Birthday meal planning suggestions, ideas....help?

[Jared77]

So planning dinner for my FIL's birthday. Doing prime rib, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and salad of some kind.

Was thinking of doing something extra.....something to give the meal that extra little twist.

I thought of adding a pickled vegetable, pickled asparagus comes to mind.

So here's the issues.

A) Does it fit with the rest of the meal to have pickled asparagus as an option?

B) If I made it now the dinner is 2-3 weeks away would it be ready by then? Or would it not be well pickled in time?

C) If this doesn't go with the meal, what would you do in its place?

Thank you

 

[so lucky]

Gosh, Jared, you are in over my head. That sounds wonderful to me, but my idea of a special meal is chicken and dumplings, so, I'm not much help.

 

[digitS']

Jared, I came across a name for a pickled vegetable relish that I hadn't heard for many years. I was reading the USDA's recommendations for the original Victory Gardens. It suggested making "piccalilli."

Piccalilli? I had to look it up! I guess that you can buy this in the UK. I came across a recipe for "quickililli" that can be made and served the same day. The required pickling time for piccalilli is 3 months but I don't know how good either version is altho' it seems that I've eaten this stuff ...

The idea reminds me of chowchow. I know I haven't had that. I guess it's quite common in the South. There are greater and lesser times involved. DW bought a bunch of ripe sweet peppers from the market, yesterday. Peppers and curry spices ..?

Anyway, I've never had pickled asparagus, either!

Steve

 

[ninnymary]

Asparagus definitely goes with beef. Having them pickled would cut some of the richness from your meal.

Mary

 

[Nyboy]

Mushrooms go well with beef, stuffed with crab

 

[thistlebloom]

The meal sounds wonderful. I just want to make sure you're including ice cream somewhere in the experience.

 

[aftermidnight]

Yorkshire Pudding done in a bit of beef dripping, yum .
Annette

 

[catjac1975]

What about cake?

http://www.danyalplus.com/watch-how...rose-style-cake-thatll-make-your-life-better/

 

[baymule]

I would make the pickled asparagus. If it's ready, serve it, if not, eat it yourself later.

What about Texas Caviar? It is good with tortilla chips as an appetizer or put on the bar for grazing on while visiting.

Ingredients yellow bell pepper

• 1 orange bell pepper

• 1 red bell pepper

• 2 jalapeno peppers

• 1 (15 ounce) can black-eyed peas

• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans

• 1 (11 ounce) can white shoepeg corn

• 1 (16 ounce) bottle Italian dressing

• 4 roma tomatoes

• 1 bunch cilantro

http://www.food.com/slideshow/all-time-best-dinner-recipes-334

Directions

1. Remove membranes and seeds from peppers.
2. Dice peppers and place in a large plastic bowl (jalapenos should be finely chopped).
3. Drain and rinse the black beans, blackeye peas, and shoepeg corn and add to peppers.
4. Add italian dressing and stir well.
5. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for 8 hours.
6. Drain.
7. Dice roma tomatoes and cilantro and stir into mixture.
8. Serve with tortilla chips.

http://www.food.com/recipe/texas-caviar-181378

or this one...

http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/2014/08/texas-caviar.html