What's For Dinner: Dining Out at Home

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Saturday July 17, 2010 · 4:12 PM PDT

2010/07/17 · 16:12

As much as I love to cook, I do really enjoy going out and having a really good meal. With the economy in the state it is, this has become a more rare treat for us. Still, when there is a special occasion (in this case, Mr. Kat's birthday) a great restaurant meal is my favorite way to celebrate. Part of the fun is savoring the meal and trying to figure out how to re-create it at home. Tonight I will share with you a real success story... my version of Jacksonville's Taverna restaurant's skirt steak a la plancha, with patatas bravas, piperade, and chimichurri!

Poll

64 votes Show Results

Do you replicate restaurant meals at home?

64 votes Vote Now!

Do you replicate restaurant meals at home?

All the time, and damned well, thank you very much!

24 votes

I try... succeeding is another story.

27 votes

Cooking? What's that?

4 votes

Pie

2 votes

Wine

7 votes

What's For Dinner?: Grillin', Chillin', and Beverage Swillin'!

MaskedKat

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday May 15, 2010 · 4:22 PM PDT

2010/05/15 · 16:22

The calendar may say May 15, but we've turned the corner into Summer here in Northeast Florida. It's creeping up on 90 degrees as I type this at 3 in the afternoon, and that means one thing for sure: I ain't cooking dinner in my cramped little galley kitchen! In fact, from May through October we fire up the grill to spare ourselves an overheated home at least a few times a week. Of course, we love the standard grill fare: burgers, chicken, skewered shrimp, etc. But many things are delightful on the grill, so tonight I want to share a few of my favorites!

Poll

44 votes Show Results

Wings

44 votes Vote Now!

Wings

Deep fried

11 votes

Baked

5 votes

Broiled

2 votes

Grilled

12 votes

Soy or tempeh

4 votes

... yes, and another beer please!

10 votes

What's For Dinner? The Braisin' Hussy!

MaskedKat

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday March 06, 2010 · 4:06 PM PST

2010/03/06 · 16:06

Particularly in the cooler months, I find myself drawn again and again to braised dishes. Not simply because the long, slow cooking warms up the kitchen and fills the house with comforting aromas, but because my favorite braised dishes are by and large childhood comfort foods. Pot roasts, cube steak, a variety of chicken dinners... all smell, look, and taste amazing and turn out oh-so-tender. And, they make their own gravy, making them perfect matches for your favorite starch. After the jump, a brief discussion of the technique of braising, and some recipes and photos.

Welcome to my table tonight.

MaskedKat

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday November 28, 2009 · 4:01 PM PST

2009/11/28 · 16:01

We're only partially through the artery-clogging season, and while I am all about the overindulgence on your holiday of choice, it's nice to give the body a break between the feasts. We've seen so many great diaries on treats, traditions, and delightful excess! I thought I'd take tonight's WFD in a different direction and open a discussion about staying (somewhat) healthy through the season! Squeeze yourself on through to the body ... oof!

Poll

62 votes Show Results

Healthy Holidays??

62 votes Vote Now!

Healthy Holidays??

Always.

16 votes

Not so much.

22 votes

Ehh.... maybe next year.

6 votes

The world's ending in 2012 anyway, so I'm livin' it up!

16 votes

Low-fat, gluten-free sweet potato pie!

2 votes

What's For Dinner? Good Gravy!

MaskedKat

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday November 07, 2009 · 4:03 PM PST

2009/11/07 · 16:03

The first Thanksgiving after I married Mr. Kat we hosted his parents and mine for Thanksgiving dinner in our small apartment. Friends thought I was insane to prepare the holiday meal in such a small space with both sets of parents, which still mystifies me to this day. I love cooking the Thanksgiving feast! The turkey is a cinch, requiring little attention except for the occasional baste to get the gorgeous bronzed skin. I like to focus my attention on delectable side dishes and of course... The Gravy.

Poll

90 votes Show Results

Giblets?

90 votes Vote Now!

Giblets?

Yes!

34 votes

Ehh...

7 votes

Hells, no!

23 votes

Tofu

4 votes

Pumpkin Pie

15 votes

Hard cider

7 votes

What's For Dinner? Hot Fun in the Summertime!

MaskedKat

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday August 15, 2009 · 4:57 PM PDT

2009/08/15 · 16:57

It's mid-August, and in my corner of the country it is hotter than a two-dollar pistol! But being a die-hard foodie means never using the excuse "it’s too hot to cook." I do, however, adapt my cooking and eating habits to the season. With the abundance of fantastic produce and wonderfully flavorful and cooling summer fruits, it takes only a little creativity to beat the heat, culinarily speaking. Often I take the easy route, making sandwiches or no-cook pasta sauces (in fact I’ll share my favorite with you shortly). Sometimes beating the heat means braving the mosquitoes and humidity briefly to grill a delicious meal that we enjoy in the blessed cool of the air-conditioned dining room. Other times, I like to mix it up a little. Asian cooks know that one of the best ways to cool out in the summer swelter is to turn up the Scoville units and break a cooling sweat. In that spirit, join me after the jump! It’s dinnertime!

Poll

74 votes Show Results

Make mine

74 votes Vote Now!

Make mine

a dry martini

3 votes

a cold beer

9 votes

a chilled dry white wine

16 votes

a chilled Riesling

3 votes

a margarita

15 votes

public option or NOTHING!

24 votes

pie

4 votes

What's For Dinner? Fast Food Edition

MaskedKat

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday June 13, 2009 · 5:22 PM PDT

2009/06/13 · 17:22

No, no, no. Calm down. Not that Fast Food. Fast as in a quick pinch-hit diary as our schedule has hit a glitch! If the regularly scheduled diary appears, I will delete.

Poll

72 votes Show Results

I keep it cool by

72 votes Vote Now!

I keep it cool by

Ordering out

3 votes

Grilling

23 votes

Sandwiches and salads

27 votes

Hitting the beach/lake/mountains

5 votes

Cold brew/wine

8 votes

Icebox pie!

6 votes

What's Your F#&%ing Problem? All Tore Up Edition

MaskedKat

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday March 14, 2009 · 4:44 PM PDT

2009/03/14 · 16:44

"Tore up" is Southern for broken. Like, "Don't mash the keys so hard! I don't need my computer tore up!" So. MY FP tonight is too much of our shit is tore up. Excruciating details after the jump.

WYFP is our community's Saturday evening gathering to talk about our problems, empathize with one another, and share advice, pootie pictures, favorite adult beverages, and anything else that we think might help. Everyone and all sorts of troubles are welcome. May we find peace and healing here.

Won't you please share the joy of WYFP by recommending?

Poll

86 votes Show Results

I am

86 votes Vote Now!

I am

All tore up

5 votes

All shook up

7 votes

All fired up

9 votes

All fed up

12 votes

All f*cked up

23 votes

All booked up

4 votes

All stove up*

6 votes

All tied up

3 votes

Some combination of the above (explain in comments)

17 votes

What's For Dinner? Comfort Food 2.0

MaskedKat

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday March 07, 2009 · 4:11 PM PST

2009/03/07 · 16:11

It's cold, you've had a crappy day, the economy sucks, and you're hungry. If you're like me, a good meal is a tonic that soothes the soul while it nourishes the body and pleases the senses. Comfort foods are those dishes that we crave when we need a little nurturing. Generally speaking, they are simple and familiar - not fussy, haute, or frou-frou. Too often, though, the comfort food classics are loaded with calories and fat, too. I try to cook and eat (mostly) healthy food, but I refuse to sacrifice the pleasure of eating!

So grab a fork, 'cause Everybody Eats When They Come to My House!!

Poll

306 votes Show Results

What would your last meal be?

306 votes Vote Now!

What would your last meal be?

Roast chicken

12 votes

Pizza

27 votes

Steak

50 votes

Lobster

54 votes

Pasta

19 votes

Curry

19 votes

Soup/Stew

11 votes

Something fried - who needs arteries when you're dead?

40 votes

Chocolate

26 votes

Booze

27 votes

Pie!

21 votes

Florida Kossacks: Let's Meet & Eat!

MaskedKat

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday February 24, 2009 · 3:34 PM PST

2009/02/24 · 15:34

I know there are a lot of Florida Kossacks here, and I'm sure many of you (depending on where in the Sunshine State you live) often feel that you're in the minority as a liberal Democrat. Well, I propose we get together!

When: Thursday or Friday or Saturday, March 19-21.
Where: Orlando, FL
Why: Why not?

I'm headed down to the Big O for a PTSD workshop that's being held at the Crowne Plaza near the airport. I'm not real familiar with Orlando, but there must be good places to meet for cocktails and dinner and good talk!

If you're interested, let me know in the comments and/or drop me a line at maskedkat at gmail dot com.

Let's meet, socialize, brainstorm and keep Florida turning blue!

MaskedKat

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday January 27, 2009 · 2:17 PM PST

2009/01/27 · 14:17

I'd like to believe this will be the last story of this type that we read about. The Lupoe family of Los Angeles are tragically no longer living, after the distraught parents reportedly murdered their children and committed suicide.

Antonio and Ana Lupoe were both reportedly fired from their jobs and at Kaiser Permanente.

MaskedKat

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday January 10, 2009 · 4:06 PM PST

2009/01/10 · 16:06

Ever since I was teeny-tiny, I've had this thing about India. I remember being about 4 years old and finding a Hare Krishna booklet and falling in love with the beautiful drawings...the saturated colors, the serenity and grace in the faces of the goddesses and gods portrayed. When I played my brother's Beatles albums I was mesmerized by the songs produced in their "trippy" period. So, follow me after the jump for a little discussion of Indian cuisine as well as some of my favorite recipes.

Poll

233 votes Show Results

What do you like to drink with Indian food?

233 votes Vote Now!

What do you like to drink with Indian food?

Water

50 votes

Red wine

11 votes

White wine

16 votes

Beer

95 votes

Whisky

2 votes

Gin

3 votes

Black tea

34 votes

Milk

7 votes

Soft drink

8 votes

Pie!

7 votes

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RSS

What's For Dinner: Dining Out at Home

What's For Dinner?: Grillin', Chillin', and Beverage Swillin'!

What's For Dinner? The Braisin' Hussy!

What's For Dinner? Lighten up, already!

What's For Dinner? Good Gravy!

What's For Dinner? Hot Fun in the Summertime!

What's For Dinner? Fast Food Edition

What's Your F#&%ing Problem? All Tore Up Edition

What's For Dinner? Comfort Food 2.0

Florida Kossacks: Let's Meet & Eat!

Fired parents kill 5 children, selves (Updated)

What's For Dinner? Currying Flavor Edition w/Poll