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Anyone that's a regular reader of my blog knows that I like to experiment with newly found grocery items. Sometimes I just buy the stuff and it sits, and sits, and sits (sigh) but for the most part I get up enough courage to try something new and different. This past weekend at Wegman's, I came across these:
Interesting, no? Here's their website ... while I didn't find their website until after I'd made these, they do have some good recipes for different types of sushi rolls.
Another one of my New Year's "resolutions" was to start planning our meals a week in advance - and actually stick to it. So far I'm proud to say 3 weeks of planning and we've been right on our plans. Makes weekend grocery shopping so much easier to have a list, plus I'm not running to the store every day to get that "one more thing" that costs me $50.
When making up last week's menu I decided I wanted to use at least 2 recipes from cookbooks. The first one of the week I made on Sunday and was very disappointed with the way it came out. It was a Rachael Ray recipe, Tilapia Club Stacks. Basically it did nothing for anyone here - and while the idea was unique (stacked pieces of pan fried tilapia with bacon, lettuce (tossed with a light dressing) and tomato), the taste and presentation left much to be desired. Check that one off to not make again.
For the second recipe I chose, it's also a Rachael Ray recipe (from the same book actually) and gives me an entry into this week's Presto Pasta Night. (Hey, pierogies are an awesome form of pasta!) Upon first glance, it, too, doesn't look like much.
Well, it's January 25th. Are you still in your "resolution" frame of mind? Eating healthy and all that jazz? I'm still trying to incorporate more fresh produce into our diets and it's been a change for the better.
Growing up one of my memories is going to the grocery store with my grandmother on Fridays whenever I was out of school. I loved it. It was a very bonding time for us as strange as that may sound but it allowed me to feel closer to her. One of the things I remember most is that she had a particular way she shopped. Always produce first, then canned goods, then meat, dairy and frozen foods. The funny thing is I inherited that trait from her and that's exactly how I shop today. OCD anyone?
One of the interesting things about shopping this way is I can tell exactly how much I spend on produce, or dairy, or meat just by watching the checkout. (Yes, I make sure to organize how my groceries actually go on to the belt as well ... sigh ...) While our grocery bill has stayed about the same, there's been an interesting shift in the amount I spend on produce compared to dry goods. I think that's a good thing. I remember being told that if you're trying to eat healthy, at least 90% of your total bill should come from the aisles in the grocery store around the outside - totally avoid the middle aisles and you'll notice a difference in the quality of the foods you're eating. And, lo and behold, that's right.
In purchasing so many vegetables, I now need to find recipes to use them up - because I refuse - REFUSE - to throw any of these good veggies away. In keeping with that vein, I saw a post last week from Paula, the Cookbook Junkie, that was for a Cauliflower Gratin which she got from the American Dietetic Association cookbook, Cooking Healthy Across America. It looked so delicious I knew I had to try it - even if I made a few changes to it.
I really wish someone, somewhere would invent a transporter ala Star Trek. It would make days like this so much easier to port yourself where you want to go and still be back in time for dinner.
Today is my dear friend's birthday and it pains me that we're almost 3000 miles away. I haven't seen her since last August and I can't tell you how much I miss her. Phones and emails are just not the same as being there I'm sad to say. In honor of her birthday, I decided to give her virtual cupcakes that I made yesterday (I still haven't figured out how to mail them - darn!) and post to her here.
I debated back and forth about what kind of cupcakes to make - and finally decided on Red Velvet since her favorite color is red. Usually Red Velvet cake is frosted with a boiled vanilla frosting but I went with a basic cream cheese frosting because I know how much she (and I) like cheesecake.
Happy, happy birthday, Gigi, hope your day is filled with love and joy because you deserve it! Love you!
Saturday we had a pretty big snow - maybe 6 or 7 inches - so when everyone decided we were staying in for the day I was happy to comply. Our menu for Saturday was spaghetti and sausage (Adrienne's favorite form of pasta) and originally I had though I would make garlic bread with it but after some careful thought I figured why not make some garlic knots.
Wow! I am so excited to be hosting my very first PPN. We had some great looking dishes this week and I can't wait to share them with you.
This week's Presto Pasta Night is being hosted right here on Cook, Craft, Enjoy. I'm so excited to bring you this week's entries on Friday and decided for my entry to make a easy weeknight dinner.
I subscribe to Martha Stewart's Dinner Tonight email and this one showed up in my inbox last Thursday. I knew it would be a great weeknight dinner - Carbonara is quick - and looking at the ingredients I knew it would be tasty as well. I definitely wasn't disappointed.
There are not many foods I don't like. Put most anything in front of me and I'll try it, if not like it. I'm not as adventurous as Andrew Zimmern - and I won't eat most of the things he eats, but give me something in the "normal" range and it'll do. Mostly.
One of my big dislikes is pork. Now I don't mean processed, cured pork. I mean, who can not like bacon or ham. I mean pork chops. Or roast. Or tenderloin. But only when it really tastes, well, porky. So if you disguise it with enough flavors, I'll eat it. And maybe even enjoy it (posting soon ... Travis' favorite carnitas ... om nom nom)
Unfortunately (fortunately?) my family does like pork so once in a while I'll give in and make it for them. I like using the tenderloin because it's lean and usually cooks up pretty quickly (and about a quarter of the time it's a recipe that I'll eat too). Last night I tried for Asian fusion with a tenderloin roasted and served with coconut rice (packaged), roasted broccoli and a mango salsa. I almost roasted a chicken breast along side the pork but decided since I'm not a restaurant, I'm only cooking one thing.
YEAH! This week I'll be hosting Presto Pasta Night! I'd love to have you join in. All you need to do is send your entry to desertmemories (at) hotmail (dot) com and cc ruth (at) 4everykitchen (dot) com by Thursday January 19. Then check back for the roundup January 20 right here!
