What's For Dinner?-December 2012

[Ninner]

Happy New Eve's Eve,

Party at my house. Everyone is bringing something, no idea what. I have made a cheese & meat tray plus a chicken pot pie with a mixed salad. Picking up my mixed rolls at the bakery later this morning.

Glad to hear you had a good time at your Dad's Felix.

New Dinner Thread for January.

http://www.recipezazz.com/viewforums/vi ... 104&t=4818

[Kchurchill5]

Might ask the family, but I bet I will get blank stares and a whatever you feel like!

I used to get the same strange looks as well. Then, I would make something ... and I would get this sarcastic comment like ..."this would of been really good with mac and cheese or spuds." OK, I asked, but they just looked at me - like, I wasn't hungry then.

You can't win Dis, I just finally gave up and made what I wanted.

[Kchurchill5]

Felix, Despite the food snafus ... it sounds like Dad was the star of the day. Good for him. I'm sure no one remembers anything else other than him. Glad you had a nice day.

[Kchurchill5]

Morning All!

Chilly start today 38 and only 42 right now. But it should warm up to the mid 70's so nice; and stay that way all week.
Nin, sounds like a nice time tonight; doesn't look like the snow will let up for you. Put those kids to work.

Today's cooking ...

The boys are coming Josh/James, David/Eagen, and possibly Jen, Eagen's sis if she can get off work. All poker buddies.
Two of us went to the store yesterday and picked up all the food, (we all pitch in so, no one has to pay for it all).
We got lobsters, for BOGO, and the Amish market had wonderful sweet white corn. The menu is EVERYTHING GRILLED:

Skirt steak with a spicy rub, Steak Dry Rub, and balsamic portabellos
Foil wrapped grilled onions, w/olive oil, thyme, garlic, s/p
Lobster with a grilled lemon orange garlic butter
Herb Potato Wedges
Corn with Blue Cheese Butter
Grilled Romaine, w/caesar vinaigrette
I'm sure the boys will want bread, so wheat is in the ABM
Spinach Dip (requested)
Pub Cheese Spread (new recipe) with crackers
Warm Apricot and Apple Brandy Cider (new recipe), In the crock
Plenty of beer and red wine with dinner

One of the guys is coming over this afternoon to help; then we all cook. Everyone helps out. And the the boys even do dishes ... Now that is a good NYE. Then poker.

However, I will count down myself; Two of the guys are heading to Jacksonville (I believe); and the other two to Miami for NY's with family; so early up for them. It will be me and the kitties at midnight!! And knowing my neighborhood ... I will probably be the only one awake with lights on! LOL

[HeatherFeather]

Felix, I am so happy that you had a great time with your Dad and other family members!

KC - sounds like a great feast. Your meals always sound so good.

We are just staying home - no special anything planned so far really. DD is still with her dad, so not really much hoopla around here. I might make some kind of appetizers.

Last night we did have the meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy/. I am starting to feel more confident about the meatloaf recipe - I have made it a lot now. BF's only complaint was that my onions were a bit too large, otherwise it turned out well. This is his grandfather's recipe that I keep trying to duplicate, which has been so very tough since I never tasted the original. Getting closer each time though.

[Felix4067]

Hockey game tonight, followed by the traditional cracking of beers in the booth during our indoor fireworks show after the game. Then off to a friend's house for a party, assuming I can catch one of my drivers on their way through. Dinner will be whatever munchies people bring to the party (I'm taking some gingerbread and what remains of the cookies I didn't put in the freezer). Should be a good time! I haven't seen a lot of the people who will be there for months...the friend throwing the party was the Sunday night bartender at the place I used to frequent, and I'm really looking forward to seeing some of them.

[Kchurchill5]

Felix, have fun.
HF, enjoy and relax

My friend came over and we got everything done. Prepped the blue cheese butter, dip and cheese spread, bread out, steak marinating, herb oil for potatoes, grilled lemon and orange garlic butter for lobster, drink is in the crock, beer in the tub (silver beer tub, not the bath tub, lol), corn clean, mushrooms in their pouch, and mushrooms marinated. Two people can really speed things up.

So, now, just light the grill ... extra propane on hand, always; and, me and one of the boys cooks, one sets the table, one does the drinks and we are done.
--------------------------------
I have to brag about my serving board. I got this from a home depot sidewalk sale I think 1-2 years ago. Anyways, it is 4' long chopping block. It was a kitchen counter top unsealed that was the wrong size, so they were selling it. It is the butcher block type, real wood, and had a few dings in it. Well, I bought it for I believe 50.00 and sealed it with a natural oil, like cutting boards.

You can lay it on your table and serve all your food right on it. NO pots and pans. If it is something bloody, I normally put a piece of parchment under it. I even put rice, couscous, etc right on the boar. Otherwise, everything goes right on it. It is fun and interactive.

And after dinner. Scrape off what you want, take the board out and hose it off. I normally spray with a light bleach mixture and that is it. Every 4 months I take my power sander and do a light sanding; re condition with a natural oil for the board. It doesn't look brand new, but it is fun, safe, easy, and fantastic for parties.

[HeatherFeather]

We got take-out Chinese for our New Years feast. It was very yummy. I tried their house special soup tonight - wow so good. Chock full of fresh bright veggies, large lovely shrimp, steamed chicken breast meat, roast pork is huge flat wide pieces, and some beef. Very flavorful without being too salty. I will get it again - great soup. I also had orange beef, which is something I never, ever order - they did a decent job on it. They don't heavily bread anything, which I appreciate. BF had chicken lo mein, always a good dish there. The dog had a fortune cookie and dog food, no Chinese food for her.

So a nice New Year's Meal with no cleaning up for me!

[Dissie]

I made a huge pot of chili this morning in anticipation of my get together tonight. Well my neighbor, had to cancel due to her son running a fever, and the rest of us decided to go to the casino tonight instead. It was a blast and while I walked away with $20 more than I started with, we didn't win big! It was very crowded however! But we still had a lot of fun! (it is a no alcohol casino, so atleast there weren't any loud rude people.)

My chili didn't get eaten, as we opted for prime rib, baked potato and aspargus dinner at the casino. It was only $7.77 a plate! Hit the spot and I don't have to clean up from a party now! Atleast dinner is already made for tomorrow and probably lunch too! I made a huge batch!

Thanks for the links Kim! I made Bobbies sloppy joes last night and we had tatertots, and coleslaw on the side! ;)

Happy New Years everyone!