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

[dgbg100106]

Good morning everyone...

Friday was David's B'day so we spent the day together and had lunch at Ted's Montana Grill and I had a wonderful Buffalo burger on top of a great salad. I also had a Dirty Martini with Blue Cheese stuffed olives... So good.

Then we went to Addams Family at the Hippodrome in Baltimore and really enjoyed the show...

Yesterday was his Birthday dinner and we celebrated by having calamari with a pepper, wine , butter sauce, next was a Cesar salad and the main course was citrus lobster, dessert was mixed berry cobbler!

I have pictures and will post later.

My b'day is in a few days and my birthday present showed up yesterday so I thought that this group of people would understand it the most....

 

[Goofyluver]

My b'day is in a few days and my birthday present showed up yesterday so I thought that this group of people would understand it the most....

Helloooooo gorgeous!!!

Happy birthday, Brandi and David!

I'll be back later to post. The DIS is majorly screwing up for me.

 

[Nancyg56]

Glynis- that poor woman Thank God the family has a good support system because this entire tragedy is too much

PIO- I know how life gets in the way so take care of yourself and post when you feel up to it. In the meantime, I miss you!

Ellen- Back issues are the worst! I sure hope you get some relief soon!

Brandi- Love that birthday gift!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We went to VT yesterday with another couple. Their vacation home is in an area that was hit very hard by Hurricane Irene, it was very sad. Home after home after home was boarded up, for sale or just plain empty. Businesses closed or gone. This is in a ski area and not even enough tourists to boost the local economy. We did eat well at a brewery/pub and then to a winery.

Today I am a slug and I think I will just catch up on my laundry, visit Bud's mom quick and then make an easy supper.

 

[Goofyluver]

Good morning y'all. It's Spring Break!

It has been doing nothing but raining here, but it's supposed to wrap up around midday and then it's supposed to be lovely for the rest of the week!

Tonight, thanks to Glynis, I'm making Pioneer Woman's braised short ribs over fettuccini. Don't know if I'm making the pasta from scratch yet or not, we'll see.

Here's some of my food pics from this week:

Aimee's Tortellini Spinach Bake

Shrimp Fra Diavolo

Chipped Ham Sandwiches

Creamy Chicken Taquitas

Chocolate Chip Lava Cookies

Cranberry Pistachio Cookies

 

[franandaj]

Jen - those pictures look awesome. My cheerios for belteakfast pale in comparison!

Brandi - what an awesome birthday present! Happy birthday! I hope you post the recipes for your dinner here!

Nan - glad you had a nice day. It's so sad to see the devastation that Mother Nature can cause in person. I hope the area rebounds.

Glynis - that poor family. Every update reveals more and more sadness. I'm glad Adam will recover, and I truly hope the father gets some help. He obviously needs it desperately.

PIO - sounds like you are keeping busy! I only seem to pop in here every so often too. Things have been busy!

Yesterday we did more planting and I ended up making a frozen lasagne for dinner. I'm having that and Fran is having the leftover spinach casserole. Lunch is the big deal here. I'm hosting a meeting so I'm making Chinese Chicken Salad, Egg Foo Young (leftovers, don't tell), egg rolls, shumai, pot stickers, and shrimp chips.

 

[dgbg100106]

Jen - those pictures look awesome. My cheerios for belteakfast pale in comparison!

Brandi - what an awesome birthday present! Happy birthday! I hope you post the recipes for your dinner here!

Nan - glad you had a nice day. It's so sad to see the devastation that Mother Nature can cause in person. I hope the area rebounds.

Glynis - that poor family. Every update reveals more and more sadness. I'm glad Adam will recover, and I truly hope the father gets some help. He obviously needs it desperately.

PIO - sounds like you are keeping busy! I only seem to pop in here every so often too. Things have been busy!

Yesterday we did more planting and I ended up making a frozen lasagne for dinner. I'm having that and Fran is having the leftover spinach casserole. Lunch is the big deal here. I'm hosting a meeting so I'm making Chinese Chicken Salad, Egg Foo Young (leftovers, don't tell), egg rolls, shumai, pot stickers, and shrimp chips.

I will post the recipes as soon as I get to a computer, probably tomorrow.

Your meal sounds wonderful....

 

[dgbg100106]

Helloooooo gorgeous!!!

Happy birthday, Brandi and David!

I'll be back later to post. The DIS is majorly screwing up for me.

David got me the 9 piece set a couple of years ago, this is the 20 piece set, and none of the items are repeated. Needless to say I was thrilled.

 

[dgbg100106]

Jen, can I please get the recipe for the cranberry and pistachio cookies..

 

[Goofyluver]

Jen, can I please get the recipe for the cranberry and pistachio cookies..

This is the one I used:

http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2010/12/day-1-of-12-days-of-christmas-cookies.html

 

[bigmerle1966]

Behind again. Busy weekend here and I sure do need a nap.

Went to a pancake breakfast fundraiser at Applebees early yesterday. Then my oldest DN came to spend the night, her sister had a swim meet, so I took her and my youngest godson shopping. We had appetizers at Costco, then lunch at 5 Guys and dessert at a place called Yogi's Castle (it's a yogurt place) I sure killed my dieting yesterday.

My DN and I went to see The Lorax last night, it was okay, then I took her to meet my sis at my other nieces swim meet. On the way back I went to the gym and despite my "bad" day yesterday I have lost 4 lbs.

Next weekend I get to reverse that and take the little one for the weekend. She's a little easier though as she is happy reading, drawing and doing quiet stuff, her sister, not so much.

It's supposed to be a beautiful week this week and it's going to be a busy one, lots to do at work, an evening meeting, trying to get lots done here at home and I also have the remainder of my root canal too.

Not sure what's for dinner tonight.

 

[EJ4Disney]

Good morning girls,

PIO ~ Good to see you my friend. I am totally in awe of your willpower. Good for you but I do really miss your food porn.

Glynis ~ I am so glad the news about Adam is good, but just devastated about the family. What a horrible, just heartbreaking story. I have included them in my daily prayers.

Jen ~ Happy Birthday Bill I hope his cake turned out perfectly.
Lady, I just want to tell you how proud I am of you. You have come a long way - your pictures and blog are just amazing. Good for you

Brandi ~ Happy Birthday to you and David. What a wonderful birthday present.

Nan ~ Your weekend sounds perfect. Vermont and a winery - just about perfect to me. I do understand the devastation though. Just breaks my heart.
How's MIL doing?

Fran ~ Wow, your meal for your meeting sounds amazing. I wish I was coming. Would you please share your recipe for shrimp chips? Never ever heard of them, but they sound interesting.

Merle ~ Congrats on the 4 lb. loss Good for you.
I so want to go see Lorax. Was it good?
Good luck with the root canal this week.


I spent all day on Saturday getting my taxes ready to take to the accountant tomorrow. Yuck - that is my most unfavorite thing to do. Doug was in Kearney for Marty's shower. It was so cute. They had a diaper shower. All the guys had to bring diapers (Doug said they should be set for awhile ). They went golfing in the afternoon then dinner back at the house. There were 15 guys there, so they had a great time.

It is supposed to be into the 70's this week and very little wind, I can't wait. I am so ready for spring. The farmers were all out in the fields this weekend, so planting is right around the corner.

WFDT ~ Beef stew in the crockpot and sourdough bread in the bread machine all ready for when I get home from Zumba.

Make it a great day everyone!!

 

[dgbg100106]

Fried Calamari

Ingredients
Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
1 pound clean squid with tentacles, bodies cut into 1/3- to 1/2-inch-thick rings
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons dried parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 lemons, cut into wedges

Directions
Pour enough oil into a heavy large saucepan to reach the depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium heat to 350 degrees F. Mix the flour,
parsley, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Working in small batches, toss the squid into the flour mixture to coat. Carefully add the squid
to the oil and fry until crisp and very pale golden, about 1 minute per batch. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the fried calamari to
a paper-towel lined plate to drain.
Place the fried calamari and lemon wedges on a clean plate. Sprinkle with salt

Ricardo Sauce

Ingredients
2 tablespoons clarified butter (you'll need about 1/2 stick butter; directions follow)
2 tablespoons finely chopped yellow onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
2 to 3 long hot peppers sliced into rings and seeded
6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons dry white wine
Red Pepper flakes
Kosher salt
White pepper
2 tablespoons cold butter

To clarify butter: Melt 1/2 stick butter over low heat. When melted, remove from heat, and set aside for several minutes to allow the milk solids to settle to the bottom. Skim the clear (clarified) butter from the top, and discard sediment. (This can be done ahead.)

To make sauce: Heat clarified butter, add onion,garlic and long hot pepper rings, and sauté until transparent.

(Don't let them get brown or it will change the sauce once the cold butter is emulsified!!!)

Add lemon juice, red pepper flakes and white wine, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes to reduce liquid. Remove from heat and swirl in cold butter until sauce is smooth and emulsified.

 

[dgbg100106]

Cesar Dressing

2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
3 or 4 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
2 oz can anchovies, or 1 tablespoon anchovy paste
1 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons red wine with garlic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1. To prepare this dish, get out your blender.
2. In it, combine the garlic, mustard, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and undrained anchovies.
3. Put the lid on the blender and whirl it around until it is smooth. With the blender still running, begin pouring in the oil, in a small, narrow stream.
4. The dressing will begin to emulsify, thicken and become creamy, sort of like mayonnaise. After you've added all of the oil, turn the blender off.
5. Measure in the pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Blend briefly to mix in the seasonings.
6. Scrape the dressing into a pint sized jar. Store in the fridge.


Salad, was Romain lettuce, grated Parmesan Cheese, and garlic croutons.

 

[dgbg100106]

Orange Chipotle Glaze for Lobsters

Ingredients

2 tablespoon chipotle chilli, canned in adobe sauce
1 cup orange juice (fresh is always better)
3 tablespoons cilantro leaves,
1 cup of Olive Oil
Salt to taste

Blend everything together, to make a vinaigrette, reserve some to brush lobsters with while on the grill and serve the remaining with the lobster.

 

[dgbg100106]

Cobbler

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups white sugar, divided
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold butter
1/4 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
4 cups mixed berries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/4 cup boiling water just until mixture is evenly moist.
3. In a separate bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in cold water. Mix in remaining 1 cup sugar, lemon juice, and blackberries. Transfer to a cast iron skillet, and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Drop dough into the skillet by spoonfuls. Place skillet on the foil lined baking sheet.
4. Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until dough is golden brown.

 

[bigmerle1966]

Merle ~ Congrats on the 4 lb. loss Good for you.
I so want to go see Lorax. Was it good?
Good luck with the root canal this week.

It was okay, had a great message about taking care of nature so we don't lose it. Kind of slow where they tell the story of what happened to the trees but then it picks up at the end.

We did get a little advert for Despicable Me 2 which will be out sometime next year and it was so funny! It's on imdb.com, just do a search for Despicable Me 2.

Tonight is my usual Monday fare of salmon although I did find a rub recipe I am going to try so we'll see how it tastes.

 

[dgbg100106]

It was okay, had a great message about taking care of nature so we don't lose it. Kind of slow where they tell the story of what happened to the trees but then it picks up at the end.

We did get a little advert for Despicable Me 2 which will be out sometime next year and it was so funny! It's on imdb.com, just do a search for Despicable Me 2.

Tonight is my usual Monday fare of salmon although I did find a rub recipe I am going to try so we'll see how it tastes.

I love to grill my salmon, It is more expensive than rib eye right now and I love Salmon....

 

[Nancyg56]

Brandi- nice bunch of recipes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have been busy!

marilyn- no matter what, you are super busy! Buddy took Kady to see the Lorax. They liked it but I bet Buddy dozed and kady just loves the movies

I am trying out a Babyckae maker that I got last year. I am not sure I like it. Marisa said to try her cakepop maker. She said they little balls are like lite donut holes. I wanted to make something cute for Nola's snack day tomorrow but my little cakes

 

[dgbg100106]

Brandi- nice bunch of recipes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have been busy!

marilyn- no matter what, you are super busy! Buddy took Kady to see the Lorax. They liked it but I bet Buddy dozed and kady just loves the movies

I am trying out a Babyckae maker that I got last year. I am not sure I like it. Marisa said to try her cakepop maker. She said they little balls are like lite donut holes. I wanted to make something cute for Nola's snack day tomorrow but my little cakes

I have pictures but they are still on my camera... maybe one of these days I can get the uploaded...

Here is a link for very detailed information on making a recipe, it might help...
http://www.lovefromtheoven.com/2011...maker-and-a-babycakes-cakepop-maker-giveaway/

This one is a lemon cake recipe
http://ingoodtasteblog.net/in_good_...recipe-babycakes-cake-pop-maker-giveaway.html


Maybe these will help? They sound cute!

 

[Goofyluver]

Brandi~ I'm totally in for the calimari. I hope you get to show your pics!

Ellen~ Big C's birthday isn't until this Friday, so no cake until then.

Nan~ I have the babycakes whoopie pie maker, and I've used it once with great success. I made the red velvet whoopie pies that were in the cookbook that came with it. They were good! Just sweeeeet!

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

Well, we're home from running around today!

Our Tooter cat has had a bit of a difficult few weeks with a skin thing of some sort. So we took her to the vet today (for the 2nd time) and hopefully she'll get better soon.

After the vet we ran up to the store and got a bit of shopping done.

We have a neighborhood meeting tonight. I made chocolate chip scones for that and they are SO cute!

Tonight's dinner is ancho-chili marinated shrimp quesadillas. YUM!

Hope everyone here has a great day!