is that my car is ready and they were able to do all paintless dent repair!

My plan for dinner (after I get in from church) is chicken gyros and tomato pilaf to go with it. I'm trying to get something close to what our local greek restaurant serves... we'll see!

 

[HERSEY]

Ellen Try this link http://chicago.doortodoororganics.com/blog/?p=195 It should show you how to cut a mango.

Aimee let me know how the gyros turn out. I love gyros.

 

[bigmerle1966]

Princess- nice pictures. Maybe someday I'll take a trip down under. I have to say though that my dream trip is an African safari, maybe if I ever have the money I can do both in the same trip.

Robin- tasty sounding recipe for ice cream. I am thinking of making a couple differant things of ice cream for the 4th. A local pick your own farm has tart cherries and blueberries ready right now, might have to make a 4th themed one.

Ellen- congrats on the new roof.

Nancy- yummy sounding cake. Might do that as cupcakes and toast the coconut.

Dinner tonight will be meatloaf

 

[shovan]

Hey y'all,

I haven't read back yet, wanted to post the very few food pics that I have taken lately. ( need to get it on here now while Jude is asleep in case I don't have the time to read too!)

A couple of weeks ago, I made an Asian Barbecue Chicken & Grilled Veggies. First time I ever tried grilling avocados, it had a whole different flavor that was good. ( used very firm avocado, salt, pepper, lime juice ) the strange but neat thing was the leftover half stayed green until the next day!

Monday Night's Dinner. I'm calling it Crawfish Boil Salad. I don't know why I hadn't thought of this before, a salad with all the fixings from our boil, including the dipping sauce. Topped butter & radicchio with the peeled
deveined crawfish, the sliced boiled potatoes, thinly sliced smoked sausage added sliced tomatoes. We always use whole cloves of garlic in there, so I squeezed several cloves of garlic, stirred that up with a cocktail sauce turned salad dressing by adding extra lemon juice & olive oil. It was a really good salad, Bob was "mmmn-ummmn" the whole he ate.

Yesterday I cooked asian marinated tuna & asparagus on the grill. Served it with a sweetened jasmine rice & wasabi sauce. Leftovers will dinner again tonight.

Okay will try to read now!

 

[TigerKat]

Becky & Sheryl – Both of your salads have my mouth watering!

Janice – I’m glad to hear you made it to work safely. I surely hope y’all catch a break with the weather.

Robin – You sound so much like me, not one school milestone passed without me crying. I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow.

Ellen – I hope y’all make it through this scary tornado season with your new roof intact!!! I cringe when hurricane season rolls around but that can’t compare with tornadoes. I will post both recipes for you shortly.

Aimee – I’m so sorry to hear about your a/c. I’d be the same way with the pups. Glad to hear your car is done and paintless at that!

 

[TigerKat]

Coconut Cake

1 pkg. yellow cake mix or pudding included cake mix
1 1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. sugar
2 c. coconut
3 1/2 c. or 1 container (8 oz.) Cool Whip

Prepare cake mix as directed on package baking in 13x9 pan. Cool 15 minutes then poke holes down through cake with utility fork.
Meanwhile combine milk, sugar and 1/2 cup coconut in pan. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer 1 minute. Carefully spoon over warm cake. Cool completely.

Fold 1/2 cup of the coconut into whipped topping and spread over cake. Sprinkle remaining. Chill overnight. Store in refrigerator.
__________________

 

[TigerKat]

Pork Scallops with Tomato Cream Sauce

Pork tenderloin, sliced or thinly cut chops
flour for dusting
3 Tbsp. peanut oil
2 Tbsp. margarine
2 Tbsp. minced green onions
2 tsp. dried basil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbsp. dry vermouth or white wine
1/8 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 c. tomato sauce
1/2 c. half & half
salt & pepper

Dust the pork in flour and saute in oil until brown on both sides. Remove pork and keep warm. Discard the oil and add margarine to the pan with onions, basil & garlic. Toss to coat and heat through. Add vermouth and mustard and cook for 1 minute. Add tomato sauce and half & half. Stir and reduce until thickened. Adjust seasonings and return pork to pan to heat through.

 

[liamsaunt]

Ellen, I am glad you got a new roof! Your husband is probably right--no more rain for you!

Here is how I peel a mango. Stand it on it's end, and slice off both of the wide rounded sides--go carefully and leave the pit behind. Sometimes there is a little more flesh on the narrow sides that you can slice off, sometimes not. Then I take the cutoff pieces and cut cross hatch marks down to but not through the skin. Then I push the mango half inside out so that the cut cubes pop up, and slice them off the skin.

Aimee, I am sorry about your AC, especially since it is so very hot where you are!

Sheryl, those dishes look AMAZING. I will please have some of the grilled veggies!

Janice thanks for the pesto recipe. I have made scape pesto before and it is very good. It is raining and not at all summery today so I think what I am going to do is make a soup from the lettuce, beet greens, scapes, and spring onions. I think I am going to freeze the dill for later use.

 

[HERSEY]

Becky Did you do anything special to the lemon dressing? I received my organic box today. It is always the highlight of my week, so many choices. What did you get in your CSA box?

I just got home and I haven't planned dinner yet. I had better figure that out.

 

[liamandcaili]

Today they had a little end of the year show, I wish I had known to bring tissues! Tomorrow is graduation, wish me luck.

I never make it through those ceremonies without tears. Good luck tomorrow!

Ellen -- I'm glad you have your new roof!

Aimee -- I hope the AC can be fixed soon. I can't imagine being without AC in your area.

Sheryl -- Gorgeous pictures!

Dinner tonight was spaghetti, salad and bread. The kids didn't eat much today, so dinner needed to be quick and filling. It is not very nice here today, so pasta was a good meal.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Well, AC guy out in time but the entire unit is frozen. Evidently in AC speak, that means we likely have a coil (?) that's bad in the unit in the attic. They can't work in attics in the heat of the day, plus the entire thing has to thaw out, so they will be back in the morning to climb in the attic and take a look.

Home ownership is grand

Thankfully, we got our upstairs unit repaired a few weeks ago so we have moved upstairs where it is cooling down (we have a guest bedroom). Otherwise, we'd be in a hotel!

Since it was 94 downstairs when I got in tonight, I opted to NOT turn on the stove/oven and cook. No thanks! I'll throw the stuff in the freezer and cook it later.

Becky and Sheryl, great pics!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Janice - Glad that you're okay.

Becky - Lovely picture. I have a recipe for a passionfruit cake. I'll dig it out and post it shortly....no pictures!
And I love mango...so there is usually never any left over here...but you could take the flesh, cut it into cubes and add it to icecream, if you're making any.

Robin - I hope you made it through graduation today.

Ellen - I'm on a diet right now but next time I feel like being naughty, I'm going to go get me a Burger with the Lot and post a picture...just for you.
I haven't made it into Zara yet...will let you know how it goes.

Congrats on getting a roof back on..... How was the Scensy party?

Aimee - hope you're happy with the repairs on your car. Have you gotten your AC back on yet? It's in the low 50's here....definitely no AC for me.



WFDT - Pasta with marinara sauce. And DS wanted another serve of the poached pear for dessert.


Keep well all.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Passionfruit Slice


For the Cake/Slice
Butter, 180g - chopped
Caster Sugar, 3/4 cup
Eggs, 2
Vanilla essence, 1 teaspoon
Plain Flour, 1/2 cup
Self Raising Flour, 1 cup
Passionfruit pulp, 1/3 cup


For the Frosting
Butter, 180g - chopped
Icing Sugar, 1 cup
Passionfruit pulp, 1/4 cup


Preheat over to 180 C. Brush a deep 20 cm square tin with oil and line with greaseproof paper.

For the cake/slice, in a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla essence and continue to beat until mixed in.
Sift the flours into the mixture and add the passionfruit pulp. Mix until just combined. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and spread evenly.

Bake for about 35 minutes or until pale, golden brown. Leave in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out on a wire rack to cool.

To make the passionfruit frosting, beat the butter, icing sugar and passionfruit pulp together until light and creamy.

When the cake is cool, spread the frosting over the cake.

You can serve this as a cake or as a slice. It makes about 16 slices.

If you cut it into slices, it is best eaten on the day; which is why I prefer to slice it like a cake - it keeps longer.
If you're using fresh passionfruit, you'll need about 8 medium sized passionfruits.

Enjoy!

 

[TigerKat]

Good morning everyone, quick fly by, hope to bbl to catch up.

WFD: Alice Springs chicken, smothered potatoes and broccoli.

 

[liamsaunt]

Becky Did you do anything special to the lemon dressing? I received my organic box today. It is always the highlight of my week, so many choices. What did you get in your CSA box?

I am picking up the box this afternoon. I'll post about it once I have it. For the lemon dressing, I just do one part lemon juice to three parts olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme to taste.

Last night's dinner ended up changing--John really wanted pasta so we had penne with spicy tomato sauce, salad, and bread. We are going to have the soup tonight, with panini made with the leftover grilled chicken.

Passionfruit Slice

Sounds delicious. Thanks!

WFD: Alice Springs chicken, smothered potatoes and broccoli.

What is Alice Springs chicken?

 

[EJ4Disney]

Aimee ~ Great news about you car. I abet you can't wait to get it back.
Not so great news about the AC - darn it - I was hoping for an easy fix. But at least in this heat you do have an alternate means of cool.

Janice ~ Thanks so much for the video. It helps to see what I am to do.

Sheryl ~ It is SOOOO good to see you here. Your grilled vegetables and tuna had me licking my screen. OMGoodness!!!

Robin ~ I sure am thinking about you today.

Kat ~ thanks for the recipes. I can't wait to try them.

Becky ~ thanks for the mango advise. It is exactly the same as the video Janice sent me. You all would have laughed your fannys off at me. I was peeling it then trying to slice it - those are slippery buggers.

OZ ~ thanks!! Oh and I thought I would correct my Zara story. I was telling Stephanie about you going to Zara and she said it wasn't France, it was in Barceloana Spain. Sorry!!!


My party was a complete success - almost $900.00 party!! Yea!! Stephanie was thrilled. I had 15 ladies in my kitchen all having a great time and lots of laughing. We had a ball!! I told Doug he could come home around 8:30. But when he came home they were all still there, so he stayed outside and eventually weeded my flower garden. Double bonus!!

Tonight is Men's night at the Country Club so I am on my own tonight. I have to work, after work, at the All Church Garage Sale we are having as a fund raiser for our Panama Mission Trip so I have to help (of course) with that and the rest of the night I am going home to purge a few spots so I can contribute a few things.

WFDT ~ fried egg sandwich, cantalope, and sliced cucumbers with onions.

Make it a great day my friends.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Hi! My friend left the other day. It was impossible to check in here; I was exhausted by the end of the day! I will post some pictures later, after I upload them. We did a ton of stuff, and the heat index was at or above 100 every day. It was a fun time, though.

I am going to attempt to deal with Facebook. It would not let me log in before my friend came; it said I didn't exist and I couldn't log on. Prior to that, many times when I posted something, it didn't actually post. It would be there, and then....it wasn't. It rarely tells me when there are new posts (when I logged in after a week, there were no new posts??), and the mobile app freezes constantly. I've had to delete it more times than I can count. I am not putting it back on my phone at this point. I am actually considering deactivating my account; I've had about enough of Facebook's glitches.

Ellen and Janice - I'm so glad you are safe from the crazy weather! And Ellen, I'm glad to hear you got your roof fixed.

Princess in Oz - The eclipse pictures (several pages back!) were very cool, as were the other set of photos from around town!

Aimee - Sorry to hear about your a/c troubles! I hope you can get them fixed SOON!

Glynis - I'm glad to hear your documentary is done and well-liked. What a project!

I'm totally missing a bunch here. I think it's impossible to catch up on here when you've missed more than a week!

Off to go fight with FB...

 

[TigerKat]

What is Alice Springs chicken?

It's a copycat recipe from Outback Steakhouse, basically sauteed chicken breasts topped with bacon, mushrooms, cheese and honey mustard sauce. It's Kyle's favorite!

 

[liamsaunt]

It's a copycat recipe from Outback Steakhouse, basically sauteed chicken breasts topped with bacon, mushrooms, cheese and honey mustard sauce. It's Kyle's favorite!

That sounds good! Can you post the recipe you use? Everything is better with bacon!

Welcome back Bethany! Looking forward to the pictures. Sorry you are having such trouble with facebook. Mine is wonky sometimes too.

Here is last night's dinner. Soup made with all the leftover's from last week's farmer's market box:

It was delicious! I ramped it up with some curried hot sauce and swirled in some yogurt for creaminess.

 

[EJ4Disney]

Becky ~ I am so envious of you. If I would put things like that together it would be awful. Only you could get away with that have it turn out delicious. It looks absoutley wonderful.

Bethany ~ How did you fare with FB. I don't frequent FB very often. I know I miss out on a lot but I just always seem to spend more time trying to figure it all out. I don't have time to spend there.

Good to see you!!

Kat ~ yes please post the recipe - it has bacon in/on it. It has to be good!!


Tomorrow is our All Church Garage sale with all of the proceeds to go to our Mission Trip to Panama. We leave in 19 days I so hope it is a good day. We have worked so hard getting it ready. So tonight will be spent getting all of the items priced.

Today is also Ethan's 7th Birthday. My oh my where has the time gone. We have bought him a "big boy" bike, I can't wait to give it to him. Matthew is coming home for the party tomorrow at the pool. Then the boys want to get some golf in.

WFDT ~ Roast Beef (it's in the crock pot) potatoes, carrots and a pear & pineapple jello salad. Nothing fancy but it will fill the holes.

Make it a great day everyone!!!