What's for Dinner, Sun., Jan. 14, 2024

[NJCher]

A friend who is having a birthday stopped by with a platter of shrimp, cheese, crackers, fruit (grapes, strawberries) for me. The shrimp are huge, the biggest you can get, I think!

I make this friend soup often, so I think this is his way of saying thank you.

I've been working on various soup broths today but now I don't have to finish any of them if I don't want to!

In addition, another friend stopped by last night with a big container of cider and a package of Tate's chocolate chip cookies.

I might have a baby arugula salad later with the leaves I picked from the garden before I covered everything up. The cold wind here is brutal, but I know it's nothing compared to what is going on in the midwest and other parts of the country.

[irisblue]

1. Baked pork chop in apple sauce, broccoli, hot decafe tea

That is real nice that you got friends to exchange meals with.

[Diamond_Dog]

2. My boys are all here today for the football games.

I made a big pan of lasagna, plus green salad, garlic bread, and broccoli.

A platter of Christmas cookies that I froze was dessert. We have minestrone for later if anyone gets hungry.

[Nanuke]

3. It's -2 degrees outside. Made a pot of chili and cornbread.

Comfort food I guess.

[Emile]

4. Leftovers, mashed potatoes, cream of mushroom

gravy and boneless pork chops.

[Marthe48]

5. Wonderful friends!

I made a meatloaf and a baked potato. Hit the spot, and leftovers for a day or 2.

[PJMcK]

6. Spaghetti

Simple regular noodles with tomato basil sauce.

Green salad with mushrooms and red onion rings. Garlic bread. Chianti.

[mike_c]

7. it's another split night for us

Ms K wants leftover chicken parm with spaghetti but there isn't enough for two, so I'll probably cook myself some dumplings from the freezer. I think there's tonkatsu sauce in the fridge too, otherwise I'll just make some shoyu and vinegar dip.

[elleng]

8. Bacon/Gouda sandwich (on hard roll,)

and Cara Cara, Cara Cara, Cara!!!

[Cairycat]

9. Beef stroganoff

on egg noodles, one of our favorites. Green beans with butter, white wine vinegar and savory.

[birdographer]

10. Still dealing with the extracted tooth..

so, a redo of the tomato bisque soup for me. I will be glad when it heals.

[Warpy]

11. Had to pick up the opiates in person last week Ithanks a lot DEA, you moronic

security obsessed, patient hating fuckwits) and snagged a bunch of my weird veggies on the way out.

Tonight it's a huge pot of potage Parmentier, Julia Child's hot potato soup. Every time I make it, I'm surprised by how good it is.

Sorry, Julia, I like mine lumpy. I think Julia would have killed for a stick blender. I know what a PIA it was to blend this soup in small batches in a blender. I usually just shoved it through a food mill, instead.

I do this from memory so

1 bunch leeks, can be 3 small ones or one big baseball bat. Chop white and pale green parts and swish around in a bowl of water. Scoop out the leeks (they float) into a big strainer, then dry in a kitchen towel. This should get rid of all the hidden sand. Sweat the dried, chopped leeks in a mixture of oil and butter in a large pot, a little salt added to encourage them to release moisture. While that's going,

Peel and chop 3-4 large russet potatoes. Can sub. Yukon gold but waxy potatoes like red potatoes don't work as well. When the leeks are a brighter color and glistening and the kitchen smells like a slice of heaven, add the potatoes, stir to mix. Add water to cover, barely, add a large pinch of thyme and some black pepper and cook until the potatoes practically fall apart. Blend, add a cup of heavy cream and blend again. This is not a soup for the carb or fat phobic, but it's worth the cheat.

I just noticed my onions are starting to sprout so next week it will be onion soup. I just hope I can find a decent bread. American cheese has been classified by the French as a Gruyere and is a damn sight cheaper, so that part is sorted.

[no_hypocrisy]

12. Roast duck, roasted Brussel Sprouts, and braised red cabbage.

I only make duck once a year due to the amount of work involved. I'm saving the carcass and the bones for duck stock. https://www.food.com/recipe/duck-stock-save-that-carcass-333068

And collecting duck fat, of course.

I'm tired, but happy.

[Retrograde]

13. Chili verde

defrosted a package of turkey from Thanksgiving, it's slowly stewing with onions, Anaheim and serano chiles, and tomatillos.

[alfredo]

14. Lazy

Feta cheese, Kalamata olives, Sesame crackers. It got the job done