Dinner 2022

[Shelby]

@Dejah   I love grits.  I wish Ronnie did.  I'd make them happily and often.  I might have to try again.  I think if I really doctor them up with cheese and maybe some spicy jalapeños or something that he'd like them better.

 

A vac pac of a turkey quarter and a leg unvacced in the freezer so I roasted them over some potatoes along with sprouts and Stove Top stuffing.  I never did make stuffing over either Thanksgiving or Christmas so I had been hungry for it for a while.  

 

 

 

I ate the single leg along with a little piece off of the thigh.

 

Yesterday I did up a batch of egg rolls for the freezer--I've posted it before but I'll do it again.  This recipe for egg rolls is just the best I've come across and they freeze really well.

 

 

So I had to make a few for dinner along with some sticky wings and dumplings.  Dumplings were purchased.  Three different kinds.

Sriracha chicken, Braised short rib and Red roasted duck.  I didn't care for the short rib....tasted like pot roast and nothing else.  The chicken was my favorite.

 

 

 

 

[Norm Matthews]

3 hours ago, Kim Shook said:

@MaryIsobel – Mr. Kim and I come close to your daughter’s bacon plate now.  Mr. Kim grew up in a family that had to watch their pennies and bacon with breakfast was a treat.  Mr. Kim and his siblings got ONE piece each and his dad got two.  My mom just cooked the entire package of bacon and put it on a plate in the middle of the table.  She never knew how many kids and friends would be there, so it was a free for all.  But I’m sure everyone got enough.  The first time I made breakfast for Mr. Kim, I accordingly cooked a pound (remember?) of bacon and set it on the table.  I joke that that was the moment he fell in love with me.  And he’s never denied it. 😊

 

@Norm Matthews – Mr. Kim promised to make chili last week and somehow it never happened.  Your chili looks absolutely delicious. 

 

@liamsaunt – I’m so sorry about your cockles.  You’d think that he could smell that they were off when he was bagging them. 

 

Dinner was a strange combination:

Beef kielbasa from Costco, leftover vegetable stir fry with fresh water chestnuts and bean sprouts, and Basmati rice.  So, Chinese vegetables, Polish sausage, and Indian rice.  It was very good, though – even the leftover veggies! 

Thanks. I hope you like it.

I didn't mention this in the blog but I added some cocoa powder.  It seems to give the chili a deeper flavor.

[MaryIsobel]

3 hours ago, chromedome said:

I had to go looking for them, but they turned out to be available in the Health/Natural section at Sobeys so they're not too hard to find (they're not a "thang" on my coast, either).

My sweetie had seen shrimp and grits many times on cooking shows, and wanted to try the combo for herself. It was a hit, so now I keep them on hand (Bob's Red Mill). Just had them a few nights ago, in fact.

I have a textural issue with oatmeal (porridge) although I love oatmeal cookies, muffins, bread, etc. This has held me back from trying grits but similarily, I love cornbread, corn tortillas, etc. I guess the only way to find out is to give it a try.

 

[chromedome]

16 minutes ago, MaryIsobel said:

I have a textural issue with oatmeal (porridge) although I love oatmeal cookies, muffins, bread, etc. This has held me back from trying grits but similarily, I love cornbread, corn tortillas, etc. I guess the only way to find out is to give it a try.

 

If you grew up on rolled oats for your porridge, as I did, that's not the texture (there's a reason I switched a an adult to steel-cut). It's probably closer in mouthfeel to Cream of Wheat. Or if you've had soft polenta at an Italian meal, that's basically the same thing.

[heidih]

55 minutes ago, chromedome said:

If you grew up on rolled oats for your porridge, as I did, that's not the texture (there's a reason I switched a an adult to steel-cut). It's probably closer in mouthfeel to Cream of Wheat. Or if you've had soft polenta at an Italian meal, that's basically the same thing.

Pap  - not my thing either. But I am odd Congee not comfort to me.

Edited February 13, 2022 by heidih (log)

[MaryIsobel]

10 minutes ago, chromedome said:

If you grew up on rolled oats for your porridge, as I did, that's not the texture (there's a reason I switched a an adult to steel-cut). It's probably closer in mouthfeel to Cream of Wheat. Or if you've had soft polenta at an Italian meal, that's basically the same thing.

You lost me at Cream of Wheat. One of my worst childhood memories was an overnight at the home of a friend. They were a no nonsense - "clean your plate" kind of family. A bowl of Cream of Wheat was breakfast. Fortunately they were dairy farmers, so with copious amounts of milk, I managed to finish my bowl, but never again! Polenta that has been cooked and chilled and then sauteed might be a good introduction for me. I am a pretty adventurous eater and hate to cross anything off my list.

Edited February 13, 2022 by MaryIsobel (log)

[KennethT]

Tom kha mahi mahi with rice noodles. Kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass from the garden.

 

[Margaret Pilgrim]

IMHO there is a huge textural difference between "old fashioned rolled oats" and "quick cooking".   I love the OF, microwaved with enough water to soften, then splashed with heavy cream.    I can't abide the quick cooking pap in any form or topping.   They also do not make a proper oatmeal cookie.

[Margaret Pilgrim]

A huge, probably 5" artichoke with mayo as starter, unphotographed.

Hungarian chicken with noodles.    Sorry leftovers were so scant!

 

Chicken thigh, onion, red bell pepper, paprika, chicken broth, sour cream.

[Dejah]

Two meals without rice or potato! What's with THAT?! LOL!
Stove-top grilled lamb chops, Moroccan Couscous (without the pine nuts as I didn't have any!), and lovely green beans.

 

                                                                                 

[JoNorvelleWalker]

 

Chicken and roast root vegetables.  Single sheet pan supper.  Not that I would ever use the word "supper".

 

[kayb]

18 hours ago, Dejah said:

The most important critic! ❤️

Assuredly the cutest critic.

18 hours ago, MaryIsobel said:

Thank you. I have never had shrimp and grits. I've had shrimp - tons of them, but I've never had grits. They are just not a "thang" around these parts although I have seen them on a couple of restaurant menus in the last few years.

 

17 hours ago, chromedome said:

I had to go looking for them, but they turned out to be available in the Health/Natural section at Sobeys so they're not too hard to find (they're not a "thang" on my coast, either).

My sweetie had seen shrimp and grits many times on cooking shows, and wanted to try the combo for herself. It was a hit, so now I keep them on hand (Bob's Red Mill). Just had them a few nights ago, in fact.

 

14 hours ago, MaryIsobel said:

You lost me at Cream of Wheat. One of my worst childhood memories was an overnight at the home of a friend. They were a no nonsense - "clean your plate" kind of family. A bowl of Cream of Wheat was breakfast. Fortunately they were dairy farmers, so with copious amounts of milk, I managed to finish my bowl, but never again! Polenta that has been cooked and chilled and then sauteed might be a good introduction for me. I am a pretty adventurous eater and hate to cross anything off my list.

I love grits. I’m good with them just boiled and seasoned with salt, pepper and butter with breakfast, but they’re also good with cheese, and even with some browned sausage stirred in. Vivian Howard has a grits dish in Deep Run Roots that I like that has pimiento cheese and sausage in it. 
 

My standard cheese grits are made with half whole milk, half water, cream cheese and smoked Gouda. I always make about twice as many as I think we’ll eat, and pat the rest out evenly in a 9-inch baking dish and stick them in the fridge; when they’re cold and set up well, I cut into squares, dredge in flour, and fry (medium high, one side for about three minutes before you flip, else it’ll disintegrate). Grit cakes! A Memphis restaurant, the Half Shell, does grits this way for its shrimp and grits, which are in a spicy tomato cream sauce. I love them for any saucy dish.

 

Another of my favorites is to take that baking dish of grits, top the grits with a shakshuka type sauce, make divots in it and crack eggs in the divots, and top the whole thing with crumbled bacon, chopped ham or browned sausage, and a little grated cheese. 15 minutes at 350, and boom, there you are. Great brunch entree, and makes a great lunch or light dinner with a side salad.

[liamsaunt]

Lightly blackened grouper tacos with avocado crema and pickled watermelon radishes and onions.  

 

[Annie_H]

Shrimp and Dumplings

Dashi I soaked all day. Gave it some light barely a simmer when I added the shrimp shells. Gingered white miso with hijiki and wakame.

 

[Annie_H]

We love grits. Just re-stocked Bob'sRedMill. Also make a double batch to rest and firm up in mini loaf pans for next day cast iron seared with eggs and merguez. Similar with risotto--next day arancini. 

[Dejah]

Thanks, @kayb and @Annie_H for your input on grits. Info noted and will put into practice! 😋

[liuzhou]

I'll be first to say not the prettiest dish, but it tasted just fine.

 

Braised chicken legs (bone in) with black garlic and asparagus. Zhejiang black vinegar and Vietnamese fish sauce in there, too. And some Sichuan chilli peppers. I don't mess about!

Served with crusty baguettes because I was too damned tired lazy to cook rice!

 

 

[weinoo]

Martinis. Beefeater, wet.

 

 

Uni on thinly sliced radish. Scallop crudo. Lobster bisque (some nice chunks of lobster in that little cup).

 

 

Tuna tartare-uni toast.

 

 

Yellowfin over foie gras. Chives.

 

 

Shrimp, Uni, Razor Clam, Langoustine, Geoduck Chawanmushi, Smoked Pork Dashi Broth.

 

 

Poached Lobster. Winter Vegetable Medley, Miso-Sake Lobster Broth.

 

 

Baked Striped Bass. Artichoke Medley, Black Truffle Barigoule.

 

 

Pan Roasted Merluza and Braised Oxtail Butternut Squash Canneloni, Spiced Red Wine Sauce.

 

 

3 ice creams and Chocolate Sorbet.

 

 

MILK CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT - Praline Mousse, Gianduja Orange-Creamsicle Ice Cream.

 

 

Awwww.

 

 

Petit fours - X 2.

 

Wines by the glass for (almost) each course.

 

Le Bernardin.

 

Edited February 13, 2022 by weinoo (log)

[gfweb]

3 hours ago, Annie_H said:

We love grits. Just re-stocked Bob'sRedMill. Also make a double batch to rest and firm up in mini loaf pans for next day cast iron seared with eggs and merguez. Similar with risotto--next day arancini. 

 

I tend to use what ever Aunt Jemimah turned into...(Pearl River?) white grits.  I'm still working on a bag of the old stuff.

[Margaret Pilgrim]

2 hours ago, weinoo said:

Le Bernardin.

 

Happy Birthday?    or Happy Anniversary?    or Happy Fabulous\ Night Out!

[weinoo]

1 minute ago, Margaret Pilgrim said:

Happy Birthday?    or Happy Anniversary?    or Happy Fabulous\ Night Out!

 

Both? Thanks!

[Duvel]

2 minutes ago, weinoo said:

 

Both? Thanks!

In that case I do not have to put you on my “ignore” list for posting such an obscenely delectable dinner …

 

It’s time I’ll get to NYC.

[Duvel]

Beef neck was on sale this week, so I got myself 2.5 kg and made Marcella Hazan’s ragù alle bolognese this morning. I used an open red wine instead of the requested white and found that the result was still perfect.

 

Having a little more than 5 kg of ragu at my disposal I made a lasagna tonight. Ragu, besciamella and fresh lasagna sheets (commercial). Mixture of parmigiano and provolone dolce (‘cause that’s what I had open in the fridge). It is a simple dish but boy … this is sooo delicious. Thanks, Marcella !

 

 

 

Yes - the Ikea plates indicate this was consumed while enjoying a movie for this week’s Lasagna & Movie night - Hotel Transylvania 4.

[MaryIsobel]

3 hours ago, weinoo said:

Martinis. Beefeater, wet.

 

 

Uni on thinly sliced radish. Scallop crudo. Lobster bisque (some nice chunks of lobster in that little cup).

 

 

Tuna tartare-uni toast.

 

 

Yellowfin over foie gras. Chives.

 

 

Shrimp, Uni, Razor Clam, Langoustine, Geoduck Chawanmushi, Smoked Pork Dashi Broth.

 

 

Poached Lobster. Winter Vegetable Medley, Miso-Sake Lobster Broth.

 

 

Baked Striped Bass. Artichoke Medley, Black Truffle Barigoule.

 

 

Pan Roasted Merluza and Braised Oxtail Butternut Squash Canneloni, Spiced Red Wine Sauce.

 

 

3 ice creams and Chocolate Sorbet.

 

 

MILK CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT - Praline Mousse, Gianduja Orange-Creamsicle Ice Cream.

 

 

Awwww.

 

 

Petit fours - X 2.

 

Wines by the glass for (almost) each course.

 

Le Bernardin.

 

As much as I hate the expression, OMG, OMG! I would devour every single thing (except the uni - long story, I think my first taste was bad.) Although we live in the sticks and our dining choices are shall I say, severly limited, we are an hour drive away from downtown Vancouver where I'm sure we could find something somewahat equal to your dinner, but the traffic, the parking... We do have tickets for a concert downtown in early March, so looking forward to having something other than the pub "special."

 

Edited February 13, 2022 by MaryIsobel (log)

[kayb]

7 hours ago, liamsaunt said:

Lightly blackened grouper tacos with avocado crema and pickled watermelon radishes and onions.  

 

when you buy grouper, do you find it fresh and just flown in? I’ve tried bringing it back from the Gulf Coast, on ice in a cooler, and find if I don’t cook it the night I get home, it’s just not good. And I’ve never been successful freezing it.