we are having Little Ceasers 5 dollar pizzas today.....

we shouldn't but who cares.. our cupboards are basically empty and we need to go grocery shopping...

Red beans and rice for us...

It's now an all out addiction for me

I think I'll make a roast chicken dinner today. I feel the need for some comfort food.

Dunno yet...I'm running out of ideas. Do you know how hard it is to get an 8 year old to eat? GAH! She would live off Kraft Dinner and PB&J sammiches. Joel can live off hamburgers and pizza. GAH AGAIN!

I don't know what's for dinner tonight, since we are going grocery shopping we will see what we see there! Last night we had (pre-prepared) quesadillas plus salad and salsa and french onion soup.

I hear what you are saying Karen, my nephew used to have a list of like 5 things he would eat. As he gets older he is adding a few things - the latest is white rice.

I'm making Gnocchi with a Tomato Cream Sauce


TOMATO-CREAM SAUCE

3 c. canned Italian tomatoes (with liquid); drain, seed & dice tomatoes, reserving liquid, divided
2 tsp. olive or vegetable oil
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tsp. each minced fresh parsley & basil
1/4 tsp. salt
Dash pepper
3/4 c. half and half (blend of milk & cream)

In blender container process 2 cups tomatoes with the reserved liquid until pureed; set aside.

In 3 quart saucepan, heat oil over medium high heat; add onion and garlic and saute until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add pureed and diced tomatoes along with the parsley, basil, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Reduce heat to low and let simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture is reduced and slightly thickened, 25 to 30 minutes. Gradually stir in half and half and cook until thoroughly heated and flavors blend, 10 to 15 minutes longer (do not boil). Makes 4 servings. Fabulous with Swiss Chard Gnocchi or try this creamy sauce on cooked pasta or rice.

mmmm

You know, I'm just thinking, I can't remember the last time I made roasted chicken, I think it's because we only ever eat the chicken breasts. Hmm, if they have some non-frozen chickens at the store I think we might just have this too!!

Roast Chicken is comfort food at it's finest.
Enjoy!!!

We're breast people too. I either make chicken noodle soup with the leftovers, or use them in Chiang Mai soup or Butter Chicken. Mmmmm.

I bought a chicken! However tonight we are going to have beef curry - tomorrow roasted lemon chicken!

Mmmmmmm, I LOVE curry. I'm making roast lemon chicken right now. I've had to delay the process, somewhat, because my husband came home from work then went right back out (after taking some business calls) to work out. So now everything is on hold until he comes home. We are having garlic lemon roast chicken, roast potatoes, carrots and turnip, and brussel sprouts. Yum.

We had boneless BBQ pork ribs, green beans, rice and gravy (after all, we *are* in the South), and cheddar cheese popovers. Not the healthiest meal to be sure, but oh my lord those ribs were some more good!

I think it's funny that we are both making lemon chicken, in fact I don't think I have ever made lemon chicken, well not that I can remember, however when we were at the store I thought of it and skipped back to produce to grab a lemon !

BTW, the lemon was 79 cents - seems a bit pricey for 1 lemon.

Oh and we bought some florida citrus (2 oranges) - helping the florida economy from our own neighbourhood

Is Chiang Mai soup the same as tom yom?

Sounds yummy! I just took chicken out of the freezer so it's chicken for us as well Haven't decided what to do with it though. I'm thinking chicken cordon bleu with a salad.

Last night I made liver. Sound really gross I know. But I fry it with bacon, onions and mushrooms in white wine and then serve it on a bed of spinach leaves. It's my husband's favorite (one of them). I got the idea from a really amazing French Bistro I used to go to when I lived in Malta and everyone I've made it for loves it. I guess you might have to like liver to enjoy it but...

I'm making an awesome recipe that Mel got from a friend who is Turkish. It is so easy and so yummy:

I marinate chicken breasts cut into strips in some olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and lots of sumac. We put the strips into a wire basket and onto the grill and then eat it in pitas. I also marinate some red onions in the same recipe and just leave them in the fridge until we are ready to make our pitas.

Mmmm Stace, sounds yummy .. can I come over?

We are going out to eat tonight. Hubby's friend has been staying with us since right before Xmas. He is leaving to head back to the Kootenays this week so we will probably be going out to dinner every night until Thursday with various friends to say goodbye to him.

Well I have peeled potatoes, yam, have the lemon and onion ready, chicken will be in the oven in 1/2 an hour - I have put in a full day of work here....yawn.

And Stacey that does sound delicious.

One thing I definately want one day (soon I hope) is a rotisserie thing. We LOVE rotisserie chicken, baked with all those herbs (with an "h") and spices...and we LOVE Lemon Chicken! Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm. Tonight though is just a lasagna casserole.

Since I'm here at work way too late (8:30 pm and counting!), I'm treating myself to Pizza House. With ham, mushrooms, spinach, sun dried tomatoes. The bestest pizza in Ann Arbor. (just don't tell FEW-he's sort of obsessed with Pizza House)

I took the quick route out tonight - busy with laundry and still feeling pretty slow after being sick all last week. I start with one of the Deluxe or Supreme frozen pizzas, then add a whole variety of my own toppings in addition. Tonight's extras included a small can of green chilis, lots of hot peppers, extra mushrooms, lots of extra cubed tomatoes, chopped zuchinni, extra chopped peppers and onions, more Italian spices, then the whole covered with freshly grated mozzarella. It takes a little bit longer to bake but tastes really good.

we had sgetti with sgetti sauce... I just used jarred sauce but I usually fry up some ground beef and onions and then add the sauce... if I have I will also fry up some bell peppers and mushrooms too..

That is funny. And we never even called each other! I just paid $1.99 for 3 lemons. But that's because I bought them at the supermarket instead of the outdoor market where the prices are more realistic.


Oh, do you like tom yom too? My husband loves it. This is Chiang Mai soup.


I've been to Malta! Went with my Mom and two aunts on vacation. I'm tellin ya, you haven't lived until you've played bingo in the town square with the caller speaking in arabic and the crazy aunts insisting that they understand the numbers he's calling, then hitting the karaoke bar for a big night out. What a hoot.

Can't stand liver, though.

Sumac? Interesting. I don't think I've ever seen any of that. I just know them as bushes that grow in Northern Ontario. lol. I must try some.... if I ever find some.

I had never tried it before Mel made me this recipe. I actually had to google it because I didn't know what it was. It has a really nice flavor- it's quite mild and we use a ton of it when we make this chicken. Its a purple color and we started calling this recipe "Purple Chicken"

I would assume any type of international market will have it. I don't think I have ever seen sumac in a regular grocery store or Costco- but then it was something I had never tried looking for before now.

You can come over anytime

Dinner out is always good

I'm excited to go to Nirvana- an Indian restaurant in New Orleans for Valentines day.

I am going to start simmering some spaghetti sauce in about an hour or so I am in the mood for something warm and comfort-foody.

Me too. It's raining here so we're having pizza soup.

PIZZA SOUP

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 chopped onion
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup slivered green pepper
1 can 28 oz tomatoes
1 cup beef stock
1 cup thinly sliced pepperoni
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 cup shredded mozzarella

Stir fry onion, mushrooms, green pepper and oil until soft but not browned. Add tomatoes, stock, pepperoni and basil; cook until heated through. (I break up tomatoes into smaller bits.)

Ladle soup into 4 ovenproof bowls; sprinkle with cheese. Broil until cheese is melted and golden.

I think we are having something with chicken drumsticks... but we are going to be out later so plans may change...

^^^^^^ this sounds absolutely delicious !

Well, I don't really feel like cooking tonight. Our chicken last night was a bit dry - which is incredibly strange since I stuffed it with onion and lemon and it was in a pool of chicken stock. Anyway - it was all good none-the-less.

I picked up a pizza at the deli in Sobeys the other day, so I'm thinking pizza and salad for dinner.

You must try it..... Kids of all ages love it. And it's super easy to make.

Two possibilities for dry chicken.... it was in the oven too long. Or.... when it comes out of the oven it needs to be taken out of the pan, covered, and let sit for 15-20 minutes. (I put mine on a plate, cover it with tin foil, and let it sit in the microwave to help keep it warm.) That makes the juices rest and redistribute. If you cut into it too soon after taking it out of the oven, all the juices run out because they're still bubbling away in that hot chicken.

I have made something similar to that pizza soup and it is quite yum!! I should make it for hubby one day...

I didn't want to confess that, but now I feel I have to

I hear confession is good for the soul. Do you feel better now?

Came across this thread just as I am doing what......what else but cooking dinner: we are having some fried tilapia,collard greens,rice and corn on the cob. Just thought I would also make some blueberry muffins as a nice after dinner treat.

Do you make your own collards, Forchika? I'm trying to find a good recipe. Either that, or I'll have to keep experimenting until I get them to taste the way I like them.

Well.... since I have a most dreaded doctor appointment for something I just don't want to go into details about, the redhead is actually taking me out for dinner to a persian place
I just hope that when we come out of the doc's I don't feel like killing myself.

maybe...a little

I can't reach hubby so I have no idea if we are going out for dinner again tonight. If not, I think I will just broil some chicken breasts, make a salad and have Seeds of Change quinoa mix (french herb blend).

Oh nice. (Except for the dreaded doctor appointment.) I wish Florida was a bit more cosmopolitan sometimes. Good luck with your appointment!

We're having kabobs, and I tried to make garlic paste.. and I totally didn't get it right boo....

rice & green beans for side..

Yes, I first get the water boiling in some smoked turkey and let them cook for a while maybe 30 mins. I even add a few of the chicken knorr cubes for extra flavor. Cook the greens for another hour, add some vegetable oil, most will add only salt but I like to add some sugar to the greens also, let them cook until the smoke turkey comes off the bone. Then you have some good southern home cooked greens. I always make them for Christmas dinner and everyone just love them.

salmon with fresh dill, roasted asparagus and red skinned potatoes...mmm

you guys put me to shame I guess I am more of a comfort food cook...

I am an awesome baker of goodies though

Let's see....chicken thighs cooked in brown rice cooked with chicken noodle soup, green peas on the side...hmmm, I'm thinking that's enough starchy foods (rice and peas) so I may skip the bread. Best part of this dish...I didn't have to make it. Joel put it all together (after I emailed him the directions) since he was off today.

Tonight was McDonalds. My stepson got a $5 gift card from his grandma- I rarely let him have McD's.

I knew I would feel like crap if I ate it but I did it anyways.

So here goes...tonight we're having Creamed Spinach like my Momma taught me, eggs over-easy and turkey sausage.

Momma's Creamed Spinach

2 bunches of fresh spinach
5-6 garlic cloves
1 generous tablespoon of all purpose flour
oil (I usually use canola)
milk
salt and pepper to taste

Wash spinach, put in pot and add water to almost cover spinach. Bring spinach to boil, reduce heat to medium and boil until tender (3-5 minutes). Drain well and then chop (a wooden knive works best) spinach on a cutting board. Peel and finely chop garlic cloves. In a separate pot heat a little oil to medium high, add chopped garlic...wait 1/2 minute (do not let garlic brown) and add the flour then spinach, stirring all the while, next add the milk and keep stirring until you see that there is a creamy consistency to the spinach. Salt n pepper to taste.

Usually we had this w/ 2 eggs over easy and no meat....but my hubby's a meat eater, so I've browned a little turkey sausage to go along w/ it.



-P

Thanks Forchika! I usually get them from the BBQ guy down the street. His wife makes some amazing collards, but I'm still trying to figure out the recipe. Hers have a bit of a bite to them so I've been able to determine that there are jalapenos in there because I've dissected them. We like the kick of the jalapenos so I'm going to incorporate that in my next attempt.

Isn't that weird? I always feel that way after eating McDonald's too. And so do a few other people I know. I wonder what it is? I honestly can't recall the last time I've eaten there. No wait.... yes I can. I stopped at one in PA on my drive to Canada last summer. I had a Happy Meal.... cause I was happy.

well, we ended up having Wendy's for dinner last night..

tonight we are having chicken.. and rice

I actually bought groceries yesterday but I spent more money then I had planned too but we were out of a lot of stuff....