What's For Dinner: Post-Cleanse!

Happy menu planning day!
This is the first week of not being on the cleanse... even though I wasn't super good towards the end.  I wasn't feeling too hot one day- which called for eating a bag of popcorn.  Not the worst comfort-food splurge I could do, but I still felt guilty.  I also broke my "no liquor" rule after a very long day of volunteering.  That gin and tonic was pretty delicious, though.
So, I'm adding in small amounts of dairy this week (should I do provolone or Swiss on my steak sammies?) and a bit of processed food. I'm also happy about the return of Costco chicken Sunday.  After two weeks of the cleanse I've been cooking A LOT.  I'm excited to have a break.  All the while, I will be eating and drinking with purpose- good food, intentional drink pairings (hello, margaritas!).


Saturday
Steak Sandwiches with Horseradish Sauce
Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Sunday
Costco Chicken Sunday!

Roasted Veggies
Monday
Kheema Spiced Ground Beef with avocado and tomato

Tuesday
Chicken Pho
Wednesday
Egg Foo Young  (Thanks, Kevin @ Closet Cooking!)
Thursday
Spiced Eggplant

Source: Bon Appetit 

Quinoia Salad (From the same recipe, replacing bulgur with quinoia to make it gluten-free)
Friday
Fish Tacos (I found gluten-free breaded fish!)

Black Bean and Corn Salad
Hungry Girl Margaritas

What are you excited to make this week?

What's For Dinner: Cleanse Part Two

Hi everyone!  I'm pretty shocked at how infrequently I post considering that whole lack-of-a-job thing.  But, I'm here, and I'm prepared to be honest in regards to how I'm doing on my "cleanse".

All the meals last week were pretty delicious.  I've decided that baby bok choy is one of my favorite new veggies (probably to my husband's dismay).  I have five of those cute little cabbages in my crisper.  The cider-glazed chicken breasts were delicious, as was the apple-fennel salad.  I had never had raw fennel before and was surprised at how well it went with the shallot-y dressing and the granny smith apple.  The pumpkin-shrimp curry was the star of last week's menus.  Previously, I had just dumped the can of pumpkin in and expected it to be magical.  This recipe had us cook the pumpkin for awhile with the onions.  Add in the coconut milk and it was a decadent experience.  We happily ate the leftovers.

Limiting my drinking to none-or-one was pretty good until Friday.  I had a stressful day and we decided to have a date night to unwind.  We had sushi (not inherently evil, but the white rice and some of the obviously mayo-based sauces made me feel guilty) and I enjoyed some sake.  I'm sure I was well over my one drink.  But, I did skip the delicious popcorn drenched in "butter".  Last night was just one of those situations where you find that one glass of white wine turns into two... turns into what I thought would be emptying the bottle for a half glass... it wasn't.  C'est la vie, right? Back on track...

My morning meals (I usually do two, one small bite before the gym, a bigger one after) usually revolved around hardboiled eggs (so easy!), kefir, and nonfat Greek yogurt.  I think I ate the cleanse recommended oatmeal just once- who has the time?  I passionately long for my morning coffee, but have been good- drinking green tea and chai roobios instead.

I have one more week of trying to remain in the "cleanse" spirit.  After that I will be rocking my New Year's resolution of "Eat and drink with purpose".

Here's my menu for the week:


Sunday
Moroccan-Style Lentil and Chickpea Soup with Lamb and Roasted Tomatoes, Caramelized Cumin-Roasted Carrots. (Straight from the cleanse.)
Monday
Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry, Brown Rice Pilaf, Salad with Miso-Lime Vinaigrette
Tuesday
Leftovers
Wednesday
Sake-braised clams with Baby Bok Choy, Soba Noodles (Hopefully a celebration meal from a successful interview!)
Thursday
Greek Chicken Kabobs with Mushrooms, Zucchini, and Tomatoes, Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette
Friday
Sirloin Steak, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Happy eating, everyone!

Gluten-Free Thanksgiving Menu

I'm back from my trip to Spokane and trying to get back into the swing of things.  I'll post full updates soon, I just wanted to brag about my great Gluten-Free Thanksgiving I have lined up!
I'm excited for Thanksgiving this year- as I always am- because big meals are always a challenge to make.  It gives me a chance to honor the traditions of my family and try new things with my new family.

Starters

Seafood-Stuffed Mushrooms (nothing new here)

Olives- a family tradition.  During my trip all of my sibs were together in one place for dinner before I left.  We ate three cans of olives.

Salad

Candied Walnut, Pear, and Leafy Greens with White Balsamic Vinaigrette- we've eaten this before (not for turkey day) and it was a wonderful fall salad.

Main Meal

Cider-Brined Turkey with Star Anise and Cinnamon- normally I just rock a soy sauce mixture.

Wild Rice, Fruit, and Pecan Stuffing- to replace my StoveTop.  Yes, StoveTop isn't gourmet, but it's just like Mama used to make (but we both added freshly sauteed carrots, celery, and onions).  But, as the Eat This, Not That people reminded me, they are basically soggy, fattening croutons.  And gluten-y, of course.

Orange-Brandied Sweet Potatoes- about the same as Mama used to make, but with some additions.

Gluten-Free Baguette (thanks, Whole Foods!)... Kevin may get lucky and get some rolls from his mum.

Pomegranate Glazed Carrots

Mashed Taters

Dessert

The Wonderful and Talented Gluten-Free Goddess has this recipe for a vegan pumpkin pie with a coconut-pecan crust.  Now, I figure it would be just as delicious if I put some dairy, eggy deliciousness in the crust.  Hopefully Karina won't track me down.  

Gluten-Free Goddess

Whiskey-Spiked Whipped Cream

There was almost going to be a second dessert... I'm still keeping it as a possibility if we get a couple more guests.  Frozen maple-mousse pie with candied cranberries.   *swoon*

Drinks

Wassail or Mulled Wine(for while I'm cooking in the morning)

Pinot Noir- for our turkey pairing pleasure.

Sparkling Cider- because just because you're old enough for wine doesn't mean you don't want cider.

I also have some ideas for leftovers that will hopefully cure me of my leftover- turkey hatred... including a curry and some sammiches.

What dietary restrictions are coming to shake up your Thanksgiving celebration?  What traditions will never change?

Wfdw short week!

Here's the plan for this short week, although I have to do some rearranging- today is National Taco day! I hope you're all celebrating! And, of course, all this deliciousness is sans wheat.

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Wfd? Cooking healthy!

As always! I think next week I will go gluten free. This week only has gluten in the chicken fingers and the barley pilaf. And, of course, the labor day bbq will be tricky.

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Wfd- meant to post this yesterday!

I'm not doing great with posting. My work has been hectic thanks to being gone for a week, and then I spent most of yesterday de-stressing. I'll be better. Promise.

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WFD weekend post- Date night tonight!

Behold the deliciousness planned for this evening. We're planning to add a nice horseradish sauce to the steak as well. And wine. And 10 Things I Hate About You.

It's going to be a great date.

There's deliciousness planned for the rest of this week too.  I've had a mean craving for some Noodle Express, a restaurant that I'm pretty sure only exists in the Inland Northwest.  Whatever their sauce is has been haunting my dreams lately, smothered all over some noodles with lots of veggies.  Yes, I may be going to Spokane in just a week, but for some reason I have to have it now.  Or, rather, tomorrow.  I think that's soon enough, but tonight I'm sure there will be some chicken osaka or a shrimp bowl behind my eyelids.

The chipotle pesto pasta is also a treat, and it will be getting rid of some leftover cotijia cheese.  The trout is a new recipe, I'm quite stoked to try it.  You can garnish it with cotijia as well.  Nom nom nom. Trout's one of my favorites, I'm excited about a new way to prepare it.

Friday is take-out for fewer dishes and travel prep.  My bestie, Cassie, will be coming for the night.  Then, first thing in the morning, we're all piling into my social work-mobile to go back to our hometown.  It will be a packed car- Spartacus should be excited for a backseat passenger to sit next to.

Before I sign out for the evening, here's a little treat for everyone:

Such a loss from the eye candy community... and a damn fine actor to boot.

Happy Saturday!

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Wfd? Happy Meatless Monday!

Hey everyone! Here's a little bitty post to tide you over. I saw that dermatologist today and got two bigger hunks taken out of me. I just haven't felt so hot today... I'm glad that dinner tonight involves spreading cheese on a pita.

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WFD? Weekend post

Lots of yummy choices for this week. I'm especially excited for the lentil stew! And, let's note that we're off to San Diego on Thursday! Woot!

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