You Are What You Eat: March 28 through April 4
After one quarter of tracking my major meals, I can say with some certainty that meals with my friends are the best meals, although meals after baseball games are a close second.
Friday, March 29 - I swear, I posted an old list of places to eat and more or less coincidentally I start going to them. On Friday, my friend Colleen was in town for the first weekend of the CIFF, so she, M and I got dinner together. Flying Fig was conveniently located, so we went there. I'd been there for drinks once with DrI years ago, but had not actually eaten there, at least so far as I can recall. It happened to be restaurant week (I had no idea), and the tasting menu had a lovely shrimp salad, some excellent seared fish and a subpar dessert that I've already forgotten. The service was off and on, and the company was by far the best part of the meal. I probably won't return.
After we dropped off Colleen, M and I went out for a beer at Red Rose. I'm old, so we went to bed early.
And lest I forgot, on Thursday night I made a batch of my mother's chocolate chip cookies, the vast majority of which went to work on Friday for my team and friends.
Saturday, March 30 - M and I went to an early morning CIFF film, then swung through the West Side Market. We got takeout from the incomparable Maha's Falafel and brought it home with us.
For dinner, I whipped up a pot of Chicken Chili with Sweet Potatoes from the September/October 2016 Eating Well. This used up some canned goods from M's kitchen, but more importantly, it was pretty tasty. I love chili and have several variant recipes. This one is solid.
Sunday, March 31 - I have a lot of frozen blueberries in my freezer courtesy of my Aunt Joanne's garden. Sunday morning was a perfect time to make my second batch of blueberry muffins of the year. I basically associated my aunt with muffins now, which isn't a problem to have.
For dinner, I made Za'atar-Roasted Chicken Tenders & Vegetables with Couscous. This recipe include green beans and red onions, which are two of M's favorite foods. It all goes on one baking sheet, so it's pretty easy to make.
Monday, April 1 - M and I went to the home opener. We had beer. Then we got home and tried to go out for dinner. Our first two choices were closed, so we ended up at Yuzu. This meal was much better than our visit in January. For starters, we played three games of Boggle, and I won two of them handily. I also had my second Impossible Burger, which was much better than my first one (and I liked the first one). It turns out Monday is cheap Impossible Burger night at Yuzu, which is a good thing to know.
Tuesday, April 2 - I broke out a new recipe from the new April 2019 Eating Well. The Buffalo Cauliflower Salad involved roasted cauliflower soaked in a Frank's Red Hot based buffalo sauce over a salad in a buttermilk and mayo dressing (although I used oat milk). M and I both enjoyed it, and I'm confident we'll make that one again.
Wednesday, April 3 - I turned to 660 Curries for a Shrimp with Cashew Nut and Vinegar Curry. This doesn't really make very much but the cashew based sauce is utterly delicious. I ate a bunch of small side things with it. Next time, I need to make some rice or double up the protein or otherwise make more, otherwise this is more of a side than a meal. My notes in the cookbook have been updated to include that detail.
Thursday, April 4 - I don't remember why I ever had a Rachel Ray magazine in my house (it might have been my ex), but way back in late 2009 or early 2010 I made Lemon Orzo with Mushrooms and Pine Nuts. We liked it, I clipped it out, and it's been a staple of my kitchen ever since. Thanks to the wonder of google I found the recipe, although it says December 2011 and the clipping I have references 2009.
Totals For This Post
Days Covered: 7
Meals / Dishes Cooked: 6 / 6
New Recipes: 1
Leftover Nights: 0
Eating Out / Take Out Meals: 3
Eating Out Drinks/Dessert Only: 2
New To Me Restaurants: 1
Parties / Friends Cooked: 0
Repeated Recipes: 1
Overall Totals 2019 (less January 1)
Days Covered: 93
Meals / Dishes Cooked: 67 / 86
New Recipes: 36
Leftover Nights: 5
Eating Out / Take Out Meals: 33
Eating Out Drinks/Dessert Only: 11
New To Me Restaurants: 14
Parties / Friends Cooked: 7
Repeated Recipes: 4
EDIT: Fixed Copy/Paste issue with stats.
Friday, March 29 - I swear, I posted an old list of places to eat and more or less coincidentally I start going to them. On Friday, my friend Colleen was in town for the first weekend of the CIFF, so she, M and I got dinner together. Flying Fig was conveniently located, so we went there. I'd been there for drinks once with DrI years ago, but had not actually eaten there, at least so far as I can recall. It happened to be restaurant week (I had no idea), and the tasting menu had a lovely shrimp salad, some excellent seared fish and a subpar dessert that I've already forgotten. The service was off and on, and the company was by far the best part of the meal. I probably won't return.
After we dropped off Colleen, M and I went out for a beer at Red Rose. I'm old, so we went to bed early.
And lest I forgot, on Thursday night I made a batch of my mother's chocolate chip cookies, the vast majority of which went to work on Friday for my team and friends.
Saturday, March 30 - M and I went to an early morning CIFF film, then swung through the West Side Market. We got takeout from the incomparable Maha's Falafel and brought it home with us.
For dinner, I whipped up a pot of Chicken Chili with Sweet Potatoes from the September/October 2016 Eating Well. This used up some canned goods from M's kitchen, but more importantly, it was pretty tasty. I love chili and have several variant recipes. This one is solid.
Sunday, March 31 - I have a lot of frozen blueberries in my freezer courtesy of my Aunt Joanne's garden. Sunday morning was a perfect time to make my second batch of blueberry muffins of the year. I basically associated my aunt with muffins now, which isn't a problem to have.
For dinner, I made Za'atar-Roasted Chicken Tenders & Vegetables with Couscous. This recipe include green beans and red onions, which are two of M's favorite foods. It all goes on one baking sheet, so it's pretty easy to make.
Monday, April 1 - M and I went to the home opener. We had beer. Then we got home and tried to go out for dinner. Our first two choices were closed, so we ended up at Yuzu. This meal was much better than our visit in January. For starters, we played three games of Boggle, and I won two of them handily. I also had my second Impossible Burger, which was much better than my first one (and I liked the first one). It turns out Monday is cheap Impossible Burger night at Yuzu, which is a good thing to know.
Tuesday, April 2 - I broke out a new recipe from the new April 2019 Eating Well. The Buffalo Cauliflower Salad involved roasted cauliflower soaked in a Frank's Red Hot based buffalo sauce over a salad in a buttermilk and mayo dressing (although I used oat milk). M and I both enjoyed it, and I'm confident we'll make that one again.
Wednesday, April 3 - I turned to 660 Curries for a Shrimp with Cashew Nut and Vinegar Curry. This doesn't really make very much but the cashew based sauce is utterly delicious. I ate a bunch of small side things with it. Next time, I need to make some rice or double up the protein or otherwise make more, otherwise this is more of a side than a meal. My notes in the cookbook have been updated to include that detail.
Thursday, April 4 - I don't remember why I ever had a Rachel Ray magazine in my house (it might have been my ex), but way back in late 2009 or early 2010 I made Lemon Orzo with Mushrooms and Pine Nuts. We liked it, I clipped it out, and it's been a staple of my kitchen ever since. Thanks to the wonder of google I found the recipe, although it says December 2011 and the clipping I have references 2009.
Totals For This Post
Days Covered: 7
Meals / Dishes Cooked: 6 / 6
New Recipes: 1
Leftover Nights: 0
Eating Out / Take Out Meals: 3
Eating Out Drinks/Dessert Only: 2
New To Me Restaurants: 1
Parties / Friends Cooked: 0
Repeated Recipes: 1
Overall Totals 2019 (less January 1)
Days Covered: 93
Meals / Dishes Cooked: 67 / 86
New Recipes: 36
Leftover Nights: 5
Eating Out / Take Out Meals: 33
Eating Out Drinks/Dessert Only: 11
New To Me Restaurants: 14
Parties / Friends Cooked: 7
Repeated Recipes: 4
EDIT: Fixed Copy/Paste issue with stats.