Yeah, we're just going to keep it easy this week. It's summer, you're probably on vacation, and I'm about to go on one.
That's the beauty of Cook Once, Eat Twice. Can't get lazier than that. Well, I suppose you could.
Next week I hope to post a full report of our extended-weekend-away. Suffice it to say I'm SO ready to get out of dodge.
Recipes, here.
Salmon Patties over Salad
Spaghetti with Zucchini-Tomato Sauce
BLTs and Tomato-Cucumber Salad
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
table of contents
Well, I have been without internet service for two weeks, but I have finally resurfaced. It's good to be back. Frannie without her internet is like a dog without a bone, or a baby without its mother. It's REALLY sad. But it hasn't been without advantages, as I've been able to focus on some projects around the house as well as getting two books under my belt. (Don't ask what books. My mind is still reeling.)
One subject I've pondered lately is essentially the importance of what we eat. Specifically, the contents therein. I don't need to rattle off any statistics or cut and paste anything newsworthy, but this topic was brought to my attention by a recent local news headline. Whether it's true or not, exaggerated or not, or doesn't provide all the facts, I'm not one to say. But suffice it to say that it's a topic somewhat close to my heart.
This local story serves to underscore my thoughts on the subject: it is highly important to me that I know exactly what I'm eating and what I'm feeding my kids. Since before we started our family, and especially now that we have a child with multiple food allergies, I have been a diehard label-reader. I understand that it's nearly impossible to know the contents and source of 100% of every morsel that hits our lips, but I try to be a somewhat-educated consumer.
I am annoyed by food labels with a vague inference of additives, i.e. '10% solution added' to chicken, or eye-catching "nutritional" claims, i.e. PopTarts 'Now made with whole grain', and HFCS, dyes, and fillers that are in just about everything. I have been known to mutter sarcastically under my breath when reading food labels in the grocery aisle. (My husband might die of embarrassment when he reads this part. Sorry, hon.)
I'm also on a budget, which blows, but I suppose I'm not the only one in that boat. So when I'm forking over hard-earned cash for the best food that I can afford for my family, I feel I have the right as a consumer to know what I'm buying. At times I am ambivalent about how and when and where on the ladder we should draw the line, but DUDE, what's more important to our physical health than the food we put in our mouths? Meat should be meat, produce should be nutrient-rich, and dairy should be as healthy as possible. And perhaps most importantly, it should all be honest.
One subject I've pondered lately is essentially the importance of what we eat. Specifically, the contents therein. I don't need to rattle off any statistics or cut and paste anything newsworthy, but this topic was brought to my attention by a recent local news headline. Whether it's true or not, exaggerated or not, or doesn't provide all the facts, I'm not one to say. But suffice it to say that it's a topic somewhat close to my heart.
This local story serves to underscore my thoughts on the subject: it is highly important to me that I know exactly what I'm eating and what I'm feeding my kids. Since before we started our family, and especially now that we have a child with multiple food allergies, I have been a diehard label-reader. I understand that it's nearly impossible to know the contents and source of 100% of every morsel that hits our lips, but I try to be a somewhat-educated consumer.
I am annoyed by food labels with a vague inference of additives, i.e. '10% solution added' to chicken, or eye-catching "nutritional" claims, i.e. PopTarts 'Now made with whole grain', and HFCS, dyes, and fillers that are in just about everything. I have been known to mutter sarcastically under my breath when reading food labels in the grocery aisle. (My husband might die of embarrassment when he reads this part. Sorry, hon.)
I'm also on a budget, which blows, but I suppose I'm not the only one in that boat. So when I'm forking over hard-earned cash for the best food that I can afford for my family, I feel I have the right as a consumer to know what I'm buying. At times I am ambivalent about how and when and where on the ladder we should draw the line, but DUDE, what's more important to our physical health than the food we put in our mouths? Meat should be meat, produce should be nutrient-rich, and dairy should be as healthy as possible. And perhaps most importantly, it should all be honest.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
meal list thursday
It's too hot to cook. It's too hot to do anything. Why did I plan for soup on a week with "Dangerously High Heat" according to weather.com? Stupid. Anyway, my advice is for you to eat it a few days from now, when temps are in their usual low-90s. Or maybe this weekend when it's raining. Or maybe you live in another state altogether and you could give two hoots what kind of weather we're having.
Anyway, this is one of my favorite soups. A light, incredibly full-flavored, summertime soup. If there is such a thing.
Avocado Soup with Chicken and Lime (courtesy of www.allrecipes.com)
Sidenote: I add 2 avocados instead of one, puréed with a bit of broth before adding to the soup. I also add an obscene amount of cilantro, top with monterey jack, and sub regular tortilla chips for the toasted tortillas. You will love it.
Beef and Bean Burritos (courtesy of The Pioneer Woman) served with sliced bell peppers and guacamole
Greek Salad with Chicken (Recipe, here.)
I must stop now. The hyperlinking is out of control.
Anyway, this is one of my favorite soups. A light, incredibly full-flavored, summertime soup. If there is such a thing.
Avocado Soup with Chicken and Lime (courtesy of www.allrecipes.com)
Sidenote: I add 2 avocados instead of one, puréed with a bit of broth before adding to the soup. I also add an obscene amount of cilantro, top with monterey jack, and sub regular tortilla chips for the toasted tortillas. You will love it.
Beef and Bean Burritos (courtesy of The Pioneer Woman) served with sliced bell peppers and guacamole
Greek Salad with Chicken (Recipe, here.)
I must stop now. The hyperlinking is out of control.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
meal list thursday: grillmaster's edition
Ah, summertime. Freaking forget about spring, y'all. We're in St. Louis of MO. If the sweat isn't dripping down our backs and into our underpants then we must be having an ice storm. There is no happy medium.
But one happy thing about the season is that we use our grill as much as we possibly can. I got Eric a charcoal grill/smoker last year for Father's Day after our old gas grill 1) needed repair and 2) became a homeless shelter for baby mice. You can understand why we opted to get a new one. And I use it to my advantage, natch. Forget about just planning a week's worth of meals at once; we grill a week's worth of meals at once. And by "we" I mean Eric. Because he is the grillmaster.
For all you naysayers out there, listen up: this is why we use our freezer. Grill, freeze, eat in a few days. It takes just an hour or so to grill everything, and in turn it frees up your weeknight evenings considerably. And that is a glorious thing. Just try it! You will become a convert.
I must be on some kind of wicked sausage kick and I hope you don't mind. Sausage = yummy. But don't ye fret, this will all balance out someday when I am pregnant again and won't want anything to do with meat. Or vegetables. Or fruit. Oh yes, that time will come and when it does you will know, because my menu will look like this:
Plate Of Fries
Pancakes
Spaghetti-O's
Fruity Pebbles
But I digress. Here is this week's meal list, with recipes here. I know, I know. The list above would be way better.
Italian Sausage and Mushroom Pizza
Grilled Chicken Thighs, Mashed Potatoes, and Broccoli Spears
Sweet Orange Salmon, Rice, and Zucchini-Squash Medley
But one happy thing about the season is that we use our grill as much as we possibly can. I got Eric a charcoal grill/smoker last year for Father's Day after our old gas grill 1) needed repair and 2) became a homeless shelter for baby mice. You can understand why we opted to get a new one. And I use it to my advantage, natch. Forget about just planning a week's worth of meals at once; we grill a week's worth of meals at once. And by "we" I mean Eric. Because he is the grillmaster.
For all you naysayers out there, listen up: this is why we use our freezer. Grill, freeze, eat in a few days. It takes just an hour or so to grill everything, and in turn it frees up your weeknight evenings considerably. And that is a glorious thing. Just try it! You will become a convert.
I must be on some kind of wicked sausage kick and I hope you don't mind. Sausage = yummy. But don't ye fret, this will all balance out someday when I am pregnant again and won't want anything to do with meat. Or vegetables. Or fruit. Oh yes, that time will come and when it does you will know, because my menu will look like this:
Plate Of Fries
Pancakes
Spaghetti-O's
Fruity Pebbles
But I digress. Here is this week's meal list, with recipes here. I know, I know. The list above would be way better.
Italian Sausage and Mushroom Pizza
Grilled Chicken Thighs, Mashed Potatoes, and Broccoli Spears
Sweet Orange Salmon, Rice, and Zucchini-Squash Medley
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