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A Cooking Thread

S

somethingshiny

Ideal_Rock
Joined
Jul 22, 2007
Messages
6,746
I have an idea for a weekly thread. A cooking thread!

I am so tired of the same old foods that I make. The fall brings out the adventurous cook in me and I start hankering to try something new. So, my idea is we start a thread weekly (?) with either an ingredient to use or a dish to make. Breakfast, lunch, supper, dessert, snack, appetizer, whatever. Whoever wants to participate can be inspired to try something new and then post their success/failures of whichever recipes they use or invent!

For example: Lasagna Week! Choose to make a new recipe, your fave that you haven't had in a while, reinvent grandma's lasagna, try a veggie lasagna, or invent a cold dessert version with fruits and cream cheese.


So, what do you think?

:wacko:
 
I like it. I was actually just trying to find a recipe for vegetable lasagna.
 
I think it sounds like fun! I doubt I would participate weekly, but it would be great to get me trying new things and to see the awesome creations of the fellow PSers!
 
I love this idea! I love to cook, and I like to be adventurous with it! I love the idea of a weekly challenge, and also think it'd be fun if we all shared what we make throughout the week too!
 
I think a fun way to get a load of variety is to have a different PSer announce each weekly challenge. We'll get a variety of cuisine that way.

I'm so glad to see a few on board all ready! I'm getting excited!!

Oh, and pics would be great too! It could be preparing the food, the plated meal or someone enjoying/dreading the result!

Honestly, I think the failures will be the funnest part of the thread!



Well, no sense waiting around, let's get started!! If no one minds, I'll take the first week and just stick with the Lasagna Week I mentioned above.
 
SS,
Love this idea, can't wait for Lasagne week to start!!!
 
Oooo I have a recipe for Mexican Lasagna-can we start posting now?
 
I'm only posting so the cooking thread won't be right next to the anal gland thread.
 
lulu said:
I'm only posting so the cooking thread won't be right next to the anal gland thread.
Click to expand...

SNORT!

I like this idea...I need to figure out new things to eat for dinner!
 
Yes, please start posting as soon as you want.

Post recipes before you begin, as you make them up, or after your creation is complete so some of the others who don't have a recipe can start somewhere.


btw-PLEASE keep the cooking thread far far away from the anal gland thread!!
 
Love this idea!

Another forum I post on has had monthly Iron Chef type of competitions for at least the last 2 years. In fact, it's probably what prompted me to start my food blog. Really forced me to be creative and stretch my wings when I was just discovering cooking as a hobby.
 
Great thread! I absolutely cannot make a good lasagna, so I'm going to keep a close eye on this thread!
 
I am going to wing a fruit lasagna. I'll be using crepes, blueberries, some form of sauce (maybe a sweetened ricotta) and probably a dollop of whipped cream for serving.

It'll be my first time making crepes and any non-traditional lasagna!
 
packrat said:
Oooo I have a recipe for Mexican Lasagna-can we start posting now?
Click to expand...
That sounds delish! :lickout:
If you post a recipe tonight, Packrat, I'll be making it tomorrow night!
 
I'll start the recipe posting with a vegetarian version - assuming this is actually the Lasagne week thread? Also, somehow the gland thread has gotten to be too close to this thread again . . . so buuump!

Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagne with Cannelini Beans


Ingredients:

For the filling:

1 butternut squash, peeled, diced, tossed in olive oil, salt, and pepper and roasted until fork tender
1 Tbsp butter
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
small bunch of fresh thyme, leaves picked and chopped
small bunch of fresh oregano, leaves picked and chopped
1 can cannelini beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup white wine
vegetable stock
salt and pepper
4 oz. of mozzarella cheese
3 oz. of ricotta cheese

For the béchamel:

5 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup flour
3 cups milk
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

For the lasagne sheets:

1 egg
3/4 - 1 cup flour

Directions:

Over medium heat in a large dutch oven or heavy pan, melt the butter. Add the onions, celery, carrots and sweat for a few minutes. Add the thyme and oregano and stir a bit.

Add the garlic and cook for an additional 5 minutes until things start to smell fragrant.

Clear a spot in the bottom of the pan and add the chopped roasted butternut squash and about 1/4 of the beans with their liquid. Mash the two together with a potato masher or the back of a spoon, and then add the rest of the beans to the pot.

Deglaze with the white wine, and add just enough of the vegetable stock to thin the mixture out a bit. Reduce heat to low, and simmer while you roll out the pasta and make the béchamel.

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

In a food processor, add the egg and 3/4 of a cup of flour.

Pulse until the dough comes together in a ball.

Knead the dough together and roll out enough to fit through a pasta roller.

Roll through, folding the sheets through each pass, until you reach the thinnest setting.

Cut the sheets to fit in the bottom of a 9×13 buttered pan.

Meanwhile, in another pot, melt the butter for the béchamel. Add the flour and whisk until smooth.

Cook over medium heat, stirring regularly, until the mixture turns golden brown, about 6 to 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the milk in a separate pan until it is just about to boil. Add the milk to the butter mixture, 1 cup at a time, whisking continuously until the sauce is very smooth.

Bring to a boil and cook for 30 seconds longer. Remove from the heat and season with salt and nutmeg.

To assemble:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Brush a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with melted butter or oil.

Layer in the following order from the bottom: béchamel, pasta, butternut squash filling and cheese (saving about 1 cup béchamel for last topping), making 3 to 4 layers of pasta, finishing with béchamel, and 1/4 cup of the mozzarella and ricotta sprinkled over the top.

Bake in the oven for 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the casserole is bubbling.

Remove from the oven, allow to cool for 20 minutes, slice, and serve.

Serve with a salad and wine.

Enjoy!

butternutsquashlasagne2.jpg

butternutsquashlasagne4.jpg
 
K, it's not my recipe, it's a coworkers. I think I'll scan and attach. I'm too lazy to type it all out. laaazy I say! Criminey sakes, going thru this cook book she made for me, she has like 4 lasagna recipes.

Or not, stupid scanner.

Mexican Lasagna
1 1/2 lb ground beef, browned
1 16 oz can spicy refried beans
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp garlic powder
12 uncooked lasagna noodles
2 1/2 c salsa
2 1/2 c water
2 c sour cream
3/4 c finely sliced green onions
1 2.2 oz can sliced black olives, drained
3 c monterey jack cheese
Combine beef, beans, oregano, cumin, garlic powder. Place 4 uncooked noodles in the bottom of a 13x9x2 baking pan. Spread 1/2 the beef mixture over noodles. Layer w/cheese. Top w/4 more noodles and the remaining beef mixture and more cheese. Cover w/remaining noodles. Combine water and salsa. Pour over all. Cover tightly w/foil. Bake 350 for 1 1/2 hours or until noodles are tender. Combine sour cream, onions, black olives. Spoon over casserole, top w/remaining cheese. Bake uncovered until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.

She's brought this to work a few times for lunch and it gets devoured every time. I also have a regular lasagna, chicken cheese, creamy beef, chicken chili, and pepperoni! If not too many other recipes are given, I'll add some more!

Now I think, why am I in here? I'm dieting and can't eat this stuff! Gah.
 
Dang LTP, I'm not a squash fan, but I would sooo try that!!
 
packrat said:
Dang LTP, I'm not a squash fan, but I would sooo try that!!
Click to expand...

Thanks, Packrat! I was in dire need of something to make for a vegetarian friend and knew I wanted to work in the cannelini beans. I've never been much of a squash fan either, but something about this lasagne really worked for me.

That Mexican Lasagne sounds delicioso!!!
 
Beautiful pictures and yummy recipes :lickout: I have been looking for a good veggie lasagna for awhile, have to use some of our crazy zucchini :?
 
You know what would be nice is to have a separate Food forum and have a thread for each thing. Sauces, potatoes, pasta salads, desserts, different things like that.
 
Wow that looks good!

I'm making a classic lasagna tonight. I'll post a picture after we eat. Lasagna has been one of my favorite foods since I was a little girl. I also enjoy making Mexican Lasagna.
 
RHB - what kinds of things do you generally like, or tastes? I'd be happy to dig through my insane amounts of recipes and cookbooks for you guys.


I'm a serious foodie. I have a small but growing food blog and a restauranteering (I know it isn't a word but hey) blog hehe. I am constantly cooking, baking, making jams, jellies, etc. I have a big folder of to try recipes, a recipe book of my tried and true (including ones I have come up with myself) and an entire bookshelf dedicated to my cookbooks.
 
Oo, I've gotta post my Mex Lasagna now too! It uses tortillas instead of noodles, along with peppers, onions, tomatoes, and black beans in the filling (and cheese of course!).
 
Isn't it still SUMMER where you folks are? The *last* thing I want to eat (or cook) right now is LASAGNA! But, overall I think its a great idea for a thread. Count me in, um, NEXT week! :wink2: :tongue:
 
mine uses tortillas, meat, cheese, and sour cream. It is mmmmm good.
 
packrat said:
You know what would be nice is to have a separate Food forum and have a thread for each thing. Sauces, potatoes, pasta salads, desserts, different things like that.
Click to expand...

At one time we did have a cooking thread. My memory is so bad that I don't remember exactly how we organized it, but I bet Mara or Lisa (who were here, but are younger than I am with more functioning brain cells) will remember what we did.

On the other hand, what we did in the past need not matter (although it worked). A separate food forum could be good. I just think that a thread in Hangout in sometimes easier to "find".

Deb/AGBF
:read:
 
I'm glad to see so much interest!!

df~ We should do a jams/jellies week sometime. I haven't made any since I was a kid with my mom, but I'd love to try it again!

deco~ lol! It's only kind of summer here but we still eat lasagna! I bet you don't eat ice cream in the winter either, do ya?! Just wait until I post an ice cream thread in January!!

I have been looking through some Mex lasagna recipes and I may try one of those this week too.
 
dragonfly411 said:
RHB - what kinds of things do you generally like, or tastes? I'd be happy to dig through my insane amounts of recipes and cookbooks for you guys.


I'm a serious foodie. I have a small but growing food blog and a restauranteering (I know it isn't a word but hey) blog hehe. I am constantly cooking, baking, making jams, jellies, etc. I have a big folder of to try recipes, a recipe book of my tried and true (including ones I have come up with myself) and an entire bookshelf dedicated to my cookbooks.
Click to expand...


My DH and I both cook - him moreso than me now because he gets home before I do so he starts dinner. We normally do the starch, protein, veggie thing and there seems to be only so many combos of that - even though we've been doing A LOT of BBQ this summer, yum!

Now that fall is approaching, I think what I am more interesting in adding to my collection is things that I can do the night before, or in the morning - like marinating, one dish, casseroles, crock pot, what not that he can throw in the oven when he gets home. That way he isn't the only one always cooking....... and I think fall would be a perfect time to do those kinds of food.

Things that are novel and not just beef stroganoff, you know? Tried and true is always good. I have a TON of cookbooks as well, but its so nice to know someone else has already done it and it works!

Id be happy with whatever you're willing to share!
 
Mmmm Mexican Lasagna w/tortillas sounds really good!
 
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