What's for dinner?

My wife's working life in the ambulance service where she was a paramedic, meant our meals were not always at a regular time, nor were they conventional. Her shift pattern made us (me) get creative, I learned to cook just from recipe books and as we both had a fondness for French cuisine that's what I learned. Now I'm retired I am back in the kitchen so tonight we are having ratatouille with lamb chops. If, like me, your French is a bit rusty, ratatouille is pronounced: "ra-ta-two-we," although you probably knew that.

For the ratatouille I need: 1 Aubergine, 1 Onion, 2 Courgettes, Mixed Peppers (any colour) I chose yellow, 3 Salad Tomatoes, 2 Cloves Garlic, Fresh Basil. I diced all the vegetables to the same size for the ratatouille. After that I put a knob of butter in a pan, adding the onion to soften. I cooked that for approximately 2 minutes. Then I sliced and diced the tomatoes to the same size and added them to the pan with the courgettes and the aubergine. Finally I added the garlic letting it simmer for five minutes. A seasoning with salt and black pepper and a handful of chopped fresh basil will lift the flavour.

For the meat I placed each chop in the pan of heated butter, just a small amount, about a spoonful, I seasoned it with black pepper and a pinch of salt and cooked them through on each side. Whilst they were cooking I took a handful of pistachio nuts and almonds and finely chopped them, mixing them with finely chopped fresh chives.

Once the lamb was cooked, using a pastry brush, I brushed each side with Dijon Mustard and placed them into the crumbled pistachio/almond mixture making sure each side is thoroughly coated. Served up with the ratatouille and a glass of French wine, my lady is enjoying my retirement.
 
It's Monday. Comfort food was required.

Pizza Takeaway, Special Number 2. Manager spoiled us and added cheese to our chips plus extra mushrooms on the pepperoni pizza. A garlic dip for the pizza and a red chilli medley for the chips, ooh seriously hot!

Leftover (half pizza) for lunch tomorrow. Yeah!
 
Nachos! 😋

Nachos; Shutterstock ID 129343364; PO: today.com
 
This evening we had one of our two vegetarian meals that we eat each week. Mushroom Stroganoff. Into a large pan goes a good slosh of olive oil, when that's hot I add a finely chopped small onion and a chopped red pepper (capsicum) which are cooked until softened. Next, six large mushrooms, peeled and quartered are added, once it's all mixed well I add a teaspoon of paprika and a couple of peeled and crushed garlic cloves. That's all cooked on a high heat for just a few minutes, five at the most. Then I add about half a pint of stock, I cheat and use veggie gravy granules. Added to that is a teaspoonful of Worcester sauce. Once that is thoroughly cooked I remove it from the heat. Whilst it's still in the pan I stir in a dessert spoonful of crème fraîche and a small handful of chopped parsley. Served up on a bed of long grain rice.
 
Seared tuna steaks, mixed roasted veg, baked sweet potato, coleslaw, tossed salad, and frozen yogurt.
That was our second and last meal of the day.
First meal was ham, red pepper, onion, and cheese omelet.
 
bobcat48 said:
Make it up as I go Goulash.
Browned hamburger and onions, bell pepper, with a few spices
Add broth, spinach, tomato sauce, elbow mac, cherry tomatoes, and whatever else I think it needs.
If any suggestions .... I'm open.
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That sounds wonderful! I like cooking that way. Suggestions... I'd probably stick some mushrooms in there... maybe corn or black beans. But really what you listed there sounds just about perfect. But don't forget a little cheese! (y)
 
CallMeKate said:
That sounds wonderful! I like cooking that way. Suggestions... I'd probably stick some mushrooms in there... maybe corn or black beans. But really what you listed there sounds just about perfect. But don't forget a little cheese! (y)
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Fantastic. I have all the things you mentioned. I totally forgot about corn, black beans, and mushrooms .... and I won't forget the cheese.
 
I think I'm losing my mind. I've sat here for the last 10 minutes thinking.. and I cannot remember if I had any dinner tonight..:unsure:

It's 11.30pm now... I've just put a steak pie in the Airfryer... but I genuinely can't remember if I had dinner tonight already or not..
 
CallMeKate said:
That sounds wonderful! I like cooking that way. Suggestions... I'd probably stick some mushrooms in there... maybe corn or black beans. But really what you listed there sounds just about perfect. But don't forget a little cheese! (y)
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Well, I put in the black beans, corn, and mushrooms, and I also cut up a zucchini and put that in too.
I added a can of sauce, and tomato soup, a little enchilada sauce (For a little kick) I had open, and the mac.
It's on simmer now, so however it turns out, there's gonna be leftovers. Here's how it looks now.

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horseless carriage said:
My turn to cook this evening's meal. My other half and I try to keep our diet balanced, we are not vegetarian but we do eat at least two meat free meals a week, so tonight I shall heat some olive oil in a large non-stick frying pan add in a chopped onion and soften for about 5 mins.
To that I shall add paprika and garlic, then cook for a while longer. Next I will add mushrooms that I previously peeled and sliced and cook on a higher heat, stirring often, probably for about five minutes, but I keep a constant check in case it needs to cook for a little longer.

Next I pour in a stock (thank heaven for those, just add hot water granules,) with a generous slosh of Worcestershire sauce. Bring all that to the boil, bubble for five minutes until the sauce thickens, then turn off the heat. Finally, I will stir in soured cream and parsley.

Just a tip if you want to make this yourself. Make sure the pan is not on the heat or the sauce may split.
Serve with wild rice, if those granules were a time saver, then rice in a microwave bag, that takes just two minutes, has to be up there too.
And there you have:
View attachment 291764
Mushroom Stroganoff,
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That looks gooood HC! Gotta love a man in the kitchen (when he cooks that is).
 
A meal @bobcat48 responded to (somewhere) and mentioned broccoli, reminded me that I hadn't made my broccoli stir fry in a while. So that's what I'm having tonight. Since I no longer eat shrimp, I substitute imitation crab meat and add onions & peppers (frozen), a little ginger and the sauce is made from ketchup and water. It is so good. I may try it over penne pasta because flavored rice is a trigger for me.

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