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Food / drink 🍗 The 'help me figure out what to have for dinner tonight' thread

Hink said:
Top Chief. Is that an Indian tribal competition show? :D


I don't like Bev. I liked Ed. Now I like Paul.
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I'm afraid they are setting her up for the win. The whole, underdog, nobody likes her but she overcomes it all to win thing.:r: Your right about Paul, he the best of what's left. He's had the fewest missteps.
 
Tonight's challenge....is a PICNIC at the park!

I don't care whether we cook it ourselves or buy something take out.
 
Maister said:
Tonight's challenge....is a PICNIC at the park!

I don't care whether we cook it ourselves or buy something take out.
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I'd go with cheese, crackers and a summer-type sausage.

Pick up a diced fruit selection at Meijer.

Go with some brownies for dessert.

Juice boxes for the kid. Some water bottles for the parents.
 
hilldweller said:
40s and a bucket of fried chicken. fudgecicles for dessert
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You can tell btrage put a lot more thought and care into his response than you did. That said, I'm liking your suggestion best so far....:D:p
 
Picnic dinner! That sounds fun. On my imaginary picnic dinner menu:

Finger sandwiches
You can put whatever you want in them, but I typically go with something different than normal sandwich combos.
Try cucumber, mint, tomato, and mozzarella. Or, bell pepper, basil, bree, and balsamic vinegar.

Gazpacho! (if you have plastic bowls)
Now this is my secret recipe, so don't go posting it all over the internet! ;)
Get your blender out.
Throw in a tomato, bell pepper, cucumber, mango, mint, a touch of onion and garlic, salt/pepper to taste, and a decent squeeze of a lemon.

I am assuming there is no grill, if you have access to a grill make:
Barbie Shrimp Poppers
Shrimp
Bacon
Cream cheese
Jalapenos

Chop jalapenos and mix into the cream cheese. Slice the shrimp down the belly and open slightly. Stuff the delicious hot cheese in there. Wrap in bacon. Fasten with toothpick. Throw it on the barbie. Salivate while waiting.
 
Perennial favorites - fried chicken (can substitute rotisserie), hard boiled eggs, baked beans, carrot sticks, lemonade, chocolate chip cookies. Or for desert you can also swing by the local ice cream shoppe.
 
I'd suggest going to a good deli, and picking up a selection of main-dish salads (chicken, Greek, etc). Pair those with some tasty bread/rolls or crackers, some berries, and cookies or brownies.

And maybe a bottle of sparkling wine for mom and dad.
 
Why is there even a discussion? Jimmy John's #2 Big John without mayo add cheese. 450 calories.

Case closed.
 
I definitely want to fix dirty rice for dinner tonight, but what else should go with it? (and it can't be seafood)
 
Maister said:
I definitely want to fix dirty rice for dinner tonight, but what else should go with it? (and it can't be seafood)
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Darn - my first thought was "fish tacos." Umm, cajun-spiced tofu? Seriously, I think I have a recipe for it somewhere if you're interested.
 
Maister said:
I definitely want to fix dirty rice for dinner tonight, but what else should go with it? (and it can't be seafood)
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Chicken Liver



Just kidding!
I like dirty rice as a main dish. If you are going to put sausage in it, then it works really well that way.
Since dirty rice has carbs and protein, I like to pair it with a veggie overload.
You could make some spicy veggies for the side, like eggplant, asparagus, and okra - roasted in the oven with some olive oil and creole seasoning.
Perhaps some corn on the cob with garlic butter too!
 
TerraSapient said:
Chicken Liver



Just kidding!
I like dirty rice as a main dish. If you are going to put sausage in it, then it works really well that way.
Since dirty rice has carbs and protein, I like to pair it with a veggie overload.
You could make some spicy veggies for the side, like eggplant, asparagus, and okra - roasted in the oven with some olive oil and creole seasoning.
Perhaps some corn on the cob with garlic butter too!
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YES!! I have about a half dozen stalks of asparagus ready to pick in my garden right now. I also have some frozen corn on the cob in the freezer (purchased from the farmers market last August). This will work perfectly!
 
TerraSapient said:
Chicken Liver



Just kidding!
I like dirty rice as a main dish. If you are going to put sausage in it, then it works really well that way.
Since dirty rice has carbs and protein, I like to pair it with a veggie overload.
You could make some spicy veggies for the side, like eggplant, asparagus, and okra - roasted in the oven with some olive oil and creole seasoning.
Perhaps some corn on the cob with garlic butter too!
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Otterpop, a little help here, please. Since I live in dirty rice country, it's normally made with hamburger, not sausage. I've never had it with veggies. If you wanted to be authentic, serve okra or greens and gumbo. Use cajun seasoning instead of creole, it has kick to it. Personally, I have flaky biscuits with it. Now red beans and rice is is good with sausage- andouile (sp) or cajun sauasage can give it a decent kick.
 
I ended up making the dirty rice (using ground beef) with garden grown asparagus as a side. While it may not have been traditional cajun, it was very tasty.

There may be no proper solution for tonight's challenge.....I asked the missus what she wanted for dinner and she said 'it's a cold and rainy day. I want some nice hot soup.' I on the other hand agree that it is a cold rainy day, but feel that nice hot pizza is what the doctor ordered. Is there a middle way here? Is there such a things as a soup that goes well with pizza?
 
So last night I grilled pork chops and we had fried chicken the day before. I don't feel like grilling tonight. It's supposed to get up to about 90 today and I don't want to necessarily spend a lot of time in the kitchen with the oven going.....so with that said, what should we have for dinner tonight?
 
Maister said:
So last night I grilled pork chops and we had fried chicken the day before. I don't feel like grilling tonight. It's supposed to get up to about 90 today and I don't want to necessarily spend a lot of time in the kitchen with the oven going.....so with that said, what should we have for dinner tonight?
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Stuffed tortelleni with meatsauce & garlic bread...add a salad for good measure.
 
I'm curious what people with kids do for dinner on Halloween. We usually feed the girls a quick meal at home before the trick and treating begins, then I usually pick up some take-out for the wife and I after they go to bed.
 
Any suggestions from those who have or have had children as to what sort of dinner we should have on Halloween night? I'm thinking Sweet Tarts and Three Musketeers bars, but am open to other ideas....

EDIT: wow, btrage, great minds think alike.
 
We're picking up Chinese Takeout for dinner tonight before the little monsters go out and beg for candy in the 'hood.
 
btrage said:
I'm curious what people with kids do for dinner on Halloween. We usually feed the girls a quick meal at home before the trick and treating begins, then I usually pick up some take-out for the wife and I after they go to bed.
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That's what we did or simply skipped dinner if it took a while for the sugar rush to wear off.:-c:r::not:
 
usually we have pizza or, if I have my act together, something out of a crock pot

this year, it's going to be a dinnerp arty at my house!

I am making roast chicken, crock pot mashed potatoes (hopefully they will be good), peas, roasted squash with onions, and a birthday chocolate cake for dessert! cool, huh?
 
luckless pedestrian said:
this year, it's going to be a dinnerp arty at my house!

I am making roast chicken, crock pot mashed potatoes (hopefully they will be good), peas, roasted squash with onions, and a birthday chocolate cake for dessert! cool, huh?
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Wow, am I invited?
 
I always make "Pizza Loaves" on Halloween. You roll pepperoni and provolone up into a buttered scone dough flattened out and then bake it. After it's cooled a little you can slice it really easily like bread and the kids think it's uber-special. After trick or treating we always bake those big pretzels before bed.
 
Looks like we're going to do pizza tonite, but I think chicken noodle soup is in order for tomorrow night. The key is to get enough veggies in the mix.

images
 
We've decided on Vietnamese for dinner tonight after the gym. With any luck by the time we get home all the trick or treaters will be done.
 
When the kid was trick or treating, on Halloween we'd usually have leftovers we could heat up in the microwave, or I'd make a meatloaf a day or two before and we'd have meatloaf sandwiches.

Now I'm wishing RJ would go on a golf trip so I could make meatloaf...
 
Zoning Goddess said:
When the kid was trick or treating, on Halloween we'd usually have leftovers we could heat up in the microwave, or I'd make a meatloaf a day or two before and we'd have meatloaf sandwiches.

Now I'm wishing RJ would go on a golf trip so I could make meatloaf...
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Mmmmmmm. We have leftover meatloaf and it will be sandwiches tonight. Yummmmmm.
 
I pulled a chicken out of the freezer, and in honor of Halloween, made ghoul-ash. Mmmmmm... especially with potato dumplings.
 
Vietnamese Style Turkey Burgers!

1lb ground lean turkey
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Juice of 1/2 lime (save other half for cabbage topping)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 cloves garlic chopped
1/2" piece of ginger, peeled and minced (or 1/2 tsp ground powdered ginger)
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro

Mix all ingredients together and let flavors blend for 15 minutes. Cook on the grill, in a grill pan, or broil, etc til done. Serve on toasted buns or french bread topped with cabbage mix below. We like to mix mayonnaise with a bit of sriracha chili sauce and spread on the buns before eating for a kick.

2 c. bagged coleslaw mix
1 tablespoon soy sauce
Juice of 1/2 lime
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

In a bowl mix soy sauce, lime juice, sugar together until sugar dissolves. Add coleslaw mix and cilantro to the bowl and toss til coated. Let sit while burgers are cooking. (It's really tasty so double it if you want it as a side dish)
 
the crock pot mashed potatoes was an epic fail but luckily I realized it as I was preparing the chicken for the oven and threw a bunch of stuff to roast (potatoes, carrots, onions and squash) so it was an epic save!
 
Tonight will be chicken enchiladas. The chicken will be cooked in the slow cooker first, then everything will be compiled and placed in the oven.
 
Tonight I will be making rouladen, mashed potatoes, and broccoli. This follows last night's goulash. Definitely eating old world lately. Fall does that to me.
 
btrage said:
Tonight will be chicken enchiladas. The chicken will be cooked in the slow cooker first, then everything will be compiled and placed in the oven.
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Along with the chicken, I also put seasoning, some diced onion, corn and black bean salsa and some queso.
 
Cardinal said:
Tonight I will be making rouladen, mashed potatoes, and broccoli. This follows last night's goulash. Definitely eating old world lately. Fall does that to me.
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Had a roommate in college whose parents were from Germany. He made great rouladen but was such a slob in the kitchen that nobody wanted to have to clean up after him.
 
Guys night again... I think we are going to have some sort of potato dish...
 
btrage said:
Tonight will be chicken enchiladas. The chicken will be cooked in the slow cooker first, then everything will be compiled and placed in the oven.
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Richmond Jake said:
Care to share the recipe?
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I tend to do my shredded chicken for Mexican dishes like I make chili; I rarely follow a recipe.

I used about 1.25 lbs of chicken tenderloins and a packet of taco seasoning, a small diced onion, about half a cup of salsa and about half a cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Slow cooked for about 5 hours on low. The chicken becomes very tender and is easy to shred. I would've added a hot sauce and/or cumin to spice it up but my daughters probably wouldn't have liked it.

I just use store bough tortillas shells and canned enchilada sauces. After everything is compiled, stick in the over at 350 for about 15-20 minutes.
 
I've started some beef minestrone soup for tonight. Couldn't find a recipe I liked. So I'm calling it "minestrone mélange." What ever is in the house ended up in the mélange. It's looking more like stew than soup. Whatta ya gonna do? :-| :not:
 
I've got some leftover basmati rice, so I think I'll make a pan of refried beans to go with it. We also have a ton of cilantro and culantro to use up.

I'd rather order a pizza, to tell you the truth, but we're having snow squalls and I don't feel like going out to pick it up. We're not in anyone's delivery zone. :(
 
Richmond Jake said:
I've started some beef minestrone soup for tonight. Couldn't find a recipe I liked. So I'm calling it "minestrone mélange." What ever is in the house ended up in the mélange. It's looking more like stew than soup. Whatta ya gonna do? :-| :not:
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I like this approach. I recently started with a standard recipe for shepherd's pie and then doctored it up using a few new spices and vegetables to create "German shepherd's pie".
 
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