What's For Dinner?

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.

Technorati Tags: beef, dinner, family recipe, food, recipe, red meat, simple recipe, vegetables

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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!

Technorati Tags: cheese, chicken, dinner, food, fun, Italian, noodles, pasta, simple recipe, vegetables

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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 jalapeño, 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.

  

Technorati Tags: beef, burger, dinner, food, Mexican, sandwich, simple recipe

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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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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…

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.

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!

Technorati Tags: cheese, Chicago dining, dinner out, giveaway, out, seafood

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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:

Technorati Tags: Asian, dinner, food, fun, noodles, pasta, simple recipe, vegetarian

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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…

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:

Technorati Tags: cheese, chicken, dinner, food, sandwich, sick, simple recipe

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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:

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

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

Technorati Tags: cheese, dinner, food, simple recipe, soup, vegetarian

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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!

Baby Quin, Halloween 2009

Could he be any cuter?!

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

Technorati Tags: Asian, cute, dinner out, friends, noodles, sick

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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:

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

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

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

Then I got these from TrulyTrayce

And this from @jmsto

And finally… just for creepy’s sake…

That’s all for now! Happy Halloween!

Technorati Tags: cute, food

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