What's on the menu this evening?

[Octoberbaby]

We're going out to eat. I don't know where yet.

We went to the Pig and Whistle in Hollywood. I had chicken soup and a hamburger with no bread. It was a nice place.

[Trish]

I just take Ground Chuck and put in eggs and I wet down stale bread and squeeze it out and add the bread to the ground meat and eggs, seasoning, like parsley, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese. Then I form the meatballs and put them in a roasting pan and bake them in the oven til they are browned and crusty on the outside. Then you can add them to your sauce or you can eat them just like that. I can't tell you measurements, as I just go by instinct.

That's basically how I make my meatballs too, except I use gound round. I use about 1 1/4 pounds, and throw in an egg, a pressed garlic clove (or two), some romano cheese, some parsley, and some pepper, and I wet a coupe of slices of bread and squeeze it out. The real bread works so much better than the bread crumbs...the meatballs come out much softer. I don't always put them in the oven though, sometimes I'll saute them a little on top of the stove just to render some of the fat, then I cook them the rest of the way in the sauce for hours. It's so yummy. Hub goes crazy.

[GiambiRocks]

Share your meatball recipe!! I always like seeing how people make theirs. Thanks!!

Lately I've been making my meatballs this way:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 pound ground turkey Italian sausage
• 1 large onion diced very in small pieces
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup Italian-style seasoned bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
• 2 tablespoons Italian-style seasoning
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley

I brown the meatballs in the oven before I put them in the sauce. I love the taste with the sausage added to them.

[4bronxbombers]

If anyone has a Trader Joe's near them....try this.....

bag of zesty baby greens (lettuce)
avacodo
container of cous cous
container of salsa
cuke
bottle of grapefruit vinegar

Add everything together with a spoonful or so of the cous cous and salsa and mix with some olive oil. It makes a great salad and is very filling! I sampled it at Trader Joe's this week. It's a nice salad.

[destelle]

If anyone has a Trader Joe's near them....try this.....

bag of zesty baby greens (lettuce)
avacodo
container of cous cous
container of salsa
cuke
bottle of grapefruit vinegar

Add everything together with a spoonful or so of the cous cous and salsa and mix with some olive oil. It makes a great salad and is very filling! I sampled it at Trader Joe's this week. It's a nice salad.

I wish I had a Trader Joe's near me ...
I love everything that is listed up there and my gawd - Grapefruit Vinegar sounds right up my alley... I don't even use Oil on my salad - either just balsamic or white balsamic with a squirt of lime/lemon juice.
The closest one is about 45 mins away - I may have to make a trip just for the vinegar

[GiambiRocks]

I wish I had a Trader Joe's near me ...
I love everything that is listed up there and my gawd - Grapefruit Vinegar sounds right up my alley... I don't even use Oil on my salad - either just balsamic or white balsamic with a squirt of lime/lemon juice.
The closest one is about 45 mins away - I may have to make a trip just for the vinegar

I'm sure you can find it at a market closer to you....unless you really want to drive 45 minutes.

[jlw1980]

I need to think of something good to make tonight.

[destelle]

I'm sure you can find it at a market closer to you....unless you really want to drive 45 minutes.

Well, the Grapefruit Vinegar would just be an excuse to make the trip . There are quite a few Trader Joe brand items that I love and stock up on when I make it to one.

[LDG]

I really like Trader Joe's, too, but I'm more excited that there's a Whole Foods supermarket opening in Fairfield this summer.

Tonight I'm going to try fried tofu with a side of edamame.

[4bronxbombers]

I really like Trader Joe's, too, but I'm more excited that there's a Whole Foods supermarket opening in Fairfield this summer.

Tonight I'm going to try fried tofu with a side of edamame.

Trader Joe's and Whole Foods are about a 5 min drive for me. I like Whole Foods a lot better than Trader Joe's.

[destelle]

Whole Foods is AWESOME - it does kick Trader Joe's butt. I have one near me now and one will be right near me when I move. I was excited about that. It's worth it just for the produce! I would just prefer to have both stores - I'm greedy. ;-)

[yankeebot]

Trader Joe's and Whole Foods are about a 5 min drive for me. I like Whole Foods a lot better than Trader Joe's.

I have both near work but nothing near home. It's a drag.

[jlw1980]

Hmm, there's a Whole Foods a few miles from me. I should check it out.

[4bronxbombers]

Hmm, there's a Whole Foods a few miles from me. I should check it out.

Careful.....it's addicting.

[jlw1980]

Careful.....it's addicting.

Is it expensive?

[4bronxbombers]

Is it expensive?

Yes...

[jlw1980]

Yes...

Then I won't get too addicted.

[Jersey Yankee]

I'm wondering if that Ronco machine was designed to just do whole chicken or cornish hens. About every time I try putting chicken legs in there, they get burned. I figured that 1 hour would be good. I have 1/2 hr left, it looks a little light, but in the end, it burns. I may use the toaster oven more.

I breaded the chicken "fried chicken style" w/corned flake crumbs, bread crumbs and a little oatmeal (Trish & Karen should be horrified about now). Came out good in the oven when cooked in one of those oval pans. I may get something that has a grease drainer so that any fat gets funneled away, like how they have these things in the George Foreman machines.

[krystl]

Going to a PTA dinner tonight. Not sure what will be on the menu but I am sure it's a buffet, so there should be plenty of choices.

[4bronxbombers]

Salmon and swordfish. I'm not sure how I'm going to cook them yet.

[Trish]

Linguine with garlic and oil. Good Catholic thing happening again.

Hey, I need all the help I can get.

[West Texas]

Salmon and swordfish. I'm not sure how I'm going to cook them yet.

Wow. Very cool.

[Gringaloca]

Salmon and swordfish. I'm not sure how I'm going to cook them yet.

I threw out about 2 lbs of swordfish last weekend. I told him when he took it out of the freezer..."if you don't cook it in three days...out it goes"..

He hasn't missed it yet...

[4bronxbombers]

I threw out about 2 lbs of swordfish last weekend. I told him when he took it out of the freezer..."if you don't cook it in three days...out it goes"..

He hasn't missed it yet...

[LDG]

Salmon and swordfish. I'm not sure how I'm going to cook them yet.

Speaking of Whole Foods, their online recipes are really great. Check out what they've got for fish (beware...you might not be able to pick just one. I think I'm going to try the Spinach Salmon Roast with Feta and Ricotta tomorrow)

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/reci...t_seafood.html

[Hildy910]

Leftovers. I need to shop for tomorrow.

[SalingerNY]

We just got done with Mellow Mushroom pizza. Yum!

[penfold]

Here's the one thing that's definitely on the menu for tonight: an Irish coffee.

The hubby gave me a new bottle of Jameson's and I can't wait to open it!

Food? Not necessary!

[Octoberbaby]

That's basically how I make my meatballs too, except I use gound round. I use about 1 1/4 pounds, and throw in an egg, a pressed garlic clove (or two), some romano cheese, some parsley, and some pepper, and I wet a coupe of slices of bread and squeeze it out. The real bread works so much better than the bread crumbs...the meatballs come out much softer. I don't always put them in the oven though, sometimes I'll saute them a little on top of the stove just to render some of the fat, then I cook them the rest of the way in the sauce for hours. It's so yummy. Hub goes crazy.

That is my mother's meatball recipe and I love it because the meatballs are not hard like golf balls of something. They come out tender and juicy unlike when they are made with bread crumbs. My mother sometimes cooked them in a pan but most of the time baked them in the oven and they were usually crisp on the outside. I remember when she was still alive I always loved when she took meatballs out of the oven. I used to eat them just like that right out of the oven. I liked them better that way then in the sauce. I only make them once in awhile myself but when I do it brings back good memories of my mother. She was a great cook.

[Octoberbaby]

If anyone has a Trader Joe's near them....try this.....

bag of zesty baby greens (lettuce)
avacodo
container of cous cous
container of salsa
cuke
bottle of grapefruit vinegar

Add everything together with a spoonful or so of the cous cous and salsa and mix with some olive oil. It makes a great salad and is very filling! I sampled it at Trader Joe's this week. It's a nice salad.

I love Trader Joe. They come up with some interesting recipes too.

[Octoberbaby]

Whole Foods is AWESOME - it does kick Trader Joe's butt. I have one near me now and one will be right near me when I move. I was excited about that. It's worth it just for the produce! I would just prefer to have both stores - I'm greedy. ;-)

The trouble is Whole Foods is exhorbitantly expensive, IMO. I find that I can find a lot of the same things at Trader Joe but a lot less costly.

[GiambiRocks]

Sushi and Sake

[4bronxbombers]

Sushi and Sake

yum

[Octoberbaby]

Tonight I am making chicken livers and onions, broccoli salad, and brown rice.

[jlw1980]

making lasagna...no, not homemade

[jlw1980]

Speaking of Whole Foods, their online recipes are really great. Check out what they've got for fish (beware...you might not be able to pick just one. I think I'm going to try the Spinach Salmon Roast with Feta and Ricotta tomorrow)

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/reci...t_seafood.html

I could pick less than one. Seafood = .

[Octoberbaby]

I could pick less than one. Seafood = .

Whole Foods is grossly overpriced anyway!

[jlw1980]

Whole Foods is grossly overpriced anyway!

I'm sure it is, but now I have to check it out. I'll probably go there once and be overcome by sticker shock, and never return.

[4bronxbombers]

Whole Foods is expensive but Jenn....give it a try. They have some great stuff there.

[Octoberbaby]

I'm sure it is, but now I have to check it out. I'll probably go there once and be overcome by sticker shock, and never return.

The problem is that when I go in there everything looks so good that I overbuy. It is OK once in awhile but if I do it on a regular basis my grocery bill will practically double. It is worth it to check it out though. Depending on which store you go to. There is one here in Glendale which is a big as a city block. Going in there is an experience in itself! Now that I have seen it I stay away though!

[Gringaloca]

Tonight I am making chicken livers and onions, broccoli salad, and brown rice.

chicken livers.....any kind of liver & onions...AAAAARRRGGGG...childhood memories kick in...

My Dad was the 'cook' in our family for a few years...and for the most part, he did a fantastic job.
EXCEPT on the nights he made 'liver & onions'...to this day I cannot eat liver & onions..

[Octoberbaby]

chicken livers.....any kind of liver & onions...AAAAARRRGGGG...childhood memories kick in...

My Dad was the 'cook' in our family for a few years...and for the most part, he did a fantastic job.
EXCEPT on the nights he made 'liver & onions'...to this day I cannot eat liver & onions..

I feel your pain because when my mother made liver once in awhile she would over cook it and I can't stomach it when it is overcooked. In order for liver to taste good it has to be pink, or undercooked, rather than overcooked. As an adult I began to like it cooked my way. Did your Dad over cook it? Or do you just not like it in general?

[Gringaloca]

I feel your pain because when my mother made liver once in awhile she would over cook it and I can't stomach it when it is overcooked. In order for liver to taste good it has to be pink, or undercooked, rather than overcooked. As an adult I began to like it cooked my way. Did your Dad over cook it? Or do you just not like it in general?

No..can't say he over-cooked it. It just tasted 'awful'...musty/funky tasting to me. Still does. I've had it as an 'adult' and just can't get past the 'taste' if you know what I mean.

otoh...I've had goose/duck liver pate..that was delicious. And a Polish Meat Market in Detroit (Mahaliks on Warren Avenue)..has the best homemade 'smoked liver sausage' you can imagine. I used to have it 'imported' from relatives to me.,.. along with some fresh made periogi...

Damn it... I think I just put on 5 lbs. thinking about periogi..sauteed up in butter...smothered with grilled onions/mushrooms & topped with sour creeeeaaaam... .

[Octoberbaby]

No..can't say he over-cooked it. It just tasted 'awful'...musty/funky tasting to me. Still does. I've had it as an 'adult' and just can't get past the 'taste' if you know what I mean.

otoh...I've had goose/duck liver pate..that was delicious. And a Polish Meat Market in Detroit (Mahaliks on Warren Avenue)..has the best homemade 'smoked liver sausage' you can imagine. I used to have it 'imported' from relatives to me.,.. along with some fresh made periogi...

Damn it... I think I just put on 5 lbs. thinking about periogi..sauteed up in butter...smothered with grilled onions/mushrooms & topped with sour creeeeaaaam... .

I'm surprised you like pate since you don't like the taste of liver. I love pate and chopped liver too but then I like liver.

[Gringaloca]

I'm surprised you like pate since you don't like the taste of liver. I love pate and chopped liver too but then I like liver.

Not an expert on liver products...but aren't most pates (where's that ooomlat when you need it?) made with goose or duck livers? and heavily 'spiced'.?
I think the liver we had as kids was most likely 'beef'...and not sure how Dad 'seasoned' it before frying it with those onions. Funny thing is...He still makes it..even at 90 years old...and asks me if I want him to save some for me the next time I visit?.. Wonder where I get my sense of humor?...

I had a chicken liver sandwich on rye from my favorite deli in Ft Lauderdale (Pomperdales on Commercial Blvd) recently..thought .."I'm gonna love this..it's 'Pomperdales'..".WRONG!!!..
Thought I was gonna die/almost gagged...
but to not completely (?) hijack the thread..
Whats for Dinner Tonight?

Definitely...not liver & onions...

[krystl]

Beef liver is stronger tasting than calves liver.

Having said that, there's nothing like chopped chicken liver with some hard boiled egg and onions.

[Octoberbaby]

Not an expert on liver products...but aren't most pates (where's that ooomlat when you need it?) made with goose or duck livers? and heavily 'spiced'.?
I think the liver we had as kids was most likely 'beef'...and not sure how Dad 'seasoned' it before frying it with those onions. Funny thing is...He still makes it..even at 90 years old...and asks me if I want him to save some for me the next time I visit?.. Wonder where I get my sense of humor?...

I had a chicken liver sandwich on rye from my favorite deli in Ft Lauderdale (Pomperdales on Commercial Blvd) recently..thought .."I'm gonna love this..it's 'Pomperdales'..".WRONG!!!..
Thought I was gonna die/almost gagged...
but to not completely (?) hijack the thread..
Whats for Dinner Tonight?

Definitely...not liver & onions...

What I had tonight were chicken livers, not beef liver. I don't care too much for beef liver as it is usually tough and not as good tasting as calves liver which I do like with onions.

I think they add brandy or cognac to pates. I made it a few times years ago and I think I remember something like that which could explain why you like it.

[Octoberbaby]

Beef liver is stronger tasting than calves liver.

Having said that, there's nothing like chopped chicken liver with some hard boiled egg and onions.

I like chopped liver with chopped egg in it.

[yankeebot]

I'm sure it is, but now I have to check it out. I'll probably go there once and be overcome by sticker shock, and never return.

I think that happens to a lot of people and that's a mistake. Everything is not overpriced for the quality. I would never do all my grocery shopping but I supplement from there all the time. Once you get familiar with the store and watch the specials, it's really not that bad for a lot of items that you wouldn't get other places. And once the "newness" wears off you are much less likely to overbuy. I like Trader Joes but I like Whole Foods a lot more.

[4bronxbombers]

I think that happens to a lot of people and that's a mistake. Everything is not overpriced for the quality. I would never do all my grocery shopping but I supplement from there all the time. Once you get familiar with the store and watch the specials, it's really not that bad for a lot of items that you wouldn't get other places. And once the "newness" wears off you are much less likely to overbuy. I like Trader Joes but I like Whole Foods a lot more.

I agree. I would never do all my grocery shopping there but I do go about once a week to buy produce, sometimes fish, etc. And their organic kalamata olives are a staple for me. They're the best. I don't think you can compare Whole Foods to Trader Joe's but to each his own. The one in our town is simply booming with business and we have a Trader Joe's and a Wild Oats all within a few miles of eachother.