Letinsh, we use the same cut at the restaurant, similar method, only we braise the meat at a lower temperature 300^F, 1-2 hrs depending on thickness of the cut. The process achieves a very moist juicy finish. It might work for you and cut your time to table in half.

Penn- What do you use for the braising liquid ?

Penn, thanks for the tip - I'll give that a try next time.

Tonight was simple but delicious (cheap, too ~$11 for 2 people)
Store-bought salmon/jalapeño/cheese patties, white rice, arugula, and mango salad dressing.
Cooked over charcoal.

Spaghetti with a venison meat sauce. The sauce is almost all meat (Texas whitetail) rather than being mostly tomato sauce. It was topped with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and fresh basil, and paired with an India Pale Ale to balance the boldness of the meat sauce.

Pics later....
 

Pasta carbonara with stuffed (spinach, cheese, crabmeat) chicken breast....

Lentish, I just saw your tilapia dish. Looks good. Have you ever poached your tilapia in a frying pan with water, lemon juice, sliced onions, butter, and a bit of minced garlic? (Cover frying pan w/tin foil that has a hole in center. Cook on high for 10 mins.) Comes out very tender and delicious. One of my favorites. For veggies: you decide. I add the parsley. :D

Easy - home made - cole slaw
 

This cole slaw is when you have been invited to a picnic the next day and haven't gotten to prepare anything. (Only uses 1 large bowl and an 8 oz. measuring cup.)

1 (or 2) bags Cole Slaw "fixins" (shredded cabbage and carrots)

For 1 bag of "fixins":
1/2 tsp. of celery seed
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. sugar
3 oz. hot tap water
1 oz. vinegar
6 tbsp. Miracle Whip
2 oz. Light Cream


Dump Cole Slaw "fixins" in large bowl.
Add sugar to hot tap water. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
Add vinegar to water/sugar mix. Stir.
Dump water/sugar/vinegar mix into "fixins".
Add celery seed and black pepper.
Mix the "fixins".
Add Miracle whip.
Mix again.
Add Light Cream.
Mix well.

Let sit overnight in refrigerator.
Stir again before serving, serve and enjoy.

(Admittedly, I just do this "by eye" anymore.)

Mark46th, we use Veg, chicken, or veal stock. Never plain water. Usually, we save the braising liquid and recycle it several times, building on the base to enhance the bouquet. Since we never use salt in the liquid and only season the meat, we are then able to reduce the liquid to a sauce consistency.

Thanks, Penn. Good info!

I had to stop reading at Miracle Whip..... ;) If I try it, it will be done with real mayo.....;)

I stopped at "fixins"... I hate that prebagged crap. It tastes like plastic to me.

quarter a fresh green cabbage, cut a quarter into thin strips, salt it and leave it in a bowl for a couple of hours. Then use real Mayo in place of the miracle whip (like mayo that you make yourself from egg yolks, vegetable oil and lemon juice, not hellmann's). That should end up a pretty decent coleslaw. I usually use a little siracha, cayenne or chipotle in the mayo to give it a touch of heat, but that's just me...

So, my 34 week pregnant wife finally abdicated all grocery shopping and cooking for the duration, so I've tapped in. First time doing this "full time".
Today was a new potato, avocado, and egg salad. Haven't decided if this is an appatizer/side or an entree. We ate it as an entree...
Boil 1.5lbs of small red potatoes for 8-10min. Rinse under cold water and set aside.
3/4c mayo
2Tbs apple cider vinegar
2Tbs yellow mustard
2Tbs dill.
Mix.
Stir in:
1 red or orange sweet pepper chopped
1 small red onion chopped
1/2c chopped dill pickles

Hard-boil 4 eggs, chop and add to the mix. Chop up and add an avocado. Quarter the potatoes and stir everything together.

Serve over chopped iceberg lettuce.

Dude, judging from the mayo bottle that ain't a "small red onion".....:D and for a salad you might want to cut your onion employing a sauté cut, take a look at the "slice" cut here: http://www.wikihow.com/Cut-an-Onion

<grin> I knew someone was going to say something about that. I had a 'large' red onion at home, so I used half of it....turned out alright :p

Thanks for the link - I'm learning all this just by jumping in, so a little direction is not unappreciated!

Ha ha! My wife went shopping the day that our son was to be born. She NEVER lets me shop alone. (Hint to all you newly wed guys out there: If you don't like or want to do the shopping ALWAYS pick up something outrageous [in my case bean dip and Fritos] that will insure that you are never sent on that errand again.) ;)

Pat