Serve Up Some Saturday! Our Daily Dinner

Serve Up some Saturday!

chuckieb 9 years ago
Good Morning Everyone! There's some Charlie Brown snowflakes falling outside.
I'm all excited to have our friends over for dinner this evening. Here's my Menu:
Chili Lime Shrimp Nacho Bites
BBQ Steak
Twice Baked Spinach Potatoes
Truffle marinated asparagus
http://www.chefspencil.com/recipe/truffle-marinated-asparagus/
(pic below)
and
Toe Jam Trifle for dessert! :)
I prepped the Asparagus last night. Not sure I'm a huge fan yet but hopefully the flavours meld nicely by the time I serve it.
Will make the Trifle as soon as we finish breakfast so that it can set for the rest of the day and I can make up the potatoes ahead of time as well and just throw them in the oven when Jim heads out to the BBQ.
The trifle called for frozen raspberries. In the past I remember buying them in a little square box and they'd be packed in syrup/juice. So this past week I go to the grocery store to buy some and all I see is a bag of individually frozen raspberries. Am a little worried I won't have enough 'juice' to soak into the pound cake but I'll figure something out. Wonder if those square pack things are still available somewhere?
Hope Frank feels better soon Laurie. He was sick just over Christmas too wasn't he? And it sounds like you might be coming down with something as well. Do take care. And it's good you postponed your Girl's Night. How did Becca make out skating?
LOL @ outlawing the Cleaning Fairy Karen. She must have done something really bad alright.
Sounds like you've got a lot of goodies to repurpose Tina. Lucky you! I adore meatball subs yet never make them? Gotta fix that. I've never had chicken and waffles before.MMMMmmm on a Savoury Bread pudding done with Cubans. I bet I'd love that. A big bag of fruit could be turned into smoothies or cobblers. And you could cook the veggies up. A minestrone or something. Laurie has a Vegetable soup that I've always meant to try and haven't gotten around to it yet.
Garden Vegtable Soup 0 Points
or thrown in with a Pot Roast?
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mommyluvs2cook 9 years ago said:

Morning Janet! Your dinner plans for tonight sound delicious Janet, I bet it will turn out delicious! I have never seen the raspberries in a box like you described, only in a bag. Good luck tonight :)

Tina, I would just saute up the veggies and have them on hand for quick side dishes. Sorry, not much help. :)

Just finishing up my banana smoothie, and about to make a cup of coffee. Going to Hobby Lobby today to get the aprons and such, then I told my MIL I would stop by and pick up some of their daughters old books for the kids. My SIL Sarah is only 18 years old, so they aren't too old. Then we are going to swing by the library and then we will pick up some lunch (breakfast) from the Egg and I. I have been craving that place for a long time now!! Going to make some beef fajitas in the oven tonight, probably will serve them in lettuce wraps. Have a great day everyone!!

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chuckieb 9 years ago said:

It sounds like you have a fun agenda for the day Michelle! And it looks like "Books" are the theme! How nice to get some freebies from your MIL. I've kept a lot of Benjamin's books, through from when he was a toddler until he headed off to Taiwan. It's quite a collection. I didn't keep them all, just the favourites, but there were a lot of favourites and he was always an avid reader. Enjoy your breakfast at the "Egg and I". I forget what it is that you usually order. :) Beef fajitas sounds like perfect Saturday night fare.

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NPMarie 9 years ago said:

Good morning ladies:) We are up bright and early this Saturday! Rick has a couple of jobs to do and I think I'll go with him to help..I have to smile every time I say that..I'm really NOT that much help:)

Tina, lots of leftovers, that is wonderful..I would blanch some of the veggies and freeze them...I always keep a bag of fresh broccoli & cauliflower florets,baby carrots & celery sticks in my fridge..we like to eat them dipped in ranch dressing..

Janet, your menu sounds lovely! I love the sound of the asparagus recipe..have a wonderful dinner tonight:)

Michelle, cool on the books..I still have a set of Dr. Suess books I adore:) Love Dr. Suess to this day! I'm going to TRY to make my Keni recipe today or early tomorrow morning so I can post it early on Sunday..I'm still deciding between 2 recipes:)

Joce, did you end of having lobster rolls? I need to pick up some lobster tails..it's been a long time since we have had any:) Hope your feeling much better today...

Hello to everyone..have a wonderful Saturday:)

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laurieg 9 years ago said:

Yes Frank was just sick over Christmas, it's odd because he doesn't get sick often and to get the same thing twice in a row? Shouldn't he have been immune to it?
Rachel had her first driving lesson with the school this morning during a raging snow storm, they don't cancel because they believe the kids should learn to drive in all conditions. She did good finally got on the main road and drove all the way to wakefield (two towns over) then the other girl got behind the wheel and she went onto the highway but gave the car too much gas and they completely spun in a circle ONTHE HiGHWAY!! She said the instructor was so calm didn't even flinch just said that's ok just straighten the wheel . Ugh it would take me a week of martinis to get over that! Rachel was worried about scaring the person who had to observe her lol!
Becca had fun skating. She said that she hugged the wall the whole time
Not looking forward to shoveling. Ugh it's still coming down pretty hard. We need the shovel fairy!

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MissouriFarmWife 9 years ago said:

HI Janet, Michelle, Marie. And anyone else who I don't see at the moment, but will after posting this. LOL.

Janet, your asparagus looks wonderful. I'm sure your friends will love the entire meal. I will look at Laurie's veggie soup recipe -- it sounds good!

Tina, do you have a dehydrator? Veggies and fruits can be dried and used later. Or (veggies anyway) can be blanched and put in freezer bags in recipe or individual portions and frozen. We have a ton of fresh oranges we need to eat, I succumbed to the huge bag at Sams and now have to be diligent about utilizing them. They are healthier for people than juice! Veggie soup is so-o-o-o good for you and low calorie also. Toss some tomatoes and other veggies in and simmer for a while. Yummy! (If Janet is coming you can skip the broccoli).

I have tossed cherry tomatoes into freezer bags and into the freezer. They hold their shape, and work well in chili, soup, you name it. There is a recipe for canning them on GR, but they are low acid so you have to be careful.

Of course, melted dark chocolate drizzled over orange slices is a quasi-healthy, decadent, outrageous dessert provided one eats only one or two slices. Ahem!
OOOH - do I have some dark chocolate lurking in my cupboards? Heh heh heh! I may just think of that soon.

So cool on keeping the older books. My daughter is going to be sure her ten year old reads the original version of Black Beauty - and explains the reasons behind Anna Sewell's writing the book in the first place. The "new" and "sanitized" version has been gutted of all but a few references to the situation in England that led to her campaign for better treatment of horses. Even the scene where he sees Ginger's body being carted away has been dropped, and it is necessary for her message to get across. End of my sermon on horse mistreatment in England.

Our two beasts are fat and sassy, living out the dream of retirement with two humans to cater to their every need. I have always loved horses and will be sad when our's are gone -- they are old for horses - but healthy, and hopefully will be around for several more years. Neither of us ride any more, but every so often this urge to try one more time just overpowers all common sense....maybe one of these days I will succumb. Rocky is lazy and stubborn, not spooky, needs the attention and reminding that he is a horse.... that is my story and I'm sticking to it.

I never cared for Dr. Seuss' books, but they are popular and certainly do inspire kids to use their imagination. I did like the OLDER versions of The Three Pigs and The Little Red Hen. Sczieki (? spelling? has some hilarious kid books out - The true story of the three little pigs -- Meanwhile back at the ranch -- so funny. They are not super new, but not old, either, lots of pictures so the younger set would like them. Or maybe older ones, post 21 years old, would get a charge out of his satire.

OK, back to the drawing board. The hot water in back is fixed so I can shower tonight without running up and down the basement steps to turn it on / off. LOL.

The trip to Springfield was productive and now I have oranges to use up, maybe dehydrate? I bought - on impulse - a container of coconut flour. So -- must look for uses for it. Supposedly it is healthier than wheat flour, but I just wanted to try some to see how it worked.

Thinking of sausage gravy and biscuits for lunch. I had a package of Jimmy Dean sausage in the freezer, and I really need to use it soon. Middle GS is here raking leaves, so he will like a hearty meal. I just have to go mix up the biscuits and make them, and use some of the gravy mix sitting in my cupboard (too lazy to make it from scratch). Supper has to be heavy on the veggies - maybe use some of the frozen cherry tomatoes and / or zucchini taking up space in my freezer? I have some cabbage I need to dice / chop, and maybe add some ground pork from the wild boar meat to make a soup or stew. There is a recipe on GR or AR (maybe both) that uses that combination of ingredients, or concocting is always a possibility.

A.C. is prying open the door to the sun room and sneaking his head inside. I heard plaintive little meows -- he is so mistreated -- LOL. I reminded him that he was not permitted here, so he reversed direction and complained as he left. Bad Kitty.

O.K. enough of this noveletta.

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MissouriFarmWife 9 years ago said:

SP Laurie. Drivers Ed teachers need nerves of steel - or maybe a martini waiting at home? Glad all turned out well.

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Good4U 9 years ago said:

I know I remember buying frozen strawberries like that, Janet. I haven't seen those little square packaged things in ages in the freezer section. I would take out some berries now to thaw and make a simple syrup for them. That should help with the extra juice and solve your dilemma. No doubt you have figured that out by now though:) You dinner plans sound just heavenly!

Michelle, Enjoy shopping at Hobby Lobby and all the other places you need to go. I wish we had an "Egg and I" restaurant here. I would probably go to it all the time.

Marie, Don't work too hard helping Rick:) Yes I enjoyed my lobster roll:)

Laurie, It is good you postponed your party if you are getting a snowstorm. Great to hear Rachel did so well driving in it. LOL @ you needing a week of martinis if you were in the car when it did a 360 on the highway! I would too:) Hoping Frank feels better soon. Poor guy he has had a time of it this year!

Tina, You could make up some soup maybe with all those veggies and maybe just freeze the fruit so you could use it in smoothies or bake with it as Janet already mentioned. Your freezer is getting filled with all sorts of goodies, which will be handy.

Den is having his cheeseburgers and fries tonight and I am not sure totally what I want yet. Maybe scallops and shrimp or something along that line?

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Good4U 9 years ago said:

Oops! SP! Hi Karen:)

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chuckieb 9 years ago said:

Have a good jaunt out with Rick Marie! I'm a Dr. Seuss fan too.
Good for Rachel out on a driving lesson and in a storm no less. :) Ai yi yi on the other girl spinning out. I'd be freaking and certainly joining you in the martinis! Glad Becca enjoyed skating. A shovel fairy is a great idea!
We recently bought a big bag of oranges too Karen. We love to cut them up as part of breakfast. Great that your hot water is working again. Michelle will probably be able to give you some ideas on how to use that coconut flour. Your lunch sounds yummy.
I ended up just spreading the "Toe Jam" on the cake slices Joce and there was a dribble of juice at the bottom of the raspberry bag. The recipe only called for 1/4 cup of juice so it wouldn't have gone that far anyway. I think it'll be fine. However....it's HUGE! Gonna have to see if I can send the leftovers home with our guests as I'll just end up throwing it out. How would it freeze do you think? It's just cake, berries, whipped cream mixed with cream cheese. Yum on your Lobster Roll last night.
I've got the potatoes baking in the oven and the shrimp thawing. Jim and I ran over to the little local butcher counter and got four lovely ribeyes. I've got the dining room table set. Nice and wintry. My SIL gave us a set of three battery operated candles. They are glass with etchings of trees and snow on the outside and the candle at the bottom...and the coolest thing about them is that they have a remote control. LOL! It's quite fun to aim the remote control at the candles and have them switch on and then off.
I picked up some prosciutto and am going to do a little nibblee lunch with some other cold cuts, cheese, crackers, pickles, etc.

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Good4U 9 years ago said:

It won't freeze very well, Janet b/c, of the cream cheese. LOL I know Trifles are always huge:) Those battery operated candles sound very cool! It sounds like you are all set to go for dinner! Your lunch of nibblees does sound good. I might do something along that line too for lunch.

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chuckieb 9 years ago said:

Lunch was lovely. We have a few more dinners and lunches on the horizon and I must remember to do an Appy lunch for one of those as they're easy to put together, yummy and quite celebratory. :)
I've got my potatoes all done up so all that is left to do is prep for the appy's. We were going to go out for a Hot Tub before our guests arrive but we've now lit a fire and it's too cozy to leave. :)

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laurieg 9 years ago said:

Making spagetti and meatballs with bread but I think my dough might not rise :(. I used bread machine yeast but did it in my kitchen aid (I have done it before) but the yeast is old. So old I don't know how old lol. I have it resting on the oven door where it is warm. Fingers crossed!
We shoveled and I am tired but doing a mountain of laundry.

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chuckieb 9 years ago said:

Yum on spaghetti and meatballs Laurie. Fingers crossed for the bread to rise! Jim threw in a load of our laundry without me even noticing. There are definite benefits to having him home all day now. :)

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MissouriFarmWife 9 years ago said:

It must be laundry Saturday. We have three loads done, one to go in the drier yet and probably need to do a load of permanent press also. Wayne is finishing up outside with GS doing leaf raking chores. He has the tractor in the side yard with the bucket raised. I am afraid to look out to see what they are up to, but maybe the mower had to be jumped or something?? Yes, looks like that is the case. now i have a tractor bucket looking in my window - LOL.

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NPMarie 9 years ago said:

Hi all..we have been home for a while..had 3 jobs to go to today then we went to Oroville to check in on his Dad..he said he slipped and fell yesterday while walking to the BR (he does have a walker, thank goodness, and he IS allowed to walk)..he just had regular socks on!!! Now he has socks with the rubber grips on the bottom..he's not eating much and needs to start drinking more water..even if he doesn't feel so good, he NEEDS to do it..Rick let him know if he wants to get better and go home that's what needs to be done..he can be a bit stubborn at times, but this time he's not going to get away with it! Poor guy anyway..It just breaks our hearts to see him like that. So now the whole family knows so I'm sure he get better with everyone watching after him..Rick's brother from Sacramento said he'll stop to see him tomorrow, we have twin nieces who live in Oroville who stop in daily to check on him as well..another brother lives in Lincoln who comes often as well..so he has lots of family looking after him:)
Have a lovely evening everyone..:)

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