So...whats for dinner?

deborye

Kay_G

LOL Debbie and Carrie! I love this thread. Hope you enjoy your tacos Michelle. And I hope you get some fruit loops apple. I mostly stick to Cheerios, but I added some Cap'n Crunch to them this morning.



The salsa chicken came out well. DH liked it too, just added hot sauce to his. We have some leftovers, think I might mix some jalapeños in with it. DD did not eat it, but she won't eat anything with tomatoes. She's weird. She just had some leftover rotisserie chicken and a sweet potato, so it's easy. DH did say he prefers white rice, but he likes that the brown is healthier. I have to agree with him on that one.

SeasideMemories

Happy Valentine's day to all of you, too!



The plan was to cook the Chicken Marbella tonight but, the kids were leaving to go about their plans and DH and I have colds and are feeling kind of yucky... I think maybe tomorrow would be a better day for giving a new recipe a fair shake.... So, tonight it's leftovers again maybe with a small dish of ice cream and a smidge of chocolate!



Debbie and Carrie... Lol on the quickie!! Too funny!



Kay, another suggestion that I have seen suggested for the leftovers is to shred the chicken and mix it with the remaining beans and sauce. Use it on nachos or as a burrito/enchilada filling... I didn't have any left last time and the kids fought over who got the l last piece so I didn't have to figure out a use for the leftovers....

LuvRVing

OMG, we had so much fun tonight.   The kids were a hoot, the oldest grandkid made me a special Valentine, my DD was half drunk on one margarita, and we laughed so much!  The Mariachi band spent a lot of time at our table and the kids were all playing the maracas and having such a good time! 

Tonight was one of those nights when we really, really appreciated being close to our family! 

Gonna watch Smash now!  Loved the first show!

Lacey12

What a fun Valentine's dinner, Michelle! It is great that you are near your family. We head to NJ this weekend to visit our oldest DS, DIL and grandson for several days. I'll be armed with some of my new healthy recipes...DIL is pregnant so will love that. It will be fun to see them, but I'd love them to be closer so those kinds of spontaneous get togethers could happen. Of course every time I lament that distance, I have to remind myself of friends whose kids are now on the West Coast, Europe, or South America. What's a little trip on the turnpike, afterall....



Have been really exhausted lately...and realized that this will be my first week off from work since ending rads. Am looking forward to it!



Kay, if you can get your hands on some nice tomatoes, you can certainly try making the caprese salad by slicing the tomatoes sideways and making little low towers of tomato, your shredded cheese, maybe mixed with a bit of olive oil, and fresh basil leaves, and drizzled with a nice balsamic vinegar. The issue with the already shredded cheese is that it would not be moist, but if you get juicey tomatoes, mix the shredded cheese with the little bit of olive oil, and drizzle enough vinegar, it should be fine...maybe not for fancy dining, but certainly for a fun addition to the daily dinner plate! Good luck using up that cheese!



It was fun to read about the Bisquick quiche recipes. Used to be a staple in this house many years ago.

Hope everyone enjoyed the LOVEly day!

Laurie08

Sounds like everyone had a good Valentines Day!  Ours was quiet, we went to a local restaurant and got dinner.  It was good and nice not to cook.  DH came home from work early and caught me just as I was about to start dinner and told me to take the night off.  I told him it's too busy in the restaurants to go out and he says not if we go now! 

Tonight I am going to try the slow cooker honey garlic chicken recipe I had found.  I am excited to find some new recipes for the crock pot!

carolehalston

Laurie, I cooked the salsa chicken recipe last night with chicken breasts (the last time I used pork chops) and it was yummy.  The combination of salsa and black beans yields a tasty sauce.  I had some fresh cilantro and lemons in the refrigerator, so I put chopped cilantro and lemon juice on the raw chicken before I dumped the salsa and black beans, but I don't know whether the additions added flavor. 

Friday night we're having dinner guests and I plan to cook Julia's beef bourguignon.  I got out her recipe book last night and looked at it.  It's fairly simple.  I remember I cooked it years back and it was good.

Today I'll bake another Italian peasant bread from Carol Field's The Italian Baker.  Yesterday I mixed up the "starter" and it has tripled and is all bubbly.  I love my new Kitchen Aid mixer.  It makes baking bread so easy.

In the book, Carol Field says that few Italians cook their own bread in modern times because they don't need to.  Every village and small town has at least one baker.  The people buy their bread. 

LuvRVing

Carole - I love beef bourguignon and made Ina Garten's version the last time I did it:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/beef-bourguignon-recipe/index.html

It was truly excellent. 

Tonight I'm making chicken parmesan.  It has to happen, the chicken has been in the fridge for a couple of days.  DH has an appointment for a haircut at 5:30, so I won't have to rush anything.  He won't be home until about 6:15 or so at the earliest.

Kay_G

I was sick as a dog last night.   Came on me so suddenly.  I was up all night vomiting.  I'm exhausted today, but no more vomiting at least.  Laurie, I felt bad for your little boys when I heard they were sick, but I have new empathy for them and you now.  Hope all are healthy in your house.  And hope no one else in my house gets it.

No cooking tonight.  Everyone will be on their own.  I'll just have a slice of toast and cup of tea.  Don't even feel like that. 

Laurie08

carol- I am so glad you liked the salsa chicken!  I am sure your additions made it even yummier.  If you have left overs, try shredding the chicken in the sauce sprinkle with cheese and make burritos out of it.  Love it for lunch the next day.

Michelle- I hope your chicken parm comes out good!  Hopefully it will really hit the spot since you have been thinking of it the past couple of days:)

Kay- oh NO!  I am so sorry you got that awful bug.  It is a bad one this year.  Hope you're feeling better and no one else gets it in your house.  I am still not right since I had it.  My stomach gets upset over foods that never usually bother me.  The onion rings I had last night sat like a rock and upset my stomach.  It seems like that happens all the time now since that stupid bug!

LuvRVing

Oh Kay, hope you feel better soon.  The stomach bug is a nasty thing.  When I went to my mom's place the other day, I noticed her fridge was full of styrofoam meal containers.  I couldn't figure out what was going on because she always goes to the dining room for her meals.  Well, it turns out that they closed down the dining room because the stomach bug was going around and many residents had been ill.  That happens.  But I wasn't happy that no one had removed the leftovers.  She doesn't have a microwave and I don't think she would have tried to eat the stuff...but I can't be sure.  The director of nursing asked housekeeping to go clean out her fridge, and said she'd have them check other refrigerators, too.

debbie6122

Kay and Seaside- Hope you both feel better soon!!

Carrie- Your comment on you jumping your DH bones was so funny!!

Michelle- Sounds like you all had a great night with your family, Hope your mom is ok and wont have any effects from the food there (Scarry)

Laurie- I hope that stomach bug clears up soon for you, I clicked on a history map showing where the flu is and its all over but looks especially bad in the midwest and east coast right now. 

We had a great time last night, im sure we were loud and noisey because all we did was laugh,and we had at least 3 different tables come over to us and said they wish they were with us because we were having so much fun, the service was so slow so we didnt even have a chance to get drunk we asked if we could put in our drink order for next week when we come back, she didnt think that was too funny but we did LOL!

Laurie08

Joyce!  Great to hear from you and that all is well, despite being tired form going back and forth 

Ok- don't do the crock pot recipe.  It sucks

Laurie08

unless you want to feed small children- they ate it and did not complain....I said it was awful, Dh said not awful...I asked if he wanted it gain and he said no,lol!

LuvRVing

Hi JoyceK - glad you are safely in Florida and your DH is taking good care of you.  Sounds like he was very happy to see you

I made my chicken parm tonight...really outdid myself - it was delish.  I made bread crumbs from an everything bagel, which worked beautifully.  Then I added some shredded parm, parsley, basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper to the crumbs.  It makes for a very tasty coating.   My DH is finishing the kitchen cleanup duty. 

Laurie08

Michelle- mmmmmmm I wish I ate at your house....how do you so the crumbs, just crumble the bagel?

LuvRVing

Laurie - I use a food processor.  I have a large one and a small one which comes in handy for many little chopping chores. 

bedo

Sounds like everyone loves that chicken salsa recipe!  I might try it with 'chix'

Lacey It will get better.  I am 100% back 3 months after rads. Get a good rest on your week off and don't do anything that you don't want to do and that includes answering the phone!

Hey Laurie good for you. I hope that using the slow cooker helps with your busy and cute  family!

Carole great on the bread.  You are a better woman than me.

Michelle, there is so much GI bug going around these days. A few of ours in RI have been closed to outside visitors. I hope that your Mom is feeling well and that your journey is as peaceful as possible

Debbie I am so glad that you had so much fun.  You crack me up

Joycek I am jealous of your food, but welcome back to the North East!!

Crazy Deb You are so fun to tease!! I hope I didn't overdue it!!

I have been back at work now full time for 5 weeks and it is leaving so little time to see my friends and play violin that I haven't done either for the whole time accept to see my friend and "second daughter" Yadira once, so I haven't been on much.  I  don't know how I would have gotten through without you all (really) If I am not on as much, it doesn't mean I am not so glad to have read your hilarious posts and when I get enough balance and get used to working and doing things after work I will do more of that! And I am looking forward to that!

Sally 

debbie6122

Joyce- So glad to see you back, at least for awhile, that has to really be hard traveling back and forth, but before you know it, april will be here. Hope you get some rest!

Laurie- Lol! Sounds like my hubby, he says a certain dish is good but when i ask him if he wants me to make it he say, I think i would rather have somthing else. Go figure, i guess they just dont want to hurt our feelings.

Michelle- Chx parm sounds really good. Never made it with crumbs from a bagel will have to try that.

Carol- My Aid mixer gave up on me, I have to get another one, sure comes in handy for making pizza or bread doughs, your artesian bread sounds really good.

Bedo-I hope you are liking your new job!  Wow! You play a violin? Im impressed!

Kay_G

Joyce, enjoy your time in Florida! I am so happy with the weather we've had this year that I am not too jealous. Thanks for the well wishes, I am feeling back to normal today. I have had stomach viruses before, but for whatever reason this one seemed so much worse. My DD told me 3 kids from her class got sent home yesterday for vomiting. Fingers crossed she'll stay healthy.



Debbie, it sounds like you have such a great time on your night outs. I really wish I lived close enough to join you on one of them, or at least just go and be one of the spectators in the adjoining tables. LOL



How did the surgeries go? Hauntie, how are you doing? Carrie, how is your mom? I do hope this will be what gets her feeling well again. Have a wonderful day everyone.

LuvRVing

Hi Joyce! 

Lynda - hope your surgery was successful and you are on the mend.

Carrie - wishing your mom a successful surgery and speedy recovery.

Kay - so glad you've recovered from the stomach bug.

I have bananas thawing out for banana bread.  For some strange reason, I've been craving it the last couple of days.  I'll make it with Splenda to cut the carbs.  I haven't made it in years so I hope it comes out tasty.

Watching Rachel Ray at the moment and she's making a potato waffle.  It looks very interesting and I'll bet it's very similar to crispy hash browns. 

Laurie08

Hauntie- I hope your resting and feeling well.

Kay- for your quiche recipe what temp did you cook it at?  I was just going to try it and noticed there was no temp just that you cooked it for 45 minutes.  Thanks!

Michelle- I may make some banana bread this afternoon too.  It's a favorite in my house and gets eaten quickly!

Getting ready to head to the grocery store.  Hopefully I will be back in time to make the quiche and some banana bread before nap time. LOVE nap time

apple

I'm on chemo again and am soooo fortunate.. I (the former chef) have been teaching my kids to cook for years now.. They are really stepping up to the plate and cleaning up totally afterwards.  Son #2 made hashbrowns from scratch and whipped up some eggs with leftover sausage.. it was quite perfect.   

I think I am up for cooking a good meal tonite tho.. probably a baked pork loin with baked potatoes or noodles parmesan... maybe real, fattening fettucini alfredo. - take that ye gods of fats.

LuvRVing

Your kids rock, Apple!  And I hope your new chemo does the job of kicking cancer's butt!

carolehalston

Apple, that's wonderful that your family are "stepping up to the plate."  Hugs to you as you undergo chemo.  You have such a wonderful attitude.  I always love your sense of humor in your posts.

My 2nd bread-making effort with a 2nd recipe was more challenging because the dough was soft and oozy.  I formed two large round loaves and had to put one in the oven by itself until it firmed up because I was fearful the two loaves would ooze together on the stone.  Both loaves blackened a bit on the bottoms but the bread was delicious.  We had the last of the mock turtle soup, a large garden salad and the bread with a saucer of EVOO and cracked pepper.  Very good meal. 

Sure hope that stomach virus doesn't visit us.  It sounds awful.  There's nothing worse than having to throw up.

debbie6122

Apple- Hope your SE are minimal through chemo (((hugs))) And how could your kids not be perfect little chefs with an awesome mom like you!

Laurie- YUM on the banana bread, I make it quite often when my dad comes its a great breakfast or anytime meal!

Kay- Hope your better today!

Joyce- You and Michelle are very lucky to have found each other!

2 hard boiled eggs for breakfast, dosnt get much easier or boring than that! LOL!

Laurie08

Apple- I hope the chemo is gentle on you and does it;s job at the same time.  Debbie said it well, of course your kids are doing a great job, you are their mom! 

carol- you are making me want bread, warm yummy bread with some soup. mmmmm.

So the quiche and banana bread got shelved for the day and we took a long walk instead.  It was nice out and the sunshine felt good.  Kids have been begging for cheeseburgers for dinner so I am going to honor their wishes tonight.

SeasideMemories

Apple,

Hoping that chemo does it's job kindly... 

Teaching your children to cook was such a great gift to them.  I never did that with mine and I really regret it... I grew up surrounded by women and men who were excellent cooks and I learned so much from them.  Not sure why, I didn't do the same with my kids!  I am trying to make up for lost time now...

SeasideMemories

Oh blech, Kay on the stomach bug... Just horrid when it hits!  I hope the rest of the family is spared!

We had the Chicken Marbella last night.  It was sooooo good!  I did take my cue from you and cut waaaaay back on the brown sugar.  Maybe a bit too far back... I think next time I might use just a pinch more but, we all loved it!!  Can't believe I had never heard of it before....

To all,

It's another leftover night... I am having real problems figuring out how much to cook when I never know for sure if my son and/or daughter will be here for dinner! My fridge currently has way to much in it!

debbie6122

Seaside- Me and my other 2 sisters were always in the kitchen with my mom too, she was a great cook and she loved having us in the kitchen, same here though i was always in a hurry and trying to get dinner on the table that i didnt take the time i should have with my daughter, and her cooking shows it, I love her with all my heart but her food is horrable LOL!  I did make her a recipe book with all mine and my moms recipes and she is starting to make them, my grand-daughters are so grateful for that haha!