Shhhhhhh...What's that?
It's quiet.
Months of buildup, planning and work, then an abrupt silence as we kiss the 2008 holiday season goodbye. (Or kick it out the door, depending on your perspective.)
Personally, I took advantage of this and made a nice chicken dinner last night to enjoy with BF while some of the playoff games were on. I did something I haven't done in years - I boned and stuffed a chicken. I had all this time and decided to have fun with it.
What are some of the "basics" you look forward to preparing in the post-holiday lull? Got a craving for something simple and/or comforting to counteract the culinary acrobatics of the last 2 months?
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27 Comments:
I want a meatloaf. There's a good chance I'll make it for DHs birthday this month, but really, I want it NOW.
dbcurrie at 2:06PM on 01/05/09
LOL I made a meatloaf for Sunday Dinner yesterday !
NanaJoie at 2:16PM on 01/05/09
We made a wonderful French onion soup last night, it was so comforting. Best part is we have enough for two more meals in the freezer.
annabanannas at 2:18PM on 01/05/09
@annabananna - I've been thinking of making this again! I like mine extra-salty!
I've also been craving a rich chicken-pot-pie with an extra-buttery, extra-flaky pastry topper!
hungrychristel at 2:20PM on 01/05/09
@chiff - oooh, this is something I really want to learn - how to glove bone a chicken! I used to be able to order a boneless whole chicken from my butcher (not round here), and I'd make a pistachio, rice & herb stuffing for it - it was scrumptious and looked very impressive when sliced. I haven't made this in years, and now I so wish I could!
Anyway, I'm craving something light right now, so I'm going to smoke some rainbow trout for tonight's dinner; we'll have tomato & avocado salad and perhaps some quinoa to go with it.
I have some kale in my crisper and may make some soup with it tomorrow or the next day. I'm thinking, lentil, kale and sausage or something like that...
brooke29 at 2:55PM on 01/05/09
We had a craving for claypot ginger pork (chicken would've been fine, but we had pork to use up) over rice noodles, so I made that last night. It's going to feed us for at least the next two days. Then I see a more waistline friendly veggie lentil soup in our future. I'm craving "clean" flavors right now.
Amandarama at 3:02PM on 01/05/09
@brooke - I've been looking for uses for quinoa. I've only ever had it with raisins and cinnamon for breakfast AND I LOVED IT! Now I bought it and I'm stuck :p
Do you use it like a couscous? Have to stuffed anything with it? Sorry to bombard you with questions but how long and what ratio? Thanks a bunch in advance if you get to my questions!!!!
hungrychristel at 3:10PM on 01/05/09
I need to do a water with lemon cleanse, myself. If I eat any more heavy foods I think I'm going to explode.
juliebugsmama at 3:45PM on 01/05/09
@hungry - it truly is my pleasure! I absolutely love quinoa, so it only makes me happy to see all these questions:-)
My lazy basic go-to way: in a deep sauté pan, sauté a diced yellow or Spanish onion in some olive oil, add quinoa, season with s & p, stir, add boiling water (I use my electric kettle to boil the water; 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water), once it boils (which will be almost immediately), cover with a lid, lower the heat to the lowest possible setting and walk away for about 15-20 minutes - once all the water is gone (you may start peeking after 15 minutes, I usually do:-)), I stir in some minced garlic and dill, re-season and add a bit of olive oil, if necessary - and it's done. Sometimes I add smoked paprika, too.
Now, this is truly good as is. Sometimes I love to sprinkle a bit of shredded asiago on top, my OH adds tomato sauce. I make quinoa salad using this basic prep, too (although you could omit the sauteed onion part for it)- cool the cooked quinoa, and add the following:
* diced red onion or a couple of shallots
* roasted or steamed asparagus, cut into 1.5-2" pieces (you can certainly use green beans instead)
* a handful of chopped walnuts or pistachios
* orange segments (one or two oranges)
and make a simple dressing of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt and freshly ground black pepper. Minced parsley works well in this salad, too.
But basically, in terms of mix-ins, you can certainly treat it like couscous - minced fresh or roasted veg, garlic, some kind of nuts will all work very nicely. Oh, and I've made quinoa-stuffed peppers and they were delicious, but I haven't done this one in a while since the "stuffing" is really good on its own;-). I really hope you enjoy quinoa!
brooke29 at 3:55PM on 01/05/09
@brooke - thanks muchly! I'm soooo excited to try some of these combiations! I will definitely give your lazy go-to preparation (1 p quinoa to 2 p water) it seems like I had this allll wrong :p
and I'm going to try adding some grilled veggies/tofu for a salad!
Stuffed peppers or tomatoes might be in the cards for valentines day (but hopefully I'll try it earlier)!
Praise to the quinoa! The delicious and nutritious starch substitute!
FYI too - I heard they eat a lot of it in the mornings in Africa because of its complete protein source! It's also a super kosher item, a great gluten-free option and easy on the tummy when digesting! Thanks again!
:D Christel
hungrychristel at 4:54PM on 01/05/09
I'm looking forward to just cooking for MY family and not everyone else. Not having to rack my brain as to what to serve guests. No more 3 days later leftovers. After Thursday's national championship game I get to take a rest until Super Bowl. Here's to a simple chicken dinner with some taters and a tossed salad. Oh, and no more holiday sweets!!
finsbigfan at 5:11PM on 01/05/09
I'm looking forward to making some meditative recipes, the kind that take lots of chopping and waiting, like a vegetable tagine or ratatouille. It's nice to feel free from those self-imposed cooking deadlines.
butterface at 5:32PM on 01/05/09
I'm with the Sunday meatloaf makers. I also have been having green salads, often with citrus, twice a day. Enjoying simple stuff.
Blue Iris at 5:40PM on 01/05/09
I've had a request for meat loaf - that's probably going to be happening over the upcoming weekend.
therealchiffonade at 5:52PM on 01/05/09
I'm making "slimmed down" chicken pot pies tonight. I've been craving them for a while but my husband hasn't shared my craving so much, but he'll eat it and like it tonight, or else!
Southern_bella at 6:02PM on 01/05/09
I got a slow cooker for Christmas. I have never used one, but have a few recipes to try. This a.m. there was a recipe in the newspaper for a, "Slow Cooker Beef Goulash." It sounds yummy and easy so I think I will try it for my "maiden voyage!" Looking forward to NOT spending half my time in the kitchen for a while.
bareneed at 6:10PM on 01/05/09
I'm looking forward to loading up on hard to get Korean food during my last month here. Then it's back to America to feed my 1-year old cravings-- tacos, cheese, bloody marys, dill pickles, inexpensive drip coffee, flavored creamers, anything that shouldn't be sweet but is in Korea for some reason, cheez-its, pie, avocados, limes, veggie burgers, frozen vegetables and Ben and Jerry's.
smile at 7:36PM on 01/05/09
Meatloaf goes over really well in my house, too. But after "Wedding Crashers" I have to endure my son yelling "MA! THE MEATLOAF! WE WANT IT NOW!", every time I make it. Cute.
soozm32 at 7:37PM on 01/05/09
Chinese American food and greasy burgers.
pjracz10 at 7:56PM on 01/05/09
I made Puttanesca last night, and you know what? It only took 15 minutes total - what a treat!!! No Kitchen Aid, no nut toasting, no rolling of pastry - some quick sauteeing, simmering and boiling of water for rotini (pasta from a box as opposed to homemade - what a delight!), and it was over.
And even better, it was delicious.
La Divina at 8:54PM on 01/05/09
Made Sunday's Best Garlic Roast Beef (from Cooks Country) yesterday, not the fancy tenderloin roast, just a cheap top sirloin on sale for $4/lb that turned out awesome. Made great leftover sandwiches today.
I'm also looking forward to a meatloaf dinner, some stir frying, and plenty of chili.
After tonights OSU Fiesta bowl game I think I can put the appetizer books away and get back to the meat and potatoes I adore!
bobcatsteph3 at 9:32PM on 01/05/09
Think I may roast a chicken and share it with a friend.
I've also been working my way through a large pot of vegetable soup.
beth1 at 9:58PM on 01/05/09
Requests for chili have been discussed. Tonight I made eggplant parm with the leftover sauce from the New Years Day gnocchi. The house smells great.
Chili probably this weekend.
We did salads all weekend to cleanse. Made life real easy.
JerzeeTomato at 5:54AM on 01/06/09
MMMmmmm Puttanesca! God, I haven't made that in years.
I have to agree about the three-day-after leftovers. Sheesh!
And the lack of temptation by holiday sweets! Yay! Liberation!
therealchiffonade at 10:01AM on 01/06/09
meatloaf sounds so good! its been a minute
GrabTrees at 1:58PM on 01/06/09
Tonight we're making Sloppy Joe's. We just had salmon patties and pasta with turkey meat sauce the past couple nights. Yay for regular meals! :)
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 5:51PM on 01/06/09
we just had broiled ribeyes with corn and potato salad.
dearrie at 7:41PM on 01/06/09