Author Topic: I need ideas for dinner tonight  (Read 4145 times)

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Offline BEG

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I need ideas for dinner tonight
« on: August 12, 2010, 01:55:07 PM »
I have to go to the grocery store because we have nothing for dinner and I have been sick the last few days. My husband has been very sweet about it and either stopped at the store on his way home and cooked it himself or we ordered pizza etc. I'm watching Tinkerbell with my youngest and after it is over I am gong to force myself to go to the store.

Any suggestions for something fairly easy but is really good?

Offline Karin

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2010, 02:07:27 PM »
Are you still feeling kind of "yucky" so you don't want anything too intense or spicy, etc? 

How about a whole roast chicken?  I think they're easy as pie to do.  Buy your mashed potatoes already made (Simply Potatoes, Bob Evans, etc.)  Make the gravy only if you're feeling up to it.  Otherwise, purchase. 

Spaghetti, garlic bread and a salad is always good. 

Slow cooked pork chops?  Brown on both side in EVOO, add Progresso Mushroom soup, season to your liking, cover and place in 300 degree oven for couple hours.  Serve with mashed potatoes. 

Glad you're up and around! 

Offline debk

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #2 on: August 12, 2010, 02:10:30 PM »
You can make shrimp salad in about 15 minutes. While the salad "rests" in the fridge, chunk some fresh tomatoes, and some fresh buffalo mozzarella, cut up a few leaves of basil, add salt and pepper, and olive oil. Some good Italian or French bread, that you can either serve fresh and sliced. Or slice it, brush with melted butter, garlic and a bit of parsley, and toast in the oven. Have a pan of brownies to stick in the hot oven after the bread, they can bake while you eat. "Dust" with powdered sugar after they have cooled for about 15 minutes.

Should be able to get it all done, except for baking time on the brownies, in 45 minutes or less especially if you don't do anything to the bread.
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Offline BEG

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #3 on: August 12, 2010, 02:14:57 PM »
Are you still feeling kind of "yucky" so you don't want anything too intense or spicy, etc? 

How about a whole roast chicken?  I think they're easy as pie to do.  Buy your mashed potatoes already made (Simply Potatoes, Bob Evans, etc.)  Make the gravy only if you're feeling up to it.  Otherwise, purchase. 

Spaghetti, garlic bread and a salad is always good. 

Slow cooked pork chops?  Brown on both side in EVOO, add Progresso Mushroom soup, season to your liking, cover and place in 300 degree oven for couple hours.  Serve with mashed potatoes. 

Glad you're up and around! 

Yes i feel better but i still have a massive headache.  Mainly behind the eyes and brow area  i still have the "snot" thing going on, I probably have a sinus infection.  

Thanks for the ideas. My husband picked up spaghetti and Italian sausage and made that last night.  The prokchops sound good. My daughter just suggested meatloaf.  

Offline BEG

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #4 on: August 12, 2010, 02:16:29 PM »
You can make shrimp salad in about 15 minutes. While the salad "rests" in the fridge, chunk some fresh tomatoes, and some fresh buffalo mozzarella, cut up a few leaves of basil, add salt and pepper, and olive oil. Some good Italian or French bread, that you can either serve fresh and sliced. Or slice it, brush with melted butter, garlic and a bit of parsley, and toast in the oven. Have a pan of brownies to stick in the hot oven after the bread, they can bake while you eat. "Dust" with powdered sugar after they have cooled for about 15 minutes.

Should be able to get it all done, except for baking time on the brownies, in 45 minutes or less especially if you don't do anything to the bread.

Ohh that sounds yummy. Come make it for me.

Offline vesta111

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #5 on: August 12, 2010, 07:13:57 PM »
Ohh that sounds yummy. Come make it for me.

BEG, You and the rest are driving me nuts and making me rollie pollie.

I have tried a few too many of the recipes you all have given to the forum and at the Doctors office yesterday found I had gained 5 pounds.

Offline debk

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #6 on: August 12, 2010, 09:14:42 PM »
BEG, You and the rest are driving me nuts and making me rollie pollie.

I have tried a few too many of the recipes you all have given to the forum and at the Doctors office yesterday found I had gained 5 pounds.

Shrimp salad's allowed on my "diet".

I use a LB of 31-40 count shrimp, cut in 3rds. I use the pre-cooked frozen kind. Krogers and Walmart have it for about $5.99 a bag, less when it's on sale.
1/4 to 1/2 c tiny diced onion...go with the smaller amount, add more if needed. if it's a strong onion, no more.
1/2 to 3/4 c tiny diced celery.

Into about 1/2c of mayonnaise -the real thing!....add 1 tablespoon milk, some parsley, pepper, garlic powder, cayenne pepper...whisk it together and taste it before pouring it over the shrimp mix. Do not add salt until after
it's been mixed with the shrimp mix. Taste and adjust seasonings to suit.

Sit it in the fridge for about 15 minutes. Expect the mayonnaise mix to liquify more in the bottom of the bowl, as shrimp, celery and onion have a high water content.

It's great plain, or served with crackers as an appetizer. Leftovers will keep about 2 days. 
Just hand over the chocolate...back away slowly...far away....and you won't get hurt....

Save the Earth... it's the only planet with chocolate.

"My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far I've finished two bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already." – Dave Barry

A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands.

Offline njpines

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #7 on: August 13, 2010, 09:15:12 AM »
If anyone has any good crockpot ideas, I'm all ears!
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Offline IassaFTots

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #8 on: August 13, 2010, 09:19:08 AM »
If anyone has any good crockpot ideas, I'm all ears!

Two standbys.  Both Easy Peasy. 

Pork loin Roast
Two big cans of crushed or stewed tomatoes. 
salt, pepper, and tarragon or rosemary, or both. 
Cook on low for 8 and more hours.
Shred, and serve over polenta, rice, or mashed potatos


Italian Beef

Chuck Roast
1 beer
1 jar pepperocini peppers sliced

Cook for 8 or more hours
remove fat and shred
serve over hoagie buns
Top with shredded provolone or mozzarella. 


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Offline debk

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #9 on: August 13, 2010, 09:42:09 AM »
Those sound really good, Deb, especially the Italian Beef!!

Beef Stew

Layer:

Beef stew meat, sprinkle with salt and pepper
Quartered onions
Halved mushrooms (fresh or drained canned)
Chopped garlic
Chunks of carrots
Bag of frozen peas

Can of cream of mushroom soup

Cover for 6-8 hours.

20 minures before serving, whisk some flour and water, pour through a strainer so there aren't any lumps and stir the whole pot up. This will thicken up the sauce to more of a gravy.

Serve over buttered noodles or mashed potatoes.

Potatoes can be added in if you don't want to have mashed ones. When I do, I use either quartered "new" red potatoes or baby yukon golds. I really like the baby yukons, just can't always find them.


I used to do one, when my kids were little that's similar to above, except no potatoes or peas, add celery instead, sprinkle oregano or basil over the meat, and instead of the mushroom soup, use a can of V-8, either the littlest one or the next size up. Don't thicken and serve over pasta. The peas could stay in, but my kids didn't like them, and they aren't as "hidden" in this one as the other.  :-)

Just hand over the chocolate...back away slowly...far away....and you won't get hurt....

Save the Earth... it's the only planet with chocolate.

"My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far I've finished two bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already." – Dave Barry

A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands.

Offline BEG

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #10 on: August 13, 2010, 09:57:59 AM »
Pork butt
Sprinkle with a generous amount of season salt or brisket rub
Cook ALL day on low. And by all day I mean all day.

When it is done, shred it with two forks. Drain the fat and dump it back into the crockpot. Add BBQ sauce and turn it up to high to heat through. Serve over buns.

Some times I leave the BBQ out and let them put their own on it because it is good with out it too.

I've been making in the oven more lately. 225 degrees COVERED all day. 

Offline njpines

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #11 on: August 13, 2010, 11:28:54 AM »
Oooo -- these all sound really good! Thanks ladies!!   :heart:
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Offline Mike220

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #12 on: August 13, 2010, 01:25:50 PM »
If anyone has any good crockpot ideas, I'm all ears!

Nice and simple pot roast.

Take 2 cans cream of mushroom soup and one can of beef broth. Stir together and add one packet of french onion mix and stir. Pour over roast in crock pot. Cook on low 8 hours. Makes wonderful gravy for mashed potatoes.
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Offline Karin

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #13 on: August 13, 2010, 03:47:33 PM »
Mike, that gravy sounds really good and really easy too.  I'll have to try that.  I love having a crockpot dinner waiting for me at the end of the day. 

BEG's pulled pork sounds good too.  You know a good seasoning for that is McCormack's Pork Rub.  Great flavor, no fuss.

I like to do Swedish Meatballs in the crockpot, too.  I use cream of mushroom and a jar of Heinz beef gravy, and rinse out the cans with sherry.  Add sour cream at the end.  Over mashed or noodles.  I really prefer my own meatballs, but am not too proud to purchase.   

Offline Wineslob

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #14 on: August 13, 2010, 04:24:39 PM »
Garlic Chicken Goo (posted at the old forum at one time)

4 boneless skinless chicken boobies, sliced.
1 garlic head, crushed, yes, a whole head.
1 bunch flat leaf (Italian) parsley, chopped
1 container sour cream,(usually the large size) lite will work, but not fat-free
1-2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup
4 cups rice (before cooking)
1-2 tbs veg oil for the chicken
S&P
Start the rice.
 Season and saute chicken in a large frying pan with the oil, till almost done. It should be slightly browned. Add the garlic and cook on med-low. When the garlic is partly done, add the cream of mushroom soup. Add the sour cream and part of the parsley and stir together. Cook on low heat, covered, till the rice and chicken is done. Add the rest of the parsley. Serve over a bed of rice.
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Offline JLO

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #15 on: August 15, 2010, 12:23:25 AM »
Nice and simple pot roast.

Take 2 cans cream of mushroom soup and one can of beef broth. Stir together and add one packet of french onion mix and stir. Pour over roast in crock pot. Cook on low 8 hours. Makes wonderful gravy for mashed potatoes.

YES - we do that - it is exactly the right consistency, but we use French onion soup - it eliminates one ingredient, eh!

Here's another easy gravy for fowl - it's the same thing - two cans cream of mushroom soups and one can chicken stock.  I add a little parsley for looks.

I've never done the onion soup added to the chicken mix, but I will try it - thanks for the idea! :hi5:
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Offline Thor

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Re: I need ideas for dinner tonight
« Reply #16 on: September 03, 2010, 04:22:12 PM »
One of the crock pot things I enjoy is to take a chuck roast, season it, fry it or grill it to caramelize the outside and then drop it in a crock pot  with a package or two of French's Onion Soup mix. (You may want to cut up the roast into small cubes, but it all depends on your patience and how big your crock pot is.  When the beef becomes fork tender, one can add in carrots, potatoes, fresh onions, etc. When those are done, one can make gravy from the juice or eat as is.
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