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

[PrincessInOz]

Good morning....It's a quarter to 1 in the morning here....Sunday morning....way past my bedtime.

I'm officially stuffed to the gills tonight. We had my company Christmas party tonight. Dinner was a 3 course bash. I took pictures but don't know how they'll turn out. It was awfully dark in there. I'll download and see how they are. My starter was a cold selection of local produce. I think I tasted scallop, prosciutto, salmon, carrot.....
My main was lamb. It was really tender and yummy.
Dessert was a selection of a chocolate mousse/cake; mango sorbet; passionfruit sorbet; lemon tart....and coffee came with macaroons. I don't think I got a picture of the macaroons.

I got home and the coffee has kicked in. And its still warm....Just about 70F here. Snow sounds delightful right about now.

Hope you're all having a great day.

 

[PrincessInOz]

REALLY the WALL? Then it beat out the one that had the previous record....I'll give you another clue....the final quote on the record. "There really is no dark side of the moon, in fact it's all dark."

Oh and BTW when I did a "Programmed Reading" as one of my projects in Speech and Debate Class (I was on the Debate Team for my last three years of HS), my PR came from The Wall. I could probably almost recite the words to almost every song on that album, as well as several other Pink Floyd albums.

EDITED: OMG! I wish Fran were healthy enough to attend or desire to go to Rock Concerts! I would love Love LOVE to see the Wall! I know EVERY tune, the whole story and progression, I figured it out and put together a storyline back in HS when it came out. That's what I did for my PR! I'm so jealous!!!!!! I'd give you my Wicked Tickets to see the Wall!

I'll pass on the Wicked tix. Already caught that show in Melbourne...

I got in REAL early for the Wall and hocked an arm and leg in the process. My seats are front row (a little to the left side of the stage, rather than right in front.....but I'm hoping that we'll be able to see and touch the sweat from where we're sitting).

 

[Goofyluver]

I'll pass on the Wicked tix. Already caught that show in Melbourne...

I got in REAL early for the Wall and hocked an arm and leg in the process. My seats are front row (a little to the left side of the stage, rather than right in front.....but I'm hoping that we'll be able to see and touch the sweat from where we're sitting).

 

[PrincessInOz]

Good night. Have a good day....I've got more revolting door tomorrow.....if Christmas over yet? *sigh*

 

[dgbg100106]

So we can't just pop over for a bit then.

That would be along trip for you for sure... Now I would feel very blessed if you came ALL that way to see us, but again, it is very far from you....

We will be in your area, in Sept/Oct of 2012.... And we will see you then!

 

[dgbg100106]

OK, so here have been some of the dinners that I've made over the past couple days.

Lasagna Soup

This is the Corned Beef Ruben Casserole

And on my plate

And this was last night's dinner of Dungeness Crab

Everything looks wonderful!

 

[Goofyluver]

That would be along trip for you for sure... Now I would feel very blessed if you came ALL that way to see us, but again, it is very far from you....

We will be in your area, in Sept/Oct of 2012.... And we will see you then!

Yay!!!

 

[dgbg100106]

Yay!!!

 

[Nancyg56]

So I am completely lost lost lost...............................but I cannot follow Marisa and Daniel when they have movie quotes either

I have the brittle in the oven and hope it comes out good! I also made Glynis almond joy pie and it is chilling now too. We are going to my SIS Il pre Christmas dinner and I need to make desserts or apps. I made lousy apps so I am getting a few desserts going. I made a peppermint dip but grabbed the almond instead of the peppermint, tried to fix it and so I might just run out to get stuff to start again.

Marisa is picking up the food from a local grocery store. We are happy because no one will eat much from her house, it is filthy. We have all offered every way from Sunday to do this for her and to cook but she said she had it under control and wanted everything to be "just like meme's. Her DH said she has this down to a science. What they both forgot is that my niece does it all and she isn't going to be able to this year so the busy couple decided to just order food. Anyway, she reconsidered my offer to make something

Last nigth we took the girls to dinner where Welby works. BAD idea Nola was an Angel, kady well behaved. Rylee??????????????? A spitfire! She has no inside voice, bellows Potty every time she wants to get up ( and I am not one to take that to chance) and thinks that Mommy can come whenever she raises her arms and calls her. If we were not out Buddy and i would have been laughing but this was where Welby works and we did not want to embarrass her. Buddy said Kady was the same but I had forgotten that Pa did a lot of walking when we took her out as a baby.

 

[Goofyluver]

So I am completely lost lost lost...............................but I cannot follow Marisa and Daniel when they have movie quotes either

I have the brittle in the oven and hope it comes out good! I also made Glynis almond joy pie and it is chilling now too. We are going to my SIS Il pre Christmas dinner and I need to make desserts or apps. I made lousy apps so I am getting a few desserts going. I made a peppermint dip but grabbed the almond instead of the peppermint, tried to fix it and so I might just run out to get stuff to start again.

Marisa is picking up the food from a local grocery store. We are happy because no one will eat much from her house, it is filthy. We have all offered every way from Sunday to do this for her and to cook but she said she had it under control and wanted everything to be "just like meme's. Her DH said she has this down to a science. What they both forgot is that my niece does it all and she isn't going to be able to this year so the busy couple decided to just order food. Anyway, she reconsidered my offer to make something

Last nigth we took the girls to dinner where Welby works. BAD idea Nola was an Angel, kady well behaved. Rylee??????????????? A spitfire! She has no inside voice, bellows Potty every time she wants to get up ( and I am not one to take that to chance) and thinks that Mommy can come whenever she raises her arms and calls her. If we were not out Buddy and i would have been laughing but this was where Welby works and we did not want to embarrass her. Buddy said Kady was the same but I had forgotten that Pa did a lot of walking when we took her out as a baby.

I hope tonight goes well. If you won't eat the food, I hope it's okay to eat while there, !

Rylee sounds cute!

 

[PrincessInOz]

good morning. It's still Sunday and I don't think I slept much between my last post on this thread and now.

 

[Nancyg56]

I hope tonight goes well. If you won't eat the food, I hope it's okay to eat while there, !

Rylee sounds cute!

The food is from the grocery store and will not have stepped foot into her house. We will eat.

Rylee is hysterical! Welby thought that she would have Brian's personality because she looked like her but she not only looks like Welby she is Welby in miniature Welby's dad says he just watches and laughs Brian told us last night that he thinks this little one is going to be the reason they lose sleep

good morning. It's still Sunday and I don't think I slept much between my last post on this thread and now.

Oh no!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO back to bed!

 

[Goofyluver]

good morning. It's still Sunday and I don't think I slept much between my last post on this thread and now.

Oh nooooo. Nap?

Rylee is hysterical! Welby thought that she would have Brian's personality because she looked like her but she not only looks like Welby she is Welby in miniature Welby's dad says he just watches and laughs Brian told us last night that he thinks this little one is going to be the reason they lose sleep

Those are always my favorite kinds of kids!

 

[franandaj]

Nancy - I hope everything goes well for you tonight!

PIO - I hope you retain your sanity during this hectic time!

Jen - Glad you are still chillin!

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

Tonight we're having a Turkey Involtini that I put together last night. It is stuffed with Ricotta, Bread Crumbs, Mushrooms, Spinach, Onions, Celery and spices.

Our friend Arline is on her way here and she'll stay for a few days before we all head off to Las Vegas!

I'm gonna go look up that Chocolate Chunk Recipe and make it.

 

[Goofyluver]

Tonight we're having a Turkey Involtini that I put together last night. It is stuffed with Ricotta, Bread Crumbs, Mushrooms, Spinach, Onions, Celery and spices.

Our friend Arline is on her way here and she'll stay for a few days before we all head off to Las Vegas!

I'm gonna go look up that Chocolate Chunk Recipe and make it.

You're almost on vacation!!!!

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

Tonight's dinner was:

Chicken Piccata

2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (or use cutlets)

2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

1/3 cup flour

Salt and pepper

4 Tbsp olive oil

4 Tbsp butter

1 tsp minced garlic

1 cup chicken stock or dry white wine

6 Tbsp lemon juice

dash red pepper flakes (optional)

1/4 cup brined capers

1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley


Cut the chicken breast halves horizontally, butterflying them open. If the breast pieces you are working with are large, you may want to cut them each into two pieces. If the pieces are still thick after butterflying, put them between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound them with a meat hammer to 1/4-inch thickness.

Mix together the flour, salt, pepper, and grated Parmesan. Rinse the chicken pieces in water. Dredge them thoroughly in the flour mixture, until well coated.

Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet on medium high heat. Add half of the chicken pieces, do not crowd the pan. Brown well on each side, about 3 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the pan and reserve to a plate. Cook the other breasts in the same manner, remove from pan. Cover with aluminum foil and keep warm in the oven while you prepare the sauce.

Add the chicken stock (or white wine), lemon juice, and capers to the pan. Use a spatula to scrape up the browned bits. Reduce the sauce by half. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Plate the chicken and serve with the sauce poured over the chicken. Sprinkle with parsley.





***The above recipe is as it was written on Plain Chicken. Nowhere in the recipe does it say to add the garlic called for in the ingredients. So, once I removed the chicken from the saute pan, I threw it into the pan and let it saute for about a minute before I added the stock, juice and capers.

This was lemony! But delicious! It was odd to compare it to UncleR's recipe which has the tomatoes and artichokes in it as well. IMO, my wife's chicken piccata is better and I missed the artichokes. We'll definitely have this again, but I may reduce the lemon a bit. Orrrrr, I'll just have UncleR make her recipe when I'm craving chicken piccata. After all, it is my favorite thing she makes.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Cell phone camers don't flash.

My old one didn't but my new one does! Love it!


I started my XMas shopping yesterday and made a little progress... last night I picked up Taco Cabana for us because I was later than I thought getting back home.

Today was Christmas with DH's immediate family; we drove to his sister's house. DH smoked a turkey and I brought spinach and artichoke mac and cheese.

Tonight is leftovers... or a fudge poptart, which is what I ate

 

[Nancyg56]

Our friend Arline is on her way here and she'll stay for a few days before we all head off to Las Vegas!

.

Have a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Those are always my favorite kinds of kids!

Mine too

Dinner was nice! We all had a great time and there was a surprise waiting for me. My nephew Steven was there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I made the almond joy pie, a peppermint dip served with pirouette cookies and the cookie brittle posted the other day.

Anna made something like the saltine candy posted earlier but she made it with graham crackers. Oh my stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHe has been assigned that for Christmas

Buddy is going back into the woods tomorrow. He has been falling trees with Dan and hauling them out. HE has to get them cut up into lengths that fit in his dump truck and haul them to Welby's farm. He will be busy upon layoff I think

 

[PrincessInOz]

Finally home after another hectic weekend.

You know....there is such a thing as too much going on and over-activity!

I realised I only got about 3 hours sleep last night and am particularly slow right now. I'm loading up pictures and should be able to share some of my weekend if I'm thinking straight later.

I'm too tired to catch up on your news; so I hope I haven't missed out on anything major.

WFDT? I told DH that he needs to work it out. I'm gonna have a simple toast with avocado. I heard him talking to DS and I think DS was going to have some microwave bowl noodles from Costco. I suspect DH will be happy to have avocado on toast too.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Cherry Muffins


Remember the cherries I picked from my tree? Well, they were real good eating for about 3 - 4 weeks after we picked them...and then sadly, when I next went to fridge, I noticed that some of them were starting to go off.

Not wanting to waste them, I made a batch of these muffins.

My starting ingredients:

• Wholewheat Self Raising Flour, 2 cups - shifted
• Cinnamon, 1 teaspoon
• Salt, 1/2 teaspoon
• Baking Powder, 1 tablespoon
• Sugar, 1/2 cup - I ran out of white sugar so I used 1/4 cup white and 1/4 cup brown
• Egg, 1
• Milk, 1 cup
• Butter, 1/4 cup
• Vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon
• Fresh Cherries, about 1 cup - pitted and halved

Heat oven to 200°C.

In a bowl, mix the butter and sugar; then add egg, milk, vanilla extract and mix until well blended.

Add cherries and stir gently to blend

Sift the salt, baking powder, flour and cinnamon; and add to the wet ingredients.

Mix until well combined.

Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full.

Bake cherry muffins for about 20 to 25 minutes or until a cake skewer comes out clean. Allow to cool on a cake rack.

I ate mine hot from the oven...because I just couldn't wait!

Enjoy!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Bits and pieces from this weekend....


Caught up with some 3D friends on Friday night after work. I took the opportunity to take a look at some of the christmas decorations around town....

One of our department stores decorates their city window every year with a moving puppet/sound and light show. They get a local celebrity to sing the song and sell the CD for charity...Windows kinda look like this, with this year's theme being Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

...and Vickie - not quite a bawbag; but I did think of you!

Christmas around town...

I wasn't entire satisfied with my shots around town and think that I might have the opportunity to revisit some of these sites on Tuesday or Friday night this week. Also hoping to catch the sites around twilight time. We'll see.