a tasty snack

I tend to eat a lot on sundays. and not just in one sitting. there's something about a salty treat after waking up from a fabulous nap to get you going again. today, I decided on toasted garbanzo beans with red pepper, lime and garlic. here's how it comes together:

1 can garbanzo beans
1-2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
crushed red pepper flake
zest of a lime
1-2 tsp cumin
salt
pepper

1. rinse, drain and dry beans. [if you add them to the pan wet, they don't get as toasty]
2. heat olive oil over med-low to med heat.
3. add minced garlic and red pepper flake. [cook this slowly to release flavor without burning]
4. after 2-3 minutes add lime zest.
5. once the garlic is soft, toss beans in and combine. season with cumin, salt and pepper.
6. toast until desired done-ness [I like a mix of still soft and totally crunchy]

couldn't be easier, and it's a high fiber snack!

cook's notes: these can be flavored any way you like, but the pepper, garlic, lime and cumin really pop.

I'm back! hopefully...

so it's been awhile since my last post. I'd like to say I was doing something constructive, but mainly I've been super busy with life. I have a million posts in the works, but I thought I'd take this time to discuss waste not, want not.

I'm not the perfect homemaker - as evidenced by the current state of my home. however, I think I have the process of stocking the kitchen down to an art. unless you count being unable to keep enough hot pockets and frozen pizzas to please the boyfriend. I fail miserably at that.

anywho.

here are the steps I take to make sure I don't waste my time and money at the grocery store:

the day before:

1. review this week's local grocery store ads. if you have to shop at walmart (like myself), at least take advantage of their price matching. I especially use this when soda goes on sale at other stores. I really should invest in the dr. pepper brand because of how much we drink. price match has saved me many dollars.
2. inventory what you currently have. I know it sounds silly, but I like to keep a running list of what's in my freezer, fridge and pantry. and yes, I write it down. it helps when planning meals for the week and prevents pantry overload.
3. think about certain meals you want to make for the next week or two. what do you need to make those meals? what do you already have? start making your grocery list.
4. once you have dinners squared away (I like to think of the protein I want to use and build out from there), think about what you want for breakfast and lunch. continue writing your list.
5. quickly check the trash bags, storage bags, dish and laundry needs, and the bathrooms. write down anything you will run out of in the next week or two. add to the list.

dooms day

1. go to store. stand in line. shoot murderous daggers out of your eyes at everyone around you. [I don't know why I loathe going to the grocery store so much. but I always hate my life while I'm there.]
2. I like to know how much I'm spending along the way, so I keep a running total while I shop. if you like surprises, skip this step.

the day after

1. I usually shove everything in their respective places when I get home. the only item I properly put away is parsley. I take it out of the produce bag, trim the stems and place the bunch in water. but fresh herbs turn quickly. and that's the only reason why I'm not completely lazy after getting home from the store.
2. the next day, break down any large packs of meat you bought. I portion my ground beef, cube steaks, chicken breasts, etc. anything I'm not using the day of goes in the freezer.
3. I clean my produce and let it dry. then I put it where it should go.
4. pantry organization is next. [note: I first typed "panty organization". for those of you that know me well know that is another topic I could write about. but perhaps not on my food blog] just group like things together. tomato sauce, paste and other tomato products all go together. canned beans, boxed things, rice, pasta, blah blah blah. you get the picture.

I know this sounds like a hassle, but when you only buy things for the meals you intend to make you waste less food. if you're feeling extra organized, plan meals that can be rolled over into another meal. you save even more time and money!

I promise to post recipes again soon. this was just the easy way to get back in the groove.

scrambler

ohmygoodness. I just made the best scrambled eggs.

1 tbsp butter
2 eggs
1/4 cup shelled edamame
2 tbsp cream cheese, cubed
salt and pepper

1. melt butter over med-low heat
2. add edamame and cook for a minute or two
3. scramble eggs in a bowl, add to pan
4. stir when eggs start to set
5. add cubes of cream cheese, salt and pepper
6. remove from heat when eggs are done to your preference

seriously, these were so good. if my mom hadn't hammered into my head that more than 2 eggs per day were bad for me, I would have scrambled one more.

mother's day brunch

I have the best mom! and she doesn't even read this blog, so it's not like I'm sucking up :) for mother's day this year...or rather the day before mother's day...I made her a fabulous brunch. I had to slightly alter my menu because my local market stopped carrying puff pastry for the ham and cheese pockets, but they turned out delish anyway.

**ham and cheese pastries**

ham
swiss cheese
dijon mustard
packed croissants

1. preheat oven according to package directions.
2. unroll 4 croissants on a baking sheet.
3. spread mustard on bottom.
4. add desired amount of ham and cheese.
5. top with another croissant.
6. bake until done.

ohmygosh ya'll. these were so tasty. and so easy.

**yogurt and granola parfait**

vanilla yogurt
granola [or "just bunches" from honey bunches of oats works too if you don't want melody to call you "granola"]
frozen mixed berries
sugar
water
mint for decoration

1. heat frozen berries over medium low heat.
2. add a sprinkle of sugar and a dash of water.
3. boil for 5 minutes.
4. turn off and let cool.
5. once berries are cool, layer with yogurt and granola in pretty glasses.
6. garnish with a sprig of mint.

super duper easy, and also tasty. come on guys, you can totally pull this off!

**spinach and orange salad**

baby spinach
orange segments
cucumber, peeled and chopped
pine nuts, toasted
parmesan cheese
dressing:
1/2 cup light oil
1/4 cup orange juice
2 tbsp cider vinegar
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

1. mix dressing together.
2. assemble remaining ingredients and mix.

mmm...this was so refreshing on the plate next to the ham and cheese pastries.

**"mimosa"**

orange juice
sparkling water

1. mix and enjoy.

usually I would add sparkling wine to this, but my mom doesn't drink. but feel free to "kick it up".

cook's notes: after eating this meal, my mom declared that she wanted to open a bed and breakfast. and my dad pointed out that she'd have to pay me for my services. I think the idea was immediately less appealing.

this really came together as a meal. maybe I will open a B and B some day.

music and meatballs

yesterday was stressful. after walking the dog in the much-needed sunshine, it was time to cook dinner. music always lifts my mood, so I blasted my library on random and let the universe decide what I would be dancing to in the kitchen.

I opened my freezer full of meat [thank you reasor's meat sale], and after a minute of deciding between chicken, beef and pork I settled on meatballs stuffed with cheese. I had leftover tomato sauce, and I hate to let things go to waste.

except the tomato sauce was moldy.

but I didn't know it until the meatballs were browning. [oh no!! SAUCE EMERGENCY!!! what will I make my sauce out of?] luckily I made some chicken stock the other day, and I had a random can of tomato paste. turns out if you whisk those together and add some basil and garlic, you have instant tomato sauce!

1 pound ground beef
1 egg
1 handful of breadcrumbs [start with less and add more if the mixture is too wet]
a smattering of seasonings. use what you like in your meatballs. I used:

• red pepper flake
• chopped garlic
• chopped parsley
• worcestershire sauce
• onion powder
• italian seasoning
• salt and pepper
• parmesan cheese

combine above ingredients together. you'll also need:

4 cubes of mozzarella
tomato sauce
olive oil
parsley
more parmesan

1. divide meat mixture into four sections.
2. stuff each meatball with mozzarella.
3. pack together tightly to keep it from falling apart.
4. brown over medium heat on all sides.
5. remove.
6. add tomato sauce. [if there is a lot of fat in the pan, soak it up with a paper towel and discard]
7. simmer until reduced a little.
8. add meatballs back in.
9. stir every now and then until the meatballs are done.
10. add parsley.
11. sprinkle with more parmesan.

cook's note: no pasta necessary! although a hearty helping of cheese and butter spaghetti wouldn't hurt... we just ate ours with crusty bread.

buffalo chicken casserole

I love buffalo sauce. like, really love it. so when I had a bunch of leftover roasted chicken I decided to make some sort of cheesy chicken casserole with buffalo as the sauce.

are you drooling? I was. just a little.

2 cups cooked chicken
1 cup pasta, cooked and drained
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp frank's red hot [seriously, don't try this with any other hot sauce. frank's is the only way to go]
1 cup cubed mozzarella
1 cup cooked broccoli [optional]
parmesan cheese for the top
salt and pepper
ranch dressing

1. preheat oven to 350.
2. melt butter over low heat.
3. stir in frank's red hot until it is combined.
4. add a pinch of salt.
5. mix all ingredients together.
6. season well with salt and pepper.
7. pour into baking dish.
8. top with parmesan.
9. bake for 20 - 25 minutes.
10. drizzle portions with ranch dressing.

cook's note: I cannot emphasize enough how DELICIOUSLY TASTY this was. and the leftovers? they totally rock. the broccoli is only optional because the boyfriend stated he would prefer it without the "green stuff". but I have a hard time calling anything dinner without something green on the plate [thanks mom!]

I actually roasted a chicken last night

but that's not the focus of this post. I was at a loss of what to make for the side dishes, and I finally settled on broccoli with cheese sauce and modified ramen noodles. the noodles surpassed my expectations.

1 package ramen noodles, flavor packet discarded
1 green onion, sliced on an angle
olive oil
drippings from roast chicken
salt and pepper

1. cook noodles
2. put 1 tsp of olive oil in pan
3. cook green onion briefly
4. add noodles
5. add drippings
6. combine and season to taste

when the boyfriend went to dish the noodles, he asked "what is this, oil or butter?" it was SO shiny with flavor! and then he eat 3/4 of the package. and shot me dirty looks for eating any of it.

but seriously I'm going to die of heart failure with all the "flavor" I eat.