Dinner - What Are You Having? - Page 12

[Lisoula]

I've read every post in this thread, and think I'll jump in!  I'm hoping it gives me more incentive to cook more often, and also make some different dishes.  Tomorrow, though, will be an old standby, as it's already in the crock pot.  Beef roast with gravy, noodles, and broccoli, and whatever fruit I can find.  We just bought a quarter of a cow, so it'll be beef dishes here a lot - luckily we're pretty big carnivores.

[kitchensqueen]

Welcome. :-) Always more room for food lovers here! The beef roast sounds good. 

As for us... today is another low inspiration day. I wanted to do wings and oven fries, but we don't have all the ingredients for the marinade/sauce on them, or wings... though I was going to do them with drumsticks - a little more substantial for dinner that way. But I suppose it's a moot point. 

If I decide I'm psychotic enough, I may do beer battered cod with oven fries...

[Chicky2]

Thanks.  Turns out we have one more day with her and then we have to take her in the morning.

Ok, so last night dh ended up bringing home fried chicken, so that was comfort food.  Plus I'd made an apple/date/raisin strudel.

My mom called last night and they accidentally got a 1400 lb cow and had to come up this morning to get their meat grinder we borrowed.  If they grind the whole cow they get to keep 1/3 of the meat.  They brought me a big roast, plus a HUGE part of a leg and a shoulder w/lots of meat on it.  I'm about to start roasting the leg and shoulder bones for stock.  I'll be getting ground beef later, too.  I'm so excited because we rarely get beef here!!!  So supper tonight is a nice beef roast (no idea what part of the cow it came from, but probably the rump), carrots and potatoes and all....Plus Amish turnips.  Tomorrow...beef soup!

ETA: Saw more posts after I posted, so welcome Lisa!

[kitchensqueen]

How did they accidentally get a 1400 pound cow? Was it just bigger than they expected? Good for you on lucking out on getting some of it though. I can't wait until spring when we can put in our order for a 1/4 beef and a half hog; we missed the boat this year. 

I decided I'm not psychotic enough after all to make the fried fish. I'm getting a head ache so making a giant mess in the kitchen with a stock pot of oil does not sound appealing, even though I'd kill for fish and chips! I kind of miss the days when husband and I could just pop out to a pub for some and a couple of pints on a whim... but just for a second. :-) Baby boy is worth not getting to go. At any rate, I popped open my beloved crockpot book and chose something from it. Balsamic chicken thighs and potatoes. And I'm going to make another pain d'epi this afternoon - it was so good! I'm just going to do two medium-sized loaves today instead of six small ones though. 

[Chicky2]

Well, their neighbor's son works on a ranch, and at a livestock sale barn.  One of the cows was big and mean and she injured her spinal cord and was paralyzed.  They didn't have a big enough gun up there to dispatch her, so my mom's dh went up there and did it.  He and the neighbor (both are in their late 70s, btw) and the son gutted and skinned her on the spot (they took her temp and it was perfectly normal, so it's good meat) and they took the whole thing home to properly chill it.  Now they are ready to start grinding and their grinder is commercial and has about 12 horses hooked up to it, lol, so it'll make an easy job of the rest of it.  I'm am absolutely impressed that the 3 of them got her cut up so fast!  They are going to demand 60% of the meat next time, but it's a learning experience.  Next time they'll have more time since the weather will be cooler (apparently this happens several times a year w/an injury) and they can hang the meat in the cold well house to age).  They said they had to waste quite a bit of meat because they were so dang tired.  It's unfortunate, but they still saved ALOT.  Better than just having to let it rot in a field or something.  Sometimes they simply don't get to an injured cow soon enough and no one gets any meat.  That's just life, though.  I'm positive it wasn't grass fed completely, but considering the drought and hay shortages, that's bound to be the norm for the next year of beef.  Most of the them will likely go to feed lots because no one can hay them.  BTW, except for the labor involved, this meat is all free.

[Chicky2]

Here's what I just put in the oven to roast for stock.  And what I cut off of it to use for stew and stir fry!

  There were 2 shoulder blades and part of a leg.

[Mama Ana]

I am making tilapia fillets with a sour cream sauce along with perogies (sp?) tonight. Tomorrow I am going to do game hens in the crock pot with various veggies (carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and taters with various spices). YUM! I love crock pot cooking for the autumn and winter!

[kitchensqueen]

Chicky2, that's some good looking FREE beef! I can't believe they just took down a whole cow like that right at the auction house! Seriously impressive - that takes skill. I really miss living in the country. :-( 

Mama Ana, I agree with you on the crockpot cooking - it really fits the bill this type of year. I've also been thinking about doing some game hens in the crockpot, if I can get them on special. That would also give me some bones to make stock with - I've got a gallon of veggie trim in the freezer ready and waiting for a stock making day - in the crockpot of course! 

[Jewels*]

Can I jump in too? I'm really trying to stick to a food budget and still eat organic / healthy / cooked from scratch if I can. Lots of good ideas in this thread!

Tonight is Alaskan wild salmon, broccoli and leftover brown rice.  A pretty easy quick dinner (just pop salmon in the oven, steam the veg and re-heat the rice). 

DH is working the night shift tonight and tomorrow and I hate to get the whole kitchen a mess just for me and DD (who only eats off my plate anyway...)

[Jewels*]

Originally Posted by Ragana 
Potatoes in the crockpot :

Wash potatoes & dry well

Wrap in foil

Place in crockpot - NO WATER, just the foil-wrapped potatoes

Cook

I can't tell you a heat level and cooking time, because I crank them on high and just check on them until they're done - 4-5 hrs.? I am making these tomorrow, so I can check that.

This is how I cook beets.... DELICIOUS!! Then, once they are cooked (Pretty hard to cook them too long....) just unwrap, run them under cool water and peel off the skins, slice and serve! (I usually serve with walnuts and goat cheese chunks - YUM)

[kitchensqueen]

Originally Posted by Jewels* 

Can I jump in too? I'm really trying to stick to a food budget and still eat organic / healthy / cooked from scratch if I can. Lots of good ideas in this thread!

Tonight is Alaskan wild salmon, broccoli and leftover brown rice.  A pretty easy quick dinner (just pop salmon in the oven, steam the veg and re-heat the rice). 

DH is working the night shift tonight and tomorrow and I hate to get the whole kitchen a mess just for me and DD (who only eats off my plate anyway...)

The more the merrier! Have you tried smoking your salmon? Makes for a nice little change every once awhile, though it is hard to beat a good piece of salmon simply over baked. 

[AnkaJones]

Tonight is lemon chicken.  Last night was chicken riggies.  We're on a chicken theme 'cause of all the chicken I got on sale before our chest freezer broke.  Now we've got to use it!

[Chicky2]

BTW, that meat I cut off those bones was just what was left after they got most of it off.

Tonight is left over beef roast w/veggies, leftover Amish turnips and cauliflower, and cookies for dessert.  The kids and I just made crispy oatmeal cookies and I'm going to make chocolate chip after I get a nap.  We had a pretty rough morning.

[Peggy O'Mara]

Originally Posted by Chicky2 

Here's what I just put in the oven to roast for stock.  And what I cut off of it to use for stew and stir fry!

  There were 2 shoulder blades and part of a leg.

Now I would take the smaller piece in the second photo, brown it nice with hot oil and salt and pepper, cover with water and cook for 3 to 4 hours at 300 degrees. I'd use it as the base for french onion soup. Just saute the thinly sliced onions, add to the broth and slow bake for another couple hours. Pour into individual bowls, top with bread and gruyere cheese, broil and eat. 

Or, a beef veggie soup, or a borscht.

[Peggy O'Mara]

Originally Posted by Jewels* 

Can I jump in too? I'm really trying to stick to a food budget and still eat organic / healthy / cooked from scratch if I can. Lots of good ideas in this thread!

Tonight is Alaskan wild salmon, broccoli and leftover brown rice.  A pretty easy quick dinner (just pop salmon in the oven, steam the veg and re-heat the rice). 

DH is working the night shift tonight and tomorrow and I hate to get the whole kitchen a mess just for me and DD (who only eats off my plate anyway...)

I like to make salmon patties with leftover salmon. Crumble up the cooked salmon with lots of celery, a bit of onion (optional) , lemon, mayo, breadcrumbs, and an egg to bind together. Form into patties, saute slowly in butter.

And, have you tried red chili jelly on salmon (or chicken, or pork). Really is yummy. Also like to make a rice casserole with green chilis and sour cream and grated cheese on top.

I'm steaming artichokes for lunch with a burger and some homemade bread. Dinner is roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and carrots. It's cold here!
 

[Peggy O'Mara]

Thank you for the great chicken and dumpling recipes. I can't wait to try them.

[kitchensqueen]

Originally Posted by Peggy O'Mara 

And, have you tried red chili jelly on salmon (or chicken, or pork). Really is yummy. Also like to make a rice casserole with green chilis and sour cream and grated cheese on top.

I'm steaming artichokes for lunch with a burger and some homemade bread. Dinner is roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and carrots. It's cold here!

Red chili jelly on salmon sounds awesome - I think I'm going to try to make some next summer with hot peppers. My husband would be jealous of the burger - that's what he wants for dinner tonight, but we don't have ground beef defrosted or time to bake up some buns... 

I'm a bit at a loss for dinner tonight. I've got tons of ground beef and pork in the freezer, some chicken legs, cod, salmon... almost no fresh veg in the fridge... maybe I will do the fried fish with oven fries tonight after all. It sounds good, and the husband can certainly watch the baby while I fry some fish. I've really got to get some different types of meat at the store this weekend, and stock up on veg at the farmer's market Sunday - it's one of the rare winter market weekends here. :-) 

[Chicky2]

I have never made french onion soup, but always mean to....My hubby is picking up onions at the store as I type, so maybe I'll make that tomorrow!  I have about 8 gallons of stock cooling now so I can strain it again and start reducing it.  I plan to reduce it down and can it in 1/2 pints.  If I reduce it enough I can use one of the 1/2 pints at a time in a nice big pot of soup.  I have to wait for my dh to help me strain it because the pot is so heavy.  If I wait for him it'll get done faster, lol. 

My poor mom is pooped from all the meat grinding.  Someone was supposed to supply all the freezer bags and they never showed up so they are holding the guy's meat hostage.  My oldest daughter is going to drive to my mom's this weekend and come back with a bit of the beef, but my mom and her neighbor need room in their freezers so they are sending frozen pork to us.  I'm kinda sick of pork, but I am not about to turn it down.  I'm grateful for it!  I think I'll can a bunch of it this time.  I do wish I had someone to share soup bones with, though because they always end up taking up so much room in the freezer 'til I can get to them. 

[mommy212]

honey-ginger chicken, brown rice, and bean sprout salad tonight. Came out okay, but not great. Tomorrow, roast potato and carrot wedges and hamburgers w/ potato buns. 

[kitchensqueen]

Yesterday was a total fail. We ended up ordering in because I didn't have enough oil to fry the fish. I got a breaded chicken sandwich with fries and husband got a personal pizza with pepperoni and peppers, no cheese.

So tonight I'm doing the cod, but it's going in the stovetop smoker on bourbon-soaked oak chips. Or alder... haven't decided yet. Roasted potatoes on the side. I wish we had some green veg to go with it.