# 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:** 239
**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 26, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4762 "2026-05-26T19:58:43Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > 155°F, which is what the guide I was following recommended for a more “traditional” texture. Yep, I read that guide and decided I wouldn’t be able to decide. ---
**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:** [May 26, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4763 "2026-05-26T20:09:39Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I don’t know Zalat Pizza, but I do know that a really good plain pepperoni pizza can be heavenly! This one wasn’t all that fancy. Very nice crust, sauce and cheese and pepperoni. What puts it over the top is that it’s also dressed with garlic, fresh oregano and black pepper. It seems to intensify the classic pepperoni pizza flavor. I just found out they have a take and bake one available, too! Tonight is breakfast tacos. My sweetie found some uncooked, refrigerated tortillas at the grocery store. The corn ones we had before were wonderful. I went through a bag of 20 in about a week. We’re going to be trying the flour ones tonight, and I have high hopes. Fresh tortillas without having to mix up the dough and smoosh them into tortilla shapes is an amazing luxury. We’re gonna fill them with scrambled eggs, bacon and hot sauce. She’ll put some cheese in hers. We’ll see if she can convince me that’s the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4764 "2026-05-26T23:56:48Z")
One Pan Orecchiette Pasta, again from [allrecipes.com](http://allrecipes.com). It’s not all that different from other things we eat, but I wanted to try a new pasta recipe without tomatoes or cheese sauce. It turned out very well! My only change was using bowtie pasta instead of orecchiette, which our Publix doesn’t carry. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2026, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4765 "2026-05-27T02:47:16Z")
The pulled pork sandwich on a toasted onion bun was quite tasty if a bit sloppy, requiring a major deployment of napkins. No fries were necessary – I remembered that I had some creamy coleslaw in a tangy dressing which was perfect on the side! Lots of leftovers, so tomorrow night I think I’ll add the leftover pulled pork in BBQ sauce to a pot of beans and simmer with sauteed onions, then serve with fries. ---
**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 27, 2026, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4766 "2026-05-27T03:48:20Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Tonight is Caesar salad with blackened salmon Dessert was crème brûlée and white chocolate mousse cake. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2026, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4767 "2026-05-27T07:31:40Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Lots of leftovers, so tomorrow night I think I’ll add the leftover pulled pork in BBQ sauce to a pot of beans and simmer with sauteed onions, then serve with fries. Was looking forward to this nice comfort food, but noticed I have a General Tao Chicken rice bowl in the fridge which has a best-by date of tomorrow or Friday, so that is on tap for tonight. > [@needscoffee](#): > > Dessert was crème brûlée and white chocolate mousse cake. Nice! I had to settle for an ice cream sandwich! ---
**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:** [May 27, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4768 "2026-05-27T21:17:13Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > last night was beef brisket As did Wildabest, I BBQed a beef brisket this past weekend. A monster brisket, flat and point. _Lots_ of leftovers. What do I do when I start getting sick of brisket sandwiches after 2 or 3 days? I get creative! I had all the fixings to make a nice faux pho (I only say ‘faux’ since I didn’t have any quality beef stock, just ‘Better than Bullion’ and a little soy sauce. But when I simmered that with pho spices, it made one damn fine broth). I was concerned that adding the brisket with its smoky flavors might overwhelm the pho spices, but they worked together perfectly. Turned out to be a fine bowl of soup. I might make again tomorrow. ---
**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 28, 2026, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4769 "2026-05-28T01:22:19Z")
Tonight is a Mexican Torta Adobada: a sandwich on a soft roll with spicy pork, refried beans, lettuce, tomato, & guacamole. It’s huge. It’ll be tomorrow’s lunch, too. ---
**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:** [May 28, 2026, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4770 "2026-05-28T02:53:19Z")
My advice on what to do with extra smoked brisket, if you have the freezer room: Freeze packets of it already pre-sliced. The reheat great, and are the perfect thing to add to beans, such as jalapeno pintos. ---
**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:** [May 28, 2026, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4771 "2026-05-28T08:25:48Z")
I did the beans and pulled pork thing, and it was so wonderfully good that I’m now going to start buying pulled pork in BBQ sauce for this express purpose! There was about as much of the pulled pork and BBQ sauce left over after making a sandwich as an entire can of beans, so I thought maybe just use part of it and forget the sauteed onion. But I fearlessly went ahead and sauteed white onion, added Bush’s Homestyle beans and then the entirety of the pulled pork. Then simmered until thickened. Wow, what a treat! A perfect combo, and the barbecue sauce the pork comes with is milder than the tangy marinade I normally use so the end result was a richly flavoured mix of beans and pulled pork in a mellow sauce. With crisp golden fries on the side, it was a simple but memorable comfort-food dinner! ---
**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:** [May 28, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4772 "2026-05-28T12:43:48Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > My advice on what to do with extra smoked brisket, if you have the freezer room: > Freeze packets of it already pre-sliced. The reheat great, and are the perfect thing to add to beans, such as jalapeno pintos. Thanks, I did freeze a bunch of it, but I left some in the fridge to keep eating, and I still have some non-frozen brisket left-- today is 4 days after the BBQ, so whatever I don’t eat today I’ll have to freeze. And as a matter of fact, one of the sides I made was Jalapeno pinto beans, and they did make a great side for the brisket. ---
**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:** [May 28, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4773 "2026-05-28T23:00:07Z")
Was wondering what to have for dinner tonight and all this talk of brisket reminded me that I still have one small vac-pak of Montreal smoked meat and some onion buns, and some frozen fries, so I’m all set for dinner. There’s enough smoked meat for either one humongous sandwich or two normal ones. Incidentally, the best and most frequent use of my air fryer is for making fries (second most frequent use is chicken wings). Fries made from scratch are among the best I’ve ever had, but frozen “5-minute” fries are much more convenient. The former turn out like fries at a fine restaurant but require preparation and an hour of soak time, the latter are almost exactly like McDonald’s fries, which is to say, a worthwhile compromise for getting almost-instant fries in 6 to 7 minutes. ---
**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 29, 2026, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4774 "2026-05-29T01:26:21Z")
I’m having another portion of yesterday’s Mexican Torta Adobada. I added a little fresh garlic to the sauce before reheating it. Heavenly! ---
**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:** [May 29, 2026, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4775 "2026-05-29T05:07:23Z")
Well, we didn’t have breakfast tacos the other day. I failed to check the bacon before we went to the store last weekend, and it was not only out of date, but looked pretty nasty. At the time I went ahead and tried the tortillas out with a weird peppered salami and extra sharp cheddar cheese tiny burrito concoction that I made up on the spot. They weren’t bad! I would totally do it again for a snack. Yesterday I had band practice, so no cooking for me. Heck, I didn’t eat dinner, since it often makes me sleepy and I didn’t want to be that way at practice. So I made a trip to the grocery store to get bacon and some other stuff today, and we finally achieved breakfast tacos tonight. They were pretty great. Simple, just bacon, cheese and eggs with hot sauce. The refrigerated flour tortilla dough was pretty good. It’s not as good as getting them hot from the bakery (they’re not the shelf stable nastiness, but they’re not loaded with butter like the ones from the bakery are), but its the next best thing. We both decided we preferred it to “breakfast for dinner” where we make biscuits, potatoes, bacon and eggs. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4776 "2026-05-29T14:21:31Z")
We do those breakfast tacos (for breakfast) on Saturdays. First I cook the bacon on the griddle, then pour off the grease to a different pan and cook the eggs. Then I put the tortillas back on the greasy griddle to finish. Mmm, healthy! ---
**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 29, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4777 "2026-05-29T16:43:34Z")
I have a cabbage to use up. I made a really good recipe for it a few weeks ago, and can’t find it now. Dinner will be something cabbage-y, that’s all I know right 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 29, 2026, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4778 "2026-05-29T18:00:45Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I have a cabbage to use up. I made a really good recipe for it a few weeks ago, and can’t find it now. I found the recipe, but in the meantime saw an interesting looking one at the NYT that I’m going with instead: [Roasted Cabbage With Parmesan, Walnuts and Anchovies](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023053-roasted-cabbage-with-parmesan-walnuts-and-anchovies?unlocked_article_code=1.mFA.jUwh.5MDyezNBNp0o&smid=share-url). ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4779 "2026-05-29T18:03:08Z")
Sounds swanky! and maybe a little stanky. 😁 ---
**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:** [May 30, 2026, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4780 "2026-05-30T12:24:02Z")
> [@solost](#): > > What do I do when I start getting sick of brisket sandwiches after 2 or 3 days? I get creative! Last night was beef brisket nachos. Next, who knows…beef brisket barley soup? Beef brisket Stroganoff? ---
**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 30, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015/4781 "2026-05-30T17:49:20Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Next, who knows…beef brisket barley soup? Beef brisket Stroganoff? Beef brisket and bean chili [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015.md?page=238) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-for-dinner-tonight-episode-2021-a-new-hope/931015.md?page=240)