List your top three to fiveish typical dinner menus

[peerifloori]

Depends on who is cooking. My husband usually cooks 1 & 2, I usually cook 3-5. I prefer beans and eggs to meat most of the time. He's vice versa.

1. Salmon OR chicken OR venison (grilled) + rice + broccoli OR salad
2. Tacos (with choice of protein + beans + veggies + toppings)
3. Beans and rice (sometimes with fried egg + salsa on top), side of veggies
4. Veggie omelet/frittata/scramble
5. Soups, various (fish chowder, chicken veggie, lentil, etc)


Occasionally we have:
homemade pizza
thai curry over rice
african peanut stew over rice
polenta + tomato sauce with veggies
chili
mashed potatoes with garlic & carrot
sweet potatoes cooked with onion

[Dragline]

Mmmm -- venison. I am always enamored by more wild protein sources than the typical ones.

But I wonder why we don't make more use (consumption) of the organs. (Okay, I know I'm kind of weird on that. And I know not to eat bear liver, especially polar bear.)

[Ydobon]

I am seeing a lot of love for black beans.

[Ego]

Steamed then very gently stir-fried:
broccoli
bok choy
snow peas
bunapi mushrooms
bunashimeji mushrooms
green onions
brussels sprouts
Kimbo Spiced Thin Tofu
Olive oil, garlic salt, chili flakes, pepper

On a bed of (soba) buckwheat noodles

[peerifloori]

Mmmm -- venison. I am always enamored by more wild protein sources than the typical ones.

But I wonder why we don't make more use (consumption) of the organs. (Okay, I know I'm kind of weird on that. And I know not to eat bear liver, especially polar bear.)

Because most people in this country thinks that meat comes from plastic packages in grocery stores, not complete whole animals? When my husband gets a deer, the first night we always have heart tacos and they are the best. That's about as far as we go with organ meat though.

In Cameroon, they made a goat-pepper soup with kidneys and liver that was phenomenal.

[Arbo]

Hmmm. You said "these days" so for me.

1. Bean Burritos
2. Bean Burritos
3. Bean Burritos
4. Bean Burritos
5. Bean Burritos

But in the wider sense simple pasta w/red sauce (usually linguini and sauce made from a can of crushed tomatoes, basil, garlic, red pepper), pork shoulder steak cooked over fire or pan fried with baked sweet potatoes, Shrimp with a ginger/curry broth (I use the swansons when it's BOGO, or chicken broth with fresh ground ginger and curry powder to taste). Usually with some sort of an oriental stir fry veggie mix when the frozen veggies are BOGO, or maybe rice on rare occasions. Scrambled eggs with chili peppers and bacon. Those are the three that occur most often. Usually once or twice a month I'll have frozen pizza, Home Run Inn or Unos. Split pea or lentil soup shows up pretty often too.

Just curious, I have made up a large amount of beans because I ran out of potato's, this bean burrito dish sounds interesting -- How do you make it?

Wondering if I can basically buy flour tortillas, put beans on them, and then a few toppings and have that be a meal

LOL though @ Jacob's suggestion of hard boiled eggs stuffed into a baked potato LOL

(the other potato/egg dishes seemed too high fat though, tbh, although I guess a fried egg inside of a baked potato is called an Idaho sunrise, which wouldn't be that too high fat)

[llorona]

Because most people in this country thinks that meat comes from plastic packages in grocery stores, not complete whole animals?

Very true. My mother's family is from China. My cousins and I grew up sitting around the dinner table eating animal parts that most Westerners would find pretty disgusting if not horrifying - tripe, chicken feet, beef tongue, oxtail, beef entrails. Interestingly, some of these animal parts are now making their way to trendy local restaurants where chefs are acting like eating offal is revolutionary.

[Arbo]

Actually, seems like beans and rice would be easier, or beans on bread? What are some very easy options to make a complete meal based around Pinto beans(sadly I made up a sick amount, probably like 3 weeks worth, so I'm going to have to eat only them for a long time, or maybe this is one week's worth if I just eat only this as my main starch)

[tommytebco]

arbo,
Yes, you have it exactly right.
I normally use flour tortillas and add diced onion and grated cheddar and a splash of salsa. Supposedly, corn tortillas would be more authentic and healthful, but I can't develop a taste for them.

Also, make a tamale pie. Make thick cornmeal mush, form it into a crust in a cake pan, fill with the beans and top with grated cheddar bake for a good long time. (???30 min maybe at 350)

[startbyserving]

Chili - (Dry Kidney beans, No meat) **
Chicken Tacos *** /**
Chicken and Cheese (Chicken breast casserole with cream of chicken, Cheese, Milk and breadcrumbs on top.)
Pot Pie (refrigerated crust, Chicken breast, cream of chicken, canned vegetables.)
Pizza (~ w/ peppers, onions, mushrooms) **

** I try to use fresh tomatoes with any dish they can go with.
*** For Tacos and the majority of items containing meat i try to mix a ratio of 75% beans to 25% meat. I tend to cook black beans frequently. My Kroger recently got a good assortment of beans at a great price, a few even being organic. I aggressively watch sugar, and and moderately watch sodium.
A fair amount of what I eat is not as healthy as I would like. (Too many breads and grains sometimes) However I do try to make what I am eating at least. 'healthier' in comparison. I workout almost daily, and sometimes I get intensely hungry!

I am not a picky eater, and have really enjoyed this thread. - Especially the healthy suggestions. If anyone has left out what they consider a 'healthy dish' for any reason, please don't hesitate to share. I'm always looking for ideas.

[Arbo]

arbo,
Yes, you have it exactly right.
I normally use flour tortillas and add diced onion and grated cheddar and a splash of salsa. Supposedly, corn tortillas would be more authentic and healthful, but I can't develop a taste for them.

Also, make a tamale pie. Make thick cornmeal mush, form it into a crust in a cake pan, fill with the beans and top with grated cheddar bake for a good long time. (???30 min maybe at 350)

That sounds good -- I think I will go with the tortilla option because it sounds simpler and cheaper. Very good tip, all I need now is flour tortillas and this will probably be my dinner for the next... many nights, lol

[IlliniDave]

Just curious, I have made up a large amount of beans because I ran out of potato's, this bean burrito dish sounds interesting -- How do you make it?

Wondering if I can basically buy flour tortillas, put beans on them, and then a few toppings and have that be a meal

Pretty much that's exactly it. I smash the beans (fake refried beans I guess you could say) but that's not necessary. I like to add bacon and chili peppers to the burritos, or at least season the beans with salt, pepper, red pepper, and maybe a little garlic. You can also add all of the usual taco/burrito toppings.

[Chad]

My dinners are mostly this formula:

Chicken/Salmon/Grass fed beef with 1/4 onion and whole red/yellow bell pepper. I then add a lot of various vegetables (broccoli, asparagus, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, spaghetti squash, etc.) and legumes (peas, black, kidney, etc.), but mostly green vegetables. Then lots of garlic powder. These are then fried in macadamia nut oil and grass fed butter. The main difference in the dinners is the sauce:

1) Some type of hot sauce with hot peppers (jalapeno, habanero, etc.).
2) Soy sauce.
3) Olive oil at the end with salt.
4) A small amount of fresh squeezed citrus (usually a lime or lemon) and salt.

I try to stay away from grain carbs, as it's easy for me to overeat them.

[Ego]

Whole wheat pasta with sauteed tomatoes, onions, sun dried tomatoes and cremini mushrooms.
Side of raw spicy-sweet vegetable puree with:

Jalapenos, bok choy, asparagus, brussells sprouts, spinach (lots), kale, collard greens, watercress, parsley, 1/4 lemon, persimmon, carrot, ginger, bamboo shoots and tofu blended smooth then chilled.

I usually make a vegetable puree on the days when I have the vita-mix out to make my green smoothies.

[jacob]

@Ego - Argh, come on, man?! Seriously?! You're making me look really bad/feel really inadequate. My general rule of healthy eating is that if the dish resembles anyone's skin color, it's probably not that good. And you're not even close to that---I thought I was doing pretty good until I saw all that green. Please post some more reddish tones next time. Maybe add ketchup :0)

Pleeeease!!!

[Ego]

You're making me look really bad/feel really inadequate.

You can retaliate by telling me how many years of spending you've got banked.

Apparently I am once again adopting the hue of an oompa loompa. Last week at the swap I held my hand out for change and the vendor asked why my palms were dyed orange.

[vexed87]

Ego, bravo! But does that volume of vegetables make you bloat/gassy?

[Ego]

does that volume of vegetables make you bloat/gassy?

Gassy? I no longer work in an office and Mrs. Ego and I are long past worrying about such things.

Bloat? No. Gut transit time is faaaaaaast so there is no multi-meal backup to cause bloat.

[vexed87]

Hold on, we are not supposed to pass gas in the office? Now it all makes sense... the funny looks, the windows being thrown open on cold days, the tears and sighs... hee-hee.

Despite my best efforts I haven't been able to manage orange palms yet! Well done. I ask because one vegetarian I know has suffered with bloating and excessive gas, perhaps one for the microbiome thread though.

[theanimal]

@vexed- I've been vegan 95% of the time for the past 3 years. Whenever I consume any dairy products, I become have excessive gas. I believe I am lactose intolerant. The case may be the same with your friend. Dairy is the worst.