Quarantine schemes
On the third day of sickness, the swine flu(?) gave to me...three coughing people, two fevers over 102, and a feeling that we'll never be free.
(via my facebook status this morn. I was pretty proud of that; it only took me all morning to think of it:))
Okay, if I'm going to be sick and ill equipped to write my qualifying paper (fuzzy brain...oh well!) then I will try to use my quarantine time to plan and scheme about Thanksgiving and other November delights. Greg's parents are coming out for the week surrounding Thanksgiving and we're so excited to host them (first time in about 6 years, I think). The Thanksgiving dinner part is not too hard to plan; I do the same tried-and-true list every year plus I'll ask others to bring things to contribute to the feast (Greg's cousin's family and hopefully my sister are also coming).
But here's what gives me pause: what about the other days of their visit? I'd like to move beyond our standard five (you know, mexican night, italian night, pizza night, breakfast for dinner night...) and yet I'd like to not be distracted by the meal prep the whole time. What are your favorite houseguest meals to prepare (including lunches and breakfasts, too)?
. . .
Thankful for: a new book on my doorstop (Lacuna, Barbara Kingsolver's new one), a bathtub full of almost scalding water, extra time to scheme and daydream and cuddle on the sofa with the other sickies
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 2:23PM | 9 Comments | Spread the word | tagged audience participation, entertaining, food, gratitude
Reader Comments (9)
I like the crockpot meals so I can play with family/friends while dinner cooks. I have recipes for italian chicken, cafe rio style pork salad, and pulled pork sandwiches that are crockpot friendly. I also have a make ahead tomato soup recipe that is awesome and with a loaf of bread and some good cheese - its a great lunch or dinner! I make cinnamon rolls and freeze them before they raise and then all I have to do is defrost and bake. A big pot of oatmeal with assorted toppings for breakfast. Potato bar for dinner (easy easy), dutch baby pancakes for breakfast (easy), Chili (can make ahead and freeze) and cornbread.
leave a message with your email on my blog if you want some of these recipes.
Robin, those sound wonderful! I'll definitely email you for the recipes. Thanks!
OH! You got the new BK book!! Jealous. I was at the library with my fingers crossed this afternoon, but no such luck. I'm going on the list... When my family comes in bunches, I like to have freezer meals ready-to-go, so we just have to supplement with fruit, salad, or whatever's around. We like lasagne, homemade mac and cheese, enchiladas (the creamy chicken ench. are my fave) and of course there's baked potato bar and taco bar... just throwing the ingredients on the table and voila!
I'm sure you'll have just the right stuff.
Get better sickies-
xo
i could really use the dishes on your tried and true xmas dinner list... future post? in the not-so-distant future?
I like your new home here! And I'm impressed with your ambition during convalescence. My favorite thing to make for winter company is soup. (My fave is "Mother-in-law soup" which is posted on my blog somewhere...) Just throw it all in a pot in the morning, let it simmer and make the house smell good all day. Buy a baguette and let guests help themselves. So easy!
smoked pulled pork:
put a shoulder or butt in the crockpot. dump about 1/8 cup kosher salt on it, and about 1/2 bottle liquid smoke. cook for several hours. shred. serve with sticky rice. it's like the hawaiian kalua pork.
reheat the levtovers and put bbq sauce on it... make sandwiches.
mmm... plus, seriously, it can't possibly get any easier than that.
Get the new PW cookbook. You could make ANYTHING in there and wow your company. It's my new go-to cooking bible.
Get feeling well, friend!
Oh, I despise that darned swine flu!! Horror of horrors.
I love to make Chicken Verde in the crockpot. A package of frozen chicken breasts, jar of green salsa (salsa verde), one package of fajita seasoning. At the end of the day, shred it, and put it in salad, or on tortillas. The best is to chop up cilantro, onions and tomatoes with a squirt of lime juice and top it with that. Yum yum!! Easiest and largest amount of food, not me mention SUPER delish!!!
BBQ Beef
A Chuck roast browned...put it in a crock pot on low overnight. (I do this in my garage)
Next morning: dump off half the liquid. 1 bottle your favorite BBQ sauce, 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped bell pepper, 1 TBS. Chili powder (like Grandma's) Cook all day on low, shred meat and serve on buns.