foodies - help me come up with a menu for tomorrow.

[ulysses]

Tomorrow is my first Father's Day as a dad, and Monday is our 13th anniversary, so I want to make something nice for lunch or dinner. I need main course, side, starch and dessert. Bear in mind that while I have today to prepare, Ms Uly will be out helping her mom clean a rental house today so I'll have the baby as my prep chef. :)

[bugslsu9]

1. Seeing as though it is father's day

What kind of food do you like? I can help with just about anything, so long as it is is not Asian Food.

[ulysses]

2. there's pretty much nothing I won't eat.

Ms Uly is the pickier of the two of us. :) We've done Italian a lot lately, we both love Thai but that's Asian. I cook a lot, so recipe difficulty probably won't matter much - within the range of my prep chef's age. :)

[bugslsu9]

3. But it still is Father's Day

It should be up to you to decide what type of food you want.

Main course: Kind of a reverse Chicken Parmesan, only it's baked, not fried

Ingredients:
Chicken:
2-3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
8 Oz. FRESH Mozzarella Cheese
1 tbls Fresh Oregano Chopped
1 Tbls Fresh Thyme Chopped
1/4-1/2 Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 tsp kosher or sea salt

Sauce:
20 Roma tomatoes, halved and seeded
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 cup finely diced onion
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon finely chopped oregano leaves
1 tablespoon finely chopped thyme leaves
1 cup white wine

Cut each breast length-wise making a pocket. Lightly salt the Mozz. Stuff the oregano and thyme into the cavity along with the Mozz, being careful to make sure you save enough for all of the breasts. Tie each breast up to make sure that the cheese and spices stay in the chicken.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
In 2 (13 by 9-inch) pans place tomato halves cut side up. Sprinkle with oil, salt and pepper, onion, garlic, and herbs. Bake tomatoes for 2 hours. Check the tomatoes after 1 hour and turn down the heat if they seem to be cooking too quickly. Then turn the oven to 400 degrees and bake another 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and process tomatoes through a food mill on medium dye setting over a small saucepan. Discard skins. Add white wine, bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cook for 5 minutes.

Pour the sauce over the chicken, and put the parmesan cheese on top. Put in a 350 degree oven for about 45 min. Serve over your favorite pasta.

Please note, the sauce recipe is actually Alton Brown's, from Good Eats. You can also use a a kicked up jar of Ragu

[ulysses]

4. thanks.

That recipe sounds good. It'll be either that or a pot roast, I think.

[bugslsu9]

5. Good Luck

Happy Father's Day!

[SOteric]

6. Any kind of roast will be both special, and easy to prepare

- though, I wouldn't leave the marinade to your prep chef.

If you're going with the pot roast, you've got your side dish all worked out already. Maybe add a tossed green salad and a berry shortcake assembled from a purchased pound cake and fresh berries. Add a special beverage and Bob's your proverbial uncle.

[ulysses]

7. that's about what I'm going to do, I think,

except that I'm going to make a strawberry/blueberry tart for dessert. :)

[MissMillie]

8. I'd skip the starch

If you make a pasta, you'll want a sauce, and given your limitations, that may be too much work.

If you must have a starch, bake a potato.

Otherwise, I suggest a steak on the grill, with a beautiful salad on the side (or, the baked potato).

You could try slicing some potatoes and wrapping them in some foil w/ some butter, onions, and fresh chive, and putting that on the grill w/ your steaks. That way all your cooking is done in one location. A lot less running around. You could put the baby in the stroller on the deck w/ you, and watch the baby and the grill w/ a cold one in your hand.

For dessert--simple is always best. How about some sherbet w/ some fresh fruit?

[ulysses]

9. we have to do starch.

Ms Uly and I are both great lovers of carbs. :) I think the pot roast is the plan - speaking of which, I should start it soon - w/ plenty of potatoes and carrots. :9

[MissMillie]

10. sounds good

it's going to be 91 here today... I wouldn't turn my oven on for anything.

Enjoy your meal and Happy Father's Day!