Thursday, July 24, 2008
Grilled Zucchini
The other night, I made Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Maple-Chipotle Sauce, red potatoes (cut into pieces with a little bit of butter, salt, pepper, and fresh parsley), and Zucchini. Everything was good, but the zucchini was my favorite! I cut the top and bottom off two zucchinis and sliced them in half (vertically). I brushed each piece with olive oil and sprinkled with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. I put them on the grill for 4-5 minutes per side with the grill set to medium heat, and they were perfect! So tasty!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Time has Flown by!
I cannot believe it's June, and an entire month went by withouth me posting. It's actually been almost two months!
I haven't been making too many new things, but I do have a couple recipes to share:
Giada's Grilled Vegetables
These were SO good! I didn't exactly follow the recipe for the vegetables...I used a regualr eggplant, couldn't find zucchini, added portobello mushrooms and some regular large-ish mushrooms, and swapped green onions for red. I did follow the recipe for the dressing, though, and it was delicious! I served it at a bbq, which was perfect. I chopped all the veggies ahead of time and put them in large ziploc bags. I poured olive oil into the bag to coat the veggies (rather than brushing it on), and they were ready to put on the grill when our guests arrived! I sprinkled them with coarse salt and pepper once on the grill, and I added the dressing when they were finished. They were delicious at room temperature, so it's a great recipe for a bbq or entertaining.
I also made Ina's Broccoli and Bow Ties (which I think I have mentioned before), German Potato Salad (bad batch of potatoes, so it only came out ok), bratwurst, and burgers. We also made some black bean burgers, but didn't eat them until the following day. We didn't cook them long enough, so I don't feel like I can really tell if they were good or not.
Cod Poached in Spicy Tomato Broth
This was also very good...nice and light! We ate it over orzo.
Honey-Jalapeno Corn Bread
This was very good! It's a great light-ish recipe for cornbread, and the jalapenos give it some zing. The only thing I did differently was use a can of chopped jalapenos (drained). We ate it with Ina's Chicken Chili. Yum!
Speaking of Chicken Chili, I think I finally have the recipe figured out. I double the dried spices (except for salt), and add two cans of white beans (drained). Last time, I used that basil in a tube, and it seemed to really work! I don't think it would work for everything, but it was good for this recipe.
Last night, I made a bean salad. It was a combination of a few recipes, and here's what I came up with:
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen cut green beans
1 can (drained) red kidney beans
1 can (drained) garbanzo beans
1 can (drained) black beans
dressing:
2-3 limes
1 tablespoon chili powder
1.5 tsp ground cumin (or more, to taste)
1.5 tsp salt
1/4 cup honey (to taste)
3 tablespoons olive oil
hot sauce (to taste)
fresh ground pepper
1.5 tsp minced garlic
Mix and let sit for at least 30 minutes. I left mine on the counter (to defrost the beans and corn) for about 15 minutes and then let it sit in the fridge for another 20 or so. I bet it will be better today.
I haven't been making too many new things, but I do have a couple recipes to share:
Giada's Grilled Vegetables
These were SO good! I didn't exactly follow the recipe for the vegetables...I used a regualr eggplant, couldn't find zucchini, added portobello mushrooms and some regular large-ish mushrooms, and swapped green onions for red. I did follow the recipe for the dressing, though, and it was delicious! I served it at a bbq, which was perfect. I chopped all the veggies ahead of time and put them in large ziploc bags. I poured olive oil into the bag to coat the veggies (rather than brushing it on), and they were ready to put on the grill when our guests arrived! I sprinkled them with coarse salt and pepper once on the grill, and I added the dressing when they were finished. They were delicious at room temperature, so it's a great recipe for a bbq or entertaining.
I also made Ina's Broccoli and Bow Ties (which I think I have mentioned before), German Potato Salad (bad batch of potatoes, so it only came out ok), bratwurst, and burgers. We also made some black bean burgers, but didn't eat them until the following day. We didn't cook them long enough, so I don't feel like I can really tell if they were good or not.
Cod Poached in Spicy Tomato Broth
This was also very good...nice and light! We ate it over orzo.
Honey-Jalapeno Corn Bread
This was very good! It's a great light-ish recipe for cornbread, and the jalapenos give it some zing. The only thing I did differently was use a can of chopped jalapenos (drained). We ate it with Ina's Chicken Chili. Yum!
Speaking of Chicken Chili, I think I finally have the recipe figured out. I double the dried spices (except for salt), and add two cans of white beans (drained). Last time, I used that basil in a tube, and it seemed to really work! I don't think it would work for everything, but it was good for this recipe.
Last night, I made a bean salad. It was a combination of a few recipes, and here's what I came up with:
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen cut green beans
1 can (drained) red kidney beans
1 can (drained) garbanzo beans
1 can (drained) black beans
dressing:
2-3 limes
1 tablespoon chili powder
1.5 tsp ground cumin (or more, to taste)
1.5 tsp salt
1/4 cup honey (to taste)
3 tablespoons olive oil
hot sauce (to taste)
fresh ground pepper
1.5 tsp minced garlic
Mix and let sit for at least 30 minutes. I left mine on the counter (to defrost the beans and corn) for about 15 minutes and then let it sit in the fridge for another 20 or so. I bet it will be better today.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
An Overdue Update!
Things have been SO busy and crazy that I haven't had time to update anything here! But, I have tried a bunch of new recipes, so here they go-
We made Grilled Chicken with Whiskey-Ginger Marinade on a Saturday night (we were really rushed, too, since we had to meet some people out that night). This was SO good! It was in the March 08 issue of Cooking Light, and we gave it a try! It was a different way to have chicken, and so tasty. It seemed like it was kind of time consuming, but that could be because I was in a hurry. I think we had Stir Fry Cabbage with it, which was also very good. That's sort of an unusual dish, though, and it may not be for everyone. You're supposed to use Napa cabbage, but I think I used Savoy. I tried it once before and used the traditional round cabbage, and the results are definitely not the same! I think the Savoy was closer to how it should have been - almost like wilted greens.
Another night, we had a delicious Spinach Salad. It was one of the best I've had, and it was healthy! I made it twice and followed the recipe each time. The only small deviation I made the second time was adding maple-glazed walnuts. They were SO easy and delicious! Since we ate the salad as a main dish, the nuts made it feel a little more complete. Plus, the maple in the walnuts and dressing really tied it together.
We've also made Baked Falafel Sandwiches with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce. These falafels are really good, and I love it that they're baked. They're better than making them from a box! I don't use the same sauce, though...I use equal parts low-fat plain yogurt and tahini paste with garlic and lemon juice. I think I usually use the juice from one lemon, but I might occasionally use half. And I think I add 1 clove of minced garlic. I adjust everything to taste, so it's hard to say for sure. It's better if it sits for a little while. We also add cucumbers to our sandwiches instead of tomatoes.
Another good recipe is Ellie's Garden Risotto. I had serious doubts about this, especially after making that delicious Dirty Risotto from Giada. Honestly, though, it was SO good! We were quite happy with it and will definitely make it again. I can't remember what we ate with it - maybe grilled chicken. It's more of a side dish, but you could eat it as a main dish if you were looking for a vegetarian option. It reheated well, too, but only for two days. On the third day, it was really watery - probably from all the veggies.
This week, we made Mediterranean Fish Stew. I'm trying to incorporate more seafood into our diet, and neither of us is too excited about those salmon burgers I bought a while ago. I useed cod instead, since that was available at Sam's. I got 3 lbs of frozen cod, so I'll be making more fish recipes in the near future (2 lbs of it is now in my freezer). The stew was good. It seemed bland at first, but it kind of grew on me. I even ate it for lunch and felt like I enjoyed it more than I did the first time. It's a nice way to have a warm meal that's actually healthy and light. It's not exactly bursting with flavor, but it was good! I think next time, I might add some white wine and maybe some red pepper flakes.
Last night, we made Indian Food. We always use those jars of Pataks to make the sauces...I can't remember what one I used yesterday, but it was good! I think it was the garam masala paste, but I'm not 100% sure. I use a little less oil than it says to use, but it always comes out pretty good! We also usually make basmati rice. Since the dish is spicy and quite saucy, you really need the rice with it. We also buy pappadums (or papadums, popadums, papadams, etc). The one thing I've really beed searching for, though, is a good, health vegetable! We usually buy ready-made indian veggies, like pav bhaji, but the fat and sodium content is a little higher than I would like in some of the pre-prepared items. So, last night we tried Roasted Manchurian Cauliflower, which I saw in the April issue of Cooking Light. It was really good - and easy! It has such a nice flavor and really went nicely with the indian meal. I did change a few things, though. I bought the garam masala seasoning, instead of making it. I'm sure it would have been better if I made it, but I would have had to buy ALL the spices listed in the recipe for garam masala seasoning. Plus, we only have a coffee grinder - not a spice grinder - and I didn't have time this week to get all those coffee grounds out of the grinder. The store-bought garam masala worked well, and it's unlikely I'll make my own in the future. Also, I made a mistake when I made the sauce for the cauliflower. For one thing, I decided to use minced jared garlic, which really isn't as flavorful. Also, I accidentally threw the ketchup, garlic, black pepper and cayenne pepper into a sauce pan at the same time (instead of adding them in stages), and I didn't use any oil. I have nothing to compare it to, but it really came out great! I think I'll continue to do it that way in the future. Also, we had a small head of cauliflower, so I cut the recipe in half. I roasted the cauliflower for 20 minutes before adding the sauce, and then roasted it for only 10 minutes more. It was great! .
We made Grilled Chicken with Whiskey-Ginger Marinade on a Saturday night (we were really rushed, too, since we had to meet some people out that night). This was SO good! It was in the March 08 issue of Cooking Light, and we gave it a try! It was a different way to have chicken, and so tasty. It seemed like it was kind of time consuming, but that could be because I was in a hurry. I think we had Stir Fry Cabbage with it, which was also very good. That's sort of an unusual dish, though, and it may not be for everyone. You're supposed to use Napa cabbage, but I think I used Savoy. I tried it once before and used the traditional round cabbage, and the results are definitely not the same! I think the Savoy was closer to how it should have been - almost like wilted greens.
Another night, we had a delicious Spinach Salad. It was one of the best I've had, and it was healthy! I made it twice and followed the recipe each time. The only small deviation I made the second time was adding maple-glazed walnuts. They were SO easy and delicious! Since we ate the salad as a main dish, the nuts made it feel a little more complete. Plus, the maple in the walnuts and dressing really tied it together.
We've also made Baked Falafel Sandwiches with Yogurt-Tahini Sauce. These falafels are really good, and I love it that they're baked. They're better than making them from a box! I don't use the same sauce, though...I use equal parts low-fat plain yogurt and tahini paste with garlic and lemon juice. I think I usually use the juice from one lemon, but I might occasionally use half. And I think I add 1 clove of minced garlic. I adjust everything to taste, so it's hard to say for sure. It's better if it sits for a little while. We also add cucumbers to our sandwiches instead of tomatoes.
Another good recipe is Ellie's Garden Risotto. I had serious doubts about this, especially after making that delicious Dirty Risotto from Giada. Honestly, though, it was SO good! We were quite happy with it and will definitely make it again. I can't remember what we ate with it - maybe grilled chicken. It's more of a side dish, but you could eat it as a main dish if you were looking for a vegetarian option. It reheated well, too, but only for two days. On the third day, it was really watery - probably from all the veggies.
This week, we made Mediterranean Fish Stew. I'm trying to incorporate more seafood into our diet, and neither of us is too excited about those salmon burgers I bought a while ago. I useed cod instead, since that was available at Sam's. I got 3 lbs of frozen cod, so I'll be making more fish recipes in the near future (2 lbs of it is now in my freezer). The stew was good. It seemed bland at first, but it kind of grew on me. I even ate it for lunch and felt like I enjoyed it more than I did the first time. It's a nice way to have a warm meal that's actually healthy and light. It's not exactly bursting with flavor, but it was good! I think next time, I might add some white wine and maybe some red pepper flakes.
Last night, we made Indian Food. We always use those jars of Pataks to make the sauces...I can't remember what one I used yesterday, but it was good! I think it was the garam masala paste, but I'm not 100% sure. I use a little less oil than it says to use, but it always comes out pretty good! We also usually make basmati rice. Since the dish is spicy and quite saucy, you really need the rice with it. We also buy pappadums (or papadums, popadums, papadams, etc). The one thing I've really beed searching for, though, is a good, health vegetable! We usually buy ready-made indian veggies, like pav bhaji, but the fat and sodium content is a little higher than I would like in some of the pre-prepared items. So, last night we tried Roasted Manchurian Cauliflower, which I saw in the April issue of Cooking Light. It was really good - and easy! It has such a nice flavor and really went nicely with the indian meal. I did change a few things, though. I bought the garam masala seasoning, instead of making it. I'm sure it would have been better if I made it, but I would have had to buy ALL the spices listed in the recipe for garam masala seasoning. Plus, we only have a coffee grinder - not a spice grinder - and I didn't have time this week to get all those coffee grounds out of the grinder. The store-bought garam masala worked well, and it's unlikely I'll make my own in the future. Also, I made a mistake when I made the sauce for the cauliflower. For one thing, I decided to use minced jared garlic, which really isn't as flavorful. Also, I accidentally threw the ketchup, garlic, black pepper and cayenne pepper into a sauce pan at the same time (instead of adding them in stages), and I didn't use any oil. I have nothing to compare it to, but it really came out great! I think I'll continue to do it that way in the future. Also, we had a small head of cauliflower, so I cut the recipe in half. I roasted the cauliflower for 20 minutes before adding the sauce, and then roasted it for only 10 minutes more. It was great! .
Monday, March 17, 2008
New Pork Tenderloin Recipe
I went through my cooking light magazine and found a recipe for pork tenderloin that sounded really good. We made it last night, and it was so tasty! I don't know if it's the spices or the way it's cooked, or what - but it's super moist!
Here's the recipe for Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Maple-Chipotle Sauce. I didn't deviate from the recipe at all, and it was great!
With that, we had mashed potatoes (I stink at making those, but my husband does not! Yay!) and green beans. For the green beans, I loosely followed this recipe for Green Beans with Mushrooms and Bacon. I only had about 1 lb of green beans, and I just threw in a handful of mushrooms. We used 4 slices of center-cut bacon, and just chopped up a shallot (didn't measure it). I totally forgot to add the spices, but it didn't matter at all!
We also had a small salad, because I'm trying to have a salad with every meal. Of course, for this one, we ate it with light blue cheese, which sort of defeats the purpose. It was still tasty, though!
I'm trying a few more new recips this week - a spinach salad from cooking light and a whiskey chicken recipe. I also bought ingredients for some of our regular meals - Pasta Fagioli and Pasta with Vodka Sauce. Next weekend, I want to try this health garden risotto recipe I saw on the food network.
Here's the recipe for Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Maple-Chipotle Sauce. I didn't deviate from the recipe at all, and it was great!
With that, we had mashed potatoes (I stink at making those, but my husband does not! Yay!) and green beans. For the green beans, I loosely followed this recipe for Green Beans with Mushrooms and Bacon. I only had about 1 lb of green beans, and I just threw in a handful of mushrooms. We used 4 slices of center-cut bacon, and just chopped up a shallot (didn't measure it). I totally forgot to add the spices, but it didn't matter at all!
We also had a small salad, because I'm trying to have a salad with every meal. Of course, for this one, we ate it with light blue cheese, which sort of defeats the purpose. It was still tasty, though!
I'm trying a few more new recips this week - a spinach salad from cooking light and a whiskey chicken recipe. I also bought ingredients for some of our regular meals - Pasta Fagioli and Pasta with Vodka Sauce. Next weekend, I want to try this health garden risotto recipe I saw on the food network.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Spagetti and Meatballs (with real meat!) - and Suasage
I made spagetti and meatballs last night. It was so tasty! I had to call my mom to see how she makes it, because hers is my favorite! I don't know if it's a childhood thing or what, but it always tastes so good to me! It's pretty easy, and Martin liked it, too.
For the sauce, start with 2 large (28 oz?) cans of pureed tomatoes.
Add water - about 1/2-3/4 of one of the cans.
Add one tbl. (or a little more, to taste) of basil, oregano, and sugar.
Add garlic powder or garlic salt, to taste.
Add salt and pepper.
Then, cook the Italian sausage (I use hot). Once it's finished, slice it into smaller pieces. I sliced it into thirds. Mine wasn't 100% cooked all the way through, but that's ok. Add the sausage pieces to the sauce.
Next, make meatballs.
I used 85% lean ground beef (the only time I've bought ground beef in years!), one egg, salt and pepper, Italian bread crumbs, a little milk, some garlic powder, and parmesean cheese.
My mom fries them in a skillet, so that's what I did, too! I cooked them right in the same pan that the sausage was in...super tasty! Once they're finished, put them in the sauce too.
I let the whole thing simmer for about an hour - maybe a little more.
We actually didn't have it with spagetti (I'm not a big fan of spagetti), but used rotini instead.
Super yummy! We also had some fresh bread (yum!) and a caesar salad. I love the Newman's non-creamy caesar - a little better for you and really good!
For the sauce, start with 2 large (28 oz?) cans of pureed tomatoes.
Add water - about 1/2-3/4 of one of the cans.
Add one tbl. (or a little more, to taste) of basil, oregano, and sugar.
Add garlic powder or garlic salt, to taste.
Add salt and pepper.
Then, cook the Italian sausage (I use hot). Once it's finished, slice it into smaller pieces. I sliced it into thirds. Mine wasn't 100% cooked all the way through, but that's ok. Add the sausage pieces to the sauce.
Next, make meatballs.
I used 85% lean ground beef (the only time I've bought ground beef in years!), one egg, salt and pepper, Italian bread crumbs, a little milk, some garlic powder, and parmesean cheese.
My mom fries them in a skillet, so that's what I did, too! I cooked them right in the same pan that the sausage was in...super tasty! Once they're finished, put them in the sauce too.
I let the whole thing simmer for about an hour - maybe a little more.
We actually didn't have it with spagetti (I'm not a big fan of spagetti), but used rotini instead.
Super yummy! We also had some fresh bread (yum!) and a caesar salad. I love the Newman's non-creamy caesar - a little better for you and really good!
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
More tasty Treats
On Saturday, we made dirty risotto again, because it is just that good!!! We made it on Saturday night and watched a movie - it was great! On Sunday, I made Roast Chicken Provencale, which I also made once before. This time, though, I had the Herbes de Provence (from Penzey's), and it really did make a difference! It was delicious! I also made Ina's Broccoli and Bow Ties, and they tasted really good together. As a special treat, we had Limoncello Cheesecake Squares for dessert. We have a ton left, so I might even try freezing some.
I really can't even think of what else we ate last week! I made pot pies (maybe on Wednesday?), and I know we had Salmon Burgers one night. I got an email a while ago from Vital Choice seafood, and I decided to try their salmon. It's very expensive, and we don't exactly love salmon, but we don't hate it, either. I got Salmon Burgers and these things that are supposed to be "salmon sausage." I doubt they'll be anything like sausage, but I hoped maybe the additional seasonings would be good! I can't report back on that yet. So far, all we tried were the salmon burgers. I cooked it on the stove in a pan for 4 minutes a side (frozen!), and then I just made a dill sauce to go with it. It came out ok...not awesome, but healthy and not bad. The sauce was good...I used low fat sour cream, a little bit of light mayo, some chopped shallots, dill, and maybe some lemon joice (?). We just had the burgers on buns with the sauce and sliced cucumbers.
We may have had the roasted red pepper and goat cheese sandwiches one night, but after a very long week, it's hard to remember! I think so, though.
We were very good and had a salad pretty much every night! I alternated between the Penzey's French Vinaigrette and a dressing made from Raspberry Enlightenment (also from Penzey's).
This week, we're trying a falafel recipe, black bean burgers, and hopefully (depending on when our grill parts arrive) chicken and tapenade sandwiches. Lil C has his surgery at the end of the week, so I don't want to make anything too involved on Thursday!
I really can't even think of what else we ate last week! I made pot pies (maybe on Wednesday?), and I know we had Salmon Burgers one night. I got an email a while ago from Vital Choice seafood, and I decided to try their salmon. It's very expensive, and we don't exactly love salmon, but we don't hate it, either. I got Salmon Burgers and these things that are supposed to be "salmon sausage." I doubt they'll be anything like sausage, but I hoped maybe the additional seasonings would be good! I can't report back on that yet. So far, all we tried were the salmon burgers. I cooked it on the stove in a pan for 4 minutes a side (frozen!), and then I just made a dill sauce to go with it. It came out ok...not awesome, but healthy and not bad. The sauce was good...I used low fat sour cream, a little bit of light mayo, some chopped shallots, dill, and maybe some lemon joice (?). We just had the burgers on buns with the sauce and sliced cucumbers.
We may have had the roasted red pepper and goat cheese sandwiches one night, but after a very long week, it's hard to remember! I think so, though.
We were very good and had a salad pretty much every night! I alternated between the Penzey's French Vinaigrette and a dressing made from Raspberry Enlightenment (also from Penzey's).
This week, we're trying a falafel recipe, black bean burgers, and hopefully (depending on when our grill parts arrive) chicken and tapenade sandwiches. Lil C has his surgery at the end of the week, so I don't want to make anything too involved on Thursday!
Monday, February 25, 2008
YUM!
After that horrible hot and sour soup experience last week, I am happy to report that I made two delicious meals over the weekend!
On Saturday, we made Dirty Risotto. It was SOOOO good! It was really some of the best risotto I have ever had. We couldn't get enough of it! I followed the recipe exactly, except I used center-cut bacon instead of pancetta. I also used turkey sausage. It's time consuming, but so worth it! I never made risotto before, so I was afraid it would be too difficult. It was easy, though - it just takes a long time. To make sure I was adding the broth at the right times, I used the timer and set it to 2 minutes every time I added the broth. I usually had to wait about 2 and a half minutes before adding more, but the timer helped me stay on track. We both thought it was soooo tasty!
Yesterday, we made Chicken Chili. That was also very good, although I did take my mom's recommendation and add one can of drained cannellini beans and two links of cooked & sliced italian sausage (we used turkey sausage). We also doubled the amount of chili powder and red pepper flakes. I think I actually dumped in a little more chili powder, too, after I tasted it. I also added some chicken broth, to thin it out a little. The recipe took me quite a while, partially because I used chicken breasts that were really big. They took forever to cook! But, aside from that, it was pretty easy and very tasty. It's super healthy, too! It was a nice way to have chili a different way. I'm sure we'll make it again.
On Saturday, we made Dirty Risotto. It was SOOOO good! It was really some of the best risotto I have ever had. We couldn't get enough of it! I followed the recipe exactly, except I used center-cut bacon instead of pancetta. I also used turkey sausage. It's time consuming, but so worth it! I never made risotto before, so I was afraid it would be too difficult. It was easy, though - it just takes a long time. To make sure I was adding the broth at the right times, I used the timer and set it to 2 minutes every time I added the broth. I usually had to wait about 2 and a half minutes before adding more, but the timer helped me stay on track. We both thought it was soooo tasty!
Yesterday, we made Chicken Chili. That was also very good, although I did take my mom's recommendation and add one can of drained cannellini beans and two links of cooked & sliced italian sausage (we used turkey sausage). We also doubled the amount of chili powder and red pepper flakes. I think I actually dumped in a little more chili powder, too, after I tasted it. I also added some chicken broth, to thin it out a little. The recipe took me quite a while, partially because I used chicken breasts that were really big. They took forever to cook! But, aside from that, it was pretty easy and very tasty. It's super healthy, too! It was a nice way to have chili a different way. I'm sure we'll make it again.
Friday, February 22, 2008
The worst dinner ever!
It's hard to say if the meal I made last night was the absolute worst ever, but it's the only thing I've made in a long time that actually made me sick to look at it!
We had leftover pork tenderloin, which had been marinated in soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine, red pepper flakes, and canola oil. We also recently bought some spices from Penzy's, and one of the things I bought was arrowroot starch. It's supposed to be good to use instead of cornstarch. In the Penzy's catalog, there was a recipe for Hot and Sour soup, which calls for arrowroot starch for thickening.
Since we had leftover pork, I thought this could be the perfect time to make the soup. I bought the can of straw mushrooms, bamboo, and bean threads or cellophane noodles the recipe called for. I couldn't find Chinese black vinegar (even at World Harvest!), so I looked online for a substitution. Apparently, apple cider vinegar is ok to use instead.
So, last night, I started the soup. Everything went ok until I added the arrowroot. When mixed in water, it looked like the consistency of milk (not thicker). I added some right to the soup, thinking that would help (it said you could just add it directly). A few minutes later, I found all these globs...they were from the arrowroot, but they wouldn't mix in. I strained them out and tried to stir them together with a whisk, but they were stubborn little things! After a while, I gave up and just put them back in.
This next step is where things went totally awry-
The recipe says to add the package of bean thread/cellophane noodles. So, that's what I did. I was a little concerned about it after adding the first group, because they weren't really separating and were sort of this strange blob. I thought about stopping there, but I decided to just follow the recipe and add the rest. BIG MISTAKE! All of a sudden, I had a pot of slime. The broth had almost dissapeared, and all the pork, bamboo, and mushrooms were trapped inside. It was like something from Alien.
I could barely even eat it. We agreed the flavor was good, but it just made my stomach turn! It looked more like something that would come out of your nose when you have a bad cold than something appetizing to have for dinner. A total dissapointment!
We had leftover pork tenderloin, which had been marinated in soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine, red pepper flakes, and canola oil. We also recently bought some spices from Penzy's, and one of the things I bought was arrowroot starch. It's supposed to be good to use instead of cornstarch. In the Penzy's catalog, there was a recipe for Hot and Sour soup, which calls for arrowroot starch for thickening.
Since we had leftover pork, I thought this could be the perfect time to make the soup. I bought the can of straw mushrooms, bamboo, and bean threads or cellophane noodles the recipe called for. I couldn't find Chinese black vinegar (even at World Harvest!), so I looked online for a substitution. Apparently, apple cider vinegar is ok to use instead.
So, last night, I started the soup. Everything went ok until I added the arrowroot. When mixed in water, it looked like the consistency of milk (not thicker). I added some right to the soup, thinking that would help (it said you could just add it directly). A few minutes later, I found all these globs...they were from the arrowroot, but they wouldn't mix in. I strained them out and tried to stir them together with a whisk, but they were stubborn little things! After a while, I gave up and just put them back in.
This next step is where things went totally awry-
The recipe says to add the package of bean thread/cellophane noodles. So, that's what I did. I was a little concerned about it after adding the first group, because they weren't really separating and were sort of this strange blob. I thought about stopping there, but I decided to just follow the recipe and add the rest. BIG MISTAKE! All of a sudden, I had a pot of slime. The broth had almost dissapeared, and all the pork, bamboo, and mushrooms were trapped inside. It was like something from Alien.
I could barely even eat it. We agreed the flavor was good, but it just made my stomach turn! It looked more like something that would come out of your nose when you have a bad cold than something appetizing to have for dinner. A total dissapointment!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Cheese and artichoke issues
On Friday, I made Giada's Fusilli with Sausage, Artichokes, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes. I've made it before, and it's really delicious! It's pretty easy, too. It tastes liike something you might get at an Italian restaurant!
This time, though, I had three problems.
First, I had to get regular sausage instead of turkey sausage. This actually made it tasty, but it also made it a lot more fattening.
Second, I couldn't find frozen artichokes! I swear I've bought them before at Wal-Mart (which is odd) or Schnuck's. This time, they weren't available anywhere!!! At schnucks, there was a space for them, but they weren't in stock. Could they have sold out???
Third, they were out of fresh mozarrella at Schnucks. This also seems odd, so it's possible I wasn't looking in the right place (it's not my usual store). They had fresh smoked mozarrella, so I got that instead.
I thought the smoked cheese would add an interesting flavor, but it was actually too much. The sun dried tomatoes, artichokes, sausage, and garlic already had a good flavor - and the smoked cheese was too intense. It wasn't bad at all, but it's better with the regualr fresh mozarrella.
We had lunch at Crane Alley on Saturday, and I had a super tasty Turkey Reuben. I think it's my new favorite thing there! On Sunday, we had a really delicious dinner at Radio Maria. Their full restaurant menu wasn't available, but I got the Torta Maria. So good!!!
We have a work dinner tonight and then I have a knitting class tomorrow, so we won't be making dinner again until Wednesday. We have a pasta with mushroom dish and the pierogies with bacon on the menu for Wednesday and Thursday! Yum!
This time, though, I had three problems.
First, I had to get regular sausage instead of turkey sausage. This actually made it tasty, but it also made it a lot more fattening.
Second, I couldn't find frozen artichokes! I swear I've bought them before at Wal-Mart (which is odd) or Schnuck's. This time, they weren't available anywhere!!! At schnucks, there was a space for them, but they weren't in stock. Could they have sold out???
Third, they were out of fresh mozarrella at Schnucks. This also seems odd, so it's possible I wasn't looking in the right place (it's not my usual store). They had fresh smoked mozarrella, so I got that instead.
I thought the smoked cheese would add an interesting flavor, but it was actually too much. The sun dried tomatoes, artichokes, sausage, and garlic already had a good flavor - and the smoked cheese was too intense. It wasn't bad at all, but it's better with the regualr fresh mozarrella.
We had lunch at Crane Alley on Saturday, and I had a super tasty Turkey Reuben. I think it's my new favorite thing there! On Sunday, we had a really delicious dinner at Radio Maria. Their full restaurant menu wasn't available, but I got the Torta Maria. So good!!!
We have a work dinner tonight and then I have a knitting class tomorrow, so we won't be making dinner again until Wednesday. We have a pasta with mushroom dish and the pierogies with bacon on the menu for Wednesday and Thursday! Yum!
Friday, February 8, 2008
YUM!!!
I made those sandwiches I was talking about - the Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese ones I saw on the Barefoot Contessa the other day. They were SO good! We loved them and will definitely make them again. Her recipes are always so perfect and delicious, even though they are a little on the fattening side for us. That's one of the reason these were so good, though - not bad for you at all! We had them with a baby green salad with oil, balsamic vinegar, and feta. It was a tasty meal! The sandwiches really taste like something you would get at a restaurant, but you really need to have good bread.
I'm also surprised that roasting peppers is so easy! I would never buy roasted red peppers again.
I'm also surprised that roasting peppers is so easy! I would never buy roasted red peppers again.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
A General Update
I've been so busy lately and haven't had time to keep this up to date! So, here's a general overview:
I made Chicken with Pecan Cream and Mushrooms, which was a total disaster. I'm not sure if it was me, or what - but I would NOT make it again.
I made a turkey meatloaf, which turned out great! I used the Betty Crocker recipe and 99% fat free ground turkey. I decided the lowest fat one is the way to go. I also always use oats, instead of bread crumbs. There's a version with spinach and pine nuts that I want to try soon!
Let's see...I also made a few of the things I make all the time-
I made Chicken with Pecan Cream and Mushrooms, which was a total disaster. I'm not sure if it was me, or what - but I would NOT make it again.
I made a turkey meatloaf, which turned out great! I used the Betty Crocker recipe and 99% fat free ground turkey. I decided the lowest fat one is the way to go. I also always use oats, instead of bread crumbs. There's a version with spinach and pine nuts that I want to try soon!
Let's see...I also made a few of the things I make all the time-
- Sausage and Peppers - and followed the recipe exactly, except for the addition of an extra onion and a little more tomato paste.
- Pasta e Fagioli - which is always good! We started using some whole-grain pasta in it, which seems to hold up better in the broth
- Vodka Cream Pasta - We love this Rachel Ray recipe. It's so easy, and it's delicious every time! We froze half the sauce this time so we can have it again soon
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Tasty Chili
I had the day off yesterday, so I made chili. I use the Betty Crocker recipe (http://www.bettycrocker.com/Recipes/Recipe.aspx?recipeId=35323), but I do a few things differently.
I use lean ground turkey.
I use one can of whole tomatoes plus a half can of crushed tomatoes.
This time, I used black beans. I bought the pre-seasoned beans by accident, and they were great!
I add a small can of undrained diced or chopped chilis.
This time, I added one yellow pepper (chopped)
I also added some adobo seasoning (from Penzy's), because I was out of oregano (and it contained oregano).
I also made corn bread. I used the recipe on the corn meal container, which called for flour, sugar, baking powder, cornmeal, 1/4 cup of oil, and two eggwhites. It was good, but sponge-like. I don't know if I would use that recipe again, but it wasn't bad!
I use lean ground turkey.
I use one can of whole tomatoes plus a half can of crushed tomatoes.
This time, I used black beans. I bought the pre-seasoned beans by accident, and they were great!
I add a small can of undrained diced or chopped chilis.
This time, I added one yellow pepper (chopped)
I also added some adobo seasoning (from Penzy's), because I was out of oregano (and it contained oregano).
I also made corn bread. I used the recipe on the corn meal container, which called for flour, sugar, baking powder, cornmeal, 1/4 cup of oil, and two eggwhites. It was good, but sponge-like. I don't know if I would use that recipe again, but it wasn't bad!
Friday, January 18, 2008
So Long!
It's been such a long time since I posted anything...things have just been crazy here. We've had some good meals...
The Sausage and Bean Casserole from Cooking Light (also on myrecipes.com)
Turkey Marsala - also from Cooking Light (and on myrecipes.com)
the only problem I had was that the turkey tenderloins were too large (so there was not enough sauce for all 4). It's not exactly the same as yummy buttery marsala, but it really did have a good flavor. I'm coming up with a plan for next time to deal with the turkey sizes. We had it with these egg noodle type things, but they were whole wheat and MUCH better for you. I think they were made by Ronzoni or something. We also had fresh greenbeans.
Ooh and one of my new favorites - Grilled Chicken and Tapenade Sandwiches. Yum!!!That's also from cooking light, and I don't even think we had a side dish with them.
Last night, I just threw some chicken in the crock pot with bbq sauce and had shredded chicken bbq sandwiches with steamed green beans...very simple and not bad. The chicken sort of falls apart (although you have to sort of tear it apart with a fork) after a few hours. We put it in the crock pot at noon and it was ready when we got home!
I think that's about it. We had some really tasty sandwiches at Sunsinger last weekend - and had free wine at the wine tasting. It was a nice thing to do on a Saturday afternoon.
The Sausage and Bean Casserole from Cooking Light (also on myrecipes.com)
Turkey Marsala - also from Cooking Light (and on myrecipes.com)
the only problem I had was that the turkey tenderloins were too large (so there was not enough sauce for all 4). It's not exactly the same as yummy buttery marsala, but it really did have a good flavor. I'm coming up with a plan for next time to deal with the turkey sizes. We had it with these egg noodle type things, but they were whole wheat and MUCH better for you. I think they were made by Ronzoni or something. We also had fresh greenbeans.
Ooh and one of my new favorites - Grilled Chicken and Tapenade Sandwiches. Yum!!!That's also from cooking light, and I don't even think we had a side dish with them.
Last night, I just threw some chicken in the crock pot with bbq sauce and had shredded chicken bbq sandwiches with steamed green beans...very simple and not bad. The chicken sort of falls apart (although you have to sort of tear it apart with a fork) after a few hours. We put it in the crock pot at noon and it was ready when we got home!
I think that's about it. We had some really tasty sandwiches at Sunsinger last weekend - and had free wine at the wine tasting. It was a nice thing to do on a Saturday afternoon.
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