Spring California Trip: Waiting To Leave

We are all packed up and ready to go! :) One episode of Breaking Bad and then we'll hit the road. It's raining pretty good here.

The 3rd Xbox Is Called Xbox One

My Out Of Office Message

I went with a graphic representation of my vacation. :) ≈29 hours.

YES, that's a car. Shut up. 

Kitchen Adventure: Mushroom Farfalle

This was paired with a Blue Cheese and Apple Salad. It also had us purchasing one of our most expensive ingredients - truffle oil. :)

Ingredients: Dried Porcini Mushrooms, Olive Oil, Garlic, Dried Chili, Cremini Mushrooms, Thyme, Farfalle, Truffle Oil, Lemon, Flat-Leaf Parsley, Low Fat Cottage Cheese, Baby Spinach, Apple, Blue Cheese

The pasta was good... but without the salad the meal would be lacking. The salad is dressed only in lemon and olive oil but it was still fantastic. Light. Tart. Moldy (Ian's word. He has issues with Blue Cheese). The pasta felt like it could use something else.. spice.. herb... something. It was still delicious and at 586 calories per serving of pasta and salad.. can't go wrong. [Apologies for the picture... it was super bright in the backyard]

Kitchen Adventures: Crackin' Crab Briks

A foray into Moroccan cuisine.

Ingredients: Preserved Lemons, Green Onions, Cilantro, Crab Meat, Harissa, Phyllo Pastry, Olive Oil, Caraway Seeds, Couscous, Sun Dried Tomato Puree, Fennel, Mint, Lemon, Pomegranate, Tomato, Ginger Root

Meh. Yet another lesson in letting the food cook through. I didn't put enough oil in the pan and they didn't brown up as much as they should. The flavor was interesting but I was looking for some heat. This dish will be probably redone at some point. I wasn't a huge fan of the fennel salad or the couscous. Disappointing but the briks were still pretty tasty. For 1 brik and some of the fennel and couscous, it was 457 calories.

So Yeah, This Happened

Nothing happened apparently. Carry on. 

Mass Hysteria

At this exact time, in 1 week we will be taking off from Buffalo Airport to begin our fantastic voyage. /queuemasshysteria

Kitchen Adventures: Chorizo & Squid

Full title: Chorizo and Squid with Greek Style Couscous Salad. Another squid dish!

Ingredients: Green Onions, Baby Spinach, Mint, Couscous, Lemon, Squid, Chorizo, Olive Oil, Red Bell Pepper, Yellow Bell Pepper, Honey, Sherry Vinegar, Garlic, Feta Cheese, Harissa, Fat Free Yogurt

I was a little familiar with Chorizo but I was really surprised with how well it work with the squid. It calls for a little side dish of yogurt and harissa. Neither of us felt that this was really necessary because it doesn't end up being very hot. But for 634 calories.... yum!

Köszönöm (Thank you)! (Mug #54)

One of the field staff at my work came in house to cover a maternity leave. She is Hungarian and recently made a trip back with her kids. She picked me up a Budapest mug!

Kitchen Adventures: Chicken Dim Sum

Full title: Chicken Dim Sum with Coconut Buns, Cucumber Pickle and Hoisin Sauce. This was another 15 Minute Meal but honestly... it is sooo not possible in 15 minutes. You make buns from scratch... yes, it's two ingredients but handling dough takes time! Either way.. I would do this recipe again in a heart beat.

Ingredients: Light Coconut Milk, Self Raising Flour, Chicken Breasts, Mixed Mushrooms, Hoisin Sauce, Limes, Broccolini, Cucumber, Soy Sauce, Rice Wine Vinegar, Cilantro, Sesame Seeds, Pickled Ginger, Red Chilies

The first part is to make the coconut buns. Jamie Oliver mixes his in a food processor... I did it this way but I think next time I will just use my Stand Mixer. They needed more flour... but they still turned out really good. You steam them in a bamboo steamer along with the chicken and vegetables.

They were light, fluffy and a little bit coconut-y. The chicken turned out perfect but the cucumber pickle stole the show. Using a speed peeler, you peel the cucumber into ribbons, cover it in soy sauce and vinegar and then squeeze the water out of them. This pickles the cucumber so they are extra crunchy. For 795 calories, you get 2 of the buns to make little sandwiches with the chicken, vegetables and pickle. Dip it in the hoisin sauce, sesame seeds and you have a really delicious dinner. I'm a fan. :)