Return to Balance

November 10th, 2009

I found myself craving something odd today.

Ok, I guess odd is not the right word… unusual. That’s better.

Usually, when I get food cravings, they’re for something like chocolate. Or caramel. Or peanut butter. Or chocolate and caramel covered peanut butter. But today? No, today was unusual.

*Before you ask, no I’m not pregnant!*

I found myself walking up and down the aisles of my classroom, helping kids conjugate the verb “tener” and craving nothing but brussels sprouts. Yes, brussels sprouts. I’ve always liked them, but I never in a million years thought I’d crave them!

Then it hit me. It’s been DAYS since I’ve had enough vegetables in my diet to make it count for anything… sure I’ve had onions and tomatoes, and broccoli in last night’s conglomeration of random dinner… but nothing just GREEN. My body was craving nutrition.

I decided that I was going to go to the grocery store and get the supplies for a truly balanced meal. Lots of veggies, some oil, protein…

I got a flank steak, and made a rub of garlic, black pepper, olive oil, salt, and a touch of hot pepper. I steamed some brussels sprouts. I made my mom’s roasted potatoes. I made simple horseradish cream.

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And balance has returned to the What’s For Dinner household. There was a large amount of a green vegetable on my plate. There was meat, there was potatoes, and there was horseradish cream…and it LOOKED PRETTY! I know you vegetarians or vegans may not agree that the steak looks good, but I swear to you, it was!

OH! I hit the mother load at the grocery store too, since half-gallons of Edy’s Slow Churned ice cream were buy one get one free… I got more Pumpkin, and I also got their new seasonal Hot Chocolate flavor. It has baby marshmallows!

I have my second-to-last wedding dress fitting tomorrow, and my BFF Lizz is coming with me, since I can’t get into or out of my dress by myself. I can’t believe our countdown has reached the teens!



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On a Roll!

November 9th, 2009

I can’t believe it!

I have now cooked TWO CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS!! The best part? I didn’t have to go to the grocery store! It was a complete and total “see what’s in the house and throw it together” kind of meal… and thank goodness it was good!

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This random conglomeration included, for two servings:
  • 3 slices bacon, diced
  • 2 small chicken breasts, diced
  • 1 large bag frozen broccoli
  • 1 roma tomato, chopped
  • garlic powder
  • basil
  • oregano
  • 2 servings Al Dente spinach fettuccine
  • 1/4 c. lowfat cheddar cheese on top

Quite green. Quite simple. Quite delicious.

There may have also been some garlic bread on the side that I could NOT get a good picture of…

I’m definitely not 100% yet, so the full day of work and cooking have definitely worn me out. House is on tonight, and I’m planning an early to bed night. I apologize for the lackluster posts, but I promise they’ll get better. I swear!

Have a fantastic evening! Be looking for posts this week on ginormous sandwiches, a “you pick what I cook” dinner poll, and a Guest for Dinner!


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Finally Home-Cooked

November 8th, 2009

This whole not feeling well thing is really starting to get old. I’m definitely better than I was this time last week. And also better than even a couple days ago… but what was the sniffles has now turned into a lovely barking cough that scares our 90-lb Rottweiler.

I wasn’t up for doing carry out again, and then I remembered something: a friend of ours showed me how to make truly delicious guacamole, as well as a trick to keep it from turning brown in the fridge. I HAD to make guacamole tonight.

I mushed up 4 avocados, and combined them with a chopped jalapeƱo, half a chopped red onion, the juice of 2 limes, one diced tomato, some garlic powder, and some salt. The key to not turning brown? Leave the pits in the bowl!

What better to put the guacamole on than a low-fat burger with a couple small pieces of crisp-cooked bacon? Yeah. Nothing. Thats what I thought too.


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The produce market had fresh-baked Italian rolls when I was there, and I’d made some simple oven fries to go with this delicious dinner. I’ve got just enough leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

Have a great Monday all! Congrats to all the Foodbuzz Festival Award winners!



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Cute Food Saturday!

November 7th, 2009

After the creepy break we took last week, this week, we’re back to cuteness! There’s a random conglomeration of adorable today, so enjoy!


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Some “crispy” apples


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Some moogles… does anyone else know moogles??


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I think those are bugs of some sort…


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An entire cupcake Thanksgiving dinner


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Remember Kirby?


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Bunny Butt cupcakes


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Fuzzy monster cupcakes


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Somewhere over the rainbow

That’s all for this week! I only have 2 more Cute Food Saturdays before I’m a “Sadie Sadie Married Lady!” Crazy!

Have a great Saturday!





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Bang Bang

November 5th, 2009

After days and days of not having dinner together, when Adam offered to take us to dinner, I took him up on it! We hadn’t had dinner together since Sunday! We debated back and forth about where to go, and when Adam suggested Bonefish Grill, again, I took him up on it!

We’ve been to Bonefish a couple times, and each time we get something different for our entrees, but we keep one thing the same: our appetizer. They are famous for this one appetizer called Bang Bang Shrimp, and honestly, I don’t care how terrible they are for me, they are SO DELICIOUS it’s worth it! They’re spicy, crispy, slightly sweet, and amazing…


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For my entree, I got pan-roasted Norwegian salmon topped with spinach, bacon, and gorgonzola. It was a bit too much gorgonzola for me, but it was definitely delicious. The sauce was just the right level of creaminess, and the mashed potatoes were stellar! The veggies on the side was a succotash with corn, edamame, peppers, and bacon:


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Adam got “Lobster Thermidor Mahi-Mahi” which had a sherry-spiked sauce on it. Also quite delicious! It was a grilled mahi filet topped with lobster and crab, and then the sauce had lump crab in it.


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We both agreed that the food was delicious, and great for a weeknight date-night out… but it wasn’t “eyes closed” good. I’m never disappointed with Bonefish Grill though, so it was a fantastic Thursday night! Thanks for a fun night Adam!

Thanks to a contest I won from Two Boos Who Eat, my fridge is now stocked with Chobani yogurt for the morning, so I’m actually excited to get to bed so I can eat breakfast in the morning! I got one of the elusive pineapple ones…so I can’t wait!

Have a wonderful night! TGIFF!




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Peanutty Noodle Wednesday

November 4th, 2009

It’s BAAAAACK!!!

Noodle Wednesday is back after a one-week hiatus, and I’m so thrilled I decided to go with it! I couldn’t decide what KIND of noodles to make, so I asked on Twitter: peanut or parmesan? The overwhelming response? Peanut!

Some of the Twitter-spouses even chimed in that THEY wanted peanut, and one (who we didn’t count) said Parmesan.

So peanut noodles it was. I made a big serving of some of my Al Dente egg noodles:


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And after draining made a quick sauce consisting of:
  • 2 Tbsp. Simply Skippy peanut butter
  • 1/2 tsp. sesame oil
  • 1/4 tsp. garlic powder
  • tiny squeeze Sriracha hot sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. soy sauce

Ok, it wasn’t even a sauce, I just stirred all that into the hot noodles and it all melted together. And it was delicious.

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Not the prettiest dinner in the world, but it certainly was delicious! The only thing I wish I’d done was make more of them so I could eat them for lunch tomorrow! I also wish I’d put some color on the plate so it looked prettier… but oh well, they were AWESOME!

In other news, today is Sesame Street’s 40th birthday! I still believe that Sesame Street is truly the best show on TV, now or at any time, and I’m so glad I got to grow up watching my favorite monsters, birds, grouches, and worms (remember Slimey?) In honor of this momentous occasion, my favorite Sesame Street song!


What’s yours favorite Sesame Street song or skit???

Thank goodness tomorrow is Thursday! This week is going SO MUCH FASTER than last week!

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National Sandwich Day

November 3rd, 2009

Today was National Sandwich day! I am quite a fan of the sandwich, so I decided to celebrate with a creation that uses up leftover supplies from last night’s grilled cheese dinner.

There were a few pieces of Italian bread left, 2 slices of cheese, and some red onion. I couldn’t just have grilled cheese again and I was craving some protein, so I cooked 2 very small chicken breasts in a pan. I caramelized 2 big slices of red onion, then I assembled this delicious creation much like my grilled cheese yesterday, toasted it in a pan, and dove in…

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Such deliciousness! I think the protein will help keep me “on the mend”, and besides, who really needs an excuse for melted cheese? I’m definitely satisfied, and have got to remember to stay up on my protein. With the exception of an egg in my breakfast, I hadn’t had much at all since Thursday!

I promise I’ll stop being boring soon… this whole being sick thing is taking a lot out of me. If it weren’t so difficult as a teacher to take days off, I’d have taken another sick day by now. For now, I’m just going to rest up, drink lots of tea, and try to get well.

In the meantime, while I’m being boring, enjoy my favorite Sesame Street clip:




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Hug In A Bowl

November 2nd, 2009

I went to work today, and came home feeling almost fine… which is GOOD considering how lousy I felt over the weekend!

Thank you SO much for all the well-wishes…each little comment brightened my day and really did make me feel that much better! You’re all the best!

So, you know how sometimes you get a song stuck in your head? You’re just walking along and all of a sudden its “This s*&% is bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S” and then its stuck there, all day, until BAM “It’s a small world after all…” ok, so sorry for the songs… but anyway. I call those things earworms. They wriggle their way into your ears and stay there. Get what I’m saying?

Ok, well, I get earworms, sure… but I get dinner worms. That sounds nasty. But I get an idea in my head about what I want for dinner and it just won’t go away. This morning, I opened the cabinet for breakfast and there was a can of tomato soup. All I could think about all day was a good grilled cheese sandwich with raw onion and tomato soup.

So thats what I had:


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My soup in the great bowl from the Dr. McDougall’s people (will review soup soon!)


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And the grilled cheese on Italian bread with sharp cheddar and red onion

I swear… it was like a hug in a bowl (and on a plate). Just what I needed.

I’ll probably be asleep or close to it by the time you all read this… I’m beat!


P.S. “I’ve been workin’ on the raaaaailllllroooaaadddd…” Sorry… I had to :) That’s for you, mom!

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*Warning* Blah Post Ahead

November 1st, 2009

I’ve been sick since Friday. Not sick like I was last spring where I had to go to the hospital, but sick. I had a headache so bad I nearly passed out in the shower Friday morning, a fever maxing out at 102 degrees, and my body hurt like I just worked out for hours.

Luckily, I’m on the mend, and my appetite came back yesterday and I indulged in some pizza. Tonight all I wanted was Chinese food, so that’s what we got!

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steamed spiced pork dumplings (my favorite!)


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Chicken chow mein cantonese with…


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pan-fried noodles instead of rice!

We always had chicken chow mein cantonese growing up, and its a total comfort food for me… which is what I needed! I’m resting up tonight as I’m planning on heading back to work tomorrow. Too bad I have too many cooties to go visit my favorite little peapod!!

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Baby Quin, Halloween 2009
Could he be any cuter?!

Here’s hoping I’m up to cooking tomorrow!!



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Spooky Food Saturday!

October 31st, 2009

Happy Halloween!!!

Cute Food Saturday this week has been replaced by “Spooky Food Saturday”!! I sent out a call last week for cute and/or Halloween related pictures, and the photos came pouring in!

Some of these are not for the weak of stomach, and some are downright creepy… but heck, I LOVE Halloween!

First, a reader, Amy (if you have a blog, let me know!) sent me this great picture of Halloween cupcakes:

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Then, a high school friend sent me this series of quite creepy Halloween cakes. I’m not sure where they came from, or who made them… but I don’t think I could eat them! There were about 20… let me know if you want to see the rest! Here are my favorites:


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And months ago, Dragonmamma/Naomi sent me this cake JUST for today:


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Then, my call for Halloween treats on Twitter brought some more fantastic stuff! These are from the famous Bakerella, sent by LowFatKat


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And these from Recipe Girl (if you haven’t seen her blog yet, you MUST)


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Then I got these from TrulyTrayce


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And this from @jmsto


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And finally… just for creepy’s sake…

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That’s all for now! Happy Halloween!





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