Yummy Lentils

I don’t really know what else to call these, but yummy. That’s exactly what they are.

 

The other week when I was at Whole Foods, I picked up some french lentils in the bulk food section. I was excited to try them, and held on to them for a while before making them.

 

I toyed with the idea of making lentil soup, but then opted to make them as their own dish to be eaten on salad, plain, with naan (there are a million ways you can eat these)

 

I started out with a few essentials that I already had at home:

Chicken broth (could absolutely use veggie broth), 2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 2 cloves of garlic and 1/2 of an onion

I cut all of the veggies into a small dice using my handy dandy Vidalia chopper.

(sorry, I meant my Vidalia Chop Wizard).

You put the food on this little grate, press down and voila…a nice, even, small dice!

Once that was done, I put the veggies in a pot with 1.5 tbsp of olive oil and cooked them down for a while. (About 15-20 minutes)

About 1/2 way through cooking I sprinkled the mixture with about 2 tsp. kosher salt, 1/2 tsp. black pepper, and a a good sprinkle of sugar to get a good carmelization going.

 

I also added about 1/4 tsp of curry powder, a 1/4 tsp of paprika, and a sprinkle of red pepper flake. The curry is very subtle but gives the dish a nice seasoning and a warmness.

 

After the veggies were cooked down, I added 1 cup of lentils (rinsed) to the pot and let them toast a little bit (around 5 min).

Then I added 1 3/4 cups of the broth, brought the mixture to a gentle simmer, and put a lid on top.

 

I’d say it took about 45 minutes or so to get the desired consistency. Soft, but not mushy. You want to check the lentils every so often to see how they are doing.

Hi there yummy lentils!

 

I ate some of these today on top of baby spinach with roasted butternut squash and goat cheese. Twas delicious!

A bonus too is that this meal is EXTREMELY budget friendly.

 

Do you like lentils?
What is your favorite kind and how do you make them?

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Beet It!

This weekend marked the start of a new food obsession. Beets!

 

Previously I always thought beets tasted like dirt. And I guess I kind of still do. But now I’m sort of digging that earthy flavor.

 

If I’m going to be completely honest, I think I also fell in love with beets when I realized how well they pair with goat cheese. And I looooove goat cheese!

 

My father in law was the catalyst in this awesome discovery.

Joe’s dad has an awesome garden and this summer he grew beets. On Saturday he picked a bunch of them, did all of the peeling (and got this hands all red with dye), and roasted them in the oven. 350 for about 35 minutes with salt and pepper.

 

Once the beets came out and cooled, we topped them with goat cheese and a little balsamic glaze.

I loved them so much that I was sent home with a bag of roasted beets, and my own log of goat cheese. Wahoo!

Needless to say, this new obsession was on the menu tonight.

(Pre- balsamic glaze)

All glazed up!

 

Oh, but before you go get yourself some beets- just be warned. They turn your pee pink! So don’t freak out. I’d say it’s a better side effect than asparagus…

 

Do you like beets?

Did you have a garden this summer? If so, what did you grow?

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I thought this day would never come…

again.

 

Lookie what I ate for dinner!

 

 

A salad with chickpeas, a fresh garden tomato, and tons of shredded parmesan. I had a little leftover pasta on the side, but this was the main event. HELLO VEGGIES!

 

I must admit however, that a big motivating factor to eating this salad had to do with this:

Wegmans White Balsamic Viniagrette- a.k.a AWESOMENESS!

 

I’m not usually a buyer of pre-made dressings, but lately I’ve become interested in them. After a few failed attempts (Trader Joe’s Green Goddess- ICK), I was so happy to find this!

 

Hopefully this is a sign of more normal eating habits in my near future!

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4 mile high and QSC Casserole

Hey guys!

Taking a break from studying and getting out a bit this afternoon was just what the doctor ordered. I feel like a new woman!

Around 4 I went to the gym with low expectations for what I would be able to accomplish with my tailbone pain. I hopped on the treadmill to test things out, and although I felt tightness, I felt no pain.

I ran at about a 10 min/mile pace for the first mile (my first mile in 2011) and the rush of running felt so good, I thought I might cry (i might be a tad hormonal). But honestly, it was an incredible feeling.

Even though I was inside, I pictured myself running the streets of Philly during my half marathon. I know, I’m a weirdo, but whatever gets you through, right?

Four miles went by really fast, and I was even able to pick up the pace quite a bit after the first mile and a half.

Now on to fuel…

Tonight for dinner I was feeling adventurous.  Earlier this week I saw this casserole on Meghann’s blog, and thought I would try something similar and incorporate some other leftovers I had in the house.

Quinoa Squash Cauliflower (QSC) Casserole – serves 3-4

I first started by cooking 1/2 cup of quinoa in 1 cup of chicken stock

Once it was done, I mixed it with the rest of the spaghetti squash I had in the fridge, and 2 Garlic and Herb laughing cow wedges.

I pressed this all into the baking dish and put it in the oven for about 6-7 minutes on 400.

After that, I topped the quinoa “crust” with some roasted cauliflower, and covered the whole thing in 2% milk shredded cheese and a sprinkle of parmesan.

Bake in the oven for 15 min on 350 until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

And there you have it! A delicious casserole that was super easy (and cheesy)

I served mine with 1/2 a whole grain roll, and some cucumber for a little crunch.

Did you get in a workout today? If so, whaddya do?

Any favorite casserole recipes to share? Go ahead, link away!

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Success!

Thanks for all the well wishes guys! I can happily say that I passed the test!

 

I actually did more than just pass..I killed it! I needed a 168 to pass and I scored a 191.

 

Now I just have one more of these tests to complete, and that one is on Saturday. Saturday’s test is a written exam, so I won’t know my score right away, but hopefully I will pass. It’s just SO much material, I think my brain is going numb.

 

Fortunately, lunch was a no-brainer today.

Another NRRW and a few remaining parsnip fries. I ate most of them cold. Does anyone else do that? I love cold roasted veggies! Now I’m snacking on some strawberries. Delish!

 

This afternoon I’m taking off of studying. I need a mental break. I might write over some note cards, but nothing too crazy.

 

I’m going to the gym in a little bit, I figured it is a safe place to test out what I can do with my tailbone. If it hurts, I can leave and I don’t have run back to where I parked. There will also be no ice to slip on.

 

I really do want to run outside, but I think I might wait until next week when I start my training.

 

I realized the other day that I have not run 1 single mile in 2011!! BOO! I need to change that soon. Does the treadmill count?

 

Have you been running outside recently?
What are your tips for being careful in winter terrain?

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Snow Brings Out the CRAZY

Why is it that the threat of snow makes people completely insane?!

It’s almost 3:30pm and we are scheduled to get about 4 inches of snow here in the Philadelphia area.

You would think that someone said we were getting 400.

People are out and about, and the level of rudeness is turned all the way up.

Let’s start at Costco.

Stupid me decided to make a trip to Costco at 11am. I figured it wouldn’t be too crowded, and I was actually right. So I easily parked near the door. By the time I came out 40 minutes later, the parking lot was jamming.

The second I started walking towards my car, a woman put her blinker on and jetted towards my parking spot.

That’s fine, but you better be patient because I have a bruised tailbone and it’s going to take a me a little while to unload. Not to mention that I actually like to return the cart instead of leaving it in the middle of the lot.

(FREAKOUT #1)

I guess Mercedes SUV didn’t get the memo as she rolled her eyes and inched closer and closer to my car. I SEE YOU!!!!!!!!!!! AND IF YOU JUST WOULD HAVE PARKED SOMEWHERE ELSE INSTEAD OF WAITING, YOU WOULD BE KNEE DEEP IN 7 LAYER DIP and HOT POCKET SAMPLES BY NOW.

(Positive balance to FREAKOUT #1)

On the positive side, Costco had a great selection of affordable fresh berries. I had been craving them, but they are so expensive at the store.

I thoroughly enjoyed every bite of this fruit bowl and the cool whip on top. I also would have enjoyed hurling cool whip in that ladies’ face if I had the chance.

Up Next, the local grocery store.

I’m a glutton for punishment, so I decided to go to the grocery store this afternoon for a few more things (tortillas, crystal light, brown paper lunch bags, and pretzels) (???)

This time I parked really far away.  I even prepared myself for long lines at checkout. Especially when I saw that the self checkouts were broken.

(FREAKOUT #2)

What I didn’t prepare myself for was the woman in line behind me, who was RAMMING ME WITH HER CART. I only have 4 items so BACK OFF! I don’t need your metal deathwagon jamming into my left leg every time the cashier scans at item. It’s not going to make this process faster. You’re not going to squeeze anymore items on the belt by pushing me out of the way. And if you think I’m not capable of throwing this US Weekly at you, you are surely mistaken.

(Positive balance to freakout #2)

Hmm..this is hard. I guess the rage helped me to work up an appetite for this delicious lunch?

What a crazy afternoon! And I still have yet to see one flake of snow…

Do you find that people are wacko when there is a storm coming?

Is your area expecting snow today/tonight?

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Change in Plans

A lot of things that I had planned on today ended up changing- and hey, change is good right?

Change #1

I ended up buying actual gifts instead of gift cards (as I mentioned earlier)  because I had a good time shopping and picking things out at the stores where I was going to get gift cards. I was already there, so hey, why not!

 

Change #2

I  decided to go to the gym today instead of running. I’ve got the sniffles and I think running in the cold is going to be a challenge. Plus, I think I’m doing a long run with my running group in the morning.

 

Change #3

Instead of wearing a dress to NYE, I think I’m just going to wear jeans. We’re going to a sports bar anyway and it’s just one night. Plus my one pair of designer jeans are fitting very nicely these days and they need a night out.

 

One thing that didn’t change was what I was planning to eat for lunch. A mix plate of tofu, bulgur, tabbouleh, parsnip fries, and roasted eggplant. I wolfed this down. I was starving!

 

I know I had also promised to show you guys the good stuff I got at TJMaxx yesterday, so here ya go:

My favorite items are this cross shoulder bag, a pair of Joe’s Jeans jeggings and warm shell jacket for snowboarding.

TJ Maxx left the tag on the jacket and I can see that it’s MSRP is $120. I got it for $29! I’m heading to Vail next week (where it is currently 5 degrees) so the more layers, the better!

I ended up getting the Joe’s Jeans for $39 and I looked up the style number and it turns out they go for $128 at Saks!

The bag was another great find because it was exactly what I’ve been looking for for months!  I really wanted a lightweight bag that I can wear cross shoulder. I love my current bag, but it is so heavy and becomes a burden on my shoulder if I’m out and about for too long. This had a $65 price tag, but was only $20. Never heard of the brand before.

I’m a total Maxxinista!

 

Have you worn jeggings yet?

What items are you in need of right now?

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Tofu X-press = X-cellent

So last week I won a giveaway that made me SOOOOO excited.

Lynn who blogs over at The Actor’s Diet is was giving away a Tofu X-Press.

I entered in all the ways possible and really hoped I’d win. And I did!

 

Thanks Lynn!

 

So this thing is a gadget that squeezes all the extra water out of the tofu and helps it to get the best texture possible. It also is a handy dandy container for marinating.

I took a block of extra firm organic tofu and put it in the tofu xpress. I planned to let it sit for an hour or so. (They say 3 hours but I didn’t have that kind of time)

Meanwhile I prepared some Spicy Stir-fried Cabbage and Onion. Guys, you have to try this recipe.

 

Here’s how you make it.

Dice 1 onion really thin

Slice up a head of cabbage really thin too

Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil and add red pepper flake to the oil while it’s heating. This will release the oils in the flakes and help infuse the vegetable oil with the spice. (use the amount of flakes that you like, I really like things spicy)

Let the pan get HOT. (this usually works best in a wok)

But here is where I found my wok yesterday, (really??!?) so I opted for the large non-stick.

 

Add the onions and cabbage and WALK AWAY.

You want it to develop color, you are in essence, searing the veggies.

Once they caramelize, flip and continue to cook.

When everything is pretty brown, deglaze the pan with soy sauce (once or twice around the pan)

And that’s it! I have also made this with shrimp before and it is a great combo.

After the tofu was pressed, I diced it and marinated in some soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic powder.

Baked on 400 for 25-30 min. It was amazing. The best tofu I’ve had in a long time. The texture was great.

I served it over the cabbage and a little bulgur.

So filling and yummy! Lots of leftovers too!

 

What is your favorite stirfry recipe?

Any new things you’re cooking up this weekend?

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Chicken with Mushrooms & Egg Noodles (suggestions for vegetarians and low-carbers too!)

This recipe I can’t take credit for. It’s another one that I got from my mother-in-law.

However, this is the first time I made it. For some reason Joe always cooks when we eat this.

So I wanted to make sure that I represented it well.

Chicken w/Mushrooms and Egg Noodles

Ingredients

3 tbsp. flour

2-3 tbsp butter

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

1/2 cup dry sherry

1 -8oz can of tomato sauce

1-8oz can of mushrooms

4-5 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

16 oz. bag of egg noodles

(you can ignore the can of tomato paste. I didn’t use it)

Start by cutting the chicken breasts in half and seasoning with salt and pepper.

After they are seasoned on both sides, dredge them in flour and shake off the excess.

Melt the butter in a pan on medium-high

Add the chicken and let it brown on both sides (about 3-4 min per side)

Once fully browned, add the sherry, garlic, parsley, tomato sauce, and the juice in the mushroom can, but not the mushrooms yet. (warning, this part smells AMAZING and will send anyone in your house into the kitchen to see what’s cookin)

Cover and reduce the heat to low and cook for 30 min.

After 30 minutes, add the mushrooms. This is the time to boil water and cook the egg noodles. When the pasta is done, you can put a tbsp of butter on the noodles if you want. Then serve the chicken and sauce on top.

Prefer a lower carb option?

You can omit the flour on the chicken, and at the end of the cooking time, add a ton of spinach to the pan. Let it wilt down and it will pick up all of the flavors of the chicken. Go ahead and add more mushrooms too!

Don’t eat meat?

You could still adapt this recipe. Instead of starting with the chicken, how about starting with some garlic, parsley and a boatload of fresh mushrooms? You could even dredge the mushrooms in flour to get more thickness in the sauce.

After cooking in the butter for a few min, de-glaze with the sherry and tomato sauce just like the recipe says.

Serve the sauce over egg noodles or whatever pasta you want, and add cannellini beans for protein!

Do you get nervous about making a dish for someone that their MOM used to make?

How have you altered classic recipes to make them fit YOUR nutritional needs?

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Simple, Quick, and Healthy

Those are the three words I would use to describe my dinner tonight.

I bought the fresh ingredients this morning, and then when I came home from class, dinner was on the table in 20 minutes.

 

Tonight’s Menu:
Lemon Pepper Panko Crusted wild caught flounder

Sautéed Spinach with garlic and lemon

Bulgur cooked in chicken broth (leftover)

 

The fish came together super fast. I simply placed it on a baking sheet with pam, lightly salted and peppered it, and put some Progresso Lemon Pepper Panko on top.

I got these crumbs free from My Blog Spark a month or so ago, and really liked them.

While the fish was cooking on 350 for 15 minutes, I sauteed 2 cloves of garlic in a tablespoon of olive oil. Added a huge bag of baby spinach, salt and pepper and it wilted down just in time to take the fish out of the oven. At the very end, I stirred in some grated lemon zest and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

I heated up the bulgur in the microwave while the fish cooled down, and also made a bag of Trader Joe’s brown rice for Joe since he isn’t really into bulgur.

Dinner is served!

 

Off to watch Boardwalk Empire which we missed on Sunday. Night!

 
What three words describe your dinner tonight?

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