What's for Dinner ~ Friday August 31st

[Lucinda]

♥

[cbayer]

1. I think I am going to make a midday BLT and sack dinner.

I have very few supplies at this point, which seriously impacts on my inspiration when it comes to cooking.

I have some leftover pork chop/roasted peaches and tuna/bean salad, so we can snack on that later.

Hopefully will get to the grocery one way or another early next week.

Did you get everything you wanted yesterday?

[cbayer]

10. Heheh, was just informed that we have a guest coming today who will stay

a few nights.

LOL, I hope he brings some food and wine.

[Fumesucker]

2. ...

Big salad; lettuce, baby carrots, baby bella mushrooms, broccoli florets, a little shredded 5 Italian cheese, a sprinkling of bacon bits, zesty Italian dressing.

One slice of Pizza Hut supreme thin crust pizza out of my freezer (bartered out fixing a PH manager's car for a supply of pizza they get free).

For dessert; a few fresh strawberries with a little dollop of heavy whipping cream and a single teaspoon of sugar sprinkled over them.

Iced well water from 400 feet down in our granite rock (might as well be a spring).

<wipes chin>

[cbayer]

4. Welcome to C & B, Fumesucker!

Your dinner sounds great.

I would love some of your water. We make fresh water from sea water and it's good, but I bet yours is better.

[Fumesucker]

8. Thanks..

I'll be putting up an OP shortly, I'm starting to go toward the Primal Blueprint type diet and need some advice..

You must have a solar still. I was on a small island in the Caribbean a few years back and was watching people shuttle containers of fresh water out to their boats by dingy, seemed a lot of work, a still sounds like a better idea.

[cbayer]

9. Have not heard of the Primal Blueprint diet and look forward to your OP.

We have a desalinator that works with filters (reverse osmosis). We use it primarily for drinking water, as it is slow (1 gallon/hour) and requires some energy (but not much).

We still schlep water to the boat in 5 and 6 gallon containers - use it for showers, dishes, laundry. I have a salt water pump in the kitchen, which is great for initial wash up and rinse of dishes, and the toilet is salt water, so our fresh water demands aren't very high.

[livetohike]

3. Roasted Cauliflower Gratin, Crisp Raisin Salad, Crostini with Tapenade and

tomato slices. Of course it is 90 F. today and I really shouldn't be turning on the oven, but it's what I have planned to make .

[cbayer]

5. If you get a minute, would you share your cauliflower recipe?

[livetohike]

6. I can't vouch for this one as it is a new recipe for me. Here it is. I'll let you know

how it turned out

Roasted Cauliflower Gratin

3 T. breadcrumbs
2 t. melted butter
2 T shredded Parmesan
6 c. cauliflower florets
2 T. butter
2 T. flour
1 1/4 c. half-and-half, or milk
1 c. shredded sharp Cheddar
1 c. shredded Gouda, divided

Lightly coat a 2 qt. baking dish with cooking spray. Mix the breadcrumbs, melted butter and Parmesan in a small bowl. This will be the topping.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the caulflower and cook until fork tender (7 to 9 minutes). Drain. Return to pot and set aside.

Melt 2 T. butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes until thickened. Gradually whisk in the milk, bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add the Cheddar and 1/2 c. of the Gouda cheese. Stir until smooth. Add the cheese sauce and remaining Gouda to the cauliflower and stir to coat. Transfer to the baking dish and sprinkle evenly with the topping.

Preheat the broiler to high. Broil 1-2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and serve.

Serves 6

Two things: This doesn't seem roasted at all! This will be a main course for my husband and me, so the "serves 6 is probably for six side dishes.

[cbayer]

7. Sounds good. Let me know how it turns out.

I have problems keeping the cheese from separating in recipes like this, but maybe making the sauce and then just broiling the top is the way to go.

You are right. It's not roasted at all.

[livetohike]

12. Delicious! I'm going to put the recipe in my Thanksgiving dinner folder

and definitely make it. Since I have to watch my fat intake, I used fat free half and half and low fat cheeses. I used a smoked gouda, because that is what I found that was low fat.

No problems with the sauce. I did it per the recipe. Take the bechamel off the stove and stir the cheeses in then. The only thing I will do differently next time is to make sure I put it under the broiler right after stirring the sauce in. The cauliflower was warm (not hot) by the time I broiled it and 3 minutes under the broiler was plenty .

We have some leftovers - won't be as good tomorrow I don't think.

[cbayer]

13. Great news! Seems like you could roast the cauliflower instead of boiling it or

would that not work?

I am having huge family shindig for Thanksgiving and I think will add this as well. I'm nuts for cauliflower (and cheese, lol).

[livetohike]

14. That would be awesome I think! I did steam the cauliflower rather than cook it in water, but

roasting would be really tasty. I love cauliflower too, I have a raw cauliflower salad recipe I will have to dig up and share .

[Callalily]

11. Chicken Pasta Salad

Chicken Pasta Salad

2 cups cut up chicken (cooked)
1 tbsp. onion
1 tsp. salt
Combine and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Then add the following:
1 cup seedless green grapes
1 cup finely diced celery
1/3 c. slivered almonds
1 cup mandarin oranges
1 box macaroni rings (cooked)
1 cup mayo (not Miracle Whip)
1 cup cream (whipped)

Mix together and refrigerate until serving time. Enjoy!