Trifecta

Tonight was special for a number of reasons:
1.  Morgan came to spend the night and hang out!
2.  My parents came over for dinner.
3.  The Mavs were on tv!!

Nights don't get much better or more exhausting (in a good way)!  For dinner tonight I tried a menu from Southern Living's Christmas Cookbook (latest edition) and was very pleased with the results.    The menu: Easy Weeknight Favorites, including Crispy Oven-Fried Catfish, Ranch Potatoes, Pecan Broccoli, and Rosemary Roasted Cherry Tomatoes.  This was one of those "all out" kind of nights and I don't understand how someone would call this an easy weeknight.  Nonetheless, none of the recipes were difficult and they were nice flavors.  I did enjoy the prep plan included in the cookbook to help you get everything on the table at the same time.  If I had actually followed it a little more closely, I am sure everything would have been the right temperature, too!  Oh, well...it tasted good. 

The first recipe I started was the Ranch Potatoes and I LOVED them.  Such simple flavors, such wonderful results!  If you are in the mood for great mashed potatoes, I recommend this heartily.  Morgan recommends them, too; she recommends potatoes of any kind.  Liked the bacon crumbles - but then again who in their right gastrointestinal mind doesn't like bacon crumbles?
Next I got started on the catfish.  Liked the buttermilk bath and the cajun seasoning (used PC Creole seasoning).  The catfish was breaded with crushed Corn Flakes and I liked the crunch produced.  I would definitely use this oven method in the future for all types of fish with different seasonings. 

Then the side dishes.  Both of them were nothing fancy, but had nice simple flavors.  I made everyone try a tomato (including myself) considering this was a tomato unfriendly crowd.  I made them  1. for my mom and 2. because I like the color.  I have to say they were actually pretty good.  Drew said they were, "too Italiany." (I am not kidding)  I would make them again for a tomato loving crowd or recommend the recipe.  The broccoli was good.  I don't think the procedure of the recipe really warranted the results.  What I mean by that is it was a lot of work for not that much different of a flavor than I would do when I make broccoli normally.  I think the editor of this particular recipe thought, "I want some broccoli and then I would like to do a lot of dishes.  Do you think I can accomplish these two goals with just this recipe?"  I would reply, "Yes."  I did four separate dishes for this one recipe!   You won't get me again broccoli editor (insert ridiculous George W. Bush imitation/joke here).
Overall a great "weeknight" menu.  I did not make the S'mores Sundaes that were included on this menu.  Instead we had the best ice cream known to man, courtesey of my parents.  Thanks for the Blue Bell, Mom and Dad!  We are looking forward to the Blueberry Cheesecake!
Mavs 113, Pistons 88