The What's For Dinner Thread - November '09(recipe index in OP)

[liamandcaili]

Ellen -- I am sorry for your loss.

Aimee -- Thanks for the reviews. I wrote up some for our trip while in the Orlando airport, but the DIS ate it.

Wendie -- I agree about being okay with nothing to do. The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind. The kids and I spent most of today in PJs, and we might just do the same tomorrow.

Greg did get lucky at the airport. His flight had been cancelled and he was rebooked on another flight. That guy has serious luck.

Okay, I don't remember everything I wrote in my restaurant review, but we ate at two new places for us, Sanaa and Tokyo Dining. I was very pleased with both places. Sanaa gets such a mixed review, but I thought their appetizers were very good. The sauces that accompany the bread service were delicious. My only complaint was that I thought the saag paneer was too salty. However, I would definitely go back there and get the appetizers and perhaps an order of the tandoori chicken, which looked amazing. Our friend ordered it but he didn't share. I guess it was good.

At Tokyo Dining, Becky and I shared an appetizer of the vegetable tempura. The tempura sauce was light and the accompanying sauce was good. The kids shared a grilled steak, which was perfectly cooked, and Caili loved the teriyaki sauce that we ordered on the side. I had the bento box for my entree. It was a little more food than I expected, but I enjoyed being able to sample all the different flavors. The beef teriyaki was good, but there was too much of it. I did not love the tuna sashimi. I thought it was bland. The seawood salad was very good, and the box was rounded out with more vegetable tempura. The only thing I missed in the bento box was the dipping sauce for the tempura. I would also return here. The service was excellent. The only caution I would give is that they only offer chopsticks. With a little practice, though, even Liam and Caili managed fine.

Oh, and the food at Jiko was excellent...definitely the best meal of the trip. We also ate at Artist Point (shockingly disappointing), Raglan Road (good), Flying Fish (very good), Kona Cafe (good) and Ohana breakfast (exactly what we expected...good and filling!)

 

[TigerKat]

Laura - What did you have at JIKO and Flying Fish?

 

[EJ4Disney]

We did have one downside, Rick's Mom passed away late Christmas Eve night. We were expecting it, so it wasn't a surprise, but nonetheless if you can spare a thought for the rest of the family I'd appreciate it. Rick's pretty stoic and seems to have things in perspective, but the rest of tem, not so much.

Lori I am so so sorry to hear of the passing of your MIL. Please give Rick a hug for me.

Laundry is what is on my agenda for today. The hamper is over flowing and I don't think we have another clean towel in the house. I have really taken it easy the last few days.




Maria, as long as there is enough of it (and there was), vodka can always work wonders. I still say next year you and Greg need to try out a Southern Christmas. If nothing else, it will make his family wonder.




What great gifts! I always had such a hard time buying for my great aunt in the nursing home, but I think you nailed it!




Janice, in my house, that is a bonafide EMERGENCY!!!! I'm so glad the neighbor was able to help.




Sorry about your puppy. I hope she is better today. And I hope you enjoy your Wii! We really like ours, and Hailey does too.




Lori, I'm so sorry about Rick's Mom.


As I told Nancy, today is laundry, laundry, and more laundry. With a few other jobs thrown in. Tonight may be appetizer type things - we don't have leftovers. Christmas Day was steak at my Mom's and I gave our Christmas Eve leftovers to Kenny's sister. They had been sitting out on the buffet too long for Kenny to be willing to eat them again. Them still being warm wasn't good enough for him. Maybe because he isn't doing the cooking.

But my husband actually surprised me for the first time in our marriage. Kenny is NOT a gift-giver. He hates to shop and always asks me what I want for an occasion a day or two before and either I pick up my own gift or he tells me to go to the spa on him.

Anyway, a couple of months ago, I was looking at house things with him when I asked to run in an antique/gift store to look for a gift for a friend. In there, I saw a beautiful painting of two egrets in the marsh at dusk. It was huge (over four feet wide and over three and one-half feet tall) but I fell in love with it. I priced it and told her I would check the wall size and get back with her. Kenny pulled out the house plans and told me because the new house had an open floor plan and so many windows, there wouldn't be a wall it would fit on. I was disappointed, but forgot about it.

Needless to say, Kenny lied about the wall size. He went back to the store the next Monday morning and bought the painting and had the lady hold it until Christmas. I was thrilled.

I am so proud of Kenny. What a wonderful thing for him to do.

Lily & I will be off to the vet in the morning. Her neck is acting up again. She has winced several times, won't do stairs, eat, play etc.
She was doing so great I had put her injury as something in her past.
I had 1/2 of her pain pill left from last time so I started her on that

I so hope Lily is feeling better. I so hope they could find out what is wrong and make it better for her. Please let us know.

Wendie ~ Did you get your Kindle for Christmas? If so and you have any questions I would be happy to help. I LOVE my Kindle!!

Kat ~ How is your MIL doing today? I so feel for her. That has to be hard!
I thought of you all week and I hope you are feeling better.

Laura ~ I am so glad you had a great time. I thought of you and hoped it all turned out. Please tell him thanks for all he does the next time you talk to him. I know the 2 weeks went fast, but what a Christmas you all had.

Aimee ~ Welcome home. I loved your food review. What a nice time you had. And snow when you got home!!

Glynis ~ It sounds like you had a wonderful Holiday. Would it at all be possible to get your sisters recipe for the Tomato/Basil soup. That is my all time favorite soup and have never found a good one. TIA

I know I have missed a bunch and I am sorry but my mind is a bit mush today. Please forgive me I will talk to you all tomorrow.

 

[TigerKat]

Ellen - Unfortunately MIL had a really bad day. She's not supposed to try and get to the bathroom on her own yet and she did and took a fall. She's OK but spent the day in the hospital. Thanks for asking.

 

[TigerKat]

Good morning!

WFD - Royal baked chicken, pasta and lemon/parm broccoli. bbl.......

 

[TigerKat]

Sheryl -

 

[HERSEY]

Sheryl

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Happy Birthday Sheryl!!!​

Good Morning!

Today will be whatever is left in the fridge. I have some running around today so I can get out of here tomorrow...bloodwork (I have put off the endo, gyno and dentist so I have to play catch up...the dentist will be the most work), Kohls for exchanges, grocery store for a couple things. Nothing major.

Ellen, I am so sorry about the loss of your dear horse, Sandy.

Kat, I hope you're feeling better...I am sorry that your MIL had and fall and is having a rough time. I am dreading how my Mom will be when the time comes. If you ever need me, please call.

I have to come back and read Aimee and Laura' reviews...thank you! The pics look awesome!

Have a great day all!

 

[Nancyg56]

Good Morning!

Ellen- I am so sorry to hear you lost your beautiful horse. It is always difficult to lose a pet but losing such a magnificent friend

Kat- your poor MIL. It must be so difficult for her to adjust, the fall just adds to that. I know that everyone is different but my auntie Angie had a difficult transition when she went into a nursing home. She took a little while but then she was okay. It is never like home but she got so much more interaction with people and the CNA's there fell in love with her. Please don't dispair, she may find that there is a lot to enjoy there and her health will benefit as well.

Maria- Poor Lily I hope that she gets better fast!

Sheryl- Happy Birthday! I hope that the day is as wonderful as you are!

Lauren- You are one busy gal!

Janice- dug out yet??????

Aimee- excellent trip report! Loved the food porn!

Becky- dinner looks so good!

Laura- I took yesterday off too. I did get dressed but did nothing productive. Enjoy the week with the kids1

WOW! it is windy today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last night we had turkey scampi over WW pasta. It was pretty good but I had no fresh lemon juice so it was no as good as usual

I have a small pork roast out for tonight. I'll bake potatoes and have a veggie with it. I will probably use a mustard glaze.

 

[Glynis]

Good morning, everyone!

Aimee - thanks for the TR! Loved the pictures and the reviews!

Ellen - I'm so sorry about Sandy! What a hard thing!

Kathy - I'm sorry about your MIL. It's so hard to watch them get older, huh?

Lauren - Sounds like you had a good Christmas with your boys! Hope you have a fun New Year!!!

Sandy - I have never made empanadas. I love them, but have never attempted them. Good luck!

Yesterday was my cousin's son's wedding. It was beautiful, but FRIGID!!! My bones ached, it was so cold! I don't think the bride and groom noticed, though! They were so happy!!!

This morning, all my family left for their own homes, so it's going to be quiet here for a day or 2. Thursday afternoon, we are having company for the New Year. So, we'll eventually have to reclaim the house, and get it ready. It will be fun, though.

Dinner tonight will be something warm and comforting. I'm thinking tuna casserole, or maybe tuna pizza with soup. We'll see what I can come up with from the pantry.

I'm posting my sister's recipe for tomato/basil/parmesan soup, because it's AMAZING!!!

Tomato/Basil/Parmesan soup

3 C. whole tomatoes with juice
1/4 C. vegetable oil
1 C. each finely diced celery, onion and carrots
4 Tbs. fresh basil (1 Tbs. dried)
1 Tbs. fresh oregano (1 tsp. dried)
1/2 bay leaf
4 C. chicken broth
1/2 C. flour
1/2 C. butter
2 C. warmed half and half cream
1 C. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. salt

Puree tomatoes and juice. Set aside. Heat oil in a 4 quart soup pot. Add celery, onions, and carrots. Saute 5 minutes. Add basil, oregano and bay leaf. Add tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring soup to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until carrots are tender, approximately 15 minutes. While soup simmers, prepare a roux. Melt butter in a skillet over low heat. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly 5-7 minutes. Slowly stir 1 cup hot soup into roux. Stirring constantly, add another 3 cups soup and stir till smooth. Immediately add roux back into the soup pot. Simmer, stirring constantly, until soup begins to thicken. In a separate saucepan, warm half and half cream, set aside. Add parmesan to soup and stir to blend. Stir in warm half and half. Add salt. Simmer soup 15-20 minutes stirring occasionally to blend half and half and cheese into soup as soup thickens.

 

[bigmerle1966]

Hello WFD people.

I'm dropping by to say hi and to ask if anyone has a tried and true beef empanada recipe. My brother's MIL makes wonderful empanadas, but she keeps telling me she can't give me a recipe because she doesn't use one.

Hello. Sorry, I have never made them before. You could try going to allrecipes.com, they usually have a recipe for anything. You could also try the Food TV site as well.


Ended up eating brautwurst (sp) for dinner last night. Went out shopping and didn't get home until after 9 so the fish was out but I did get the grits! So dinner tonight will be salmon, goat cheese grits and zucchini.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

SHERYL xoxo

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Kat, I'm so sorry about your MIL. It must be so tough on you & Johnny

Ellen, I would love to see a photo of Sandy. If your up to it please post the photo. I thought of you all of last night.

Nan, the wind is howling here. It will be PJs today & I'm going to post some photos on FB.

Wendie, did you go to the dark side named KINDLE?

Gretchen, that Kenny is a keeper

Glynis, you holidays always sound so perfect

Wanted to let you all know that Emily & Linda are safely in the windy city. They had a full day of unpacking, shopping & a few meetings yesterday. They are thrilled with their apartment

They left Sunday morning......Dad was stoic until he said goodbye & just broke down. When Linda & Emily were at the counter they heard Emily's name being called & 6 of her friends were at the airport with "break a leg" banners, hugs, kisses & many tears.
If anyone needs a get away weekend I know a great place in Chicago where I can get great Billy Elliot seats

Dinner is up in the air~

 

[Zandy595]

Hello. Sorry, I have never made them before. You could try going to allrecipes.com, they usually have a recipe for anything. You could also try the Food TV site as well.

Thanks, I've looked everywhere to try and find a recipe that's looks similar to DB's MIL's, but no luck. I think I'll wing it and see what happens.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHERYL!!!

 

[liamsaunt]

Laura - What did you have at JIKO and Flying Fish?

At Jiko we started with a couple of the flatbreads: the goat cheese, kalamata olive, and the chef's special. Both were very good. Most of us ordered the pan seared fish with tomato buerre blanc and vegetables of the moment as our entree. Our friend had the charmoula chicken, which I've ordered before and enjoyed. The fish was very good--I was glad that Laura and I split an order though, because the portion was huge!! I think Laura and I split a salad also...do you remember, Laura?

At Flying Fish Laura and I again split food to share. We ordered fried calamari for the table to share, as well as a couple orders of tuna hand rolls. Entrees ordered were the potato wrapped snapper for the guys, and Laura and I shared an order of the seared sea scallops on pumpkin risotto. The risotto was epecially delicious.

I did not take pictures at any restaurants except Sanaa and Kona Cafe. I already put these photos in the "food porn" thread on the restaurant board, but I'll duplicate here. Kona Cafe, seared mahi mahi with bok choy, assorted mushrooms and asian noodles. This as my dish. The fish, bok choy, and mushrooms were all good, but the noodles were terrible. They were both undercooked and mushy at the same time! How that is possible I don't know, but they were iinedible.

Kona Cafe fish tacos. This was Laura's plate. I believe the fish was tilapia. I tried a bite and the flavors were good, the taco shell was very thick and doughy--tasty, but extremely filling. The pasta salad was a little spicy.

Sanaa apetizer sampler (with half of it already dished out, sorry!) Left to right you have roasted cauliflower in tomato chutney (bland), lamb kefta in tamarind sauce (did not try), and vegetarian samosa in mango sauce (good):

salad sampler. Left to right there is watermelon mint (good), potato spinach (OK, not great), and chickpea cucumber (tasty):

Vegetarian sampler. Left to right, stewed lentils (looks gross, excellent flavor) basmati rice, and stewed cauliflower (a little bland):

Not sure WFD yet.

Happy Birthday Sheryl!!!

 

[liamandcaili]

Kathy -- I'm sorry to hear your MIL is having a tough time adjusting. I hope she feels more at home soon.

Lauren -- Good luck getting all your errands done today.

Gretchen -- I hear you on the laundry. That is on my list today.

Glynis -- Enjoy your couple days of quiet. That is what we have planned for today too. Tomorrow Caili and I will bake cookies. She made some pretty skate cookies for her coach yesterday, but my family is expecting our holiday cookies on New Year's Eve.

Nancy -- I am taking most of today off too. I am doing laundry and reclaiming my kitchen, but that's about it. I really should hit the grocery store too, but I think I won't.

Happy Birthday Sheryl!! I hope you have a great day.

I heard from Greg this morning, and he made it back to Germany safely. Thank you all for wishing him well and a safe return.

Laura - What did you have at JIKO and Flying Fish?

Let's see...At Flying Fish Caili had steak. She said it was very good. (She is sitting here helping me with the review ) The grownups shared the calamari and tuna tartare appetizers. I really liked the Asian spiced calamari, as it was different than the usual spicy pickle preparation. The tartare was also good. Becky and I shared the arugula and watercress salad with the gorgonzola, pears and candied walnuts. This was one of my favorite salads we had on the trip. Becky and I made a point to order salad with most of our meals because so many entrees don't come with enough vegetables. We then shared the Maine scallops entree, which was served with a pumpkin sage risotto. I thought it was delicious, and the shared portion was perfect for us. For dessert, Caili got the children's chocolate puzzle with the cupcake and Liam just had the puzzle. Caili said the dessert was really good; however, it did not compare to the dessert she had at Jiko or to the Napoleon dessert she had in France.

At Jiko, Caili started with the apple slices and carrots with peanut butter. The adults had the olive flatbread (oh so yummy!) and the chef's special flatbread, which was also good. We also shared the crispy savannah rolls, which were a little like spring rolls, but with corn and cheese in them. I liked them, but not as much as the flatbreads. We also had the taste of Africa breads. For an entree, Becky and I shared the Jiko seasonal salad, which was huge and we didn't eat most of it, and the maize crusted fish with vegetables of the moment and tomato beurre blanc sauce. The fish they used the night we were there was called wreck fish. We had never heard of it before, but it was very good. It reminded me a lot of striped bass, which is a local favorite here. This dish was so good, that is what I made for Christmas dinner here! I used salmon instead of wreck fish though. For dessert, Caili had a selection of chocolate that included a chocolate sorbet, a chocolate mousse and a chocolate soup. She loved it. Liam had a doughnut (I didn't know you could make an eggless doughnut) and sorbet. He was very excited about the doughnut.

We may do takeout for dinner here. Caili has skating, so we are a bit crunched for time. I am not really looking forward to the rink this afternoon. It is so cold and WINDY here.

I'm sorry if I missed something. It took a while to write all this with Caili sitting here adding her two cents. BBL

 

[TigerKat]

Thanks for all the kind words of support regarding MIL. I'm praying it gets better for her soon, she's such a sweetheart.

Becky, Laura and Caili - Thanks so much for sharing your meals at JIKO & FF with us! That reminds me I still have a ton of food pics from October that I never got around to posting if anyone's interested.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Ellen - Unfortunately MIL had a really bad day. She's not supposed to try and get to the bathroom on her own yet and she did and took a fall. She's OK but spent the day in the hospital. Thanks for asking.

Oh no, Kat. Not a great way to spend a day. I hope she recovers quickly

Wanted to let you all know that Emily & Linda are safely in the windy city. They had a full day of unpacking, shopping & a few meetings yesterday. They are thrilled with their apartment

They left Sunday morning......Dad was stoic until he said goodbye & just broke down. When Linda & Emily were at the counter they heard Emily's name being called & 6 of her friends were at the airport with "break a leg" banners, hugs, kisses & many tears.
If anyone needs a get away weekend I know a great place in Chicago where I can get great Billy Elliot seats

Dinner is up in the air~

I'm so glad they made it there! I am just so darn excited for her and I don't even know her! I would looooooooove to visit Chicago. DH has never been there or NYC but we have promised my sweet Uncle (the artist that stores his paintings in my house) that we WILL get to NYC to visit him this spring. So that's next on the list!


Kathy - post those pics!!

Laura, Becky, and Caili - thanks for the reviews and photos! Flying Fish is one of only 2-3 signature spots we haven't tried yet and need to. Sounds delicious! I also need to try Artist Point but didn't one of you say it was disappointing?


I am at work for a couple hours today - it's pretty dead, I think the whole staff is in a post-Advent coma - but since I was out I need to catch up on some year end budget things.

Tonight is smoked fish chowder from the latest Real Simple. Looks yummy... they are calling for more snow and ice this afternoon so we want to stay put just in case. This is the oddest winter for DFW to get snow 3x in a matter of a month

 

[Aimeedyan]

Happy Birthday, Sheryl!!

 

[shovan]

Hey my friends!

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes! I feel so loved!

DH said I must have won the record in AX Murderer friends!

I'm making the most of my day, got DH off to work & went back to sleep! Yay, I finally feel rested! No cooking for me today either, we will be going out to dinner with my Mom & DD, SonIL is working. (Kat, the charbroiled oysters are calling me!)

Ellen, I'm so sorry you've lost your friend! That must be very difficult for you. Prayers for you dear girl.

Laura, I was just looking at Becky's vacation pics on FB! It's truly heartwarming to see your family all together & so happy! It must be so difficult for you & the children to send Greg off again, but I'm really happy that you all had this time together. Prayers for your sad hearts & for Greg.

Kathy, I'm sorry that your MIL had a fall, that is sad & scary.

Aimee, Thanks for the food porn!! I glad you & your Mom were able to spend the time together.

Becky, Thanks for the WDW food pics & the home grown ones too! Your food probably beats them all! Love your new dishes!

Lauren, I saw your house pics! I'm so excited for you , it's going to be beautiful!

I'm sure I've missed a bunch. I'll check back in later.