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The Ten Most Recent Posts By Maureen

From Talk

the picnic has come off!

I posted a few weeks back about doing a romantic picnic for my best friend and her man.

Well it all came off today - and thanks to you guys it was a serious success.....

I packed up the following -

Baked Brie with Peach Chutney - the chutney was jarred, but I found a heater that would keep it warm. Served this with white and whole grain crostini.

Chef's Salad with hard cooked eggs and home made whole grain croutons.

The amazing Horseradish and Mustard Ina Garten special Beef Sandwich. Thanks to I think it was Perky Mac for the idea - they were great.

And Dark Chocolate and Orange Waffle cookies for dessert.

Apparently it went over well...

Maureen

From Talk

Surprise romantic picnic - ideas needed!

I have offered to do a surprise picnic for a friend and her boyfriend. Essentially, I will make the basket ingredients and hide them in a location that they will show up to later and then feast.

So the obvious question - what should I make! No source of heat, so that's a factor. Also, he is not keen on onions and she is not big on peppers or mushrooms (no I don't know how they survive!) What would you make for a romantic picnic outside?

From Talk

making your own dolmas

I bought myself a jar of grape leaves - thinking that perhaps I could teach myself how to make dolmas. I have a Turkish neighbour from whom I will be seeking advice for sure, but I thought I'd ask my SE friends for their approaches! Anyone ever done this? Recommendations? Warnings?

From Talk

Are rising food costs affecting how YOU eat?

I was at my local grocery store yesterday and I am definitely seeing the change in food prices - bread, flour, vegetables, some dairy were all up substantially, with signs displayed indicating that the price of petrol is one of the contributing factors.

I feed a large family of mainly teenagers - so a signficant hike in food prices means a change in diet for us - less meat, more beans, shopping the sales, eating seasonally (living in Canada, vegetables are definitely seasonal if locally grown!).

What about you - are the prices changing your food habits? How much would things have to go up before you felt the pinch? Who has some good "frugal" family-friendly recipes?

From Talk

What do I do with mustard greens!?

My husband hit a 10 for 10 sale at Price Chopper and THOUGHT he was picking up 10 bags of cut frozen okra for the fam (we loooooove) okra. But in his haste, he picked up two bags of frozen mustard greens.

I have never to my knowledge even eaten them - what can be done with these? Prepare them like any other green? I'm going to check the usual suspects in terms of websites, but I'm always curious what the SE folks will chime in with!

From Talk

Preparing a semi traditional Good Friday dinner - suggestions?

My husband comes from an interesting background of fundamentalist Christian believers of all ilks. One of the traditions that his family and organizations got into was preparing a traditional Good Friday supper, loosely based on a Passover seder meal - trying to replicate what Jesus, as Jewish person, would have eaten. I've done this twice now - fish, matzos, hummus, grapes, boiled eggs, that type of thing - but am looking to branch out and include some more traditional Passover preparations? Tell me, what did YOUR bubbee make?

From Talk

Going organic in a large family - advice needed!

I've been thinking more and more about trying to incorporate more organic foods and products into our diet. I've perused the organics aisle at my local store, although I know that in summer, I'll have access to farmstands and markets that will have fresher products too. The one thing I'm a bit freaky about is cost - I have a large family (five kids) and am the regular "go to place" for all their friends and hangers-on..... I do my best to keep our grocery bill reasonable by cooking from scratch as much as possible, using in season produce, and shopping sales. So, can I really "go organic"?

From Talk

Calling all pizza makers - what is this tool called?

A friend is looking to buy an item for her budding chef son, who is about to turn 15. It is a spiky roller item that is used to take the air bubbles out of pizza crust after it is rolled out. Apparently he saw this item being used on the Food Network but the hosts didn't identify it except as perhaps a pizza pricker.

Anyone know what this is called or where she could get one?

Thanks!

From Talk

I got a mortar and pestle - what should I make?!

I am looking for recipies for spice grinds that I can make in my mortar and pestle. Meat rubs, pasta spices, you name it - I'm interested!

From Talk

Christmas Eve Dessert - HELP!

I am in desperate need of a dessert idea for Christmas Eve. I am serving Spicy Shrimp (from the Pioneer Woman) for dinner (with crusty bread to soak up the lovely sauce) along with a cabbage salad of some variety (probably a take on an Asian slaw). The shrimp are rich, and I don't want a heavy dessert.....Ideas?

The Ten Most Recent Comments By Maureen

From Talk

Catering Prom Dinner

Giada does a lasagne roll up recipe similar to what Carriebwc is mentioning. My husband loves it more than regular lasagne - it's lighter and has a bit of procuitto in it, so is more cost effective (I found the recipe on foodnetwork.com). Eggplant parm might be another idea - perhaps a tray of eggplant and a tray of chicken parm to satisy the meat eaters? What about chili? Or a taco bar - make up the meat filling ahead and slice toppings (lettuce, tomato, onion, grated cheese, guac) and store in food containters. Kids heat up the meat and some beans, toast the shells if desired. I know Costco sells those large packages of shells and home made refried beans (I make a beanier version that is lower fat) are much cheaper than canned. Or a baked potato bar - provide the potatoes - easy to cook and don't take up much room - you could do 20 in an oven easy, along with toppings - chili, brocolli, cheese sauce, mushrooms, sour cream, chives, butter. Serve any of these with a salad or veggies and dip and I think the kids would be set.

From Talk

"Drop It Like It's Hot"

Hmmm spectacular drops in my past include a tortiere that was baked in one of the infamous dollar store foil pans mentioned above. Ex hubby took it out of the oven, the pan folded and efficiently dumped the entire thing on the oven door, which of course, was hot so the contents COOKED onto the door. Then there were the hamburger condiments that were sprayed onto the living room wall when I tripped on my boyfriend at the time's cast. My mom once dropped an entire roast chicken on the floor with company sitting in the next room. I once flung a plate of spaghetti with meat sauce clear across the kitchen (I kept a hold of the plate but the contents went flying) when someone scared me as I was serving myself from the stove. Peppercorns are a nemesis. Oh and then the time I had raw cookies sitting on top of the stove waiting to go into the oven. Opened the door above the stove - my mom had not wrapped up the bag of rice correctly and it poured directly onto my cookies.

As a general rule, we salvage all we can! The cookies were, however, a tad crunchy!

From Talk

the picnic has come off!

Well, here are the recipes for the two things that required recipes - the sandwich and the cookies -

http://www.recipezaar.com/190538
http://www.dairygoodness.ca/en/consumers/food/recipes/all/2000/2049.htm?recipeid=2049

The salad was a simple lettuce, tomato, green onion, celery mixture. I boiled an egg and sliced it on top. Cut up a whole grain bagel half and pan fried it with garlic, salt and pepper and generous amount of olive oil. Served a poppy seed dressing (an Epicure mix - quite nice). The brie I heated in the oven with a peach chutney (store bought) and borrowed my husband`s heater upper thingie - he is a contractor and uses it to keep meals warm when the houses he builds don`t have electricity yet. Runs off the lighter in your car.

Everything else went in a bag with a cooler pack. I chose a spot at an old mill in between my town and my friend`s city - about 55K from my house. I met her there, and made the hand off. I got some rave emails last night, so perhaps I`ll make a habit out of this!

From Talk

What do I serve with Quiche?

A bowl of soup goes well too - and you can tailor the type of soup to what's in the quiche - ham, brocolli and red pepper quiche would perhaps go well with a cream of brocolli soup?

From Required Eating

Poutine: Curdy Canadian Comfort

Best poutine I ever had came from a chip wagon on the Gaspe pennisula in Quebec. It was a total meal in a stryrofoam container - the fresh french fries, squeaky cheese, homemade gravy - along with (ready for this?) peas, cabbage, and some other veggie. I looked highly askance at it but man, I would do anything for another serving now!

As a Canadian, I concur- poutine MUST have curds. I can't abide curds in any other format.

From Talk

Recipes for ham

Ham and bean soup, ham and scalloped potatoes, quiche!

From Talk

Surprise romantic picnic - ideas needed!

It will be a luncheon, no heat source, but the temps are getting nice these days in the Great White North. I plan on putting a couple of those freezer packs in the basket to keep thing cool.

From Talk

Can I freeze pasta?

Ditto - I freeze portions of pasta a lot for my husband's lunches. No worries - and in fact, I think whole wheat pasta might even freeze better than the traditional white kind.

From Talk

Most embarrassing moment while entertaining?

Oh I've set my oven on fire - happened this past Easter when I made yorkshire pudding. It ended up in the backyard in the snow!

My favourite 'screw up' around a dinnner actually happened when I lived at home many years ago. My boyfriend at the time was sporting a cast, having been hit by a car and had his leg broken in four places. After many weeks of not being able to drive/get around, he was comfortable enough to manage the short drive to my house. My mom planned a "tv-tray" dinner, so he wouldn't have to move around terribly much. We had hamburgers and salad, and I carefully put all the condiments on a separate tray that we could all reach. At the end of the meal, we cleared the tables and I picked up the tray with the condiments. I promptly tripped over my boyfriend's foot which of course was sticking out in the middle of the room.

Mustard, ketchup, relish flew EVERYWHERE in that room...... The three of us looked in horror and just burst out laughing. We found relish stuck to the wall behind the stereo six months later when we moved it to accomodate the Christmas tree!

I've long since grown up, moved away, etc but I am still in touch with said ex boyfriend - and he still laughed when I reminded him of that episode.

From Ed Levine Eats

Ed Levine's Diet, Week 15: Re-Entry Is a Bitch

Ed - Amazing news - you MUST have been careful in New Orleans to have actually LOST weight while there. I know I would not have this kind of self-control in the face of that beautiful chicken!

Responses to Comments by Maureen

From Talk

Catering Prom Dinner

I talked to the 'kids' tonight to finalize plans, so I can start shopping and cooking tomorrow. They have a fancy dinner tomorrow night before prom, and an expensive brunch the morning after in the hotel, so this dinner is basically a relaxed, fun meal in their suite. We decided on a couple of pans of macaroni and cheese, garlic bread, salad, and tiramisu. I hope all goes well!

From Talk

Catering Prom Dinner

Wow...prom was a one day activity for me. I can't imagine people making this into a weekend long event. That just seems like a lot.

At first I was thinking, given how much money they are spending, why would they only give you $50 for Prom dinner for 10-15 people. I think some people spend that much per person. But if it's the day after, I think everyone else's pasta suggestions would probably be the best.

From Talk

Catering Prom Dinner

We got crepes after my senior prom, but I'm having trouble remembering my junior prom......I think it involved Jack Daniels.

Honestly I don't think it's fair to label lasagne "kid food," and if they're renting a hotel room that means they're gonna be drinking, and not wine-tasting drinking, case of Keystone Light drinking. If this is the case, they're going to want a big, hearty meal, especially if there's boys involved. Then again, I don't know your sister or her friends, I'm just judging this on having been a teenager 3 short years ago, and knowing that 95% of teenagers would appreciate something simple, classic, and filling. Hey - if I was still the size I was in high school, I'd eat mac and cheese and french fries almost every day - no shame in that!

From Talk

Catering Prom Dinner

This is like a Top Chef challenge!
15 people, $50, nice quality meal for prom....and your time starts now!

I say pasta all the way. What a big favor for your sister to ask but cool that she trusts you to make dinner for all of her friends! :)

Hillary
Chew on That

From Talk

Catering Prom Dinner

I'm glad I'm not the only pasta-loather. I hate pasta, particularly baked things (insert obligatory high school baked joke here).

But it doesn't need to be 'kid food,' either, that's why I like the cold spread--chicken, salami, bread, olives (and I still say cake is always welcome)--it's classy without being pretentious and good finger food for picking. Cookies, chocolates, fruit, would be fine too.

What I ate at my junior prom (I was not *sniff* asked to the senior prom):

We had ice cream sundaes made at home afterwards--that's an idea!

Pancakes for breakfast.

A waffle (frozen before?) bar with ice cream, toppings, fruit, ect. might be nice, and cold fried or roast chicken for the people who want protien. Or nice chicken wings :p

One popular dessert thing I sometimes see is a 'candy bar' of different kinds of candy, to be used as toppings on cupcakes, ice cream, waffles, etc.

From Talk

Catering Prom Dinner

This dinner is for the night the day after prom, once everyone has recovered from the festivities.
I'll have to talk to my sister and her friends and see what they're thinking.

From Talk

Catering Prom Dinner

See, the key to prom is that you have a nice, elegant dinner beforehand, then go dancing, then get absolutely blitzed (if that's your scene) or otherwise spend the wee hours of the night in hilarious high-jinks.

From Talk

Catering Prom Dinner

Lets be real. If I was 18 again and in a hotel with my friends, the LAST damn thing I would want to do is start screwing around with lasagnas and vinagrettes.

Prom screams TACOS and a ridiculous amount of them! Make brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Cake? Please. Who has time for all of that nonsense? ITS PROM!!!

@ heartofglass...cumberbuns? LOL! vests for sure...no cumberbuns!

@ Christina...you ain't alone baby...I am no fan of lasagna and I sure as hell wouldnt want to eat it while partying it up on Prom weekend!

From Talk

Catering Prom Dinner

No! Tomato sauce + girls in expensive dresses and guys with white cumberbuns. No! Teenage girls who have been starving themselves for weeks to fit into said dresses No!

For an after-prom party, I think a cold 'picnic' style spread would be romantic--some roast chickens (chicken should be cheap), baguettes, cheeses, salamis (for the guys), hummus, and other simple appetizers. Marinated vegetables, potato salad. Perhaps a more elaborate cake, since that is easy to transport.

From Talk

Catering Prom Dinner

@renzata-- I'm still a teenager, and I've never much liked lasagna! ;)