Sudokuaholics Anonymous 4

I opened a tin of tuna on last week one night because we weren't feeling overly hungry and I was just going to make up a salad. Next minute, the phone rang and it was my son's girlfriend ringing to invite us to dinner! We didn't want to say no, so off we toddled to a wongerful meal of tacoes. Just realised, the tin is still in the fridge! I think the cats might be getting a little treat tonight!

Tonight we are having Lamb Ragout, a fancy way of saying stew, served with mashed potato.

Hmm...mexican pizza. But, then I don't have any burrito shells.

Only had lamb once. But, could go for some rabbit. Haven't had that in a long, long time.

Sorry, no more ideas from me. I know how hard it is to decide each and every day what to cook for dinner. That is why I do the two week menu, at least the decision only has to be made once a fortnight! The menu is flexible, so I can cook whatever I feel like doing that day, and I know I have the ingredients in the fridge,freezer or pantry.

My freezer and pantry are pretty well stocked. I might try doing the menu thing. I find myself trying to plan for the next night while fixing dinner.

Gosh, isn't it funny what you're used to. We have lamb quite often because it used to be quite cheap (not any more though!). Rabbit! I haven't had that since I was a kid, no, I tell a lie. I have only ever cooked it once myself and it went down with hubby like a lead balloon. We had it quite often when I was young because it was 'poor man's food'. Hubby's family, on the other hand, never had it because they were city folk and a little more 'well off'!

I just found it a real chore making that decision each day when I was working full-time. And it was a real pain in the butt if I had to go back out to the shops for something!

Lamb here is more expensive than a good steak. That's the main reason I don't buy it. I haven't been able to find rabbit since I moved down here. Hubby said he would try it. I even got him to try borscht and he hates beets.

We get sales flyers for the grocery stores. So, I usually go once a week and stock up on the stuff that is on sale.

My hubby used to be a plain meat and taters man but together, we have developed a very extensive, multi-cultural repertoire. In fact, my daughter was doing her Home Ec homework last night which was about food in Ausralia in 'the old days', you know Mum, when you were a kid, as compared to now. We looked at our last few menus, which I keep, and found we do French, Greek, Middle Eastern, Asian of all kinds, Italian Indian and many more influences besides!

Growing up, dad wanted meat, potatoes and bread at every meal. My sister still cooks that way. I've made the same kinds you mentioned, except Indian. I still find my comfort food is the pan-fried chicken.

Hi Gail and Becky - you've made me hungry. While I was reading the previous pages Shepherd's Pie sounded good for tonight until Gail mentioned salmon patties. Yum - both of them are oldies but goodies, my Mum used to cook them when I was a kid and I still do. What about good old rissoles? Another Yum!

I like to think we have progressed somewhat from those quite boring routine meals that our mothers had to produce every day with monotonous regularity.
Variety IS the spice of life!

Hi CynB. What are rissoles?

Does anyone have to deal with a hubby who doesn't like pasta? I love it but find it so limiting that he won't eat it - or soup. Now, I ask you, what is better on a cold night that a bowl of pumpkin or pea and ham soup?

I'm getting hungry reading all these posts. And there's not much in the house. Will be shopping tomorrow and to prepare for the invasion on Friday. Might have a can of tuna, but don't think I'll use your's, Gail. I'll let the cats have it.

Meat patties, Becky, I think you call them.
Minced beef, made into patties and fried or barbecued. We usually have them with mashed potatoes, steamed vegies and gravy.

Becky, when I was going to have the meatloaf, all my tribe asked me what it was. I described it as rissoles in a loaf form. Does that help?

CynB we used to have rissoles at school, haven't had them for years. Older Aussies I know always speak of mutton for every meal, including breakfast! We are spoiled for choise. Tonight we are having home made crumbed chicken stuffed with blue cheese, ham and butter with salad.

Ok, it's what we call hamburgers.

I have heard of this phenomena, Cyn.
Many (old-fashioned!) men believe soup is not a meal. In fact, a girlfriend and I say it whenever we mention the word 'soup'! Her EX hubby was one of those types, whereas we are just like you, on a cold day, there is nothing more comforting that a piping hot bowl of soup served with some crusty bread. YUM

It's ok Dino, the cats have already had it!

Hi Dino.

Our school burgers were kind of nasty. They were mainly soy with a little meat and some spices.

I think I'll just do rack of lamb and vegies - roasted together in an oven bag. Easy-peasy and yummy. Feeling lazy tonight.

WOW Lynda, that sounds scrummy! I do a chicken dish that I made up that sounds similar, although I use camembert instead of blue cheese. Not too keen on blue!

CynB, my hubby loves pasta. Have you tried gumbo. It's a Creole stew that's really thick over rice. I serve it with foccaccia (sp?) bread.

Cyn, I have posted a receep on the recipe page for my lamb racks, very easy and quite fast.

Cyn, I had a similar dilemma with my son when he was much younger. One day, he came up to me and said, "Mum, I really don't like spaghetti any more".
I think I may have served it up way too often!

Smaller than hamburger - prime grade minced beef, mixed with 1 egg and whatever flavouring you like - I use tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce and horseradish cream - chopped parsley. Let the mixture sit covered in fridge for an hour or so, roll into patties (coated with flour) and cook.

Speaking of dinner, I had better go and get that meat out of the freezer or we won't be eating dinner till breakfast time!
Great fun chat everyone.
I will be back a little later and check if anyone is still here, otherwise, catch you next time.

All is not lost. Found a mysterious packet in the freezer which turned out to be remnants of a casserole, presumably left by one of the visitors who took the opportunity for a beach holiday while I was away. someone loves me!

Ahhh, that is too cute Dino!

Well, ladies, I have to go make hubby's lunch and get some sleep. It's almost 1 am and I have to get up at 6:30. Nice chatting again with you all.

I got this one, too and

bye Becky and happy dreams

Just back quickly - that gumbo sounds nice Becky and Gail, I'll look up your recipe for racks soon. Thanks you both. TTFN - bye Gail, Becky and Dino.

Bye CynB, which means I'm probably alone unless Gail pops in between cooking tasks.

I'm trying to make my own yoghurt without using a commercial starter. Has anybody had success with this, and if so, how?

Oh gosh Dino, good luck. I have never tried anything like it, the only thing I have ever done is make sour cream when I haven't had any handy. Although, what came out of the thermos I took away with us a couple of weeks ago certainly resembled yoghurt!

We had salmon patties the other day like that Gail.