What's for Dinner? ~ Monday January 30th!

[Lucinda]

Allo everyone!

It's 4:20 and I just had brunch, so I am not sure I'll eat dinner tonight.

Bill is planning on making his Chicken and Green Onion pot stickers though....and I may have him make a coupe of Mushroom and Cheese for me. I have a great sharp blend of Mexican cheeses that should be nice with the 'shrooms.


What's for dinner where you are?

[msanthrope]

1. I defrosted Sausage and Peppers and Meatballs and Gravy from Xmas.

I don't like keeping stuff more than a month in the freezer--

Sausage is an assortment of chicken and veal with various cheeses from a butcher who makes about 15 kinds, daily.

Gravy is my homemade, along with my meatballs that I only make 2 a year.

Hubby will be very happy.

[Lucinda]

5. I still have some Turkey Italian Sausage in the freezer that I need to cook soon

It's always yummy.
One of the local British pubs used to make a great chicken asiago sausage for its bangers and mash. It was really good. I'd have to make my own to get anything other than the basic grocery store selections.

You are fortunate to have good options close by!

[msanthrope]

6. I have Reading Terminal Market and the Italian Market within minutes of me....

I am spoiled.

[Lucinda]

39. And I

Am jealous!

[yellerpup]

2. Crispy tilapia filets.

Sweet potato steak fries, steamed sugar snap peas, and a crusty French roll. Nothin' fancy.

[Lucinda]

8. Sounds splendid.

I am a fan of simple, flavorful meals. Even our chili is no fuss anymore. We start it on the stovetop at night, then chuck it in the crockpot while we sleep. Perfect texture and flavor with very little effort.

I was watching a Barefoot Contessa eppy on Hulu earlier today where she talked about simple Italian meals being her favorite for entertaining, vs the more complex style of someone like Julia Child. They both are masters of culinary alchemy, but I prefer simplicity for for the most part. Give me great ingredients with little fuss any day.

[yellerpup]

18. I like to go earthy for big parties, too.

But I kill myself for eight or fewer. I enjoy it, but I go nuts no matter what the genre. I'm more and more into Asian flavors since I can't do cheese.

[Lucinda]

36. I really need to cut back my dairy but I have been craving it lately.

I think maybe i need to look at a calcium supplement. We do a lot of Mexican or Asian around here. I love all the flavors. And then I get on the Greek/Italian kick for a while.

[yellerpup]

42. Bok choy, okra, soybeans,

almonds, collard greens, oranges, blackstrap molasses are a few of the high calcium veggie foods. Sometimes I crave dairy but I no longer cave in to them. Satisfying the craving is not worth the awful after effects for me. One dish I have modified is biscuits and gravy. I make the gravy with broth now. I miss the fluffy richness of milk/cream gravy but it's enough alike the original to satisfy. Have a great day!

[Lucinda]

45. Great idea on the biscuits and gravy!

I don't make it often, but that is a change I could definitely handle! TY

[Denninmi]

3. The stir fry I discussed on my soup thread.

Turned out really good, flavor nice, just a bit of heat balanced with sweetness and the nut-like sesame oil. The tough round steak even turned reasonably tender due to its 27 hour soak in various things.

[Lucinda]

9. I'm not surprised to hear that it turned out well!

It sounded like the "bath" was going to make it yummy and tender.

[Lucinda]

10. Do you make rolled or drop dumplings?

My grandmother used to make her chicken and dumplings when she knew I was going to be around. She always rolled (and used her piecrust recipe for the dumplings) and then made chocolate rolls out of the rest of the dough. The chocolate rolls are bits of pie crust with a little butter, and cocoa and sugar, rolled and then baked. Such great memories.

I usually make dropped dumplings because Bill likes the light puffy ones (and it keeps me from eating a ton of chocolate rolls made from the leftover dough.

Hard to go wrong either way!

[Lucinda]

38. I use Bisquick for my dropped dumplings more often than not.

It's handy to keep on hand, and it always turns out great.

[yellerpup]

19. No way do chicken & dumplings ever miss!

They hit that spot every time.

[Melissa G]

7. youngest daughter made

mac and cheese. Not esp good, but not cooking was pleasant!

[Lucinda]

11. And she is making memories of cooking for you.

Priceless stuff!

I am still wanting to try that multi cheese homemade recipe that is floating around C&B. I need to make it to share with a neighbor though so I haven't made the time to try it...

Bill doesn't like mac and cheese. It may be because he likes his pastas cooked to death, and I just cant do that to good macaroni and cheese.

[Melissa G]

15. youngest daughter is 16

yep.. dead pasta. Yep.. lot's of compliments,anyway.

[Jazzgirl]

12. Some leftover chicken dummies from Saturday.

Yum..... especially with my sweet chili sauce. I felt something no-fuss and very simple tonight.

[tammywammy]

13. Crappy day - so less cooking more doing nothing tonight

I ate half the turkey sandwich I had leftover from lunch. Mesquite smokey turkey, mayo, pepper jack cheese & avocado on wheat. Then I was still hungry, so I heated up some fish sticks and fries. I only buy fish sticks and frozen fries like once a year, they're a reminder of childhood.

Very lazy night.

[Lucinda]

34. We do the frozen fish and potatoes too from time to time.

The only good fish and chips place by us is a town away, and sometimes you just have to have them and don't want to drive!

I'd love the sandwich but would have to add something a little crunchy. Like sprouts are crisp lettuce. Great flavors!

[tammywammy]

35. I like to put cucumbers on my sandwich

I forgot to buy some the other day at the store though.

[Lucinda]

37. That would be really good too! Just a little something crisp.

I've been known to swipe some of Bill's chips for my sandwich if I don't have any crisp veggies around. I have to have a little crunch!

[tammywammy]

40. I'm the same way.

I actually had chips in my house yesterday (a maybe twice a year event), so I had chips with the sandwich. Usually I do the cucumbers on the sandwich. They're refreshing and crunchy.

[applegrove]

16. Chicken Kiev, brocolli, new potatoes and berries for dessert.

[yellerpup]

20. That would make such a pretty picture on the plate.

A meal like that would disappear pretty quick around me!

[applegrove]

22. I got compliments on it from 2 out of the 3 people I served it to. Glad I now know how to cook

broccoli.

[yellerpup]

26. No doubt they loved it.

And properly done broccoli is fantastic.

[Lucinda]

33. Sounds delicious!

I'm really getting hungry now.

[noamnety]

17. We had more baked chicken legs and avocados

and I cast some asparagus about in the chicken legs drippings and roasted it.

[yellerpup]

21. Do you bake avocado with the legs?

Chicken and avocado are heavenly together. I'm not one to cast asparagus myself, but I bet they're tasty.

[noamnety]

41. I didn't bake the avocado

but this made me google it to see if other people do, and I found a recipe for avocado halves stuffed with garlic butter and wrapped with bacon, I had no idea people did things like that with avocados. http://www.walnutgrovecookery.com/recipes_avocado.htm

and apparently they are pretty good roasted or grilled. Awesome question - I'm going to try roasting one tomorrow!

[yellerpup]

43. Let me know how your experiment turns out.

The avocado-bacon-butter recipe seems a little rich for me, but I bet it tastes fantastic. Thanks for the link!

[Lucinda]

32. I haven't had asparagus in quite a while

Yummmy.

[Ecumenist]

23. Today is my birthday and I had deep fired rex sole, rice, curried lamb, Saag,

salad with nepali herbal dressing,extra special fried rice with shrimp, tandoori chicken, warm naan, vegetable biryani and Mango Laasi!! Yay!!

[Lugnut]

24. Happy belated birthday!

I've eaten a lot of Indian food but I've never made any. My daughter's ex is from Sri Lanka and he makes some really good dishes that I enjoy. Mango Lassie is the bomb!

[livetohike]

27. Happy Birthday!

Hope you are having a good one .

[Lucinda]

31. Hope you had a wonderful birthday!

What flavors are in the Nepali Herb dressing? That sounds intriguing.

[Lugnut]

25. My daughter made a big pot of soup.

Her team at work is having a Soup-Off every Monday and today was her turn. She makes one of the best Pepperjack Tomato soups I've ever eaten and she made enough to share with us. Delicious!

[Lucinda]

30. Ohhh...That is a recipe that I would love to see, if she's willing to share.

I love pepperjack and use it in my veggie burritos a lot!

[Lugnut]

47. I don't know if she has a written down recipe.

I'll ask but I think she wings it.

[livetohike]

28. Dried lima bean soup and homemade rolls

with some raw veggies and ranch dip. It's 50 F. right now here in northern PA!!

[Lucinda]

29. Is that warm or cold for you guys this time of year?

Either way, soup and homemade bread is full of "win"!

[livetohike]

44. Lucinda, it is very unseasonably warm for this time of year

about 30 degrees warmer!

I love making bread....and it was just the right conditions for it, "warm" and humid.

[Lucinda]

46. We are getting more rain than usual this year, and very little snow

Freaky winter!
And I love to bake bread too. I was really addicted a couple of years ago! I baked allll the time.