Food thread for the RU at Jan23's on May 18

What is the plan for keeping food cool? I mulled about getting some kind of contraption so that a platter could sit on ice. Ditto for flies and the like....

I usually fill a cooler half way with ice, then put food into a disposable roasting pan (sized according to my cooler). This year I will freeze the chicken (sauteed for chicken hawaiian), heat it up in Jan's oven, heat the sauce in her microwave, then pour over the top.

I am planning on keeping the food in the kitchen(I want to show off Jeff's handiwork. It has been a multi-year project. Still not finished, but - light at the end of the tunnel).

Thinking I'll have plenty of ice available.

Drinks outside except for coffee.

BTW. Have I said how excited I am??

Jan: That's great -- I had been worrying about how to protect the food. I looked at what everyone is bringing and there is a lot of chicken, so I probably won't bring chicken. Still mulling over what to bring.

Just talked to David's sister and she is bringing guacamole and chips.

Jan, I posted over on the chat thread that I will have that screened gazebo that we used at Sallyg's if we need or want to use that. May also throw in some coolers for drinks if we need extra.

Yea! Jeff's handiwork. That will be nice.

The breads are 'Assiago Pesto', "White Cheddar Garlic".and Popeye (spinach/parmesan) and 'Morning Bread'

Anyone bringing veggies or hummus?Might be a good snacky type addition...

Shall I bring veggies and hummus? I don't see that anyone has signed up for that, and I can think of a good beef recipe that would travel well.

I have hummus and someone called tonight and is bringing a veggie tray. Those breads sound wonderful!!!

Don't think we need the screened gazebo since the food will be inside. But, if you have room and want to you could bring it.

Ok, so I won't bring veggies or hummus, and I won't bring roast chicken (only because so many people are bringing chicken). I will bring wine -- and will take suggestions for anything else! I know my spouse wanted something relatively low-carb, which is why I had thought about roast chicken. So I'm still mulling.

I'm thinking wine sounds fine.

Well, I'll do that, but when you think of something that would be nice to round out the table, let me know....

I threw my contribution together at midnight... roast pepper, chevre (goat cheese), and spinach spread with some bread and triscuits to put it on.

I don't think we'll starve!

Sounds so good!

Yum!! No starving here!

I hope there lots of good food at this wedding 'm going to
grumble grumble...giggle

I had a great time today. It was my first swap and I learned a lot how it works. My friend Tammy and I really enjoyed meeting everyone. Thanks so much for the plants, I will give them a good home. Once I expand another and build one more garden. Its going to be a busy week. Those pots I usually throw away will be stored now and used for the next swap. Thank you once again. Oh, I will be looking for those recipes...lol

here is a message from Karen.. and her buckle recipe

Thank you so much, I had a blast and can't wait til tomorrow to read up on the new plants and get planting.

Cherry Buckle
Batter:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup Shortening
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup cinnamon
1 1/2 cups flour

Mix the sugar, shortening, eggs and milk until blended.Stir in the dry ingredients. Fold in two cups of Sour Cherries (or fruit of choice tart is best). Spread batter into a greased 9 inch square pan.

Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/4 cup of butter til crumbly. Sprinkle over top of batter mix.

Bake at a 375 degree oven for approx. 45-50 mins. on center rack of oven. Can be eaten warm or chilled.

Thanks for the recipe Karen. One more dish I can make for a good treat. It was great meeting you yesterday.

I ate as many as I could without getting sick!!

A wonderful spread of food. The desserts were so good too.

ROFL!

For anybody who tried (and liked) that red spread with the spinach in it, it's incredibly easy if you have a Trader Joe's in your area. Get a jar of their roasted red pepper spread, crumble/smash/stir 4 oz of chevre (soft goat's milk cheese, also available at TJ or at nearly any grocery) into it. Sometimes I chop a few handfuls of fresh spinach to stir in, and other times I use it with spinach in a wrap. Anything multi-grain (including bagels) seems to be best with it, but those pita chips sure worked well too!

who made the cucumber appetizer? I want that recipe

Heehee, that first pic of the island didn't even have all the food that ended up being offered. Methinks that gardening and good food go hand in hand.

Who brought the pretty, white bunt cake? I still have your container.

I enjoyed being a guinea pig for the shrimp dish. That recipe is a keeper.

whom ever made the guacamole.. good job!!!.. and the red pepper dip was really really good too Jill!!

Greenthumb's sister Julie made the guacamole. Glad it was enjoyed.

good job Julie!!!

Yeah I couldn't pull myself away from it!!!! YUM!

everything was delicious. I loved the guac too!! Had it on some really good bread (had an oil/garlic or pesto-like swirl in it) that was on the table near the dips

Diana, that was Great Harvest 'Assiago Pesto' . Wayne brought that. He and I loved the quinoa salad you brought. Thanks for giving us a taste test. We just got some quinoa today!

Well, seems I missed the dips and alas the Cherry Buckle and who knows what else!! But then several plates and dishes were already empty by the time I started to fill my plate. The variety was outstanding and I confess that I did take the last two dumplings instead of leaving one for someone else! Thinking maybe one advantage to hosting a swap is all the leftovers!

For anybody with a rice cooker, I've discovered that mine makes great quinoa! I use the "brown rice" setting, just as a do for barley... in fact, I often cook barley and quinoa together (in my cooker, 1 cup barley, 1/2 cup quinoa, and 1 2/3 cup water is just about perfect).

I'd love the quinoa salad recipe, Diana... or at least the list of ingredients, because I was so busy going "nomm nom" that I don't think I figured out what was in it. I think I had a piece of pineapple in it, although that could have come from another dish on my overloaded plate!

I remember somebody mentioning Hawaiian Chicken... was that the fabulous dish with chicken, pineapple, mushrooms, etc? There's another recipe I'd love to have! There was a big foil pan of it, and I don't think much was left!

Oh, yeah, leftovers, !!!! YUMMMMM

That Hawaiian Chicken was Roses and is even more amazing when it's freshly made(she had made it for us at one of her seed swaps...YUM!)

Diana, ditto request- could you please post or dmail the Quinoa salad recipe?
Roses, the Hawaiian Chicken, please?

The cake was mine Jan, But you are welcome to keep the container. My recipes came from Miss Betty Crocker and Mrs Hines....lol I woul dlike to know how to make that Chicken, it was good. The breads were so good and the dips were great. I tried almost everything.

HAWAIIAN CHICKEN

3 lbs chicken cubed in large chunks
lightly beaten egg (as much as it takes to dip all cubes)
flavored bread crumbs

dip and cover all cubes in egg, then in bread crumbs

fry until golden brown and cooked

IN ANOTHER PAN......

Saute' Lots of sliced baby bella mushrooms and shallots in lots of butter.

add crushed pineapple and cook some more

add soy sauce, white wine, splash of worcestershire sauce and a little brown sugar and cook more.

Add the topping over the chicken and heat up all till nice and hot

I'm not sure of the exact measurements because I add as I go and I'm sure that I make it differently every time. At the swap, the chicken was only dredged in flour and fried instead of the egg and bread crumbs. Jen probably liked the breaded one better because it absorbed more of the topping. I'll remember that for next time.


Change the amounts according to the number of people. Had at least 3 times more at the swap.








This message was edited May 20, 2013 6:48 AM

Marie, thank you. If I am ever headed in your direction I will try to remember your container. In the meantime I will use it. It is great!!!

Dont worry about it Jan. I can always get another.

If you insist. Heehee. Thank you.