WHAT'S FOR DINNER - MARCH 2013

[Kchurchill5]

TGIF and MARCH 1ST ALREADY

Where did February go? OMG, this year is 2 months down already. COLD day here, 70 if that and cloudy. 60's for the next 4-5 days.

Dis, feel better; nothing like being sick - it is just NO fun. Stay bundled up too, I'm sure going in and out from hot to cold doesn't help.

CammieQ, nothing wrong with a quick dinner. The only cooking I did, was nuke a sweet potato, cut a couple of veggies for a salad. I was lazy myself.

Today's Cooking ...

Ladies #1 and #2: Card/Game Night - Brisket
http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/south- ... isket-7711; served with http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/easy-c ... bread-6831; http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/refres ... eslaw-4278; and fried spicy potato cakes; dessert is a warm apple/peach bourbon cocktail (like a cider)

Me: My Poker Boys, probably no poker tonight, because of work; but a nice dinner
My http://www.recipezazz.com/recipe/easy-m ... ritos-2051; I have 4 of them in the freezer, and since there are 4 of us - perfect way to use them up. I also have some leftover chicken which I will toss with Taco seasoning; served with a chipotle sour cream in a taco. Then, I have all the toppings for both. Olives, salsa, lettuce, onion, cheese, avocado, sour cream, etc. On the side corn and black bean salad; cold beer of course! Heat up everything; and they can make their own.

[HeatherFeather]

By request from my BF, I am planning to make either shepherd's pie or cottage pie, depending on which meat is cheaper today. Probably with green beans on the side. I baked some banana bread last night as well instead of the cake I had been planning.

[Kchurchill5]

Sounds like a plan HF ... chilly tonight down here.
My friends and I usually grill; but we stayed in tonight; drank beer and played cards, lol.

[HeatherFeather]

Well, made cottage pie since beef was on sale today and there was no lamb anyway. It turned out fine but I did one really bad thing. I bought a nice big pack of ground very lean meat, it was 2 1/2 pounds. I divided up the meat into separate portions, one for tonight and the rest to get put in the freezer.

Well, I got distracted and set the portions I meant to freeze off to the side. I totally forgot about the raw meat sitting there on the counter for at least long enough to have been out for the prep, baking, and eating of the meal. So likely a couple of hours.

The meat was still cold to the touch, but it is so warm in the my kitchen. I hesitated about tossing it - after all, my sale meat just became really, really expensive if I had to throw out more than half. I got out my digital meat thermometer and stuck it into the raw meat. Under 40 F would have been safe - the meat was well over that, 58 F. So I didn't want to take any chances and tossed it in the trash.

[Kchurchill5]

HF, I don't take chances, but I would of cooked it up and then froze it. That way you could of used it for another meal. I can't say for sure; and you are probably right to be cautious. I would of cooked it and froze it. But I wouldn't of just frozen it.

But, I have done that before and it is frustrating. I took a whole chicken out a few weeks ago to cook and set it outside on my grill to thaw. Completely forgot about it; and it was an expensive organic bird. I was just going to roast it and by the time I remembered ... it was way too warm.
We have all done it.

But it sounds like the pie was good, so not a total loss.

[Kchurchill5]

Happy Saturday Everyone!

Back from the market and I'm FREEZING!
HF, I hope you're happy - you got some cooler weather, I'm freezing my you know what off. I had a long sleeve shirt, sweat shirt, leggings, and my heavy socks on at the market. I wasn't the only one; us whimpy Floridians.

Easy day here. Someone mentioned chili yesterday, so chili it is. It's will be a bit different tonight. I inherited some food items from a neighbor (moved into hospice, unfortunately), but I found a package of chili seasoning ... never used this stuff before; but why not. I had everything else, so I'll add my own touches and see how it comes out.

I know cornbread goes with chili, but I'm making some biscuits today (for my freezer stash); so I think that and a salad on the side.

[HeatherFeather]

Oh cornbread and chili sounds like a great meal for today. And yes - I am sitting here with a robe on, a blanket wrapped around me and a mug of hot coffee at my side. My doggie is curled up in the blankets on my bed. It isn't even that cold, but wow does it feel chilly after that blast of heat the past couple of weeks. So nice to turn off the A/C again and have some cooler weather.

Tonight I am not sure what we'll be having - there is leftover cottage pie, but the plan had been to make meatballs or meatloaf (until I forgot the meat). Maybe we'll have take out tonight.

[Kchurchill5]

Kitties on on the sofa with me under a blanket; my fireplace is going and will all day - and it drizzled. YUCK!
Yep, we went from 80 and humid, to 60 and dry. My fur babes are not happy, lol. I haven't had the AC on, but, it has been warm in the house. I know you said you can't keep you slider open because of a screen. My house has been open for 2 weeks with a good breeze; the only reason the AC didn't go on.

I say leftover pie HF, throw a salad in and a roll and done.

[HeatherFeather]

Kitties on on the sofa with me under a blanket; my fireplace is going and will all day - and it drizzled. YUCK!
Yep, we went from 80 and humid, to 60 and dry. My fur babes are not happy, lol. I haven't had the AC on, but, it has been warm in the house. I know you said you can't keep you slider open because of a screen. My house has been open for 2 weeks with a good breeze; the only reason the AC didn't go on.

I say leftover pie HF, throw a salad in and a roll and done.

Lol - leftover pie is already gone. BF just ate the rest for lunch.

[Kchurchill5]

Plan B ...?