I tried Zuni again

Alvin and Barbara came over for dinner tonight and we chowed down on some Zuni, bread salad, asparagus, and fingerling potatoes. The chicken was very moist and yummy, but the skin didn't crackle and brown like Sheri's and Amy's do. It doesn't matter because the star of this meal was the bread salad. It's always a hit, and it's so easy, and it's just so damn good! The way all the different textures mix together is amazing. I burned the pine nuts so I used Tamari Almonds instead and it was better I think....they gave more crunch.

Special thanks to Sheri for always answering the phone when I have a food prep emergency:D I made my first cheesecake, Oreo cheesecake, that is and I am very proud of myself for not deviating from the recipe. I was going to use mascarpone instead of cream cheese. I'm glad I didn't because I just realized I don't think I like mascarpone very much....and this cheesecake rocked! I've had it for breakfast and snacks for the past three days:D Thank god for triathlon...I'd be as big as a house if I wasn't training all the time!

In France...I'd probably be burned at the stake for this...

But I really wanted hot dogs (fat free of course, because we already don't really know what's in those things...adding fat to them is just unclean and not very healthy:D)....and I really wanted a glass of Gewurtz! So I did and you can't make me feel bad about it:P My Oma used to say that mustard makes you stupid...I have to tend to believe her...I love mustard but am starting to feel it's effects as I age:D

Dinner before dirt

Sheri and I had an awesome day in the city today. We swam in freezing cold Aquatic Park in the morning and it was so cold it felt like someone was hacking our feet and hands with a dull instrument. The things we do for triathlon....
Then we went to the Farmer's Market at the Ferry Plaza and got all kinds of yummy things. Heirloom tomatoes, fresh bread, and herbs and cheese.

Mom and Keith came over so that they could watch us get all dirty at Muddy Buddy tomorrow. It's always nice when they come over and we had good food. I threw some chicken, corn on the cob, zuccini, and portobello mushrooms on the grill. I marinated the chicken in a sauce from Williams-Sonoma - ginger, garlic, soy sauce...it was nice. I also made a bread salad with the heirloom tomatoes and spring mix from the market earlier. It was the best part of the meal...in my opinion:D

The star of the night was a berry tart with graham cracker crust and marscapone filling. Mom placed all of the berries on top and it was deeeeeeeeeeeelicious! Much thanks to Sheri for the recipe and finding the perfect tart pan at Williams-Sonoma today:)

Bourbon Ribs, nice baby...nice!

Paul was over for dinner tonight and I didn't know he was coming...some kind of married-people mis-communication between Les and I. He says he put it in an email somewhere and I don't recall those words....it usually wouldn't have been a problem except that I only had one slab of baby backs. Not enough for two grown men and ME!

I also had a really hard time switching gears to prepare my brain for company. You know....that weird woman voice in your head that says, "your house is filty, gotta vaccuum, don't forget to clean the bathroom, light the candles, close all the bedroom doors, and whatever you do...DON'T cut yourself with your new Santoku knife!!" I don't know why we have to care about these things....men certainy don't.

I had to pull out a london broil that I wasn't ready to cook yet and I kinda burnt the ribs on the grill, but for the most part, it was all just fine. I watched this new show on Food Network...some Liebernman dude....had a really easy looking rib and sauce recipe so I gave it a try and it was NICE:) Bourbon is key in this sauce and it was a really good touch. I'll defintely do it again, only pay closer attention to them on the grill instead of messing around cleaning the house! Asian coleslaw, roasted sweet potato wedges, and grilled creole asparagus on the side. Paul and Les were both happy with it from what I could gather by the cleaned plates.

yawn

Sheri and I went for a really nice bike ride tonight, very light on effort up Foothill and onto Arastradero then back to Foothill. I was feeling a bit icky and cramp-ish so was not really into pushing Sheri past her limits like I normally do to be annoying:D

Dinner got going a little late by the time we were finished and I got home. I wasn't that hungry but needed meat and potatoes for comfort food. Tri tip and roasted potatoes was all I could muster.

completely unsupervised use of butter and oil

Sheri shared with me her secret recipe for garlic butter and I thought I had it memorized....but I was wrong...totally wrong! I overbuttered and overoiled and even oversalted. I thought I could never oversalt anything, but I did.
We were running low on all groceries, so I really just threw some shrimp and mushrooms into some butter and oil, boiled up some whole wheat noodles and tossed it all together with capers and Italian parsley.
I have made a more conscious effort to use more fat in my cooking for two reasons: a) more flavor, and b) your body needs fat to burn fat. There is proof in this because I have lost two pounds since introducing fat back into my diet. Score!

Kebobs or Kebabs? You decide

Keith was over for dinner tonight and I had a hankering for clam chowder bread bowls. It was so hard to open the can, pour the milk, and stir the pot! Needed something else so I threw some santa maria kebobs on the grill....or as Les would say...keBABS.

Hubby makes dinner!

Stuffed baked potatoes, stuffed baby portobello mushrooms and caesar salad. I was not in the best of moods and there is something about melted cheese that makes me happy:)

Soyrizo!!

I picked up something new at PW Market the other day. It was less like chorizo and more like crumbled and seasoned minced soy meat. It was tasty, I just wasn't able to do what I wanted with it which was to slice it lengthwise and eat it on it's own. As it turned out, I had to mix it into pasta and veggies. Nothing specatular.

My lack of motivation to train is bothering me a little bit. I have been doing pilates as much as I can, but I just don't get the same feeling from it as if I was riding my bike for 40 miles or swimming in the open water. I really have to get my ass up in the morning and just do it. Anyone know how to force yourself to become a morning person?

24 ends and marsala begins

We had Keith over for dinner tonight and to watch the season finale of 24. Just don't fcuk with Jack Bauer...mmmmmmkay? Yes, he got Marwan and the missile was destroyed before it could kill any LA folks...damn....we could always use less of anything that is LA.

Sheri gave me the recipe for chicken marsala and I am so incredibly proud of myself for how good it turned out. Keith and Les could probably eat dirt and be grateful for being fed, so neither of them are a good gauge of how yummy something is. I thought this was yummy:) I used shallots and mushrooms in the marsala reduction. I swear, I'm getting really good at this. Roasted fingerlings and broccoli accompanied the chicken nicely.

My mom bought me some lemon infused olive oil that I've been using a lot lately. It just gives everything a nice kick in the butt. That and kosher salt are my favorite things at the moment.

I was going to make a berry crisp like Sheri made us on Saturday, but the store had no blueberries! Can you believe that? So we had raspberry shortcakes instead.

Pork Tenderloin Revisited

It's been a while since we had some pork going on in this house, it's just not right...so I fixed that! I made a marinade of soy sauce, oj, shallot, honey, and ginger. It was really good. I messed up the pork though because of my bright idea to roast it in the oven with the fingerlings. It dried out...I totally knew better than that....there's not enough fat on it for roasting.

Les loves these potatoes as do I, I'm so glad Sheri brought them into our lives:) Served with asparagus (makes your pee smell sooooo bad, but it's yummy!)

Breakfast YAY!

The most imporatant meal of the day, I haven't ever really subscribed to that theory, but since I've started Winsor Pilates and following the meal plan, I have to say I feel better eating breakfast.

I am so absolutely okay with eating the same thing for breakfast everyday and since it's yummy, it's really even less of a problem! I poach an egg and mix it with plain yogurt and chives serve it over whole wheat toast and thinly sliced ham. Good stuff.

shopping day....must keep dinner simple

I have been so good lately I decided to reward myself with a pedicure. This was a 45 minute escape from reality and it was very very nice. I feel like more of a woman with my toes painted French:)

I picked up some pasta in the refrigerator section of the store. It was really good, cheese filled something-or-others...they looked like little sachets. Les loves ice cold cesar salads, so here it is:)

"Tonight's dinner is yummy, baby!"

I thought the hubby would like it, I know I did for sure! Stuffed and grilled pork chops, roasted fingerling potatoes, and marinated spinach salad. Yes, spinach is a staple in our house:)

I got the pork chop idea from "Good Eats" with Alton Brown. It calls for the chops to be brined in cider vinegar and brown sugar and a few other things. I didn't have time to soak them for 2 hours as suggested, but 45 minutes worked just fine. I stuffed them with finely chopped pine nuts and dried apricots, a sprinkle of parm cheese, sage, and spinach. Yum.

I loved the fingerling potatoes, it was the first time I used them. I'm a fan now, thanks Sheri:) I cut the olive oil in half for them and the thyme and sage still infused the potatoes perfectly.

I read Fine Cooking Mag!!

Thank you Sheri, for introducing me to the dark side. I've been eyeing up some of these recipes and have found a few that I can live with:D

You know I can't follow a recipe in its entirety, I always have to add my own thing. Last night I made sirloin steak over spinach and mushrooms and "mashed potatoes"...which was amazing...cauliflower, butter, and salt mashed together with some parmesean cheese! Served it with the obligatory cesar salad in a bag:P But you should be so proud...I really did it and it didn't even hurt putting the butter in!!

I love roast broccoli

Tonight was Foster Farms Garlic and Herb chicken roasted with broccoli and red onions. I absolutely love roasted veggies...we actually skipped the starch tonight and it's amazing how hungry I am right now. Methinks a snack is in order soon:)

World Famous Chicken Enchiladas

I think the picture says it all, Les really loves them...I don't think they're all that...but he sure does! He picked some chicken up with mexican marinade and I sauteed it with corn, cheese, green chiles, and enchilada sauce. Roll it all up on whole wheat tortillas and you've got enchiladas. I always make homeade pico de gallo to accompany it and that's my favorite part.

Yep...another 30 minute meal:D

I don't care what you two say about Rachael Ray...she is my hero on weekdays when I don't want to think about cooking. She takes the thinking out of it. I find myself drowning out her annoying giggles and incesant use of EVOO, and just watch the food. And tonight it looked real simple:)

Sweet pecan crusted chicken breast and bbq succotash. Les walked in as the show was on and he said, "I want that for dinner:)" So, off to the store I went. Dessert was mini mud "pies". I swear the woman in a genius! Starbucks Java Chip ice cream smashed in between two chocolate covered graham crackers....YES Please!!

Strawberry Shortcake

Les' parents were here from England for the past two weeks. We've been eating out for a while now! However, one night, I did make a chicken dish that was ordinary. Afterwards, we had strawberry shortcake. Although it's one of the most simple desserts, it's always a winner in my book:) Completely satisfying everytime. Lighter version made with angel food cake and light Cool Whip.

Steak and Chips

Day after the gruelling race...Wildflower! Man, I am so happy that's over with, now I can relax a bit for the next few months. I knew it was going to be tough, but it's a beast that is not to be tamed. It's totally mind over matter with that one. If you want to read a report or view the pics from it, go here ----> http://trisociety.com/msg.php?id=5850 and get all the details:)

So, what I was trying to say is that I wanted beef...must have been low on iron. Gave some sirloin steaks a heavy dose of spice rub, threw it in the grill pan and served it over some french bread with some curly fries. I love simplicity:)