American food recipes??

Post by **karen** » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:51 pm

I'm trying to figure out what to cook during MIL's visit- and I'm out of practice (DH and I eat takeout most nights- I like to work late). When we visit her we eat French food,or whatever interesting specialty she whips up- and that's one of my favorite parts.

I have a few things in mind- Upstate New York specialties like Speedies, Salt Potatoes, Jello (invented in LeRoy, NY- about 2 hours from here), and I'm going to try Mikie's bean dish, and Sam's shrimp, maybe some meat loaf or pot roast- but after that I'm lost.

Any suggestions? We're all pretty adventurous when it comes to food.

lcash · Post by **lcash** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:10 am

How 'bout roasting a turkey for an early Thanksgiving-style dinner? If I don't want to heat up the house, I use an electric roaster and cook in the garage or on the patio. Then you'll also have lots of left-overs for soup, sandwiches, etc. Shishkebabs (sp?) are easy to make on the barbecue and fun to get the family involved in putting them together. I've done barbecue skewers with shrimp, scallaps wrapped in bacon, chicken, turkey, beef and pork roast. We have a favorite barbecue potato dish we call "cheesy potatos." We cut up potatos into strips (like narrow french fries), wrap up about one potato's worth in heavy foil with a bit of butter and any cheese you have laying around (cheddar's my favorite). Salt, pepper, and Mrs. Dash (or whatever suits your fancy.) Lay the flat packages on the grill and turn regularly. Salmon on the barbecue is really easy. Cover the grate with heavy foil, put lots of lemon pepper on the salmon, place it on the foil skin-side down, close the cover and cook until it just flakes in the thickest part. Serve with a salad, crunchy rolls, fresh veggies, etc. As you can see, I'm not big on fussy food. I'm a born-and-raised New England meat and potatos (and corn on the cob!) gal. Have fun!

Xarata · Post by **Xarata** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:42 am

hmmmm...American, eh?

-I'm from PA so we have the Dutch influence (lots of potatoes- I really love herbed red potatoes cooked with thyme and buttered with a little salt-you can also buy mixed bags of little potatoes that include white and PURPLE which i think is fun- they remind me of geodes when you slice them in half).

-It is summer so what's more American summer than corn-on-the-cob? maybe Apple pie? lol (now i have that song stuck in my head- baseball, hotdogs, apple pie, and chevrolet...)

-Hint for the shrimp. I don't know about NY but if your grocery stores are anything like mine(do you have Giant?) you can get fresh ones steamed at the counter with oldbay and bring them home for a pretty reasonable price (if you want enough for a bunch of people). Peel and eat. We do it for my birthday every year.

-It might be cute to make something french for her. Like bignets or something? That or make a whole bunch of the American "french" foods (french toast, french fries, french cut green beans...)

Rhys · Post by **Rhys** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:30 am

I think cornbread is American - haven't made it in ages, but it's nice. Other than that, all I can think of is that abomination (well, not really), called American chop suey - hamburger, macaroni, and tinned stewed tomatoes - with a dash of oregano for flavour.

Home-made macaroni and cheese might count, though - it's a great deal more edible than the boxed counterpart.

Post by **karen** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 3:11 am

You're all wonderful!!! Thank you so much- duh TURKEY- how could I have forgotten!!! You can't get much more American than that- and I'll get to hear her turkey smuggling story again so that's a huge bonus. Somehow she managed to smuggle half a plane load of frozen turkeys into Bangladesh by bribing the customs guys with Playboys- now I have to cook a turkey just to hear the story again!

Sam- I totally thought about that scene from "Better Off Dead" when you said that- Fronch Fries, Fronch Bread, Fronch Dressing- DH suggested French Toast, and I'm really tempted to make some good old fashioned PA Dutch scrapple to go with it. I fell in love with scrapple before I was old enough to know what went in it (or be grossed-out by it). I do make pretty good crepes. We have a Menonite grocery store down the road- I should take her there because it's so cool- and they have whoopie pies!

We could do a clam bake! Corn on the cob,potatoes, clams- yummy!

Rhys- I love Kraft Dinner! Not sure she will- but mmmm orangie goodness.

lcash · Post by **lcash** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:22 am

Now we're on a roll! How 'bout Boston Cream Pie, New York Cheese Cake, California Dip, Vermont maple syrup on pancakes or waffles, Boston Baked Beans, Maine lobsters - heck, with a little creativity you could work your way down the coast and across the country!! Don't forget fried chicken, bacon and eggs, biscuits and grits, watermelon...Okay, now I'm hungry. Going to wake up hubby and drag him out to breakfast!!

Lauren

lcash · Post by **lcash** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:25 am

How could I forget my most favorite food? New England Clam Chowder with little oyster crackers to float in it! L.

~*mikie*~ · Post by **~*mikie*~** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:01 am

You've made me hungry!!! Michael's whipping up some french toast now! I am *so* NOT a cook,lol, but even I can handle that. All the ideas are *great*! Clambake sounds wonderful! Especially at a lake, sigh!

mikie

stagemama · Post by **stagemama** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:27 am

Summer turkey dinner on the Webber Grill, yum. I'm thinking of the pumpkin pie right now. Watergate salad, and something we've caught ourselves. This time of the year would have to be Lake Trout. Fresh corn dish, I used to make something like corn custard, or pudding , can't remember what it is called.
Fresh NYS mashed potatoes.
In case you haven't guessed,,,, stagemama ,,,, Karen's mom.
When she was little, she always chose turkey dinner for her birthday dinner.

Good thing I just had breakfast, or I'd want french toast with scrabble on the side. We do have good maple syrup from right up the road.

Boiled ham and beans, my MIL made the best beans ever. At lunch they were soupy beans, served over a slab of white bread topped with lots of butter.
Then for the evening she made baked beans. My neighbor adds dumplings to the boiled ham and beans, but I've never tried that.

Fresh chicken corn soup, is good for a day or two, and I just thought, she should catch a local chicken bar-b-que. T-burg has at least one for sale every weekend.
There might even be a harvest dinner somewhere in the area.
We love looking through the old regional church type cookbooks. I'll have to rustle up a bunch to take to the lake.
Enjoy your day

~*mikie*~ · Post by **~*mikie*~** » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:31 am

Hi there!!! SO nice to see you here! Have a BALL at the lake ~ & *make* your daughter slow down & relax,lol. >>>Hammock<<<

mikie

: DSC00295 mikie.jpg (6.09 KiB) Viewed 4878 times

American food recipes??

American food recipes??

Re: American food recipes??

Re: American food recipes??

Re: American food recipes??

Re: American food recipes??

Re: American food recipes??

Re: American food recipes??

Re: American food recipes??

Re: American food recipes??

Re: American food recipes??