February dinners

[heartofjoy]

I don't open this thread for a week and come back and see things like ABC frittata, walking tacos, and fajita soup!

I made chili, chicken and potato stew, and potato soup and we've been eating those for three days. I made a fresh salad today.

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---------- Post added at 11:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 PM ----------

I'm running out of food. Hopefully we can get to the store Friday without having to stand in line. The Texas ice storm has everything upside down.

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[charla]

Mozzarella chicken with marinara over Parmesan grits and corn on the side. Yeah, I know, very corn heavy.

[twoplustwo]

Today is hot veggie sandwiches. The boys will add lunchmeat to their veggie sandwiches.

[charla]

I want to know what a hot veggie sandwich is.

[ViolaMum]

Originally Posted by twoplustwo

We celebrate Ash Wednesday - is it supposed to be no meat? What denomination are you? I am LCMS. I didn't become Christian until an adult (age 30) - so many of the rules are still foreign to me. And no offense to LCMS - which I LOVE LOVE LOVE our church but I was saved in a non-denominational altar call very charismatic style church so still learning as I go on a lot of the church calendar stuff.
I do know the Catholics are no meat on FRIDAYS during lent but educate me a little more on Ash Wednesday stuff even if we are not the same denomination. I love to learn. TIA!

too late for this year, but we do a lot of vegetarian so always can plan better for the future.

I'm Anglican - our church is Anglo-Catholic which means it's part of the Episcopal Diocese but heavy on the Roman liturgical practice. (High church smells and bells!) My dh was raised Roman Catholic. I was raised in a non-denominational, anti-liturgy church so I've had a lot to learn as an adult, too.

Traditionally Ash Wednesday is a Fast day, which means total fasting from food, but I don't know how many people actually follow that any more. Usually I hear people give up dinner, or just don't eat meat that day.

We (my family) usually eat fish on Fridays anyway, but I try to make more vegetarian meals for Lenten Fridays as well as try to make lighter fare during Lent and save the decadent stuff for Easter. We have soup and sandwich/salad nights once a week, that sort of thing. My Orthodox friends abstain from meat for all of Lent. Before I had kids, I ate vegetarian or vegan for all of Lent, but I have super picky eaters and that got unsustainable.


Lent snuck up on me this year, though. (Honestly, I was thinking on Sunday we had another week!) I have a Flank steak in the fridge that I pulled out to defrost Sunday morning that I either have to cook or toss. (that was supposed to be Monday's dinner, but was dead to the world on Monday with a migraine so I didn't cook.) I think we'll have fajitas tonight, heavy on the veggies.

[twoplustwo]

Originally Posted by charla

I want to know what a hot veggie sandwich is.

It is easy and random.
So I get fun buns - like pretzel bread or sub rolls or in this case onion rolls.

Then everyone puts on what they want: hummus, cheese, I precook some onions, bell peppers, wilt spinach to put on. then put on tomatoes and then put it in the oven on broil for a few quick minutes. Then add guacamole (not always but we had some leftover), lettuce. Whatever else. I do different veggies depending on my mood - Ive even done like asparagus on them.

Its a huge favorite and so quick and easy.

Originally Posted by ViolaMum

I'm Anglican - our church is Anglo-Catholic which means it's part of the Episcopal Diocese but heavy on the Roman liturgical practice.

I went to an Episcopal church once. One of my friends is Episcopalian.

I don't think LCMS does all that and if they do someone should have told me. I know Catholics do no meat or fish on Fridays. And I know LCMS observes the church calendar. And now I know more about Anglican church.

[Vicki_T]

Originally Posted by heartofjoy

Do you have a recipe I can look at?

Well... it’s kind of ‘put anything in’, so maybe that’s the problem

I usually brown the meat with some onion and seasoning, then that goes in the slow cooker with whatever root vegetables I’m using (potato, carrot, parsnip usually) with the stock. Sometimes I’ll add some tomato purée or Worcestershire sauce, and usually some dried herbs too. I’ve heard to stir in some cornflour at the end to thicken, but that just makes it lumpy. Coating the meat in flour at the beginning doesn’t do much, and if I try to use extra (more than coats the meat), it just burns in the pan.

[twoplustwo]

Veggie stir fry with peanuts.

[ViolaMum]

Originally Posted by Vicki_T

Well... it’s kind of ‘put anything in’, so maybe that’s the problem

I usually brown the meat with some onion and seasoning, then that goes in the slow cooker with whatever root vegetables I’m using (potato, carrot, parsnip usually) with the stock. Sometimes I’ll add some tomato purée or Worcestershire sauce, and usually some dried herbs too. I’ve heard to stir in some cornflour at the end to thicken, but that just makes it lumpy. Coating the meat in flour at the beginning doesn’t do much, and if I try to use extra (more than coats the meat), it just burns in the pan.

Cornflour (corn starch in US) clumps if mixed into hot liquid. If you dissolve it first in a bit of room temp or cool water (or stock, cream, etc.) it will come out smooth and creamy.

As far as adding something at the beginning of cook time, you can make a roux and add that in the beginning. I would make it with whatever is left in the skillet after browning the meat and onion. (But I forget, are you gluten-free?) A roux will eventually break down and lose its thickening power, depending on how long you cook it.

It's been a long time since I looked into it, but I *think* tapioca flour will also work if added at the beginning for thickening. I have to double check that, though.

Those are the easy ones. A couple of picky things - Konjac root (glucomannan) works added at the end, but if you add too much, gets slimy, it has to be whisked very well, and can get a little pricey. If you happen to have xanthan gum on hand, that works too, but can be a little finicky to get it truly smooth. For best taste, you really need to make it into a gel and let it hydrate for a while, then add that gel.

[milkmommy]

Tonight we are having spinach and cheese quesadillas corn on the cob and canned pears with cottage cheese. I'll probably do some tuna salad for dh who doesn't like quesadillas.

[charla]

Cheese enchiladas and salad

[ViolaMum]

I bought some Cod for dinner tonight. It's been snowing since last night and I really want to make a creamy Fish Chowder (that's pronounced chow-duh! here ) or a Fish Pie, but all of my kids are vehemently opposed to either. Baked or pan-fried it will probably be. (Seriously, what is wrong with creamy fish goodness enclosed in flaky pastry??!)

[ViolaMum]

I think we are going to have tacos/taco bar/Homemade Moe's tonight.

[twoplustwo]

Chicken sausage spagetti Bolognese.
DD will have the leftover pizza from this weekend when she gets home from track try-outs.

[The Tickle Momster]

I'm thinking hamburger soup. Wonder the best way to do it in the IP. meat is already cooked.