CaliPoutine

I can't recall a recipe from Cook's Illustrated that uses canned beans!!

Wow, expensive milk. When we were in "the Hawk". I noticed milk was 7.49 @ the IGA. Shoppers has a 4l bag of milk in Ontario for 3.99. Its usually the only thing I run in for. Its 1$ cheaper than the grocery store.

Interesting choice. What was your reason for getting this? Bread? Pizza? Second oven? I'm just curious.

Nothing new to report. I cook again on Jan 20th( filling in for another cook). They really appreciate me at that program. I cook for my program on Jan 22nd. Its Ham and scalloped potatoes. Not sure about the side dishes/dessert yet. Waiting to see the sale flyer.

I made some excellent white choc. macadamia cookies for xmas baking. They were so good( the best cookies I think I made). Why the aversion to cookies?

It was actually only .99!!

Here is a question. I have a package of pork tenderloin. They're 2 in a package and there are just two of us. If I defrost the package, I have to do something with both of them. What can I make? We're doing weight watchers ( again) so I'd like it to be figure friendly. I'd probably like to freeze part of each recipe for future meals.

We did that a few months back. I posted the survey results somewhere upthread. eta: Here they are. As you can see, Roast Beef is the most popular. Only 1 person named Ham as a favorite, which is what they're having next time. I think a lot of ppl didnt even fill out the survey. SURVEY RESULTS FAVOURITE MEAL Roast Beef – 20 Chicken – 17 Roast Pork – 11 Sausage – 3 Roast Turkey – 3 Meat Loaf – 3 Ham – 2 Stew – 2 Pork Chops – 1 Chinese – 1 Lasagna – 1 Cabbage Rolls – 1 Chicken Fingers – 1 Liver – 1 Best Meal: Roast Beef Dinner with all the trimmings – 10 – (2 great comments on your last beef meal) Roast Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings – 5 Honey Garlic Sausage – 1 Chinese – 1 Chicken Legs – 1 Steak – 1 BUFFET STYLE MEALS: Yes – 14 No - 11

eG member Pookie gave me the same game for xmas. The trouble is, I dont have anyone to play it with!! Maybe I'll have to drag it along to the eG Heartland Gathering.

I simply can't do beef every meal. Its not in the budget. In order for me to make my budget, I have to buy meat that is 1.99-2.49lb. They'll complain if its ground beef as well. Pork is the cheapest meat availble here which is why they're having ham next time. If you look back thru my meals, you'll see that they're getting meat and potatoes each time. It might not be beef, but they are getting protein.

You didnt see the rest of her emails. This was the last one which I chose not to answer. I think my real problem is not the complaints, but her lack of "supporting me". Its the same ppl who complain each time. I saw her go over to the table and ask them how everything was. I heard the same two ladies say the soup wasnt hot. The supervisor came into the kitchen and said " I shouldnt have asked". She is also taking this personally( like the complaints are an afront to her). I know I'm a damned good cook and I know how hard I try. I obviously can't make a roast that they're going to eat so I'm not going to try that again. I've made mashed potatoes the last few months. First, I got complaints that I wasnt serving potatoes and now I get a complaint that its not a MASHED potato. They just want something to complain about!! I asked her if she thought I shouldnt make the other meals I have frozen. She said this. No, the pork medallions and the chicken are fine. I think they will go over great! I know that you are very defensive when I pass on criticism, and I understand that. You feel like it is a direct blow to you, but remember it is also a blow to me. This is my program. The very first thing that I was given in a new job to look after on my own and I am totally frustrated. I have told the girls here that I would take any other job (even 10 other jobs) if someone wanted to look after Grand Bend. So far I have had no takers so I guess we just keep trying.

Hi Randi, got a question...why is your food going home for your supervisor's supper? Your supervisor is a piece of work if she can't even support what you do, is there morale problem with her underlings; with that attitude, it wouldn't surprise me? Oh, and that soup looks delicious! ← I wondered that too. She told me she was bringing them back to the office to freezer. She said she was going to save them for a grilled sausage lunch they were having. I questioned whether already frozen meat could be refrozen and she said it could. I guess she didnt feel like cooking dinner that night.

If you've read the thread, you'll see I do provide a protein, starch and veg!! And, for your info, they prefer pie to cake!!

I'm coming of as a whiner? Give me a break. I've kept this thread going for over 2 yrs now, and in addition to posting pics and menus, I post feedback as well. If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all!! I sometimes fill in for another cook( she cooks at the program in my town and another neighboring town). I NEVER get complaints from them. They've even asked for me to be their full-time cook. Different folks, different towns. I actually enjoy cooking for them because they appreciate it. And, as I've said a few other times. When my law credentials from the US are evaluated here and I find out just what I need to do to practice in Ontario, I will be leaving that job. I live in a town of 4000ppl and there are NO jobs. I stick with this because its only 2x a month and because there is litterally nothing else that pays as well. I'm also begining to realize that its the same few who keep complaining and no matter what I do, it wont be good enough.

No, I dont do that. I usually shop on the Monday before the meal. Unless of course I see meat on special for the freezer. I have 3 meals worth of meat in the office freezer. The next meal is ham and scallopped potatoes. I also have bacon wrapped pork mediallions and cut up chicken. Today I bought packages of Frieda's crepes on sale for .99( for 10 crepes). I'm going to fill them w/ bananas and nutella and vanilla ice cream. They never complain about my desserts.

I'd hardly call sausage and saurkraut an adventerous meal!! They loved the chicken parm/pasta meal I prepared. They didnt complain about that. I've been emailed the coordinator back and forth this afternoon. She acknowladged that I go out of my way for these folks. She also said she was just passing on the complaints. I wish she would just have my back instead of entertaining these folks by listening to their complaints. Why do they continue to come back if they dont like what I cook?

Here is an email I received today from the coordinator. Thanks for staying for clean up it really helps to have another pair of hands. I know that this group has been very frustrating to both of us, but I do have to pass along their complaints so we try to get it right. I received calls again this morning concerning the meal. The soup was good, but not hot. Not everyone likes sauerkraut. The sausage wasn’t browned. The tomatoes this time of year are tasteless. And the meal in general was not hot. Those were the things I was told. I did give the sausage to my husband for supper and he thought it was good, but I did heat it uncovered and it was browned better. I was told by one caller that seniors want meat, mashed potatoes and gravy. I asked what about ham and scalloped potatoes and they thought it would be a good choice, so lets try that next time. Sorry if I am sounding a little negative, but I don’t know what to do to get a good response from this group. Lets just stick to the basics and try again

Today was the first meal of 2009. The meals switch from 5:30pm to Noon due to the weather. This is great for me, but we dont get as many diners. Today I shopped and cooked for 30 and we only had 18. Yesterday, I took the leftover sirloin tip roast from Oct 23rd( it was frozen) and made soup with it. I was able to use up a bag of frozen turnip and a bag of frozen peas as well as some leftover dry macaroni. The soup went over well( it was a cold, snowy day today), but the same 2 complainers said it wasnt hot enough. I made sausage and sauerkraut( I forgot to take pics), sliced tomatoes( from Florida, $1.00lb), roasted red potatoes( I parboiled them first) and pumpernickle bread. Dessert was a no bake cheesecake in a ready made graham shell. I made 5 pies and had 2 full ones leftover. They're going to be frozen for a coffee hour at the main office. I had NO takeouts. I've been buying meats for the freezer. I've gotten some great deals( Spiral hams for 1.99lb, whole cut up chickens for .99lb and bacon wrapped pork medallions for .99{for 4}. I'm saving the chicken for March. I'm going to California and I arrive home the Tuesday before the meal. I wanted something fast and easy.

That's actually what I really wanted to do, but the person I'm with is quite adamant that they want sushi. Fortunately though I'll be coming to NY 3 times a year from now on, and maybe moving here in a year or so, so I will have another chance ← I have to disagree with you, Ms. Poutine.... I mean, you can get NY-style kosher deli up in Montreal, but it's not as good as Katz's. Similarly, you can get imitation sushi all the world round nowadays, but nowhere does sushi outside of Japan better than NYC. Montreal has a huge jewish population, and NYC has the largest Japanese ex-pat population outside of Japan (Sao Paolo has more "officiallly" but they are nissei) Go to Esashi, 3rd and A, or if you want to blow your wad, Le Mius. LES sucks for Japanese food, it's a sorry extension of St. Marks. Also, @ 11th and A is Kamui Den, which has very good basic sushi but also a great all-around japanese menu. That place is fantastic. ← I stand by my original statement. There are NO other Katz's. Montreal smoked meat isnt the same as Katz's corned beef( even though I dont eat red meat, I've been told). But, you're not only going to Katz's for the food, its the entire experience.

I dont know the area, but I'd skip sushi and head to Katz's for a one of a kind experience. You can get sushi elsewhere, but you can't find Katz's anywhere else.

Like 6ppc says, leftover lobster is an excellent sub for crab cakes. Or Chowder. Frankly, leftover lobster is unusual for me. You must've had your fill of lobster on that trip. ← We did!! We had that lobster roll tasting with you and previous to that, we had that family lobster dinner at the firehall in Cape Breton. We each got two 2lb lobsters. I was full after the first one. Here is what I did with the leftover meat. It was amazing. I defrosted the leftover meat and tossed it with the fra diavolo sauce( san marzano chopped tomatoes in the sauce )

I just happened to be in the grocery store on New Year's Eve and they were all sold out. I've never seen that before in my small town.

I'm waiting for you to make those Oat Cakes we enjoyed in NS.

I believe you can freeze hard cheese( such as parm). Whenever I've frozen blocks(or bags) of supermarket cheese, its not good for eating raw. Its only good for making mac and cheese or the like.

I've madethisswiss chard and goat cheese tart numerous times. I love the oatmeal/whole wheat tart dough. There is anchovy past in the filling, but I'm sure you could omit it. ps: I love the recipes from The Green's Cookbook( restaurant in San Francisco)