Ask the Audience: Taking Requests

I would love to see more creative side dishes.

I have fallen into the "boil water, dump in frozen veggies" rut.

I do variations on your carrot/raisin/yogurt salad all the time now, but would love some more ideas.

Ivy: I have seen them on YouTube, but I trust you guys will come up with something more creative and right up my alley. Thanks for the enthusiasm...that's what I like about you two!!!

Mom23guys1girl

I'm going to agree with Jenn @ Frugal Upstate, I need more recipes for grilling out, especially hamburger on the grill - we are tired of hamburgers! Foil packet meals would be an idea. No i was never a girl scout, so i have very little experience with them.

My kids also want to try fondue -- any ideas?

Any one got tips on making tortilla shells? -- we heat these up flip them put cheese on them to melt and put fried sandwich meat on and then roll them up to eat.

for fish i put it in a baking dish, pour milk on it, put seasonings (garlic pepper or lemon pepper), put on a pat of butter and bake at 350 till done -- works for white fish, and salmon.

Another favorite is fish pie -- fish at the bottom in a white sauce, mashed potatoes on top then baked. and i know fish can be grilled in foil packets on the grill too.

You've given me all I need! ;)
I do wish more people wouldn't be scared to cook! I think that is why I'm more of a baker because when I was younger I was fine as long as I had a recipe...but I learned that if you are putting good ingredients together its gonna be good whether its what you expected or not!!

I'd love to see more recipes for meatless main dishes. We're trying to keep meat out of our meals most nights a week and we're getting sick of quiche.

Also, I'd love to see some good freezer friendly recipes.

I've been hunting for recipes based on black beans or white beans. If you have ideas, I'd love to try them at our house!!

Marinades! I would like some recipes, but also some how-tos and mix and matches. I know that certain things need to be in there (off the top of my head: oil, acid of some sort, etc.) but I don't really know what they are or in what proportions etc.

I'd love to see fast & easy vegetable recipes. I love trying other people's ideas, and I've loved every recipe I've tried from HE 101.

And I need more veggies. Everyone does.

Fast, easy kid friendly meals. As a working Mom I am under pressure to get dinner on the table in 30-45 mins, while I have two very excited kids to entertain. So even recipes that they can help me with would be great also.

My 4 year old can do just about anything in the kitchen, that doesn't involve sharp objects and the stove/oven.

Jasi,

What I do is cute chicken breasts into bite size chunks. Then I salt and pepper them and deep fry. The kids call them chicken poppers. Not made ahead mind you, but you could cut the chicken and then freeze it. Freeze on a cookie sheet and then put in one bag so they don't stick together. Thaw before frying. They take about 3 minutes to cook, so it's a quick easy meal, the kids love it, and it's very healthy. Add a salad, and a few veggies, and you are out the door in less than 10 minutes and under $10.

It's already been said but I dig
BBQ Marinades, New Salads (fruit or veggie), light make-ahead side dishes, cool side dishes (pasta salads), crock pot stuff, frozen drinks, fast kid's foods.

Still trying to figure out a way to make ahead and freeze home-made, real, healthy chicken nuggets for convenience (and to rub it in my oh-so-self-righteous momma friends who wouldn't dare to give their kids a nugget). Muaa haa haa haa. Please help.

Chad,
Here's what I did for dinner last night and you can easily do it and the kids loved it.

Take some frozen chicken breasts (fresh will work too-go ahead and cut them up in small pieces). Put it in the crockpot with a bottle of Hawaiian Chicken marinade. Let it cook all day. Check on it often. About 30 minutes before dinner, peel about 5 potatoes and cut into squares (we're making mashed potatoes). Once the potatoes are boiling, take the breasts out and cut into small pieces. Put back in the crock pot. When the potatoes are soft, take them out, salt, pepper to taste, put in a 1/2 cup milk, and butter (use what you like). Mash with potato masher (or blender). Open one can of sliced pineapple.

Put the chicken, potatoes, and pineapple on the table and call mom to the table. You will be in for some loving tonight. LOL The house will smell wonderful. This meal will cost about $10 (depending on the chicken cost), but I served 8 meals out of it, so that's just $1.30 per person. And it was far better for the kids than hamburgers from McDs. They already want to know when we are going to have it again.

Oooh, ooooh, ooooh, mom23!! I adore making granny squares. I'll see what I can do about a tute. :)

We only use our crock pot (you know the won we won from Home Ec 101?) in the garage so it doesn't heat up the house.

I'd love help with "lazy stain care" on laundry. I'm sorry but I hate having to examine every piece of laundry before I put it in the washer to see if there are any stains and then have to research a solution for each one.

Being in Charleston SC - bring on the shrimp recipes!!

I would like to see a tutorial on making granny squares with crocheting. I know this has nothing to do with cooking, but I thought I would post it since I am forgetful and no one ever asks me what I want to see about knitting/crocheting. I think that is a Home Eccy thing to do, don't you?

Fish! I'd love to feed my family fish more often because it's good for you but don't have any idea of how to expand beyond tuna sandwiches, grilled salmon (yum!) and frozen fish sticks. It's an expensive ingredient, so I'm reluctant to drop $20 on random fresh or frozen fish and then experiment. If you have any good general buying and cooking techniques, I'd appreciate it.

That would require one had a roaster in usable condition, of course. ;) The one I have is worse for wear and should really be decluttered. I'm not sure why it is still lurking in my cabinetry now that I think of it.

Great tips though!
Keep the ideas comings!

Actually, you can continue to bake in the heat of the summer.

Put your turkey roaster on the front or back porch (which ever has an outlet) and bake in that. I have done this for a few years as I refuse to turn on the oven when the AC is on too. It is a mini-oven.

how about some slow cooker recipies, i recently got one of those and would love some ideas

Tis the season for BBQs-so marinades, grilled stuff, foil packet style meals, and take alongs (for when you are going to someone ELSES BBQ ) would be good.

Also I'm not opposed to the occasional icy cold blender drink-perhaps with some rum inside (although then you couldn't feed it to the kiddos)

Maybe you've done this before, but I'd like to see "Easy Recipes Husbands/Dad Can Make". I'd love to be able to help The Mom out, but my portfolio is limited to pasta and things from boxes.

I'm finding that I don't want the heavy staples now that it's summer, so recipes for lighter/cooler foods would be much appreciated.