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

[PrincessInOz]

Alison - I'm looking forward to your food porn!

Saturday and almost lunchtime. It's rain, rain and more rain showers here. Humidity is probably at 99.9% right now inside the house. So I've opened the doors to let some more humid air inside. It is cooler outside than inside...because it was over 90 F yesterday and house warmed up a little.

I have no idea what's for dinner yet. But lunch will be ham and cheese sandwich for me and DS. DH has decided he'll have avocado.

I have my fruit soaking in bourbon and will probably be cooking my christmas cakes tomorrow. Now....I just need to find apricots at a reasonable price and make some jam.

It's too wet outside to do anything but I really need to get some weeding done. Maybe tomorrow.

 

[franandaj]

Your holiday menu sounds wonderful, Alison!

Been thinkin' of you and Fran. Sounds like things are getting better slowly. Hope it keeps heading in that direction.

Thanks, it's slowly getting better. Today I had the afternoon to work on the computer so I'm getting caught up with my friends in a box!

Alison - I'm looking forward to your food porn!

Thanks! I'm more looking forward to Fran getting off these meds and being conscious a little more than and hour or so a day!

 

[Goofyluver]

Bacon Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

Extra virgin olive oil
6 slices bacon, diced
3 T unsalted butter
1 onion, diced
Kosher salt
1/2 cup flour
1 quart whole milk, plus more as needed
1 lb. shells or other short pasta
2 c. freshly grated cheddar
2 c. freshly grated fontina
1 c. freshly grated parmigiano
1/4 cup dijon
tobasco to taste

Directions:

1. Drizzle a bit of olive oil in a large saucepan, add the bacon, and fry to crisp. Remove bacon from pan and drain on paper towels. Reserve bacon fat.

2. Add butter and onion to the pan with bacon fat, cook until onion is soft. Add the flour and cook, stirring frequently for 4-5 mins. Slowly whisk in milk, season with salt, bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook over low heat for 8-10 minutes until mixture thickens.

3. In the meanwhile, boil pasta accordining to directions. Drain and reserve.

4. To the sauce, add cheddar, fontina, parmigiano and whisk to combine. Add mustard and a few shakes of tobasco. Add a little more milk if the mixture seems too thick. (I didn't need any more milk) Stir in the bacon and pasta. You can serve now, or you can spoon into a baking pan and bake at 375 until top browns.




Yummy. This makes a bundle though. We have dinner for tomorrow too!

 

[franandaj]

That's not enough bacon!

 

[Goofyluver]

That's not enough bacon!

No crap. That's what I thought.



Here's my personal philosophy on recipes...the first time, you follow the recipe exactly. The next time...you add more bacon.

 

[PrincessInOz]

No crap. That's what I thought.



Here's my personal philosophy on recipes...the first time, you follow the recipe exactly. The next time...you add more bacon.

This one would be closer to my personal philosophy:

The first time, you follow the recipe exactly.....AND you add more bacon.

 

[franandaj]

This one would be closer to my personal philosophy:

The first time, you follow the recipe exactly.....AND you add more bacon.

I agree with this statement. I would take the number of expected servings, multiply it by three and that's the number of bacon strips to use.

I don't mess around when it comes to bacon!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Quick fly-by here. Today we are having a workshop for our Christmas musical at church today from 9-12. After that Scott and I are going to go run errands. I have my rewards certificate from Ulta I need to use and pick up a few Christmas gifts while I'm there, and Scott wants to go play with the Kindle Fire at Staples, which is in the same outlet as Ulta. We'll eat lunch somewhere while we are out.

Bacon Mac & Cheese

Oh. My. Word. I think I'm in love!!!!

 

[Nancyg56]

Well, at the awards ceremony, Leslie (Mary) was given a certificate, a medal and the best door prize of the night... and ipod shuffle! Her name was drawn out of 100 students. Well, can you imagine the look on her face when Mary brought that home for her??? That made her feel better, for sure!

Dinner tonight is pasta for the kids. Alan and I are going out to eat with my father, who is in town just for the day. I'm excited to see him!!!

What a nice surprise! Have a great visit with your Dad!

We have a birthday party to go to tomorrow and then need to finish getting the house ready for my dad to come on Monday. We're so excited. We pick him up on Monday afternoon.
.

You have got to be so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I really don't like not knowing what's going on, so I'm very glad to have this all figured out!

What a wonderful menu you have planned! I think that you made a wise decision to stay at home. Fran would have been beat by the time you even got to Thanksgiving dinner!

This one would be closer to my personal philosophy:

The first time, you follow the recipe exactly.....AND you add more bacon.

Mine as well but you all know what a hard time I have not adding a little more of anything I like

Nancy- Do you have the whoopie pie recipe? We love them here, always looking for a new recipe to try.

I will get it from Anna. can you believe I gave her the card and never kept a copy for me?

I cannot tell you how many non-whistling teapots my husband destroyed by putting water on to boil and then forgetting about it! Also, the handle gets a little warm so I wear a mitt to pour the water out.

That would be me. I just burned some sweet potatoes and I still cannot get the residue from the bottom of the pan

Another busy weekend. This was supposed to be my "spring cleaning" weekend before Thanksgiving but Dsis put a stop to that. She is going out of town and I am going down to play chauffer for the girls.

Holy Moly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will be up all night Wednesday cleaning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I finally made the chicken dish posted the other day. It was delicious! I baked it at 325 for about one hour in a stoneware pan. I kept it covered for about 45 minutes and uncovered at 350 for 15 minutes (about). Thursday we went birthday shopping for Kady at LL bean but we all got "presents". Then Buddy took us to a BBQ place that we never would have given a second glance to if Dan had not told us how good it was. I cannot figure out how to post pics here but I have managed to learn how to do that on FB so I will post them there. Buddy had 2 deep fried burgers! Oh my goodness, that was a new way to say Belly Buster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not sure what to do today. I think I am watching Nola and Rylee but if Brian is home I am not. But.................. Welby called yesterday and told me that Brian was off so he had my Angels. Buddy told me that he had to stop by on the way home from work, Nola was crying because she was not coming here We bought them bunny slippers Thursday so I may need to bring them over this morning, Buddy won't wait for Christmas

 

[Nancyg56]

Lindsay- I just want to say that if Kevin is teasing I would laugh but honestly if he is not that nonsense would stop. as i said, I go out of my way to accommodate guests if I know that there is something specific they want but there is no way I would let anyone make others uncomfortable at my table. My Mom was a fanatic about making sure everyone had plenty at our table but my IL's were terrible! Eating there was a nightmare for years until we stopped going.

So I just wanted to give you all the update on Buddy's drama. Turns out his partner has a reputation for temper tantrums. No one would deal with his wife. There were "bets" how long Buddy would last and most of the guys were surprised he made it all summer. Bud had never seen that side of him, he generally is pretty easygoing so it was okay. The only one who had had to deal with the "control freak" side of that couple was me and I really only had to put my foot down once. Anyway, Bud went to give him money for our share of the travel money we wanted to give the two workers and he said it was like nothing happened Bud said he thanked him for all he did, told him that he appreciated his help and just before he left he told him he was sorry it did not work out. See, that is the difference between him and me.........he takes the high road and I go from 0 to 60 in 2.2 seconds!

 

[Goofyluver]

This one would be closer to my personal philosophy:

The first time, you follow the recipe exactly.....AND you add more bacon.

I agree with this statement. I would take the number of expected servings, multiply it by three and that's the number of bacon strips to use.

I don't mess around when it comes to bacon!

I like both of your philosophies.

Quick fly-by here. Today we are having a workshop for our Christmas musical at church today from 9-12. After that Scott and I are going to go run errands. I have my rewards certificate from Ulta I need to use and pick up a few Christmas gifts while I'm there, and Scott wants to go play with the Kindle Fire at Staples, which is in the same outlet as Ulta. We'll eat lunch somewhere while we are out.

Ulta!!!!

Does yours carry OPI? Can I give you a list and you can pick me up a few?

And I'd love to know what y'all think about the Fire.

I am not sure what to do today. I think I am watching Nola and Rylee but if Brian is home I am not. But.................. Welby called yesterday and told me that Brian was off so he had my Angels. Buddy told me that he had to stop by on the way home from work, Nola was crying because she was not coming here We bought them bunny slippers Thursday so I may need to bring them over this morning, Buddy won't wait for Christmas

You're such a good Nan!

Lindsay- I just want to say that if Kevin is teasing I would laugh but honestly if he is not that nonsense would stop. as i said, I go out of my way to accommodate guests if I know that there is something specific they want but there is no way I would let anyone make others uncomfortable at my table. My Mom was a fanatic about making sure everyone had plenty at our table but my IL's were terrible! Eating there was a nightmare for years until we stopped going.

So I just wanted to give you all the update on Buddy's drama. Turns out his partner has a reputation for temper tantrums. No one would deal with his wife. There were "bets" how long Buddy would last and most of the guys were surprised he made it all summer. Bud had never seen that side of him, he generally is pretty easygoing so it was okay. The only one who had had to deal with the "control freak" side of that couple was me and I really only had to put my foot down once. Anyway, Bud went to give him money for our share of the travel money we wanted to give the two workers and he said it was like nothing happened Bud said he thanked him for all he did, told him that he appreciated his help and just before he left he told him he was sorry it did not work out. See, that is the difference between him and me.........he takes the high road and I go from 0 to 60 in 2.2 seconds!

I call that 0 to 60 (that I have also) my Latina fire.

How odd about Buddy's partner. Just reaffirms, IMO, you guys opinion of him. You know, that he could treat Buddy the way he did and then act as if nothing happened.

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

Good morning y'all!

Vacation is heeeeeeeere!!!

We have the birthday party for our neighbor at noon and then we're coming home to try to finish up working around the house before Monday!

Tonight's dinner will be leftover mac and cheese for the boys, and I'm not sure what UncleR and I are having. We'll see. Something easy though.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

 

[Nancyg56]

Here is the partial list of Pie Night Pies

Salted caramel Pie
Cranberry Cherry Pie
Maple cream Pie
Turtle Pie
Pineapple Cream Pie
Apple Pie
Hello Dolly Pie
Frans Delight Pie

 

[Nancyg56]

This one is in the oven. I have never made it so we'll see

The recipe is from Marshall Faye, the former executive pastry chef at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt.

VERMONT MAPLE CREAM PIE
Yield: 8 servings
1 cup solid vegetable shortening
1 1/2 cups plus 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 cup ice water
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
2 cups real maple syrup (not pancake syrup)
1 cup heavy (whipping) cream
Lightly sweetened whipped cream or Vermont Cheddar cheese, for serving
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Using a pastry blender or two table knives, cut shortening into 1 1/2 cups flour in a large bowl until mixture is crumbly. Add ice water and salt, and work mixture into a dough. Do not overmix or dough will be tough.
2. Roll out the dough 1/8 inch thick. Fit into a 9-inch pie pan.
3. Break eggs into a bowl and whisk slightly. Add maple syrup and cream. Sift in the remaining 3 tablespoons flour. Whisk for 1 minute.
4. Pour into the pie shell; bake for 30 minutes. The pie should puff up and be a golden color. The filling will settle as it cools.

This pie takes more than 30 minutes. I baked for about 40 and thought that it was done but the center never really set. The flavor was good although it was a little sweet. I will make it again but not for a while, it broke my heat to toss as it was a bit pricey to make.


Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/...2a9-53ae-b510-1f57b8473052.html#ixzz1eATcalua

 

[Nancyg56]

My recipe for Salted Caramel Pie was from our local paper. This one is Evil Chef mom, which is the same as mine but I made an Oreo Cookie Pie Crust.

salted caramel pie

1 1/4 cups thin chocolate wafers, crushed (nabisco's famous chocolate wafers work wonderfully)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
two 14-ounce cans sweetened condensed milk
fleur de sel
2 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Preheat the oven to 350°. In a food processor, pulse the chocolate cookie crumbs with the melted butter until the crumbs are moistened. Press the crumbs evenly into a 9-inch glass or metal pie plate. Bake for about 10 minutes, just until lightly browned. Let cool. Increase the oven temperature to 425°.

Scrape the condensed milk into a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish and sprinkle with a scant 1/2 teaspoon of fleur de sel. Cover the dish with foil and place it in a roasting pan. Add enough hot water to the pan to reach one-third of the way up the side of the baking dish. Bake, lifting the foil to stir 2 or 3 times, until the condensed milk is golden and thickened, about 2 hours; making sure to add more water to the pan as necessary. The consistency of the caramel should be like dulce de leche. Don't worry if it is lumpy; it will smooth out as it chills.

Scrape the caramel filling into the pie crust, smoothing the top. Spray a sheet of plastic wrap with vegetable oil spray and cover the pie. Place in the refrigerator until the filling is chilled and set, at least 4 hours.

Using an electric mixer with whip attachment, beat the cream with the confectioners' sugar until firm. Remove the plastic from pie and place the whipped cream on top and sprinkle with fleur de sel. Cut into wedges and serve.

This was a good idea and everyone liked it but Holy Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There was no way to eat a large piece of this pie, even small pieces were too big.

My caramel is still in the oven but taste tests every time I stir are positive

 

[dgbg100106]

That's not enough bacon!

 

[dgbg100106]

No crap. That's what I thought.



Here's my personal philosophy on recipes...the first time, you follow the recipe exactly. The next time...you add more bacon.

Exactly...... You modify to your taste and expectations.

 

[dgbg100106]

Alison - Your meal sounds great.....

Nancy - I am like you, if someone messes with my family, I cannot back down and I just fly over the top...

Morning everyone, we are doing well and the weather is getting colder here. I am so not ready for this season. I bought my turkey last night and finalized my menu...

Turkey, dressing, cranberry relish, brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes and some kind of dessert....

Maybe Nancy's salted Carmel Pie... that sounds wonderful.

 

[HERSEY]

My internet is again spotty at best. So don't worry about me. You might want to say a pray that I don't strangle AT&T though.


WFD is chicken wings and Bang Bang shrimp. I am not sure if Mr A sill like the Bang Bang. More for me.

 

[TigerKat]

Glynis – I hope Leslie is feeling better.

Jen – We went to a restaurant we hadn’t been to in years. We had raw oysters that were huge. I had red snapper topped with crabmeat, mushrooms and a sherry sauce and Johnny had a flounder stuffed with a shrimp stuffing. Everything was GREAT!

Alison – Your plan for the week looks great. I especially like the Dungeness Crab, love them!!!!!

PIO – I was obviously reading too fast, I thought you said you had your feet soaking in bourbon!

Nan – Deep fried burgers??????? I’ll bet seeing Nola cry got to Buddy. I agree with Jen on Buddy’s partner and glad to hear it seems to be working out.

I'm starting my Thanksgiving cooking today. I'm making the turkey brine, the roasted turkey gravy and the cranberry sauce. I pulled a container of shrimp creole out of the freezer, will cook some rice and that will be dinner!

 

[Goofyluver]

Jen – We went to a restaurant we hadn’t been to in years. We had raw oysters that were huge. I had red snapper topped with crabmeat, mushrooms and a sherry sauce and Johnny had a flounder stuffed with a shrimp stuffing. Everything was GREAT!

I'm starting my Thanksgiving cooking today. I'm making the turkey brine, the roasted turkey gravy and the cranberry sauce. I pulled a container of shrimp creole out of the freezer, will cook some rice and that will be dinner!

Your dinner sounds great! I'm hoping we'll get to do a vacation to your area. I'm thinkin' we may need a tour guide.

Hope your cooking goes well!