So...whats for dinner?

apple

peachypie.. your dinner sounds awesome.. i wish we ate kid food and things like that.  Everymorning i awake to a huge pile of pots and pans.. sheeeesh the kids think we are gourmet cooks or something.

Laurie08

welcome peachypie!!

Debbie- lol, no the costumes are store bought.  Perhaps next year I will try to make something, but I am not the best sewer.

apple

LOL//

sewer and sewer ( our drainage pipes) are spelled the same.. i am really cracking up.

Laurie08

lol-Apple-I looked at it before I hit post, it didn't look right to me, but logically it seemed right so I went with it, now I know why!

debbie6122

Michelle- I think it was about 2;45 in the morning, dont know why but I have had trouble sleeping lately, even when I am real tired.( Yay) on the getting port removed- I was so happy when i finally got mine removed, onco wanted me to keep it at least another year and I decided i didnt want to wait a year I wanted that thing out now. Glad you didnt have much food waste. 

Laurie- Everyone I know is a good (sewer) LOL! but not me, My DH had a hole in his pants pocket and i sewed the pocket to his pant legs, now he wont let me touch his clothes anymore, Fine with me LOL!

SeasideMemories

Lol about the 'sewer'... I didn't even notice....



Yay on getting your port out Michelle!!



I'm trying something I have never tried tonight...



Found a recipe from Bobby Flay for a cuban style pork chop... It is butterflied bonelss pork chops, pounded thin, marinated in a mojo marinade and stuffed with ham, swiss and a dill pickle slice and then grilled.... A bit like the traditional cuban sandwich, which I love, but without the bread.... Doing rice and black beans (frijoles negros) as the side....



Sure hope it's good!!

Kay_G

Debbie, your sewing skills sound like mine.

Laurie, I LOVE the boys costumes, so cute!  And I think you're right to let them indulge in their candy.  It's only one day a year and kids enjoy that day so much. 

Michelle, congrats on getting the port out!  I have to have mine until I finish Herceptin next May, but will jump at the first opportunity to get deported.

Having flounder and rice and veggies for dinner tonight.  Went to our local fish store, wanted salmno, but they only had farm raised or previously frozen wild caught, so flounder it is!  Having your fishtastic Wed. for you Laurie!

And I got a call from my LE therapist that my sleeve came in.  I go get it tomorrow morning.  It will be so good to get out of these wraps during the day.  Yay!

apple

gourmet hamburgers on home made bread/toast with special cheese or Velveeta if you're a kid.

chabba

kay - Often previoulsy frozen wild is better than fresh be it farmed or wild.  Any more the frozen is usually frozen on the boat as soon as it is caught or it gets to the plant to be frozen the same day.  The fish monger generally thaws it the day of sale or the night before.  I do buy the fresh when I know the monger got it directly from a local fishery and can guarantee it was caught within 24 to 48 hours.

debbie6122

Kay- Started to google salmno until i realized you meant salmon haha!

Seaside- ohhhhh thats right up my alley, let us know how that tasted I would love to make that. Love cuban sandwiches anyway.

I will not eat farm raised fish- About the only thing i like frozen in a store is cod, havnt liked the frozen salmon lately.

Eating leftover pork roast with brussel sprouts. boring but good

deborye

YYEEEEAAAHHHHH, I got power, it was on when I got home from work, internet took longer. And the best news is...........................................................Nick proposed to Rebekah♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
No date set yet, I just got off the phone with her, she is sooooo happy and I am sooooo happy for her I could just cry for joy.

LuvRVing

Deborye - that's great news all the way around!  Nothing like wedding planning to cheer you, and make the winter go by quickly.  And power is such a wonderful thing!!!

We were in your neck of the woods tonight - went to the GlenView for supper.  The place was mobbed - lots of folks without power eating there.  My little port removal area is stinging and we decided to go for prime rib.  I actually had to take a couple Tylenol.  Didn't take any after the TE removals.  I'm sure it will be fine tomorrow.

Apple - describe your gourmet hamburgers, please.  What's in them?

Hauntie

My niece, in Litchfield, still doesn't have power. Not sure about my DB#3 in Hudson. He had a lot of downed branches. One on his garage. It didn't cause much damage, but he has to get a pro in to get rid of it. DB#4 went over and helped him clean up the driveway and the rest of the yard.

Laurie - the boys look adorable. My friend had a great solution to too much Halloween candy, when her kids were little. After day 2 of eating what they wanted,  the tooth fairy bought the candy for a couple of bucks. Candy bags disappeared, dollar bills left behind.

Deb - congrats to Rebekah and Nick and you, too.

debbie6122

Deb- Glad you finally got your power back on- Congrats on the engagement!!!

Joyce- I hope you are ok?

deborye

Thanks everyone.

Laurie08

Deb- Congrats!  What great news and so happy you have power back!

Hauntie- Great idea for the candy, thank you.  I hope your family all gets power back soon too. 

Seaside- your dinner sounds wonderful, I like cubans too.  I can thank my husband for that, it's something I would have never tried if not for him.

Kay lol at fishtastic Wednesday- I skipped grocery shopping today so it looks like tomorrow will be fish day.  Your dinner sounded good too.

Michelle- Isn't it funny that you needed Tylenol today?  It always amazes me that the things we think will bother us doesn't and the things that we think won't do.  I hope you wake up pain free.

My biggest concern at the moment is that my 4 year old went to bed and was complaining of a belly ache.  He just woke up again and is still uncomfortable, running a slight temp.  At this point I am just praying for no vomiting and for it not to get to my almost 2 year old.  It may be a loooong night.  Fingers crossed.

apple

luvrving.. the gourmet hamburgers were a bit of a bust. i seasoned the meat lightly with minced onion, spices and a few breadcrumbs soaked in milk. THe bread was too freshly out of the oven and the crust tore our mouths to shreds when we chewed it.. They ended up being fork burgers.  I did make some quacamole.. you have to make it at the perfect time for ripeness. I couldn't find the fancy cheese, my son had hidden it in the veggie drawere so we all had velveeta...

they were good.

Laurie08

Michelle- I am trying to find your spaghetti saude recipe and I can't......would you mind posting it again?

LuvRVing

Here you go, Laurie!

In 5-quart dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add 1 pound ground beef, 1 cup chopped onion, 3 cloves garlic, minced, and 1/2 cup chopped parsley. Stirring frequently, cook 10 minutes or until beef is browned. Add 2 cans(28 oz each) crushed tomatoes, 1 6oz can tomato paste, 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 teaspoons dried basil, 1&1/2 teaspoon salt, 1
teaspoon dried oregano and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Makes 7&1/2 cups

My little port incision feels better this morning.  I've got stitches, so I guess it made sense that it might sting a bit.  And I hope your little one feels better!

Laurie08

Thanks Michelle!  I wrote it down (again).  Getting ready to head out to the grocery store.  I'm glad the incision is feeling better today.  It must be a great feeling to be rid of the port.

My oldest was up all night vomiting.  Poor guy is so little and did such a great job trying to keep it all in the bucket.  It was a sleep over in his room last night, well, we didn't sleep much.  But he is doing better this morning and has had a piece of toast and some juice.  He actually thanked me this morning for trying so hard last night to make him feel better.  Pretty darn sweet.

Laurie08

ok a meatball question for you ladies.  I always make my meatballs and bake them in the oven, then top with the sauce on the pasta.  I know people cook them in their sauce to give their sauce more flavor, when I try to do that they just fall apart and it becomes meat sauce.  Whats the trick?  I would love to surprise my husband with an awesome sauce.  We both love a good sauce and I have never accomplished it....perhaps tonight with Michelle's recipe!

LuvRVing

Laurie - I think most good Italian restaurants cook the meatballs separately.  I checked Food Network and some of the popular chefs add the cooked meatballs into the sauce for just a few minutes.  That way, they absorb some of the sauce flavor but they are not in the sauce so long that they get soft.  I vote for cooking them separately and adding them to the sauce for about 15 minutes. 

SeasideMemories

Laurie,



I bake my meatballs first, too and also simmer them in the sauce because I do think it adds lots of flavor.... I think the key is to use a recipe that has a binder in it and to let the meatballs cool completely before adding them. I don't know why but, I've had them fall apart when I added them warm.... Also be gentle when you stir...Edited to add: Just checked with a friend of mine and she said she even goes so far as to refrigerate the meatballs before adding... So sounds like the key may be to not add them until they are cold....



It's been awhile since I made my own sauce but, if your sauce has a long simmer time, I would hold off adding the meatballs until the last 30-40 minutes or so...



Spaghetti and meatballs was my daughters welcome home dinner when she would come home on breaks from college (at her request).



Here's the recipe I use...



Meatballs



2 lb ground beef (or mix of veal and beef)

1 cup Italian Bread Crumbs

1 Cup Parmesan Cheese

2/3 cup onion, chopped ( I leave these out because my daughter doesn't like them)

1/2 cup Milk

4 Eggs

1 tsp Pepper

Couple of Cloves Garlic, pressed (or some garlic powder)



Mix everything, except the ground beef, together. Add the ground beef and mix just till blended. Form into large meatballs. Bake at 350, until cooked through and nicely browned.



Makes roughly 24 large meatballs.



I use half and freeze half for a quick meal on another day. I don't even thaw them.... Just plunk them in sauce and let them thaw while the sauce simmers!



My current favorite store-bought sauce is to blend a jar or two of Classico 4 Cheese sauce and a jar or two of Classico Tomato Basil.....



Hmm... Now I'm hungry for spaghetti and meatballs!!

debbie6122

Yum! all this talk about speghetti and meat balls has my mouth watering I also cook my meatballs in the oven and let them cook seems to hold up better. I am making meatloaf tonight and assembled it all this morning, refridgerate it and then pop it in the oven later. Also making homemade whole wheat bread- So easy and you dont need a bread machine, I have made this many times and its really good.

 WHOLE WHEAT HONEY BREAD

Ingredients

• 1 (.25 ounce) package rapid rise yeast
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1/2 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup melted shortening ( or butter) 
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 tablespoons butter

Directions

1. Dissolve yeast and sugar in 1/2 cup warm water.
2. Combine milk, 1/4 cup water, shortening, honey, salt and wheat flour in food processor or bowl. Mix in yeast mixture, and let rest 15 minutes. Add bread flour, and process until dough forms a ball. Knead dough by processing an additional 80 seconds in food processor, or mix and knead by hand 10 minutes. Place the dough in a buttered bowl, and turn to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rise for 45 minutes, or until almost doubled.
3. Punch down, and divide dough in half. Roll out each half, and pound out the bubbles. Form into loaves, and place in buttered 9x5 inch bread pans. Butter the tops of the dough, and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm area until doubled; second rise should take about 30 minutes.
4. Place a small pan of water on the bottom shelf of the oven. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
5. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until tops are dark golden brown. Butter crusts while warm. Slice when cool.
6. ( Here is a trick I use to speed up rising of the bread- After I have done a load of clothes in the dryer, (take the clothes out, of course) I put the bread in the dryer and let it rise.)

lexi4

All the spaghetti and meatball posts have definitely made me decide it's a spaghetti night this weekend! Both meatball/sauce recipes sound yummy. 

 Last nights dinner was a porkchop recipe from The Pioneer Woman's site. She offers so many great sounding recipes and posts pictures to go along. The dinner was so easy and quick to prepare. Tasted good and will make again.

Tonight is a crockpot beef stew. The usual potatoes, carrots, onion and celery along with a McCormick's seasoning packet. Super quick to get started and smells yummy. I'll make biscuits or rolls to along with. 

Laurie08

lexi- I made the same beef stew a few days ago. I added some chicken broth and flour and it was the best one I have ever made.  Enjoy!

We are about to eat dinner and I am excited to tryMichelles sauce.  SeasideI make my meatballs almost the exact same way thanks fro sharing! 

Debbie- Your bread sounds yummy, I wish I wasn't a horrible baker.  Most things I bake turn out terrible.  I;ve never tried bread because it seems like a lot of work for something to turn out inedible.

LuvRVing

Wow, the pressure is on...I sure hope your family likes the sauce!!!

Did you ever try making bread in a breadmaker?  They give pretty good results without any real effort.  You can probably find a second hand one for not much money.

Laurie08

Michelle- Your sauce gets two thumbs up, thank you!  My oldest who has had the belly ache ate two meatballs:)  As you can imagine dinner is pretty chaotic in our house with the boys and half way though my husband hadn't said anything about it so I asked.  He said yha I like it, I'm on seconds!  So  it goes in the keeper box

As for bread, maybe when the boys are older and I have more time, for now I am grateful that I get dinner on the table.  Way back when my husband and I had a small restaurant, he used to make the best homemade oatmeal bread.  He made it every other day and we always sold out.  Maybe I should make him make us some bread!

LuvRVing

Phew!  Glad it was a keeper for you!  Sometimes I make it with spicy Italian sausage or a mix of beef and sausage.  My DH LOVES sausage.

Laurie08

I added sweet sausage links too.  My Dh loves it as well and will have leftover sausage/meatball subs with it.  I just seared the sausage in a pan ahead of time and then added to the sauce while I let it simmer for about 40 minutes.  I cooked the meatballs in the oven like I usually do, where your sauce had meat in it I didn't monkey around with adding the meatballs.  I put them in the sauce about 5 minutes before I served it.  I was pretty pleased with how it all turned out.  Thanks again Michelle!