Pictureless

I forgot to take a photo tonight, but I don't want to forget this dinner option. Visually, it actually resembles the last long ago post. We had chicken stew with dumplings. I've never made dumplings before. Why on earth not? They were the easiest thing ever! Flour, baking powder, and salt, a little parsley, add melted butter and milk, mix, steam in the stew! Carrots, celery, onions, peas, a cold weather delight. I'm so tired of housework, though.

chicken pot pie

October has been chaos, so as I might have predicted, blogging fell by the wayside. Even after getting back to the routine, we've had a sick household for a week. Time for some comforting chicken pot pie. I put biscuits on top instead of a pie crust. The husband was surprisingly enthusiastic about this experiment.

another week

After an enjoyable weekend trip, it was back to cooking our meals this week. I did pretty well until last night when we couldn't resist the beautiful warm sunny fall day and met some friends at the Blue Door Pub for greasy yumminess in outdoor seating. So we started on Monday with chicken supremes with mushrooms and white wine sauce. My mom makes this. It's easy and pretty fast, and you just pound the chicken breast halves, coat them in flour and cook in butter, then take them out, sautee mushrooms and shallots or onions, then take them out, then make a sauce from the browned bits, with chicken broth, white wine, and cream. We had rice and peas with it.

On Tuesday, we had steak fajitas. I had planned to make my own homemade tortillas, but ended up running out of steam after I was inspired to make another pie with the leftover cream from the chicken meal. We had "Heavenly Chocolate Pie".


On Wednesday, one night before our greasefest, we had fish. The kale looks really dark in the picture. I love kale. I just had picked up some frozen vacuum-packed swordfish at Whole Foods, and used a recipe I found on allrecipes.com. It was marinated in white wine and lots of garlic, and I seared it with rosemary. Pretty good. It feels good to eat fish since we all know how healthy it is. For some reason I never truly savor its deliciousness in the same way as I do an awesome burger and fries however!

Now we've made it to the end of the week! TGIF! My plan for tonight is an Indian-themed vegetarian lentil-spinach deal. Must compensate for the fries!

bowtie pasta

We ate out last night. Tonight I picked up bowtie pasta on a whim just thinking it might make a pasta meal more fun. Otherwise I was going for a meal made from stuff we always have around... frozen peas, bacon, onions, cream, parmesan, eggs... didn't really need a recipe but found this one on the web and assigned dinner to Mike tonight! He did great. Here's the pictoral evidence. We also had a salad. And a big glass of wine for me. The weather was so nice we ate outside. Ahhh.

lasagna

I received 3 lasagnas as gifts after having my baby. Each was very welcome, uniquely delicious and I preferred all of them to my version of last night, basic, basic. Pretty much the standard Better Homes and Gardens recipe, though with about half the cheese. I'm again feeling low on ideas. I think we'll have another Spanish tortilla tonight since this way I will not have to visit the grocery store today.

forgotten fish!

We did have one new meal within the last week, worthy of repeating and recording. I used this recipe below for sauce, found under "barbeque halibut steaks" at allrecipes.com. Everything mixed together in a saucepan under low heat to melt the butter.

Like some of the commenters, I marinated the halibut steaks for a few hours, then just baked them. We had rice and broccoli as sides. Just a good reminder that it's handy to have vacuum-packed frozen fish in the freezer for easy meals.

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 
  

niçoise-ish...

After being treated to a meal at our neighbors' last night it was back to home tonight. Back on track; we haven't been eating so well over the last week due to distractions. Here's my variation on a salade niçoise.

Pie!

I meant only to blog about dinners but had to take a picture of my coconut cream pie, which we shared with our neighbors after a wonderful meal last night. They grilled steaks and veggies and served homemade bread and homemade french fries. And they had great wine!

Lamb Meatloaf

So my friend's comment about gyros did provide some inspiration. It got lamb on my mind, and I thought, "what would be the easiest possible meal I could make with lamb?" I am not a person who can create meals without recipes. I might embellish here and there, but I stick to recipes and cookbooks. So I googled "lamb meatloaf" and scrolled through recipes until I found this one, chosen because it only called for 1 pound of ground lamb, where others called for lamb plus beef, or up to 3 pounds of meat! THIS WAS A HUGE SUCCESS! We loved it. We had some leftover feta, which I added to the meatloaf. I did not make the "spicy tomato dipping sauce" but substituted a cucumber yogurt sauce. We had rice and a green salad with an awesome fresh garden tomato from a neighbor. Of course the glass of red wine enhanced the experience!

chill is in the air

Brrr! It's not really fall already, is it? I broke out a winter dish since it was just on my mind and recipe posted a few days ago: Stuffed Cabbage. Yum, yum. It takes me a little bit of time, but it's actually so easy, and the apples and raisins...mmmmm! Mashed potatoes on the side, with plenty of butter and parmesan blended in. Looking forward to these leftovers!

I had another cooking hiatus as we took a weekend road trip and were able to bounce from wonderful friend to wonderful friend enjoying meal after meal, including BLTs, a brat fest, kabobs, and Icelandic pancakes. As well as one small order of Potato Oles from Taco Johns, somewhere in northern Iowa. 

meat!

I had no inspiration last night. We had an uninspired chicken broccoli casserole. Mike actually loved it. I guess the cream of chicken soup gravy with the cheese on top is satisfying. Not a core member of the meal rotation however. But TONIGHT: my mother-in-law visited and made us STEAK for dinner. Isn't it pretty? Here's her recipe:

Asian Steak topped with bell pepper stir fry

2 Tbsps Thai style chili sauce (or just use regular chili sauce)

1 1/2 Tbsps soy sauce

2 tsps balsamic vinegar

2 tsps grated peeled fresh ginger

2 10-12 oz New York steaks

1 1/2 Tbsps vegetable oil, divided

1 medium onion, halved, sliced

2 medium red bell peppers, cut into 1/2 inch thick strips

4 green onions, chopped

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preheat oven to 375º.  Whisk chili sauce, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar and ginger in medium bowl; add steaks and turn to coat. Let marinate at room temperature 15 minutes, turning occasionally.

Heat 1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil in large ovenproof skillet, over medium high heat.  Scrape most of the marinade off steaks and back into bowl.  Sprinkle steaks with salt and pepper; add to skillet and cook until browned, about 3 minutes.  Turn steaks over and transfer skillet to oven.  Roast until cooked to desired doneness, about 5 minutes longer for medium-rare.  Transfer steaks to cutting board, let rest 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 Tbsp vegetable oil in heavy medium skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and bell peppers; saute until crisp tender, about 3 minutes.  Add green onions and all remaining marinade from steaks.  Bring to boil. Stir in cilantro.  Cut steaks crosswise in half. Serves 4.  Serve with rice.

rainy day

As the rain falls my cooking inspiration has dried up...
To continue the log of meals dutifully however-
Sunday: leftovers
Monday: spaghetti+salad. Actually delicious, prepared by Mike who sauteed some onion and spicy italian sausage with the tomato sauce, and we had a great avocado to enhance the salad. Delicious, but uninspired. Now sitting on a gray day, watching the raindrops, hoping for an idea...

stuffed stuff and summer faves

Last night: stuffed peppers, zucchini, and tomatoes, prepared by a kitchen visitor. I added only the yogurt cucumber sauce. It was an excellent reminder of how satisfying stuffed stuff can be. A winter favorite that I ALWAYS forget: stuffed cabbage rolls. While I'm thinking of it, here's my mom's recipe for future reference!

Stuffed Cabbage

1 # ground beef or lamb
1 small head cabbage
¼ c rice
1 apple, pared, cored & diced
¼ c golden raisins
1 14 ½ oz can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
salt, pepper, 1 clove garlic
1 T brown sugar
½ onion, sliced

Core cabbage, put in pot, cover with water, bring to a boil,
Then simmer until the leaves are a bit tender, maybe 15-20 min.
Drain carefully, run cold water over.
Mix hamburger with rice, apple, raisins, salt & pepper. Make balls by a rounded tablespoon (not too big).
Remove cabbage leaves. Fill with seasoned hamburger, roll each cabbage leaf starting with the core part of the leaf, then the sides, & finally rolling to the end snugly, then hold together with a toothpick.
In your large stainless steel skillet, heat a bit of oil, then sauté the sliced onions with garllc. Place the stuffed cabbages into the pan. Sprinkle the brown sugar over, & then add the tomatoes & sauce. Bring to a boil, then simmer 2-3 hrs. covered, taking the lid off if you want to reduce the liquid a bit before serving.
(If you want to use the tender middle part the the cabbage, you can chop it up and add it to the pot too)

Tonight we were joined by guests and we grilled burgers with lettuce, fresh neighbor-grown tomato, and fried onions. Awesome corn on the cob and watermelon too, and strawberries with ice cream for dessert.

comfort

Yesterday was chilly and rainy so tuna noodle casserole hit the spot. No need for a run to the grocery store, and we had some garden fresh green beans, those that the cat hadn't chewed on anyway.

rerun, plus sausage

Inspiration strikes!

I was so proud of last night's dinner in the end! Out of nowhere I recalled a delicious simple potato-egg meal prepared by a Spanish friend from the past. I found some recipes online for The Spanish Tortilla (this, this, and this), combined ideas (I went with NOT putting the whole skillet in the oven), and got together a delightful vegetarian main dish made only from potatoes, onion, eggs, olive oil, salt, and pepper. I even managed the "flip"! Combined with a salad enhanced by fresh seasonal tomatoes and cucumbers from our favorite new neighbor's garden and a glass of wine we were all happy and satisfied. Tonight, we're just going to finish off the tortilla, repeat the salad, and maybe add some Italian sausage on the side, since it's left over from the last pizza.

stumped

I have no ideas for tonight. We had another homemade pizza last night. I'm going to have to use websites and cookbooks, or just carry on with errands and chores and hope for serendipity...

Nutrition hiatus

We ventured into Minneapolis to try the famous "Jucy Lucy" at Matt's Bar. We got our greasy fix and were satisfied. I somehow then went on a cooking strike all weekend, and we had pita wraps with gyro meat and falafel from Shish last night, and tonight we ended up eating out AGAIN, at a restaurant whose name I can't even remember, suggested by our companions. At least I had halibut. And at least I managed to make a pizza this afternoon, refrigerated for tomorrow to help avoid another evening crisis. See what I mean about never having ideas? I need help!

friday is here!

So who knows, maybe we'll go out tonight. Last night we grilled chicken with miso-shoyu-beer marinade, and a few brats, and asparagus, with watermelon and a green salad and rice for accompaniments. It was a nice night to eat outside and our guests contributed the beer, wine, and brownies for dessert. On Wednesday night I did a slight repeat of chickpea curry, but I varied the spices a bit. It was all I could come up with from ingredients I had already available, so we were meatless. Today it is supposed to reach 90 degrees so I'm hoping not to move.

dry spell

I've been low on ideas lately. On Sunday, we were busy all day and by the end of the day nobody wanted to cook. We ended up with takeout Thai food, again. On Monday, Mike worked late, so no family meal, and we worked on leftovers. Last night, we snacked on a baguette, brie, and wine, to unwind, and I still felt on strike from cooking. We managed to avoid junk though by making a big salad with raspberries, cucumber, and a bit of the leftover grilled flank steak and onions. Satisfying. Tonight, I still need an idea desperately. All set for tomorrow though, since company is coming!

BLOCK PARTY!

We had a nice welcome to our new neighborhood with our 1st of the apparently annual block party. I forgot to take any pictures, but after a few hours of watching kids frolic in the blocked-off-street, we had a feast! We'd been informally instructed to "bring a dish and your own stuff to grill". I brought only fruit, and our sausages, and began salivating when I saw what the neighbors contributed. Tomato-mozzarella-basil stacks, a delicious "taco salad", 2 kinds of homemade cabbage slaw, pasta salad with feta, and of course summer usuals like watermelon, cherries, and all kinds of things on the grills. We piled our plates full of the salads and each had a sausage alongside. It was a sweltering, humid day with thunderclouds threatening overhead, and the kids had a wonderful time. We have some nice new neighbors, too!

the husband cooks too

When it's grilling, it's all Mike. We had flank steak, rice, and asparagus. Simple. Satisfying. Last night we ate out. We test drove Hondas until too late to cook, so we sampled El Burrito Mercado per the recommendation of friends. Good food, nice people, a great place to bring a kid. We'll go back!

company chicken

Since Mike requested this meal repeatedly over the last couple days, I finally complied. At least it got the broccoli finished off. Again, I'm underwhelmed with my meal planning. I tried to make this meal a little more classy by using all-natural organic canned cream of chicken. What makes it good is the cheese, cream, and buttery bread crumbs melting together with the celery. 

stir-fry, again, blah...

After reviewing the contents of the fridge last night I settled on another stir-fry for tonight, thereby avoiding a trip to the grocery store. Chicken, broccoli, a little cauliflower, leftover water chestnuts, and of course onion, garlic, and ginger. I was kind of dreading this meal since I was totally unthrilled about it.  With a nice pot of green tea on the side though it ended up satisfying enough. However I've only been blogging a week and already my meals look repetitive to me.

stumped

No inspiration tonight. We finished off the curry and the pizza. Now if only I had an idea for tomorrow night.

pizza!

We threw together a pizza after returning home tonight from a weekend in Madison. The crust for some reason wasn't as good as usual, but even mediocre pizza is still pretty good.

Otherwise we ate out a lot over the weekend. We started out with Culver's on the road on Friday night. Yum, butterburgers... delicious if not the most nutritious choice. On Saturday we had a group dinner at the Eldorado Grill where I tried to make up for the burger meal by going meatless again with spinach enchiladas. I may have negated that goodness with a stellar margarita however. We passed on dessert to head home for Mom's homemade cherry pie with ice cream! Ah. Food brings so much pleasure, doesn't it?

meatless night

Tonight we had a vegetarian curry dinner, based on this recipe which a good friend made for us a few months ago: 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/calling-all-cooks/nanas-egg-curry-rice-recipe/index.html

The picture was taken on the 

stove before serving, so it doesn't capture the (plain brown) rice that went along, or the yogurt, cilantro, and chopped hard boiled eggs which I served on the side to be added according to taste. I used a lot less oil and spices than called for, skipped the tomato sauce, added chickpeas, potato, and spinach, and only boiled 4 eggs which weren't mixed in as mentioned. Yum! Definitely a core member of the meatless rotation.

No post last night since there was no cooking. Thai takeout from the restaurant 2 blocks away was last night's dinner, and we enjoyed our fish curry, chicken-vegetable stir fry, and curry puffs very much. 

pasta with kale and italian sausage

I first made this a while ago when I found leftover sausage in the freezer and also had picked up kale at the co-op because it looked good and I thought kale was probably something we should start eating. I can't really cite a recipe. At the time, I googled "sausage and kale" and found a recipe, but I don't use a recipe now  and probably haven't made it the same way twice. It's nothing exciting, but what doesn't taste good with sausage involved?

the daily crisis

It seems that nearly every day I struggle to come up with the evening meal. With all of the tasty meals we've enjoyed over the years, it's amazing to me that we so often draw a blank when trying to think of what to eat. Then when inspiration strikes, we wonder why we didn't think of the idea sooner, because it's too late to find all the ingredients. This is the daily crisis. We tried making a Meal Master List on a piece of paper, but it's out of space and ragged, and hard to take seriously!

In a fit of frustration last night, I created this blog, more out of surprise that "dinnerplanwoes" was available on my first try. If I'm able to record a history of some of our dinners in this space, maybe over time it could be a reference. If I keep it up, I may look for some friends to follow and chime in with dinner suggestions too. I plan to blabber on only about dinner. Lunch and breakfast, and marriage and parenting, and working, moving, and living, are not planned as regular topics.

After much contemplation, tonight's meal was stir-fried beef with cauliflower and swiss chard, served over rice. The idea came from The Victory Garden Cookbook. I like simple meals, with natural ingredients. We're obviously not vegetarians, but I like meat to be an accent rather than the main course, and I like meatless meals as well. I'm inspired by "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle", "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "French Women don't get Fat" among others.

So what's for dinner tomorrow? Waiting for the next great idea!