What's for Dinner ~ Sunday August 12th

[Lucinda]

[Laurian]

1. Pork tenderloin cooked on the grill.

Baked cheese grits, green beans and corn fresh from the farmers market, salad and rolls. Vanilla cupcakes and ice cream for dessert. (Dessert was chosen with the grand kids in mind.)

[cbayer]

3. Please tell me more about the baked cheese grits. I love cheese and grits.

[Laurian]

6. Baked cheese grits are easy and quite versatile.

I don't really use a recipe anymore, i just improvise. I make grits according to directions using one cup of grits. Once the grits are cooked, I add a little whole milk or cream, a little cream cheese if I have it on hand, about 8 oz of cheese (I've used cheddar, jack, smoked gouda. Today, I'm going to try a combo of smoked provolone and parmesan.). Mix it all together, add a beaten egg (tempered with a little of the grits to avoid scrambling the egg) and season to taste with black pepper, salt if needed. Pour into a buttered casserole dish and bake at 350 until hot and bubbly, usually about half an hour.

My son absolutely loves them and will keep coming back to the leftovers until they are gone!

[cbayer]

8. Yum. That sounds delicious and I will try.

Thanks!

[Laurian]

9. Growing up, a "starch" was a major component of every dinner.

It was always potatoes, rice or pasta. When I moved south, I learned to appreciate grits as a new ingredient that I could use to round out a meal. I keep thinking I want to give quinoa a try, but haven't done so yet. It's really hard for me to break away from standard fare and think of new possibilities.

[cbayer]

10. I grew up the same way and still tend to have a starch.

Rice is my favorite, but I have used grits for a number of things. I particularly like it with gravy based dishes (grillades and grits!). I've also used slices of premade polenta.

I have tried several times to use quinoa and I just don't like it. It's too tough and has no taste, imo.

[Phentex]

11. I try to flavor the quinoa as much as possible but prefer it

in a blend of rice. I really like a little onion, garlic and sundried tomatoes mixed in and I don't mind it plain. But it's never something I'd rave about, lol.

I'm used to a starch but we have cut way back so I'll take the quinoa over nuttin!

[cbayer]

15. I've tried it several different ways.

Reminds me of my brief affair with macrobiotics, a relationship I would just as soon forget.

[Phentex]

22. LOL!

One day my boys will remember when their parents went through a Superfoods phase!

[cbayer]

2. I was actually able to get HIM to make quesadillas last night.

I wished I had filmed it, though. It was hilarious, including one scene of the steak sliding out of the oven onto the floor.

Anyway, they were good and he learned alot.

Tonight, I am going to do something with the rest of that steak. I am thinking stroganoff.

[Callalily]

4. Lentil Ancho Tacos,

will serve will cilantro, salsa and avacado!

[blaze]

5. Asian Beef Skewers!

Flank steak was sliced and has been marinating overnight!

[livetohike]

7. Soy dogs, macaroni salad and corn on the cob

Feeling like a picnic but it is cold (for August) and raining here today.

[Phentex]

12. Something on the grill...going to Costco in a while...

and I'll see what looks good.

[yellerpup]

13. We are dining out tonight

at Il Sorriso, a beautiful waterfront dining establishment specializing in Italian food. Celebrating 33 years of marriage!

[cbayer]

16. Happy, happy anniversary and mega-congratulations!

[yellerpup]

19. Thank you!

We're going to laugh, we're going to dance, we're going to hot-cha-cha!

[cbayer]

20. Weren't you hurt recently? Are you all healed up, lol?

[yellerpup]

25. I'm still wearing a brace on my wrist

and have to go get a bigger, more complicated one tomorrow. The foot is better though! I wore high heels tonight!

[livetohike]

17. Happy 33rd Wedding Anniversary!

Enjoy your celebration

[yellerpup]

18. Thanks! Full enjoyment fully anticipated!

[Phentex]

23. Happy anniversary!

We'll expect a review tomorrow.

(I mean of the restaurant!)

[yellerpup]

29. Il Sorriso is a favorite of ours.

It's a little problematic for me in that it is Italian and I am allergic to cheese, but they do have other choices. I had chicken scallopini with roasted potatoes, chick peas, and grape tomatoes in an intense garlic sauce. Mr Pup had the veal with arugula, cannellini, and roasted cauliflower. Montepulciano washed it all down well. I had a berry tart for dessert and he had the tiramisu. Then we joined friends at the local pub for a nightcap of Frangelico. We had a swell time!

[fizzgig]

27. happy anniversary!

hope you two had a wonderful evening.

[yellerpup]

28. We did have a wonderful time!

Good food, ran into friends during the nightcap segment of the evening. Mellow, sweet. Thanks for your good wishes.

[hobbit709]

14. Breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches.

found a deal on 100% natural pork tenderloin for $1.99/lb at my local market.

[GoCubsGo]

21. Grilling out tonight...

Chicken breasts, eggplant, mushrooms, peppers and onions.

[pinto]

24. Quick mac 'n cheese deal. With diced tomatoes, zucchini, onion & garlic.

(ed for grammar)

[fizzgig]

26. batwiches

bacon, tomato and avocado. i picked up an heirloom tom at whole paycheck on the way home and it was worth the however much i paid for it. tasty, tasty sandwiches.