Category Cuisine and Beverages

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Changing routine,saying No, struggling to make tasteful breakfast: Adventures in the home kitchen, Lent Day 4

Anna--The Adventurer 2 Comments

This morning, about 90 minutes ago, I struggled big time. My co-worker, in efforts to be super sweet and nice, offered me a McDonald’s breakfast sandwhich when she came into work. The sandwhich smelled wonderful; I really wanted to say yes and gobble it down with delight.

I politely declined, despite my tummy rumbling, my mouthing salvating with the warm aromas wafting from the paper wrapped food.. She asked if I didn’t care for McDonalds, I told her, no, I absolutely love McDonald’s breakfast sandwhichs but I am giving up fast food for Lent.Her face turned quizical in expression and I gave the brief description that Lent is the 40 days before Easter and many Catholics and Protestants give up something during this period as part of their faith and journey. I wasn’t expecting this struggle this morning at all.

While on my way to my job, I do pass several fast food chains to and from work. In the past, even recently, especially on the days I go to the Rec center to swim, I often imbibed and picked up a breakfast at one of the fast food chains;it makes things easier and tasty for me before I hit the lanes for laps. I can eat in my car (likely not a good habit to have anyway) and then realizse, as I evaluate my bank account weekly, just how much I am/was spending on fast food-especially lately as I have become passive, lazy about making breakfast for myself. But when does easy and convienent become a lifestyle? Why is this passively okay for when it’s not really okay as a norm? These are the questions I ask myself-and many more.

One lingering question, just a few days into Lent, is how do I make/cook more interesting food for myself? There are times, when I do need a quick meal, and I am learning that I need, at times, to practice better time management since I am eating solely homecooked meals at this point-with the exception of when I get invited to a family or friends house for dinner (or the like.) I didn’t anticipate that the struggle would also be with getting tired of my usual routine meals and recipes, especially so quickly.

While I did make myself breakfast (seen below), and while it settles down, I wonder, what easy meals can I make myself on short notice or with some prep work that are tasty and contian easily found ingredients? Please, do comment and share if you have ideas!

  • Multigrain Flat Bread
  • 1 green onion
  • One small carrot shredded
  • 1 tablespoon cream cheese
  • 1/2 an avacodo
  • 1 teaspoon parmesan cheese
  • Drizzle of Thousand Island Dressing
  • Left over Chicken breast shredded up

Spread the cream cheese on the flat bread, load veggies and avacado on top,add chicken, sprinkle parmesan and drizzle thousand island dress, roll up like a buritto. I also drank cold drip coffee with it. It was a B- meal.

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A Sweet fruity Appetizer Lent day 3

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Since I have given up fast food for lent, I am doing all of the cooking at home or going over to a friend or family for meals. Therefore I’m having to get creative. I was having a hankering for a fast food milkshake but that’s not allowed right now. I decided to make it healthier choice at home.

  • 1 banana sliced
  • 5 large strawberries sliced
  • 1 tablespoon feta crumbles
  • 1tsp flax seed
  • 2 Tblsp chopped walnut
  • a drizzle real honey
  • Mix everything together and enjoy
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Lent, Day 2, A mild headache and a craving

Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

I gave up Dr. Pepper and fast food for lent, not a secret, but the lack of fizzy caffeine and sweetness is already greatly “missed” by my body.The fast food craving and hankerings haven’t kicked in, which I am thankful. A full glass of water and a little nap have helped to curb the headache but the craving remains.

The challenge, though, will come this evening when I return to work after a couple of routine days off. Why a challenge? There is a soda fountain and each employee gets unlimited free sodas from the fountain as a perk of the job, Dr. Pepper included. I really like Dr. Pepper. While there isn’t anything wrong with Dr. Pepper, it’s a fabulous product, I gave it up for Lent as I feel like I had become “dependent” on the product, drinking more of it than I would anything else, despite having lots of other options at home and other places, including healthier choices like herbal hot or iced tea, water, milk, or something different.

I have often packed my lunch for work before and now will continue to pack a lunch for myself each shift I work, using a cute Jurrassic World tin square lunch box I received as a Christmas gift. A bit of preperation and effort, meals at work will be delicious and as easy as fast food, but better for the mind and body, giving the proper nutrition for myself and time to focus on better things and spiritual growth.

A friend of mine is in support of giving up Dr. Pepper but inquired as to why do it for Lent;

Here’s a basic description of why we do it;

Fasting, or giving something up, is a very common practice during Lent. The idea is that giving up something that’s a regular part of life, like eating dessert or scrolling through Facebook, can be a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice. That time can also be replaced with more time connecting with God.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=why+give+up+something+for+lent&cvid=2e812f426dac45039e29a85a92e36e7c&aqs=edge.0.0j69i57j0l4.4471j0j1&pglt=43&FORM=ANNTA1&PC=NMTS

Want to share a treat with an Adventure? Click on this Amazon link and share the joy

https://www.amazon.com/registries/custom/14KIR6BOMRMXC/guest-view?ref=gr_search_page_result

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Dock Side Style Spicy Cod Dinner with Singing (wooden spoon edition)

Anna--The Adventurer 1 Comment

Rising prices in eating out, inflation can be felt nearly every where these days but it doesn’t stop us from wanting to eat something tasty, go on date night or want to serve/dive into good meals. Eating is an essential but it should also be a nutrious joy, too!

I am a huge fan of getting good steals, using coupons and shopping local–thankfully, Aldi’s stores has had a good selection and price on fish lately and it has made cooking this winter a lot easier.

Tonights pre-dinner entertainment was provided by myself, compliments of singing to Ed Sheeran and my trusty wooden spoon was the microphone. My apologies to the neighbors and to my Sweetness, who was delighted to hear that super was being served and my horrid redentions were over.

  • 4-6 Pieces of Frozen North Atlantic Cod (thawed)
  • 2 Cans of Green Beans, drained
  • 1 cup white rice (not boil in the bag)
  • Lemon Pepper, Salt Pepper, Garlic Powder, Cajun Spice, Lemon Zest, Cayenne Pepper, 3 cups of Corn flour, French Onions (course crumbled)
  • 2 -3 eggs
  • Oil for frying

Crack the eggs in one bowl, in a second bowl, mix the corn flour and all the spices and herbs

Dip/Run each pieces of fish through the beaten eggs, thoroughly, and heavily coat in the corn flour mix, place in cast iron frying pan (with about an inch of oil of your choice in the bottom).

Make Rice in a seperate pot or in a rice cooker, adding 2 tsp of old bay seasoning or lemon pepper plus a little splash of oil.

Fry Fish on medium heat until fish is thoroughly cooked and crunch on both sides.

Warm Green beans

Plate a bit of each item on to a plate and serve. You can now unplug your wooden spoon “microphone” and put in the dishwasher.

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Bring on the Sauce, Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Anna--The Adventurer 3 Comments

Creating the family’s recipe of homemade, chunky cranberry sauce is a favorite activity of mine; my mother was also willing to offer up her kitchen while I was on vacation in Colorado to make it happen. Of course, we had to add a healthy dose of orange Triple Sec to each jar we made, otherwise, it wouldn’t have that extra zing we all love! While I think the recipe is pretty common, it’s the special one we use at home becuase it turns out the best.

Naturally, Mom took the lead and I assisted, being the elf to Mrs. Claus, of course.

The homemade cranberry sauce is great on any poultry, with prime rib, and of, course, with leg of lamb.

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Chicken and veggies, easy peasy dinner

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Yes, I am a fan of one dish wonders; so easy!

2 large chicken breasts

2 tablespoons of oil

2 large carrots and 2 stocks of celery, cut into spears

1/2 onion, course chopped

Italian seasoning

Salt and Pepper, lemon juice

Put all the items in a glass bakeware dish, bake at 350 degree Farenheit for 90 minutes. Serves 3-4 people.

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Egyptian Food, next door–meeting the neighbor

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Meeting new people can be tricky, especially in this technology based world but when a neighbor introduces themselves and ask where they can easily get internet service, a connection is made! My new neighbor is from Alexandria, Egypt and she invited me over for a wonderful, homemade Egyptian meal, which was a new, spiced delight for me!

While I can’t even begin to spell the names of the dishes, they were fabulous!

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Tiki Masala made easy

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Not quite a one pot wonder but still every easy to make.

1 Jar of Tiki Masala Sauce

2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded or chunked

1 cup of rice (cooked with 2 cups of water and 1 tblspoon of curry powerder)

1 small bag of shredded carrots

1 red bell pepper sliced into smaller strips

Cook the rice with the curry added

Cook the chicken breast and when about 90% done, add in the bell peppper and carrots, sauted until al dente, add the jar of tiki sauce, simmer until all hot, put mixture over rice, Serves 4 to 6

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Making a meal for my family

Anna--The Adventurer Leave a comment

Spending an evening with my parents is always fun as we live very far apart. While on vacation and staying at my parent’s home, I took the liberty of cooking a meal for them–after running errands with my mom and having gone to the fields to check water with my brother (he’s a farmer with irrigated fielda) a hot, easy meal was in order.

One of the errands was going to the grocery store (in the next town over) so picking up ingredients was a breeze. Of course, I also chose items that were on sale or had the “club price” with a member’s card (the free one’s you get when you sign up at many “big” stores.).

Ingredients:

1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (I used a combo of both)

1 Jar of Madras Korma Curry Indian simmering sauce

1 can of coconut milk

1/2 -3/4 pound of chopped up raw veggies, I used red bell pepper, some cauliflower florets and stems, shredded carrots and a half chopped red onion and sliced mushrooms.

Line a glass baking dish with the chicken (after spraying it with some oil), dump the jar of sauce, can of coconut milk, and veggies all in it give it a light stire and bake for 90 minutes on 350 degrees, covered with aluminium foil.

It’s easy, Indian/Nepal inspired dish and there was more than plenty for 4 people to have 2 whole meals off it.

It can be eaten as it or served over white rice or with Naan.

Homemade Madras Curry, using jarred sauce
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Garden Veggies shared, Smothered Eggplant

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A friend gardens and shared her extra produce with me (which is awesome as I live in an apartment, sans garden).

This is a rendition of eggplant parmesan, made with stewed, simmered chunked and seasoned roma tomatoes, layed a piece of steamed tilapia filets, and egg washed and battered sliced eggplant, topped with parmesan cheese and steamed with a side of steamed fresh green beans (and a limed glaze)