rabaja's Profile
What's for Dinner #144 [old]
A full weekend of cooking and eating, along with lots of gardening and bike riding. I finally got around to buying a bike, after thinking about it for the last two years. The road bike was too intimidating, but I'm loving my hybrid, and very excited by the prospect of increased meals that go along with increased exercise.
Friday night we had market steaks from a local farm. I don't remember seeing this cut before, but they grilled up really nicely, and had some good fat like a ribeye, but with a much lower price tag.
Saturday we went crazy in Berkeley at the Bowl and Monterey Fish. Ended up making soft shell crabs, dredged in buttermilk and fried, over butter lettuce, tomato and avocado salad with a nice blue dressing. And no, we didn't stop there. Clams and mussels were steamed in a mixture of green garlic, pancetta and white wine. They were great, but I could barely out a dent in them after our salad. The penne pasta with zucchini, tomatoes, mushroom and cream leftover from the night before didn't go, but we ate it up anyway.
Last night we went simple. Double thick, bone in pork chops on the grill, corn on the cob(yes, it's getting better!), asparagus and a tomato and basil salad.
Gently reheated the mussels and clams as an appetizer with our "Gee, we miss Hawaii" cocktail.
What's for Dinner #143 [OLD]
That sounds so good MC. Love chicken in lettuce cups! May try to make this later this week, which I've never done. I always order it though. Thai Chi in SF makes a great minced chicken dish with little soy beans and those crunchy noodles added. Perfect summer food, I think.
Tricks you figured out in the kitchen and thought 'good one'!!!
I do the same thing with a bowl and a compostable bag. Makes clean up so much easier and we can put our compost in the green bin with our garden trimmings. It's amazing how quickly we fill it up, but I feel better knowing its getting made into compost and it's easy enough to walk it out to the driveway.
I know garbage service/rules vary depending on where you are, so this may not work for everyone.
What's for Dinner #143 [OLD]
I think around 375-400F, iirc. I'll make some when I get some blossoms and let you know.
What's for Dinner #143 [OLD]
Both if these are totally calling to me, in a wonderful, on the sofa in soft pants kind of way.
What's for Dinner #143 [OLD]
I love squash blossoms too, but don't expect to see any for another month or so, and then hopefully in my own garden, since we are finally in a place with lots of direct sun!
One way to cook them without frying is to stuff them with herbed cheese, whatever you fancy, then drizzle them with olive oil and stick them into a hot oven until they get a bit crispy. Let them sit a minute and halve or quarter and sprinkle with some nice salt. This is a great horse devour , but lighter fare than your average stuffed blossom. -don't get me wrong, I LOVE the fried ones, but the roasted ones work better with my bikini.
WEIGHT WATCHER FOODIES - WHAT ARE YOU COOKING? PART 6
I love cauliflower roasted like that. Especially with a little espellette and some whole coriander seeds. May have to make this tonight to go with the enormous bone-in rib eye we are sharing. Thanks for the reminder!
WEIGHT WATCHER FOODIES - WHAT ARE YOU COOKING? PART 6
I just baked a loaf of banana bread from a Skinny Taste recipe I found on-line. It's actually a recipe for peanut butter banana muffins, but I used a loaf pan and crunchy soy nut butter.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/07/low-fat-peanut-butter-banana-muffins.html
The loaf is still warm, but I just ate a slice (one 9" loaf, sliced into 12 portions, so I can say a slice is 4 points, like the muffins would be) and it's pretty damn satisfying.
I had very ripe bananas and bartlett pears to use up, so I made pear sauce to sub in for the applesauce called for. It seems to have kept things moist, and the crumb is still nice, not too heavy either.
It calls for 1 ounce of butter and two egg whites, so it could have been leaden and dry, but I rather like it. I think it will make a nice breakfast/snack. I'm trying to get the Hubs off his daily Clif Bar for breakfast, and I think a slice or two of this should tempt him.
The crunchy soy nut butter worked nicely, gives some good texture, although peanut butter would have been good. I just never seem to have any on hand.
What's for Dinner #142 [old]
Congratulations! What a nice meal to celebrate with. I especially like your before and afters!
What's for Dinner #142 [old]
Yes, but she doesn't count the martinis points!
For what it's worth, I never stopped my weekend martini when I started trying to lose some weight. You just need to move it, move it more -which I believe you already do.
What's for Dinner #142 [old]
that's adorable. I've gotten those LC deals at TJMaxx/Ross. Total score!!!
What's for Dinner #142 [old]
I had no idea it was such a simple process. We've been sitting on a ton of mustard seeds at work, so I will definitely be giving this a whirl. Thanks!
What's for Dinner #142 [old]
Tonight we are grilling some pork chops. I found some beauties at Bi-Rite in the city. From a small farm in Vacaville (Wolfe farm, usually something I only see on menus around here), with a wild boar strain in the pig, which I found intriguing. I know this farmer raises beautiful quail, so I had to try his pork, especially as it was a lot cheaper than the other cuts in the case. I think it's something new from this producer and maybe has very little market as of yet, hence the price.
To go with, asparagus sautéed with green garlic and...something, not sure what.
We are on a tight budget for the month, after wooping it up on holiday, so something on sale or maybe even homemade cornbread. That's thrifty, right?
Thank goodness the bar is stocked.
What's for Dinner #142 [old]
I have to remember this. It all sounds so good!
Care to share how you make your mustard, scubadoo97?
WEIGHT WATCHER FOODIES - WHAT ARE YOU COOKING? PART 6
Hmmm, not much help to you here, maybe someone else will answer.
I usually measure out 1 1/4 cups of red, and enjoy it during the course of an evening, if I'm being good. Other times, I let the Hubs just pour me a glass and don't give it much thought.
10 oz of red is 8 points, IIRC. I did this through most of last year and had good success losing one to two lbs. per week. I do exercise 4-5 times per week as well.
On weekends, when we have cocktails, I throw caution to the wind. Mariacarmen told me last year she never counts alcohol, so I just don't worry too much. I eat most of my calories, so a drink here or there shouldn't pack all of the weight back on.
If I couldn't have my daily wine and the occasional drink out/weekend cocktail, I probably wouldn't love the program so much, but I can, and so I do!
What's for Dinner #142 [old]
That pyrex casserole dish is a worthy distraction. Crossing my fingers for the lime green, too.
What's for Dinner #142 [old]
this sounds so darn good! I just soaked chickpeas last night, have carrots on hand and chicken breast too. Thanks!
What's for Dinner #142 [old]
Thanks to all of you, what a fabulous welcome back!!!
We are blissful, so there's that, and yes, we get to have fun cooking together as well. He even encourages my photo taking at dinner time (if only I could get them to post again...).
Love you guys! Thanks for putting more smiles on my face!
What's for Dinner #142 [old]
Back to reality this week, and it was a bit of a toughie. Where are my island breezes, sun ripened pineapple and freshly caught Ahi? Right, not here in San Anselmo, CA...
Anyway, in many ways it is good to be back. We are happy, healthy and the cats are glad to be back to their routine. Us, not so much. It was a glorious eight days in Hawaii and we could have stayed twice as long happily, but at least the tequila in these parts is the same (and cheaper).
Cooking for real again tonight. Lamb chops, roasted Kabocha squash and roasted cauliflower. I may steal Weezy's idea with the bacon from the last thread, although I think we only have pancetta on hand. A pork product is sure to make it better, and the pine nuts too, if I can find some in the freezer.
Tomorrow we hope to grill in what is promising to be warmer weather. Maybe I'll throw on my bikini and some IZ, squint my eyes at the sun and pretend we're back on vacation.
WEIGHT WATCHER FOODIES - WHAT ARE YOU COOKING? PART 6
welcome amyp! That's a very good loss! I joined WW in March of '11. Down 28 lbs and now I just play with five or six pounds. I'm about to get serious again though.
Good to have you here!
WEIGHT WATCHER FOODIES - WHAT ARE YOU COOKING? PART 6
I love that you wrote that. Sometimes you really do just have to relax and enjoy a good meal, like regular people!
Last weekend I left dinner up to the Hubs. He came home with ground chuck, buns and all the fixings for hamburgers, bless him. The buns he chose were 10 points. 10 points! That's more than my daily wine allocation. Anyway, I scooped mine a little and then said screw it, this is going to be one damn good burger. And with the extra avocado, it sure was :)
What's For Dinner? #141 [OLD]
yes, back already, it flew by.
And yes, check and check, married and honeymooned!
Our meals have been a little scattered and ho-hum since re-entry, although tonights lamb chops should really change that!
I missed you all, and it's been fun reading all the good meals you've been enjoying, and good times planned. LindaW and GretchenS out canoodling with Harters and his woman...who'da thunk it?!
Favorite unusual toppings for vanilla ice cream?
We did, thanks again!
It was so quick and easy, and a delicious treat. I should have cooked the fresh pineapple a little longer in the brown sugar, as it was still a little firm for me, so I can totally see how canned pineapple would work well. Perfect way to enjoy the last of our honeymoon pineapple, thank you!
What's For Dinner? #141 [OLD]
So sorry, Barbara. It's so hard when it catches you off guard like that. Lots of warm thoughts your way, and remember the great life you gave your kitty!
'nduja in SEA
Boccalone in SF makes it, and has mail order. I've had theirs, it's tasty.
http://www.boccalone.com/products/Nduja.html
eta: sorry, I know it's not local to you. Have you tried Salumi?
Favorite unusual toppings for vanilla ice cream?
I still have two cups of pineapple in the fridge that we brought back from Kona last week. I am totally surprising my new husband with this dessert tonight. Thank you!
Could your/ IS your significant other a picky eater?
does anyone go to culinary school for a well-paying, cushy job?
Joke would be on them...
WEIGHT WATCHER FOODIES - WHAT ARE YOU COOKING? PART 6
I love to pack the light baby bels that come wrapped in wax in my carry-on bag for any kind of travel. They are just fine out of the fridge for 20 hours or so, and with a serving of Kashi 7 grain crackers, a perfect snack to have on hand. I don't know how many times this simple snack has saved me from caving in to a craving. The cheese is only 1 point!
