So...whats for dinner?

Laurie08

Lacey- No Trader Joe's near me, but I have faith in my local store.  I will look in the whole foods section this week and if I don't see it will ask. Carols recipe looks like a perfect first attempt for me.

The boys drove me nuts today, usually it is one or the other, but today they both were just "out of sorts" shall we say?  aka- crabby.  We got nothing done and went nowhere.  I was hoping to hit the mall and have some fun finding Easter outfits and lunch etc.  I am hoping they wake up in better moods tomorrow.  I  don't think I can do today again.  Of course if I have to I will, but I would rather not!;P

MinusTwo

Debbie:  How did you cook the sweet potatoes w/black beans?  I like both but would never have thought of putting them together.

debbie6122

Gina- Hi and welcome! I had never heard of honeycomb pudding, so i had to google it, There were a lot of recipes for it most of them different from each other but is seems molassess and buttermilk or cream. It sounds really good. Glad you joined us here!

Lacey- Your dinner sounds good cant wait until our weather warms up so i can grill. my weakness is also garlic bread. Yumm!!

Laurie- LOL@ your boys!  I remember the days... lol. Hope your day is better tomorrow!

Minustwo- I do it 2 different ways, both really good, some reason they just compliment each other and taste so good toghter. The easy fast way. I microwave my sweet potatoes  and heat the black beans on the stove then i mash the SP in a bowl with a little butter, cinammon and brown sugar, actually lots of cinammon b/c i love it then mix the SP and beans together. Second way i peel and cut up in chunks the Sweet Potatoes and boil them until tender, you can leave them in chunks and i melt some butter with cinammon and brown sugar pout over the SP and combine with thee Black beans. I just love this dish and cant get enough of it.

debbie6122

Michelle- I just rememberd you were driving to relatives for easter, have a great time and drive safely

I still havnt a clue what im making for easter, DH is working so cant really make plans with anyone else might do a small ham and just make it simple.

LuvRVing

Debbie - thanks!  We are actually driving to Virginia Beach just for fun - beach and golf.  We'll be leaving around 1 this afternoon and plan to stop in Atlantic City for the night.  I reserved a room at the Trump Plaza, so I'll get a little casino action tonight.  Then tomorrow we'll cross from Cape May, NJ on the ferry over to Lewes, DE.  We've done this drive many times.  This route keeps us off 95 going through NY/NJ which avoids a ton of traffic and takes us down the Garden State Parkway.  Then we'll go straight down through Delaware and the eastern shore of Maryland to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, an engineering marvel.

 Welcome, Gina!  As Laurie indicated in her very first post, we welcome all discussion about food (and anything else, for that matter) from a grilled cheese sandwich to a bowl of cereal to your fanciest restaurant meal and everything in between.  This is one fantastic discussion thread.  And we are all SO  NICE!!!

Laurie08

Michelle- Have fun on your road trip!  It sounds like it will be relaxing and fun.  Travel safe and win big!!

carberry

Michelle  that sounds like a great trip. We used to travel there frequently with the kids ( had a brother that lived close by)  Hope the beach is nice and warm for you. We also go to Atlantic City every year in Sept for a work trade show and they always have it and put us up in the Trump Plaza.  Used to have it at Ballys, which was my favorite, Mr. Donald Trump needs to update his decor .

Laurie  Hope today is a better day and the kids give you a break.  AWWW i remember buying easter outfits.

We will be going to my moms house for dinner on Easter. Yup she called and said she feels up to it. She will bake a ham and we will alll bring stuff to go with it.  I always make german potato salad and a desert.

Last night we went out and my dinner was an order of sweet potato fries, was not in the mood to eat  ha ha highly unusual for me.

Welcome Gina!

apple

Kaara, i believe you eat way too healthily to embrace mee krob.

20 for dinner?  i actually do it often.. my husband and i both had 8 siblings... there are of course the kids.  i am going to add some rosewater (a middle eastern thing) to the iced tea... i better try it first.

carolehalston

For dinner last night we had a helping of the quinoa salad on a bed of baby spinach and sliced tomatoes and also had a bowl of turkey noodle soup.  The salad was a little dry so we moistened it with some vinaigrette.  DH said he liked the quinoa salad.  This was better than his reaction to bulgar when I cooked it for the first time a few months ago.  He called the bulgar "booger"!

I'm trying to work more whole grain foods into our diet.

Our Easter dinner is simple because I and some of my other siblings will be attending 10:30 church service with my mother, much to her delight.  My younger sister is in charge of cooking ham.  I will provide a large potato salad made Sunday morning since we don't like our potato salad chilled.  DH is making a large baked beans from scratch.  He won't be going to church.  My middle brother will bring a green salad.  My mother has decided she wants macaroni and cheese.  My middle sister who will be visiting for a couple of days will make that.  I'm baking a chocolate layer cake.

In my family we like our ham boiled rather than baked, but you need a cured shoulder ham for boiling and we haven't found one.  So we'll have the regular ham warmed in an oven.  It's much saltier than the boiled ham.  I'll try to eat very little of it because ham makes me blow up like a balloon.  I can weigh 3 lbs more the next day after eating ham.  It's on my "unhealthy" list!

I know you love it, Laurie.  We buy a Boar's Head reduced sodium sandwich ham that DH likes for his lunch sandwich. 

Happy Thursday!

Kaara

I'm not a fan of ham either, nor is my family, so I usually do a turkey breast at Easter along with my rack of lamb...plus side dishes of some kind of potato and a vegetable and salad.  I'm keeping it simple because I want to enjoy the Easter egg hunt with the Grands.  Still haven't heard from DS#2 and DIL.  Showing up at family dinners (unless it's her family) is never tops on their list, so I've come to expect that they probably won't show and don't stress over it.  

LuvRVing

I do like ham but usually will cook a grilled ham steak because there are just the two of us.  Now that we've moved closer to family, I can see having a big ham dinner one of these Sundays when we're home.  When we moved from CT to MO, we sold our house and had to be out by 12/15.  So we spent Christmas at a Residence Inn in Shelton, CT.  We invited our family and ended up with 15 people for Christmas dinner.  We had a spiral sliced ham, scalloped potatoes, coleslaw and pineapple upside down cake.  I remember it so clearly - it was fun because we were forced to improvise and keep things really simple.  We even had a real Christmas tree in our suite. 

Traditional NE boiled dinner uses the ham shoulder.  I haven't tried to buy one in decades, but grew up eating it with potatoes, carrots, green beans and onions.  I'll have to check the grocery store and see if it's still available. 

I am packed and ready to go.  DH, on the other hand, sounds like he's having a busy morning on the phone for work.  I hope he can spring himself loose pretty soon, if we are going to leave around 1.  It's tough when work gets in the way of fun...lol.

Laurie08

Michelle- great story!  Can't believe you even had a real tree in your suite, thats awesome

Carol- I buy low sodium boiled ham almost every week as well.  I never get honey ham, smoked etc.  I grew up on boiled and I like it so much better.

Kaara- sounds like you have a busy weekend ahead too!  Also, kudos to you for not getting upset about DS#2 not being in contact about dinner.  It's better to roll with things but easier said then done sometimes.

Tonight is leftovers.  Left over fried chicken and cheese and rice with salad.  It needs to be eaten and DH called a little while ago and said he had a late lunch.  I figure why go through all the work when I can just pop leftovers in the oven?

Laurie08

Carrie- so glad your mom sounds like she is feeling well!  Enjoy Easter at her house!  Lol at you just ordering fries for dinner

debbie6122

Michelle- Wow what a road trip you have planned sounds like so much fun the sites should be georgous. The things we can do to improvise when we have to can somtimes be the happiest memories. When we moved to connecticutt  in 2002 we lived in a big 3 story house, thats when i found out i had lung cancer. and couldnt do stairs ( no bathroom on floor where i slept)  so DH moved us in to the shilo inn (the suite) we actually ended up staying there for a whole year, we were thinking about moving anyway and didnt want to go rent another place, i only had a microwave and fridge and sink, DH bought a george foreman grill, i learned to cook some really great meals there, that really surprised me and DH as well. I even thought about writing a cook book on learning to eat and cook while living in a hotel, of course it never happened but the whole experience was really fun after i started feeling better.

Laurie- I bet you have some fun things lined up for your boys for easter, If your eggs are anything like your christmas bulbs they ought to be so cute!

Bedo- How is your daughter? I hope she is doing ok. Sending hugs to you and prayers! 

Did you ever get a chance to make the pea soup? If you did i hope it was good.

debbie6122

Tonight is flank steak and roasted asperagus. I started marinating them yesterday. I love this marinade i use, its- 1/3 cup of veg oil-  3 cloves of garlic, chopped- 2 tbls of red wine vinegar-  3 tbls of ginger, chopped- 1/3 cup of soy sauce- 1/4 cup each of honey and brown sugar. score the meat (dont go all the way through) put in zip lock bag and pour sauce over it and marinade over night or 24 hours. I put it on my grill cast iron pan let it get really hot and cook for no more than 3-4 minutes on each side. let rest and cut on a diagonal - Against the grain, this is important in weather your meat is tough or not.

MinusTwo

Debbie:  Thanks for the sweet potatoes & black beans.  I've developed a real liking for black beans.  Your flank steak sounds good too.

My DS & DIL live in a different part of the country, so Easter dinner will be with friends at an intimate Italian place on Saturday night.  I think I'll make a Cantonese Rice package for Sunday, and maybe tempura shrimp from Costco.  Hope everyone has a lovely Easter & good egg hunts.

Lacey12

Debbie, that sounds like a great marinade. I never think to make flank steak, but this sounds wonderful

and I'll bet nice and tender with that long marinating. Thanks for the idea and recipe.

I'm thinking about a bit of oatmeal for dinner since DH is out and I have no urge to cook. Had a great basic turkey blt wrap for lunch, so am still pretty full....that was the plan.



Laurie, hope the boys (and thus, you!) had a better time today.

Re: the quinoa....I had always heard that you had to rinse it well before cooking, but my DIL had a box that was already pre-washed. So if you can get that kind all the better, since it is a bit annoying to wash those little grains in a strainer (if you can avoid it). It is a great little grain, so enjoy it! Your kids may love the little curlyque effect once they are cooked.

apple

Laurie your boy (S?) are adorable. 

debbie6122

After dinner i ran to the store to get DH some OJ he has been throwing up and running a high fever while i was at the store i decided to buy some keno tickets i played a 7 spot for 10 games and i got a 6 out of 7 on one of the games which pays 150. dollars and two of the games paid 15. apiece so i won 180. 00 just for running to the store and buying OJ woo-hoo!!

The flank steak was so delicious. will have left overs for tomorrow. 

Lacey- I love oatmeal and have had breakfast for dinner many a times.

Minustwo- I never used to eat black beans before but the last year or two i always crave them. I think they are high in iron? Not sure but think this is what i heard.

Apple- Hope you have your taste buds back and feeling better :-))))

SeasideMemories

OK Laurie....



Blast from the past from last year at Easter time waaaaay back on page 35 you wrote... "We have Easter dinner at my in laws, we all get assigned a side dish to bring and she makes the ham.  Well I got my food assignment yesterday and she told me she is cooking a turkey this year.  Huh???  I love ham, very disappointed so I bought myself a ham at the grocery store today to make myself my own ham dinner! "



I had no idea what we were doing for Easter and got a huge chuckle out of the Huh??? over the turkey.... I still quote you when a 'less than traditional' suggestion for a holiday main dish is mentioned...lol My in-laws do turkey for every holiday but my family does turkey for Thanksgiving, roast beef for Christmas and ham for Easter

SeasideMemories

Debbie,



Congrats on the winnings!! Hope DH feels better soon! Be sure to keep an eye on him because vomiting and fever can lead very rapidly to dehydration..... Hopefully none of this is related to his recent gamma surgery.... Sending the both of you hugs and strength....

debbie6122

Seaside- Thanks i may go shopping tomorrow for some boots!  I was kind of worred that it might be from gamma knife too, in the paper they sent him home with it said if he has severe headaches and vomiting to call his Dr right away, and his headaches have been almost debilatating for him and now the vomiting has started, he told me if he was still this sick next week he willl let me call a dr. He is having diarihea (sp) so it may just be the flu- I have been making him drink water all day. Good advice thanks!!!

My dumb computer is taking forever to load pages, a little green thing just turns and takes forever to load. i defragged, ran a virus scan nothing is working any one have had this problem and know what it could be? Arggh!!!

apple

welcome Gina..honeycomb puddin sounds wonderful.

carolehalston

Pork chops (chicken salsa recipe) and green salad last night.  Love that combination of salsa and black beans.

We're off to New Orleans today to see an historic furniture collection on Royal St.  Another couple is going with us.  There will definitely be food in this outing.

carberry

Debbie  Dont listen to the DH...CALL the Dr.!   It would be different if he didint just have that surgery, but I would rather be safe than sorry.  Confrats on the winnings...boots should be on sale this time of year, happy shopping.

So, I got on my sons college website uakron.edu to make sure he got us tickets for graduation in May and found a very interesting article about what research they are doing pertaining to breast cancer.  Univ of Akron is a huge engineering school and specializes in polymer eng.  Well apparently they are developing a polymer implant that holds up better than the ones on the market now and can have a drug implanted in them that will detect and attack any stray cancer cells. Wow...who knew? My son never tells me this stuff..he is an engineering student but not polymer, but I am sure he is aware as he has to study a little of everything.  Interesting stuff.

Anyways....off to get some groceries for the weekend. Debbie you had me drooling over that steak marinating.

Laurie08

Apple- Thank you!

Seaside- LOL!  I was just a bit traumatised last year:)  This year I expected it so it wasn't as shocking, hee hee.  So funny that you remembered!

Debbie- I agree I think you should call the Dr just to be on the safe side.  Better to be safe than sorry, right?  Thanks for sharing the marinade recipe, it sounds really good.

Carol- Hope you have a great time and enjoy your trip!

So, I succeeded in finding Easter clothes for the boys for tomorrow.  We did our mall trip yesterday which means I got my exercise.  Taking a 2 and 4 year old clothes shopping, what was I thinking?  But my older son had fun picking out his own clothes.  I have been picking away at my book work this week so that I could have the day to myself today with the boys at my in laws.  I was at the grocery store at 8:30.  I have vacuumed the house and dusted, the bathrooms will be ignored, haha!  But I have a quiche in the oven, pea soup on the stove, fruit salad has been made and the eggs have been boiled for the kids to dip tonight.  Debbie- don't get your hopes up for any crafty eggs, I am not very good at it.  I never did it as a kid and I just buy the two dollar kit from wal mart.

This afternoon I plan or rewarding myself and my productivity by reading a book on the couch while doing laundry.

Hope everyone has a happy Friday!

Laurie08

Carrie- that is very interesting about the cancer research.  Is the implant a breast implant or just an implant?

debbie6122

Well, its official, its the flu.. Now i have it too been sick most of the night mostly just nausea this morning for me but DH is worse and home from work, so unless its a coincidence its the flu. He said people at work are very sick with the new stomach bug, otherwise like Carrie and Laurie said i would of called the dr today.

Carrie- That is very interresting about the polymer, i find it interresting that kids in high schools and colleges are coming up with new things for cancer but we spend millions of dollars on research and the scientist cant come up with cures.  Good for them hope they succeed with it.  

Laurie- You've had a busy, busy couple of days, hope you get that quite time on the couch and enjoy yourself.

Everyone have a Great week-end and a Happy Easter!

LuvRVing

Hi everyone!  We're in Virginia Beach, where it's a chilly 56 with a north wind at 20 mph.  I sure hope it warms up tomorrow!  We drove by the area where the FA-18 went down today in a housing complex.  What a mess!  The story has taken over the local tv channels.  So far, it appears no one was killed, but there are a couple buildings yet to be thoroughly checked.  There are helicopters everywhere looking for debris.    We plan to play golf tomorrow, probably in the afternoon so it can warm up a bit.  It's supposed to be in the low 70s on Sunday - that's a beach day for me!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter, however you may be celebrating!

LuvRVing

And Debbie - I hope you and Chuck are feeling better very soon.  Nothing like a stomach bug to ruin a couple of days.