What's for Dinner?

[winemaker81]

Homemade pizza is so much better than even a good pie shop. In this context, we can't even count the chains as being pizza.

In recent years I cheat -- I use a bread machine to mix the dough, as it does a great job.

When I lived in Upstate NY, all the grocery stores had refrigerated dough that was good for bread or pizza. In my area now? Frozen dough is available, but it's no where near as good.

 

[geek]

At this vegan restaurant, huge sweet potatoes wedges and this broccoli was very good.

 

[sour_grapes]

Asparagus pieces sauteed with shiitake mushrooms, shallots, and ginger, then braised with sherry; collard greens (described below); leftover grilled artichokes; leftover shrimp and pasta in a lemon/butter/garlic/parsley/Calabrian peppers/wine/thyme/Parmigiano-Reggiano sauce; and the star of the show was a bowl of mussels, steamed with white wine, butter, and sauteed garlic; the steaming liquid was then reduced and fortified with sauteed mushrooms, parsley, and blue goat cheese. Mrs. Sour_Grapes provided the garlic toast, made by rubbing lots of raw garlic slices over ho-made bread and butter.

The collard greens? I usually sautee/braise them for a long time on the stovetop. I decided to try them in the InstaPot (with sauteed onions and red pepper flakes). They came out exactly how I imagine one would find collard greens in a buffet in either Old Country Buffet or Cracker Barrel. That is, it was okay, but very bland, basically steamed. Okay, but essentially institutional food.

 

[winemaker81]

The collard greens?

Collards are typically made with slivers of pork or sausage, and served with vinegar or (better) spicy vinegar. On their own, they're bland.

Last night my wife & I decided to go out to a local restaurant owned by a brewery, Mason Jar Tavern. We were running later than we planned, and at 6 PM the wait was 45 minute.

Nope, I was not interested in cooling my heels that long, although it was our fault. When going out on a Friday, we go early, trying to arrive no later than 5:30. College taught me to stand in line, but failed to teach me to like it or tolerate it if I don't have to.

Two doors down is a Mediterranean restaurant which is not as popular; it's never full although they do a steady business. With COVID, a lot of it is take-out.

We ordered, ate, and were done before we'd have been seated at the tavern. And we ate better -- I'd have ordered a burger & fries at the tavern -- instead I had falafel, hummus, & grape leaves, while my wife had beef shish-kebabs, hummus, and grape leaves. It was a good date night.

 

[Rob Kneeland]

My first attempt at smoked brisket albeit with a Weber Genesis and a smoke box. Minimum temp was almost 250F. S&P rub. Wrapped at 165F. But it got away from me and ended up at 215! Tasty but dry.

Will try again!

 

[ibglowin]

I am pretty sure these have been seasoned with Ghost Pepper or something close........... Only for those who are serious about HOT buffalo wings!

 

[Boatboy24]

I am pretty sure these have been seasoned with Ghost Pepper or something close........... Only for those who are serious about HOT buffalo wings!

View attachment 74813

If the label is to be believed, looks like jalapeño, habanero and maybe Thai chili?

 

[Boatboy24]

Spontaneous dinner out at one of our favorite Mexican places, after a late afternoon baseball game. Way too much chips and salsa, some really good fish tacos, and a couple ice cold margaritas on the rocks. Fat, dumb and happy over here.

 

[cmason1957]

Fat, dumb and happy over here.

That's no way to go through life!!

 

[sour_grapes]

Photobomb!

Sorry for all the pix. We enjoyed grilled purple local asparagus and spring (green) garlic); corn-off-the-cob with herbes de Provence; roasted eggplant with garlic, EVOO, and marjoram; grilled lamb shoulder chops (that are practically rib chops): dry-brined, grilled, then seasoned with garlic and fennel powder and coriander; BBQ shrimp; roasted fennel topped with Parmigiano-Reggiano.

 

[Boatboy24]

That's no way to go through life!!

 

[Kraffty]

but two outta three aint bad...

 

[geek]

Italian restaurant

 

[Boatboy24]

Italian restaurant

View attachment 74850View attachment 74851

As the mercury is still sitting at 90F at 7pm, that chicken caesar looks like the perfect meal right about now.

 

[bstnh1]

First meal on new Blackstone Griddle. Sirloin tips, mushrooms, onions & peppers, along with reheated corn. Griddle is awesome - and only $84 at Wally World!



A little home made potato salad added to the mix!

 

[ibglowin]

Just had a salad and some protein. Keto diet so its healthy........

 

[sour_grapes]

Pasta alla gricia (guanciale emulsified with starch from the pasta water and with cheese, and enhanced with mushrooms); roasted fennel; roasted huge local purple asparagus; sauteed escarole with garlic.

 

[Boatboy24]

Wednesday night was taco night. I did managed to snap a quick pic at the grill after having some flap meat in sous vide for a few hours.

 

[ibglowin]

Halibut night!

 

[ibglowin]

If you see this in the wild at your local Costco do NOT pass it up!