what's for dinner?

jillmarie125

I love getting new ideas for dinner/lunch. During the week I don't have much time to cook- so my weekday meals are pretty boring.

I made a turkey yesterday and have tons of leftovers. So tonight will be turkey and bacon salads. Yum!!! When I can put bacon in a salad it makes me happy. Hell bacon makes me happy.

What are you making?

MysteriousMerlin

Not making anything. Working a weird shift (11:30a - 8p) and it's thrown me out of whack.

jillmarie125

That sucks!!! I'll be at work until 730-8 too. Thats why I love leftovers. If i didn't make a bunch of chicken or turkey on the weekends I would be eating fast food all the time or going to be hungry. Either way- not cool!

MysteriousMerlin

I hear you! So much better if I can plan out my meals. I've been sick the last few days so the hubs has been making do with whatever. He is thinking about joining the site though!!

CrusherKun

MM - I guess all our dirty conversations will have to stop then:) j/k

Tonight was a rare night in that my wife was off of work since she has to work this weekend. Honestly these nights kinda scare me with the diet cause its usually a lot of stuff out of jars and cans. Tonight it was Spaghetti with green pepper and mushroom sauce (no protein boooooooo!) and two Pillsbury garlic bread sticks. Holy carb overload! Im still way within my limit of carbs on the day, and the pasta was a healthy pasta from Dreamfields, but still a lot more than I would usually have in the carb department. Anyway, that was all that was there....aside from the sodium packed sauce, there was no veg. or other items to go with it. I got home later than usual and the kids and her had eaten so I nuked me a steamer bag of birds eye mixed veg. and had 1.5 servings of that so I could bulk on that and limit the seconds on the noodles or breadsticks.

Steamer bags are my saving grace in the veg. department these days. If I cant get anything somewhat fresh, I avoid the canned stuff as much as possible due to the sodium. They are cheap and quick, and lets face it, you cant beat that. The taste is sometimes a little off. I never get the ones with the sauce included cause again, just more fat calories and sodium that I don't need. I focus on the straight up veg and limit the mixed blends as much as possible since things like peas and corn are higher in carbs due to the natural sugars.

Another great item I have come to enjoy eating and making is Swai (a thai catfish fillet found at walmart) - it comes frozen in individual fillet packs that are a breeze to thaw (just run a warm water bath in the sink, put the vac pack fillet in the sink, cover with a plate so it doesn't float and thaws faster) and by the time the kids are done eating their chicken nuggets or corn dogs or whatever they have decided they wanted for the evening, it is thawed and then I quickly fry it up with some healthy butter or oil and a little salt and pepper or old bay if my sodium is good for the day (curry powder when not and S&P just wont do) - 4 minutes each side, and presto! Follow that up with a slice of 12 grain bread and you got a pretty complete meal right there!

MysteriousMerlin

Stop? Why? :laugh:

I will give you a little warning about Dreamfields...it did NOT agree with me. Just a heads up, you may make a few extra trips to the lavatory tomorrow!!

CrusherKun

HAHAHA!!! Then our little secret:)

Anyway...We have been using dreamfields for a while now so no problems on that end, and even if it does cause them, I welcome it as I have a bit of a problem in that department lately. I know TMI, but heck, its a part of life!

MysteriousMerlin

We can't discuss potty issues like adults? :laugh: Well, I can't, but freel free...

Butt seriously...Eating yogurt almost everyday has helped. The metformin plays havok on my digestive system.

I think the problem was I had eaten it 2 days in a row. No problems after dinner, but after lunch the next day...

jillmarie125

Maybe I cook fish wrong---but I just don't like it! Well if its beer battered and fried...thats good. But I will try it again. I know its super healthy for you and light in calories.

My mom works for a meat company that sells meat to local restaurants and such. So I get steaks pretty cheap. Looking for a good way to cook filet mignon wrapped in bacon. I'm hoping to do it in the broiler because it's cold. but if i have to grill it i will. Any suggestions???

CrusherKun

Oh yeah easy in the broiler!

I use a method I picked up from none other than Alton Brown himself!

1) place one oven rack in the highest position and the second in the lowest

2) turn on broiler and let preheat

3) while preheating - take steak and pat dry with paper towel and then apply any seasoning you would like. Honestly just Salt and Pepper (Heavy on the pepper) are good enough. Caution on using salt on any meat if you are doing this ahead of time....salt draws out moisture and will leave a steak dry. once you have seasoning, brush on a little bit of olive oil just enough to keep it from sticking, don't need it drenched.

4) when broiler is ready, place a drip pan on the bottom rack, and then set the steak directly on the top rack (hence the sticking solution:) and close the oven door but keep open with a little balled up piece of aluminum foil....this will ensure the heating element stays on during the process. depending on thickness and how you like your steak, keep under broiler for at least 3 minutes before flipping. You should have some really good searing going on before you flip but be careful not to over do it cause that is easy under there....and be care full....that element is hot!!!!!

5) after the second side is done, Flip the steak again, and then take the rack and move it down to the third position. again go through the process again....if you have a really thick filet, this is where you may want to do 4 minute intervals per side for a medium rare. If its thin...another 3 min rotation should do. Invest in a meat therm. to be sure!

When done, take the steak out and tent with another piece of aluminum foil for 5 minutes minimum to allow the juices to pull back into the steak naturally. Otherwise if you cut into it when it hot, you will lose all of it and ruin the taste of a fine piece of meat.

jillmarie125

...my mouth just watered!

That is how I will make it on Sunday. I'll let ya know if I can pull it off!!!!