Dinner for the week

So this week is about getting back to good food. I made a meal plan, went shopping and am prepping out for the week.

This week's dinner is pan fried Brussels sprouts and turkey meatballs over baked acorn squash.

2 cups chopped raw Brussels sprouts
16 chopped pre-made turkey meatballs (trust me it's worth it)
1 small acorn squash (1 squash per two servings, make as needed)
3 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper

In a large frying pan heat 2 Tbsp olive oil, salt and pepper on medium. When warm add sprouts and meatballs. Turn heat to medium high and cook until sprouts brown stirring frequently.

MEANWHILE, in microwave place halved squash face down with punctures to the skins on a plate nuke for ~7minutes or until squash is fully cooked. When done coat inside with remaining olive oil, plate and serve.

The squash comes out sweet which is a nice contrast to the sprouts. Recipe makes 5 servings. I put my extra ones in mason jars so I can store them for the rest of the week.

Honestly, when I sat down with this and a glass of milk, I was worried it wouldn't be enough food. However; I'm pleasantly stuffed.

Long Over Due Left Over

I've been slacking lately. I friend gave me a kick in the butt to post again though.

I've been homesick like crazy. That means a lot of baking. However, end of the month means low on cash and a pantry not set out to make the classics (oh and cash flow? totally my fault). The results are experiments. I don't have detailed notes and only one picture. But here's a reconstruction of my "lab book".

No egg cookies.

~1.5 cups whole wheat flour
~3/4 cup brown sugar
~0.5 stick of cold butter
~1/2 cup water
Some peanut butter
A few chocolate chips

Mix flour, reserve 0.5 cups flour, and sugar. Cut butter into small pieces and pinch into the flour and sugar mixture. When the texture of damp sand, mix in water a dribble at a time until mixture sticks together on it's own (think pie crust), if you over water add some of the reserved flour. Form dough into balls, create a depression in the middle, put a small amount of peanut butter and a couple chocolate chips on top. This made 12 cookies after baking in a 400deg oven for 5-7min.

The problem? They taste like flour, grr.... Best fix, vanilla extract and slightly less water. What I did the next day? More sugar and peanut butter in the batter with some salt. The result? "Brittle" like objects that would probably be best stuck into vanilla ice cream that are slightly salty (should have used more like 1teaspoon not 3, opps). However, I have a picture of theses!



As far as regular food, I made fettuccine. Well I made the locally made one ;) Pasta from scratch is not on my to do soon list though sometime I'll give it a try. This one was made from sweet potatoes. It smells like sweet potato pie when it's cooking! Yummie! I made it with oil, garlic, salt, black pepper, chicken sausage and a Hungarian pepper. Nom, I ate it all weekend. Warms up in the microwave great too. Also no picture.

Another Leftover Link

So I've been craving vitamin K. Or at least all the foods that suddenly sound and taste amazing are full of it.

So I've been googling food cravings. Is there a reason I would crave it? Am I deficient? It wouldn't be the first vitamin I was found lacking in. Though the growing number of them makes me think there is more than diet issues causing it.... -.-

Well, I found a link that has some food for thought Definitely talk to your doctor before you diagnosis yourself but it might be good to bring things up with him/her.

image source

Leftover Link

OMG THE SITE IS AWESOME!!!

no not this blog, but I mean yes this blog.....

Anyways, this website is AWESOME!

So many charts and graphs for what nutrients are in your food. The link is to raw cabbage my new favorite food. I might be low in vitamin C (and might jump the next person who eats an orange around me...) and vitamin k which normally I think you get from the sun....

But it breaks down all the macro and micro nutrients. Power is in the numbers!

Random Lefts

Went to the regional market with my mom today. Got all the lovely produce you see above for $46 dollars! Don't be surprised if you see lots of these tasties popping up in the future!

Also stopped to get a sub on my way from a local joint. I thought I ordered an Italian sub and got the sandwich below. We call them grinders, Italian sausage, peppers and onions. I normally don't like these but it wasn't that bad.



And because I told you I eat not sweets, below is the curry leftovers I had for lunch the other day.






Curry was made with Golden curry mild, pabalono peppers, potato, onion, chicken, carrots, veggie broth, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Leftover Food Product

So one of the foods that is Austin to me is/are bean chips. They are made from black beans are gluten, corn and GMO free. They are delicious and a staple of parties in Austin. Imagine with queso, nom nom nom!

Well I found their website!

And you can order them online!!!

I know I will be...

Leftover Link

Ever wonder what is in season where you are? Well wonder no more.

epicurious strikes again

What is this?

So I found myself nomming on these tonight before and after dinner... So bad for me.



They weren't even that good. I find that a lot of times I eat things I don't like because I feel like I should like them. Strangely, that doesn't mean I eat more veggies. It means I eat more sweets and junk. Grrr...

So this morning, my leftover thought is:

Stop eating things you don't like!

I'm working on getting up early and going to the gym. Morning gyms make me feel better all day. So today I got up just before six, walked over to my alarm clock/cellphone set for 6am, picked it up and took it back to bed and hit snooze for an hour and half, sigh. Must get to bed earlier tonight!

For healthy breakfast we have, oatmeal! made with almond milk and brown sugar. Nom.

Leftover Thought

When the recipe says puree the squash, bashing it with a wooden spoon doesn't count...



As delicious as my friend here looks, a homemade acorn squash pop tart, he is not filled with puree but rather bashed and sugared acorn squash, ick. However, not pictured, due to their over whelming tastiness (really I had y'alls health in mind here, when I ate them all...), are the nutella filled ones.

Next attempt... low sugar strawberry ones.

And in case you were wondering, no I had a real dinner too, Golden curry mild with chicken and the random veggies in my fridge. Tip on the Golden curry, cook the veggies and add broth instead of water, so nommie....

recipe references
Acorn squash filling
Homemade pop tart recipe including crust though I used store bought (we all have our limits)
glaze: water and powdered sugar, add powdered sugar to a small amount of water until thickens, drizzle over pastry (food dye can be used to color the glaze)

Leftover!

So here's a random leftover that's not food.

Ever wonder how much water you should be drinking? We all know the daily guide lines are not appropriate for most people. Now here's a calculator to give you a better idea.

Water Calculator

Reboot!

So I live in a new state again. I know very few people here. So I do what I always do, I turn to the things I love to support me.

I used to believe I needed other to support me. The truth is they are only a part of it. The things I love to do support me.

And I love to create. Any way I can. Art, programming, cooking.

So tonight I find myself in the kitchen again. Cooking not from recipes but from feel.

Tonight a bean dish and a refreshing dressing.



The bean dish is my take on baked beans. Mix together the ingredients below in a small crockery dish. Dust the top with grated cheese of choice and bake at 400degrees for 30mins. Serve either as a bean dip, taco filling, pita filling or as a size.

The refreshing dressing/marinade/bread dip is even easier. Juice half a lime, I used a mortal and pestle because limes tend to be tough to squeeze. Add the oil and spices and it's done. This makes only a small amount meant for one to dip bread in.

Ingredients:

Bean Dish:

1 can fat free re-fried beans
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped pabalano pepper
1/4 cup chopped potato
2.5oz room temperature cheddar
grated cheese (reserve)

Refreshing Dressing:

the juice of 1/2 a lime
1 teaspoon olive oil
a dash of salt
a dash of pepper