Father's Day '09

I hosted Father's Day dinner last night. It was nice, although, a few members of the family were still full from the luncheon they had at Church; so, they weren't so hungry for dinner. I tried a few new recipes, and I think they turned out okay. Of course, there are always lessons to learn from trial-and-error; so, hopefully, the next time, it'll turn out even better. One of the things that I struggle the most with, is how not to overcook chicken breast; since, it's been turning out a little dry. I know that I've done it before, but, I don't know what I did to make it turn out well those times. This is what I prepared for last night's dinner:

• Beef stew
• Chicken and Mushroom
• Fish & Ginger Stir-fry
• Yams
• Snow Pea and Tofu
• Pea Tip Stir-fry
• Bok Choy Soup

The Beef Stew is a tried and true recipe; except that I have not yet determined what is the best beef to use. I was able to buy London Broil on sale this time, and it was good; but, probably not the most cost effective choice continually. The chicken and mushroom had good flavor; but, I don't have a large enough steamer to do it all at once (I had to do batches); and the chicken didn't turn out so well. This was a new recipe, so I'm sure I can improve upon it. I should probably use wings next time, instead of the chicken breast. The fish, using a new recipe, actually turned out really well. Coating them in corn starch really did help them to pan fry better and keep from falling apart. The yams, again a new recipe, tasted really good. They were baked and then broiled with honey and maple syrup. I would definitely do this again; and next time, I would broil them longer, since the glazed coating when crunchy is really good. With the snow peas and tofu, I put a little too much cornstarch when making the tofu. I would cut back on that next time, and try to add more flavoring. And the snow peas weren't cooked enough, probably because I had a little too much. The pea tip stir-fry was simple and lightly sauteed with garlic. I haven't had it for awhile, and I've always liked it. As vegetables go, it's a little more expensive; but, it's easy to cook, tastes good, and is healthy. For the soup, I kept it simple. I did overcook the bok choy a little; but, that was only because I was cooking other things in parallel and not watching as closely. What I did differently was I cut the bok choy into small chunks. It was easier to eat; and looked nice. Adding tofu to it, would've worked also. After dinner, I watched the premier of Merlin. It was quite a good show. The special effects were good; and the story-line was interesting. Also, it gives a different perspective, with Merlin and Arthur still young, and we can see how they would eventually develop into legendary characters. I'm sorry that Crusoe was cancelled last season, but, I'm glad that NBC has added this show the line-up. I hope it is here to stay. At Church, we had our annual car show and pancake breakfast. I think it's a great tradition; and it's fun. It was also nice to have a break, since I didn't have to teach class or run the projector. The message continued the End Times timeline, and with what is stated in Scripture, it made sense that the Day of the Lord would be the first day of a period that starts with the rapture, through the seven year tribulation, and finishes at the end of the millennial reign. The weekend went by fast; but, I'm grateful to have one. All I did Saturday was go grocery shopping and the early food preparation. Friday night, I did get together with my friend to celebrate her Birthday. We had dinner at Dominic's. The food seemed better the last time I went; but, it was still okay. I had the Baked Halibut, and it seemed really healthy. Afterwards, we took at walk at Seal Beach and then "hung out" at my place. I hope that my friendship is an encouragement to her; and that the time spent, the conversations, and the gift are a blessing to her. Well, another weekend is over; and it's time to tackle a brand new work week.