Monday June 9 to Wednesday June 11...You get Schnauzers

It is a known fact that when you think you have your proverbial act together, you really do not.  I am living proof of that.  Last week was fantastic.  I was sharp, focused, organized...I had those ducks in a row, and they were marching along to some really great Ting Tings song. (Why them?  Because they're upbeat and awesome, natch).  Then the weekend came, and it all just crashed and burned.  No reason why.  No advance warning.  But there I was, trudging through the weekend with absolutely no plan, and no motivation.  It does make me wonder...do I only get one week of efficient productivity for every three or four completely sloppy and chaotic ones?
By now I'm sure you have surmised what an effect this had on the meals I had to prepare this week.

Monday, June 9...Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
I needed this for Monday evening, and yet I was just getting around to shopping for the ingredients that afternoon.  Do you see the name of this dish?  Did you notice that the first word is broccoli?  When I returned from Shaw's, that is the single item that I did not purchase.  And no, I did not have any other vegetables to substitute for that main ingredient.  So, back to the store I went.  Time was squeezing me in an uncomfortable hug.  I got the meal made just in time, and delivered it still warm from the oven (well, nothing wrong with that.)
Here is the site with the recipe.  I did not take any pix of my version as I was lucky to even get the damn thing made...
http://damndelicious.net/2014/03/05/broccoli-quinoa-casserole/
You will notice that this isn't a vegetarian dish, but I made it veg by substituting the chicken with tempeh.  I sliced it, sautéed it in olive oil until brown, and then seasoned it with ground sea salt and ground pepper.  So good just on it's own!  This dish really is damn delicious.

Tuesday, June 10...Spinach and Mushroom Calzones
Now all of a sudden it's Tuesday, and I'm scrambling to get things done...and realize that I have another meal to prepare by the evening.  This is going to have to be quick and easy.  I'm not proud of it, but I really cheated on this one.  I used Pillsbury Pizza Crust (Yes, the kind in the tube.  Yes, the kind that I'm sure is full of trans fats and toxic plastics, and god knows what else...but I had it in my fridge (why?) and I was pressed for time, so judge not).  I thawed some homemade marinara I had in the freezer (does that help balance out the Pillsbury?), used pre-sliced mushrooms, fresh spinach (organic...more points for me, right?), and fresh mozzarella.  It turned out just fine, despite the slap-dash nature of the preparation.  Again, no pix, as I was really flying by the seat of my pants here.  And no recipe, as I simply threw this thing together as noted above.

Wednesday, June 11...Curried Potatoes and Chickpeas
In keeping with my complete and utter lack of any kind of foresight and disorganization, it is now Wednesday and I've got nothing.  I had worked at the library the night before, and found this recipe that sounded interesting.  Why I thought this was a good idea, I do not know...way too much prep, and utterly unappealing-looking.
This is the recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/curried-potatoes-and-chickpeas.html
It took forever, it turned out to be this silly-putty colored mush, and I was terribly embarrassed to be offering this as a meal.  However, it was closing in on delivery time, so it was going to have to do.  As a last ditch effort to "save" this dish, I quickly sautéed some frozen felafel balls I had in the freezer and threw them on top of the mess.  My daughter took one look at it and laughed.  And then gave me a funny look as she walked away.
I really wish I had taken a picture of it.  It was just that horrible.  I would have enjoyed the reactions to that abomination.  But I just didn't have it together to snap one.  Damn it.  I will tell you this:  it looked nothing like the picture on the recipe's website.

The irony about Day 4 (I usually prepare four meals each week), is that when I showed up Thursday AM to take care of the pups, Rick had left me a note that he didn't need a meal for that evening.  And I had actually made one the night before!  I had prepared it ahead of time!  I was getting my rhythm back!  I was thinking clearly!  Fortunately, it was a fantastic vegetable and tofu fried rice dish (that I basically just threw together in the wok).  Both Clio and I thoroughly enjoyed it for the next two nights, so at least there's that.

I will end this debacle of a week with some pix of the pups I take care of, since I have no food to show.
I give you Tadd and Lucy...

PS:  If you haven't heard of the Ting Tings, click on their name and give them a listen...

Wednesday and Thursday, June 4 and 5: Birthday plans and Enchiladas

OK, so I'm on a roll here.  I've got it all planned out.  I'm organized, prepared, and unusually calm.  Must be my birthday week...(it is!).  Unlike a lot of people I know, I truly enjoy celebrating my birthday.  It's not the number, it's the day.  My day, dammit.  Every year (for a while now), I let the girls skip school, and we head to Boston for the day.  The past two years, we went to see the current exhibits at the ICA in Boston.  It is a stunning contemporary art museum on the waterfront in Boston, and there are great pubs and restaurants within walking distance for lunch.  Since I'm originally from Boston, I always manage to scare up a few friends to join the girls and me for drinks and food, and it's a grand little party.  For me!
This year, we did things a bit differently, due to the torrential downpour.  Rain certainly doesn't put a damper on my plans, it just means slight modifications (and no al fresco dining).  I chose the MIT Museum in Cambridge, which turned out to be a perfect choice.  Interesting interactive exhibits, unusual moving sculptures, AND located within walking distance of an Irish pub and Toscanini's!

What, you may ask, warrants this tangent upon which I have ventured?  The fact that despite this day off, and the day off for the funeral,  I was still getting things done without any panic or snafu's...that's what.

Back to the meals...
Wednesday:  Fettuccini Alfredo with Zucchini Ribbons
Creamy sauce with pretty bright green ribbons of zucchini...and pretty quick n easy to make.
I forgot to take a picture of it (but you'll see one if you click on the link to get the recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/fettucini-alfredo-with-zucchini-ribbons-recipe.html), so I'm inserting a picture of my favorite shoes.  And the book I was reading on my break that day.

Thursday (June 5...my birthday, in case you forgot):  Improv Enchiladas

These are different every time that i make them.  The general idea is that I'm going to lay a bunch of good things on a tortilla, roll it up, cover it with enchilada sauce and cheese, and bake it.  Here's the version I made for today:

First, I made some brown rice.  While that was cooking, I pressed a block of extra firm tofu, then crumbled it, sautéed it with a little canola oil, and sprinkled it with taco seasoning (Whole Foods has a good one).  I chopped up a perfectly ripe avocado, diced some olives, chopped up some scallions, shredded some Monterey Jack cheese, and popped open a can of chopped jalapeños.  

Now comes assembly time:

 I started with the rice (which had cooled by now), then drizzled a bit of enchilada sauce over it.

Next, I spooned the seasoned tofu over it, then added some avocado, olives, and scallions.

The final addition is the shredded cheese.  Now you just roll this baby up, and lay it in a casserole dish that has a little enchilada sauce coating the bottom.  Make a few more, and nestle them together.  A little more enchilada sauce, another sprinkling of cheese, and it's time to pop it in the oven.   

375° for about 15 minutes (keep an eye on it...you'll know when it's done).

And there you have it...add your own fillings as you wish (I change it based on what's in the fridge and in my cupboard).  Filling and fabulous!

Monday and Tuesday, June 2nd and 3rd : Cheese and Tears

So I had it all together this week...mapped it all out, made a plan, and executed it pretty damn smoothly.
I had a funeral to go to on Tuesday, and my birthday was Thursday, which meant that I truly needed to keep it together.  Surprisingly enough, I did just that.

Monday:  Three Cheese Macaroni...
It has cauliflower in it!  It's topped with Muenster cheese slices, which I love not just for their melty-ness, but also for the cool orange rind they have.This dish is extremely cheesy and yummy, and it makes excellent leftovers.

click here for the recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/three-cheese-macaroni-recipe.html

Tuesday:  Spicy Vegan Sloppy Joes

    

OK...this sounds a little lame.  Vegan Sloppy Joe's?  Really?  Yes!  Really!  It totally works, and they are totally delicious.  Just try it.  I did make a few modifications.  First of all, it calls for a light beer.  Well, I don't drink "Light Beer" (and neither should you), so I opted for a Lagunitas Pale Ale (you won't be using the entire bottle, so it has to be something you actually want to drink). Also, the recipe calls for a bell pepper.  I don't do bell peppers.  I hate them.  Let's just leave it at that.  Oh, and I didn't have chipotle chili powder...I just used regular chili powder.  As you can see in the picture, one of the first things you have to do is chop the onion.  I have a terrible time with onions.  They really do make me cry.  And depending on my mood, those onion tears sometimes lead to genuine sobbing (I'm already crying, so I just go with it).  What this means is that I'm pretty leery about onion cutting, not wanting to start the whole waterworks/emotional deluge thing...so, I try to employ methods that might prevent that from occurring.  If it's bright enough in my kitchen, I put on my sunglasses (does help).  If I planned ahead (rarely do), this onion was in the fridge, and therefore, not so tear-inducing.  Ultimately, I get the damn thing chopped, have a bit of a cry, and get on with things.  

I bought whole wheat buns, a pre-made broccoli slaw that I seasoned with olive oil, white wine vinegar, salt, and pepper...and Sloppy Joe city was complete.  Sure, it's not your "typical" Joe...but why in the hell would you want that anyway?  It's still a lovely mess, and this one is tasty and healthy.  So there you go. 

Now go make it:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/spicy-vegan-sloppy-joes-recipe.html

May 28, 2014: Skulls and Muffins

Skulls and Muffins

Pot holes are a common affliction on our roads here in New England, and usually they are simply something to avoid.  Oddly enough, as I was walking my dog down my street yesterday, I went past this particular one, and I saw this.  It has nothing to do with the food I had to make, it was simply something that struck me.

Another thing that really hit me yesterday was when my friend came over later to tell me that her mother had passed away.  She is a close friend, and I've watched her go through a 2-year-long ordeal of dealing with her mother getting weaker and less capable, and ending up in the hospital on a frequent basis.  So I decided she and her family needed some muffins to wake up to the next morning.  And I had the perfect recipe. These are muffins that I made for the first time last week, and I think they are simply the best blueberry muffins ever (although I would certainly entertain competitors).  Buttery, comforting, blueberry bliss.  I used a pint of fresh blueberries, and omitted the walnuts.  They're a must-try.

Here's the link to the recipe:

Buttery Blueberry Streusel Muffins

Tuesday, May 14: The Potato Known as "Sweet"

Now, I'm not a huge sweet potato fan...but I'm aware that many people like them, and of course I know all about their health benefits.  So, in an effort to mix things up a bit, I decided to throw in this recipe that I stumbled upon during one of my many visits to Oh My Veggies.
It is relatively easy to prepare, and it met with rave reviews from my daughter and from the recipient of this dish.  I even conducted a little experiment and bought 4 organic sweet potatoes and 2 "regular"...just to see if I'd notice any difference when cooking with them.  Guess what?  I did. The sweet potatoes have to be baked beforehand, and then you let them cool before you scrape out the insides (I refuse to ever call it the "flesh"...ew).  Anyway, when I cut therm open, the 4 organic potatoes had a lovely, bright orange color;  the two other potatoes had a dingy, grayish tinge inside...completely unappealing.  I threw them away (sorry...not doing the compost thing, so don't even think about calling me out on that!).
It's a shame it's blurry, but you get the idea...

But, I digress...
Once you have scraped out the insides of the gorgeous, healthy-looking potatoes, you then mash in chickpeas (and yes, I buy canned organic garbanzo beans), and add spinach, and some cheese...

then bake the whole thing into a bubbling, gooey oval of yummy goodness.

Here's the recipe in exact detail...
Healthy Sweet Potato Skins
Try them out...let me know what you think.

May 13, 2014: Tuesdays Meal...Brown Rice Enchiladas

The way this works is that I make the meal for the for each day on the night before...so last night I made the meal that I just delivered today...and I'm starting on the Wednesday meal right now.
So last night, I decided to just improvise.  I knew I wanted to make something kind of "Mexican" (and I must use the quotes there, because it's not like I've ever been to Mexico, which means I couldn't possibly know if what I concoct is even remotely "Mexican"...it's simply my interpretation of it.  That's what cooking is all about, right?  Wow, can I go off on a tangent or what?).
On that note, I'll share with you my Brown Rice Enchiladas.

You'll see...this enchilada is muy delicioso!  So good that I forgot to take the picture until I was almost done eating it.

Wednesday May 7, 2014: the Quinoa thing

I'm just getting my act together here, so this is probably going to be pretty random for now.  It seems to be the way my life works right now.  
So I'm just going to hit you with this...
I made an awesome dish tonight that I was eating out of the bowl with the wooden mixing spoon as soon as it was done.
I am not your typical vegetarian.  I'm atypical in just about every situation, I've come to realize over the years.  On that note, I've only just got around to dealing with the whole "quinoa" thing.  The name wasn't working for me, I'm not a huge grain freak, and I simply didn't bother to look into it.  Well, as with our darling green, kale, I realized it was time to try this thing out.  I will by no means start gushing, because I've only made two things with it thus far...but I will say this:  they are now two of my most FAVORITE things EVER.  (sorry about the caps, but every once in a while, nothing else will do).
So here is the recipe for the dish I made tonight...
my second time...so I tweaked it ever so slightly...a little more miso, and no cilantro (personal taste issue...just don't like it).

http://ohmyveggies.ziplist.com/souschef?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nomsforthepoor.com%2F2014%2F04%2Fmiso-roasted-veggie-tofu-bowl.html