Whats for Dinner? ~ Monday the 23rd

[Lucinda]

First of all, OMG it's almost the end of FEBRUARY! I just sort of noticed that. :eyes: I'm not the most observant girl in the world some times. :)

Anyway...
It's Monday here, and we have gorgeous blue skies with fluffy white clouds, and it's not looking like the artic circle anymore (snow has melted off) and I don't have a clue about dinner. :)

I still can't taste anything, and my throat is sore, but I feel better.

I have an herbed Pane All'Olio in the oven baking (if it doesn't suck I'll post the recipe ~ it is another mostly no-knead variation) so something Italian would be appropriate. And Italian food might have enough flavor that I can TASTE it. :)


So, whats for dinner where you are?

[hippywife]

1. If it's Monday

it's leftovers or something really easy. I try really hard not to cook on Monday. :hi:

[Lucinda]

4. EASY is a must for me everday. It can be detailed, but it's gotta be easy!

:)

[livetohike]

2. Something boring - leftover green bean soup and grilled cheese

sandwiches. Glad you're feeling better :hi:.

[Lucinda]

3. Thank you! :)

I loved grilled cheese sandwiches. Sounds good to me!

I like using multiple types of cheeses and a little Italian herbs in them. But sometimes I really want Kraft American singles and some nice white bread. :)

Green bean soup sounds interesting. I love them, but have never "souped" them. How do you make it?

[livetohike]

5. Here is my m-i-l recipe for green bean soup

We are vegetarians, so instead of the bacon or ham, I use the Morningstar Farms bacon strips.

1 1/4 lbs fresh green beans
Water - never measured it, but I guess 2 qts.
1 lb. bacon or ham, cut into 1" pieces
1 large onion, diced
2 medium potatoes, cubed
3 T. white flour
Salt and pepper to taste

Clean and snap the green beans in half. Place in soup pot with water and cook on low heat while frying the bacon. Or if using ham pieces, just add them to the pot and start cooking.

Fry about 3/4 lb. of bacon til browned. Drain on paper towels, then add to the soup pot. Pour off the bacon grease and saute the onion in the pan. When softened, add to the soup pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for 1/2 hour and add the cubed potatoes.

While the potatoes are cooking fry up the remaining bacon pieces, then add them to the soup. Make a roux with the flour and the remaining bacon grease. Add to the soup, salt and pepper to taste.

If you make this with ham, or veggie bacon, I just use canola oil and flour for the roux.

[Lucinda]

6. Thank you! I bet its excellent with the Morningstar Farms bacon too.

I was a vegetarian twice, for about 4 years each time, and Morningstar had a spicy black bean burger that I loved. It had bits of corn in it, and even though I have a mild corn allergy, I'd tough it out once or twice a month. :)

I would still buy them if I could, but it's hard to find much of the product line where we live.

[livetohike]

7. I live 100 miles from Pittsburgh and the nearest Trader Joe's and

Whole Foods markets. When I get down there, I stock up :-).

[Lucinda]

9. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are fantasy worlds for me.

I KNOW they exist, but they seem like something out of a fairy tale. I hear amazing stories about magical food aisles where you find something new and exciting at every turn!

Here?
Not so much. :)
We have to drive to the next town just to get Asiago cheese.

[Inchworm]

8. Sicilian Pizza

My peel isn't ready. I guess I lent drill to neighbor and never got it back :D

My mouth is set on pizza, so pizza it is.

:9

[Lucinda]

10. We're thinking the Pane All'Olio dough that I'm playing with would make good pizza crust.

Of course I only made one batch and I baked it as a boule, so none for us tonight. LOL
I can't wait to hear how the peel works!

[Inchworm]

12. Wow! I didn't know baking was such excercise!

:rofl:

"knead dough for 15 minutes"

I am all sweaty!

:rofl:

[Lucinda]

13. No Kneading for me.

I found an easy way. :D

Hmmmm....if you drip sweat in the dough does it add to the flavah?

[bicentennial_baby]

11. Steak, again

I think I'm anemic or something...want steak. :P

[Lucinda]

14. Or maybe a vampyre?

How do you like it cooked?
THAT will be the true test. :D

[bicentennial_baby]

21. As long as it's warm, I like it as red as I can get it

:D

[Lucinda]

26. I'm leaning vampyre then.

:D

[cbayer]

15. Lasagna from Trader Joes and a salad.

Their fresh lasagnas are really good and perfect for two. I love to make lasagna, but that's an all day task, and I am lazy, lazy today.

:hi:

[Lucinda]

16. I have never, ever, made homemade lasagne. I'd love some right now!

It's one of the few things I still go out to eat for.
I should try one.

[cbayer]

19. It's not hard at all.

Just make whatever kind of sauce you like (I like a thick tomato based sauce with sausage) and cook the noodles.

Then spread some sauce on the bottom of a rectangular pan and do the following layers:

noodles
ricotta cheese
mozzarella cheese
sauce

and repeat two or three times.

Last two layers are noodles, some sauce and a sprinkling of parmesan.

Bake at 350 for about an hour, or until you can see that it is bubbling all the way through. You can cover and then uncover for the last 15 minutes or so.

Let sit for about 15 minutes before cutting.

I always make a lot at one time. Always even better the second day and it freezes really well.

Go for it!!

[Lucinda]

20. Thanks for info! I think I will try it.

Since it keeps well, it would be a good choice, AND something different. I can use leftovers with salads for lunch!

[hippywife]

29. I always mix

an egg, some parm and mozz, salt, pepper and garlic into my ricotta before adding it to the lasagna. Ricotta by itself is boring.

I usually make meatballs in my sauce and slice them, laying them in for one of my layers. I also do a veggie with zucchini, mushrooms, and summer squash sometimes.

Either way, I make a 9x13 even if it's just the two of us, cut the leftovers into single portions and freeze.

[cbayer]

30. I do a lot of the same with the ricottat and I tend to use a lot more mozz than

ricotta. The meatball idea is great and I will try that!

:hi:

[hippywife]

31. It really adds to the weight.

I end up sometimes with a lasagna that feels like it weighs 25 lbs. :rofl:

[cbayer]

34. Tell me about. My husband videotaped me trying to remove one from the oven

one time and it was hysterical. Now I put the pan on a baking sheet!

:rofl:

Have you ever tried a white lasagna, using a bechamel type sauce instead of tomato? That is particularly good with veggies, IMO.

[hippywife]

36. No, I never have.

I'm not very good at making a bechamel and I've never tasted one that I particularly like. They all taste kind of boring to me.

That video thing is too funny. :rofl:

[Lucinda]

32. Thanks for the suggestion! I am not a big ricotta fan.

So anything that helps it out is a good thing!

[cbayer]

35. Me neither, but it melts into the lasagna and doesn't have that cottage cheese

substance so much after cooking.

:hi:

[Lucinda]

37. It's always been in restaurant versions that I love.

I just don't use it at home much. Of couse, I've never had fresh ricotta either. That might make a difference too.

[pengillian101]

57. Why, oh why?

You never invite me over, lol.

:hi:

[hippywife]

58. No way, chick!

You put cottage cheese in your lasagna! :*

:hug: :hi:

[pengillian101]

45. It's not hard at all. And here's a shortcut.

For years now, I have not pre-cooked lasagna noodles and the dish turns out perfect. I just soak the noodles in some water, while making the meat-sauce and cheese mixture.

I don't care for ricotta and use cottage cheese. Italian spices and garlic and onion are mandatory throughout.

Edited to add an interesting slow cooker lasagna link.

http://www.bettycrocker.com/Recipes/recipe.aspx?recipeId=39294

[Lucinda]

48. A crockpot version could be really handy. Thanks for linking this!

:hi:

[yellerpup]

17. Cream of asparagus soup and BLT on 12 grain toast.

Nice and easy. A big part of the creaminess in the soup is from leftover mashed potatoes.

[Lucinda]

18. Oh....Both the soup and sandwich sounds sooo good.

Did you add your recipe to the soup thread? My head is foggy and I can't remember if you posted it?

[yellerpup]

22. I don't follow a recipe.

Whatever soup I make, I follow a recipe the first time but every time after that I go by what I have on hand (and how much) what else I find that can go with it. I washed about 3 lbs. of fresh asparagus and snapped them where they wanted to be snapped, then cooked the tough ends in chicken stock until very well done. Mash the stalks to release the pulp and discard the woody stems. Bring the stock back to a simmer and add the reserved tender stalks and tips (reserving a few tips for garnish) and poach until they are just done but still bright green. Blend the remaining asparagus with a scant cup of cold whipping cream (left over from the Colonial Dinner- I usually use skim milk) in a blender to stop the cooking. Puree the asparagus completely and mix it back into the cooking liquid that has been cooled down with about 3/4 C. leftover mashed Yukon gold potatoes and a few cubes of ice. Taste for seasoning and set in refrigerator with lid askew until soup is cooled completely, then put the lid on. Reheat (or not--depending on the season) and serve.

[Lucinda]

24. Thanks! That gives me a place to start. I like the Yukons as thickner too!

Appreciate it! :)

[yellerpup]

42. You are such a nice person!

And a really good cook, too, I bet. :hug:

[Lucinda]

44. Aw. Thats sweet. Thank you!

I cook many things that rock.
I also cook many things that don't :rofl: Many, many.
My fried chicken is a perpetual work in progress, but I have new tips from C&B so I AM optimistic!

[NMDemDist2]

23. leftovers

hubby is at work so I'll eat the rest of the pasta and meatballs from last night

:hi:

[Lucinda]

25. I thought we were going to do Italian tonight too. But alas...

But Bill made a beef and rice stirfry. Which was yummy.
And my SIL brought us a pumpkin pie. :)
Weird combo, but I could taste parts of it, so i was happy. :)

[NMDemDist2]

27. glad you're feeling better

:hug:

[Lucinda]

28. Thanks. It's still lingering there in the background but I'm drugged up now.

LOL
A little hot Echinacea tea, a little cold & flu med, and I'm functional again. For a while.
AND I've learned that pumpkin pie and whipped cream have amazing sore throat healing properties! Who knew?

[eleny]

33. Glad to hear that you're functional!

And that the stir fry was a good one.

I shopped a little and the guy at the fish counter at Soopers suggested sea bass he got in today. He got it because it looked extra good. I'm glad the store hired someone who really seems to know his stuff.

I sauted onions, sweet red roasted pepper and garlic in olive oil and will fry the fish in that pan. Cole slaw and baked potato on the side.

Maybe tomorrow I'll finally make my one bowl sausage & veggies meal. I made extra onions tonight so I'd be a step ahead.

Thanks for posting the recipe for the Italian olive oil bread. I've got that saved now, too.

Take care of yourself, toots. Get lots of rest and sweet healing dreams to you!

[Lucinda]

38. Thankie! I think i'm getting ahead of whateve this is. Being sick isn't fun.

Your dinner sounds delicious. I love roasted red peppers. I don't think I've ever had them with fish.
Something new to try! :)

[troubleinwinter]

52. I bet it's the clove

... the clove in pumpkin pie spice has a numbing property. As they use clove oil to numb toothaches and used to use for teething babies' gums. My dad used to chew clove gum... I couldn't stand it because it made my tongue numb!

That pumpkin pie thing may be a valuable thing to know for when someone has a sore throat! And it's soft and comforting, and tastes good (if ya can taste it)!

[Lucinda]

54. Ahhhh...that could be. I never thought about it. I thought it was just the creamy goodness.

:D And I could definitely taste the pie.
BTW ~ I'm with your dad on the clove gum. Love it.

[yellowdogintexas]

39. I have a piece of leftover steak so I think I am going to slice it up over a

bowl of spinach greens and tomatoes, with blue cheese vinegrette dressing.

[Lucinda]

40. That sounds really tasty!

I love beef and blue cheese together. :)

[yellowdogintexas]

41. this dressing is the bomb. It has a very bold taste so you don't need much

I much prefer oil and vinegar based blue cheese dressing to the thick kind

[Lucinda]

43. Do you make yours or did you find a good commercial dressing?

I love blue cheese AND vinaigrette, I've never put the two together before. :)

[yellowdogintexas]

46. the brand is La Martinique. They also make French Vinaigrette, balsamic,

and poppy seed.

[Lucinda]

47. Thanks! I'll look for it!

:) And the poppy seed. That sounds good too!

[troubleinwinter]

53. I stretch beef that way

Especially in summer. Instead of buying two steaks, I buy a tiny quality steak (they are so expensive these days), cook it rare, chill it and thinly slice on a salad. I love bleu cheese vinaigrette on the beef and usually can find this:


Girard's

It's getting more difficult to find, as markets constantly reduce shelf space of other brands in order to cram their own brands there. So many products that I like have been replaced by store brands or a thousand versions of a mega-brand: "Lite Ranch", "Low Fat Ranch", "Fat Free Ranch", "Low Salt Ranch", "Bacon Ranch", "Jalapeno Ranch", "Zesty Ranch". I don't want ranch at all, but they squeeze out the other brands and variety.

[Lugnut]

49. We had porketta sandwiches.

I made a small batch of cheddar broccoli soup on Saturday so we finished that off too.

[Lucinda]

50. Cheddar broccoli sounds really good to me right now!

I'd love a bowl.
I had to look up the porketta. I wasn't familiar with the term. Sounds yummy! I learn something new all the time around here!

[eridani]

51. Sweet and sour meatballs over rice

With matchstick carrots, green pepper, pineapple and a little onion.

Pineapple sweet and sour sauce


• Juice from a 4 oz can of pineapple chunks or rings
• ¼ cup of tomato ketchup
• ¼ cup of distilled white vinegar
• ¼ cup of brown sugar
• 1½ tbsp of cornstarch
• 1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce
• ½ tsp of garlic powder
• ¼ tsp of mustard powder
• ½ tsp of ground ginger

1. Place all of the above ingredients together in a saucepan.
2. Mix together and cook over a medium-high heat, stirring continuously, until the sauce comes together and thickens.

[Lucinda]

55. Thanks for posting the sauce recipe!

I don't have a good sweet and sour. :hi:

[troubleinwinter]

56. Oooo... sounds great! I saved it. Thanks!