Challenging dinner guests

"Ginny Sher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A few friends are coming over for dinner for game night. There will
be 6 of us including my best friend and her husband. He is vegetarian
(eats seafood & dairy) but recently has had an angioplasty, so he is
being more careful about diet. I understand he gave us cheese but not
much else. His wife and my dearest friend is also vegetarian; she
eats the Pritikin diet... She makes some very small compromises, but
not many. Everyone else is easy.

The menu will be:

Artichokes (gotta have 'em while they're in season)
Grilled salmon basted with Roasted Chipotle Raspberry Sauce
Cornbread (leftover and frozen from last weeks dinner with other
guests)
Key Lime Cheesecake ( I made this last night and licked the bowl
clean. Simple and delicious. I'll post recipe later)
Fresh strawberries with a bowl of sour cream and brown sugar to dip
them in.

I need something to be included on the dinner plate with the salmon.
I was thinking of some black bean dish but I've drawn a blank. Maybe
it should be a green salad... possibly with beans in it?? If any of
you have suggestions, ya know... I am always grateful.

Ginny

Black beans give some people MUCH worse digestive discomfort than other
kinds of beans. Pain, in other words. I'd avoid that idea if I were you,
unless you know these people already like black beans in their various
forms.

On Fri 18 Mar 2005 06:57:33a, Ginny Sher wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

A few friends are coming over for dinner for game night. There will
be 6 of us including my best friend and her husband. He is vegetarian
(eats seafood & dairy) but recently has had an angioplasty, so he is
being more careful about diet. I understand he gave us cheese but not
much else. His wife and my dearest friend is also vegetarian; she
eats the Pritikin diet... She makes some very small compromises, but
not many. Everyone else is easy.

The menu will be:

Artichokes (gotta have 'em while they're in season)
Grilled salmon basted with Roasted Chipotle Raspberry Sauce
Cornbread (leftover and frozen from last weeks dinner with other
guests)
Key Lime Cheesecake ( I made this last night and licked the bowl
clean. Simple and delicious. I'll post recipe later)
Fresh strawberries with a bowl of sour cream and brown sugar to dip
them in.

I need something to be included on the dinner plate with the salmon.
I was thinking of some black bean dish but I've drawn a blank. Maybe
it should be a green salad... possibly with beans in it?? If any of
you have suggestions, ya know... I am always grateful.

Ginny

What about this black bean salad from Alton Brown, served on a bed of
greens?

2 cups dried black beans
1/2 celery stalk
1/2 carrot
A few sprigs fresh thyme
A few sprigs fresh parsley
1 bay leaf
1/2 onion
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup lime juice
1 red onion, minced
A handful fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
Kosher salt and pepper

Tie the celery, carrot, thyme, parsley, and bay leaf into a bundle using
cotton butcher?s twine. Place the beans, bundle, and onion into a pot. Add
just enough water to barely cover the beans. Bring to a simmer, partially
cover, and cook for 1 to 2 hours until beans are barely tender.
After 30 minutes, add the salt to the beans. Occasionally check on the
beans and add water to cover the beans, if needed.

When beans are just barely tender, drain them and remove the carrot bundle.
Toss the beans while hot with the olive oil, lime juice, onion, cilantro,
cumin, and chili powder. Chill thoroughly and season with salt and pepper.

Note: I would also add some fresh sliced raw celery to the beans after
cooking.

--
Wayne Boatwright
____________________________________________

Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day.
Sam Goldwyn, 1882-1974

Quoted message said:

What about this black bean salad from Alton Brown, served on a bed of
greens?

2 cups dried black beans
1/2 celery stalk
1/2 carrot
A few sprigs fresh thyme
A few sprigs fresh parsley
1 bay leaf
1/2 onion
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup lime juice
1 red onion, minced
A handful fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
Kosher salt and pepper

Tie the celery, carrot, thyme, parsley, and bay leaf into a bundle using
cotton butcher?s twine. Place the beans, bundle, and onion into a pot. Add
just enough water to barely cover the beans. Bring to a simmer, partially
cover, and cook for 1 to 2 hours until beans are barely tender.
After 30 minutes, add the salt to the beans. Occasionally check on the
beans and add water to cover the beans, if needed.

When beans are just barely tender, drain them and remove the carrot bundle.
Toss the beans while hot with the olive oil, lime juice, onion, cilantro,
cumin, and chili powder. Chill thoroughly and season with salt and pepper.

Note: I would also add some fresh sliced raw celery to the beans after
cooking.

That sounds good. I like that it has some chili flavoring because I'm
also using the chipotle sauce and it might go nicely together.

For clarity, would the beans be served in a pile on top of greens...
or tossed throughout?

Many thanks,
Ginny

Doug Kanter said:

"Ginny Sher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A few friends are coming over for dinner for game night. There will
be 6 of us including my best friend and her husband. He is vegetarian
(eats seafood & dairy) but recently has had an angioplasty, so he is
being more careful about diet. I understand he gave us cheese but not
much else. His wife and my dearest friend is also vegetarian; she
eats the Pritikin diet... She makes some very small compromises, but
not many. Everyone else is easy.

The menu will be:

Artichokes (gotta have 'em while they're in season)
Grilled salmon basted with Roasted Chipotle Raspberry Sauce
Cornbread (leftover and frozen from last weeks dinner with other
guests)
Key Lime Cheesecake ( I made this last night and licked the bowl
clean. Simple and delicious. I'll post recipe later)
Fresh strawberries with a bowl of sour cream and brown sugar to dip
them in.

I need something to be included on the dinner plate with the salmon.
I was thinking of some black bean dish but I've drawn a blank. Maybe
it should be a green salad... possibly with beans in it?? If any of
you have suggestions, ya know... I am always grateful.

Ginny

Black beans give some people MUCH worse digestive discomfort than other
kinds of beans. Pain, in other words. I'd avoid that idea if I were you,
unless you know these people already like black beans in their various
forms.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm pretty sure these people eat a lot of
beans regularly so I don't think there would be any problem.

Ginny

Quoted message said:

What about this black bean salad from Alton Brown, served on a bed of
greens?

2 cups dried black beans
1/2 celery stalk
1/2 carrot
A few sprigs fresh thyme
A few sprigs fresh parsley
1 bay leaf
1/2 onion
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup lime juice
1 red onion, minced
A handful fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
Kosher salt and pepper

Tie the celery, carrot, thyme, parsley, and bay leaf into a bundle using
cotton butcher?s twine. Place the beans, bundle, and onion into a pot. Add
just enough water to barely cover the beans. Bring to a simmer, partially
cover, and cook for 1 to 2 hours until beans are barely tender.
After 30 minutes, add the salt to the beans. Occasionally check on the
beans and add water to cover the beans, if needed.

When beans are just barely tender, drain them and remove the carrot bundle.
Toss the beans while hot with the olive oil, lime juice, onion, cilantro,
cumin, and chili powder. Chill thoroughly and season with salt and pepper.

Note: I would also add some fresh sliced raw celery to the beans after
cooking.

Wayne... do you think this would also need a salad dressing? (I just
happen to have several limes leftover from the pie.)

Ginny

"Ginny Sher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Black beans give some people MUCH worse digestive discomfort than other
kinds of beans. Pain, in other words. I'd avoid that idea if I were you,
unless you know these people already like black beans in their various
forms.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm pretty sure these people eat a lot of
beans regularly so I don't think there would be any problem.

Ginny

I wasn't clear about this. I know people who eat beans 10 times a week.
Kidney beans, pinto beans, fava beans, navy beans, all kinds. They get VERY
nasty reactions to black beans.

It does NOT matter how often your guests eat other beans. Your conclusion
that "there wouldn't be any problem" is based on air. Go ahead with your
plans, but have another side dish ready in case you see people avoiding the
black beans.

"Ginny Sher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

A few friends are coming over for dinner for game night. There will
be 6 of us including my best friend and her husband. He is vegetarian
(eats seafood & dairy) but recently has had an angioplasty, so he is
being more careful about diet. I understand he gave us cheese but not
much else. His wife and my dearest friend is also vegetarian; she
eats the Pritikin diet... She makes some very small compromises, but
not many. Everyone else is easy.

The menu will be:

Artichokes (gotta have 'em while they're in season)
Grilled salmon basted with Roasted Chipotle Raspberry Sauce
Cornbread (leftover and frozen from last weeks dinner with other
guests)
Key Lime Cheesecake ( I made this last night and licked the bowl
clean. Simple and delicious. I'll post recipe later)
Fresh strawberries with a bowl of sour cream and brown sugar to dip
them in.

I need something to be included on the dinner plate with the salmon.
I was thinking of some black bean dish but I've drawn a blank. Maybe
it should be a green salad... possibly with beans in it?? If any of
you have suggestions, ya know... I am always grateful.

Ginny

Beans and rice are the perfect meat (protein) replacement. We have a
vegetarian in our family Cheese is also a good source of protein.

Dimitri

Doug Kanter said:

"Ginny Sher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Black beans give some people MUCH worse digestive discomfort than other
kinds of beans. Pain, in other words. I'd avoid that idea if I were you,
unless you know these people already like black beans in their various
forms.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm pretty sure these people eat a lot of
beans regularly so I don't think there would be any problem.

Ginny

I wasn't clear about this. I know people who eat beans 10 times a week.
Kidney beans, pinto beans, fava beans, navy beans, all kinds. They get VERY
nasty reactions to black beans.

It does NOT matter how often your guests eat other beans. Your conclusion
that "there wouldn't be any problem" is based on air. Go ahead with your
plans, but have another side dish ready in case you see people avoiding the
black beans.

Thanks, I'll check with my guests before I commit to a black bean
dish.

Ginny Sher said:

The menu will be:

Artichokes (gotta have 'em while they're in season)
Grilled salmon basted with Roasted Chipotle Raspberry Sauce
Cornbread (leftover and frozen from last weeks dinner with other
guests)
Key Lime Cheesecake ( I made this last night and licked the bowl
clean. Simple and delicious. I'll post recipe later)
Fresh strawberries with a bowl of sour cream and brown sugar to dip
them in.

I need something to be included on the dinner plate with the salmon.
[snip]

Couscous. Very fast and easy, very flexible. Goes better with salmon
than beans, imho. -aem

Doug Kanter said:

"Ginny Sher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Black beans give some people MUCH worse digestive discomfort than other
kinds of beans. Pain, in other words. I'd avoid that idea if I were you,
unless you know these people already like black beans in their various
forms.

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm pretty sure these people eat a lot of
beans regularly so I don't think there would be any problem.

Ginny

I wasn't clear about this. I know people who eat beans 10 times a week.
Kidney beans, pinto beans, fava beans, navy beans, all kinds. They get VERY
nasty reactions to black beans.

It does NOT matter how often your guests eat other beans. Your conclusion
that "there wouldn't be any problem" is based on air. Go ahead with your
plans, but have another side dish ready in case you see people avoiding the
black beans.

This is news to me. I love black beans, and have never seen anyone
avoid them.

Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a

Let us restore integrity and honor to the White House

Or orzo pasta, with roasted red peppers, onions and wilted spinach,
simply dressed in good olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh parsley.

Steve

Ginny Sher said:

A few friends are coming over for dinner for game night. There will
be 6 of us including my best friend and her husband. He is vegetarian
(eats seafood & dairy) but recently has had an angioplasty, so he is
being more careful about diet. I understand he gave us cheese but not
much else. His wife and my dearest friend is also vegetarian; she
eats the Pritikin diet... She makes some very small compromises, but
not many. Everyone else is easy.

The menu will be:

Artichokes (gotta have 'em while they're in season)
Grilled salmon basted with Roasted Chipotle Raspberry Sauce
Cornbread (leftover and frozen from last weeks dinner with other
guests)
Key Lime Cheesecake ( I made this last night and licked the bowl
clean. Simple and delicious. I'll post recipe later)
Fresh strawberries with a bowl of sour cream and brown sugar to dip
them in.

I need something to be included on the dinner plate with the salmon.
I was thinking of some black bean dish but I've drawn a blank. Maybe
it should be a green salad... possibly with beans in it?? If any of
you have suggestions, ya know... I am always grateful.

Definitely a green salad. Crunchy with some of the green good 'n' dark.

Priscilla

"Rodney Myrvaagnes" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Doug Kanter said:

"Ginny Sher" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

>Black beans give some people MUCH worse digestive discomfort than other
>kinds of beans. Pain, in other words. I'd avoid that idea if I were you,
>unless you know these people already like black beans in their various
>forms.
>
Thanks for the heads-up. I'm pretty sure these people eat a lot of
beans regularly so I don't think there would be any problem.

Ginny

I wasn't clear about this. I know people who eat beans 10 times a week.
Kidney beans, pinto beans, fava beans, navy beans, all kinds. They get
VERY
nasty reactions to black beans.

It does NOT matter how often your guests eat other beans. Your conclusion
that "there wouldn't be any problem" is based on air. Go ahead with your
plans, but have another side dish ready in case you see people avoiding
the
black beans.

This is news to me. I love black beans, and have never seen anyone
avoid them.

Hey....I love mayonnaise, but I see lots of people avoid it.

Ginny Sher said:

A few friends are coming over for dinner for game night. There will
be 6 of us including my best friend and her husband. He is vegetarian
(eats seafood & dairy) but recently has had an angioplasty, so he is
being more careful about diet. I understand he gave us cheese but not
much else. His wife and my dearest friend is also vegetarian; she
eats the Pritikin diet... She makes some very small compromises, but
not many. Everyone else is easy.

Sorry, but I make it a rule not to invite people with vegetarian diets for
dinner. I prefer to wait 6 months for them to get back into meat, Find
some other occasion to invite them for, but leave the enjoyment of good
food to people who don't choose to refrain from the basics of our human
diet.

On Fri 18 Mar 2005 07:45:34a, Ginny Sher wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What about this black bean salad from Alton Brown, served on a bed of
greens?

2 cups dried black beans
1/2 celery stalk
1/2 carrot
A few sprigs fresh thyme
A few sprigs fresh parsley
1 bay leaf
1/2 onion
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup lime juice
1 red onion, minced
A handful fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
Kosher salt and pepper

Tie the celery, carrot, thyme, parsley, and bay leaf into a bundle using
cotton butcher?s twine. Place the beans, bundle, and onion into a pot.
Add just enough water to barely cover the beans. Bring to a simmer,
partially cover, and cook for 1 to 2 hours until beans are barely
tender. After 30 minutes, add the salt to the beans. Occasionally check
on the beans and add water to cover the beans, if needed.

When beans are just barely tender, drain them and remove the carrot
bundle. Toss the beans while hot with the olive oil, lime juice, onion,
cilantro, cumin, and chili powder. Chill thoroughly and season with salt
and pepper.

Note: I would also add some fresh sliced raw celery to the beans after
cooking.

That sounds good. I like that it has some chili flavoring because I'm
also using the chipotle sauce and it might go nicely together.

For clarity, would the beans be served in a pile on top of greens...
or tossed throughout?

Many thanks,
Ginny

I would serve it on top of the greens.

--
Wayne Boatwright
____________________________________________

Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day.
Sam Goldwyn, 1882-1974

On Fri 18 Mar 2005 07:53:18a, Ginny Sher wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What about this black bean salad from Alton Brown, served on a bed of
greens?

2 cups dried black beans
1/2 celery stalk
1/2 carrot
A few sprigs fresh thyme
A few sprigs fresh parsley
1 bay leaf
1/2 onion
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup lime juice
1 red onion, minced
A handful fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
Kosher salt and pepper

Tie the celery, carrot, thyme, parsley, and bay leaf into a bundle using
cotton butcher?s twine. Place the beans, bundle, and onion into a pot.
Add just enough water to barely cover the beans. Bring to a simmer,
partially cover, and cook for 1 to 2 hours until beans are barely
tender. After 30 minutes, add the salt to the beans. Occasionally check
on the beans and add water to cover the beans, if needed.

When beans are just barely tender, drain them and remove the carrot
bundle. Toss the beans while hot with the olive oil, lime juice, onion,
cilantro, cumin, and chili powder. Chill thoroughly and season with salt
and pepper.

Note: I would also add some fresh sliced raw celery to the beans after
cooking.

Wayne... do you think this would also need a salad dressing? (I just
happen to have several limes leftover from the pie.)

Ginny

It certainly couldn't hurt to have a nice lime vinaigrette, perhaps an
extension of the mix the beans are tossed with, and perhaps in a small
pitcher or bowl on the table.

--
Wayne Boatwright
____________________________________________

Give me a smart idiot over a stupid genius any day.
Sam Goldwyn, 1882-1974

"Dave Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ginny Sher said:

A few friends are coming over for dinner for game night. There will
be 6 of us including my best friend and her husband. He is vegetarian
(eats seafood & dairy) but recently has had an angioplasty, so he is
being more careful about diet. I understand he gave us cheese but not
much else. His wife and my dearest friend is also vegetarian; she
eats the Pritikin diet... She makes some very small compromises, but
not many. Everyone else is easy.

Sorry, but I make it a rule not to invite people with vegetarian diets for
dinner. I prefer to wait 6 months for them to get back into meat, Find
some other occasion to invite them for, but leave the enjoyment of good
food to people who don't choose to refrain from the basics of our human
diet.

Anyone who eats fish is not a vegetarian. Case closed. Unless a higher power
has elevated fish to vegetable status while I was not looking.

--
Peter Aitken

Remove the [censored] from my email address before using.

Dave Smith said:

Ginny Sher said:

A few friends are coming over for dinner for game night. There will
be 6 of us including my best friend and her husband. He is vegetarian
(eats seafood & dairy) but recently has had an angioplasty, so he is
being more careful about diet. I understand he gave us cheese but not
much else. His wife and my dearest friend is also vegetarian; she
eats the Pritikin diet... She makes some very small compromises, but
not many. Everyone else is easy.

Sorry, but I make it a rule not to invite people with vegetarian diets for
dinner. I prefer to wait 6 months for them to get back into meat, Find
some other occasion to invite them for, but leave the enjoyment of good
food to people who don't choose to refrain from the basics of our human
diet.

6 months or 6 years.... it won't make a difference. My girlfriend has
followed Pritkin lifestyle for probably 20 years. Her husband has
also been a vegetarian for at least 10 years. Until recently, he ate
everything else yummy like cheese, desserts, etc. but the doctor put
him on a restricted diet.

Ginny

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. They'll be here in about 4
hours... I better hurry up and decide what to serve.

Ginny