Week 44

There are a lot of repeats this week. I don't know what happened last week. I cooked, just cooked different things, I guess. This week is my EIGHTH wedding anniversary, and a friend has graciously offered to take my kids for TWO nights. Yes, today, I am capitalizing all my numbers. Anyhoo. Since it is a special occasion, we will most likely be dining out a few nights. Yay for love!

I was trying to think of something to make that would be significant, however, the meals I remember most from our early years are as follows: Taco Bell (on the way home from a Fugazi concert, this wasn't officially dating times, but "just-friends" times), "Ramen Surprise" (ramen with eggs, soy, sugar, raisins, cashews, and whatever else you feel like throwing in), and sushi night, from a local restaurant that had a half-off night. Sooo, basically we were broke and didn't cook much at home while in college. We did get a bit ambitious in the kitchen and had an international cooking night each Friday. Those were the days, my friends. However, dining out sans kids is just so awesome, that I think we will take advantage of it.

Menu:
Pizza - every Friday, folks. Every flippin Friday.

Talapia + Zucchini Fritters (for the super-sized zucchini in the garden) + Wild Rice

Red Lentil Soup + Bread

Brisket + Black Beans + Slaw

Farmer's Market Pasta

Clementine Yougart Cake (Based on this recipe)

New tradition - Dutch Babies every Sunday, Holla at yo Motha!

Week 43

Autumn is slowly creeping in, and I couldn't be more happy about it. Summer has become a bit brown. The Mr. has gone through the fridge and pantry, procuring all sorts of grains and veg that have been in hiding. Soooo... this meal is geared to using up all that I can. I am so valiant.

Menu:

Salad Pizza

Red Lentil Soup + Bread

Talapia + Grains + Chard

Sausage + Mustardy Potatoes + Kale

Brisket + Black Beans + Slaw

Tofu Masala + Rice + Naan

And something for breakfast:

Baked Oatmeal (from the cookbook Super Natural Everyday, quick note, I accidently typed "cookboob" just now. May be my new word for cookbooks). P. 44

Bran Muffins (also from SNE) p. 47

Week 42

Still trying to get back into the swing of it all. Summer is pretty, pretty steamy at the moment. Yuck. Trying to be a bit healthier after my cupcake tour of 2011.

Menu:

Salad Pizza - every Friday

Gazpacho and bread (tomato explosion in the garden, not that I am complaining.

Carnitas

Farmer's Market Pasta - this involves pasta from the market, plus a sauce from whatever I put together from the garden.

Ravioli Salad, plus green salad

Talapia, barley salad, plus braised kale.

Hooray for a great summer and a productive garden!

Week 41

I have been away for about a month. That month was spent fairly free of cooking, and I have returned home with barely a notion of how I cooked in the first place. The garden is a jungle, with loads of tomatoes, just begging to be turned into gazpacho. And like a fairly fairy Godmother, that is what I plan to do. On anther Cinderella note, my pumpkin plant died. Boo. So here is my steamy early August menu plan. The thought of an oven is awful, but oh well. I will persevere, just like my trusty pioneer ancestors.

Menu:

Gazpacho and bread

BLATs and salad

Shrimp pitas and tomato caprese

Pizza Salad

Apricot crockpot chicken with wild rice

Ari birthday: peanut butter and honey sandwiches, raspberries and Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting birthday cake. For the big #2.