<p>I made what I thought was a big pot of chili, I thought I would freeze some. It was all gone in twelve hours. So much for chili over baked potato.</p>
<p>Carmelized onions are good on baked potatoes. I learned here on CC how to use the microwave to carmelize onions.</p>
<p>It’s still crummy and damp today <em>the weatherman lied</em> so taking steak on the grill off the menu and putting chili on.</p>
<p>emilybee:</p>
<p>I make a steak where I saute it in a pan. Start by browning onions and peppers. Set them aside and then brown the steak in small-medium size pieces. Add in Teriyaki sauce, add in the pepper & onion mixture, add in cut up tomatoes and then some tomato sauce and fresh garlic. I think there’s actually a name for it like Steak Pizziola, or something like that. Serve with any starch…</p>
<p>This way you can still have the steak, but it’s made inside! :)</p>
<p>Great suggestions for the baked potatoes! Wish I had some events- beets and blue cheese sounds wonderful!</p>
<p>Thanks CCC for the tip but it’s a big thick sirloin and I’d rather save it for a nice grilling out night - though we grill all year long even in blizzards, when it’s damp and chilly I prefer comfort food.</p>
<p>I love plain Greek yogurt on a baked potato. </p>
<p>But I love the idea of the chili . . .</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>If you still have the squash… This recipe is wonderful (you can omit the pork if you don’t eat it):</p>
<p>[Butternut</a> Squash-Carrot Soup with Pork “Croutons” | Williams-Sonoma](<a href=“http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/butternut-squash-carrot-soup-with-pork-croutons.html?cm_src=RECIPESEARCH]Butternut”>http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/butternut-squash-carrot-soup-with-pork-croutons.html?cm_src=RECIPESEARCH)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>my 16 yr old s and I did some serious pizza making tonight…turned up the music and he pounded the fresh bakery pizza dough, added fresh garlic, spinach, broccoli, arugula, red peppers and another with ham and pineapple… fun to prepare and still special spending time together in the kitchen…brings back memories of my youngest’s attempts at cracking the eggs as a toddler and stirring the pot for brownies, etc. ah for the golden days of childhood…</p>
<p>it was 90 degrees here today, but at least it’s getting dark and it is pouring out, so my need for an “Autumn” evening won me over and we lit the oven…miss the seasons, and still have the desire for comfort food and being indoors when October rolls in…</p>
<p>I made pizza tonight as well. I made the dough in my bread maker (since DH claims I never use it). Red onions, mushrooms and sausage from a local butcher.</p>
<p>If we have a local butcher around here, I have no idea where it is. I’ve never heard of one. We get all our meat at the grocery store or BJ’s.</p>
<p>I have a whole defrosted chicken and suddenly I’m uninspired to cook! I think I’ll just season and pop it into the oven and hopefully, I’ll have figured out to do with it when its done!</p>
<p>Turkey meatloaf and corn on the cob. Threw breadcrumbs, chopped onion, parsley, eggs and Parmesan cheese into the meat. We’ll see.</p>
<p>VH, any ketchup or worcestershire sauce?</p>
<p>Question:</p>
<p>S1 is bringing home 4-5 college friends (all guys) in two weekends for an event here. They’ll be at my home just Sat. & Sun. so I will make Sat. eve dinner for everyone…S2 is home with us as well as H.</p>
<p>So, what meal do I make for everyone?? Easy, inexpensive would be really helpful…no idea what type of veggies they eat…may stick with big, basic salad…</p>
<p>Omelette with feta cheese and spring mix (baby lettuce and herbs).
The whole thing didn’t take much longer to make than the toast.</p>
<p>Deborah T, not in the mix. Ketchup on the side, as is our custom.</p>
<p>Chocchipcookie: Spaghetti and meat sauce. Garlic bread. Big salad.</p>
<p>^ A salad for 7-8 college guys and other males?</p>
<p>7 or 8 pizzas might be closer to the mark. ;)</p>
<p>With maybe a salad on the side, if something green is required.</p>
<p>chocchipcookie:
I think spaghetti is a good idea - as veryhappy suggested above.</p>
<p>Can also do a big pot of chilli … we add spaghetti, put chilli over the top, and also bag of Fritos and shredded cheese as another option. By boys eat a bowl of both.</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions so far all of you…</p>
<p>Yup, I am actually known around here for making great meat sauce…I’m wondering, though, how many pounds of ground meat for @9 of us?? I’ll have to divide it into two separate pans.</p>
<p>Yeah, pasta, meatsauce, garlic bread & big salad sounds great. Matermia: Your suggestion for chili sounds great too, but S1 is my fussy one and won’t eat anything with healthy beans in it…too bad. S2 eats everything! :)</p>
<p>I guess sticking with the “tried & true” what works meal plan sounds like the way to go.
Thanks! :)</p>
<p>I actually prefer my chili to be bean-less. Or at most a small amount of black beans. I add red and green peppers to mine.</p>
<p>I would use at least 1/2 pound of meat per person, maybe more. But maybe I am projecting my own college days, when I ate unbelievable amounts of food and never gained an ounce.</p>