Adios Amigos!

We have a super-special menu for you for our last Tuesday delivery of the year, so make sure you don't miss out!!

Tuesday, May 21st:  Adios Amigos Taco Fiesta

Smoked Chicken Chipotle Tacos

for the Tacos:  flour or corn tortillas, refried beans, Homesick Slaw, shredded cheese, homemade salsa

Way Back When Wedge Salad

for the Wedge:  bacon, Zesty Corn & Black Bean Salsa, Lime Feta Vinaigrette

Vegetarian Version:  Roasted Zucchini & Potato Chipotle Tacos

Substitute for Chicken:  Shrimp Chipotle Tacos ($6)

Optional Extra:  Ninfa's Green Sauce, Mimi's Queso & Chips ($10)

Kids' Meal:  Plain Chicken Soft Tacos ($6)

Dessert:  Chocolate Pop Rock Rice Krispie Treats ($6)

GYTTW Meals:

• Goat Cheese Lasagna with Italian Sausage or Butternut Squash ($30)
• Company Shrimp & Cheese Grits ($20/$30)
• Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole ($20/$25)
• Hit the Grill Flank Steak & Salad ($30/$35)
• Make Your Own Pizza Pack ($22/$30)

Other Goodies:

• Fresh Salad Pack ($10)
• Fresh Veggie Bag ($6)
• Quart of Fresh Fruit ($6)
• Cilantro Jalapeno Ranch Dressing ($10 in 16 oz reusable bottle)
• Camino Bakery Pumpkin Bread ($5)
• Camino Bakery Cinnamon Raisin Bread ($6)
• Vantastic Pimento Cheese ($5, regular or spicy)

If I had to bet, I'd guess that the most-used phrase among parents of school-aged children - said in May with a mix of shock and nostalgia - is "It feels like the school year just started!"  We say it because it's true, of course, but also because it's such a different experience from the way time moves when you first have a baby.  When you have a tiny baby, each day seems to linger, with various nap and snack breaks and different blocks of time setting a steady and predictable pace.  It can feel like the hours between afternoon nap and bedtime will never end.  When people shake their finger at you and offer the novel advice that "they grow up so fast, so enjoy it while you can," you want to strangle them, but you also don't quite get it, because it seems like they will never be out of diapers or sleep through the night or stop rejecting every single piece of food you give them.  And then, one day, you pack a tiny bag with a change of clothes and a new box of crayons, and they walk out the door to Kindergarten.  Surprise!  In what feels like 24 hours, Kindergarten is over and you are standing there wondering what the hell just happened.  And from then on, in my experience thus far, time only speeds up.

Parenthood appears to have some similarities to riding a roller coaster at an amusement park.  While your children are very young, you are waiting in line, you are simultaneously enjoying the anticipation of the fun you will have, dreading the scary parts, and also convinced that the line is not moving and you will never get to the front.  You can see that there are people getting on and off, so you have faith that it will happen, but it's impossible to experience the sensation of how it will feel when you are really flying around the loops and crashing down at a million miles an hour until you are actually doing it.  And when it's finally your turn, it goes so fast that furiously that there's no room in your head for even a single thought to form - you're just holding on for dear life, hoping everyone makes it out alive.  But it's awesome and so fun and you get off the ride a little shaky, maybe a little queasy, but laughing and turning to your friends to point out how funny they looked going upside down and how loud you screamed plummeting down to the ground.  But it's over, and you can't quite catch the feeling in your hand again, even by talking about it or looking at the goofy pictures they try to sell at the end.  Such is parenthood, I am starting to realize.  Our oldest child just turned 10 and our youngest is almost 5, which still seems so young, but I feel like we're on the ride and it's picking up speed so fast it makes my head spin and my hair grey.  As another school year is ending for my kids, it's dawning on me that it's as impossible to slow down their childhoods as it would be to slow a roller coaster down, so we just have to buckle in and enjoy it for the little blink of time it will last.

And that's when I am seized by the desperate urge to tell other parents whose children have not yet crossed the threshold that they should enjoy every minute they can, because it won't last forever.  I took this picture of my three kids the other evening, and I feel some sort of pre-nostalgia looking at it, like I know that when they are 25, I'll look back at it and just wish so much that I could have that day back for a minute.  

So, none of that has a thing to do with food, or DOTP, or anything that I should be writing about, but in all honesty, I cannot believe that another entire year has passed and this is the last Tuesday dinner delivery until Fall!  It's been such a fun year, and we've got some exciting plans for the fall, but before all that, here's what's on the menu for this week!

Smoked Chicken Chipotle Tacos hit all the high notes that a good dinner should:  lots of flavor, healthy ingredients, an easy meal for each person to customize to suit his or her own taste, and all-around deliciousness!  You will load up your soft tacos with chicken and then any and all other of the great sides we provide for your enjoyment:  Matt and I like ours with everything (which usually results in some spillage out of the taco since we tend to overload), but Gus likes chicken and salsa only, Ruby is a vegetarian and prefers just cheese and beans, and Finn likes chicken, lettuce & cheese.  If you're feeling creative, you could stage a naming contest at your table, where each person creates and names their favorite taco (I'm not above introducing the element of sibling rivalry to get people to try new things around here!).

Normally, we serve this meal with a simple Southwest Salad, but we loved the Wedge Salad we made a few months back so much, that we wanted to pair it with this fun meal.  A Wedge may be a throwback to the 70s, but the years cannot disguise that it still has it going on.  Top your wedge with bacon & Corn Salsa, drizzle with our Lime Feta Vinaigrette, and let yourself get lost in the memories (and flavor!).

You can also just pile all of the dinner elements together into a fabulous Taco Salad (or enjoy one for lunch the next day with the leftovers).  We're just saying that your dinner options are limited only by your own imagination, and I know you all are a very creative bunch, so we know it will be good!  If you are looking for a gluten-free menu, just choose corn tortillas and you are good to go with the rest of the meal.  For low-carb lovers, simply leave out the tortillas altogether and enjoy a delicious and low-carb option!

If you want to make this whole Tuesday dinner thing into more of an event, include some Ninfa's & Mimi's Queso for a pre-dinner appetizer that will get you in the mood for your fiesta dinner.  Make sure to chill some good beer & have a few limes handy!

Finally, celebrate Memorial Day and, for some of us, the end of school, with a fun dessert of Chocolate Pop Rock Rice Krispie Treats - we really can't think of anything more fun than exploding chocolate, can you?!

This week's GYTTW meals are all-time favorites, and we're making them for you this week because we want to make sure you're all stocked-up for the beginning of summer while we're off!

• Keep Goat Cheese Lasagnas handy in your freezer for gifts, parties, weekend trips and just busy nights, and you'll be all set in a pinch.
• Enjoy delicious Company Shrimp and Grits anytime - they are great & easy for a dinner party with a green salad and nice bread, so you can have fun without all the work.
• Kids and grown-ups alike love our Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole - it's fun and tasty, and a lot less messy than grilling up bacon cheeseburgers!
• When you are in the mood to grill, our Hit the Grill Flank Steak with Sriracha Honey Lime Marinade is a perfect centerpiece to an outdoor meal.  The steak is frozen, so you can keep it until you are ready for a party, then just thaw, marinate, and grill it up just the way you like!  Serve it with our Fresh Salad Pack (included) for a light dinner, or add your own sides for a hearty meal for a group!  Regular size include a 2 lb steak, large includes 2.5+ lb steak.
• Make Your Own Pizza Packs are just good common sense - keep one on hand for busy weeknights, fun Friday nights dinners for the kids, or an easy dinner handoff to a babysitter when you're off on a date night!  We've heard lots of good feedback from young and old fans alike!

That's all the meal goodness we have this week, but round out your meal-planning with our Goodies like a Fresh Veggie Bag (no excuses for not eating your veggies!), Fresh Fruit, or delicious Vantastic Pimento Cheese!

We hope you have a lovely weekend and we're excited to know which of these good things you'd like us to bring to your Porch!

Claire & Alex

Here are just a few things to keep in mind:

• Email your order to dinnersontheporchorders@gmail.com  - we appreciate your orders in by Sunday night at the latest!
• Size Matters!!  Now that we are offering Small, Regular and Large portions of our Main Meal, things are a little more complicated!  We only need you to specify if you want a Small or Large - if you don't specify a size, we will assume you want the Regular, $38 meal.  
• If you do not like any particular ingredient, just let us know and we'll be happy to accommodate you.  If we can't do it, we'll let you know!
• You will receive your confirmation & reminder on Monday night - call me asap on Tuesday morning if you do not receive that email because it means we do not have you on our list! 
• Dinners will be delivered or be available for pick up at Sociale Gourmet on Tuesday afternoons between 2-6 pm.
• If you are new, please send your address so we let you know if you are a pick-up or a delivery person, depending on your location.  If you're not sure if we deliver to your area, make sure to ask!  
• If you have any food allergies, please let us know!
• If you like extras of anything like salsa, sour cream, etc, just let us know and we'll be glad to include it in your bag at no charge.
• For any other questions, check out the Order 411 page or email me at dinnersontheporchorders@gmail.com

We've Been Craving New Texas Chili Verde!

Tuesday, May 14th:

New Texas Chili Verde
(small $32, regular $38, large $45)
Chili Verde  - spicy or mild (that's Green Chili for all y'all who don't speak Spanglish)
Cilantro Rice
Chili Fixin Sides: limes, green onions, cilantro sour cream, Texas Pete's
Greens & Homemade Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
Cheesy Cornbread
Vegetarian Option:  Three Bean Chili Verde
Kids' Option:  Plain Chili (no spice, no beans, no weird things!) ($6)
Dessert:  Camino Bakery All-American Chocolate Chip Cookies ($6)

GYTTW Meals:

• Beef or Boca Tamale Pies ($22/$30)
• King Ranch Casserole ($25/$30)
• Almost Summertime Tomato Jalapeno Pies ($25, with or without bacon)
• Surf & Turf Slider Dinner ($30)
• Roasted Red Pepper Orzo Pasta Salad Dinner ($20)
• Sausage, Egg & Cheese Strata ($20/$25)
• Make Your Own Pizza Packs ($22/$30)

Option Extras:

• Mimi's Queso & Guacamole with Chips ($10)
• Fresh Salad Pack ($10)
• Fresh Veggie Bag ($6)
• Homemade Cilantro Jalapeno Ranch Dressing ($10, reusable glass bottle)
• Quart of Fresh Fruit ($6)
• Camino Bakery Cinnamon Raisin Bread ($6)
• Camino Bakery Pumpkin Bread ($5)
• Vantastic Pimento Cheese ($5, regular or spicy)

Green Chili is a dish that apparently originated in New Mexico, where they grow many different types of chiles, each with it's own flavor and spiciness, and I guess someone just decided to dump them all into a pot with a bunch of meat and see how it turned out.  If you have the love of chiles that I have, you would already know that the results of such an experiment would be very positive.  I have created my own Chili Verde starting with some New Mexico sources, then adding some TexMex ingredients, like tomatillos and cumin, and going from there, so I've renamed it New Texas Chili Verde. 

Here's a picture of my masterpiece - lots of green!

But no matter the details of the chili's nationality, it tastes good.  It's very hearty, slightly spicy, and more of a meat dish than a soup or stew.  We make ours with a combination of organic ground beef and locally produced Neese's Extra Sage Pork Sausage, so right there you know it's going to be awesome!  To make it even more fun, it's one of those meals that you build, like a dinner architect creating the perfect bowl of chili!  So you start with a delicious bowl of Chili Verde, a little Cilantro Rice, and then you just make it better with stuff you like on top.  We added Cheesy Cornbread (seriously, you should have heard the jokes it was making), green onions, sour cream and, brilliantly, lettuce.  I know it sounds weird to add lettuce to chili, but I saw it in one of my favorite cookbooks - Jamie Oliver's America and tried it right away, and it was awesome.  A squeeze of lime juice on top adds a great freshness and flavor.  However you end up eating yours, you'll enjoy it.  But be careful:  there's going to be some negotiating over leftovers!

We're also serving our Homemade Jalapeno Ranch Dressing so you make a salad with your extra lettuce or just save it for another night.  Okay, yes, you can also use it as a dip for Chik Fil 'A waffle fries.  Not that I ever do that.

If you're not sure whether your kids will go for green chili, remind them of the lessons of Dr. Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham, or, just order a Plain Chili kids' meal and let them (and you) be happy.  

As the busy school year winds down, it seems to just get busier and busier, much like a toddler revving up into a frenzy right before he crashes and burns.  I know that my personal calendar is difficult to even read at this point, with five different things going on almost every day!  And, true confessions, I really don't do a very good job of planning meals ahead of time.  I'm often figuring it out at 6 pm, when everyone is already hungry and grouchy, which prompts me to do whatever is fastest to get dinner on the table.  Part of the impetus for our GYTTW meals was to help solve that very issue - having tasty and easy meals at hand makes it less likely that you'll be conversing over Kraft Mac & Cheese four nights a week!  Or, at the very least, you could feed the kids Kraft Mac & Cheese at 5 pm and enjoy an actual meal while catching up with your partner or your favorite TV shows!

Stock up on these DOTP favorites and you'll have dinners for this week and beyond (don't forget, summer is coming and we'll be off for the most part as well, so grab some dishes now that you can keep on hand in your freezer!).

• Tamale Pies ($22/$30)  One of our favorite casseroles & one of our most-requested!  It's a hearty, savory corn tamale casserole layered with seasoned ground beef or Boca, beans, cheese & lots of flavor!  If you haven't had one, it's high time!!  (Frozen)
• King Ranch Casserole ($25/$30)  A Texas classic - layers of corn tortillas, sauteed vegetables, chicken, green olives, and cheese in a light cream sauce - it's unique and perfect for a light dinner or delicious luncheon!  (Frozen)
• Almost Summertime Tomato Bacon Jalapeno Pies ($25)  Fresh and fabulous!  We'll just keep making these as long as y'all keep raving about them!  Greek yogurt makes this a lighter & healthier dish than the beloved Southern classic, but we think it's just as tasty!  (Best fresh.)
• Surf & Turf Sliders ($30)  Delicious on the grill or in the oven - we're loving these!  Four of each, Blue-Cheese Stuffed Organic Beef Burgers & Shrimp Burgers with rolls, living lettuce, tomato, pickles & Sriracho mayo!  (Burgers & Buns frozen)
• Roasted Red Pepper Orzo Pasta Salad Dinner ($20) - Orzo pasta salad loaded with veggies & feta cheese, paired with our fresh and healthy Salad Packs - this is a great light dinner or fun lunch meal!  (Best fresh)
• Make Your Own Pizza Packs ($22/$30)  Easy, healthy and fun - these pizza packs are perfect for family game night, dinner for the kids when you've got a date night, or just a quick & healthy dinner on a busy weeknight!  (Best fresh, but will last several days)
• Breakfast in Bed Sausage (or Veggie), Egg & Cheese Stratas ($20/$25)- great for trips to the beach or mountains, or just for feeding a hungry crew on the weekends! (Freezes great)

Hope there's lots on the menu that you'll like!  We're excited to get to work to get these great dinners on your Porch this week!

Claire & Alex

Here are just a few things to keep in mind:

• Email your order to dinnersontheporchorders@gmail.com  - we appreciate your orders in by Sunday night at the latest!
• Size Matters!!  Now that we are offering Small, Regular and Large portions of our Main Meal, things are a little more complicated!  We only need you to specify if you want a Small or Large - if you don't specify a size, we will assume you want the Regular, $38 meal.  
• If you do not like any particular ingredient, just let us know and we'll be happy to accommodate you.  If we can't do it, we'll let you know!
• You will receive your confirmation & reminder on Monday night - call me asap on Tuesday morning if you do not receive that email because it means we do not have you on our list! 
• Dinners will be delivered or be available for pick up at Sociale Gourmet on Tuesday afternoons between 2-6 pm.
• If you are new, please send your address so we let you know if you are a pick-up or a delivery person, depending on your location.  If you're not sure if we deliver to your area, make sure to ask!  
• If you have any food allergies, please let us know!
• If you like extras of anything like salsa, sour cream, etc, just let us know and we'll be glad to include it in your bag at no charge.
• For any other questions, check out the Order 411 page or email me at dinnersontheporchorders@gmail.com

Let's go to Luckenbach, Texas ...

Tuesday, May 7th:

Calling All Cowboys & Cowgirls!
(small $32, regular $38, large $45)
BBQ Beef Brisket or Roasted Chicken
Warm Vegetable Salad (Salad Greens & Fresh Veggies)
Homemade BBQ Vinaigrette Dressing
Zesty Avocado, Corn & Black Bean Relish with Chips
Vegetarian Option:  Roasted Portobello Mushrooms
Kids' Meal:  Baked Chicken with Baby Baked Potatoes & BBQ Dipping Sauce ($6)
Dessert:  Marilyn Monroe Cookie Bars (aka, Camino Blondies! $6)

GYTTW Meals:
Hangover Noodles - Chicken or Veggie ($25)
Southwest Chicken or Veggie Pie ($25)
Ranchero Pork Taco Dinner Pack with tortillas, Homesick Slaw & Chips ($25)
Hit the Grill Flank Steak with Sriracha Honey Lime Marinade & Salad Pack ($30)
Make Your Own Pizza Packs ($22/$30)

Snacks & Goodies:
Fresh Salad Pack with Homemade Cilantro Ranch Dressing ($10)
Fresh Veggie Bag ($6)
Quart of Fresh Fruit ($6)
Mimi's Chile con Queso & Chips ($5/$10)
Camino Bakery Pumpkin Bread ($5)
Camino Bakery Cinnamon Raisin Bread ($6)
Vantastic Pimento Cheese ($5, regular or spicy)

On the occasion of Willie Nelson's 80th birthday this past week, I was listening to his classic song, Luckenback, Texas, and it got stuck in my head.  I didn't mind, because it's a brilliant song, but I realized that I was going around humming the first few lines - "The only two things in life that make it worth living, Is guitars tuned good and firm feeling women."  So, those are probably not the two things that make most of the rest of our lives worth living (but I have no doubt that they are for Willie Nelson), but I do love the simplicity of things that can make our lives feel good to us.  For me, it's usually little things - being outdoors on a perfect spring day, a backyard BBQ, Friday afternoons, or listening to one of my kids laugh uncontrollably.  That feeling of being happy in the moment you are in makes the world go round, and I appreciate that an old cowboy like Willie captured that so well.

Anyway, as I've mentioned before, menu inspiration strikes in funny ways.  Sometimes I see a picture in a cookbook and make up a whole menu to incorporate that recipe - like the Wedge Salad meal, or sometimes I think about something I love to eat and I think y'all will too, or one of you emails to ask when we are making something again.  And then there are always holidays and seasons that give us ideas.  But this week, and more often than you'd think, it's totally random things that have nothing to do with food, like a song.

Luckenback, Texas is a real place as well as an awesome song, and it brought to mind bluebonnets, BBQ and beer, all of which are plentiful there, and some of which we can enjoy right here in Winston-Salem.  Then I always like to make our DOTP meals as healthy as possible without making them boring, so we love to pair great BBQ Brisket or BBQ Roasted Chicken with our classic Warm Salad Special (a Portland inspiration) of chopped vegetables that you warm until they are just softened and serve over greens with a drizzle of Homemade BBQ Vinaigrette for a meal that is as hearty and healthy as it is delicious.  You can enjoy the Avocado Corn & Black Bean Relish with chips as an appetizer or over the salad or just save it for lunch the next day.  It's all good, and everyone will find something to like.  Things are separated enough that people can customize the meal to their own liking while still basically eating the same dinner.

For purists, you may want to add the plain Chicken & Potatoes just to have in your back pocket - I always find reverse psychology works so well at meals, as in "I really hope you'll just eat the kids' meal and leave the good stuff for us."

Finish up with a sweet bite - Marilyn Monroe Blondies from Camino Bakery.  They are a rich cookie bar - with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips & sweet coconut - very irresistible!  

After your Tuesday dinner, you'll be feeling fine heading into the second half of the week, so keep that momentum heading in the right direction by stocking up on our yummy Get You Through the Week meal options.  No matter what you've got planned for the week - and I know that at this time of year it can be total mayhem, we've got you covered with easy weeknight family meals (Hangover Noodles, Chicken Pie, Ranchero Pork Taco Dinner), healthy options for feeding the kids if you're heading out (Pizza Packs, Fruit, Salad Packs), and a great dinner if you're planning on grilling with friends or family - our Hit the Grill Flank Steak with Sriracha Honey Lime Marinade (it's already getting rave reviews from our Thursday Take-Away Sale!).  Here's a little more info about those options!

GYTTW Meals:

The pic that inspired my recipe - isn't it pretty!

• A few weeks back, Matt and I had a little too much fun at our friends' dinner party, and we woke up the next day not feeling out very best selves.  It was no fun at all, but I bounced back a little faster than Matt, who seemed to be fading into a coma as the day wore on.  I decided to take action with a restorative-looking Noodle Soup recipe I had seen here online, and it worked.  With each bite, he seemed to grow stronger, and by the end of the meal, he was firmly back in the land of the living.  Henceforth, we call these life-giving noodles in broth Hangover Noodles.  (They are also good for people without a hangover, as in fact my children gobbled up multiple bowls, much to my happiness.)  This is a very hearty soup/stew, made with beans, spinach, cilantro, chicken, broth, lentils, seasonings, and noodles.  We include toppings of sour cream & toasted almonds to make it even better for you!  (Frozen)
• Our Southwest Chicken Pie is always very popular (I think it rides the popularity coattails of it's cousin, the legendary Moravian Chicken Pie), and we try to make it often.  It's great for a light dinner with a salad, a gift for a friend, or a luncheon.  We make it with white meat chicken, corn, black beans, cheese, seasonings and a flaky puff pastry topping, and it comes frozen, so you can enjoy it anytime!
• This week's Hit the Grill Flank Steak will be delicious marinated in our Sriracha Honey Lime Marinade. It comes with a Spinach Salad Pack for a delicious outdoor dinner for friends & family!  The meat comes frozen, so you can save it for the perfect night!
• The Ranchero Pork Taco Dinner is an easy family dinner that will be a big hit!  Zesty tomato Ranchero sauce & pulled pork with cheese in a flour tortilla - it's a winner every time.  Top the taco with our yummy Homesick Buttermilk Slaw and Mimi's Chile con Queso - pretty hard to beat!
• Make Your Own Pizza Packs are a life-safer on a busy night, and they are also a fun way to get your kids in the kitchen making their own dinner (bonus!).  We send you six or eight small pizza flats, pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and then a variety of fresh vegetable toppings to make fun & nutritious pizzas that are both tastier & healthier than anything a pizza delivery guy is going to bring to your door!

So that's what we're making up for you this week, and we hope you'll find lots to love & make your life easier.  Of course, it's always the case that when the weather is perfect to enjoy lazy nights out on the Porch, it feels like there's no time to enjoy it, but I hopefully we can help you with dinner stress so you can have more of those things that make your life worth living!

Have a great weekend!

Claire & Alex

Here are just a few things to keep in mind:

• Email your order to dinnersontheporchorders@gmail.com  - we appreciate your orders in by Sunday night at the latest!
• Size Matters!!  Now that we are offering Small, Regular and Large portions of our Main Meal, things are a little more complicated!  We only need you to specify if you want a Small or Large - if you don't specify a size, we will assume you want the Regular, $38 meal.  
• If you do not like any particular ingredient, just let us know and we'll be happy to accommodate you.  If we can't do it, we'll let you know!
• You will receive your confirmation & reminder on Monday night - call me asap on Tuesday morning if you do not receive that email because it means we do not have you on our list! 
• Dinners will be delivered or be available for pick up at Sociale Gourmet on Tuesday afternoons between 2-6 pm.
• If you are new, please send your address so we let you know if you are a pick-up or a delivery person, depending on your location.  If you're not sure if we deliver to your area, make sure to ask!  
• If you have any food allergies, please let us know!
• If you like extras of anything like salsa, sour cream, etc, just let us know and we'll be glad to include it in your bag at no charge.
• For any other questions, check out the Order 411 page or email me at dinnersontheporchorders@gmail.com

Fiesta Amigos!

It's almost Cinco de Mayo, so we're pulling out all the stops for a fun Tex-Mex dinner that is always a DOTP favorite (and was the very first meal we ever offered, so it's extra special to us!).

Tuesday, April 30th:  Fiesta Dinner!
(small $32, regular $38, large $45)
Mimi's Chile con Queso & Chips
Southwest Salad with Living Lettuce, Veggies & Homemade Cilantro Jalapeno Ranch
Rio Grande Smoked Chicken Enchiladas Verdes (spicy or very mild)
Vegetarian Option:  Sweet Potato & Black Bean Enchiladas (spicy or very mild)
Gluten Free Option Available with Corn Tortillas - please specify!
Kids' Meal:  Bean & Cheese Quesadilla ($6)
Dessert:  Salted Toffee Chocolate Bark ($6)

GYTTW Meals:
Goat Cheese Lasagna with Italian Sausage or Butternut Squash ($30)
Surf & Turf Slider Dinner - 4 Blue Cheese Burgers & 4 Shrimp Burgers (comes with buns, Sriracha Mayo & fixings) ($30)
Almost Summertime Tomato Bacon Pie ($25)
Israeli Couscous Salad Dinner ($20)
Crock Pot Chicken Chili Verde ($25)
Make Your Own Pizza Packs ($22/$30)

Other Goodies:
Fresh Salad Pack ($10)
Fresh Chopped Veggie Bag ($6)
Quart of Fresh Fruit ($6)
Camino Bakery Cinnamon Raisin Bread ($6)
Camino Bakery Pumpkin Bread ($6)
Vantastic Pimento Cheese (regular or spicy $5)

Yikes!  This weekend has totally gotten away from me (surprise!), and the post I was working on is stalled, so I'm just going to update this with menu info and save my amazing literary genius for some other time (I know, such a loss to the world).  I was going to write all about how Dinners on the Porch started with this Enchilada recipe, because I (uncharacteristically) decided to stop complaining about not having good Tex-Mex food here in Winston and just do something about it (it's so much easier to complain than to actually fix things, isn't it?!).  

But then, because it's almost May and that means that life always gets so crazy busy with end of year stuff from all sides, I got totally overwhelmed with anxiety thinking about all of the things I need to do that I am behind on and then all of the new things that need to be tackled.  So, I spent all day yesterday diligently working through my do-to list in an effort to beat back the madness.  Ah, no.  Actually, I decided that I couldn't possibly focus on actually doing anything until I rearranged my whole office, which of course meant moving furniture all around the house and making my husband re-hang a bunch of wall calendars and organizational items which he really enjoys doing.  I also had to run out to Target to buy a binder to help me be more organized, even though we have many binders here at home already.  But I wanted a pretty one, which will clearly help me to be more better in all areas of my life.  Here's how far we got before we decided that we needed a beer.  So, needless to say, that was the end of the big project, and now I'll be stepping over piles of things that I took off my desk but did not find a home for (so many, many things).  

So, here's the skinny on the menu, since that was the whole point, but I know you really appreciate that I have a clean desk!

Our Fiesta Dinner includes our famous Mimi's Chile Con Queso, a cheesy, spicy dip that you will love with chips, on your enchiladas, or on just about anything else you can think of - eggs, sandwiches, baked potatoes, even veggies!  It really was my Mimi's recipe, and it's a family secret that I'm so happy to share with y'all!

A good meal is always complemented by a great salad, and in my book, nothing beats living lettuce and fresh chopped veggies.  It's healthy and light, crunchy and fresh - all of the things a good salad should be (and yet so many fall short, sadly!).

Finally, Rio Grand Enchiladas Verdes are amazing - flour tortillas filled with delicious smoked chicken, salsa, cheese, beans, spinach & sour cream, then covered in an avocado-based green sauce that is zesty and unique.  Whether you prefer spicy or mild, we're pretty sure that it's a meal that will have you coming back for seconds!

And here's the lowdown on our very tasty selection of GYTTW meals this week - it's hard to pick a favorite.  (Sorry about the formatting - I can't seem to get the pictures in without making a mess of the text!).

• Goat Cheese Lasagna with Italian Sausage or Butternut Squash ($30) - a perennial favorite with everyone, delicious, hearty, made with a combination of cheeses, sausage or butternut squash, spinach, and layers of noodle-y goodness.  It's perfect for every occasion!

Shrimp Burgers that I cooked on my indoor grill - so good!

• Surf & Turf Slider Dinner ($30) - A new twist on one of our favorite dinners!  We prepare four Shrimp Burgers (new!) and four Blue Cheese-Stuffed Organic Beef Burgers, for you to throw on the grill, the oven or the stovetop for an easy, homemade-ish dinner!  The burgers and buns come frozen, so you can enjoy them anytime!  We include slider rolls, spicy homemade Sriracha Mayo, lettuce, tomato & pickles.  Add a quart of fresh fruit for $5, and you've got a perfect Porch dinner.

• Almost Summertime Tomato Bacon Pie ($25) - Fresh tomatoes, bacon, cheese, Greek yogurt, jalapenos & cilantro (no mayo!) bake in a light & crust for a meal that will remind you that summer is almost here!  Vegetarian Version available!  This pie is best if baked fresh, rather than frozen (although we did test it after freezing and it was surprisingly not bad), so plan to bake during the week.

• Israeli Couscous Salad Dinner ($20) - a quart of our delicious & healthy Israeli Couscous, loaded with fresh chopped veggies & chicken sausage, paired with a fresh organic Spinach Salad Pack.  Perfect for a light dinner, lunch or a snack anytime!  This is not a frozen meal, but will keep for several days.  
• Crock Pot Chicken Chili Verde ($25) - this is a great Saturday afternoon chili, flavored with tomatillos, garlic, cilantro & spices.  We include toppings of cheese, tortilla chips, rice & avocado for a very hearty bowl of goodness.  This is a frozen meal, so you can enjoy it whenever you are ready.

Add in a selection of our snacks, salad packs, pizza packs and more to keep your kitchen stocked up for any occasion and you'll sail through the week with ease!

Email us with your order for the week & we'll look forward to seeing you on the Porch!

Claire & Alex

Keep in Mind:

• Email your order to dinnersontheporchorders@gmail.com and be specific (to reduce the odds of our screwing up your order;)).
• We appreciate your orders in by Sunday night, but if you forget, we're happy to try to work you in, so just email.
• Size Matters.  We only need you to specify if you want a Small or Large - if you don't specify a size, we will assume you want the Regular, $38 meal.  
• While we do have a $35 delivery minimum, you are not required to buy a main meal - just so long as you're over $35, we're happy to bring you whatever you'd like!
• If you do not like any particular ingredient, just let us know and we'll be happy to accommodate you.  If we can't do it, we'll let you know!
• You will receive your confirmation & reminder on Monday night - call me asap on Tuesday morning if you do not receive that email because it means we do not have you on our list! 
• Dinners will be delivered or be available for pick up at Sociale Gourmet on Tuesday afternoons between 2-6 pm.
• If you are new, please send your address so we let you know if you are a pick-up or a delivery person.  
• If you have any food allergies, please let us know!
• If you like extras of anything like salsa, sour cream, etc, just let us know and we'll be glad to include it in your bag at no charge.
• For any other questions, check out the Order 411 page or email me at dinnersontheporchorders@gmail.com

Kitchen Sink Asian Feast

Dinner for Tuesday, April 23rd

Kitchen Sink Asian Feast
(small $32, regular $38, large $45)
Edamame Hummus with Rice Crackers
Make Your Own Spring Rolls
Udon Noodle Salad with Ginger Soy Dressing
Noodle Toppings: Chicken, Cucumber, Cabbage, Lime, Carrots, Sriracha Hot Sauce & More!
Kids' Meal:  Bento Box with Rice, Chicken & Edamame Pods with Thai Sweet Dipping Sauce ($6)
Dessert:  Nutella Rice Krispie Treats ($6)

GYTTW Meals:
Low Country Frogmore Stew with Fresh Corn on the Cob ($25, $35)
Secret Ingredient Mac & Cheese ($20)
Bahn Mi Picnic Dinner with Fresh Fruit (feeds 4, $25)
Crock Pot Chicken Mole Chili ($25)
Hit the Grill Chicken & Veggie Skewers with Cilantro Garlic Marinade and Rosemary Roasted Potatoes ($30 regular, $40 large, Add Shrimp Skewers $5 each)
Make Your Own Pizza Packs ($22 regular, $30 large)

Snacks & Sides:

Bahn Mi Vietnamese Pork Sandwich with pickled vegetables ($10)
Asian Porch Pockets - Pork or Veggie with Thai Sweet Dipping Sauce ($10)
Fresh Salad Pack with spinach, chopped veggies, cheese, croutons and Homemade Cilantro Jalapeno Ranch ($10)
Homemade Cilantro Jalapeno Ranch Dressing ($10 per 10 oz re-usable glass bottle)
Fresh Veggie Bag ($6)
Camino Bakery Pumpkin Bread ($5)
Camino Bakery Cinnamon Raisin Bread ($6)
Vantastic Pimento Cheese ($5, regular or spicy)


If you've been reading the blog for a while, you know that I lived in Austin, Texas for three years long ago, in what now feels like another life, while I was in law school.  During those three years, I lived with my brother Ted, who was there working for a biotech start-up.  It was awesome for many reasons (Austin is cool, I was young, law school was fun, we had a waterskiing boat on Lake Travis and plenty of time and sunshine to enjoy it, etc), but looking back, probably the most special thing about it was the time I spent with my brother.  We have always been close, but it was such a rare opportunity to get to be young adults together, spending so much time just hanging out, making meals together, sharing books we loved, having parties, and discovering cool things to do in Austin.  Now that we're so far apart and each have our own families and busy lives, I really realize how precious that time was, and I'm so thankful that we had it.

Okay, but enough with the stroll down memory lane.  The reason I bring it up is that we would often meet for lunch at various Austin eateries, and one of our favorite was an amazing Vietnamese restaurant near Ted's work called Kim Phung.  We would always share a few dishes - noodle bowls, crispy spring rolls that you would wrap in lettuce leaves and dip in their delicious sauces, and fried rice.  It was so good and so cheap that we found ourselves there quite often.  I loved the style of eating where you just have a simple palate to start with - a bowl of noodles, let's say, and then plates of great, fresh vegetables, flavorful meat and delicious sauces to add in.  Needless to say, I miss Kim Phung (and Austin, and being 25, and my brother!).

So, this week, in a tribute to all that, we've created a menu that is as fun as it is tasty, and we think you'll enjoy creating your own fun with food!

Your meal will come with all of the fixings to make delicious fresh Spring Rolls - kids love doing these, and you'll be surprised by what they will eat when they've used their own hands to make them.  Move on to your Ginger Soy Udon Noodles and add cabbage, chicken, carrots, and more.  It's fast, healthy, delicious, fun and different - what more could you ask for from a Tuesday night dinner!?!

If you want to keep the Asian spirit going, add on one of our delicious Bahn Mi Sandwiches to cut up and share with dinner, or keep it for yourself and enjoy it for lunch the next day (they are even better the next day as the flavors combine more!).  If you've never had one, we highly recommend it:  we start by pickling our own veggies, then we spread lovely French bread with homemade cilantro mayo, and pile it high with shredded pork, chicken, or marinated tofu, and then top it off with pickled veggies.  The flavors all combine and make for an awesome sandwich you'll be craving all the time! 

Plan ahead for the rest of your week with our tasty and interesting GYTTW meals!  Inspired by our Spring Break trip to South Carolina, I created my version of Frogmore Stew - a thick stew with shrimp, potatoes, sausage, rice and a savory broth.  You can throw the corn right in, as is traditional, or enjoy it on the side.

Kids love our Secret Ingredient Mac & Cheese, and you will too!  You can tell them that the "secret ingredient" is love, but just between us, it's cauliflower.  Paired with a Fresh Salad Pack, this is a simple, easy, real meal.

We're hearing great feedback about our Hit the Grill Meals - I love grilling, but honestly always feel really exhausted by the time we sit down to eat, not to mention the thought that I have to go back in the kitchen to clean up all of the dishes.  Grilling is only simple and easy if you're not the one doing all of the prep and clean-up (hence, the reason my husband needs to be the one to stand by the meat while it cooks, which is clearly the most challenging part!).  The chicken and potatoes come frozen, so you can enjoy the meal on the perfect night!

This week's Crock Pot meal is an interesting Chili with sweet and savory flavors like peanut butter, raisins, and then chili powder and cocoa.  It's hard to describe, but it's really good!

Finally, if you're on the sidelines of sports practice and games, a Bahn Mi Picnic Dinner is a great option!  Order one for your family or a bunch for the whole team and we'll bring it right to you at the field, napkins and everything!  It will be fresh for several days, so it's a great option for later in the week as well!

As always, we've got a fresh selection of other goodies - Pizza Packs, Salad Packs & more to keep your week and your life humming along smoothly!  Check it all out and then let us know what you'd like on your Porch this Tuesday!!

See you on the Porch,

Claire & Alex

Keep in Mind:

• Email your order to dinnersontheporchorders@gmail.com and be specific (to reduce the odds of our screwing up your order;)).
• We appreciate your orders in by Sunday night, but if you forget, we're happy to try to work you in, so just email.
• Size Matters.  We only need you to specify if you want a Small or Large - if you don't specify a size, we will assume you want the Regular, $38 meal.  
• While we do have a $35 delivery minimum, you are not required to buy a main meal - just so long as you're over $35, we're happy to bring you whatever you'd like!
• If you do not like any particular ingredient, just let us know and we'll be happy to accommodate you.  If we can't do it, we'll let you know!
• You will receive your confirmation & reminder on Monday night - call me asap on Tuesday morning if you do not receive that email because it means we do not have you on our list! 
• Dinners will be delivered or be available for pick up at Sociale Gourmet on Tuesday afternoons between 2-6 pm.
• If you are new, please send your address so we let you know if you are a pick-up or a delivery person.  
• If you have any food allergies, please let us know!
• If you like extras of anything like salsa, sour cream, etc, just let us know and we'll be glad to include it in your bag at no charge.
• For any other questions, check out the Order 411 page or email me at dinnersontheporchorders@gmail.com

Sliding into Spring!

It's a good one, y'all ...

Tuesday, April 16th:  

Lemon Tahini Lentils & Chickpeas

Mediterranean Feta Meatball Sliders with Alioli 

Cucumber, tomato & purple onion toppings

Vegetarian Option:  Stuffed Mushroom Sliders

Kids' Meal:  Orzo with Marinara & Feta ($6)

Dessert:  Camino Bakery Lemon Bars ($6)

GYTTW Options:

Spicy South Congress Chicken Lasagna ($30)

Hit the Grill Package Chicken & Vegetable Skewers ($30 reg, $40 large) 

Crock Pot Country Captain Chicken ($25)

Make Your Own Pizza Party ($22 regular, $30 large)

Red Pepper Orzo with Salad Pack ($20)

Other Goodies:

Homemade Hummus & Pita Chips ($6)

Chopped Veggie Bag ($6)

Fresh Salad Pack ($10)

Cilantro Jalapeno Ranch Dressing ($5)

Camino Bakery Pumpkin Bread ($5)

Camino Bakery Cinnamon Raisin Bread ($6)

Vantastic Pimento Cheese ($5, regular or spicy)

So, I already told you about our family Deviled Egg contest that we had in South Carolina, but what I didn't tell you was that it got me thinking about how many different ways there are to approach really familiar foods.  Of course, everyone loves their favorite recipes - the way you want your mom's meatloaf or you can make your classic spaghetti sauce without even thinking.  But then, sometimes it's fun to experiment and see what happens.  

Thus, inspired by Ruby's over-use of the Old Bay Spice in her deviled egg presentation, I decided to get crazy with our famous Cowboy Meatball recipe and turn it into something altogether new with fresh herbs, feta and mozzarella cheese bursting out of the middle, and paired with a lemon-y alioli and crisp fresh veggies, it's a perfect, but all-new, little burger.  Plus, my family majorly loves sliders, so I was pretty sure it would be a slam dunk - and it was!  So, now we share the love!

In addition to these awesome sliders, the delicious Lemon Tahini Lentil & Chickpea Salad, made with toasted cumin & coriander seeds, feta and fresh spinach, is a fresh salad that makes other salads feel really bad about themselves.  I won't go so far as to say that my kids all loved it, because I would never lie to you, but I was actually pretty happy to have plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day (but don't tell my kids!).  

Follow up this delicious, fresh Spring dinner with a great week of dinners.  This time of year, you want to spend as much time as you can enjoying the weather and as little time as possible grocery shopping.  

South Congress Chicken or Veggie Lasagna - This slightly spicy lasagna is made with traditional lasagna noodles, white meat chicken, corn, black beans, various cheeses & a homemade salsa that ties it all up in a flavor that will make you feel like you're in the heart of Texas!  Perfect for a low-key dinner party or a fun family weekend dinner! ($30, feeds 6)

Hit the Grill Package - Now that it's not randomly snowing on us anymore, it's time to fire up the grill!  We've taken care of the boring part of grilling - the prep - and leave the fun part to you (that would be standing outdoors drinking a beer while monitoring your grill!).  The dinner includes 4 or 6 big fat skewers of chicken and vegetables, a delicious Rosemary Red Pepper Marinade and a pan of Rosemary Redskin Potatoes for baking.  If you'd like veggies only, please text and we'll make sure to have that for you!  ($30 reg, $40 large)

Crock Pot Country Captain Chicken - Make a delicious dinner a snap - healthy chicken in a fragrant sauce of tomatoes, peppers, onions, Granny Smith apples, curry and mango chutney. We've done all the work, you just get all the credit! ($25)

Orzo Salad Dinner or Lunch - Enjoy our delicious orzo salad hot or cold, paired with one of our Fresh Salad Packs - it's a light dinner or a healthy, delicious lunch that will make you feel good right down to your toes!  ($20)  

Make Your Own Pizza Packs - Have fun with your family making individual pizzas on flatbreads.  Top with sauce, cheese, pepperoni & a wide assortment of healthy veggies - you may be surprised what your kids will create when they get to be the chef!!  ($22 reg, $30 large)

Fresh Salad Packs - A bag of organic romaine mix, fresh chopped veggies, cheese, croutons and our Homemade Cilantro Jalapeno Ranch will take any leftover or box of mac & cheese to full dinner status in a skinny minute! ($10)

That's all the good stuff we've got to help you stay cool on the Porch rather than hot in the kitchen this week!  Let us know what we can bring your way!

Claire & Alex

Here are just a few things to keep in mind:

• Email your order to dinnersontheporchorders@gmail.com and be specific!!!  
• Size Matters!!  Now that we are offering Small, Regular and Large portions of our Main Meal, things are a little more complicated!  We only need you to specify if you want a Small or Large - if you don't specify a size, we will assume you want the Regular, $38 meal.  
• While we do have a $35 delivery minimum, you are not required to buy a main meal - just so long as you're over $35, we're happy to bring you whatever you'd like!
• If you do not like any particular ingredient, just let us know and we'll be happy to accommodate you.  If we can't do it, we'll let you know!
• You will receive your confirmation & reminder on Monday night - call me asap on Tuesday morning if you do not receive that email because it means we do not have you on our list! 
• Dinners will be delivered or be available for pick up at Sociale Gourmet on Tuesday afternoons between 2-6 pm.
• If you are new, please send your address so we let you know if you are a pick-up or a delivery person.  
• If you have any food allergies, please let us know!
• If you like extras of anything like salsa, sour cream, etc, just let us know and we'll be glad to include it in your bag at no charge.
• For any other questions, check out the Order 411 page or email me at dinnersontheporchorders@gmail.com

Fun with Deviled Eggs (or, what to do with leftover Easter Eggs that no one will eat!)

Okay, y'all.  I always to keep it real for you, and as I've told you before, more often than not, at least two of my three kids refuse to eat whatever I make for dinner.  They make mean comments, sometimes cry, and in general are unappreciative of my efforts (which, on the other hand, is lucky for you, since I might not have started DOTP if my own family were more fun to cook for).

Anyway, something happened on our recent vacation to the beach that was a new low, even for this crowd.  Here's the set-up.

We had several very rainy days while in South Carolina, and in a desperate attempt to get out of yet another hand of UNO, I suggested that we have a Deviled Egg Family Food Contest using the hard-boiled eggs we had dyed on Easter.  You would have thought I had told them we were going to Disney.  Seriously.  If you ever find yourself with a dozen hard-boiled eggs and an hour to kill, this is an amazing way to entertain children of all ages.

So, first I showed them how to make a Plain Jane Deviled Egg (mix yolk, mayo, mustard, dill relish, tabasco, salt & pepper and stuff back into the white).  Then we took everything out of the fridge that could possibly work (and some that could not), gave everyone two peeled eggs and a bowl, and everyone went to work.

Here are some scenes from the "cooking" portion of the contest.

Ruby dumped almost a whole can of Old Bay into her mix when no one was looking!

Finn wanted to try lots of unorthodox things from the fridge ...

And Gus was true to Wake Forest with his version - the Demon Egg.

Next, we cut them up and each tried a piece of everyone else's egg before the voting portion of the evening.  (The cups on the plate are for the votes - jelly beans.  The Bloody Mary in the background was for my sanity.)

And the voting begins.  All of the versions were pretty good - Finn won for presentation with his pickle-topped eggs, and I thought my addition of Lays chips was inspired.  Really, anything savory goes with pretty well with a Deviled Egg, so they all had good potential - Ruby's extreme Old Bay egg was a little hard to take, but we all ate it.

My egg, the Sails Away (yolk, mayo, a little spicy mustard, olive tapanade, and crushed Lays Potato Chips, plus a chip on the top as the "sail")was the last in the tasting, and here's what happened - just keeping it real!

Next week, tune in for more family fun when we have a Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest!