Incredibly basic menu ??

[Guest]

In the past week or two, I have really lost interest in cooking. Too bad my family still wants to eat and they like something that resembles dinner. Offering cold cereal hasn't been too successful. Tonight, I plan on having Boca Burgers. In the summer, I always serve them with corn on the cob, salad and oven fries. Corn is off the menu now and I am looking for some new sidedish ideas.
Miranda

[KathrynY]

I got this recipe from one of those "Beef - It's What's for Dinner" cooking flyers. It's pretty quick and easy.

Tangy Corn Relish

1 tsp vegetable oil
1/2 red or green bell pepper, chopped
1 can (8 3/4 oz) whole kernel corn, undrained (I am sure frozen corn would be just fine too)
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (or more to taste!)
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 cup sliced green onions

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat; add bell pepper. Cook and stir 3 minutes. Stir in corn, vinegar and ground red pepper; continue cooking, uncovered, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with garlic salt, add onions to skillet. Cook 1 minute or until heated through.

[swquilts]

How about macaroni or potato salad? Grilled veggies?

Susan

[gertdog]

Originally posted by MWS
Too bad my family still wants to eat and they like something that resembles dinner.

Miranda, I had to laugh when I read this. Sorry about your cooking slump. It isn't nearly as much fun to have to cook as it is to want to cook.

Veggie burgers with cheese, on toasted buns, with a bowl of tomato soup and a green salad?

Or maybe a variation on the oven fries... baked potatoes, maybe baked sweet potato wedges (trying to think of things you can just toss into the oven with minimal effort...)

Oven roasted veggies might be a nice, nutritious side... chunks of zucchini, yellow squash, red pepper, onion, a can of diced tomatoes, etc. with some salt, pepper, herbs of choice, roasted until tender. That's a really easy dish to prepare and tastes good next to some orzo or couscous.

The CL recipe for roasted asparagus with balsamic browned butter is very easy and good, and the sauce works nicely on broccoli too.

How about carrot pennies... the kind you glaze with a little brown sugar, dry mustard, and ginger?

[wallycat]

I've had the boca burger dinner too on occasion

My sides are sometimes, frozen corn that is microwaved to be done and some broccoli.
I've had coleslaw and corn.
Sweet potato wedges and broccoli or spinach.
baked beans and broccoli.
melted cheese on the boca's with salsa on top and corn chips.

[Guest]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. Soup is perfect. It is a bit nippy out here, the perfect weather for soup. I also have all of the ingredients for the corn relish, so I will give that a try.

I am going to save the oven roasted veggies for another night. That would make a nice main course served over couscous.

The slump might just be over.

[Guest]

Kathryn,

Just wanted to let you know that the corn relish was guite good. I had just enough corn buried in the freezer to make it. DH and I enjoyed it. Thanks again.

[Hoosier65]

I think I got this recipe off this BB but can't be sure. If I did sorry I can't remember who. Anyway it is really good and quick.

EXTRAORDINARY STOVETOP MACOARONI AND CHEESE

1/4 c butter
1 onion-chopped/opt.
1/8 c flour
1 tsp. salt
3 c. mile
1/2 lb. uncooked macaroni
1 1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese

Melt butter in a 4 qt. saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and saute until transparent. Stir in flour and salt. Cook one minute, stirring constantly. Add milk, stir to blend. Bring to a low steady simmer. Add macaroni. Cover and continue to simmer gently for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Add cheese and stir gently until melted. Pour into a 1 1/2 qt casserole dish, cover and let sit 5 minutes before serving.

[Lrimerman]

One of my favorite side dishes is the curried couscous from the barefoot contessa. It was recently posted on this thread.


Lisa

http://community.cookinglight.com/sh...efoot+Contessa

[KathrynY]

Originally posted by MWS
Just wanted to let you know that the corn relish was guite good. I had just enough corn buried in the freezer to make it. DH and I enjoyed it. Thanks again.

Miranda, you're most welcome . Glad you enjoyed it!