Need some new dinner ideas...

[Jeff7181]

I'm getting sick of the same old stuff for dinner. Seems like it's either something chicken based, beef based, or sandwiches.

Here's some stuff I've been making that I'm getting sick of...

Chicken marinated in Italian dressing with misc seasoning slow cooked
Chicken stir fry
Chicken fingers
BBQ chicken (grilled)
Spaghetti and meatsauce
Spaghetti and meatballs
Meatloaf
Beefy nacho's
Taco's
Hamburger Helper
Beef roast

... that's all I can think of off the top of my head.

I don't have chinese food (well, americanized chinese food) as often as I'd like cause I don't know how to make much of anything, and it's kind of expensive to order out all the time.
About the only fish I can stand is something not very fishy tasting like grouper... but even then it needs to be heavily battered for me to enjoy it and not just eat it. I can only stand to eat shrimp when heavily coated with a good shrimp sauce =)

Also... how bout some side dishes? I usually just end up making a can of green beans or corn or baked beans or make a salad... and that's kinda boring too. Anyone have any really tasty complete dinners with side dishes they'd be willing to share?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Try pork tenderloins. You can do a zillion things with them

 

[Jeff7181]

I don't usually like pork... the taste is good, but good cuts without that tough, stringy fat cost quite a bit of money... and if I'm gonna pay $15 per pound of something, I'm going to get some EXCELLENT steaks =) Any tips for getting a good cut without paying a ton?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Tenderloins are just that, and as often as not no more expensive than a middling cut of beef.

There is no stringiness

I posted a recipe in this thread



Just one way.



You could always do a red curry chicken dish too

 

[Jeff7181]

That recipe sounds interesting, maybe I'll try it sometime.

Anyone have any reciepes for some Chinese food? Anyone make their own egg rolls????

 

[TechnoKid]

Watch the FoodTV channel. And you can check out foodtv.com too. Some stuffed foods, like cabbage, bell peppers, etc. Side dishes: hmm, stuffing, mashed potatoes, stir fry (they sell these in a "kit" at Costco and your local food market). Soups could be a side or a main dish, depending on how "hearty" the soup is.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

quesadillas! 😀

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

4 boneless half chicken breasts.
1/2 cup spinach leaves, stems removed
fontina cheese
4 slices prosicutto.
parmesian or romano cheese
olive oil
fresh rosemary
fresh thyme
1/2 dozen good size cloves of garlic, peeled and smashed, but left whole.
Italian bread crumbs
couple of eggs beaten with a little water
salt and pepper to taste

Slice a pocket in each chicken breast half.
put a couple tablespoonfuls of oil into a small skillet and heat over med low heat. Add 2 cloves smashed garllic, cook slowly, not too hot for a minute. Do not let the garlic brown very much Add a sprig of thyme and rosemary. Then I just roll the spinach leaves up and slice, making a kind of julienne cut. Remove garlic and herbs, add spinich and cook for a minute or until softened. Remove from heat.

Take each slice of prosciutto and place a 1/4 inch or so of fonitna on them, and top with a tablespoonful of grated parm cheese. Divide the spinich and place on top of the cheese. Roll the prosciutto up.
Take the prosc/cheese pieces and put them in the pocket of the chicken breast. You want them oriented so when the cheese melts, it come out into the chicken. not with an open end pointing towards the outside. This helps keep the cheese in while cooking.

In the meantime, put enough oil in a pan to come about half way up the side of the chicken pieces. I used canola oil because it has a higher smoke point than olive oil. You want the oil to reach about 375 degrees. When hot add the rest of the garlic cloves. You may let the garlic cook until light brown, but no more. It gets bitter otherwise. Remove the garlic.

dip each piece in the egg wash, and then roll in the bread crumbs. Cook in the skillet for several minutes, then flip over. I have a very useful instant reading thermometer. You want the chicken to reach about 175 degrees internally. Turn the chicken as needed to brown evenly.

I served it with pasta, and had a red sauce, and a white cheese sauce too. The kids loved the red, and my wife was wanting a more Northern Italian sauce, hence the bechamel cheese sauce.