Tuesday November 25, 2008 Dinner

Tried another variation on the stir-fry theme last night. 

• 1 lb beef, cubed (used round steak, but should have gone with something a little better quality)
• 3 strips bacon
• diced onion
• sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• garlic aplenty
• tbsp of soy sauce
• 1/4 cup red wine
• salt & pepper

Started the bacon and cooked until almost done. Seasoned the beef, then chucked it in. Once browned, added onions, mushrooms, garlic and broccoli. Sauted for a mintue or two, then added soy and wine. Covered and steamed the whole mess for about 20 minutes. Served over basmati & wild rice (cooked with chicken stock & saffron).

Can't remember the name of the wine. It had a good flavor, but was a bit one-dimensional. Italian, I think, though I usually love those.....

Monday November 24, 2008 Dinner

Thought I was getting a philly cheesesteak sandwich, but it really fell short of that mark. The espresso stout that came with it was a saving grace. *sigh* sometimes the dinner out thing just doesn't work. Next time will be fabulous!

Sunday November 23, 2008 Dinner

Oh, you have to like breakfast for dinner. Pancakes and bacon, with a screwdriver (vodka & orange juice) for beverage.

Saturday November 22, 2008 Dinner

Had a nice mixed grill dinner at a seafood restaurant called McGrath's Fish House. This is Eugene's best seafood. My plate was a well-prepared and attractively served combo with grilled salmon, shrimp, and a crab cake. The crab cake was a bit over-bready, but the rest was very tasty. 

Enjoyed a delicious Black Butte Porter along side.

Friday November 21, 2008 Dinner

Burrito night again! See Friday November 7.

Thursday November 20, 2008 Dinner

Fried up a vegetarian burger patty (one of the grain-based variants) and put it on whole grain bread with cheddar cheese, onion, and avocado. Even though technically it was a bread-on-bread sandwich, it was quick and tasty.

Enjoyed a nice salty dog for a change of pace:

• Vodka
• Grapefruit juice
• Course sea salt

Mix the vodka and juice in a glass full of ice. Sprinkle a bit of sea salt on the top. I use about a quarter teaspoon, but I'll probably die young.

Wednesday November 19, 2008 Dinner

A reprise of Monday, November 11's big salad. Only differences:

• Served Italian chopped style
• Add black olives
• Chicken breast seasoned with paprika instead of marjoram

No wine with dinner, but a bourbon soda a bit later.

Tuesday November 18, 2008 Dinner

Comfort food tonight, with two of my favorites: tomato soup & a grilled cheese sandwich. Nothing special, just better-than-average canned soup and a cheddar on wheat bread sandwich. Finger-licking good.

Monday November 17, 2008 Dinner

I had a "gourmet" chicken pot pie. It was delicious, but did not agree with me. Seems they add whipping cream to the filling. Now, I'm as big a fan of creamy as anyone, but I am also lactose incompetent (not to mention "intolerant"). Meaning I cannot seem to digest the stuff anymore. Which is a great pity. Here are things I can no longer eat, but wish I could:

• Ice cream
• Lattes, particularly EGG NOG
• Cream-filled pastry
• Cow's milk on cereal
• Egg nog
• and now, apparently, freaking chicken pot pies.

Sheesh. 

Sunday November 16, 2008 Dinner

Went to a local Moroccan restaurant last night with some family. Cafe Maroc is pretty awesome--marvelous decor, great service & food, and even some fun entertainment. You guessed it, bellydancing.

We ate traditional multi-course family style. There was a roasted red pepper hummus (deeelishous), a chunky lamb soup, a yellow beet & couscous salad, and a lovely fig & Moroccan cheese dessert.  With hot sweet minty green tea.

But most yummy was the entree: I had a spicy goat stew served over couscous. Way yummy.

Saturday November 15, 2008 Dinner

A nondescript mushroom cheeseburger and mediocre fries, sloshed down with a vanilla Pepsi. Not even Coke, for cryin' out loud....

Friday was leftover Chinese take out. Didn't deserve a post of its own, really. Did have a couple of old fashions, though.

Thursday November 13, 2008

Batch'in' it, so it's time for take out Chinese. Right out of the deli case at Safeways. Not what you'd call "gourmet," exactly, but sometimes you just gotta make do....

Wednesday, November 12, 2008 Dinner

Out, again! Hurray!

This time, to our favorite BBQ joint, Hole in the Wall. Wow. Hand-pulled slow-cooked pork with spicy "Bullwhacker" sauce, a side of slaw and a side of Texas taters (cheesy!) and a big old glass of sweet tea.

'Course, when I got home I had a hefty bourbon soda for dessert.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Dinner

Mmmmm, teriyaki beef stir fry!

Marinate thin slices of beef (round steak works great) overnight in homemade teriyaki sauce.

teriyaki sauce

4 ounces pineapple juice

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup of dry sherry

splash of olive oil

1 teaspoon dry ginger (fresh grated would be better)

few grinds of fresh black pepper

Heat the ingredients in a saucepan over a low heat until it simmers. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. I pour the cooled sauce into a large ziplock bag then toss in the beef and seal it. Shake it. Refrigerate it.

The next day, remove from fridge and drain the marinade into a bowl. Put the meat into a heated large skillet or wok with a little oil and some onions.

Most any vegetables you like go in, the hardest ones first (carrots, celery, bell pepper, bok choy, like that). Then I add about a cup of the marinade and cover the whole skillet with a mound of jullienned chard or cabbage, and crush a few garlic cloves over the whole mess. Put a cover on the pan and let it steam.

Serve over brown rice.

I enjoyed this with a nice glass of Ravenswood Zinfandel.

Monday, November 10, 2008 Dinner

A big salad for dinner.... 

Romaine, onion, carrots, cucumber, mushrooms tossed with Caesar dressing.

Perched on top:

• Cubed avocado
• grated Parmesan cheese
• pan braised chicken breast

For the chicken, rinse and pat dry one skinned and boned chicken breast. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and herbs (I used marjoram this time). Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small frying pan on medium high. Lay the breast into the oil and let it sit for 3 or 4 minutes, until nicely browned. Turn it, and let the other side brown for 2 or 3 minutes. Add about a cup of liquid, chicken stock, water, or my personal choice, dry sherry. Reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 5 or so minutes, until the liquid is gone. If you then watch carefully for the pan to begin to brown, you can deglaze it with a tablespoon or so of sherry, and coat the breast in the rich brown juices that result. Remove from the heat and test for doneness. I can tell by touch--the surface gives to slight pressure but immediate rebounds--but if you are not certain, make a small incision into the thickest part and pry it apart to look for pink meat. If you see some, put it back on the fire, add a little more liquid, and cover for a few more minutes. When done, remove from heat and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then cut it up and top the salad. Manga!

A glass of Sauvign Blanc goes well with a salad of this sort.

Sunday, November 9, 2008 Dinner

Another outing, this a real to-do party in honor of a friend's birthday. 'Twas a blast. Very Italian menu, with fabulous appetisers and lots of good red Italian wine. The standout for me was a polenta & sausage baked dish. Yum, yumm, yummi. Happy Birthday, Anji!

Saturday, November 8, 2008 Dinner

Whoopee! Going out for dinner! Went to Turtles Bar & Grill. Just about everytime I go there, I have the same thing: Chicken-fried steak. This thing is as good as it gets this side of Mason-Dixon. Huge steak, tender and delicious, atop a mound of garlic mashed potatos and a side of perfectly cooked broccoli. Even the dinner salad is awesome, topped with a the usual things as well as red beans, chickpeas, corn and carrot sticks. Whew. I can't believe I ate the whole thing.

And what goes with Chicken-fried steak? A jalapeno vodka martini, straight up of course.

Friday, November 7, 2008 Dinner

Burrito night! Can of low-fat refried black beans, cheddar cheese, onions, olives, flour tortillas.

Plus, homemade salsa and guacamole.

Salsa:

• 2 medium vine ripened tomatoes
• 2-4 medium fresh jalapenos
• 1 fresh habenero (optional)
• diced onion
• vinegar
• olive oil
• salt
• pepper
• fresh oregano or cilantro

Fire-roast the peppers until they are blackened. Then peel them and dice them. BE CAREFUL. If you do this, then touch yourself anywhere sensitive before thoroughly washing your hands you will scream like banshee and cry like a little baby. Peel the tomatoes. Dice everything, and mix with a pinch of salt & pepper, a dash of vinegar & olive oil. Toss in the herbs last, stir well, and store in a glass jar with a tight lid. This stuff will get hotter and hotter the longer it's stored.

Guacamole:

• One ripe avocado. Should be soft enough that a gentle squeeze dents it.
• diced onion
• sour cream
• salt & pepper

Mush up the avocado. Add the other ingredients and stir well. Use immediately, or cover with a layer of plastic wrap laid right on top of the guacamole.

Cocktails: Wild Turkey modified old fashioned (nicknamed the "Harlow")

• One cube's worth of sugar (about half a teaspoon)
• generous dash of Angostura bitters
• one-quarter teaspoon juice from the maraschino cherries
  
• 3 ounces of the best bourbon you can find
• ice
• club soda
• maraschino cherry
• lemon rind twist

Muddle the sugar, bitters and cherry juice until well-dissolved. Add bourbon. Stir very well. Fill glass with ice. Add soda to the top. Garnish with cherry and lemon twist. ENJOY!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

My wife's out of town, so it's party time! Oyster soup with crackers!

I cheated and used canned oysters. It works for me.

• One lump of butter, about a tablespoon
• 1/4 cup of diced onion
• pinch of salt, fresh ground pepper
  
• 5-6 sliced mushrooms
• can of oysters
• dollop of milk
• handful of saltines
  

Saute the onions and mushrooms in the butter with the salt and pepper. Drain the oyster stock into the pan, bring it to a boil and let it simmer for 5 or 6 minutes. Add the oysters and stir gently until they are heated up. Give it a splash of milk, remove from the stove, float a couple of crackers, and eat it up. Yum!

Halloween candy for dessert. Had a Twixt and a couple of Three Musketeers. About to have a Wild Turkey and soda to even things out.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Dinner

Just a salad....

Romaine lettuce, red onion, mushroom, carrot, English cucumber all chopped small, then topped with bay shrimp, regiano cheese and a vine ripe tomato.

A glass of Castle Rock Sauvignon Blanc.

For dessert, a pumpkin cookie with brown-sugar icing and a little bit of Armagnac brandy.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008 Dinner

Pizza night, along with lots of election TV.

Picked up a spinach, mushroom, and gorganzola pizza from the supermarket deli. Oh, man, that's a yummy pizza. Washed it down with a Black Butte Porter from Deschutes Brewery. One of my favorites.

Then I ate a cheese danish. Which was good, but decadent.

Monday, November 3, 2008 Dinner

Rueben sandwiches

Potato Chips

American Stout

Halloween candy

The rueben is one of my favorite sandwiches. We make them from scratch. This recipe makes enough for two.

• One half-pound corned beef, sliced very thin
• quantity of thousand island dressing
  (mayonnaise, catsup, Worcester sauce, finely diced onion, sweet pickle relish. Mix to taste.)
• good quality swiss or similiar cheese, 4 to 6 slices
• well-drained sour kraut
• rye bread, 4 slices

1. fry the beef in a little butter until hot
   
2. build the sandwich: bread, dressing, meat, cheese, kraut
3. butter the outside of the bread
4. grill until toasty brown
5. Eat it

The chips were Cascade Sea Salt & Vinegar--tasty. The stout was good too.

Welcome to my dinner!

Let's start with the rules. I will post here what I had for dinner the night before, and sometimes predict what I'll be eating this very evening. I am not very dependable, so don't be surprised if I miss a few.... 

So, Yum. Let's commence!