So...whats for dinner?

Okay, here is one of my favorite quickie meals.  I am trying to eat less cheese, but a girl has to have her dairy every once in a while.

TOMATOE, BRIE, SPINACH, PASTA

Put some WW pasta or high protein Barilla pasta on to cook-  I like Rotini or Penne

chop about 6 cloves of garlic and lightly saute in olive oil, careful not too brown or it's bitter

rough cut about 4 vine tomatoes 

wash a bunch of fresh basil and tear the leaves off stems

remove the rind from a wedge of Brie cheese and cut or tear in chunks

take a container of pre washed baby spinach and place in your collander

Pour your boiling pasta water and pasta into collander over the spinach to cook it

Put everything in a big bowl and toss with the hot pasta.

Finish with extra olive oil, salt and pepper.

  It is both fresh and rich and EASY. This is my favorite uncooked summer pasta, especially when fresh tomatoes and basil are abundant.

Hear, hear, lago!  My three favorite threads aren't about BC at all!

I skipped takeout and saved a few $$ and had granola and fruit tonight.  I wasn't terribly hungry so it was just right.

Still light out at 6:30 PM -- days are decidely longer!

Have a good evening, eveyrone!

I'm making Hungarian goulash with dumplings for tonight.

DesignerMom -Oh pasta dish sound's Divine!!! I would have to try it with feta or mozzarella since I am not a fan of brie either. 

I made two batches of Salsa Chicken, one with a Green Verde Salsa and one with a Peach Mango salsa... 8 more minutes, my family is STARVING!!!  I really am hoping for left overs...

edited to add: this is one of my top five favorite topics too!

I made the salsa chicken tonight it was soooooooo good, i made it earlier and hubby called from work and said we are going to portland to see the portland trailblazers/lakers game so put it in the fridge, we sat in the suites would of thought they would of had good food in the suites wasnt in the mood for hamburgers and hotdogs. had to drive 2 hours back in the snow and all i could think of was that chcken LOL we didnt get back till 1am but we both gobbled it up was so worth the wait!!!  this  thread makes me so hungry, im sitting here while dh is sleeping reading all the post with my popcorn sprinked with chocolate chips i have to quit reading this so late at night lo!

Chicken chili in crock pot. Easy and delicious. Two or three thawed chicken breasts, a couple of cans black beans, a can of tomatoes (diced or whole is fine), a can of tomato sauce, a bunch of spices ( chili powder, cumin, dried minced onion, garlic powder, Mexican Seasoning- Schilling makes a good one). Throw in everything and cook about 6 hours on low. Yummy!! Of course you can always use fresh onion and garlic and add any other spices too. Sometimes I have to add in a bit of water to thin it out a little. The chicken cooks all day and just ends up in shreds and is very tender.

mumayan,

Beef stew sounds really yummy too!  I have a package of stew meat frozen that I think I may try that with. 

saturn,

Do you leave the breasts whole or chop them up?  I just dug out my crockpot last week after really not using it much lately.  Cooked my first whole chicken in it this week and it turned out good so am looking at other recipes to make in it.  I like that I can get everything ready early in the day when I still have some energy and then in the evening all we have to do is eat!

Laurie,

This beef stew recipe has been tracking on the "Most Popular" list on foodnetwork.com for quite some time.  I have not tried it but it has gotten really good reviews. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/old-time-beef-stew-recipe/index.html

Usually, when I have stew meat, I make this: 

County Clare's Guinness Beef Barley Soup

"The soup itself is one served at County Clare, an authentic Irish pub in a bed and breakfast on Milwaukee's east side at 1234 N. Astor St. And it's one of any number of pub favorites that can carry you to County Mayo, Galway Bay or the Cliffs of Moher."

1-1/2 pounds diced beef stew meat, cut ¼-inch size (I use chuck as it's more tender than round)

4 tablespoons vegetable oil (divided)

6 cups beef stock  (I use 2 boxes of stock so about 8 cups)

½ cup barley or  pinch more

3 carrots, ½-inch cubes, sometimes more

3 ribs celery, cut into ½-inch cubes, sometimes more 

3 onions, cut into ½--inch cubes (1 large vidalia or spanish onion)

2 strips bacon, chopped

1- 8 oz pkg sliced, fresh mushrooms

8 ounces (or more to taste Guinness stout) - I used the whole 12 oz bottle

1 generous Tbsp of Beef Base ( I use Better Than Bouillon brand), optional, but does up the beef flavor

½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves

3 bay leaves

1 clove garlic. minced or ½ teaspoon garlic powder

2 teaspoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper or to taste 1 to 2 tablespoons cornstarch

1. In large, heavy pot, on medium high heat, brown beef cubes in 2 tablespoons of oil. Add beef stock and bring to a slow boil.

2. Add barley and simmer, uncover, about 1 hour or until soft. (If using instant barley, 15 minutes will be adequate cooking time.

3. In large skillet, add remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add carrots, celery, onions and bacon. Cook slowly over medium heat until vegetables are crisp tender and onions translucent. Add to stock.

4. Add Guiness, mushrooms, thyme, bay leaves, garlic and brown sugar. Simmer until vegetables and beef become tender, about 45 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.

 5. To thicken, if desired, mix cornstarch with a little cool broth then whisk into soup. Bring to a simmer. (I have never had to do this step as it has always been thick enough for me)

 Remove bay leaves and serve in bowls. Makes 6-8 servings

Mumsyan,

For my chicken chili you do not have to do anything with the chicken breasts first, but I always use thawed ones and cut off the extra fat around the edges. I just put the chicken in bottom of crock pot, add in the canned beans (drained) and the canned tomatoes and tomato sauce, then throw the spices On top (I use a LOT of chili powder, prob a couple tablespoons). Then give it a stir and turn it on low. If I'm home I stir it now and then. When you stir it at the end the chicken will just flake apart. It is a very easy recipe and I'm with you, I love coming in the door to a finished meal. Just add a salad and I'm good to go!

seaside- that chili sounds good!

LOL seaside- do you live near the oregon beaches if so you are very welcome to come LOL!

debbie6122,

On a day like today, I WISH I lived near the Oregon beaches but, nope, I live in snowy NY!

How'd your dinner turn out last night?  It sounded awesome!

what do you all do when you go out to dinner?  we can't always dine out at "organic" restaurants, and I'm a little nervous