Under the Weather

1 Multi-Vitamin+1 Sudafed+1 Mucinex+2 Ibuprophen= Getting out of bed in the morning.

This cold is whooping my butt. It has gone on and on and on, and honestly, I'm just about sick and tired of it.

So please forgive my absence, but I have been more focused on this:

 And I haven't even added any tequila to it.

I did however menu plan at the beginning of the week.

There have been a couple of big hits so far. The Lettuce Wraps from Monday are a staple in our household. I make two types, chicken, as the recipe suggests, and then I substitute grilled tofu for the second batch. With no cooking involved, they are an excellent plan for a hot summer evening.

Last night, Tim made the Baked Ziti with Summer Veggies. It was delicious. I mean it. So simple, filling, and just down right good. That one goes directly into the recipe file. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Make this for dinner.

As always, both recipes came from Cooking Light. I swear that magazine has my number, and for that I am very, very thankful.

What's On My Plate

Lately we've been going to the grocery store A LOT. And when I say A LOT, what I mean is every freakin' day. This is crazy for so many reasons. 

1. It is a waste of my time and Tim's time.

2. It is almost impossible to maintain a food budget when you shop that often. We definitely fall into the habit of impulse buying when we are there without a list. (side note: do not fall for the exceptionally well done Oreo Fudge Creams commercial. "Shut the front door" they are not that good.)

3. If we are grocery shopping everyday, we are not menu planning. If we are not menu planning, we are not eating as well as we should.

Today I am trying to get back on track. I menu planned this afternoon... well sort of. I decided I was not going to the grocery store everyday. Therefore I menu planned as I was driving to the grocery store. It is not the best menu I have ever written, but I did manage to buy all of the ingredients for the dishes I picked, and I remembered lunch food and breakfast food. 

Here's to getting back on track!

The first item on the list was the Farmer's Market Pasta made with the bounty from Saturday's Farmer's Market adventure. It looks much more beautiful than it was delicious. The Agretti was good, but will probably not make a reappearance on our table. The texture didn't soften enough. It had a grassy mouth feel, and I am not a cow. The baby artichokes were a huge disappointment. We have both had baby artichokes before and loved them. The beauty of a baby artichoke is that you can eat the whole thing. You don't need to peel them. You eat the leaves, the heart, the entire delicious goodness. The guy at the stand assured Tim that was the case with the ones he bought. They were beautiful and purple. They were also woody and tough. A basket of them was $3. Two extra large artichokes were $5. Lesson learned the hard way. What was scrumptious was the white wine lemon sauce that Tim created. It was so good we had to toast off some rolls to sop up every last drop!

So enjoy the lovely picture, but realize that not everything is as good as it looks.

What was shockingly good was the Cherimoya. The guy at the stand said it was a tropical fruit and the flavor was a cross between a pineapple and a banana. You cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, and eat it with a spoon.

 What we got was more mango, banana, vanilla custard than pineapple/banana. It was divine. The seeds are throughout, so you have to work at it the same way that you worked on a watermelon when you were a kid. But the fruit is so gentle that it feels like you are having dessert. You could not eat one of these everyday. It is way too rich. But you should experience it. Cherimoyas should be served ice cold.

A perfect fruit for the deck on a gorgeous summer afternoon.

What's On My Plate

Post Easter Edition

Can you say food and cooking coma? I'm in one. So much so that I am boycotting my kitchen for the next 3 days. If it isn't a leftover, you better be able to make it for yourself.

And I promise, I'm not kidding.

My goal this week is to make a little time for myself. I need to regroup and recharge. It was an excellent school vacation week and I have much to share with you over the next few days, but I am ready for a return to normalcy!

Did you menu plan? Link up below!

What's On My Plate

Notes for this week:


I am trying to make the Spring Pappardelle again. It slipped through the cracks this week, but the picture on Cooking Light looks so good, that I just have to try to get it made. Plus it has morels. Enough said.


You might be wondering what the Empty Bowls event is on Thursday night. According to their website, "Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger and was created by The Imagine Render Group. The basic premise is simple: Potters and other craftspeople, educators and others work with the community to create handcrafted bowls. Guests are invited to a simple meal of soup and bread. In exchange for a cash donation, guests are asked to keep a bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. The money raised is donated to an organization working to end hunger and food insecurity." I am blown away by the concept. The High School in my town is hosting the event. The bowls were crafted by students. It should be a spectacular evening! To learn more or to find an event near you, visit The Empty Bowls Website.


I think that is all. If you have a menu planned and you would like to post it here, you can do it two ways. 1. Post your picture on your blog and link to it below. or 2. Join the What's On My Plate Flikr Group and post it there and then link to it below.


Let me know if you have any trouble.  Oh and if you have any killer recipes we should all try, leave them in the comments.


P.S. I am including a goal for myself in the note section of my pad. Maybe if it is staring me in the fact, I will actually do it...

WOMP - A Makeover

Yesterday I talked a lot about doing the things that make me happy. Food, nutrition, menu planning and sharing all of that with you adds to my joy. Taking a picture of what I cooked? Not so much. That isn't because I'm not proud of my food. I'm just not proud of my food pictures. 

Up until about two weeks ago, my camera was pathetic. My family rectified that situation on my birthday. I was given an amazing camera so that I can better document my culinary adventures! I am blessed and overwhelmed by their generosity and thoughtfulness. I can not wait to start posting pictures that show my food to be the incredible, delicious, vibrant  food that I know it to be! Look for those pictures starting later this week.

That wasn't the only issue though. Taking a picture of dinner every night was stressful. Sometimes things get crazy around here. Kids and adults are on different schedules and headed in different directions several days out of every week. Getting  a shot of a perfectly composed plate isn't always possible. 

It isn't that I want to give up on WOMP. 

I just need to make it work in my life.

So I give you: WOMP (What's On My Plate) - A Makeover

Each week, on Monday, I will post the weeks menu. This gives me the opportunity to menu plan, and document culinary adventures. I will also post links to the prior weeks recipes, if they were hits. Anything that is a Deadly Zin creation will be documented in it's own post, and I will link to it in the next weeks WOMP.

For example, I am very excited to share with you my incredible Chipotle Smashed and my Healthy(er) Huevos Rancheros.

I am also revamping the linking process so that you can link a picture of your weekly menu even if you don't have a blog. Maybe a WOMP Flikr group? Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

And who knows, maybe seeing what everyone else is cooking will inspire us to travel in new culinary directions! I would love knowing what's on your plate!

WOMP

Getting back into the swing of things.

This is our first week with Tim and I both working.  It means we have had to redistribute some household duties.  While it has been more hectic, I have to say... I prefer it this way.  I know it sounds crazy, but I love the crazy.  The more scheduled I am, the better I function.  I get more accomplished when there aren't enough hours in the day, than I do if I have a weeks vacation.  It could be because when I'm on vacation I like to spend all of my time drinking margaritas with my toes scrunched in the sand.  Or it could be that I thrive under pressure.  Truthfully? It's probably both!

Anyway, for what it is worth, I give you:

What's On My Plate - AGAIN!

Wednesday - Great night - Terrible Picture

We had friends over for dinner and made this.  I know it looks terrible.  I mean the camera takes awful pictures, but this Charlie?  You're really going to post this on your blog?!

 Thursday - The Goose had 3 dinners.  It was our first Thursday with an additional activity thrown in, and boy did it kick our butts! She had a bagel with peanut butter and a banana at 4pm.  Then she went to dance.  Then she had a Ham and Cheese Sandwich on her way from dance to jump rope.  Then she walked in the door at 8:10pm and ask me what was for dinner.  Dear lord.  Looks like I better stock up for Thursday nights!

Friday - We celebrated the end of Tim's first full week of employment.  We had Blood Orange Margaritas, and I made...

Chicken and Mushroom Queso Fundido Enchiladas

Saturday: The Goose had a friend over, and we cleaned out the garage.  Which meant that by the time we figured out that we had small people to feed, pasta was for dinner!

Mine is the one on the right.  I love pesto!

Sunday: The Oscars!  We celebrated with a platter of delicious goodness to be consumed while watching.  Have I mentioned how fun it is to live on the West Coast?  This was the first year that The Goose could watch with us, because they started at 5pm.  They gave out the award for Best Picture (Yeah!  The King's Speech!), and it wasn't cutting into Letterman.  Weird.

Lemon Ciabatta, Strawberries, Saint Andre, Chicken and Apple Sausage

 Monday- I've been wanting to do noodles for some time now.  Last night was the night!  It was so incredibly easy and delicious we will be making this quite often.

Udon noodles, with shitake mushrooms, bok choy, green onions, carrots, and yellow bell peppers.

So there you have it! Another week bites the dust.  I am loving the accountability that comes with posting my pictures each week!  Keeps me honest and on track!

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!

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.

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!

WOMP - Week Three

or

This is What Slacking Looks Like

So here we are on Wednesday, and someone (I won't name names ... Charlie.) didn't get the WOMP posted yesterday.  Somebody (Charlie) got caught up in getting ready for the party my sister was throwing last night.  Somebody (Charlie) did not make proper Blogging time out of the baby's nap!

WOMP - Week Three
Definitely a day late.
Possibly a dollar short!

Tuesday

Trader Joe's Chinese
Vegetable Fried Rice that I scramble an egg into.
Vegetable dumplings, and Vegetable Birds Nests.
If you have never had the Birds Nests, you MUST get them.
They are much loved in my house!

 Wednesday

Lemon Capri Pasta recipe from Cooking Light.
As usual I messed with the recipe a little.
I saute mushrooms and onions and stir them in with the rest of the vegetables.

 Thursday

Crispy Chickpea Salad with Prawns
Shockingly, this recipe comes from Cooking Light!

 Friday - We ordered Dominoes.
Saturday - We had zero energy, and even less motivation.  We ate leftovers.
Sunday - Out on my sister's boat with her family.
Monday

Pork Roast with Spaghetti Squash and Caesar Salad.

And falling in the lesson learned category... always put the WOMP together on Monday night!

Have you been photographing your food?  Menu planning?  Eating healthy?  If so, then let's see it!

Link up below!

WOMP - Take Two

I did better this week with pictures (pats self on back).  And funny enough, this process has lead to a couple of other great places.

The Goose has decided that she wants to learn to cook, so she has taken over the Wednesday night dinner (with assistance of course).  And I am eating healthier over all.

I have always eaten a standardized breakfast, an over easy egg on a corn tortilla.  But now I find myself standardizing my lunch as well. Spinach Salad.  I change the toppings based on what is around, but it always has some sort of nuts and some sort of cheese on it.  I am currently obsessed with the dressing from Thursday nights salad.  I made a vat of it and stuck it in a squeeze bottle in the fridge.  Just as easy as store bought dressing.  Twice as tasty.

I love when life gets on a roll!

WOMP -  Take Two

Tuesday

Chicken, Apple and Brie Paninis with Sweet Potato Fries
I spread two pieces of panini bread with brie, fill with peeled and sliced Granny Smith apples
and left over  chicken and stick them in the panini press.

 Wednesday

Chicken and Dumplings
My great-grandmother's recipe (posting tomorrow)
Made by Karen Ray

 Thursday

Chef Salad recipe from Cooking Light.
Amazing Dressing recipe from Cooking Light as well.

 Friday

Tostadas
After a busy week, Friday night's dinner has to be easy.
All I want is to relax and enjoy my family.
The best part of tostadas is that they can be formulated to please everyone!

 Saturday

Chicken Piccata with Summer Vegetable Pasta.
Recipe from Cooking Light.
If you make this one (it is very, very good) do yourself a favor and prep it in advance.
It took longer to make than expected, but that was because I didn't read the prep involved before starting.

 Sunday

French Dip with green beans and Tim's Asiago, garlic oven fries.
The French Dip recipe is from the blog A Year of Slow Cooking.
If you haven't visited Stephanie O'Dea's blog before it is a great resource for a busy family!
Tim's Asiago garlic oven fries recipe will be posted soon.

Monday - Out to dinner with friends.  After a day at the beach, it was just what the Doctor ordered!

So how did you do this week?  Have you been menu planning?  Are you taking pictures?  Do you find there are other changes that are developing in conjunction with the process?

I can't wait to see them... link up below!

First Edition WOMP

So week one has come and gone, and here I am with some great food for you!  I didn't get everything photographed, but it is a start.  I am including recipes for anything that I can.

If you missed the initial post, and you are wondering what on earth I am doing, you can read it here!

The linking feature is at the bottom, so if you took pictures link up!  I look forward to seeing what everyone has been eating.  Oh, and if you don't have a blog and you still want to participate, I am starting a Flikr group for next week.  So no excuses... GET ON IT!

WOMP 
(What's On MY Plate)

Tuesday

Black Bean Burgers with Mango Avocado Salsa and Sweet Potato Fries
This recipe (like many of my favorites) comes from Cooking Light.
You can find it here.

 Wednesday

Punk Ass Turkey Chili
The recipe and the story of it's name are from this blog.
Find them here.

 Thursday

Taco Salad
This is a throw together recipe for me.  Imagine everything that you would put in a taco, crumble in some tortilla chips, toss with Kraft Fat Free Italian, and serve.  Sorry for the washed out photo.  This is twice as good as it looks!

 Friday - We ordered pizza
Saturday - Out to dinner for a friends birthday!
Sunday

Cheese Ravioli, with tomato sauce and crumbled feta.
Feta makes everything beta!

 Monday

Do you like my chicken carcass?  Yep, forgot to take the picture.
The worst part?  The recipe is delicious!
Roast Chicken with Sage, Butternut Squash and Red Potatoes
Again, from Cooking Light.
Click this link and you can enjoy what our plates really looked like!

So that's it.

Today is the Trader Joe's run, and tonight I start again.  I am having a good time menu planning and cooking more regularly.  In fact, the Goose has asked to cook dinner on Wednesday, and it is my Great-Grandmother's recipe.  Stay tuned!

Link up below!

WOMP! - What's On My Plate

The inspiration for this post comes from The Pleated Poppy.  She has a terrific blog, and an amazing Shop.  You should visit it.  Every Wednesday she runs a post: WIWW (What I Wore Wednesday).  It is an effort to get out of the sweats/jeans/comfy clothes that so many of us moms call our daily uniform.  I love to follow it, and someday I hope to participate.  Right now, I care for my niece who is still in the pulling on the neck of your shirt, drooling on your shoulder, flinging food stage... so Monday-Friday I wear t-shirts.  It is much less disheartening to have those baby-fied, than my regular wardrobe.  I am trying to dress cuter on the weekends though! 

I digress.

Today I was thinking that I need to get back into menu planning.  I know it sounds tedious to many of you, but I love it.  I find that I eat better, my family enjoys more variety, and I make less trips to the grocery store, when dinner is planned in advance.

Then I started thinking that I needed a new recipe for the blog.  (yes my brain is always this scattered.)  Which made me think about photographing it.  Which made me think how much we all enjoy photographing our food. 

You know it's true.  Half the time I am on Facebook, there is a photo of a delicious meal that a friend is rubbing in my face enjoying. 

Think about it.  If you photograph your dinner everyday for a week, would you be more likely to make something healthy and beautiful (which usually go hand in hand by the way), instead of making pasta or ordering Dominoes?  I think I would.

Which leads to The Idea. 

I am going to photograph my meals this week.  I can't guarantee it will be every meal, but I will do my best.  Then next Tuesday, I will post what I made this week.  As often as possible, I will link to recipes underneath my pictures.  Unless I didn't like it, in which case I will tell you that too.  They can't all be winners.

There is no judgement if you order pizza.  There are nights when pizza is exactly what I want.  This is just an opportunity to get out of the food "sweatpants".  A chance to branch out, try something new, or just to share your food love with the world. 

It sounds like a lot more fun than joining the gym this January. 

Oh, and I will set it up so you can add your own WOMP at the bottom of my post next week.


Happy New Year!