millich

Onion rings and fried zucchini. Especially if the fried zucchini is served with ranch dressing for dipping. <swoon>

This one is definitely the top winner of recipes that rocked my world this year. Thanks so much for sharing!

Chicken,apples, and cream a la normande (p.218) Lemon-steamed spinach (p. 331) Perfection. Absolute perfection. Both of these recipes have been previously reviewed in this thread, but I liked them so much I thought they warranted another post. I served them together - as Dorie recommended - and, oh my, what a wonderful meal! Neither my husband nor I are big cooked spinach fans but, served together with the chicken and apples, we loved it. Somehow, all the flavors came together to make perfection. Sorry that I didn't take pictures but Chris posted a beautiful one on page 2 of this thread. These are recipes I intend to make over and over again. Along with the gourgeres. I can't get enough of those either. On a side note, I hope, hope, hope that I get to meet Dorie Saturday in San Francisco!!!

THAT is the most beautiful salad I've ever seen!!! What are those flowers?

Starches that I personally would like to learn more about preparing are: lentils polenta quinoa

I made Rick Katz's Brownies for Julia yesterday so that one can be crossed off the list. Because I read on "Tuesdays with Dorie" that they weren't getting done enough in an 8x8 pan, I baked them in my 10x8 pan and cooked them 10 minutes longer than recommended. If you like your brownies "very dark and very fudgy", these are to die for! Dorie warns that these are very fragile and she's right.

Thanks everyone! So far it looks like: Ham (or pork in general) -- potato salad, baked beans, apples, sweet potatos, green beans, asparagus, winter squash, fried okra, sliced tomatos, mac & cheese, cheese and potatoes. spinach. small bisquits, grits, cabbage Pork --brussel sprouts (esp gratin),rosemaried'd potatoes, mango salsa, or any sweet sauce. plum sauce, roasted beets, cabbage, turnips, quinoa, couscous, and lentils Steak -- onions, tomatos, potato gratin, rice, mushrooms, grilled squash, asparagus, grilled or caramelized onions or onion rings, pilaf Roast beef -- potatos in most any form except potato salad; roasted root vegetables, carrots in any preparation; green beans, snow peas, sugar snap peas, baked or grilled onions, broccoli, quinoa, couscous, and lentils Fried chicken -- mashed potatos, green beans, fried okra and sliced tomatos. Roast chicken -- asparagus, carrots, sauteed squash, apples, sweet potatos, cornbread dressing (stuffing), tomatoes, brussel sprouts, broccoli, sauteed spinach, swiss chard, sweet corn, anything, Chicken/Eggplant Parm -- pasta w/ marinara sauce Turkey -- brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, cranberry Lamb --Olives, Potatoes, White Beans, Root Vegetables, Peas, Squash, simple roasted cauliflower, mint, rosemary, cheese and potatoes, mashed potatoes, rice and peas, couscous, polenta, quinoa, and lentils Shrimp -- carrots, broccoli. Shrimp Diane - white rice. Fried Shrimp - fresh tomatoes, something prickly or slawy. Mild White Fish -- spinach salad, peas, potatoes Salmon -- spinach salad, cucumbers, peas, potatoes, simple broccoli Kale, broccoli rabe -- pork, sausage Stews or Soups -- green salad Beef Stroganoff -- noodles, rice Tetrazzini -- peas

Thanks very much for the input EmilyR, Nakji, and NikkiB. I'm sorry for such an entry level question. I know most of you are much more highly skilled than I, but I'm learning! Chris, you raise a valid point - yes, I was asking about your basic meat with a couple of sides meal. OTOH, though, I'd also like ideas for other simple home meals like beef stroganoff, white chili, steak hash, shrimp enchiladas, tetrazzini, etc, etc. What if I want a green vegetable with beef stew?

Ham (or pork in general) -- potato salad, baked beans, apples, sweet potatos, green beans, asparagus, winter squash, fried okra, sliced tomatos, mac & cheese, brussel sprouts (esp gratin) with pork, Steak -- onions, tomatos, potato gratin, rice, mushrooms, grilled squash, asparagus, grilled or caramelized onions or onion rings, Roast beef -- potatos in most any form except potato salad; roasted root vegetables, carrots in any preparation; green beans, snow peas, sugar snap peas, baked or grilled onions, broccoli Fried chicken -- mashed potatos, green beans, fried okra and sliced tomatos. Roast chicken -- asparagus, carrots, sauteed squash, apples, sweet potatos, cornbread dressing (stuffing), tomatoes, brussel sprouts, broccoli, sauteed spinach, swiss chard, sweet corn Turkey -- brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, cranberry Lamb --Olives, Potatoes, White Beans, Root Vegetables, Peas, Squash, simple roasted cauliflower Shrimp -- carrots, broccoli. Shrimp Diane - white rice. Fried Shrimp - fresh tomatoes, something prickly or slawy. Mild White Fish -- spinach salad, peas, potatoes Salmon -- spinach salad, cucumbers, peas, potatoes Kale, broccoli rabe -- pork, sausage

Thanks very much Shalmanese & Kayb for your ideas! Kayb - hope you don't mind if I steal your format since you wrote the most. Jaz - actually, no, I hadn't seen that particular eGSC class. I will definitely study it. So far it looks like: Ham (or pork in general) -- potato salad, baked beans, apples, sweet potatos, green beans, asparagus, winter squash, fried okra, sliced tomatos, mac & cheese Steak -- onions, tomatos, potato gratin, rice, mushrooms, grilled squash, asparagus, grilled or caramelized onions or onion rings, Roast beef -- potatos in most any form except potato salad; roasted root vegetables, carrots in any preparation; green beans, snow peas, sugar snap peas, baked or grilled onions Fried chicken -- mashed potatos, green beans, fried okra and sliced tomatos. Roast chicken -- asparagus, carrots, sauteed squash, apples, sweet potatos, cornbread dressing (stuffing), tomatoes Lamb --Olives, Potatoes, White Beans, Root Vegetables, Peas, Squash Shrimp -- Mild White Fish -- Salmon -- How about broccoli, greens, brussel sprouts?

I'll go first: Ham macaroni and cheese apples - sauteed or applesauce sweet potatoes Steak ***potatoes - baked, fries, au gratin **mushrooms - sauteed or stuffed brussel sprouts pinto beans *onion rings Carrots fish prawns barbequed chicken barbequed ribs roast beef *stars indicate the most frequent responses

First, hello everyone. This is my first post although I've been reading (and learning!) for over a year now. Here's what I'd like help with. I don't always feel comfortable when menu planning that I know what vegetables/side dishes go well with which main courses. Sure, I know the basic rules about staying with one theme (stir-fried veggies with soy sauce don't go well with an Italian main like veal parmesan) and about varying texture and color. Reading The Flavor Bible has given me the realization that things that are often cooked together go well together - like roast beef with potatoes and carrots, shrimp and pasta, etc. But, the Flavor Bible has it's limitations: for instance, the only meat listed under brussel sprouts is bacon. So what can I serve brussel sprouts with? How about Broccoli? How about Zucchini? So, like the Steak & Sides thread, I'd like for you to take a meat and tell me what you usually serve with it. Or, take the opposite approach and pick a veg and tell me what main you usually serve it with. I'll compile results as we go along. THANK YOU!!!