Meal Ideas for the busy Cook

Need new dinner ideas to spice up your kitchen? I've got some favorites, old and new, to share with you.

Here are some of the homemade meals we enjoyed during the month of September (click through for recipes!):

One Pot Chicken Spaghetti

Beef & Bean Taco Casserole

Steak, mashed potatoes, peas and corn

Secret Ingredient Stovetop Mac and Cheese, sauteed peppers and onions with Italian turkey sausage

Mexican Skillet Pasta

Campfire Packets (beef patties, sliced potatoes, onions, and carrots)

Fish and Chips (fried fish and potatoes)

Chicken Potpie Soup

Vegetable Potpie

Balsamic Roast , mashed potatoes and veggies

Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken, rice, salad

Nachos (melted Velveeta with Rotel) with all the toppings

Maegan's African Tea

This morning I was craving a delicious cup of tea that my friend Maegan served me after her trip to Africa, where it was served to her as an evening beverage at her African hosts' home. Since I couldn't remember the exact ratios of tea/sugar/milk, I texted her for the information and was so glad she replied promptly so I could enjoy my tea this morning while tackling the paperwork stack.

 

Make yourself a cup of strong, hot tea (really hot, because once you add the milk it will cool down, of course). I used orange pekoe black tea. Then add 2 teaspoons of sugar (mine was organic evaporated cane sugar) and 1/4 cup milk (I poured in half-n-half, because it's Tuesday). I love Maegan! I love Africa! I love this tea!

Day 8: The Finish Line!

This morning feels so good! It's sunshiny and warm outside, and I've successfully completed the cleanse!

I weighed myself: 1 more pound gone, making that a total of 7 pounds lost this past week! This wasn't all about weight loss to me, but I loved feeling more trim as the week continued.

The proponents of this diet are right: if adhered to, you will feel your tummy shrinking, you will feel more fit and the bloating go away. It's noticeable!

As my Mom said, this cleanse isn't difficult physically, just emotionally. You want those comfort foods! The first couple days were the hardest, but as the week went on those cravings lessened and I became more and more focused.

This was an excellent lesson in self-discipline for me. I have a tendency to not practice delayed gratification. Am I craving something sweet? Okay, I'll have chocolate now!

This past week was also a reflective one for me. I thought: "What do I want more, this ____ (pizza, sweets, etc) or a healthy and more fit body? I will prove to myself that I want the greater good!" I was more aware of what I was eating and why.

I walked around a couple of my favorite food stores (the Whole Foods cheese and pastry selection is to die for!), plus visited the Cheesecake Factory and MacDonald's during the course of the week, as if to prove to myself that I could be there, without being sorely tempted to buy or sample, and I could choose to eat a salad and be content while others ate differently.

My reward this morning was a small piece of dark chocolate, from Trader Joe's, 85% cacao. It's amazing how sweet and fruity it tasted after a week of no desserts! I really savored it.
Breakfast this morning is Fage 0% Greek yogurt with honey, and fresh fruit.

I'm going to maintain my little pocketbook food diary (stays in my purse as a reminder!) and track my weight to help stay accountable.

My reminders to myself:

Fresh and raw is best- we need lots of fruits and veggies in our diet!

Lean meats, good fats, complex carbs and proteins are excellent for our body as well. (Brown rice over white!)

Eliminate processed foods or keep them to a minimum.

Drink lots and lots of water.

Exercise! (Definitely something I need to work on.)

Take it one meal and snack at a time:
Think before you eat, do not indulge in gluttony, watch portion control, be thankful and savor every bite!

Day 7: Miracle Soup

Nutritious brothy soup with veggies


Written in the a.m.:

Today is soup day! While soup sounds cozy and appropriate this time of year, today projects to be a warm one-in the 70's! No complaints, though. I love this sort of weather!

I'm sure I will want to eat ice-cream instead of soup. And I have some lovely Trader Joe's pumpkin ice-cream in the freezer.

Another half a pound lost!


Evening update:

Here is my "Miracle Soup" recipe":

Saute 2 onions in a bit of olive oil.
Meanwhile, chop up an entire head of cabbage and throw that on top.
Add, finely chopped:
1 bell pepper
5 celery stalks
Stir in 2 cans organic diced tomatoes, in their juice.
Add a couple cloves freshly minced garlic and spices to your taste.
Pour a 32 ounce carton of your choice of stock over everything. I used Trader Joe's turkey stock but you could use chicken or beef or better yet, your own.
Simmer until veggies are soft.


So that, and water, was on the menu for today. I like cabbage, and enjoyed the soup! There was plenty, so I reinvented it for the family's dinner with leftover chicken and rice.

Then, for some reason, I got a pounding headache in the late afternoon. I know I'm not dehydrated, so that's all good. I made myself some French press coffee...it was divine, all black and aromatic! That and ibuprofen helped the headache.

I'm pleased the 7 days went so well...more thoughts on that later!


Notes:
This was a light and tasty way to end the cleanse. The soup was easy to make, and surprisingly filling.

Day 6: Fowl and Vegetables

Fowl and veggies, no potatoes

Felt wonderful this morning!

I've maintained my weight, no loss or gain on the scale today.

Started out with a crunchy cucumber.

Mid-morning I had a bit of chicken.

My late lunch was a salad of mixed greens with shredded carrots, zucchini, chicken, and a few other veggies in a light vinaigrette.

Dinner was more chicken...

then hot tea!

I really want a piece of dark chocolate.

Notes:
So nice to pair the meat with a variety of vegetables. I planned on cooking zucchini and onions along with my chicken for dinner, but I still felt full from my lunch salad and so kept it simple. That's the great thing about today-so many options for chicken and veggie combos!

Day 5: Fowl and Tomatoes

Fowl: Chicken and/or turkey, 6 tomatoes

Another version of this diet says you can eat lean beef today, instead.


Yay! When I woke up I got to eat some MEAT! I didn't eat very much, just a little bit was satisfying, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I chose an all natural rotisserie chicken for today and tomorrow, and 6 ripe, organic tomatoes.

I ate the tomatoes like apples, spaced throughout the day. I made sure to drink lots and lots of water. I had servings of chicken at lunch and dinner.

Today was a good day! Easier and easier!

Oh, and I lost another 2 pounds. Remarkable. I'm very curious as to what the scale will say tomorrow.

Notes:
I think the combination of white and dark meat, right off the bone, tastes wonderful after 4 days of no meat, and was much more appealing to me than cooking up plain chicken breasts. The fresh tomatoes were good! I decided earlier to keep tomatoes out of my diet until today, since I would be eating so many (I actually only made it to 5).

Day 4: Bananas and Skim Milk

As many as 8 bananas and 8 glasses of skim milk (or any yogurt, preferably plain, high in calcium and low in sugar)

I woke up this morning still feeling great!

The scale says I gained back half a pound (for a total of 3 1/2 pounds lost). Is this because of the coffee? The high-in-calorie avocado? A finicky scale? Or did I stare at the pizza too long?

No matter! A half a pound either way doesn't bother me. Taking it all in stride!

I had a bunch-exactly 8, in fact-of organic bananas and after eating just one felt quite full.

Then an hour later I had another one, with some plain non-fat Greek yogurt.

For lunch, I blended 3 bananas I had previously put in the freezer, along with some more Greek yogurt, in order to make "banana ice-cream". It was thick and tasty! The sweetness of the bananas balanced out the tangy flavor of the yogurt.

And then, my tummy full of banana goodness, I went out to vote!

My afternoon snacks were 2 glasses of skim milk- the healthy organic kind and the best I've had. All other skim milks taste watery to me, but this stuff was actually pretty good.

Sometimes the kids like to set up a "restaurant" for dinner, making the table all fancy, writing up a menu and serving us hand and foot. Tonight Hosanna arranged some fresh roses and lively music.

Tom had steaming brown basmati rice topped with kung pao chicken and pie with ice cream for dessert. I had a sliced banana. At least the conversation was stimulating.

Really, this day went just fine for me, and I don't care for bananas that much!

Notes:
The bananas and milk or yogurt combo is quite filling. Blending frozen bananas was definitely a treat! Each day has gotten subsequently easier for me.

Day 3: Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and veggies, no bananas or potatoes

I woke up feeling energized and clear-minded this morning. No headache! To my surprise, I had lost another 2 pounds, for a total of 4 so far.

Mondays are always a long, busy day for me since we have various music and art lessons. Throw in a dental appointment and it can be a recipe for exhaustion! Since we have to leave the house early and are gone all day, I wanted to make sure we were stocked with enough food. I filled the cooler with things we could all eat-muffins and almond butter sandwiches for the kids (made with my Mom's grape jam!), salad for me, and fruit for all.

My quick, on-the-go breakfast was blackberries and kiwi.

For lunch, I prepared a huge salad with baby spinach, mixed salad greens, red bell pepper, broccoli sprouts, raw broccoli florets, and delicious creamy avocados. If I had enough time-I was rushing- I would have added carrots and another veggie or two. My dressing was olive oil, fresh lemon juice, garlic powder, dill, salt and pepper. It really was a lovely salad and I started devouring it mid-morning!

I drank plenty of water flavored with fresh lemon and apples.

A special treat was Panera coffee-plain dark roast- in the early afternoon. No cream or sugar!

My late afternoon snack was a nice, crispy apple.

Then I picked up Papa Murphy's pizza for dinner and let me tell you...after getting that baby out of the oven I wanted to swear life-long fidelity to cheesy crust and devour the whole thing! I think my hands were shaking as I cut up slices for the kids.

I did NOT lick my fingers. I washed them. I washed that cheesy cheese off.

Then I very calmly stabbed at my roasted asparagus and ate my dinner like a good girl.

That was an easy dinner to prepare-I just lined up the asparagus on my stoneware pan, drizzled on olive oil, seasoned with fresh garlic, salt, pepper, and roasted till tender and rather crispy on the ends because I left them in 5 minutes too long.

Like the night before, I really didn't feel terribly hungry at dinner so I only ate the asparagus although I originally thought I'd add sauteed onions and zucchini. 

Ignoring the pizza crusts that some careless and wasteful child left on his/her plate, I will now have a cup of tea and call it a day.

I think I'm actually looking forward to banana day tomorrow....probably only because I want whatever I haven't had the last 3 days!

Notes:
This day qualifies as fairly easy since the choices are now doubled! I liked the variety of choosing between fruits and vegetables. Again, it's very important to have several different options on hand for eating raw, sauteing, baking, and so on! It feels like you aren't quite so limited. ;)
Oops! After doing a little more research, I discovered that coffee, even plain and dark, is usually a no-no on this diet. The caffeine can add undesirable results, apparently. Oh well!

Day 2: Vegetables

Veggies, one potato

I woke up this morning feeling good, but with a slight headache that I attributed to sinus pressure from my cold. Or maybe it's due in part to detoxing.

The scale indicated that I lost 2 pounds. (I hear you, little voices in my head saying, "It's just water weight!")

For starters, I had the option of a baked white or sweet potato with a pat of butter.

I love you, butter. Please marry me.

I chose a sweet potato because we had them on hand, from Tom's garden, and they are so nutritious.

Last night I went to Trader Joe's to purchase more items for my special diet, and my eyes were drawn to a stack of brussels sprout stalks. I loathed brussels sprouts as a child, not surprisingly, but in recent years I've had them plain and in a variety of dishes and recanted my former stance as a brussels sprouts hater. Still, I kept forgetting to buy and cook them. Then last week I had some that my sister Mara prepared-delicious- and decided that I had to buy some for myself!

As I stood there eyeing the mound of stalks (which, by the way, are super weird looking and could very well have been invented by Dr. Seuss), the grocer lady adding to the pile asked, "I just found a perfect stalk. Would you like me to get it for you?"
"Yes," I said, "I would love that!"
So very carefully, even reverently, she handed me a stalk so perfectly loaded with adorable green sprouts that we both just stood there a moment, the stalk between us, hushed by such beauty.
"Thank you," I whispered, as I cradled the stalk and walked back to my cart.

Then when I got home, I thought, what the blank do I do with a stalk? I had only ever seen the sprouts de-stalked. Apparently, you can plop the whole she-bang in the oven and cook it that way, but I decided to remove the sprouts from the brussel tree, wash and quarter them, then saute them in olive oil with plenty of fresh garlic. It took awhile to cook down, but the end result was divine! Plus, they are high in protein.

(Faced with a large skillet still full of sauteed brussel sprouts, Rachel turns to Google: Can cooked brussel sprouts be successfully frozen?)

Snacking consisted of a yellow bell pepper. Also, hot tea.

Wow, those brussel sprouts really filled me up. I don't think I want to eat them again for at least another month. I bet I gained those 2 pounds back.

Dinner was a very small fresh green salad with broccoli sprouts. I had plenty more veggies to eat for today, but I really didn't feel that hungry.

Maybe my body is shutting down.

Did I mention Tom is baking sweet potato pies? What is with that man?

Notes:
Today was much easier than yesterday. I practically ate all day during fruit day, but since vegetables are more filling I didn't need to eat as much. I did make sure to have plenty of fresh veggies on hand, just in case.

7 Day Cleanse (A.K.A. Rachel is Insane)

So I had recently been thinking of doing a fast from certain foods, and possibly going 100% raw for a few days, when I came across a 7 day cleanse/detox/fast on Pinterest that piqued my curiosity.

Here, I will chronicle my experience. And don't worry-if I end up rushing over to Hardee's for some delicious fatty fries, you'll hear about that, too.

My inspiration, so to speak, comes from the following two links.

1. My discovery on Pinterest led me to this blog: 'Eat Your Heart Out' Diet... aka Satan Diet

2. And here is another blog with an almost identical plan: 7 Day Diet

I'm not doing this to lose weight, although I will be tracking my weight (for the first time in probably 6 months or so!) and I won't cry if I happen to shed a few pounds.

I'm partially doing this in order to flush my system with healthy, mainly raw foods, and detox any junk that is lingering.

Also, I want to test my willpower. I could use a little more self-discipline. Okay, a lot more.

My Mom and sisters are doing this with me, and that along with blog journaling should help me stay accountable.

Or not.

Bento Lunches

I've enjoyed experimenting with preparing bento box lunches for the kids. It's a great way to use up odds n' ends plus watch portion control. :)

Occasionally, as a special treat, I will add some all-fruit juice, a bag of chips, or a homemade cookie.

PB&J croissant bento with dried fruit & nuts, hard boiled egg, strawberry

Variety bento with applesauce, strawberry, blackberries, spinach salad, beef stick, cheese, oreo

Smoked salmon bento with cheese, crackers, carrot sticks, pistachios

BBQ chicken bento with carrots, strawberries, licorice

Pepperoni pasta bento with kiwis, applesauce, fruit snack

Homemade whole-wheat roll bento with trail mix, peanut butter celery, strawberry

When life gives you strawberries....

... make shortcake!

It's what's for dinner:

 

I used this strawberry shortcake recipe found over at Tasty Kitchen. Quite decadent. I didn't have any buttermilk, so I used a little apple cider vinegar and heavy cream instead. It was the bomb. They are airy and flaky and practically melt in your mouth. 

Here's another recipe for shortcakes I look forward to trying: Smitten Kitchen's Shortcakes. They appear to have a little more substance. You actually mix two hard boiled egg yolks into the dough. How weird is that? I must try it.

Apple Fritters

I loved making apple fritters as a teenager. My family ate many slightly oily, half burnt, still-gooey-inside fritters until I got the hang of it.
This recipe was really tasty. Honestly, they were delicious hot AND cold! What could be better than a perfectly spiced fritter with cake doughnut consistency and the added bonus of sweet apple chunks?!? Oh yum!

Chicken Soup-the weather calls for it, darlings!

This was our leftover Pioneer Woman's chicken soup. Delicious! The first time I cooked with parsnips. Her method is simple and straightforward. Very flavorful ( I'm sure using some of my homemade broth contributed to the overall richness!). For the second go around, I mixed in some leftover cooked rice. We enjoyed it both ways. Next time, I might throw in a couple potatoes and some extra carrots.

 

The perfect end to a blustery, cold day!

Meals ~ January 6-8

Friday
Breakfast:
English Muffin sandwiches: buttered and toasted English muffins sandwiched with fried eggs & bacon
Orange Juice

Lunch:
Choice of peanut butter & jelly or leftover soup

Dinner:
Baked Salmon served over brown basmati rice with steamed mixed vegetables

Saturday
Breakfast:
Rice Pudding (using leftover rice from the previous night)
(there are some great recipes over at the Tasty Kitchen blog!)

Lunch:
Frito Chili Pie 
We really loved that recipe-it's very similar to my regular chili recipe-the flavor is great, and it's nice and thick. I added more salt, even though the Fritos added some saltiness. We barely had even a cup leftover!

Dinner:
Assorted Leftovers

Sunday
Breakfast:
Cold cereal, donut holes, fresh pineapple

Lunch:
Baked Potatoes, Loaded Veggie Green Salad

Dinner:
Fish Sticks (our favorite!), Leftover Salad

Meals: January 3-5

Tuesday
Breakfast:
Cinnamon Rolls (One can from Trader Joe's makes 5 large rolls-1 for each of us!)
Scrambled Eggs
Applesauce
Orange Juice

Lunch:
Bean & Bacon Soup (courtesy of Aldi's)
Pan of Parker House Rolls (pulled out of the freezer and warmed)
Celery Sticks

Dinner:
The Pioneer Woman's delightful Cheeseburger Salad. This one is a winner! We loved it. Ree is right; the pickles make the salad.

Also, the red onions.

Also, the buttery croutons.

Wednesday
Breakfast:
Skillet Granola with Fresh Strawberries and Blackberries

Lunch:
Leftovers of pizza, egg-rolls, and fresh Guacamole
(I love guacamole, but I thought the lime was overkill in that recipe-and I only used 1 lime instead of the required 2. Guacamole is one of those forgiving dishes, though-you can adjust the components as you like to suit your preferences!)

Dinner:
Oven Fried Chicken Tenders with Sauce, Roasted Red Potatoes, Steamed Peas
The chicken was easy. An old family favorite; something I've made since a teenager! Basically, you take your choice of chicken (traditionally, legs and thighs but for this meal I used tenderloins), dip in melted butter and then your choice of crushed saltine crackers or Ritz or a combination. Bake at about 350-400 degrees until chicken is cooked and tender and crust is crispy. The optional sauce, making it extra decadent, is equal parts of chive and onion cream cheese and chicken broth, whisked together and heated till creamy. Here is a similar recipe: Ritz Chicken with Cream Sauce.


Thursday
Breakfast:
Cold Cereal. End of story.

Lunch:
Nutella-on-raisin-bread sandwiches
Apple Slices

Dinner:
Zuppa Toscana Soup

Banana Muffins, the Vegan Way

Observing the pile of bananas on my counter looking dangerously brown, I realized it was time to make them into something scrumptious. Usually the kids scarf up all the bananas before they are remotely decent and squishy enough for banana bread, but due to some recent fabulous bananas prices in my shopping district, leading to an influx on our counter, even the Banana Scarfers couldn't keep up.

Liking to shake it up a little now and then, I pulled out a cookbook I haven't had the pleasure of baking from yet:
"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Baking." 

No dairy, which is a plus since Caleb is usually sensitive to it, and no eggs, which is handy when one is out of eggs or wants a break from them.

I made two fairly small substitutions. First, the recipe called for banana extract, of which I had none, so I used maple extract instead. Also, instead of the roasted sunflower seeds, which didn't appeal to me in this recipe, I substituted thinly sliced almonds.

The finished muffins were truly delicious. Light, fluffy, and full of flavor. I intended them for breakfast tomorrow morning, but we couldn't resist them hot and buttered! (Oops-I guess that made them non-vegan!)

Here is the original recipe:


Banana Muffins

4 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 TB aluminum free baking powder
1 TB cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
1 TB ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
2 cups soy, rice, or almond milk (I used a combination of all three!)
3/4 cup flaxseed egg substitute (easy-see recipe below)
3/4 cup canola oil
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tsp banana extract (or pure vanilla extract)
1 1/3 cups plus 1/4 cup Florida Crystals or unbleached cane sugar
2-3 extra ripe bananas, peeled and mashed well (1 cup)
1 cup sunflower seeds, hulled and roasted

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line 16-20 muffin cups with paper liners. (I got over 2 dozen muffins!)

2. Into a large bowl, sift whole-wheat pastry flour, baking powder, cornstarch, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt, or blend with a wire whisk.

3. In a separate bowl, and using an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on high speed (I used a hand mixer), beat milk, flaxseed egg substitute, canola oil, vanilla extract, banana extract, Florida crystals, and bananas for 1 or 2 minutes or until light in texture and color. Add sunflower seeds (or in my case, sliced almonds), and mix well.

4. Using a large rubber spatula, fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients just until moistened. Do not over-mix. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

5. Using a 1/3 cup ice cream scoop, fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Sprinkle a little Florida crystals on each muffin (I left that part out). Bake for 22-26 minutes (mine only took 20 minutes) or until muffin tops spring back when lightly touched.

6. Remove from the oven, and cool for 5 minutes in the pan on a wire rack. Carefully release muffins from the pan, and cool completely. Store in an airtight container, or freeze in zipper-lock bags.




Flaxseed Egg Substitute

1/4 cup flaxseeds
3/4 cup water
1. In a small grinder, grind flaxseeds until mixture resembles a fine powder.
2. In a blender, combine ground flaxseeds and water, and blend on high speed for 1 or 2 minutes or until thick.
3. Chill for at least 1 hour to set up. It can be used now, but it'll have a more egg-like consistency if allowed to chill. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
1/4 cup=1 large egg

Chunky Pecan Pie Bars

Crust:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Filling:
3 large eggs
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9-inch baking pan.

For Crust
BEAT flour, butter and brown sugar in a small mixer bowl until crumbly. Press into prepared baking pan.

BAKE for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

For Filling
BEAT eggs, sugar, corn syrup, butter and vanilla in a medium bowl with wire whisk. Stir in chunks and nuts. Pour evenly over baked crust.

BAKE for 25-30 minutes or until set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars.


A new favorite!

Thai Food in St. Louis

I just love the diversity and cultural experiences St. Louis has to offer. It's one of my favorite cities-fairly easy to navigate (in comparison to the complexities of Boston's subway system, for example, or the hugeness of New York and Chicago) and it is just full of really cool stuff.

                                                        And really cool food!

During a weekend spent in St. Louis with girlfriends this past summer, we explored several new cuisines and this Thai restaurant, located on the outskirts of St. Louis, was a favorite.

Leslie & Mara

Good food, good friends, good times!

Summer Color :: Vegetarian Dinner

I wish I had taken pictures of our entire vegetarian meal. It was so colorful! Guacamole with tortilla chips, grilled garden vegetables, and a fruit salad composed of strawberries, bananas, mangoes, and peaches.