<p>Any ideas for an easy meal that can enjoyed (or gagged on) during the debate tonight? It must be easy to prepare, easy to eat in front of the TV, and not make us ill. If our candidate performs poorly, we will already be feeling ill.</p>
<p>How about a panini and some sweet potato fries??? Warm and seasonal!</p>
<p>My son and his two roommates are popping into town late tonight on their way to Montreal for Oct. break. Thinking either a big lasagna and salad or just ordering a few pizza’s.</p>
<p>Yes, Abasket! Panini will work perfectly. We got a panini maker for Christmas and I never remember to use it! And I made baked sweet potato fries last month and they were delicious, so I will try to dig out that recipe. PSAT tomorrow for my son, so this sounds like a good energy meal as well. Sweet potatoes = complex carbs.</p>
<p>Barfly – could you share your sweet potato fries recipe? Sounds like a winner.</p>
<p>sewhappy - This was actually my first go round. I wanted something other then steamed and was roasting the butternut squash. I put the broccoli in a gallon ziploc bag, added about 4Tbs wegmans basting oil (EVOO with garlic and herbs…easy enough to add this with what you have on hand), zip tight and toss to coat evenly. Spread on a baking sheet and add S&P (I lined the baking sheet with nonstick foil for easy clean up, yea!). I cooked at 350 for 30min since that’s what the squash needed and I was sharing the oven space. It was a bit too soft. I would increase the temp and shorten the cooking time on the next try. It was very yummy and a great change from steamed.</p>
<p>I also never would have thought to put the butternut squash with red onion but they were doing a demo at the store and it was really good. During the roasting the onion mellows so it just adds a nice something extra without overpowering.</p>
<p>I’ll be joining those of you in the comfort food tonight…leftover lasagna from Sunday night, garlic tuscan bread, and left over veggies from last night. I doubt it’s going to make the debate any more palatable for anyone…left, right, center, or you coveted undecideds. 
At least we’ll all be eating well. I may have to add a nice glass of pinot.</p>
<p>Sewhappy, I can’t find the recipe! I’m afraid I didn’t keep it. But I remember cutting the potatoes (not peeled) into thick fries, mixing them with a little olive oil, then sprinkling them with ground cayenne and … what else? I don’t remember. Probably kosher salt. I think I baked them at 400 until crispy. The need to be spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Arrrggghhhh! Wish I could find that recipe. But I just looked online and saw many recipes for baked sweet potato fries. Some had brown sugar. I am certain the recipe I used did not use any sugar. I remember the cayenne being a big hit with my guys!</p>
<p>^^^ that’s pretty much what I do. I usually micro the sweet potatoes just a little to soften them up to cut them easier. They take awhile to bake and get crispy - I leave the skins on. Olive oil, salt and pepper - but cayenne sounds good too!</p>
<p>Speaking of paninis, my D and I made a sinful dessert panini the other day…</p>
<p>Thin slices ciabatta bread, lightly butter the outside.
Spread a think layer of mascarpone on the inside of the bread.
Sprinkle with good chocolate - choc chips, shaving chocolate - your choice!
(we did milk chocolate)
Slice a ripe banana and top the chocolate and top with bread to make a sandwich</p>
<p>Panini grill it!!! OMG, delicious, simple, yummy!!! A once in a while treat. :)</p>
<p>You guys make me feel really guilty. You all seem to be posting on elaborate meals. I love to cook but during the week it is sometimes so difficult. DH has been doing a community theatre show and has had rehearsals every night until this week. So, he was home last night for the first time in weeks and what do I do - fried chicken from Krogers, mashed potatoes and acorn squash. He loved it, since he has been eating a lot of fast food. But still, how do you all find time to cook such nice dinners. Tonight is pasta with Italian sausage and salad. How easy can you get?</p>
<p>emilybee:</p>
<p>How do you feel about cooking something in beer for your S and his friends? We just had S home this past weekend, also with two college friends. My sister told me to make hot dogs cooked in beer…they were awesome! I got the large all beef dinner franks from Costco and boiled them in beer and finished them off in a saute pan so they were nice & crispy. The boys LOVED them! Much easier than lasagna and much less expensive than pizza.</p>
<p>lamb66:</p>
<p>I’m not nearly as gourmet as some other posters, but I try to cook most nights and order out or go out once on the weekends. I am at home so it’s easier than women who are working. I foyu do some prepping in the morning or even on weekends or at night after dinner, it may become easier. Also, look at Rachael Ray’s 30 minute meals! 
Just look up some of her recipes and buy the ingredients ahead of time so meal prep should become faster.</p>
<p>Barfly:</p>
<p>Paninni’s are a great idea. Also, nothing could be faster than soup, grilled tomato & cheese, egg omlettes, etc. Or even a cold grinder sandwich, side salad…</p>
<p>abasket: </p>
<p>That sounds divine. I’m not a baker, but anything easy like that sounds great. I’m a huge fan of anything with Nutella in it! :)</p>
<p>lammb66 - Don’t feel bad. My family is often running in a million different directions and meals that ‘present well’ are often sporadic. My mom was over for her birthday last night so I catered a bit more to her then my gang. When I make salmon for us I usually go with regular yukon gold mashers as opposed to the roasted butternut squash. I have found that the salmon is exceptionally quick and easy to make, and although not inexpensive (to get a piece big enough to satisfy my crew I have to go with BJs or Costco’s farm raised which I know isn’t as good as wild), it’s something everyone here loves, is good for them and no more expensive the going through the drive through. From fridge to table is less then 45min.</p>
<p>I’m a devotee to my crock pot and also make a lot of hearty soups and stews in the winter. I’ve been experimenting with freezing leftovers in quart sized freezer bags (individual portions) laid flat. They can be pulled out on nights we’re all running and eating at different times. It’s worked out well. I actually did this with my son’s favorite bean soup over the last break, freezing the entire pot in individual portions. We put them on ice in a cooler and brought them back to school with him. He’s been able to pull them out of his freezer on nights he’s not cooking with his roommates, or afternoons he’s not eating on grounds. He thought it was going to be a pain at first but now he’s glad to have it when a PB&J would have been his other option. :)</p>
<p>“How do you feel about cooking something in beer for your S and his friends? We just had S home this past weekend, also with two college friends. My sister told me to make hot dogs cooked in beer…they were awesome! I got the large all beef dinner franks from Costco and boiled them in beer and finished them off in a saute pan so they were nice & crispy. The boys LOVED them! Much easier than lasagna and much less expensive than pizza.”</p>
<p>Actually, I am going to call DH and ask him to pick up some beer on the way home for the boys. </p>
<p>My DS called awhile ago and asked me to order pizza so that takes care of that.</p>
<p>emilybee - I have a baked ziti recipe that feeds a ton and is a lot less work then a lasagna if you’re interested. I have friends that have adapted it adding pepperoni and said it’s good that way.</p>
<p>Whoops, crossed posts. Enjoy the pizza! Sometimes it just hits the spot! :)</p>
<p>Thanks, BI but the BC requested pizza so. I also have an easy baked ziti which I make all the time so had thought I’d do something I don’t don’t very often for the boys.</p>
<p>Empty nester here and at least once a week DH and I have scrambled eggs for dinner. Nothing wrong in that. With just the two of us, we also find ourselves going out more. It’s all good.</p>
<p>My DH is the breakfast king in our house. Waffles, pancakes, you name it. I don’t think I’ve made bacon for a recipe in years…I just ask him. I’m not a big breakfast eater, but he makes an excellent omelet. He’s literally studied the guys at omelet stations when we go to brunch to see their technique. Over the years he’s pretty darn good at it. Most weekends he’ll whip up omelets using all kinds of leftover veggies and meat we have hanging out in the fridge. I’m partial to simple veggies and cheese and do look forward to these. The kids are true carnivores. I can see a lot of these in our future when we empty nest. Quick and relatively inexpensive.</p>
<p>We have breakfast for dinner a lot but rarely breakfast for breakfast. I love a dinner of scramblers, rye toast and bacon. :)</p>
<p>^^If you guys all make eggs for dinner on occasion…try making a frittata! Just as easy as an omlette, but a different taste…kinda like a crustless quiche…I load mine up with veggies mostly…you can add anything to them just like omlettes! Only difference is the one extra step of finishing in the oven. Still quite easy! lammb66: A good idea for you on a night where you want to make something fast & nutritious!</p>
<p>As the OP, I love the ideas I have gotten from this thread the past few weeks! I don’t usually have much time to devote to preparing dinner either, and I’ll admit that if I end up putting hot dogs and frozen french fries on our plates one night I probably won’t post it here - so don’t be fooled - most of us have weak nights ! :)</p>