A food/cooking/eating thread

[Andy]

I need a quick, easy recipe that will make a good side dish for steak.  I have to be at my buddies house in 2 hours and I have no plan as of yet.

[Sarah]

A potato gratin, perhaps?  Or, if you have access to nice vegetables, a salad?

[Andy]

I'm still at work, so anything that requires baking is probably out.

more then likely I'll just go with the old summer standby: sliced cucumbers in Italian dressing with avocado and tomatoes.

[Sarah]

That sounds lovely to me.  Vinaigrette goes great with steak.   

[Omar]

Cheese for children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.recidivism.org/2008/07/ou8somecheese.html

[Andy]

ok, I'm eating frozen knishes cooked in the microwave and served with a side of yellow mustard.  this might be a low point in my life.

[Tim K in DC]

Monday was the last time I took the time to cook anything substantial: baked tilapia and sauteed veggies. I dipped the tilapia fillets in egg and coated them in a mix of corn meal, Italian seasoned bread crumbs, and a Tabasco dry seasoning mix. Baked on parchment paper at 375 for about 20-25 minutes or so. The veggies were diced tomatoes, zucchini, and baby bellas sauteed in garlic and one of those omega-rich olive/canola mixes (can't remember the brand). Some fresh lemon for the fish, grated parmesan for the veggies, and voila.

Tonight I'll probably pan fry a mako shark steak with a basic marinade. Something quick between my box office and door shifts.

[erika]

That sounds great! Where did you find the tobasco dry seasoning? I've never seen that but it sounds right up my alley.

I tried tilapia chimichurri style not long ago. It was chili rubbed and grilled and then served with a parsley, garlic, olive oil and crushed pepper sauce.

[Tim K in DC]

I bought it at the Tabasco hq's gift shop in Baton Rouge a couple of years ago. I've been looking around the Tabasco website and can't seem to find it. Not sure if they still make it or not. Here's the url, though: http://www.tabasco.com/main.cfm

[Tim K in DC]

Hey Erika,

I did a little more digging, and was able to find the Tabasco-infused seasoning I had mentioned (Eastman Outdoors Cajun Seasoning and Rub) on their website: http://www.eastmanoutdoors.com/flavors.shtml It's the fourth one on the page (item #38412). It's nice to see they have some other Tabasco-affiliated options as well.


It's peppy yet subtle, but definitely on the salty end, so I'd recommend a less-than-liberal dusting as you figure out what equates your personal ticket to Deliciousville, population: Erika.

Enjoy!

Tim

[Martin]

I need some advice.

I'm attending a wedding on August 30th. One of my best friends is getting married. Instead of asking for gifts, he and his wife-to-be have asked the guests to contribute something for the wedding buffet. I like this idea - they want to make the whole wedding a collaborative effort, I don't have to come up with some stupid gift, etc.

However, I have no idea what to bring. Any suggestions? It will be an outside event, so I'm guessing they prefer something that doesn't need (re-)heating. There will be roughly 80 people there, but everyone will bring something, so I don't have to feed them all. There will probably be an equal amount of meat eaters and vegetarians (the bride and groom are both veg). So meat is OK. And I have to transport it to the wedding, in suit and all.

Is ready-to-go stuff like bread or good cheese or smoked sausages cheating? Not putting in enough effort?

[mokin]

Unless you made those things yourself, I'd say it's a cheating a little bit. Be a classy guy and make something from scratch.

[Sarah]

Buy some puff pastry, wrap it around some good sausage on which you've smeared some good mustard, brush it with egg, and bake it.  A good sausage roll can be a thing of beauty.

[Trembling Eagle]

I need some advice.

I'm attending a wedding on August 30th. One of my best friends is getting married. Instead of asking for gifts, he and his wife-to-be have asked the guests to contribute something for the wedding buffet. I like this idea - they want to make the whole wedding a collaborative effort, I don't have to come up with some stupid gift, etc.

However, I have no idea what to bring. Any suggestions? It will be an outside event, so I'm guessing they prefer something that doesn't need (re-)heating. There will be roughly 80 people there, but everyone will bring something, so I don't have to feed them all. There will probably be an equal amount of meat eaters and vegetarians (the bride and groom are both veg). So meat is OK. And I have to transport it to the wedding, in suit and all.

Is ready-to-go stuff like bread or good cheese or smoked sausages cheating? Not putting in enough effort?

sounds like a perfect opportunity to bring a casserole or pasta thing and maybe a few 10 dollar bottles of wine.

[erika]

That sounds like an awesome idea for a wedding meal!

If you have a blender or food processor you could always make some different dips (hummuses, yogurt dips, fish or veggie dips, etc.) and have flatbreads with them.

I have some good recipes if you want 'em.