Dinner Time

I have been on the lookout for easy vegetable side dish recipes.  My coworker, S, asked when was the last time I had collared greens.  Um ... never.  Sorry!  She told me how to cook them so tonight I did.  I think I need to cook them longer.  While good, D and I both finished them, they were a bit tough.  I probably should have let it wilt a bit more and thrown some water in the wok to use as steam.  Oh well ... we still ate it!

Dinner: collared greens (stem cut out and cut into strips, cooked in the wok with some EVOO and garlic), mac and cheese and lemon pepper fish (microwaveable).  D said dinner looked like comfort food.  You tell me...

Yummy Brunch

So as usually happens on the weekends, when I wake up, it's time for me to decide what to make for lunch (I don't have kids and love sleep so I often sleep in on the weekends and D usually gets up earlier than me).  Sunday is food shopping today so the supplies are a bit depleted.  After looking I decided we would have spinach and feta omelets with toasted flat bread (better for you than regular bread).  Now usually when I make omelets they are burnt, they don't stay together, something goes wrong.  Today I started by tearing most of the stems off the spinach and putting all of it into a small fry pan (no oil) over med-high heat.  After a few minutes of turning, it was reduced in size and I put it in a bowl to wait.  Then I mixed two eggs in another bowl, and sprayed the same small pan with Pam so it wouldn't stick.  There was some spinach stuck to the bottom  from wilting so I kind of figured it was going to be a mess.  Instead of using a spatula to move the eggs back as they got cooked (and allow the runny part to go onto the heat) I used a scraper.  I then used a spatula for the actual flipping of the omelet.  They both turned out perfectly!  D helped me by making coffee (yum!!!!) and getting the flat breads out of the toaster (I am definitely the cook in this house!).  Then I put 1/2 the spinach on each omelet and some feta cheese on each, flipped it over and viola ... brunch time!

[I did take pictures but my camera is acting funny ... D is trying to fix this!]

What's for dinner?

A few weeks ago we went to G and P's house for dinner (close friends).  They fed us a yummy dish that I decided to replicate tonight.  Now our version is not nearly as healthy as the recipe states.  But then again, it's probably a lot healthier than what you would get in a restaurant!  Spinach and Feta Calzone.  Instead of making the dough I used Pillsbury thin pizza crust.  When G and P made us dinner they used Pillsbury regular crust.  The thin crust doesn't cook up just right ... definitely go with the regular crust!  I also add some pine nuts (~3T worth) and put in a full cup of feta cheese.  Split the pizza dough in half, put 1/2 the filling in the dough and roll it up like a calzone.  Cook it using the directions on the dough container.  Sadly no pictures.  But it was super yummy!

Dinner Time!

Tonight was another chicken experiment.  I made one of my favorite weight watchers recipes: herbed pesto chicken with linguini.  I took pictures but my camera is acting up so I cannot post today.  However, let me tell you, it is yummy!  And unbelievably easy.  I would recommend cutting up the chicken into bit size pieces and adding it to a bowl of pasta.  Since the sauce is mostly dried, I would recommend drizzling just a bit of EVOO over the top.  Super yummy!

Enjoy!

Dinner

So tonight was fish with brussel sprouts.  I finally remembered to take pictures of the fish!  They are yummy packets from Sea Cuisine.  Our ultimate favorite is Parmesan Encrusted Tilapia followed by Lemon Pepper Tilapia as a close second.  After looking at their website I am wishing our store stocked Macademia Nut Tilapia!  My brussel sprouts: cut off ends and cut in half, discarding extra leaves.  As you cut them, place them in a large ziplock bag.  Place a few T of EVOO and a few T of balsamic vinegar along with a pinch (or two) of sea salt into the bag.  Move everything around so it is coated.  This can marinate as long as you want.  350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes, shaking the container 1/2 way through to move them around.

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

Lemon Pepper Nutritional Info

Took a bit before I remembered to take a picture!

Dinner Tonight

So I apologize in advance ... I forgot to take a picture of dinner!  D had to get to class by 6 so it was an early dinner for us!  Early means quick!  First up, a salad.  My recipe? Take a head of romaine lettuce, slice it length wise twice and then chop it.  Put it into two bowls (can also make one large-ish salad).  For D's salad I put in some cherry tomatoes and Poppy Dressing (until that runs out then a Goddess dressing my brother recommended from Trader Joe's).  For my salad I add 1T chopped walnuts and 1T feta cheese and 2T Newman's Own light balsamic dressing.  I used to make the same salad for D but he declared a few weeks ago that after such frequent consumption (we usually have a salad with every meal), he couldn't stand it anymore.  So I bought the poppy for him to try and he likes that.

Then dinner.  Tonight I had intended to do a WW (weight watchers) chicken dish but forgot to defrost the chicken and didn't feel like microwave defrosting.  Instead, I had a frozen package of gnocchi (I am not Italian ... does that make it ok to not use fresh??) which after cooking I mixed with 2T pesto sauce (I have made my own before but lately just get the store variety).  But gnocchi does not a meal make.  Giant (our local grocery store) has these frozen fish packages (I'll have to post a pic another time).  They come in a few different varieties.  After some testing we decided our favorites are Parmesean Encrusted Tilapia and Lemon Pepper Tilapia.  They come two to a package and usually cost $6 but I got them on sale for I think $4 and change.  So of course I bought a couple!  The Parm is really our favorite but it takes 25-30 minutes in the toaster oven, time we did not have!  Instead, the lemon pepper takes 7 minutes in the microwave.  Perfect!

Delicious meal for probably ~$11.  Not bad.  Especially considering start to eating was under 20 minutes.

And now D is at class and I am sitting waiting to see if the projected snow falls.  Good thing I have a full fridge/pantry if we are snowed in tomorrow!

My Own Money Saving Meal!

And it is dinner time again!  Now that D will eat chicken (though only free range) I am trying to cook it more.  Last week, when he first consumed chicken after many years, I was unprepared, having made dinner for myself as he was at class.  Once I knew chicken was a possibility, I knew exactly what recipe to make:  Sandra Lee's Guava and Rosemary Glazed Chicken!  I found this recipe in one of her cookbooks that I had taken out of the library.  When D was at a conference late last year, I made it for myself and my mother.  My mother, I might add, who is not a huge chicken fan.  She couldn't get enough of it.  And actually asked for seconds!  My father was shocked!  (My father is an incredibly picky eater so I had to make him a hotdog.)

So tonight I told D I knew exactly what I was making for dinner and he agreed!  On Sunday when we went grocery shopping, the free range chicken was buy one package, get a second package free!  So naturally I purchased two.  If we act as though we are on an episode of Money Saving Meals, that means my package of chicken's total cost was $3!  Now although I love the recipe, I do make a few changes.  First, D and I are not rosemary fans.  I live for parsley (not literally) so I substitute that.  Second, to keep costs down, I use bottled lime juice instead of fresh.  I can't taste the difference but someone else might be able.  Lastly, I use a large teaspoon of minced garlic (the large plastic bottle you can buy at the grocery store and keep in your fridge for months!).  Since I strain the sauce after heating it through, the bulkiness doesn't matter.

In the cookbook, Sandra Lee paired the chicken with Saffron Rice.  Now let me say that this recipe looks delicious.  However, saffron is a very expensive spice that I have never had another occasion to use.  In its place I use tumeric.  I like the subtle flavor and the color!  The first time I went to the grocery store I wasn't able to locate currants so I used dried cranberries.  Since it worked the first time I keep using it!  I also use a rice cooker and Uncle Ben's brown rice (healthier).  I find if I put the rice up first, it's pretty much done when the meal is.  (How much tumeric and cranberries?  Eyeball it.  Probably a teaspoon of tumeric and 1/3 c cranberries.)  You could also use other spices/additions as well.  I didn't think I had dried cranberries so I was going to skip the tumeric, use another spice (hadn't decided what yet) and put in pine nuts.

Anyway, below is a picture of our meal.  We both had seconds.  How could you not?

Guava Chicken and Rice!

Now to tally up (approximately) the cost of our meal:

Chicken: $3 (thank you sale price!  Otherwise about $6)
Guava Jelly: $1 (used approx a third of the jar)
Lime: $.25 (if even that! benefit to using bottled)
Parsley: $.05 (I bought a HUGE container at BJs--think Costco if you are without a BJs--and had a coupon. Spent next to nothing!)
Garlic: $.10 (estimate.  I buy the large container at the grocery store and it really does last months even though I use it a lot!)
EVOO: $.50 (estimate again.  Again I bought a LARGE thing of EVOO at BJs and received as a wedding shower gift a container to pour it into to keep on my counter.)
Salt and Pepper: $.05 (though technically zero since these were cute gifts from Target!)
Flour: $.25 (again an estimate ... I know I am doing that a lot!)
Rice: $.10 (this is a HUGE bag ... I'll have to take a picture eventually)
Tumeric: $.10
Dried Cranberries: $1.00 (approx 1/3 of the bag)

TOTAL: $5.40 for dinner for 2 of us.  And enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

If you make this recipe, let me know what you think!

Not another today like yesterday!

Yesterday, if you recall, I got to hang out with D for a few extra minutes and then didn't get a chance to eat/drink anything until late in the afternoon (but I did get a good workout in!).  Not so today.  I am heading to the office where my breakfast (frozen waffle) and free coffee await.

My Eyes are Closing!

So I had a big client meeting early this morning (allowing me to spend a few extra minutes home with D!).  As I usually eat breakfast/drink coffee at the office, I didn't eat anything at home before I left.  Now when I lived with my parents (as I did until I got married .... many blogs on that later!) there was a Dunkin Donut's with a drive through on the way to the highway.  Whenever I had a meeting out of the office in the morning, I would treat myself to a coffee and bagel (toasted w/ a little butter ... D forever teases me about that as he believes cream cheese is the proper bagel topping).  But alas, I no longer have that luxury.  So I arrived at the meeting location and spent 10 minutes finding the entrance to the parking garage (ah ... gotta love city buildings!).  To then get to the room where my meeting was I had to walk the equivalent of at least 3 football fields--but probably closer to 4.  Sadly, this was not an exaggeration.

Then the person I was meeting with wanted to go talk to someone else so off we walked.  About a football field to another building.  And then as he couldn't remember which floor her office was on, we walked up 4 flights of stairs.  Suffice it to say, I was exhausted, thirsty and drained by the time we go to the second meeting.  So much so that the woman we were meeting with had her intern bring me a glass of water!  Then, it was back to the original meeting location.  And then back the three+ football fields to my car.  I sighed (literally) with relief when I reached my car.  But then I had to go pick up some lunch and head back to the office.  Before I could eat (or drink) I needed to debrief my supervisor (my preference ... I wanted her expert opinion!) on my earlier meeting(s).  Then finally I got something to eat.  No shock but I have felt off and tired all day.  Now sitting at home, D is at class, debating if I have the energy to get up and make dinner.  Being somewhat lazy.  Going to cook some premade, frozen cheese tortellini (grocery brand .. gotta save the $$) with store bought pesto and a salad.

I'll eat eventually!

Yummo!

So I am mildly obsessed with all things cooking shows.  D constantly teases me about it.  But doesn't seem to mind come dinner time! Tonight it was a Rachael Ray recipe.  D especially teases me about Rachael Ray.  Apparently I make the same statements/gestures that she does.  I don't necessarily agree but it pleases him to tease me about it and doesn't make me mad.  Best of both worlds!

I am always looking for new recipes.  I was a late blooming cook (details in another blog) so I don't cook much without a recipe.  Whenever I find a recipe worth sharing I'll post it here.  If you have any suggestions, please leave a link in the comments!