2018 Let's talk about what's for dinner

[andi9899]

Sept 14, 2018 20:47:27 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I've had a head cold the past couple days, as well as a visit from AF which completely fucks up my system even without being sick.  lunch was a chicken caesar salad that didn't want to play well, so figuring dinner ought to be more solid, I caved to the craving of a bowl of pasta with garlic bread. I nuke-thawed some of a large container of sauce, I'll use the rest this weekend with a spaghetti squash casserole. 

I bought a loaf of Italian bread and a container of garlic spread tonight, $4. the rest was here, and there's a ton left of both the bread and the spread. that shit makes amazing grilled cheeses.

Ooh! I never thought of that. Any particular brand for the garlic butter?

[wvugurl26]

Tonight we are having homemade hamburger helper. It has to be healthier than fast food.

I need to ice cupcakes, bake a batch of cookies and make a batch of Rice Krispy treats for the monthly birthday celebration at work. Normally I would just do take out when I have the birthday baking so this is progress.

[chiver78]

Sept 19, 2018 6:30:34 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Sept 14, 2018 20:47:27 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

I've had a head cold the past couple days, as well as a visit from AF which completely fucks up my system even without being sick.  lunch was a chicken caesar salad that didn't want to play well, so figuring dinner ought to be more solid, I caved to the craving of a bowl of pasta with garlic bread. I nuke-thawed some of a large container of sauce, I'll use the rest this weekend with a spaghetti squash casserole. 

I bought a loaf of Italian bread and a container of garlic spread tonight, $4. the rest was here, and there's a ton left of both the bread and the spread. that shit makes amazing grilled cheeses.

Ooh! I never thought of that. Any particular brand for the garlic butter?

the bakery department inside Stop & Shop (maybe Giant where you are?) sells their own. it's gotta be margarine or something, b/c my sister can have it. they put it out near the Italian loaves in a plastic clamshell like you'd get with a pastry. HTH

[andi9899]

Sept 19, 2018 7:41:49 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Sept 19, 2018 6:30:34 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Ooh! I never thought of that. Any particular brand for the garlic butter?

the bakery department inside Stop & Shop (maybe Giant where you are?) sells their own. it's gotta be margarine or something, b/c my sister can have it. they put it out near the Italian loaves in a plastic clamshell like you'd get with a pastry. HTH

We don't have either of those. I'll just have to Google how to make my own.

[andi9899]

Since my clothes are not cooperating with me lately, I'm having tilapia and veggies. I may also have to start doing some time on the treadmill. Noooooo!

[chiver78]

Sept 19, 2018 7:56:46 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Sept 19, 2018 7:41:49 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

the bakery department inside Stop & Shop (maybe Giant where you are?) sells their own. it's gotta be margarine or something, b/c my sister can have it. they put it out near the Italian loaves in a plastic clamshell like you'd get with a pastry. HTH

We don't have either of those. I'll just have to Google how to make my own.

your grocery store might offer something similar, ask at the bakery. 

failing that, have you ever made a compound butter? that's all you'd do. let the butter soften and mix in garlic and other spices you want, and there ya go. 

[Chocolate Lover]

Sept 19, 2018 7:56:46 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Sept 19, 2018 7:41:49 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

the bakery department inside Stop & Shop (maybe Giant where you are?) sells their own. it's gotta be margarine or something, b/c my sister can have it. they put it out near the Italian loaves in a plastic clamshell like you'd get with a pastry. HTH

We don't have either of those. I'll just have to Google how to make my own.

The spread that Budget Bytes has for her frozen garlic bread is pretty yummy 

[chiver78]

I'm stuffed. I tossed a package of Buitoni chicken and prosciutto tortellini in a bruschetta mix with some diced black peppercorn chicken. I didn't need seconds, but that stuff doesn't hold well...especially after tossing fresh grated cheese in the pot.

tortellini was bought on sale, awhile back. use by date was next week. I'll call that free lol...

[wvugurl26]

Ended up at in laws trying to plan out our fast passes for Disney. DH went and got a pizza. I think it was $12.

Hamburger helper Thursday night. I did get all of the stuff ready for the birthday celebration.

[countrygirl2]

I made mac and cheese with hot dogs tonight, I had that plus a bottle of magnesium citrate.  Ahhhhhh

[chiver78]

chicken broccoli Alfredo pasta tonight. I diced the rest of the black peppercorn chicken, nuked an Aldi steamer bag of broccoli, and boiled off half a pound of rigatoni. added a bunch of spices and poured in half a jar of Bertolli garlic Alfredo.

I don't remember what I paid for the broccoli, but Aldi. pasta was at most 75 cents a box, the sauce was $2.50 for the jar.

[countrygirl2]

Tonight was a quick dish mom used to make.  I fried ground beef, poured in a jar of home canned stewed tomatoes, then added macaroni, its good and simple.  Had sliced tomatoes and a can of beans.

Make home made rolls but was whole wheat flour and not crazy about them.  I wanted white flour for rolls, will next time.

Dessert was strawberries with kool whip.  

[Opti]

I ended up making salmon salad and having a little green salad for a late dinner.

The salmon itself was less than $1, since I used just part of a regular sized can of Salmon from Aldi's. Sadly I am now out of the $1 fresh parsley in a pod  from the dollar store. I finally saw it somewhere for regular sale. Maybe $4? Too much for me now, but it is really convenient and keeps well for days. (My salmon salad is basically salmon mashed with cut up celery, onion, some parsley, and mayo. The fresh parsley is so much better than dried, FWIW.)

Might have to buy a parsley plant for indoors in the near future.

[weltschmerz]

Sept 20, 2018 22:03:49 GMT -5 Opti said:

I ended up making salmon salad and having a little green salad for a late dinner.

The salmon itself was less than $1, since I used just part of a regular sized can of Salmon from Aldi's. Sadly I am now out of the $1 fresh parsley in a pod  from the dollar store. I finally saw it somewhere for regular sale. Maybe $4? Too much for me now, but it is really convenient and keeps well for days. (My salmon salad is basically salmon mashed with cut up celery, onion, some parsley, and mayo. The fresh parsley is so much better than dried, FWIW.)

Might have to buy a parsley plant for indoors in the near future.

Add a little lemon and dill.

[andi9899]

Last night was chicken and brown rice. I'm not cooking tonight. Trying to think what I want to grab on the way home. Right now I'm leaning towards going to the Vietnamese place in the river market. It's really good food and super cheap. That place always has a ton of people waiting, so I'll order it to go.

[countrygirl2]

I will not buy anymore of the bags of chicken breasts from Sams again.  I got the frozen ones, used to buy all the time and back then have with rice or noodles.  Baked 2 tonight, to me the texture and taste was just not good.  They were frozen, maybe thawed will be better.  I will try one more time. If still not good will fix for BJ. I wonder if this is some of the crap they are sending to china for processing then back again, if so this is just awful. 

Perhaps its me and my taste isn't what it was as I age but so much of what I buy anymore just doesn't taste good.  I know I can tell good food as the stuff from Odon is delicious.  I am thawing a whole chicken from there to fry tomorrow.  I rarely have fried chicken but want to see if their chicken is as good as their meat.


You know there is a whole industry that does nothing but make flavors and smells for foods anymore.  I think some of it would make a hoof taste good.  My home grown stuff is soooo much better.  But I can't raise everything I cook.  Sometimes I find it discouraging.

[Opti]

I was bad tonight, because I am sick and a little depressed. Went to a grocery store hoping to find a remedy they usually carry. They no longer do. Crap. The good thing is I did just make it to the free wine tasting. I bought one of the reds although the first white would have gone better with what I ended up with for dinner.

I had some General Tso's chicken(no broccoli) and some Thai style chicken. I was lazy and had some kale chips for my veggies. I haven't been drinking much alcohol, but now I want more of it since I'm not sleeping well, and its considered better to avoid, for fixing my chronic sinus infection.

I really want to try Angry Orchard's rose hard cider. Anyone have it yet?

[wvugurl26]

I wasn't a fan of the rose. I regularly drink the original variety.

[chiver78]

roommate is being an asshat, so I came.out to the sports bar for dinner and to watch the Sox. this was probably the best pizza I've ever had here, and I have leftovers.

[andi9899]

I wasn't trying to cook, so I went to Church's Chicken and got their $5 box meal. I ate early as I didn't have lunch. I tried to find something good on Netflix but ended up falling asleep instead. At least my laundry is done.

[weltschmerz]

I've been crippled by a bout of sciatica, and haven't cooked in days.

[Jaguar]

Sept 23, 2018 14:58:42 GMT -5 weltschmerz said:

I've been crippled by a bout of sciatica, and haven't cooked in days.

Oh geez I hope you get better really soon.

[weltschmerz]

Thanks. It's astonishingly painful.

[Jaguar]

weltschmerz, I've seen people completely sidelined when they get sciatica, it's damn awful.

[Iggy aka IG]

Tonight:  Ground beef tacos in cheddar shells, Budget Bytes refried beans from the freezer for DH.  Cost approx $4.50

Tues:  Fish and shrimp night, side veggie.  Approx $9

Wed:  Crock Pot lemon chicken drumsticks (sale a few months ago), side veggie.  Approx 7

Thurs:  Leftovers

Fri: Take out from?

Sat and Sun:  IDK yet

Have a fantastic week, everyone!

[chiver78]

last night I made a pot of minestrone soup for the week, the other ladies and I had big bowls during the football game as well. basically, it's a knockoff of Olive Garden's recipe, with way less salt. costing this out is tough b/c I had most items on hand. what I specifically bought for this recipe was: 

$.50   1 zucchini
$1.29  bag of frozen Italian green beans. I used about half the bag
$2.00 carton of vegetable broth
$1.49 crusty baguette for dipping.


edit: I haven't figured out the week past the soup leftovers, ideas are welcome. I bought a few things on sale this weekend, so I'll be planning around these items. I can share any extras that don't have garlic with the pups as well. 

$2.62  (4) bone-in pork chops
$5.74  (2) boneless turkey breast tenderloins
$1.0x  broccoli crowns - I usually roast these
$2.99  3lbs of tiny potatoes
$2.49  Brussels sprouts

I also still have an open container of ricotta in the fridge that I'd like to use before it goes bad. thanks in advance

[chiver78]

so the pork chops have a sell by date of tomorrow, that's fun. I have two simmering a la pizzaiola now, just waiting on pasta to finish cooking. I'll have one tonight and the other another meal. tomorrow I will either grill the other two with grilled peaches (just wasn't feeling that tonight) or do something Asian and make fried rice later on. idk.

[snapdragon]

Tonight I am pre-making Garlic & Rosemary Beef & Barley Mushroom Stew. I will be eating it the next few days. I have biscuits that will be baked to go with. The weather is changing so I am opting for more hearty soups/stews. This is a Budget Bytes recipe that I have adjusted to my taste. It is just really yummy with the extra mushrooms and barley to bulk it up more. I don't put in as many potatoes and I only do about half the meat so the mushrooms work to supplement those changes.

I also intend to have Salmon with brown rice and veggies. Probably tonight as the stew will take several hours in the crock pot. 

[Opti]

Sept 21, 2018 22:14:59 GMT -5 wvugurl26 said:

I wasn't a fan of the rose. I regularly drink the original variety.

Too sweet or something else? It seems a bunch of brands have rose right now.

[wvugurl26]

It was pretty sweet. Not my thing. Luckily I tried it in a single can and not a multi pack.

Dinner tonight will be black bean pulled chicken over rice. Cost about $10 and we will get multiple meals.

The remaining chicken breasts are going in the instant pot to become shredded chicken. I freeze that in 1 cup portions and pull from the freezer as needed.