alisoncooks Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 (edited) ...every dinner on this week's menu is NEW/an EXPERIMENT!Mwah-hahahahaha!LOL, seriously though...Inspired by the recent "I hate to cook" threads, and UNinspired by our go-to recipes, I'm going all out this week! I usually keep it to one new recipe a week, but I'm going to try FIVE new recipes this week: 1. One-pan Mexican Quinoa http://damndelicious.net/2014/04/09/one-pan-mexican-quinoa/ **Reviewed in post 18** 2. Homemade chicken noodle soup. http://www.food.com/recipe/chicken-noodle-soup-20755?photo=382145 **Reviewed in post #10** 3. A new chili recipe. http://www.food.com/recipe/debbies-crock-pot-chili-45069 4. Crock pot chicken & stuffing. http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-chicken-gravy-and-stuffing-3470?photo=378978 5. Greek chicken and potatoes. http://www.food.com/recipe/greek-chicken-and-potatoes-93596?photo=116613(Sorry for the big links; on my phone.)I'm hoping to expand our menu collection through this little experiment. :) Edited August 10, 2016 by alisoncooks 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 My kids used to call our meals chemistry experiments :lol: Have a fun week experimenting :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted August 8, 2016 Author Share Posted August 8, 2016 My kids used to call our meals chemistry experiments :lol: Have a fun week experimenting :) 😄 Oh my. Y'all should have seen DH's face when I said we were having QUINOA. HA! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairie~Phlox Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 I can't do soup or chili until it cools down. 🙠Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustEm Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 I've had that one pan quinoa and it is delicious! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbotoast Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Sounds yummy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne in CA Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 I used to make a version of the Baja Express Bowl with Quinoa and the fam LOVED it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amira Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 i can't tell my family my dinner plans either. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfIOnly Posted August 8, 2016 Share Posted August 8, 2016 Oh, fun! Would love to hear reviews! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted August 9, 2016 Author Share Posted August 9, 2016 (edited) Update #1: HOMEMADE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP (see recipe link in 1st post) My thoughts: too thyme-y for my taste, otherwise pretty good, if a little plainFamily's thoughts: DH & Oldest liked it well enough. Youngest refused to eat it (and she's my adventurous, food-lover). ETA: At being faced with leftovers, Oldest also decided that she didn't care for the soup. At all. So...looks like I'll be eating soup every day for lunch... Overall verdict: Not a keeper. It wasn't too labor-intensive but did require veggie-chopping and chicken-pickin' (I used a rotisserie chicken). If that was prepped ahead of time, it'd be a very easy recipe (and quick). But since Youngest absolutely would not eat it, that earns it a :thumbdown:. (For me to choose to make something someone hates, everyone else must absolutely love it...and we were just so-so on this). Still on the lookout for a good chicken noodle soup recipe... Edited August 10, 2016 by alisoncooks 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabelen Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 The quinoa recipe looks like the kind of dish my husband and I will love. My oldest might find it too spicy and my youngest would object to everything being together, even though she likes most of the ingredients by themselves. I think I will make this when we have some other leftovers the kids can eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mabelen Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Update #1: HOMEMADE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP (see recipe link in 1st post) My thoughts: too thyme-y for my taste, otherwise pretty good, if a little plain Family's thoughts: DH & Oldest liked it well enough. Youngest refused to eat it (and she's my adventurous, food-lover). Overall verdict: Not a keeper. It wasn't too labor-intensive but did require veggie-chopping and chicken-pickin' (I used a rotisserie chicken). If that was prepped ahead of time, it'd be a very easy recipe (and quick). But since Youngest absolutely would not eat it, that earns it a :thumbdown:. (For me to choose to make something someone hates, everyone else must absolutely love it...and we were just so-so on this). Still on the lookout for a good chicken noodle soup recipe... So hard to please everyone! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Sounds fun! We have a running joke at our house that when I make something new and then AFTER everyone has tried it I ask, "Guess what the secret ingredient is?", everyone shouts, "Mashed cauliflower or pureed black beans!!" LOL ;) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted August 9, 2016 Share Posted August 9, 2016 Update #1: HOMEMADE CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP (see recipe link in 1st post) Still on the lookout for a good chicken noodle soup recipe... If you like Asian food then pho is absolutely delicious. Here's one easy recipe although I'm sure there are more 'authentic' ones online. http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/30105/vietnamese+chicken+pho 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted August 9, 2016 Author Share Posted August 9, 2016 If you like Asian food then pho is absolutely delicious. Here's one easy recipe although I'm sure there are more 'authentic' ones online. http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/30105/vietnamese+chicken+pho DH & I would love that. The kiddos...not so much. They won't go much more adventurous than fried rice or noodles. :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfIOnly Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 If you like Asian food then pho is absolutely delicious. Here's one easy recipe although I'm sure there are more 'authentic' ones online. http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/30105/vietnamese+chicken+pho I like Asian food but am not a pho fan! I had heard so much good stuff about it, so DH and I went to a highly recommended restaraunt on our wedding anniversary to try it. I though it was really, painfullu bland. I thought for sure I would love it but not so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 I put cilantro and tomato sauce in my chicken soup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted August 10, 2016 Author Share Posted August 10, 2016 Update #2: One-pan Mexican Quinoa (see recipe link in 1st post) My thoughts: Once I got past the slightly grassy taste of the quinoa, I thought this was pretty tasty. Of course, I loaded mine up with cheese, sour cream, avocado, lime juice and cilantro (and served with tortilla chips), thereby completely canceling the nutritious aspect of this dinner. Also, this meal saved my bacon today; I forgot to thaw chicken or beef, and this was waiting in the wings, ready in about 30 minutes, start to finish.Family's thoughts: DH thought it was better-than-just-edible but not a meal that he'd request I make. Youngest was repulsed and struggled through a few bites. Oldest thought it was kinda gross, but mainly because she doesn't like seeing/eating chunks of tomatoes. Overall verdict: Well, I'm 0 for 2. Won't make this again -- I'd eat it, but I'm pretty sure that by the time I eat all the leftovers over the next couple of days, I'll be tired of it and never want it again. :glare: But for the record, the chicken noodle soup held up well overnight in the fridge; it made perfectly respectable leftovers today for lunch. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambam Posted August 10, 2016 Share Posted August 10, 2016 We like this chicken noodle soup recipe. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2014/01/chicken-noodle-soup-taste-test/index.htm I make a bunch of it - just the base (everything but the noodles, and without the additional water) and freeze it. When we want chicken noodle soup, or someone is sick, I can just pull out the base, thaw it, add water, and once boiling cook the noodles. Homemade soup. I add carrots though. I think chicken noodle soup needs carrots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted August 13, 2016 Author Share Posted August 13, 2016 (edited) Update #3: Crock Pot Chicken & Stuffing (see recipe link in 1st post) My thoughts: Not bad! It tasted very Thanksgiving-y. Chicken was very tender, and though the stuffing was a bit mushy, it was flavorful. Family's thoughts: DH thought it was very tasty. Youngest ate her serving up, minus a few bites of stuffing. Oldest decided she didn't like the way it looked and dug her heels in ("But Mommy! You eat first with your eyes!"). However, she did try a bit and conceded the chicken was fine but slightly slimy (everything is "slimy" to this kid). Overall verdict: There must be a way to adapt this recipe so that everyone likes it. It was very easy to prepare, though cleaning was a chore (I should've used those foil crock pot liners). Edited August 13, 2016 by alisoncooks 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_JWM Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 I serve tongue and I don't tell anyone what it is, other than beef. They've survived, thrived, and asked for seconds. Bwahahaha!!! Sent from my XT1049 using Tapatalk 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 I serve tongue and I don't tell anyone what it is, other than beef. They've survived, thrived, and asked for seconds. Bwahahaha!!! Sent from my XT1049 using Tapatalk You should change your username to "Mrs Quimby" :D 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemiSweet Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 I like Asian food but am not a pho fan! I had heard so much good stuff about it, so DH and I went to a highly recommended restaraunt on our wedding anniversary to try it. I though it was really, painfullu bland. I thought for sure I would love it but not so much. Pho is in my top five favorite foods but there is a trick, first, make sure you get pho with brisket and flank steak, chicken pho just doesn't compare. Next you have to properly "dress" it with a little bit of mint, lots of cilantro, bean sprouts, a jalapeño slice or two, hoisin sauce, and sriracha, adjusted for your preferred spice level. I hope you can make yourself try it again. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plateau Mama Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 For chicken soup I buy the shredded rotisserie chicken from Costco. So nice not to have to pick a roasted chicken apart. ;-). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted August 14, 2016 Author Share Posted August 14, 2016 For chicken soup I buy the shredded rotisserie chicken from Costco. So nice not to have to pick a roasted chicken apart. ;-). What?! Chicken already shredded? It might be worth it to get a Costco membership for just that! (I hate picking apart a rotisserie chicken...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plateau Mama Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 What?! Chicken already shredded? It might be worth it to get a Costco membership for just that! (I hate picking apart a rotisserie chicken...) It already shredded! It's their rotisserie chicken shredded. 2lb 10oz in a package. $11.99 ( I think) I usually make a batch of chicken soup and chicken pot pie out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfIOnly Posted August 15, 2016 Share Posted August 15, 2016 Pho is in my top five favorite foods but there is a trick, first, make sure you get pho with brisket and flank steak, chicken pho just doesn't compare. Next you have to properly "dress" it with a little bit of mint, lots of cilantro, bean sprouts, a jalapeño slice or two, hoisin sauce, and sriracha, adjusted for your preferred spice level. I hope you can make yourself try it again. :) I didn't know about all the toppings. Oops. I'll have to give it another try. Thank you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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