Sometimes I have thought about what to open that night before 8am...

Friday, February 25, 2011

Blood Orange Margaritas - Must Be Friday Night.

In celebration of Tim's first full week back at work, we are celebrating with...

Blood Orange Margaritas

Ingredients:
Tequila (I prefer Silver in margaritas)
Orange Liquor (I prefer Cointreau, but Patron Citronage makes a great substitute.)
2 Blood Oranges
2 Limes
3-4 ounces Margarita Mix

Juice the blood oranges and the limes into your shaker.  Add 3 oz tequila, 1.5 ox Citronage, margarita mix to taste (I like less. Tim likes more.), and a bunch of ice cubes.

Shake it like a Polaroid picture.

Rim your glass with salt, add a few more ice cubes and divide between 2 glasses.
Margaritas are better when shared with someone you love.

Happy first week Punk!  So very, very proud of you!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Yoga for Wine Lovers

I knew Yoga was good for you, but I never realized it could be this good!



Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Womp - There it is!

I know, I know, you've seen this picture before.  Well, this picture was actually in this weeks meal plan, I just cheated and used it in last weeks post.  But it was really, really good, and I couldn't help myself!  

Thursday:
Southwestern Corn Chowder with Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Recipe from this blog.
 Friday:  Dinner at my Sister's house.

Saturday:
Buffalo Chicken Paninis with Sweet Potato Fries
Recipe from Cooking Light.
This was super quick and easy, and the family LOVED it!
Sunday:
Barbecued Onion Quesadillas with Maple Glazed Spiced Wings.
Quesadillas from Epicurious, Wings from Tim!
 Monday:
Monday was the trifecta of awful, and so out of care and concern for my family, we decided that I shouldn't handle knives at dinner time.  We let Domino's do the cooking.

Have you ever had blue cheese on a pizza? I know, you don't need any more vices, but seriously...
try this!
So how are you doing with menu planning?  Are you working on figuring out dinner in advance?  Share your secrets, or your link to your pictures below!

Happy Tuesday!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Run a 10K - Check.

About 30 minutes after I posted my Life List, I received this.  That's right.  You've never met my husband, but there is nothing that Tim likes better than a training plan.  He likes goals.  He likes to be supportive and motivational. He likes to make sure you get enough protein, go to bed on time, and Lord help me... get up in the morning.

You see, I thought by putting my Life List on my blog, I was holding myself accountable.  

I forgot who I married.

And so...

I have completed a 10K.

And truthfully, it wasn't that bad.  The training plan Tim found for me was excellent.  The race we picked was flat  (Glory be).  The day was the perfect temperature and wind free.  

I survived.  

In fact, I enjoyed myself!

You know it's real because this is my number.

The Goose hopped in and ran the last 100 yards with me!


And this is my incredible support network... minus 1.
My dear friend Katrina manned the camera!
Thank you Todd, Katy, Caden, Karen Ray, Jody, and last but not least Tim.
I couldn't have done it without you Love!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Southwestern Corn Chowder

or

How to Make a Delicious Dinner Using only the Odds and Ends in Your Empty Fridge

I think I mentioned in my last post that we have had a lot of company lately.  As we put the last, lovely lady from Boston on a plane this morning, I found myself resembling Old Mother Hubbard.  Bare does not begin to cover my cupboards.

So I started poking around.  A couple of russets that needed to be used, 3 left over ears of corn, some half and half purchased for coffee drinkers... wait... Corn Chowder.  Oh, and the best part?  It rained in San Diego today.  Soup weather.

Southwestern Corn Chowder

Ingredients:

2 tbsp butter
1 medium Vidalia diced
1 jalapeno diced
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp flour
¾ lb russet potatoes diced
1 can Rotel Tomatoes drained
1 ½ cups water
2 cups vegetable broth
2 cups corn (mine came from 3 extra ears of corn on the cob, but you can use canned or frozen)
2 tsp Bayou Blast or other Southwestern seasoning
1 tsp Kosher Salt
½ - ¾ of a cup of half and half (to taste)
Shredded Cheese for topping

First, pour yourself a glass of wine.  
 Chop your onions, jalapeno, garlic, and potatoes.
 Melt 2 tbsp butter in Dutch Oven.  Add the onion and jalapeno and saute for a minute or two.
 Add 2 tbsp flour, and continue stirring for 3 or 4 minutes until your roux becomes golden.

Add potatoes, Rotel Tomatoes, 2 cups of vegetable broth, 1 1/2 cups water, Bayou Blast, and salt and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes (until potatoes are tender).

Turn off the burner and add the half and half.
 Let the soup sit and meld together while you make a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches to go with it.  Mine are Jalapeno Jack on Whole Wheat.  I would have liked some sliced avocado in them, but I didn't have any.  Oh well, next time.
  Take a moment to bask in the glory of a perfect rainy day dinner.
 And say yes when your husband asks if he can have seconds!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

WOMP - Week 5-6

Sometimes it is important to let things go, and be in the moment.  I have spent the last two weeks doing exactly that.  My best friend was out visiting from Boston and we went a lot of places, did a lot of things, ate out, drank wine and enjoyed ourselves every single minute of every single day.  She left, and another dear family friend came out, and she hadn't been to San Diego before.  We had a terrific time showing her exactly why San Diego is an amazing place to be... and the weather was spectacular.  Thank you very much Mother Nature!

So, I didn't take a lot of food pictures.  I could tell you I am sorry, but I'm not.  Sometimes life is just more important!

Here are the ones I did take:

Over Fried Chicken with Garlic Mashed and Caesar Salad
My Niece's Baptism fell during this time as well.
We served Chicken, Black Bean, and Corn Enchiladas with Salsa Roja, Shrimp Enchiladas with Salsa Verde and Spinach and Mushroom Enchiladas with Queso Fundido (recipe later this week because I love you.)
Wild Mushroom and Caramelized Onion Risotto with White Truffle Oil and Roasted Chicken.
Trader Joe's Orange Chicken with Jasmine Rice
I steam broccoli, and stir it in with the sauce at the last minute.
This was tonight, and dear me was it delicious.
Southwestern Corn Chowder with Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.
So there you go.  I am back on track, and a blogging machine, so be on the lookout in the next few days.  You will definitely get the Southwestern Corn Chowder tomorrow!  And you should make it... tomorrow.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

I Seem to be on an Italian Wine Kick

Which is not my fault this time.  Do you remember that Chateauneuf du Pape I found at Trader Joe's for $9.99?  And it was delicious?  Well, last week I came around the corner at Trader Joe's, and on that same end cap... was this!
Ruffino Il Ducale
Toscana
80% Sangiovese, with a littler Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
$9.99 at Trader Joe's
This is another score in the under $10 ballpark.  It is luscious.  Lots of fruit up front, but it has depth too.  I looked it up online and I swear that it is because of the oak aging.  There is a complexity of flavors that you don't usually get at this price point.

The wines on that end cap don't last long though, so if you are interested... GET ON IT!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

WOMP- Quartered

Is there even such a thing?  Squared, Cubed, Squared-Squared? Whatever the answer, here it is!

Week 4 WOMP

Tuesday
Gnocchi a la Sorrenta from the freezer section at Trader Joe's.
I stir in a couple of cups of baby spinach at the end for a delicious and simple dinner.
 Wednesday

Thyme scented White Bean Cassoulet
Recipe from Cooking Light
I roasted a chicken breast for over the top,
and served it with a hunk of french bread to mop up all the delicious broth!
 Thursday
Cubans with Sweet Potato Fries
I used the leftover pork from Monday to make these.
(I hate food waste)
Also, you can tell Tim took this picture because his beer is in it!

 Friday

Grilled Tomato and Onion Pizza
(with pepperoni on half)
A tutorial on how to do this is coming.
It is really easy and incredibly delicious!
 Saturday- We went out for Mediterranean food on Saturday at Pasha in San Diego.
 Sunday-
A preview of tomorrow night.
We spent the day making sauce for the Spaghetti Dinner at church.
When your house smells that good, you simply have to have some!
 Monday
The Spaghetti Dinner
We served over 280 people last night
and collected 2 SUV's worth of canned goods for
St. Mark's Caught Up Short Cupboard.
It was a great, great evening!
So there you have it.  4 weeks in, and I am still enjoying myself!
Tomorrow, there will be a post about wine.  I promise.
Oh and if you are following along, link up below!