What's For DINNER ...???

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (agnesrob)

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:55:35 GMT

Country Pie!! My Daughter Katie had a bad day so I knew I wanted to make one of her favorites for dinner!

One of my favorites!

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (felix4067)

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:26:28 GMT

love2bake, I get mine at the nature center, which doesn't have online sales...they make it every spring as an educational thing for kids. But I'll see what I can come up with! I'm heading to the good farmer's market next weekend, and I'm sure they'll be able to recommend someone. Or it's possible the nature center will sell over the phone if not online.

We have tons of maple trees here! I've got six just in my yard.

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (love2bake)

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:08:55 GMT

I keep meaning to order some maple syrup from Michigan. I've tried NH and Canadian (and Vermont, of course), but I hear Michigan is a big producer, too. If you have any recommendations, please let me know.

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (mar52)

Fri, 24 May 2013 02:05:51 GMT

Deli slaw can be great!

I made Halibut en papillote for my mother for Mother's Day because she didn't want to eat my brother's fried chicken.

I'd never done it before and was amazed how easy it was. I topped the halibut with grilled vegetables (put some under as well) with seasoning and a drizzle of oil. So easy and no mess!

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (felix4067)

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:11:14 GMT

Yeah, so now I know what I'm having for lunch tomorrow...that almost made me lick the screen, Mar! I've even got some of the real stuff, although it's from the nature center here and not Vermont.

We had fish, marinated in orange juice, lemon juice, honey, soy sauce, dill, and lemon-orange-pepper seasoning. With some kinda steamable frozen vegetable mix and deli coleslaw. Lately I've been eating a ridiculous amount of deli coleslaw.

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (mar52)

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:57:12 GMT

Bill, OK... Gabagool on a roll.

love2bake: I was just trying to use up some things that were about ready to toss. (Topped with the real thing from Vermont)

Can't wait to finish the bottle from Vermont to try a gift bottle of Extra light from Canada. It's been staring at me.

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (love2bake)

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:40:19 GMT

Mar!!! You do not play fair.
That looks awesome.

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (pnwchef)

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:15:06 GMT

Mar, Gabagool............yah want to get wacked talking the otter way

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (mar52)

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:46:17 GMT

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (mar52)

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:21:17 GMT

I had a copicola sub.

Now I'm trying to identify the flavor of the clear carbonated liquid I'm drinking.

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (felix4067)

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:46:22 GMT

I want that back yard, too! Their whole house is amazing...I spend as much time there as possible for most of the summer. Luckily, we only live about 1/2 mile apart, so it's easy.

I'm really looking forward to making your gumbo!

Tonight we had the last of the crock pot BBQ ribs I did t'other day, along with some steamed fresh asparagus (it's going like gangbusters locally right now), deli coleslaw, and watermelon chunks.

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (mar52)

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:09:28 GMT

I want that backyard!

With my gumbo the spice on the chicken wings flavors the broth along with the Cajun spice mix.

The touch of sugar does wonders. It's my secret.

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (felix4067)

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:09:38 GMT

Mar, that looks amazing!! Now I really, really need to make gumbo again, and I'm probably going to use your recipe instead of my own, because it sounds fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing!

Dinner tonight was at my sister's house. Steaks on the grill, sauteed mushrooms with whole garlic cloves, home-made french fries, and a barley and corn salad. With bottomless glasses of sweet tea, eaten in her outdoor living room. I didn't take a picture of any of the food because I was talking, but I did get a picture of the location. What looks like a dining room table is actually a covered outdoor pool table, but with the cover it does nicely for dinner.

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (morningglory)

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:49:49 GMT

Sir,

Life is like that, sometimes. You have each other and that's what counts!

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (morningglory)

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:28:30 GMT

All, glorious & wonderful, especially MON!

My dinner last night doubled as Mother's Day for my Mom...

I started cooking a few days ago by pickling some cucumbers:

Boiled Peanuts to snack on while waiting: (They were from a can and delicious!)

The meal was to begin with gumbo.

Cooking:

Plated:

Waiting to be served:

Stewed Cinnamon Apples:

The macaroni and cheese prior to bking. I forgot the after picture:

My brother's Fried Chicken which was moist!

Collard Greens:

Blackeyed Peas:

I forgot to take a picture of the stringbeans and ham.

My plate:

Banana Pudding:

Strawberry Cheesecake because I knew my mother would not try the banana pudding:

Mom! She'll be 86 next month

It was fun!

agnesrob

Last night I made Cod and Potato Chowder(sorry, I forgot to take pictures) and for tonight Tuna noodle Casserole

(my daughter had three wisdom teeth extracted on Thursday so I've been going for soft chew things). Here was my son's reaction to the tuna casserole(he hates it!).

He makes at least two and sometimes three pizzas a week!

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (mar52)

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:17:58 GMT

Mom figured it out.

Not as good as mine.

Boy!

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (pnwchef)

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:03:37 GMT

Mar....This time I cheated and used Cajun Power Gumbo Base instead of making my own roux.

Mar, Earl and Flewer and some spices, I'm telling Mom

Mom looks happy, nice going on the food.

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (mar52)

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:37:08 GMT

The lobster tails didn't add anything tastewise. It was all for presentation!

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (lleechef)

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:07:31 GMT

mar
Thanks for the recipe. I've been hungry for gumbo lately so I'm going to make yours this week (minus the lobster tails).

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (CajunKing)

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:51:13 GMT

As a former Southerner

WHAT THE HELL IS THE DEAL WITH BOILED PEANUTS??

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (Michael Hoffman)

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:36:49 GMT

pnwchef

Michael Hoffman

Last night I ruined a perfectly fine flank steak and some roasted potato wedges. I have no idea why my always (till last evening) marvelous marinade resulted in a complete lack of flavor for the steak, and I cannot figure out how I managed to grill the thing to medium. While the meat was both overcooked and flavorless, it was very tender. As to the potatoes, well, they were dry and lacking in flavor. The caprese salad we had was excellent.
lleechef made the salad.

lleechef was kind. I did not deserve kindness.

I thought Lisa gave you a can opener for your birthday. From what I remember, Lisa said, if you can't open it with a can opener, don't touch it. Leave the important things to lisa, now go take a nap................pnwc

I try to stick with cans that have pull-top lids. I wish I could take a nap, but I have too many things to get done, including driving my new John Deere to the back yard for some serious mowing.

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (mar52)

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:35:20 GMT

Thanks, Girls!

The boiled peanuts came from Walmart. I rinsed them to get rid of some of the sliminess.

They also came in a Cajun spiced flavor but I opted for plain. I liked them!

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (love2bake)

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:30:42 GMT

Mar - that dinner looks like heaven!! Gorgeous gumbo and fried chicken, the perfect complement of southern sides, and two incredible desserts. Wow. And boiled p-nuts--yay!!! Whose brand did you use? I've had a hard time getting them right in a crockpot so have considered buying canned ones instead. Thank you for posting your prized gumbo recipe.

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (agnesrob)

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:45:13 GMT

What a great looking dinner Mar!! Your Mom's a lucky lady!

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (mar52)

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:12:03 GMT

Here's the base I used this time:

http://www.cajunpowersauc...-A12A-3A725D947B7933A7

I found it a bit greasy tasting.

It had all the spice and vegetables in it.

I added sauteed trinity and a can of okra and tomatoes.

I bought a rotisserie chicken and pulled it apart, smoked sausage when I didn't like the way my Andouille smelled and those lobster tails at the last minute.

I'm all for shortcuts when the back and thumb aren't feeling well!

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (mar52)

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:05:10 GMT

Hi Lisa, I wrote this recipe years ago and I vary it every time I make it.

This time I cheated and used Cajun Power Gumbo Base instead of making my own roux.

Here's mine: (I won two Gumbo Cookoffs with it and two trips for two to New Orleans)

Marlene’s Gumbo Makes 15-20 servings

1 C. vegetable oil
¾ C. flour
4 C. chopped onions
2 C. chopped celery
2 C. chopped green pepper
1 Tablespoon chopped garlic (You can use a garlic press)
8 C. Swanson’s chicken broth (heated which is debated) I cheat unless I have homemade.
1 bag (or less) of Costco’s frozen chicken wings that are like Buffalo Wings. The seasoning on them helps!
1 ring smoked sausage, sliced in to rounds (I use the regular that is a pork/beef mix)
1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning (I use Joe's Stuff whch is from the New Orleans School of Cooking)
½ tsp thyme
2 bay leaves
Pinch sugar (optional)

2 C chopped green onions
2 pounds peeled and deveined shrimp or more!
Cooked rice (I don’t bother with rice)
Filé.   (I never use it)

I make my gumbo in stages over two days. The trick is to have everything ready because there is no time to stop once you begin.

First I make the roux. This is the most labor intensive part. BUT, before you begin have all the onions, celery, green pepper and garlic diced and ready. Set a time when you have 2 hours free. Go to the bathroom before you begin!   Do not leave the pan while you are stirring. Do not answer the phone, do not answer the door. (The roux goes through different stages so don’t be alarmed… just keep stirring) (I know that Lisa already knows all of this)

A heavy bottomed pan is the best for making the roux. You will need a flat bottomed wooden spatula to stir it…CONSTANTLY until you get the color you want. You might start with a roux the color of peanut butter. I make mine almost as dark as chocolate, but I’ve been doing it for years. The lighter the roux the more thickening properties it has. I think the darker roux has a richer taste. IF YOU BURN THE ROUX, THROW IT OUT AND START OVER This could take over an hour depending on how brave you are with the heat.

Heat the oil in the pan (I use a cast iron skillet which might get too hot for a beginner) on a middle to high heat and when you see the rippling effect dump in all of the flour a little at a time and start stirring.

I start on a higher fire and then turn it down because I’m a chicken. When I think it’s getting too hot I slide the pan off the burner, stir, stir, stir and then put it back still stirring. You can also buy roux already made in a jar!   BEWARE! Roux is as hot as moltent lava. You do not want it getting on you.

When the roux is the color you want, dump in all of the onions, celery and green pepper. (Those 3 items together are called the Holy Trinity or just the Trinity) I cook them down until you can’t recognize the individual pieces. I make it a mush. When it’s to this mushy state, stir in the garlic, cook a couple of minutes and transfer it all in to the LARGE stock pot that you’ll be using.

Carefully stir in the warmed up broth, bring it to a boil and then lower to a simmer. Dump in all the chicken wings you want and continue to simmer. (If I have shrimp shells I heat them up in the chicken broth and strain it first)

While it’s simmering saute the sausage to brown it for extra flavor and to get rid of some of the grease. Blot them with paper towels and add them to the pot. Add the Cajun spice, bay leaves, thyme and simmer for the a couple of hours. Taste! If you think it could use a little sugar add a pinch or two. Cool. Refrigerate overnight.

The next morning I skim as much of the fat off of the top of the gumbo as possible. Then I pick out all of the chicken skin, bones and what I call knuckles which I guess is cartilage.

Then I heat it up again. The remaining grease will pool on the top of the gumbo. I skim some more with a spoon and then I actually layer paper towels on the top to remove almost all of the grease. I find this to be part of why my recipe wins. It’s not greasy at all.

Heat it up again to a boil and then turn down to a simmer.

Approximately 10 minutes before serving, add green onions.   Right before you’re ready to serve it dump in the shrimp. They only take a couple of minutes to cook and you don’t want to over cook them. Those small lobster tails were $4 a piece at my grocery store this week so I bought 4 and halved them. Great for presentation! LOL Serve gumbo over rice or without rice as I do. Rice is just a filler. Make your contents stand on their own!

Some people use File powder which gives it a different taste. It also thickens it up. You serve it on the table and stir it in to your own bowl. you never cook file! I don’t use it. I don’t like it!    You can also add okra and tomatoes but don’t. It doesn’t need it.

Most serve gumbo over white rice, but I feel it takes away the taste. I serve it like a soup without the rice.

Hope this helps!

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (lleechef)

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:31:38 GMT

Your food looks great but not as good as your Mother! She sure doesn't look her age and you can tell her I said so!!!
Would you consider re-posting your gumbo recipe? I know you are famous for it and the recipe is here somewhere but I'm too lazy to go digging. Puhleese?

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (mar52)

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:21:11 GMT

My dinner last night doubled as Mother's Day for my Mom...

I started cooking a few days ago by pickling some cucumbers:

Boiled Peanuts to snack on while waiting: (They were from a can and delicious!)

The meal was to begin with gumbo.

Cooking:

Plated:

Waiting to be served:

Stewed Cinnamon Apples:

The macaroni and cheese prior to bking. I forgot the after picture:

My brother's Fried Chicken which was moist!

Collard Greens:

Blackeyed Peas:

I forgot to take a picture of the stringbeans and ham.

My plate:

Banana Pudding:

Strawberry Cheesecake because I knew my mother would not try the banana pudding:

Mom! She'll be 86 next month

It was fun!

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (pnwchef)

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:22:40 GMT

Michael Hoffman

Last night I ruined a perfectly fine flank steak and some roasted potato wedges. I have no idea why my always (till last evening) marvelous marinade resulted in a complete lack of flavor for the steak, and I cannot figure out how I managed to grill the thing to medium. While the meat was both overcooked and flavorless, it was very tender. As to the potatoes, well, they were dry and lacking in flavor. The caprese salad we had was excellent.
lleechef made the salad.

lleechef was kind. I did not deserve kindness.

I thought Lisa gave you a can opener for your birthday. From what I remember, Lisa said, if you can't open it with a can opener, don't touch it. Leave the important things to lisa, now go take a nap................pnwc

Re:What's For Dinner TONIGHT...??? (Michael Hoffman)

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:04:20 GMT

Last night I ruined a perfectly fine flank steak and some roasted potato wedges. I have no idea why my always (till last evening) marvelous marinade resulted in a complete lack of flavor for the steak, and I cannot figure out how I managed to grill the thing to medium. While the meat was both overcooked and flavorless, it was very tender. As to the potatoes, well, they were dry and lacking in flavor. The caprese salad we had was excellent.
lleechef made the salad.

lleechef was kind. I did not deserve kindness.