Jude wrote:

> L'Espérance wrote:
>
>>Jude wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I'm not findinf a lot of inspiration for dinner tonight. I'm in the
>>>mood for a nic thick hot soup, so I'm going to do split pea with
>>>homemade croutons on top. I'm tired of the sup/salad combo; we've had
>>>several big yummy salads this week. What should I serve alongside? (no
>>>mean please) I was thinking of maybe some kind of fruit salad, but of
>>>course bieng winter the options are limited. The apples this week were
>>>all soft and icky, othersie I'd be thinking about Waldorf Salad.
>>>
>>>Maybe some kind of barley pilaf with stock and nuts would go well. Hm
>>>Help me out here!
>>>
>>
>>I'd nix the croutons and serve the soup in a multi-grain bread bowl
>>sitting on a bed of spinach or romain lettuce. Garnish with a mini
>>dollop of sour cream for accent. The remainding insides and top of the
>>bread bowls can be used for dipping if desired. This in itself would be
>>a hearty meal sans salad. If you really want a salad make a robust one
>>to bring out the flavour of the soup. Perhaps a spinach salad to echo
>>the base under the bowl. Simple and easy, spinach salad would really do
>>it with very little effort and the bacon would echo the ham flavour in
>>the soup. I would go lighter for dessert after such a robust meal. A
>>small bowl of vanilla ice cream topped with just a wee bit of cream de
>>mint and garnished with a mint leaf comes to mind *even* though none of
>>the desert would echo the main meal.
>
>
>
> Perhaps you missed the part where I said my family is tired of green
> salads / lettuce. We had a fabulous spinach salad last night and a baby
> green / goat cheese / veg salad the night before, and caesar over the
> weekend. We're lettuced out.

I did and sorry. We eat salads daily so I never thought anything about it.

>
> I also have no bread bowls on hand; I'm trying to work without a run to
> the store. We love soup in bread bowls, but I usually save that
> approach for creamier stuff like chowder or potato soup. I'm looking
> for simple side ideas that would round the dinner out nutritionally. I
> was going for barley to try to add some whole grains into the meal.

I would just whip out the bread machine or mixer and make my own.
Cheaper, easier, and better tasting with a heck of a lot less preservatives.

>
> But thanks, of course, for the ideas, It's always iteresting to think
> about how others would fill out your main dish to make it a meal.
> So far best I've got is the soup (on the stove now) topped with garlicy
> croutons with sides of barley pilaf and carrot raisin salad. Dessert is
> covered - I made chocoaltey brownie cookies last night.
>

Good luck with your dinner.