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suzieque_gw

LOOKING for: Ideas For Mom's Birthday

20 years ago

Hi folks -

My mother will be turning a very young 86 in a couple of weeks. I've invited 2 couples to her house for Sunday dinner; of course I'll be doing the cooking and clean-up.

One couple is adventurous, one isn't. My mother fancies herself a vegetarian, but that just means that she won't eat pork or red meat (unless it's a hamburger - LOL!). She'll eat chicken readily unless it looks like a chicken.

Hey - she's entitled. :-)

I'm an ok cook but not great, and since I live alone and don't always cook for myself, I don't have a large repertoire.

My mom loves French Onion Soup, so I might start with that. I had thought maybe lasagna (I have a favorite from Bon Apetit), but it's a bit spicy and I'm now pretty sure it's not a good idea.

Any thoughts on other options (and recipes, please) if I don't go the lasagna route (which I probably won't)?

Many thanks - - Suzieque

Comments (4)

  • 20 years ago

    You might like this one:
    YOGURT CHICKEN (serves 6-8)
    1 1/2 cups plain yogurt or light sour cream (I used yogurt)
    1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
    1 tsp onion salt
    1 tsp paprika
    1 tsp celery salt
    1 tsp Worcestershire
    16 oz pkg herb stuffing mix
    8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
    Pam (or just use vegetable oil)
    Melted butter

    Combine yogurt & next 5 ingredients. Marinate chicken in yogurt mixture overnight or at least 4 hours. Remove chicken & coat with herb stuffing mix. Place in a shallow baking dish that has been sprayed with Pam (or lightly coated with oil). Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 40 minutes. Jut before serving, drizzle each piece with a little melted butter, if desired.~~ food for Thought

    This is good with rice pilaf & a green vegetable of your choice, maybe green beans Amandine. If you don't want to use onion or celery salt, just substitute finely minced onino & celery.

  • 20 years ago

    I wound do a big stir fry and serve it over rice.
    You will be 6? Do you have or can you borrow a big wok.
    If so, just cut 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts into skinny strips ( it's easier if they are partly frozen) and marinate them in 2 tsps cornstarch, 1/2 cup water and 1 tsp soy sauce.
    Then cut up veggies...
    One onion
    5 stalks celery,
    1 bell pepper ( red or green)
    2 very small zucchini,
    1 cup broccoli florets,
    1/2 cup sliced mushrooms,
    1/4 cup snow peas washed and cut in half
    1/2 cup pineapple tidbits.
    Cut all up before hand and place in zip lock baggies...including the meat in the soy sauce mix.
    Feel free to leave anything out you don't care for or sub....like carrot buttons or halved cherry tomatoes for anything else.
    Cook the chicken first in about 1 1/2 T. oil, and when it loses the pink, remove it from the pan,,,,,wipe the pan add some more oil and cook the hard veggies ( onion, celery, peppers, broccoli, carrots etc) and when they have cooked a little, add the rest of the veggies, with pineapple and or tomatoes last.
    Cook until as done as you like add the cooked chicken.....mix 1/4 cup juice ( pineapple is good!) and 1 tsp soy sauce with 1 1/2 tsps corn starch,,,,stir until smooth and add to the pan and cook until thickened.
    Serve over rice.
    If you don't have a wok.....a big fry pan will do....
    Linda C

  • 20 years ago

    My Mom is going to be 85 soon. With age comes some gastric problems and it seems like they just don't do the highly seasoned foods. Chewing can also be a problem. You might think about foods they were real familiar with 30 yrs ago... things like pot roast, pork roast (don't forget the applesauce), ham, salmon patties, chicken pot pie, chicken 'n dumplings, these are comfort foods that the older folks really like, especially if they don't cook much anymore. My mom still likes a jello salad too.

    Nancy

  • 20 years ago

    Thanks!

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