Saturday Night's Alright for Grilling...

Saturday we had to take the dogs for grooming so we stopped at our new favorite breakfast spot while we waiting on them to be finished.
The Black Walnut.

This time I had The Black Walnut's Eggs Benedict and Lee had the Tex Mex omlet.
mine was good but I immediately missed my huevos rancheros with the black beans containing crack.


Then, Saturday night, we grilled some good ole fashioned BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, and baked beans. I also made Deviled Eggs.

I was a little involved with the eggs and forgot to take a photo of the grilled yumminess. We used Stubbs Spicey BBQ sauce on the chicken and it was just plain good!
Lee likes to tell me, each and everytime I make Deviled Eggs, that he doesn't really care for them.
Then proceeds to eat 4 or 5.

Not your healthiest salad...

I want to start by saying I have lost 8 pounds. But I didn't eat like this everyday - just now and then..
The other night, I was on my own for dinner and had seen this recipe from Pioneer Woman and I started drooling.
I have been craving this salad ever since I made it...

Spinach Salad:

Now, I had to boil the eggs and I had bought a cute little egg timer thing a few years back for when I crave deviled eggs (like right now...). You put this in the water and it changes color as the eggs cook.. genius!
Before...
After...(I didn't catch it while cooking so I waited until it cooled) You can see the middle is darker than the rest..

The final product:Her photo is prettier but mine was taken while drooling so I can't help it.
Tasted PHENOMENAL! I am eating it tonight. Maybe I will boil some extra eggs and make deviled ones too... mmmm.
In the end, this isn't that bad of a salad - i used thin-cut bacon so there really wasn't much grease. Not like she was measuring. I used olive oil and a little butter with the mushrooms to compensate and then for the dressing - not even a whole tablespoon of grease and it still had enough dressing to make this salad.

Man I am hungry now...

Brunch on Sunday and a lovely dinner

Today we met Carlin, Damon, Donald, and Don at Gravitas for brunch.
Where I consumed my fair share of bottomless bellini's!
Then took a 2 hour nap with Lee.

After that, we hit the grocery store for our week's worth of groceries.

Tonight we had

Lemon Grilled Chicken and Alfredo

Chicken:

• 1 chicken, flattened
• 1/3 cup good olive oil
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
• 1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 lemon, halved

Directions

Sprinkle the chicken with 1 teaspoon salt on each side. Combine the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, garlic, rosemary, and 2 teaspoons pepper in a small measuring cup. Place the chicken in a ceramic or glass dish just large enough to hold it flat. Pour the lemon marinade over the chicken, turning it in the dish.

When ready to grill, turn a gas grill on low heat. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until the underside is golden brown. Turn the chicken skin side down, and cook for another 12 to 15 minutes, until the skin is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through. Remove the chicken to a plate or cutting board, cover with aluminum foil, and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Cut in quarters, sprinkle with salt, and serve with linguine...

Summery Alfredo:

• 3/4 pound fettuccine
• 1 cup thick whole-milk ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup finely grated pecorino cheese (1 1/2 ounces), plus more for serving
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup cream
  
• 1/4 cup chopped basil leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Direction

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the fettuccine until al dente. Reserve 3/4 cup of the pasta cooking water and drain the fettuccine well.

Add the ricotta and the 1/2 cup of pecorino to the pot along with the reserved pasta cooking water; stir until smooth. Add cream and whisk until smooth and creamy. Add the fettuccine and the basil, season with salt and pepper and toss. Serve in bowls, passing additional grated pecorino at the table.

Note: I used Buitoni Fresh Whole Wheat Linguni - and it just was too thin to handle the alfredo.

Served with Tomassi Pino Grigio. Delish!

Simple Dinner for 2

Sometimes it is hard for me to cook for just the two of us. This doesn't mean I want a child, that seems even harder. "No! I only want Macaroni and Cheese!"
I digress.

Last night I did a basic grilled tilapia and some roasted potatoes. I almost forgot pictures...
First I squeezed one lemon over 3 filets, along with about 4 tablespoons melted butter. Salt and pepper. That's it!


I sliced up a few potatoes and put them in a dish with olive oil. Then I sauteed a little shallot and garlic and maybe 2 tablespoons of chicken broth (to get the bits off the pan) and poured that over the potatoes. I sliced a little butter in there. I just couldn't stop myself.Lee grilled the fish while the potatoes roasted. And - Wha-la! Dinner for two that is pretty healthy and really tasty.
Nice grill marks eh?

Too much going on

I just have not been home and have not been cooking! I threw together a quick stir fry tonight that I liked alot. But other than that...

We did get alot of veggies out of the garden yesterday!We had to break down and use Seven Dust on the plants because there were like 15 Stink Bugs all over the place. YUCK.

I will try to be better. I won't be cooking the next 2 nights because Lee is out for work stuff. I will try and get better about at least covering places we eat, trying to snap photos of my plate in the process. Just so crazy busy these days...

I really do still cook...

I have been so bad. I made dinner on Saturday and last night, as well as breakfast yesterday!!

Saturday night we grilled steaks and I made some mushroom ravioli that I then sauteed in butter and balsamic vinegar. I roasted a pint of grape tomatoes and then smashed them with a little garlic, oil, shallot, and worcestershire sauce, served as a topper to the steak. We washed that down with a bottle of 7 Deadly Zins - actually a nice wine!! Sometimes the names are so weird it makes me not want to try the wine...

Sunday we got up and I made Migas. Lee was in heaven.

Then I roasted chicken in the oven for dinner with veggies and whipped up my Depression Recession Brownies.

I will try to post recipes later on for the ravioli (i bought frozen and just amp'd it up with the butter and vinegar) and tomatoes, as well as the Migas! I got to use a bell pepper from the garden but I have to say - not sure if we will plant them again next year. Not really getting very big and taking forever to just get one!!!

Tonight - I am making the chicken enchiladas for us that I made for my boss last week. I will try and remember a "finished" photo when they are out of the oven!