Earn Free Dinners!

Do you like the concept of Dream Dinners? You take a look at the menu, decide which dinners you'd like and then schedule to come in and make them. You take home a freezer full in less than two hours. Sounds great, right? Well, where are you Jacksonville? This idea is taking off in cities across the nation but Jacksonville is special. The largest city in the country in area and pretty sizeable in population, we are a pretty spread out bunch. Right now, there is only one Dream Dinners and it's in the Mandarin area. But think of the benefits. Ya gotta eat and unless you're rich, you cannot eat out all the time. Not to mention the waist-expanding implications. I have been in the supermarket picking up various and sundry and I have noticed as I am sure you have, the skyrocketing prices of many goods. Chicken, tomatoes, milk, bread and don't mention fresh fruit, even in the summer; I mean basic food costs are outrageous. One product I regularly shop for went from 89 cents last year to $1.49 right now. Ouch! Goodness! That's almost a 70% increase! I don't know about you, but my wallet doesn't stretch that far, that fast. When is the last time you got a 70% increase in your paycheck to keep up? So cost is a concern. Did you know that Dream Dinners average $3.69 per serving in our January menu? We provide nutrition facts so that you can see what you are feeding your family. We strive to make our dinners healthy and nutritious while not giving away a millimeter of taste. We use lowfat ingredients where we can, cut down on added salt where we can and use lean healthy protein products. Time. There's a concern. Well, it's just a fact that most of us couldn't come up with 12-14 dinners in two hours or less...even Rachel Ray would have some trouble with that. So if you factor in that you can walk out of our store with this many dinners in that amount of time or less, think of the freedom you'll have. Dinner at home with your family three times a week is an achievable goal, when you do it the Dream Dinners way. If you don't have 2 hours once a month to do this, well, there's the option of having us put them together for you for you to pick up. It costs extra, but come on, labor costs something, ya know? Then there's the freezer space issue. If you have stuff in there that you can't identify, maybe it's time to clean up that valuable real estate. Most of our dinners are packaged in freezer storage bags and don't hog up the whole freezer. But, if that's your problem, make six dinners at a time, twice a month...still only two hours a month in total time invested. Use your dinners. Take three out on Sunday evening, place in the fridge and they will be thawed and ready to cook during the week when you are ready. Still have concerns or questions? Drop on by during session times and we can answer them for you. Do you want to see what it's like? Call us and we'll tell you when you can come in and watch and you can taste a sample too! Talk with our regular guests. They will tell you Dream Dinners is a part of their lives. Hey Dream Dinners regulars: TELL YOUR FRIENDS! If a new guest signs up and completes a session and tells us you referred them, you will get a FREE dinner. FREE!

So, what can we do for YOU? Plenty!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This, the fall season, is my favorite time of year. The holidays, though often hectic, are great times to get together with family and friends. The Dream Dinners staff just wants to take this time to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! Slow down and enjoy it. Remember, everything does not have to be perfect and you will be the only one who knows it. Don't let it all go by in a blur. Just stop and breathe. Give thanks to Him.

There, that's better.

Thanksgiving Approaches!

Have you made your dinner plans yet? This is the time the home cook really starts getting down to it. You need to get your turkey, make the dressing (stuffing to ya'll Northerners), and put together all those side dishes that make Thanksgiving a wonderfully delicious holiday. Don't forget that Dream Dinners has made Thanksgiving simple. Even if you want to present that big, bad boy as your centerpiece, we can still help you with sides. This month we present our side dish station created by the food specialists at Southern Living. Included in our Southern Living Side Dish Station are standbys updated and made deliciously simple the Dream Dinners way and each of our side dishes serve 8 people. Here's what you get: Three Cheese Mashed Potato and Green Bean and Mushroom Casseroles which go from freezer to oven to table. We add savory stuffing with sage, rosemary, sausage and cranberries, rich turkey gravy, cranberry sauce and an herb rub for your turkey. The cost? $34.99; cost of time saved: Priceless! You will be very glad you did this on Thanksgiving eve...trust me and trust Southern Living.

Also, if you have already made your dinners this month and you would like to add on, you can! You will have already met your minimum for the month and can make one additional item or 20! Perhaps you've decided it would be a great help to have these wonderful side dishes at the ready. Or if you've got out-of-town guests or family in the house, ordering extra Dream Dinners can make your life easier with our wonderfully quick and delicious meals on-hand. Let us know if we can help; we are ready when you are.

Need Gift Ideas?

Don't you love the smell of homemade soup simmering on the stove? Why not consider presenting a great meal, pre-assembled so it's ready to give to your boss, co-worker, neighbor or other friends? All would be delighted to receive our No Fuss Soup Mix, perfect as a thoughtful gift. This is a warming mixture of lentils, navy beans, carrots and celery, perfectly seasoned and great on a cold day. All you add is leftover ham, chicken or turkey. Yum! You get to present it in a beautiful organza bag complete with gift tags and ribbon. Best of all you will receive three of these which each serve six, in each order! Check out the December menu link to place your order. If you have not yet ordered a minimum order this month, this will count as one of your selections. If you would like to add to an order already placed, just let us know and we'll take care of it.

Don't forget, Dream Dinners also has gift cards or gift certificates available directly in our store, or you can order online at our website. Cards are available in denominations of $25-$500 in the store. Give someone the gift of time. Life just got easier!

November Side Dish Recipes

Hi,
Want to keep your hand in the cooking game? November's side dish recipes are delicious and simple to prepare. Give these a try and serve alongside your November recipes. For an easy to print page, see the link at the right under "Useful Links."

November Recipes

TURKEY LIVER PATÈ
(Serves 6 as an appetizer)

Ingredients:
1 Turkey liver
2 strips Bacon
2 teaspoons Flour
¼ cup chopped Onion
¼ teaspoon Salt
¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
¼ cup Milk, about

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325º F.
2. Put the turkey liver and bacon in a blender container and blend.
Add flour, onion, salt pepper and milk and blend.
(Add enough milk to make the consistency of a thick cream soup.)
3. Pour mixture into a buttered 1 ½-cup baking dish.
Set in a pan of hot water and bake, uncovered, for 1 hour,
or until a small sharp knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Serve with crackers.

BALSAMIC VEGETABLE SAUTÉ
(Serves 6)

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
2 cups sliced Mushrooms
3 Zucchini, thinly sliced
1 cup Cherry or Grape Tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
½ teaspoon dried Basil
1 teaspoon minced Garlic
¼ teaspoon Salt
¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
¼ teaspoon Sugar

Directions:
1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over moderately high heat.
Add mushrooms and sauté 3 minutes.
2. Add zucchini and sauté 3 to 5 minutes, or until nearly tender.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and cook, stirring for 2 minutes.

MASHED ROOT VEGETABLES
(Serves 6)

Ingredients:
1 large Rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 large Carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
1 large Parsnip, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large Garlic Clove, peeled
1 Bay Leaf
1 ½ pound Russet Potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 tablespoons Butter
½ cup warm Milk
1 tablespoons minced Parsley
¼ teaspoon Black Pepper

Directions:
1. Put rutabaga, carrots, parsnip, garlic and bay leaf in a large pot with salted water. Bring to a boil and cook 20 minutes.
2. Add potatoes and cook another 15 minutes, or until vegetables are very tender. Drain, and discard bay leaf.
3. Add butter, milk, parsley and pepper.
Mash vegetables until smooth.

Cooler Weather Is Finally Here

And with it, the urge to eat "comfort" foods. Our menu this month has a number of great options to whet your taste buds. How about Classic Chicken and Dumplings, a delicious casserole loaded with diced chicken breast, carrots, celery, peas and potatoes in a luscious and creamy sauce. Topped off with flaky biscuit dough, this is a wonderful and warm filling meal. That's whats for dinner at our house tonight. New to our store is our Creamy Tortellini with Bacon. We served this at a Sneak Peek earlier in the week and there was nary a piece left as guests couldn't get enough. This dish is quick and delicious and the hit of smoky bacon just tops it off. I'd just add a green salad and dinner is served. Or how about tangy Lemon Chicken Piccata? This is a classic Italian dish of chicken, which is quick-seared and topped off with a zippy sauce of lemon, capers, artichoke hearts and herbs. We are offering it with Garlic and Butter Rice and it is included with your purchase. Let's turn our attention to beef. Keep in mind that our dishes are mindful of the ADA's (American Dietary Association) guidelines, so a little beef now and then won't break the dietary budget. We have Grilled Sirloin with Caramelized Onions and Gorgonzola Cheese. Okay, calm down...yes it is good, so if you are going to have it, just do it. There is also a Braised Holiday Roast, which is at the height of ease since you simply place it in the crockpot with the seasonings and sauce ingredients in the morning and say "hello" to dinner when you walk in the door. Entertaining? How about the Sesame-Teryaki Meatballs, Glazed Sirloin Skewers or our famous Canadian Bacon Stuffed French Bread. Disclaimer: that stuffed bread recipe is addictive. Any of these recipes make fabulous appetizers. Now we know this is the true start to the Holiday season with Thanksgiving on the horizon. We've got you covered with our Holiday Meal Solution and since we've talked about it earlier, we'll just direct you to our earlier post located below or in the October archives, but would you like to get an extra special special? Call us to order your Thanksgiving Holiday Meal Solution and we'll give you the Southern Living Side Station for $20.00!! That's your complete Thanksgiving dinner for eight for $110.00! My Thanksgiving dinner last year cost way, way more than that. To get your complete dinner for this price, you must call our store by November 12th and you must mention "Blog Thanksgiving Offer." Welcome to November at Dream Dinners!