March Madness

Posted on March 20, 2011 by chatty

It is madness! I did dinner duty on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Here is Saturday:

Lots of basketball-watching these last few days. The husband and I are rooting for the Huskies … both Washington and Connecticut! Last night I decided to make Brinner (breakfast for dinner), to be well-fed before for the Connecticut game (on the West Coast it was on around 6:30 pm, great timing).

I tried a new Buckwheat pancake mix, as Buckwheat is allowed on SB. Our standard “Heart Healthy” Bisquick Mix, while probably not terrible, isn’t on the SB list. The pancakes were interesting, but definitely needed a topping to be worthwhile, we all agreed. Especially Lily, who prefers a little pancake with her maple syrup. You can see a line of syrup across my pancake. I also used a little Brummel & Brown yogurt spread for taste.

Chicken sausage and a vegetable fritatta completed the meal. A little too much spinach on the frittata, and not enough cheese.

By now you know, too. The Huskies won… and the Huskies lost. What a weekend!

Sunday Night Dinners, continued

Posted on March 14, 2011 by chatty

I’m getting pretty good at this routine. Tonight I cooked my first steak, ever, that I can recall. Lots of guidance from the husband. Marinated top sirloin with some red wine and soy sauce (suggestion courtesy of The South Beach Diet Cookbook that I recently purchased). My one mistake: I forgot to season the darn thing before throwing it under the broiler. Oopsy. Oh well. You live and learn. And you still make a nice steak salad.

The previous night, the husband and I watched “Brunch @ Bobby’s” on the Cooking Channel, where our buddy Bobby Flay was making a traditional Irish breakfast. He sauteed these delicious-looking mushrooms so I had the urge to do the same.

His look better than mine. I guess that’s why they pay him the big bucks. Still tasted pretty good, though.

Monday Night Dinner

Posted on March 10, 2011 by chatty

I took the day off work because the husband had a few doc appointments to attend to. Since we weren’t sure when he would make it home I did dinner again, too. This recipe, Turkey Meatballs, closely resembles the chili I just made, only with Italian seasonings instead of chili powders. Sneaky! The babe ate it up, which is all I could hope for.

We had steamed broccoli and a salad on the side.

Sunday Night Dinners

Posted on March 7, 2011 by chatty

Sunday has become my night to cook. The husband has asked for at least a day off from cooking and at last I’ve gotten into the rhythm of a Sunday night meal. It gives us an opportunity to get out of the same-old routine. It also helps that I started the South Beach Diet approximately 2 weeks ago, so I’m all about looking for menus that have no grains, breads, sugars, etc as part of the meal.

Last week it was white bean turkey chili. Really tasty though I overdid it with the cinnamon and cocoa powder (was surprised that the recipe called for both, but they contributed to the flavor in great ways.)

Leftovers lasted for the next couple of days at work, which as also nice.

Tonight it was a great vegetable frittata that turned out really well. Smooth plating, set really well. A great alternative to our usual quiche and very SBD friendly. Best part of it was watching Lily eat it with one hand, like it was a candy bar (mmmm….candy bar)

Anyway, started up on SB because I’ve had these nagging last few pounds to lose since the baby. And yes, the “baby” is a toddler. She’s two. I’ve resisted going on SB because I really love bread and I really really really love sweets. I think in February I overdid it, though. What with the Valentine’s Day candy and the sweets at the office becoming a norm and not a special treat; and discovering caramel syrup in my lattes… definitely overboard. So on one Thursday (Feb 24 to be exact), I decided to take the plunge. On Saturday I headed to SB-land. On the Friday in between I got the email from my sis that my delivery of Girl Scout Cookies were in the mail. Argh!

I haven’t had a cookie yet, though a box of Samoas await me in the freezer. I’ve watched the husband and the daughter make their way through a box of Tagalongs and Thin Mints. I salivate at the thought. But when the time is right I’ll have my cookie and eat it, too. For now, I have to be honest. I get true enjoyment from watching the toddler have a cookie. (or as she sometimes calles it “kee-coo”. can’t get those syllables right all the time).

BTW, in Phase 1 of SB I lost those last stubborn pounds and then some. On to Phase 2!

Crush

Posted on August 2, 2010 by chatty

Dinner at Crush. This was a few months ago. Thanks to Pooja K. for bringing her camera. This was a decadent dinner that I shared with work folks. We may not agree on movies or music but you can bet we agree that there is some seriously good food around town.

Cave Aged Gruyere Cheese Gougeres

Seared Sea Scallops, Black Currants, Cauliflower & Vaudauvan Broth

Anderson Valley Lamb Saddle, Herbed Potato Gnocchi, Artichokes, Olive, Mint & Syrah Sauce

Pistachio Sable

Of course the photos don’t do the dinner justice. The flash makes everything a little less impressive, but still one of the amazing meals of the year for me.

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted on November 26, 2009 by chatty

Thank you, friends and family for being so friendly and family-ish.

And, thank you, Internet, for existing so I can tell the world how much my family and friends rock.

Happy Turkey.

Happy. Turkey.

A belated birthday post

Posted on August 30, 2009 by chatty

Found some pics from a little bit ago that I never posted. The husband’s birthday was a few weeks ago. I’ve mentioned several times the birthday pie tradition. So, it’s no surprise that we had banana cream pie in the fridge for a couple of days. Embarrassingly enough it was gone in record time, but not because of me. I had to quickly sneak a slice or two before the husband finished it off (and rightly so … it was his birthday, after all).

As the husband takes care of the babe during the work week, he’s gently requested that he have dinners off on the weekends. Fair enough. He already had plans for lamb chops on his birthday, though, so I was assigned to fix up some sides. A little random, but I cooked some wild rice, made a caprese salad and then cleaned out the fridge by making orange-glazed baby carrots. Not super-exciting, but a reasonably healthy meal, which was necessary considering the aforementioned BCP.

Lamb chop with wild rice and orange-glazed carrots

Caprese Salad. You just can't beat fresh, handmade mozzarella. The basil is from the U District Farmer's Market.

Sorry, no pic of the pie available. You can always review last year’s.

Good Burger

Posted on June 13, 2009 by chatty

One final food post before I turn in for the night.

The husband makes a good burger. While the Le Crueset stovetop grill we have does a great job, it wasn’t always consistent. A few weeks ago he decided to try broiling the burgers for a change of pace. On the middle rack for 5 or 7 minutes, then top rack for a few minutes. This turned out to be the best burger I had had in a long time. I was so excited about it. The next morning I was still raving about his burger. The husband was pretty pleased with it, too. Sadly, I didn’t take a picture because I did not realize I was going to be in Hamburger Heaven.

So, today as we passed by Kidd Valley on our way home, my burger-reflex was triggered and I suggested we have burgers for dinner tonight. The husband was more than happy to oblige.

I forgot to take a pic the last time, so here it is the second time around.

Mmmm ... burger ...

We like it simple. A little cheddar cheese melted on a toasted ciabatta roll. Mine had ketchup and mayo. His had ketchup, mayo and relish. We ate them outside on our deck with a side of potato salad. Summer doesn’t get much better than this.

Christmas … 2 days later

Posted on December 28, 2008 by chatty

So, we didn’t make it to Christmas dinner on Christmas day. Lousy weather, bad road conditions, and a trip up to the Sammamish Plateau was quite unappealing. Ditto for Christmas Eve. So yesterday we combined the two events into one and headed to Claire’s for presents and dinner.

But first, our Christmas, on Christmas Day.

Christmas Day with Max

He’s quite good at opening gifts. In fact, he was snooping around this gift (he sniffed it out) a few days early so I had to hide it until Christmas morning. Max. He is so tricky.

Dinner at Claire’s was excellent: Prime rib, potatoes, creamy pearl onions, creamed spinach, and a family tradition of Yorkshire Pudding. I had never had Yorkshire Pudding until I met the husband and his family. Yorkshire pudding, especially, the family recipe, is such a treat. Granted, there were a LOT of things I’d never heard of or tried before I met the husband and his family. It’s just what happens with families meld, isn’t it? I am fairly certain the husband had never heard of or seen a thousand-year-old egg before he met me. So, it goes back and forth.

Christmas dinner

The chef of the evening revealed that the recipes from the evening’s dinner came straight from Tyler Florence of all places. For dessert, Claire made a french treat, called something I can’t remember. Cafluti? Sweetened cherries surrounded by an egg custard. Very tasty, but no pic, sorry. I brought along lemon bars to share. And, as I’ve done quite a bit of baking this past week (what else are you going to do when you’re stuck at home), I made a point to leave them there. Before packing them up I taste-tested one of them. Pretty good. I should do these more often.

Lemon bars

Of course, we didn’t go home empty-handed. In addition to the generous gifts we received from the in-laws, the mother-in-law also sent us home with a tiered-plate of Christmas cookies (tea cakes, shortbreads, bourbon balls, jam thumbprints, sugar cookies, oh my); plus what she calls “nuts and bolts” but what I’ve always known as Chex Mix. Tasty.

And I’m sure my doctor will wonder how it is possible for one person to gain 20 pounds in one week. I should just refer her to chattycha.com.

Gobble, gobbled

Posted on November 28, 2008 by chatty

Another Thanksgiving come and gone! I asked the husband if he wanted to watch any Christmas movies today. He says we need to allow Thanksgiving to have its time in the limelight. I said it did … yesterday. He insists it needs the full weekend. So, no Rudolph or Frosty just yet. But, I bet before I return to work on Monday we will have our awesome fake Christmas tree out of storage. Happy Egg Nog.

Thanksgiving was at the in-laws last night. The lighting wasn’t very good in the dining room, so I apologize that the pics are sorta dismal. The highlights: a brined turkey. Incredibly juicy! The husband carved and was amazed at how pieces of turkey just fell out. Green bean casserole! What a great tradition. Stuffing! With water chestnuts and chicken liver. Yum. Oh so good.

thanksgiving plate

juiciest. turkey. ever.

green bean casserole

stuffing

Did I mention, the mother-in-law surprised us with a delicious chocolate pecan pie? Yum. The husband really loved it. I was glad we got to take some home.

chocolate pecan pie via chattycha on flickr

MILs Chocolate Pecan Pie

And, I brought along the Bourbon Pumpkin Cheesecake.

Bourbon Pumpkin Cheesecake (the 2008 version)

I used a mix of reduced fat cream cheese and whole cream cheese, and for the topping I also combined low-fat sour cream with regular sour cream. If I can remember, for next year, I may do like the MIL, and try a new recipe. I’m not really a cheesecake eater, and this tends to be the only time of the year I will eat (let along bake) cheesecake. So, I’ll have to decide if I’m willing to give that up!

BTW, the cheesecake recipe is courtesy of Gourmet Magazine, on Epicurious.com

Chatty Cha

dessert first

Category Archives: dinner