Meals 95-101

04/04 the theme of this week? is EASY. my week is going to be nuts at work. stressful days and working late. so i've scoured my arsenal of recipes for options that are quick and simple, but still delicious and nutritious. starting with one of my personal favorites. cheese ravioli tossed with roasted asparagus and walnuts. the sauce is embarrassingly basic. olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes. that's all! top it with a little parmesan? and voila. a meatless monday meal ready to go. for a side i tossed some grape tomatoes with fresh basil and a little balsamic glaze. it's so wonderful when a meal is both palette pleasing, and easy to make!

04/05 i have very fond memories of "taco night" in the landbeck household growing up. admittedly because i used to sneak handfuls of the shredded cheddar my mom would put out as one of the toppings. i laugh when i remember that we used to put ketchup on our tacos instead of salsa. oh silly young children.....why were we so afraid of spice? tonight i made a low carb version of this meal.  instead of tortillas, i made tacos in shells of romaine lettuce leaves. from there i added all the classics that make a taco great! some seasoned lean ground beef. shredded cheddar cheese. diced tomatoes. sour cream. salsa (no ketchup).  scallion. and fresh cilantro. i was most happy with the outcome! all the great flavors of a taco, but much lighter and healthier.

04/06 i seem to be on a "mexican flavors kick" lately. tonight i continued the trend with enchilada meatloaf muffins (yay muffin shaped foods!). i came across this recipe a while ago on pinterest and was of course intrigued. it's mini meatloaf baked in muffin tins! and with a spicy twist. ground turkey, quinoa, veggies, cheese, spices and enchilada sauce. really tasty and full of protein and vitamins. for a side i made a tomato avocado salad. avocados make everything 10x better!

http://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/2014/03/cheesy-chicken-quinoa-enchilada-meatloaf-muffins/

04/07 i had a sheet of puff pastry (store bought, no judging) in the freezer that needed to be used. so tonight i made a seemingly fancy meal that was actually super easy. salmon en croute. a gorgeous piece of wild caught salmon wrapped in puff pastry with a thin layer of scallion and cream cheese. baked at 400F until the pastry was golden and perfect. for the sides i made some garlic mushrooms and sweet green peas. i was extremely happy with how everything turned out! a bite of the mushrooms with the salmon and pastry? was positively gourmet. and took maybe 10 minutes to throw everything together.

04/08 tonight's meal was a version of "bourbon chicken". you know, the sticky sweet dish you can only find at the food court of most malls?  but a lighter version. chicken breasts marinated in soy sauce, orange juice, cider vinegar and spices left to cook on low in a crock pot. served with brown rice and steamed broccoli.

04/09 meal 100!! only 266 more to go.

somehow i ended up with a half a dozen lemons hanging around my kitchen. so i needed to figure out a way to use them. when life hands you lemons? you make.....flounder francaise with a side of lemon basil spaghetti. flounder isn't the most excited of fishes. but its mild flavor makes an excellent vehicle for sauces that have a stronger flavor (this dish is usually made with chicken for the same reasons). i tried to lighten up the dish by skipping the breading on the fish. it's pan seared in olive oil. and topped with the standard francaise (french style) sauce of white wine, lemon juice and butter. tossed with a handful of parsley and a few capers? the result is slightly bitter and tart. but in a pleasant way, not an overwhelming way. the creamy and garlicky lemon spaghetti on the side nicely balanced the flavors of the fish. i love this pasta! the fresh lemon zest and basil give it a wonderfully refreshing flavor. to complete the plate i made a side of ginger glazed carrots. always one of my favorites!

04/10 holy food coma. tonight we met with a group of friends to try a korean bbq place they recommended. "iron age". all the wonderful flavors of korean bbq, and all the great kpop music of honey pig, but served in an all you can eat fashion like a brazilian steak house. the waiters bring endless amounts of seasoned meat to the grill at the table. pork belly, spare ribs and bulgogi. and lots of it! if you come here? come hungry! and...don't bring a vegetarian. the options are pretty much meat, more meat or even more meat.

Meals 88-94 (and shotguns. and llamas.)

03/28 i spent some of my best "poor and starving artist" years in atlanta. which is a wonderful city to be in if you love to eat! one of the best places my friends and i would go to was neuvo laredo cantina. a hole in the wall mexican place in the middle of an industrial park. and this hole in the wall? had the best damn mexican food i have ever had. period. and that counts the two weeks i spent in mexico. we never waited less than an hour for a table, but we were happy to do so, knowing the fantastic meals that awaited us. this was during my stint as a vegetarian, and my favorite things to order were the mole vegetable enchiladas. if the only purpose my being a vegetarian was to introduce me to this dish? WORTH IT. i still dream about those delicious enchiladas, filled with vegetables and smothered with the thick dark sauce of chilies and chocolate.

that was over a decade ago, and i am still haunted by the memories of this beautiful dish. so tonight i decided to be brave, and try to pay homage to this precious memory. it wasn't quite as good as the original? but it was pretty damn close. enchiladas stuffed with corn, spinach and cheese. a spicy rich mole sauce. a side of avocado and tomato salad with a sprinkling of queso fresco. now i'll be honest. i didn't go full authentic and buy a million different chilies and spend an entire day of cooking to make this sauce. it took some hunting, but i was actually able to find a jar of "dona maria" pre-made mole sauce at a local mercado. it needed a little doctoring. some vegetable broth. some brown sugar. a hint of pureed chipotles. and in the end? i was very pleased with the outcome!

03/29 i had some ham leftover from our easter brunch, so decided to make a modified "chicken cordon bleu" tonight. tenderized chicken breasts stuffed with swiss and ham. rolled and baked with a sauce of dijon, lemon, and a touch of mayonnaise. i didn't bread the chicken (per the standard recipe) but instead put just a hint of parmesan on the outside for texture. a much lighter and lower carb version. and just as tasty! for a side i made cauliflower "muffins" (natch). mashed cauliflower mixed with beaten egg and cheese. baked to create a sort of soufflé. a nice twist on the usual mashed cauliflower i make! and to add a little green to the plate? some simple steamed green beans!

03/30 i saw this recipe for asian stuffed cabbage rolls and knew i had to try it. tony loves asian flavors. tony loves stuffed cabbage rolls. so i figured this was the perfect combination for him! it has all the wonderful flavors of ginger, garlic, scallion and cilantro. and a sauce this is absolutely phenomenal. and so simple. hoison mixed with rice vinegar. i added a bit of thai chili paste for some heat. i will be putting this sauce on everything from now on. sweet, tangy and spicy. what's not to love! here's a copy of the recipe:

http://blog.williams-sonoma.com/asian-style-cabbage-rolls/

03/31 a friend of mine who lives overseas was in town tonight, so we had a mini-reunion at one of my all time favorite sushi restaurants. miyagi's. it is hidden in the basement of a strip of offices. you would never think to look for it if you didn't know it was there. i'm actually glad it's so hidden. otherwise i'd never be able to get a seat! their nigiri is always fresh, and their rolls are creative and delicious. we feasted on spicy tuna, yellow tail with avocado, salmon and eel. it was a great evening of catching up and laughing with good friends and great food. and really, is there anything better?

04/01 i'm spending the weekend up at the family compound. my mom just had surgery, and i promised her at christmas that my gift would be stocking her table and freezer with recovery meals! tonight i made my parents a vegetarian version of my stuffed peppers. i replaced my usual brown rice and ground beef with pearl barley and mushrooms. the flavors were earthy and hearty. for sides i made ginger glazed carrots and "smashed" potatoes. the meal was high in fiber, potassium, vitamins A, C and D. All of which should help the body to heal!

04/02 another night of feeding the 'rents! i made a meal that i saw served at an onsen (japanese hot spring) in nagano japan.  salmon with a ginger garlic glazed served with soba noodles. i added some scallion and edamame to bring some green to the plate. a very healthy meal full of all the amino acids, antioxidants and nutrients the body needs to be at it's best! and soba noodles. seriously. i love me some soba noodles.....

sidebar, i haven't spent this entire weekend in the kitchen. i got out this afternoon to spend time with a friend of my dad's who is an amazing firearms instructor. we went to another family friend's home, where he has set up his own private "firing range" to test out some weapons! just to be clear....when i say  "firing range"? this is literally a pile of dirt set up in the back of a llama enclosure. yes. i said llama.  here i am about to shoot a shot gun for the first time, and you can see my wooly peruvian friend milling about in the background. please don't worry, no llamas were injured in the making of this blog. my shoulder though? oof.....that kickback packs a wallop!

the shotgun was fun. but not as fun as the M4...i feel this is a natural look for me.

04/03 we had all the local family over the folks house this afternoon for a belated easter dinner. mom had a ham to serve, and i put out sides of roasted asparagus and macaroni and cheese. it was a beautiful afternoon of wonderful conversation with loved ones!

i have a deep and abiding love for macaroni and cheese. if i had to choose my last meal on earth? it would be mac and cheese. i have made many batches over the years, but my go-to standard recipe remains the same:

Macaroni and Cheese:

1 lb elbow macaroni (cooked and drained)

1 qt milk

8 Tblsp butter (divided 6T/2T)

1/2 c flour

12 oz shredded gruyere cheese

8 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 c unseasoned tomato sauce

3 Tblsp sugar

2 c French's Fried Onions

-Heat oven to 375F

-Heat milk in saucepan to steaming NOT boiling.

-Melt 6 Tblsp butter in large pot over medium.  

-Add flour to butter. Turn heat to low and whisk for two minutes.

-Continue whisking flour/butter "roux" and slowly add hot milk. Whisk one minute.

-Turn off heat and add cheeses, and seasonings.

-Add macaroni and stir to coat.

-Pour into 13x9 baking dish.

-Combine fried onions with 2 Tbslp melted butter. Sprinkle on top of macaroni.

-Bake 30-35 minutes.  

***Experiment with different cheese combinations....but always add up to 20 ounces.  I like to use smoked gouda, or bleu. Depends on taste!

Meals 81-87

03/21 it's the first day of spring! to celebrate the vernal equinox, i made a meal that was bright and colorful! quinoa avocado salad and plum tomatoes roasted with goat cheese. the first time i had this salad it was at a summer bbq. a friend of a friend who was *gasp* vegan brought it. red quinoa tossed with avocado, black beans, cilantro and scallion. the dressing is a mix of olive oil, cider vinegar, lime juice, salt and pepper. it was devoured. even by the heartiest of carnivores in the crowd. it's the magic of the avocados!

03/22 i always know that seared tuna and mashed cauliflower will be well received in this house. tonight i put an asian spin to the meal. i had two yellow fin fillets that i seared in a honey ginger sauce. i stir fried some broccoli, snow peas and shredded carrots and then tossed it with a little of that same sauce. i wanted to try something new with the cauliflower......and since i was going with asian flavors? i added a little wasabi! i've had wasabi mashed potatoes before, so i figured this would be a good pairing. just enough to add a little bite, but not bring tears to the eyes. and it's hard to see in the picture, but it turned the mashed cauliflower the most lovely shade of light green!

03/23 tonight was our monthly dinner club outing. an absolutely lovely restaurant in fairfax called "choices by shawn". they took an old victorian style house and converted it into a quaint dining establishment with relatively healthy offerings. tony had the chicken and kale ravioli in red pepper sauce, and i had the coconut crusted mahi mahi. now the fish? was good. but the side of au gratin potatoes that came with the fish? was AMAZING!!!!!!! seriously. i have never been so excited about a tuber in my life. everyone was happy with the meals they ordered. but if you ever go here? whatever you get? get a side of the au gratin potatoes.....
http://www.choicesbyshawn.com

03/24 tonight i made one of my all-time-favorite-go-to-classic-never-fails dinners. this is one of those that i am sad to only have once this calendar year. oven baked pork chops with vegetable "muffins" and baked apples. a consistent 4.75 on the TRS, this meal always pleases.  it took me a few tries to get the pork chops just right, but i've found a few tricks along the way. 1) i brine the pork chops overnight in butter milk and hot sauce. 2) i coat said pork chops with a combination of bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and a packet of ranch seasoning. 3) i bake the pork chops at 450 for about 25 minutes. 4) i always make extra......

instead of apple sauce, i do baked apples. sliced granny smiths tossed with cinnamon and brown sugar baked just until softened (not mushy). i like to throw in golden raisins and pecans for a little extra taste and texture.

now the vegetable "muffins" are a great way of sneaking all sorts of healthiness onto the plate. and they're made in a muffin tin!!!!! these had zucchini, onion and carrots. this is the basic recipe i start with, though sometimes i'll swap out the veggies. red peppers for carrots. broccoli for zucchini. whatever i have on hand!

2 beaten eggs
2 Tbsp hot sauce
1 1/2 c shredded zucchini
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 c shredded carrots
1/2 c bread crumbs
1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

useful tip.....be sure to shred the zucchini an hour ahead of time, sprinkle it with salt, and set it in a colander to drain the excess liquid. you'd be amazed how much water comes out of those green guys.  out of my three zucchinis? i got almost a cup of liquid! you don't want that making a soggy muffin. dat's just nasty.

03/25 tonight i did a little twist on a classic pub grub. fish and chips. only i did an oven baked crispy cod with sweet potato tots. and instead of mushy peas? little sweet garden peas. a relatively simple meal, and very quick to throw together on a friday night. next time i need a good tartar sauce to go with the fish.....

03/26 since we know we're hosting brunch tomorrow morning, tonight tony and i decided to take it easy and go to our nearby pizza place, mellow mushroom. i'm delighted that our town got a mellow mushroom. when i lived in atlanta i ate at this restaurant about once a week! there was one right around the corner from the georgia shakespeare festival, where i had my summer job. it definitely caters to the vegetarian/slightly hippy crowd. which at the time, i was. they have an avocado hoagie that is aaaaamazing. when the took the franchise north, we were one of the lucky virginia neighborhoods to get one!

we both got the enlightened spinach salad (which was maybe less zen when i ordered bacon on it) and split a "maui waui" pizza. pineapple, ham, jerk chicken, pesto and....more bacon. now let me be clear, this is not your good old fashioned italian pizza joint. and i do love a good classic pizza. but the pies they make here are wacky pseudo gourmet creations that use things like cucumber slices and thai chili sauce or shitaki mushrooms and garlic aioli (which is one of my favorites). all the same, they do what they do well!

03/27  happy easter! this morning we had some friends over for a wonderful brunch. i had made
a ham in the crockpot with a glaze of brown sugar, dijon, honey and ginger beer. not wanting to waste the delicious glaze, i used the leftovers to coat a pork loin for dinner! sorry piggies.....i have been most unkind to you this weekend. the pork loin was falling-apart tender and smelled incredible. for sides i roasted some sweet potatoes in just a touch of balsamic and also roasted some brussels sprouts. i suppose this is more of a "harvest meal" than an easter meal. but it was still good!!! and relatively light considered the large brunch we had.

More of My Favorite Things

i realized i haven't added any more of "my favorite things" since that first post....which probably makes it seem like i don't have a lot of favorite things. and that's just not true! so here's volume 2 of the things that always make me smile!

penguins. nature's best dressed bird. the way they waddle, the way the slide on ice. there crazy long beaks. seriously. freaking adorable. when i was a child? i could spend an entire day watching the penguin exhibit at the baltimore zoo. now? as an adult? i can spend an entire day watching the "penguin cam".
http://www.marylandzoo.org/zoo-tv/penguincams/

pink grapefruit. one of the great tragedies of my life is that as i've gotten older? i've developed a sensitivity to citrus fruits. they make my mouth break out. which is devastating. one of absolute favorite things in the world is the smell, taste, color and texture of a ruby red grapefruit. i will on occasion throw caution to the wind and scarf down one of these beauties. my lips and gums will itch. i will talk with a lisp for three days. but it's worth it. they're so delicious!!!!

holiday socks. specifically halloween socks. and yes, i do wear them year 'round. target always has THE BEST holiday socks. this year i found a pair with silver sparkly spiders. and a pair with sugar skulls....THAT GLOW IN THE DARK!!!!!!! they make me ridiculously happy.

the movie "strictly ballroom". baz luhrmann before baz luhrmann was cool. the quirky dry wit. the over the top emotion. the accents. the costumes. the hair. the makeup. and oh yeah.....the dancing. every time i see it, i love it a little bit more.. VIVIR CON MIEDO ES COMO VIVIR EN MEDIAS!!!!

edgar degas. maybe it's because i also love tutus and toe shoes. i wanted to take ballet, but a lack of natural balance and grace was a major hinderance.... so instead i appreciate the artist who captured the art form. even if it does seem kind of creepy he spent so much time looking at young girls....

crispy m&m's. i find regular m&m's rather dull. and almost annoying. the candy shell ratio to chocolate is very unbalanced. peanut m&m's are on occasion a tasty snack. but nothing special. peanut butter m&m's? please. not when there are reese's pieces to be had. but CRISPY m&m's? yeeeeees. i will never know why they went away for over a decade. (except you could still find them in germany....thank you munich). but they have returned! to the states! and i am most overjoyed to once again have access to these addictive little treats.

willow trees. when i was in japan, i made sure to take a side trip to kyoto. not to see the geishas. or the temples. but to see the willow trees. something about the long draping limps and the way they dance in an easy sway when there's a breeze. especially if they're over water. i think they are absolutely gorgeous.

the song "cecelia". by simon and garfunkel. i challenge you to listen to this song and NOT smile.

water. maybe it's because i grew up close to the chesapeake bay? but i always find water to be so calming. wether its standing near open water like the ocean, or the bay, or a lake or even a small pond. floating in a swimming pool or soaking in a hot tub. or indulging in a long shower. i find water to be completely restorative!

this guy:

(people watching at the va scottish games.....truly the best)

10 more things guaranteed to brighten a day! sorry it took me so long to post them, i promise there will be more to come!

Meals 74-80

03/14-this evening i had made plans to meet a friend for the Shakespeare Theatre's opening night of 1984 (as in the orwell novel, nothing to do with leg warmers and day glo outfits). we were going to meet early to check out jose andes's new restaurant "china chilcano". which i was most excited about. i have long been a fan of his other DC establishments, and was very much looking forward to a night of fine dining and culture! if you've never seen a show at the Shakespeare Theatre here, i highly recommend. they have a history of top-notch production quality and high caliber talent.

but alas, once again my best laid plans were thwarted. and by the most evil of institutions. the DC metro system (insert ominous organ music). this was the day that prompted the shut down of the ENTIRE system. one of the stations downtown caught on fire. like actual fire. so what should have been a 45 minute easy train ride to downtown? turned into a three hour long epic of trains, buses and ultimately my own legs. so sadly, i was beyond late for our dinner reservations. but i was in time for the show! which was extremely good, very appropriate for the theme. dark and jarring and ominous. and held back nothing when it came to the not-subtle jibes at producing this play in the heart of our nation. and the alphabet soup of "big brother" agencies that surround it.

given my very short window of running to get to the theatre in time, dinner was a "grab and go" from a nearby restaurant i have long been familiar with. teaism was one of the very first places i ate at my first summer in DC, many moons ago when i was fresh out of grad school and working at arena stage. luckily, there's one directly behind the lansberg theatre! as it was monday, and i didn't want to break tradition, i ordered the vegetarian okonomiyaki. which if you've never heard of, is a japanese savory pancake consisting of cabbage, yam, egg, scallion and flour. they are usually topped with a sweet, thickened soy sauce and a horseradish mayonnaise. it sounds....odd. and i'm not going to lie. it is.....odd. but actually quit delicious! if you're into cabbage....

but the real reason i went by teaism wasn't for the main dishes. it was for their signature dessert. the salty oat cookie! these are amazing. the sweet/savory combination is superb. the wonderful cookie (and a glass of malbec) definitely helped in lowering my stress from the trip in so that i could enjoy the show!

03/15-i will forever be grateful to my college roommate kara for introducing me to indian food. every since i had my first bite? i was hooked. the beautiful combinations of spices and the richness of sauces was divine! but much like thai food, i was always hesitant to make it at home. mostly because when i would look at the ingredient list i would get intimidated. so many spices!!! where would i find the all? when would i use them all???

well tonight i put my hesitations aside and made one of my go-to favorites. palak paneer (or spinach with cheese). there were a few moments of "what the hell am i doing" while making the spinach, and i didn't puree it nearly as fine as i should have. but overall the flavors came through, and the taste was pretty damn close to what i have had in restaurants here! i'm amazed at how the yogurt in the sauce really changes the texture from a watery mess to a creamy delicacy. rather than make the standard naan bread as a side, i wanted something a little lower on the carb scale, so i made chickpea fritters (yay fritters!). these are almost similar to a flattened falafel, but with flavors of scallion and cilantro instead of parsley and garlic. on their own, i would say they were a little dry. but as a base to soak up the wonderful "gravy" of the spinach? they were perfect!

03/16-tonight was a mini "girls night out" with a few people i work with. we went to a nearby dogfish head brewery. i'm not a beer drinker, but the food there? totally worth going to! i had their bulgogi tacos. tender beef marinated with korean spices served in flour tortillas. i don't know what magic spice was in their sauce, but it was freaking amazing. even if it did burn a little. ok, a lot. but worth it!

03/17-since tony is out of town, i'm postponing my "st patrick's day" meal until tomorrow, and opting for something light tonight. a poached cod and asparagus with lemon shallot sauce. i'm trying to find more ways of preparing seafood, and a friend at work suggested this technique. and to be honest, i don't use cod that often. so i figured i'd give it a go! and it was so easy!! a layer of asparagus in a pan, the cod on top, 1 cup of water.....and let it come to a simmer. cover and cook 5 minutes. boom. done. a super healthy and low-fuss dinner! now given that cod is a rather bland fish, that's where the sauce came into play. white wine, lemon juice, butter and shallots reduced in a separate pan. a light flavor that worked perfectly with this particular white fish.

03/18-now that tony is home, it's time to make my st patrick's day meal! the classic corned beef and cabbage. i was going to do roasted potatoes, but wanted to try my hand at making potato dumplings. i guess that makes this a german/irish hybrid meal? i did the corned beef and cabbage in the crockpot with a guiness for moisture (seemed appropriate). the entire house smelled amazing while it was cooking! everything was so tender and delicious. the dumplings were....ok. i think next time i'll stick to either roasted or mashed potatoes. but it's all about the experiments this year, right? now i know!

03/19-tonight was a twist on "burger and fries" night. this comes from another recipe i found on skinnytaste. "naked salmon burgers". these turned out AMAZING!!! tony agrees this is one of the best meals we've had so far this year. part of what makes these so good is that i used actual salmon fillets, not canned salmon. so each burger was hearty and full of wonderful bites of fresh and delicious fish. the flavors of garlic, soy and red pepper made for an asian flair that tony and i both found most pleasing to the palette. i added a little ginger to the mix. it seemed appropriate. and i was not wrong! next time i'm going to throw in some cilantro and scallion to round out the flavors. now that sriracha mayo on top? took everything up a notch! since the main dish was a "burger", it seemed appropriate to have a side dish of "fries". sweet potato fries to be specific. always a welcome addition to the plate here! and a handful of green beans to add some color to the plate. you can never go wrong with a side of steamed green beans!

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/07/naked-salmon-burgers-with-sriracha-mayo.html

03/20-i had relatively low expectations for tonight's dinner. a baked chicken parmesan with jarred tomato sauce over whole wheat rotini with a side of broccoli. i was expecting a chicken that was bland and dry. i could not have been more wrong! i'm happy to say this meal far exceeded my expectations. the chicken was moist and flavorful. the pasta perfectly al dente. the tomato sauce (i used classico's "sweet basil" and doctored it up with a splash of red wine, fresh basil and some extra garlic) a nice balance of flavorful and herbaceous. the broccoli, well ok....it's broccoli. either you love it or you hate it. no surprises there.

let's talk more about the chicken. i took two chicken breasts, cut them in half and tenderized them until they were about 1/4" thick. i rubbed them with just a little bit of mayo (enough to coat both sides). this is a great trick if you're oven baking chicken or pork with any type of coating. it locks the moisture into the meat, and gives a great surface for the crumbs to stick to. i prefer it to using the standard method of using a beaten egg. i swear it makes for a more tender piece of meat!

for the breading, i used whole wheat bread crumbs, grated parmesan and a bunch of spices (garlic, oregano, thyme, onion powder, red pepper flakes). once the chicken was mayo'ed and crumbed, i put them on a baking sheet and sprayed them with cooking spray (to keep the crumbs from drying out). i baked them for 20 minutes at 450F, then flipped them and baked for 5 minutes more. at this point i took them out and covered each with a large spoonful of a sweet basil tomato sauce and a sprinkling of mozzarella cheese. back in the oven for another 5 minutes of baking, and 3 minutes under the broiler. the result? probably the best chicken parmesan i've ever had! and way healthier than any other recipe i've tried.

another end to another delicious week of dinners! happy sunday, and hoping everyone has a good week ahead!

Meals 67-73

03/07 today has been absolutely crazy. i was stuck at work WAY later than i intended. so best laid plans to make dinner were put aside when tony suggested we get some carry out from pei wei. we still held to the meatless monday tradition! i got the sesame tofu over brown rice with a side of vegetable spring rolls. it definitely took a little of the stress out of the day, and helped me to brace for the rest of what will be more crazy days to come....

03/08 in my humble opinion. the avocado is one of the most amazing foods to be found in nature. an amazing texture. a gorgeous color. and actually very healthy! never mind all the gripes that they are high in fat, it's the GOOD fat. the necessary fat the body needs. and potassium.....that mineral that i always seem to be so low on. also a handful of vitamins like C, E and B6. these relatively unattractive, but so amazing fruits are always welcome on my plate!

one of my "go-to" quick meals is to make stuffed avocados. cut them in half, remove the pit, and fill with.....whatever you want. shrimp salad for lunch, eggs for breakfast, pulled pork for dinner. they really do compliment an endless variety of food combinations. and much like my obsession with muffin shaped food stuffs? everyone gets and individual portion! tonight i had a little leftover roast chicken breast and a few pieces of turkey bacon in the fridge. so i tossed them with greek yogurt and sriracha sauce, diced up a few tomatoes, cut up some scallion, and mixed it all together with a beaten egg. this became the filling for my little avocado cups. popped in the oven for about 20 minutes until the egg set, and then topped with some fresh cilantro. and.....wow. something about the heat from the sriracha and the flavor of the cilantro really took this meal to another level. this is one of those moment where i regret my choice to not have the same dinner twice this year. because this one? i could eat once a week and be happy with! i'm sure there will be many variations on this theme to come.....

03/09 last week? we had snow....today? it's in the 80's and sunny!!! with this wonderful turn of climate, i asked tony to fire up the grill for the first time this year. i love fish done on the grill, so i picked up some tilapia fillets. a humble white fish, but an excellent vehicle for strong flavors. and if done right? a very pleasing texture. i coated these fillets in olive oil, garlic, paprika, black pepper, lemon zest and red pepper flakes (for just a little heat). on the grill 4 minutes a side? and voila. quick. easy. healthy. delicious. for sides i made some roasted veggies (cauliflower and asparagus). despite how low fat/low carb/low cal this meal is? i promise, it was actually very satisfying!

03/10 tonight was an absolutely amazing date night with my boo. there is a steak house in arlington that tony and i make a point of going to once a year. it's not super fancy, and for a steak house, isn't really super expensive. but the quality of the beef has always been top notch. it's a simple menu. nothing fussy. they are a steak house, and they stick to what they do best! tony got their hanger steak, and i had a petite filet "blue devil style". which means it has a spicy sauce with bleu cheese crumbles. the steaks were cooked PERFECTLY. and the cuts were flawless. every bite tender. we both had wedge salads, because......more bleu cheese. does there need to be another reason? ray's always brings sides of mashed potatoes and creamed spinach with every meal. i guess the potatoes are more "whipped" than "mashed". they are so light! and the spinach is downright addictive. that's actually a big part of why we keep coming back.... http://www.raysthesteaks.com

03/11 the craziness of this week continues, so tonight had to be a simple meal. no shame in buying a pre-made soup from the store! tonight i got a southwest chicken and corn chowder. which was ok, but with a few extra spices and some hot sauce added? quite delicious! i also made a salad to accompany. topped with bbq and ranch and a few crispy onions. nothing fancy, but it hit the spot!

03/12 tonight was one of those magical meals that makes you tear up a little, and give thanks for tastebuds. and it was an easy meal to make! it really was just a matter of having some incredible ingredients to work with.... there's a farmer's market in our town that sets up on thursday mornings. recently a butcher has shown up there with his house made sausages. everything i've purchased from him has been fantastic. spicy italian sausage, cheddar brats, kielbasa, etc... so whenever i'm able to go? i make sure to pick up a pack or two from this vendor. one that has become a favorite of ours is his chorizo. amazingly tender pork with a beautiful combination of spices. hot enough to feel it, but not so hot as to be overwhelming. tony saw that i had a package of this brilliant creation in the freezer, so put in a request that we use it for dinner tonight. a wise man, tony is.

since the weather is still pleasant, it was another good night to fire up the grill. i found a perfectly ripe pineapple at the store and got the idea to make kabobs. one set using the chorizo and pineapple (i cooked the chorizo first by boiling it, then put it on the grill just long enough to get a good crisp to it). and another set of kabobs with veggies (tomatoes, onions and bell pepper). grilled tomatoes are a thing of beauty! tony had also put in a request for cole slaw. which is always a great side to a grilled meal. on a whim i decided to throw in a little leftover bleu cheese (maytag bleu....my favorite). and holy cow. why don't people put bleu cheese into coleslaw more often???? it was freaking amazing. all the components of this meal were amazing on their own. but together? damn.

oh.....and that little glass on the side? yet another tony request! with the weather being so nice. he asked me to make a batch of sangria. i have two recipes, one for red and one for white. this is the white (ok, it's really pink).  1 bottle of dry sparkling white wine (i use an italian asti), 3/4 cup of peach vodka, 1/3 cup lemonade concentrate and a handful of peaches and raspberries. let it sit for at least 6 hours and you have a perfect drink for sitting outside and enjoying the warm weather!

03/13 about a year ago, tony and i were in chicago for a few days. we had an outstanding dinner at a small restaurant-"perennial vibrant" just off the end of lincoln park. one of the things that i've been dreaming about since that night was their gnocchi. instead of the usual potato variety, they made theirs with goat cheese, which added the most delightful tanginess to the dish.

i finally found a recipe that matched what i remember from that night! these little oddly shaped bits of pasta are light, almost pillowy. and are served with a sauce made of white wine, vegetable broth and dates. to top everything off? the dish is covered with a sprinkling of extra crisp bacon. and what isn't better with bacon?? it was a decadent dish. and gnocchi take a little extra love and care to make... but it was worth it! next time? i think i'll add some caramelized onions and a pinch of thyme to this dish.... to offset the rich pasta dish, i made a side of a simple spinach and kale salad. i used the leftover dates and bacon from the sauce to garnish the salad. and threw in some almonds for a little crunch.  an excellent way to end the week!

Meals 60-66

02/29 after a weekend of heavy eating, i started this week with a very light soup. pureed roasted red peppers and cauliflower. it's spiced with onion, garlic and smoked paprika. and topped with a few crushed saltines. a very simple and light meal. and a perfect counter to all the gorging from the past weekend!

03/01 tonight was one of those "i just don't have time for anything" nights. i left work late, and had to race to get to downtown DC for a caps game. and of course the cursed silver line had delays (i shake my fist in anger). so no time to fix dinner at home, and no time to stop at a restaurant. i was left to the overpriced options offered by the verizon center. so dinner tonight? was a pretzel. you know the giant over-salted ones? no shame!! sometimes you have to indulge in these things.

03/02 i came across this recipe when i was looking for new and interesting "low carb" options. "cheesesteak stuffed peppers". all the wonderful flavors of a philly cheesesteak. but stuffed into a green pepper rather than served on a hoagie roll. lean roast beef, sautéed onions and mushrooms, provolone cheese and just the tiniest bit of mayonnaise. all baked in green pepper halves (that are pre roasted to soften them up). i served these tonight with a side of sweet potato waffle fries. can i say how much i love that the sweet potato comes in so many forms now? these peppers are stupid tasty. you don't even realize the bread is missing!

03/03 it's snowing tonight! a very light snow. and probably the last of the season. so it's a soup night! one of my very favorite things is tom kha gai (coconut chicken soup) at thai restaurants. i remember so vividly the first time i had it. at a restaurant called "surin" in the virginia highlands neighborhood of atlanta. it is the most amazing combinations of flavors. the creamy texture of the coconut with a hint of spice, the warmth of ginger, the zest of lemon grass and the herbaceousness of cilantro. delicate slices of tender chicken. earthy mushrooms. ripe tomatoes. it was easily one of the best things i had ever tasted. and to this day remains one of my favorite dishes. and yet it's taken me this long to finally attempt making it at home. maybe it's a good thing i never did....because i came close to eating the entire batch! i'm so excited to have another thai dish added to my repertoire!!

03/04 i honestly can't remember when or where i had turkey tetrazzini. but the idea of it has been stuck in my head. pieces of roasted turkey tossed with pasta in a creamy mushroom sauce. total comfort food. i found a recipe online that was a lightened version. the sauce is chicken broth and low-fat milk. and the pasta is a whole wheat linguine. so not as calorie laden as most recipes. i tossed some green peas in there, and made some roasted zucchini for a side (i'll be honest, i made the zucchini...because it rhymes with tetrazzini.....and i'm a nerd). i was very pleased with the results!

03/05 tony and i had a date tonight to see dead pool. which, by the way, is hi-llarious. i highly recommend! though, definitely not for children. that r rating is a capital R. but i swear i can't remember the time i laughed that hard at a movie! tony and i enjoyed a wonderful pre-movie dinner of sushi at ariake. a nearby japanese restaurant that has become a favorite of ours. they have the most delicate melt-in-your-mouth salmon and yellow tail nigiri. and their florida roll? with seared salmon and avocado? is divine! we always sit at the bar when we go to sushi restaurants. i find watching the chefs make the creations to be one of the best parts of the dining experience. AND they usually give us free stuff! tonight we were gifted a plate of teriyaki salmon jaw (sounds gross, but i promise it was just a flaky piece of salmon). a wonderful date night!!

03/06 i had every intention of making mediterranean chicken enchiladas tonight. i've made them before and they are quite tasty. whole wheat tortillas filled with chicken and parmesan. baked in a red pepper and yogurt sauce. but i couldn't shake the craving i had for.....salad. i just wanted a giant green salad. so i did a 180 and made a greek salad with some roasted chicken breast on top. and it hit the spot! i know salad is a weird thing to be so excited about. but it's always been a weakness of mine. when i was at the age that most children come home and ask for milk and cookies? i was asking my mom for a leafy green salad. i have learned that the key to a really great greek salad? is a sprinkling of oregano. it makes a world of difference! this was a great way to end the week.