What's for dinner?? Well planned or after thought?
By Wendy
@jerzgirl (9327)
United States
June 16, 2008 5:19pm CST
I actually enjoyed dinner tonight. Mom had wanted pork chops, so I got them out of the freezer this morning to thaw. She also wanted some of the asparagus we had just bought, so she cut it up and had it ready by the time dinner time came. I coated the boneless chops in lemon pepper marinade and dipped them in bread crumbs and fried them in a light layer of oil in the pan. I also made stove top stuffing to go with them plus the asparagus and some candied yams in the micro (I had bought them ready-made at the Amish market). It really turned out to be a nice meal. I was pleased with the chops because they didn't turn out dry like chops can - they were tender and moist. Some of the meal was planned and some of it was after thought. I hadn't decided how to cook the chops until the last minute, either.
How about your dinner....what did you have? Did it turn out like you'd hoped? Had you planned it in advance? What, if anything, was an after thought that you were happy about? Or, if it didn't turn out, what happened?
Let's hear all about it! Inquiring minds want to know! 
4 people like this
13 responses
@weng_08 (282)
• Philippines
17 Jun 08
Seems like you cook really well, lemon marinade sounds really good. I bet you had the right temperature and you were able to cook the chops just right, some tend to overcook it that it becomes dry. I sometimes do that too, I don't plan a meal and I start cooking only when I feel hungry, it depends on my mood actually.
I often have it the way I planned it since I really am into cooking (and eating!). I like grilled foods, be it beef or blue marlin, or chicken. I always pair it with a creamy soup...that's how I want it. Simple. I don't end up feeling bloated or guilty.
2 people like this
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I know people who could challenge that I'm a good cook - although I am much better than I used to be. I've served more than my fair share of burnt offerings! LOL
Blue Marlin?? I've seen people catch them and have their photos taken with them, but never ever thought about people eating them. Makes sense - it'd be a waste to only catch it and kill it and not make use of it, too. Sounds interesting. And, I love cream soups - well, many of them, anyway. Might be something I could do, too.
Thanks for telling us about it.
@kimbers867 (2539)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Mine was pretty easy. We had leftovers from Sunday.
Teriyaki Turkey Tenderloin
Corn Pudding
Fresh pineapple
Baked sweet potatoes (not leftover)
@beki710 (949)
•
16 Jun 08
For my dinner tonight, my mum cooked. She made tagalitelli (sorry i dunno how to spell that!) in a creamy sauce with smoked salmon and cucumber. It was so nice but very filling! She planned it a bit in advance because she asked me if I fancied it this morning and went to get the ingredients after she had finished work. It was delicious but very filling so I had to leave some of it unfortunately.
2 people like this
@Xdrowninghavocx (3117)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Sounds like you had an interesting dinner. I ate some of the leftovers from yesterday's dinner. My aunt made curry chciken with a couple of other spices. She also sliced potatoes and added spices to them as well. Since the yellow rice from yesterday is gone, she made some mashed potatoes and added some curry to those as well. I love her cooking. And now I'm eating strawberry and chocolate ice cream.
2 people like this
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I like curry. I've had Jamaican green curry chicken and some of the milder curries of the Indian cuisine. I used to make a beef curry with apples and onions, but I can't find the recipe, so I guess I won't be having that again. I don't eat the hotter kind, though. I can only eat so much spicy heat before I'm uncomfortable.
I never heard of curry in mashed potatoes before. I only recently learned that I like garlic mashed potatoes - I hate garlic, but it doesn't taste the same in them. I do like yellow rice, though.
Thanks for sharing your meal with us!
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I don't have much food in the house, and pay day isn't until Friday. Don't even have any left overs I could make. :-) Hubby couldn't give me the usual amount for groceries from his last pay check and then I wasn't expecting his daughter to spend last weekend with us. (But I'm glad she did!) So we have some slim pickin's here. But I'll manage. I'll probably make him a big garden salad and put some hard boiled eggs in it. It's hot out, so hubby isn't eating that much for dinner anyway. (Good thing.)
1 person likes this
@fluffnflowers (1594)
• United States
17 Jun 08
Sounds like a tasty meal!
For dinner, tonight, we made marinated, grilled eggplant sandwiches with tomatoes, sauteed red onions, and sauteed mushrooms. I spent most of the day making up batches of the eggplant to freeze and cooked up the rest of the stuff for what we were eating this evening. I had it planned last night, which is about as far ahead as I plan anything! 
I haven't quite decided what we're doing for dinner tomorrow, though.
I haven't quite decided what we're doing for dinner tomorrow, though.@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I love grilled eggplant!! I'm not a fan of the onions or mushrooms, but it's funny - my mother was just talking over the weekend about having seen someone make an eggplant and tomato sandwich. I was having grilled eggplant on pizza at the time. When I was little, she would cut up eggplant using her french fry cutter and dip them in egg and bread crumbs and fry them. They were so good!! Now I'm thinking I need to have either eggplant or zucchini fried sometime really soon. Mmmmmmmmm. Thanks for the ideas!! And, for sharing your dinner with us.
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
29 Jun 08
I like your system - hubby does the cooking!!! Nice!! LOL
I'm sorry for the delay, but somehow I missed your response and didn't mean to not comment on it, but here I am, always a day (or more) late and well over a dollar short! 
But, way back when I was married, I did plan my menus to some degree because we only bought what we were going to eat that week. Then, my husband decided he shopped better than me, so he did the shopping - which was fine with me - so I had to wait until he brought the groceries home to decide what I would be making.
Now, I just have things on hand and decide as I go. I do plan ahead once in a while - like I have a roast thawing right now to put in the crockpot in the morning (or rather, LATER this morning), but mainly I wing it. Thanks for responding!!
But, way back when I was married, I did plan my menus to some degree because we only bought what we were going to eat that week. Then, my husband decided he shopped better than me, so he did the shopping - which was fine with me - so I had to wait until he brought the groceries home to decide what I would be making.
Now, I just have things on hand and decide as I go. I do plan ahead once in a while - like I have a roast thawing right now to put in the crockpot in the morning (or rather, LATER this morning), but mainly I wing it. Thanks for responding!!
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
17 Jun 08
hi since its only three pm here I have lots of time to
plan my dinner, so its going to be pasta and tuna in tomato
sauce with yellow zuccini and for dessert strawberries. that
sounds pretty well balanced to me. I am a diabetic so have
to concentrate on more veggies and fruits, lo fat meat, whole
grains, lofat dairy. well balanced too.
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
18 Jun 08
We're diabetic, too, but aren't as good about that balance. Mom's sugar is well regulated but mine is stubbornly resistant (and I am, too, it would seem). Also, hers is caused by medicine for emphysema while mine is brought on the old fashioned way - weight. But, that does sound good (I don't eat strawberries, but I know they're good and full of Vitamin C) and I do like zucchini. Never had tuna in tomato sauce, but have had tuna and pasta in cream sauce before. Still, sometimes something like that tastes pretty good to me. Thanks for telling us about it.
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
18 Jun 08
For dinner tonight I had half a Dijorno pizza, I love Dijorno pizzas and I would eat them every day if I could,and I plan on eating the other half of the pizza later on tonight.
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I have been wanting to try one, but haven't. Are they really as good as they look? Do they almost taste like delivery or is that more hype than anything? But, heck - dinner is dinner, and you economized - half now, half later. Two meals out of one thing! Can't complain about that!
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
29 Jun 08
The next time I see them on sale, I'll have to try them. But, I can get a 12" pizza delivered here for $5 plus tax and $1 delivery charge. Not too bad, but that's plain cheese. DiJiorno would have other toppings, which I also like! I've been ordering mine with eggplant. Mmmmm. Again with the hunger pangs!! I need to stop this! I haven't even slept yet! Thanks for the good word on the pizza, though. Gonna have to try it.
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Yeah they are better than they look,and they are almost as good a delivery,and they are cheaper,and yeah I agree I try to rationalize and be smart cause of the food prices,and make two meals out of my Dijorno pizza, have a good day,good luck in your life, and Happy Posting.
@JadeFantasy (34)
• United States
17 Jun 08
I dont usually eat dinner... but when I do its usually take out. I don't really cook.
@thaMARKER (2503)
• Philippines
17 Jun 08
Well unfortunately I can't cook in my apartment and I was asleep until dinner time and got tired of going out so I made a mug of coffee and ate my bread which I bought this afternoon at my favorite bake shop. I'm still hungry right now and planning to have another mug of coffee but I'm having thoughts about getting a cup of noodles anyway.
I don't usually plan my meal because I always eat downstairs. Since I'm not allowed to cook in my apartment, the owner of the building put up a canteen/mini-restaurant at the groundfloor and I eat there most of my meals. I eat whatever seems nice so I don't really think of it before I go out.
1 person likes this
But, having something you can eat without cooking is a good idea, too. Thanks for telling us about how it is at your apartment.
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
25 Jun 08
That sounds good . I am having a late day and have no idea what I will be making . Today I think it will just be an easy day and I will just get subway and make a fruit salad . Hope my soon to be hubby doesnt mind
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
29 Jun 08
Congrats on the "soon to be" part! Subway isn't bad - and you can get some specials there. I also like Quiznos - fabulous! But, that's a good way to grab a meal, if you need to. And, if you get the right kind, you've got veggies, dairy, meat/protein and grain/bread all in one! Who can beat that????
@squirt051305 (381)
• United States
17 Jun 08
That's funny...I'm cooking pork chops tonight. I was going to do it last night but it started thunder storming so I'm going to do them tonight. I try to plan out my dinners but sometimes it doesn't work out. I'm going to do BBQ pork chops, a veggie and rice. It's going to be sooooooooo good. I have cook and it not being how I wanted or taste...just try not to do it the next time. :)
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
17 Jun 08
That sounds good, too. I'm thinking of getting some short ribs soon and doing some crockpot BBQ ribs. I don't have BBQ a lot - don't even know how to cook on a gas grill and don't like being outside in the heat to do it, but in a crockpot - oh yeah. They'd be tender and the sauce would be thick and stick to them really well. You know - I just ate lunch and already I'm thinking food. That's not good!! LOL
Thanks for the idea, though. I definitely want to do something BBQ soon (besides beans).
