What’s for Dinner Tonight?

[Meriweather]

It's my son's birthday tomorrow, but I'm making his dinner tonight. 5 pounds of spicy Korean bbq chicken, 1 pound of regular bulgogi, Korean glass noodle salad, rice, kimchi, cucumber salad. I used to spend time making sooo many little side dishes (banchan) and fermenting my own kimchi, but I'm the only one who cares, so I skipped all that. This is for only 4 people, but my son asked for LOTS of leftover chicken so he could eat it all week.

Happy Birthday to your DS.

Last night I had Baked potato soup, Beef Wellington, peas, carrots, NSA lemon custard.

I will actually be glad to get home and do my own cooking

 

[cabanafrau]

It's my son's birthday tomorrow, but I'm making his dinner tonight. 5 pounds of spicy Korean bbq chicken, 1 pound of regular bulgogi, Korean glass noodle salad, rice, kimchi, cucumber salad. I used to spend time making sooo many little side dishes (banchan) and fermenting my own kimchi, but I'm the only one who cares, so I skipped all that. This is for only 4 people, but my son asked for LOTS of leftover chicken so he could eat it all week.

You may want to consider taking steps to make sure you are deep undercover because if my daughters are ever able to figure out your identity they will be not only coming for dinner, but probably requesting you adopt them.

 

[fla4fun]

I have some fresh broccoli to use up, so I may do a spicy veggie stir fry with rice.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I'm currently sitting here watching it snow , so we're sticking with the plan to stay in this evening & eat leftovers.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Took a Ziplock bag of turkey wings, gandules (a kind of pea-ish bean eaten in the Caribbean, predominately) and rice out of the freezer for tonight’s dinner.
I can tell just looking at the bag it’s meant to serve at least 3 people meaning it was actually supposed to go on Christmas vacation with us.
So much for checking off the list before loading the blessed cooler! At the end, getting out the door was a true whirlwind affair. Nobody “starved to death” on the vac but I promise self should we ever do it again things will change, .

Dessert will be some watermelon chunks straight from WF. Hope they’re tasty and ripe as that supermarket can be hit and miss unlike Stew Leonard’s which is always right…sigh.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Leftover chili from Super Bowl

 

[cabanafrau]

Today was an appointment day with my mother, so I'm planning to put together a hamburger soup sort of like Pioneer Woman's recipe. That way I'll have plenty to send over to my in-laws for dinner and enough left for DH and I to have a portion that I'll add picante sauce to so that it will have a bit more zing.

Please say a prayer that the powers that be change course and continue to allow for virtual dr. visit option after March. It will be incredibly challenging and eye-poppingly expensive to get her back and forth to all of the appointments in person.

 

[AnnaS]

Took leftover frozen beef stew out.

Since I cook for one now ( - actually the past few years, my late DH did most of the cooking), when I do cook, I make extra for the next evening and sometimes depending on the meal, I freeze portions. I definitely do not cook every night.

 

[dizneegirl]

No clue. DH hasn't been able to keep anything down today, though he doesn't feel bad/sick. So guess I'll rummage around. Might just be a packet of cheap ramen...

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Took a Ziplock bag of turkey wings, gandules (a kind of pea-ish bean eaten in the Caribbean, predominately) and rice out of the freezer for tonight’s dinner.
I can tell just looking at the bag it’s meant to serve at least 3 people meaning it was actually supposed to go on Christmas vacation with us.
So much for checking off the list before loading the blessed cooler! At the end, getting out the door was a true whirlwind affair. Nobody “starved to death” on the vac but I promise self should we ever do it again things will change, .

Dessert will be some watermelon chunks straight from WF. Hope they’re tasty and ripe as that supermarket can be hit and miss unlike Stew Leonard’s which is always right…sigh.

You are so organized. I often forget about what's in my freezer. Do you use any particular system?

Would love to hear everyone's freezer favorites. I aspire to be organized enough to plan ahead and have stuff in the freezer for emergencies (and remember it's there).

 

[LoveDaisy]

Stuffing stuffed chicken with rice and peas. I prepped the chicken yesterday which made for an easy dinner tonight. I should do that more often.

 

[WorldWacky]

Dh made a pork tenderloin with some sort of rub he concocted, cheesy broccoli rice and green beans. It was delicious.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Turkey burgers and fries. I was actually craving and wanting open faced turkey with gravy and mashed potatoes, but husband couldn't find turkey at grocery store (they were sold out--gotta love a ski town this time of year!) So went with the turkey burgers and fries lol!

 

[Meriweather]

It was Dutch night on board.
Pea soup, Pork Cordon Bleu with potatoes, peas and carrots, NSA apple pie

 

[NYCgrrl]

when I do cook, I make extra for the next evening and sometimes depending on the meal, I freeze portions. I definitely do not cook every night.

This makes a lot of sense for us, solos. Recently, I’ve invested in kitchen tools that will make storing individual portions easier. Bought a vacuum sealer and found it useful for everything but soups and stews. For them I discovered 1 cup covered “ice trays”” real game changers.

 

[AnnaS]

This makes a lot of sense for us, solos. Recently, I’ve invested in kitchen tools that will make storing individual portions easier. Bought a vacuum sealer and found it useful for everything but soups and stews. For them I discovered 1 cup covered “ice trays”” real game changers.

My son uses a vacuum sealer. He loves it and takes up so much less space! I keep forgetting using ice trays for certain things - for instance when I open a can of tomato paste (I keep forgetting to try and buy the one in the tube). Or sometimes I need a bit of sauce for flavor/color and don't need much. Ice trays would be good for this also.

PP mentioned some meals to freeze,

These come to mind right now,

I make meat loaf - slice up the left overs and freeze two slices in each portion
Fried chicken cutlets - freeze two slices for one portion - (don't usually fry/much of anything really)
Beef Stew
Soups - Lentil/split pea/chick peas//chicken
Baked Ziti (when Ricotta is on sale/I make a few small trays/I always have mozzarella in the freezer)
Sauce (w/or without meatballs)
Meatballs that I did not put in sauce
Chicken Parm
Eggplant Parm

I have frozen leftover mashed potatoes/stuffed mushrooms after a holiday

I shop now every two to three weeks (unless one of the kids/family come over).

I buy certain Entamanns cakes when on sale - slice individual portions and freeze

I freeze english muffins, bread and bagels/I take as needed

I always have clementines/apples/oranges since they last in the refrigerator. I take out two pieces at at time and replace as I have them.

I do slice up mangos, strawberries and freeze as well as blueberries. I can add them to my cereal or oatmeal when the bananas are done. I only buy 3 slightly green and one yellow to have the next day for my cereal or oatmeal. I don't buy more. They all turn brown/too ripe for me at the same time.

I buy a few fresh vegetables each week (always have some store bought frozen for backup). If I don't get to use some, I will also freeze raw. Wash, dry and freeze (especially when on sale)

Cut up broccoli/crowns. Asparagus, peppers, broccoli rabi (these I give it a quick boil)

Some meals are quick and easy. Some take more time and work. Some are just too much of a hassle for one portion. I don't like wasting food after shopping, cooking and cleaning up and spending $$.

I have also started using a toaster oven so I don't need to turn oven on many times.


Would love tips/suggestions!!!!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

You are so organized. I often forget about what's in my freezer. Do you use any particular system?

Would love to hear everyone's freezer favorites. I aspire to be organized enough to plan ahead and have stuff in the freezer for emergencies (and remember it's there).

We just put some leftover chili in freezer last night. I said “I hope we remember it’s there!!”

 

[cabanafrau]

This makes a lot of sense for us, solos. Recently, I’ve invested in kitchen tools that will make storing individual portions easier. Bought a vacuum sealer and found it useful for everything but soups and stews. For them I discovered 1 cup covered “ice trays”” real game changers.

Oooh, the ice trays sound like an idea solution for expanding what I can freezer prep for my in-laws.

Recently I batch cooked several things to fill their freezer with pre-made homecooked meals. Some of the options that I made that expand on @AnnaS' list included salmon croquettes and stuffed cabbage rolls. Even tucked a bit in our freezer for rushed/lazy nights.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Oooh, the ice trays sound like an idea solution for expanding what I can freezer prep for my in-laws.

The ones I bought are called Souper Cubes or Trays, I think. You can get them from Sur la Table, Williams-Sonoma and Amazon with Amazon being the most inexpensive for the double pack. They have a nice range of sizes and I opted for the one cup version to tryout.

Great lists of make ahead dishes, ladies !
I’ll add on if I think of something

 

[leebee]

If we have an open can of tomato paste, I put a layer of olive oil on top of the paste, enough to cover, then cover the can with foil and refrigerate it. It's keeps pretty well. The cold olive oil looks gnarly, so I try to scrape it off when I need to use the paste, but really- what's wrong with a bit of olive oil in your sauce?

Dinner last night was leftovers. The sausage rigatoni casserole and sticky chicken legs are gone! There is one lunch-sized serving of squash soup left and about a cup of pea casserole, so mission mostly accomplished. There is still a lot of roast turkey breast (from a turkey, not the deli) and stuffing left, though, so I think turkey sandwiches are on the menu plan for the weekend, at least for lunch.

Dinner tonight is TBD. I have to work until at least 7pm and didn't have either a meal plan for this week OR time to make anything this morning. On my way out the door I said perhaps cheese omelets, but I have a full day and work to finish up that should have been done by now, so someone else will have to kick in. There's still turkey breast left, and several cans of Campbells soup, if people get desperate.