Cooking & Baking
Related: About this forumFathers Day coming up! What are you fixing (or having fixed for you).
I happen to be at my father's for a couple of days and am making him his favorite meal.
Roast beef - rare
Roasted baby potatoes and onions with a balsamic glaze
Roasted asparagus
Not sure about dessert yet, but this seems pretty fool proof.
How about you!
pscot
(21,024 posts)and tabouleh.
bif
(22,740 posts)Having my dad and in-laws over. No idea what I'm making, but it'll most likely involve the grill.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)You are much more spontaneous than I!
bif
(22,740 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)I have to provision for 3-4 weeks at a time. I pretty know what we will be having weeks in advance.
pinto
(106,886 posts)Have fun!
My nieces (one lives up in the wine country, the other in Boston) are sending my brother a gift certificate to his favorite Italian restaurant here. The plan is a web cam get-together over part of the meal. Time zones and technology communication. I'm looking forward to see how it goes.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)Hope both you and your brother are doing well.
Doing a web cam with my sister and perhaps some of the grandkids is something that I should consider.
greatauntoftriplets
(175,749 posts)Nice that you get to share the meal with him.
greatauntoftriplets
(175,749 posts)We've been trying to celebrate my nephew's birthday since Memorial Day, but various things (his odd work schedule, kids' activities, his wife's new job) keep interfering.
Rare roast beef...
cbayer
(146,218 posts)There is a local butcher that sells farm raised, completely organic beef. Since there will only be a small group, I think I can splurge on a really good cut of meat.
I love the rare roast beef and just happen to have some sour cream and horseradish, which is the sauce I want with mine!
greatauntoftriplets
(175,749 posts)Unfortunately, my nephew's wife is going to New York that evening for training for her new job; the triplet boys have a 6 p.m. baseball game. We need to eat early because otherwise my other niece's two-year-old twins fall apart and and my niece has to get them home and to bed before we eat.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,018 posts)We've been cooking endlessly as the garden stuff comes in, both from our yard and the Farmers Market - so we are going to use it as a "break from cooking and doing dishes" day!
How did you like your trip? Love Ocracoke, or what?! We will probably spend much of October there...
cbayer
(146,218 posts)of the produce while out in your neck of the woods.
One of the best meals we had on this trip was in Charleston. I had the vegetable plate with four servings of vegetable that were indescribably delicious. BTW, who knew grits were considered a vegetable!
Loved Ocracoke and loved Pam's Pelican. That woman fixes a phenomenal breakfast. She had bikes, so we took a very long ride down to the beach and slept like babies. The ride all the way up through the outer banks was spectacular, of course. Perfect weather, windsurfers, little traffic, calm waters on the ferry. I hope to get back again in the not too distant future.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)that first tomato in your signature looks absolutely phenomenally tasty. I practically run out of adverbs looking at it.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,018 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)NRaleighLiberal
(60,018 posts)I've kind of done a bit of a Johnny Appleseed thing with tomato varieties, I guess!
Aerows
(39,961 posts)The Lucky Cross looks like the best, though, but that Ukrainian Heart looks delicious, too. Unfortunately, it's probably too late to try and grow one here - I'm in the Deep South.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,018 posts)tomatoes I created and named - Lucky Cross, Little Lucky, Cherokee Chocolate (more like finding it), Cherokee Green (ditto), and many from the new Dwarf Tomato Project like Dwarf Jade Beauty, Dwarf Beryl Beauty, Dwarf Sweet Sue, Dwarf Kelly Green, Dwarf Wild Fred, and many more on the way that I selected, stabilized, named and circulated through seed companies
tomatoes I named and help circulate through seed companies - Cherokee Purple, Lilllian's Yellow heirloom, Reif's Italian Heart
tomatoes people gave me that I made sure got more widely circulated - Anna Russian, Mexico Midget, Giant syrian, Gallo Plum, Dr Wyche's Yellow
tomatoes with a long history that went missing that I found and brought back to circulation - numerous, including Ferris Wheel, Peak of Perfection, Magnus, etc etc
I've just been lucky - at the right place at the right time, or just dumb luck to find it growing, etc.
MiddleFingerMom
(25,163 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)Lugnut
(9,791 posts)I don't know what her menu includes but she's a good cook.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)Lugnut
(9,791 posts)Fruit goes with everything and the kids love it.
fizzgig
(24,146 posts)maybe some new potatoes.
it's my dad's favorite meal, boring as it is.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)And you can roast those potatoes with it until they are brown and crisp.
Yum! Enjoy your dinner and your dad!
fizzgig
(24,146 posts)but he usually insists on steamed, he is so set in his ways. but it will be a tasty meal regardless and i'm hoping to kick his ass at cribbage after we're done eating
cbayer
(146,218 posts)I live with one of those, but over the years I have gotten him to be more adventurous.
Still, we can walk into just about any restaurant anywhere, and I can tell you exactly what he is going to order.
Good luck at the cribbage game!
Aerows
(39,961 posts)I prefer cauliflower, but both are delicious.
fizzgig
(24,146 posts)but my sister and husband won't eat it.
we decided i'd just hit the farmer's market to check for early corn and see if there was anything else that looked good.
I can't imagine eating broccoli but not liking cauliflower. Cauliflower rocks. Then again, I hate bell peppers but love every other pepper under the sun, so I guess I answered my own question .
pipoman
(16,038 posts)we do Sunday brunch every Sunday and are a destination restaurant particularly on Sundays. Mothers Day is the biggest, then Easter, then Fathers Day..we are closed Thanksgiving and Christmas or those would be our biggest days as we are known for traditional comfort food. We do a Luau theme and smoke a whole hog, coconut shrimp, chuck roast with sweet potatoes chicken wings and fried chicken. It is fun hosting so many people on their holiday.
Our local asparagus source is now over for the year..it was great while it lasted..we used around 600 pounds this year in the restaurant and nursing homes. Can't wait until tomatoes melons and squash.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)I think managing a restaurant is one of the hardest jobs in the world and I toast you for doing it.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)I wrote about it on DU2 in '08. Haven't updated since '11..it is rewarding and I found my "gift" (which I had been searching for for 20+ years) is cooking in large scale and coordinating large dinner services..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=236x41536
It has also influenced my family. My wife volunteers her time in the kitchen on the weekends, so we get to be together, and she enjoys it too. Last weekend we moved my son to Denver where he will start culinary training in July at the Art Institute..
cbayer
(146,218 posts)I love to cook and have recently been tossing around the idea of a "bed and dinner" (as opposed to breakfast). I think there might be a market for people that want to visit an area, then come back to the place they are staying for a nice dinner. My other fantasies have revolved around taking people out on evening cruises where they are served dinner.
But to do it on such a large scale like you do is intimidating and I am impressed.
Congratulations to your son. And bless people like the both of you. The world needs to be fed and there is no point in eating bad food if you don't have to.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)Around 400 guests yesterday in 3 hours..
It is a bit surreal to read my posts..after my first day..I couldn't have dreamed the personal impact. Everything from my blood pressure to the bottom line of the organization have been impacted by my decision to leave the chasing of dollars in favor of personal fulfillment. My only grievance is the difficulty in using vacation time..
For me, I just can't explain how I know some of the things I know. My mother used to cook and bake and I helped her, but she was a strict recipe cook and I look at a recipe then change it into what I want, extemporaneously. Have been able to lead two 40 year cooks by my inexplicable ability to solve problems they have been fighting with for years and by pushing them to be always better and more creative.
Just so many good things have happened it has been almost like a religious experience for me..Based on my experience, I would encourage you to follow your dreams. Take time to learn about the food business, as we all know restaurant is risky business on one hand..on the other one can tell pretty quickly if they are onto something promising. The regulatory aspects of commercial food production is essential as well as commercial sanitation.
Thanks..My son got a job last week in downtown Denver in a very nice restaurant. He has taught me things and I him..can't wait to see what he can teach me...it makes tuition a little less painful,,
cbayer
(146,218 posts)Cooking for a crowd is a huge achievement.
I am glad you found the work that is fulfilling to you, as well as addressing the needs of others.
I have recently been tossing around the idea of a "bed and dinner" (as opposed to a bed and breakfast). I could not do what you do, I'm afraid. Anyway, I have thought there are people who don't really do breakfast (like me), but would love to have dinner after a day of exploring or hiking or whatever they want to do.
If you are comfortable, could you tell me where your son is to work? I waitressed at a great restaurant called "le Central" for awhile. The owner is french and was inspirational to work with.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)I would welcome you to come in and see what we do. We have a machine in place to do brunch, buffets and banquets..we have done so many and worked together for 5 years any of about 6 people can lead a banquet without issues. We recently began Friday and Saturday evening services which is a menu service..that is a whole other kind of food production using different skills and completely different leadership. My son helped me organize and trouble shoot these new services. So far so good on the new services.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)We were just recently in your neck of the woods and I would have loved to have seen your operation.
I'm so glad you are living your dream .
pipoman
(16,038 posts)affecting my life and hundreds of other people's lives..and helping to draw 2 communities with deep religious divides, but close ethnic ties, back together..really unbelievable.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)I shouldn't have even wandered into this thread since I'm hungry and that now sounds like heaven on earth to me.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)Aerows
(39,961 posts)Rib-eye steaks with my signature pasta and white sauce seasoned with lemon and onions (the white sauce on the pasta, the steaks remain merely marinated ) . Obviously a nice salad to go along - I love Green Goddess dressing.
Oh and some good homemade bread from my wonderful new bread machine that I am having a great deal of fun using
cbayer
(146,218 posts)There is a butcher out here by my dad's that sells really good beef. While I have pretty much lost my taste for red meat, I think this one is going to be good.
Glad you like your bread machine. I have never had one, but I do love some fresh bread.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)I couldn't resist it, and I just love it!
maddezmom
(135,060 posts)But sent my dad(mom and little sister will also be partaking) lobsters, steamers, soup and Key Lime pie from Legal Seafood.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)Hope you are doing well. We are not quite home yet, but should be shortly.
maddezmom
(135,060 posts)Glad you are able to spend time with your dad for Father's Day. Wish I could be with mine but planning a trip up to MI for his birthday. :hugs:
cbayer
(146,218 posts)We arrived back in the area on Monday, but the boat is not ready. Engine is out, everything is torn apart.
So it looks like Monday (fingers crossed).
I want to see my new stove!!
maddezmom
(135,060 posts)You have to take a pic of the new stove in its new home. Can't wait to hear about all the great stuff you are going to make in it and on it. . I am betting bread will be so much easier now amongst other things.
pinto
(106,886 posts)Here's to the new stove.
cbayer
(146,218 posts)We have made it back to the marina area, but the boat is not ready.
We are hoping for Monday or Tuesday, but we shall see. Currently staying with a friend for a few nights.
Hope you are well and have a great time with your brother tomorrow.
pinto
(106,886 posts)Looks like my other brother is going to join in. He'll be with his sons and assorted family in Austin. My brother here is working out how to have it all fed (no pun intended) to his TV. Much bigger screen. Could be a hoot.
Hey to your DH.
bif
(22,740 posts)cbayer
(146,218 posts)LancetChick
(272 posts)we're taking Dad to the farmers market, which is a really good one. We'll see what they have and make something for lunch. He walks with a cane, so my mother got him a rolling foldable nylon shopping-cart kind of thing which he can use instead of his cane. We did this a week or two ago, and it was such fun we thought we'd bring Dad along on Father's Day (he didn't want to go last time, but he does now that he'll have a new contraption). My Dad has loved to cook his entire life, and has never been to this farmers market (he's only lived in the area a few years), so I think he'll have a blast. Can't wait!
cbayer
(146,218 posts)and has a wonderful time at the market.