# What's For Dinner Tonight: Episode 2021 – A New Hope **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [January 20, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015 "2021-01-20T19:38:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 202
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4022 "2025-04-22T21:37:46Z")
Just back from yet another grocery expedition (I seem to say that a lot – maybe I spend too much on prepared food!). Anyway, I was lucky to find two chicken souvlaki dinners – I love those and they don’t always have them. Also a chicken piccata dinner that they recently introduced that I haven’t had before. But due to a surfeit of fresh groceries, tonight will be a thick smoked turkey sandwich on a large bun whose provenance I don’t recognize and a (reheated) tomato lobster bisque from the hot soup station. Now, see, @needscoffee, I did **not** visit my little deli today and I am **not** taunting you about cabbage rolls! Right now I don’t gots none, either. But a tribute to my fine little deli is that when I said earlier that they were out of their luscious onion buns and “I had to settle for ciabatta buns and some ordinary white rolls”, that the description “ordinary white rolls” was totally inadequate. On closer inspection they turned out to be Calabrese buns, and wonderfully rich and delicious when toasted and anointed with butter. Next time I’m buying **both** the onions buns and these! ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4023 "2025-04-24T00:51:46Z")
Last night was more nachos. Those are over with for awhile now. Tonight was Yakisoba chicken. A quick stir fry made with cabbage, carrots, onion, garlic and soba noodles, together with garlic chili sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil and whatever else lands in there. Tonight I had some spinach to use up so I tossed it in. One of my favorite ways to use up veggies that won’t last much longer. I defrosted some halibut to grill tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4024 "2025-04-24T01:01:04Z")
Tonight was homemade egg McMuffins, kinda. We used regular bacon instead of Canadian bacon. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4025 "2025-04-25T20:47:30Z")
Tonight will be the second chicken souvlaki dinner I got recently, with tzatziki for dipping, vegetable rice, and Greek salad. The best part is that, for once, I have **both** Greek salad (with black olives, red onions, feta cheese and other good stuff) and my fave Renée Greek salad dressing, both at the same time! (In the past I’ve been constantly thwarted by having one or the other but not both!) So dinner tonight will be a culturally consistent Greek extravaganza! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4026 "2025-04-25T21:05:40Z")
Assuming we have dinner, it looks like some sauteed salmon, with a side of saffron rice and some broccoli. We’ll see how it goes. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4027 "2025-04-25T23:12:04Z")
Pulled pork, black beans and cucumber salad. Lots of pork left - we’ll be seeing that again for 4-5 more meals. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2025, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4028 "2025-04-25T23:15:41Z")
Coming up shortly: Halibut marinated in olive oil, white wine, garlic and rosemary, then grilled. Sides of quinoa, a small salad and buttered peas. Thin mint Oreos for dessert. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4029 "2025-04-26T04:52:38Z")
The lamb chops I bought a few weeks ago and froze are now in the fridge defrosting. They won’t be fully defrosted for dinner tonight but close enough if I leave them out at room temperature for an hour or two. Then a quick sear, carve out the meat from the bone, and simmer in a spicy Vindaloo curry sauce for a fine lamb curry on rice. With the fine weather now upon us, I can open the patio door and windows to disperse the smell of curry! ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4030 "2025-04-26T12:18:36Z")
I’m planning on using the Easter ham bone to make split pea and ham soup, but we shall see how the day proceeds. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4031 "2025-04-26T16:08:35Z")
Looking ahead to tomorrow and beyond, the “Main St. Bistro” brand that makes great baked mac & cheese now has a twice-baked potato product loaded with cheese. I picked up both but not sure what to do with the baked potatoes. I’m thinking maybe a pot of my famous beans w/ barbecue sauce and sauteed onions, maybe with some hot dogs thrown in. The mac & cheese will be had with smoky garlic sausage. BTW, I was looking at the boxes of precooked pot roast that I’d bought before and was small but tasty and very easy to prepare. It now has a stuck-on Health Canada warning label that it didn’t have before: “High in saturated fat and sodium”! I didn’t think the sodium content was all that high, but the label kinda put me off buying another one. It’s rare to see a label more or less saying “Warning: this will probably kill you” on a food product! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4032 "2025-04-26T16:57:37Z")
As for the lamb curry, it’s fairly cool out today but tomorrow will be much warmer open-window weather, all the better for clearing the house of curry odours. So tonight will be steak & mushroom pie with fries, and the lamb curry is postponed til tomorrow (the lamb is still frozen solid anyway – I keep my fridge very cold). ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4033 "2025-04-28T11:33:26Z")
Lamb curry hath been created last night, and consumed. My goodness, I had forgotten how good that is. There’s a good reason that lamb curry is such a classic and no other meat will substitute. I seasoned the lamb chops (probably unnecessarily, because the curry sauce is so strong) with some garlic salt and Herbes de Provence and seared until just short of rare, then deboned and dumped into Vindaloo hot curry sauce and simmered for about an hour to fully cook and blend all the flavours. Served over rice. Wonderful! And with the patio door wide open there were no lingering odours of curry. Must do this again soon. The only thing missing was mango chutney, which I’ll have next time. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2025, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4034 "2025-04-28T13:26:23Z")
Yesterday was a gorgeous summer-like day so grilling was in order. I grilled some homemade shish kafta along with some red bell peppers and red onions. For a side I made some hummus with pita bread. Attempted making [toum](https://www.seriouseats.com/traditional-toum) but I never have any luck getting it to emulsify properly. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4035 "2025-04-30T01:52:30Z")
Tonight’s dinner was just a frozen thing with no actual name – just a P.F. Chang’s “Korean inspired” spicy pork with lo mein noodles. Interestingly, I Googled it because I’d forgotten the exact name, and came up with results that were typical of today’s internet – lots of negative comments, and many of them directly contradictory. The reality is that it was a perfectly fine dinner – certainly not the best lo mein I’ve ever had, but nice and spicy (4 out of 5 peppers on the hot-pepper scale). I added a dollop of Huy Fong chili garlic sauce just because I like hotness. The lo mein noodles were nice and firm when microwaved according to the directions, and getting the texture right for anything is key. I mean, it wasn’t the most fantastic lo mein I’ve ever had, but it was fine. FWIW, I’m buying it again. Finished it off with raspberry yogurt for dessert to cool off my tingling tongue. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4036 "2025-04-30T01:56:39Z")
I wasn’t very hungry tonight, so I heated up the last of the taco-seasoned ground beef topped with some cheese and avocado and scooped it up with some corn tortilla chips. A little glass of wine for the mellows. Dinner, done and dusted. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2025, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4037 "2025-04-30T03:32:35Z")
Yesterday was Pad See Ew from the Thai takeout place around the corner. Tonight was beer-battered fish fillets (from frozen) with blueberry vinegar on them. It might sound strange but it’s great. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4038 "2025-05-03T01:01:52Z")
I had a bunch of vegetables that needed using up, so shortly there will be a deep dish chicken pot pie ready for dinner. It’s baking now. Chicken, red pepper, celery, onions, mushrooms and peas in a chicken broth and cream sauce with a homemade pie crust. Delish! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4039 "2025-05-03T03:17:43Z")
Chickpea pasta in gorgonzola sauce. The sauce mostly covers up the difference in taste between chickpea pasta and regular pasta. Mostly. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4040 "2025-05-03T03:20:56Z")
I use chickpea flour to make crepes stuffed with cream cheese and topped with mixed berries. I don’t even notice the difference from regular flour. Or maybe I’m just used to the taste now. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4041 "2025-05-03T03:31:28Z")
Those sound delicious! I’ll be trying it. I make socca, which calls for chickpea flour. The chickpea pasta tastes kind of beany. My daughter tells me that she thinks red lentil pasta is a little better than chickpea pasta. You’ve reminded me that I’m way overdue for some socca! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015.md?page=201) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015.md?page=203)