Back to the random dinner:

As a kid, what was your favorite family meal ? Mine was spag with meat sauce That’s easy. My absolute favorite family meal that was a never-fail, smile on my face meal was when my mom roasted chicken, made garlic roasted potatoes, asparagus, and fillets. My grandma made a very similar meal too, and no matter who made it, I always loved it!

Technorati Tags: ask me, cheese, dinner, friends, fun, simple recipe, vegetables, weight loss

Since we’re not having a Super Bowl party, or going to one, I wanted to use today to make something I can use throughout the week in lunches or various dinners, so I polled on Facebook and Twitter about what to make. I had it narrowed down to two possibilities: slow-cooker BBQ pork or slow-cooker Italian beef. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of the Italian beef, but my decision was made up for me by the recipes. The key to good BBQ flavor is a touch of sweetness…brought by brown sugar. This eating plan I’m following leaves little wiggle room for extra sugar, and since I’m doing so well so far, I didn’t want to risk it!

Italian Beef is a Chicago staple, slightly different from the more well-known French Dip sandwich. The beef has a very spiced broth it’s slow-cooked in, and the sandwiches are, to the purists, served “wet” with sweet green peppers and sometimes mozzarella cheese. It’s been a long time since I’ve had good Italian beef, even though we live down the street from one of the best: Portillo’s.

I perused AllRecipes.comand myrecipes.com for various Italian beef recipes, and they ranged from super simple to quite complicated. I went with a variation on one of the simpler ones. Now, first is a picture of Adam’s Italian Beef, served more classically with no peppers, but plenty of juice, a crusty roll, and some mozzarella:

It had all the classic flavor of the sandwich I wanted without any of the bread… Italian beef was a good choice! The recipe is simple:

Italian Beef

Ingredients

5 lb. beef roast, I used top round

3 c. water

1 packet Italian dressing mix

1 tsp. oregano

1 tsp. basil

1 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. ground mustard

1 tsp. red pepper

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground black pepper

Directions

Add the beef to a large crock pot. Add water and remaining ingredients to a pot and bring to a boil. Pour over the beef, then cook on low 8-10 hours or on high 4-6 hours. Shred with two forks and serve.

I thoroughly enjoyed my deconstructed non-sandwich, and Adam loved his actual sandwich. I’m thinking this recipe is a keeper. That is, unless I get so sick of eating shredded Italian beef this week that I never want to see it again.

Don’t forget to click the “Save It” button above to save this recipe on your SpringPad! (You all have accounts now, right?)

I got one more anonymous question, as well as an un-needed apology. The girl who asked me the question I answered Friday about the pressure to look a certain way for my wedding thought that SHE was the one I was referring to when I mentioned the fat bride question. That wasn’t the case at all! I got a SEPARATE question asking “What was it like to be a fat bride?” and not the thoughtful one you asked. So, whoever you are, I’m not mad!! Your apology was very sweet, and definitely made me smile.

Hi! Do you want to have kids some day? Any timeline?

My mom will be very happy to read that YES we want to have kids some day! We’re thinking about maybe starting to try in about 2 years when Adam is done with grad school and has a steady job, and (knock on wood) I’m tenured at my current job. It’s definitely in the cards, just not right now.

Feel free to ask me anything!

I’m off to watch The Who perform at half time… I love that these guys are still performing!

Technorati Tags: ask me, beef, cheese, Chicago dining, crockpot, dinner, sandwich, simple, simple recipe

You probably guessed what the theme of today’s CFS is… and if you guessed The Super Bowl, you’re right! Big football games are a perfect excuse to show of cute food skills, not to mention EATING cute food. People get really creative on Super Bowl Sunday!

GO TEAM!! (As a Bears fan, I have to root against the Colts… Geaux Saints!)

That’s it for this week! “See” you next time for a Valentine’s themed CFS

Technorati Tags: cute food

So true, huh?

On to the questions:

How come you don’t do more giveaways, you could do healthy foods and cooking products.

To be completely honest, the reason I don’t do more healthy food giveaways and cooking products is because companies don’t send me the stuff. While I don’t mind occasionally giving away small things that I’m responsible for shipping, most giveaways I do involve the manufacturer or distributor sending you the prize. I’m merely a middle school Spanish teacher, and my blogging revenue does little more than assist in some of our grocery purchases. I’d love to be able to buy massive amounts of products simply to give away, it’s just not financially feasible right now. Also, I really suck at getting things out in the mail. Luckily Laura (who won my anniversary giveaway in NOVEMBER) is a friend of mine, and very patient.

As a bride, did you feel pressure to look a certain way? Did it affect your cooking/food choices at all?

ABSOLUTELY! I haven’t been what you would call “small” for a long time, but I did have this nagging little voice in the back of my head saying “you should get thin for the wedding, lose weight!” And then I went dress shopping. I found that there were dresses that looked amazing on my body at the size it was, which snapped me back to reality. That nagging feeling definitely stuck around for a while, but Adam and I joke that we were the only people to quit our diets BEFORE the wedding. Financially, as I mentioned yesterday, the $80 a month for the two of us to stay WW members wasn’t realistic anymore. We ate well on our own for a while, and then the stress of the wedding planning kicked in and it went to crap. I had less time and desire to cook, and more desire to eat what was easy, and I gained a little bit of weight. Do I wish I’d been in better shape for our wedding? Sure. But, did my size make the day any less fabulous and perfect? Absolutely not!

You might have hit on this before, but I would love to know why you chose teaching? Was it something you always wanted to do or did you realize the desire to teach as you got older?

I’m one of the few people who have always known what they wanted to do when they “grew up.” I was lucky enough to have wonderful teachers almost every year that I was in school. I remember being asked in first grade what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I said “a teacher.” I went through a brief phase in high school when I wanted to be a high school band director, but that passed quickly. The main reason I teach middle school though, is because of the amazing teachers I had in middle school. See, I wasn’t always as cool with the fact that I’m a geek as I am now. I’ve always been interested in technology, crafting, computers, and other things that weren’t “cool” in 1990-1994. There was a group of girls who decided that I was going to be their target for all things bitchy during that time. (A few of them have actually apologized in recent years, which is wonderful) My teachers saw what was happening, and took me, this skinny, short, geeky girl under their wing, and kept me busy after school so I could walk home after the girls had all left. I’m a Spanish teacher thanks to the love and support of my middle school Spanish teacher, with whom I just got reconnected. SO, in answer to your question, I’ve always known.

And, for part of Flashback Friday, I present you with my lovely 8th grade graduation portrait. Pre-boobs, pre-braces, pre-hair dye, complete with half-assed mall bangs, a floral bodysuit, and velvet choker. I am willing to bet there were zipper bottomed stone washed jeans French rolled with slouchy socks and velvet flats with this outfit too…

Technorati Tags: ask me, interview

What the heck is that? Apparently I’m taking after HEABy! Well, the toppings are obvious: homemade guacamole and sour cream. Under that, there’s some chili-lime chicken. Then, a little cheddar cheese. All of this is sitting on a warm spinach, mushroom, and tomato salsa. Where the heck did this idea come from??? Honestly, I have no idea. I really have no recipe for any of this stuff, but more of a procedure for each of the parts.

Part 1: Guacamole Mash 3-4 avocados in a bowl, add 1/4 c. chopped red onion, one chopped jalapeño, one chopped tomato, some cilantro (I used a bit of dried because the fresh stuff got gross), a little garlic powder, and the juice of two limes. Stir well, and add the pits of the avocados to prevent browning.

Part 2: Chili-Lime Chicken Chop 3 chicken breasts into bite sized pieces. Add the juice of 3 limes, about 1 Tbsp. chili powder, a bit of garlic powder, and 1 Tbsp. olive oil. Then stir in one coarsely chopped jalapeño and allow to marinate about 20 minutes. Add chicken to a hot pan, lightly sear all sides, then add 1/2 c. water, lower the heat, and cover. Cook 10 minutes.

Part 3: Warm Mushroom Spinach Salsa Heat another frying pan. Add a bit of olive oil, then about 6 or 7 small white mushrooms, sliced. Cook a few minutes, then add 2 diced roma tomatoes. Cook a couple minutes until juices are released from the mushrooms. Add 2 big handfuls of spinach. Cook until wilted, then add hot sauce to your taste. Stir well and serve.

I liked the layering action happening in this bowl, but of course my favorite part was the guacamole. I could’ve eaten the entire 3-avocado bowl of it, but I want to try to save some for you know, another meal.

Thank you all so much for the compliments on the new ‘do! I’m loving it, and its definitely taking some getting used to. I actually walked past a mirror today and didn’t recognize myself.

I got another anonymous question today! Someone asked:

Are you still following Weight Watchers?

In a word: no. Last spring, I found myself getting obsessive about counting Points, far too emotionally attached to the number on the scale, and would end up crying most Saturday mornings after my meetings. I’d been stuck at the same weight for a long time (almost 3 years). In June or so, we decided to not re-up our Weight Watchers membership and save the $80 a month. Between then and now, I’ve gained back about 15 or 20 lbs depending on the day, and I’m not ok with it. This is why the eats have been looking a bit different.

With the support of my good friend at work as well as our favorite Almond Butter Lover, I’m following the plan touted by Mark’s Daily Apple and others known as the Paleo diet. It’s a higher protein, high vegetables, low-dairy, no-grain, and as-natural-as-possible eating plan. I’ve been following it for almost a week, and am feeling better than I have in quite some time! I’m hoping that eventually, I’ll actually start losing weight again. I always scoffed at the “low carb” eating plans, but I’m starting to think it may be a good thing for me. I’m less hungry now than I was when I was eating tons of grains and starches. Feeling good is almost enough… but I’d like to lose some weight again too without being obsessed about numbers in any way.

Who’s got another one for me??

Don’t forget to vote for Jenn and Bobby in the Crate and Barrel Ultimate Wedding Contest!

Finally Friday tomorrow!!!!

Technorati Tags: ask me, chicken, dinner, fun, Mexican, simple recipe, vegetarian, weight loss

I got nothing on the food front from last night… I had a hair appointment and ended up meeting Lizz for dinner at Chili’s, and while I had a delicious burger sans bun with extra veggies, it was nothing to blog about. The company was awesome, and I didn’t feel like blogging a meal you’ve all seen before.

However, there is something you haven’t seen before. You’re used to seeing me like this:

Sorry I cropped you out of that one Jenn!! I mentioned in a couple of posts that I’ve been dying my hair on one way or another since I was about 12. I decided yesterday to go back to my roots:

Yep, I’m a brunette again!!! Please excuse the chili pepper windsock and pirate skeleton over my shoulder. I took this pic at about 7 a.m. in my classroom!

So, what’s the verdict?? I’m personally thrilled with it… I think this will be easier upkeep, and that the color is well-suited to my skin tone and personality. My students officially freaked out when they walked in!

I’ll be back tonight for dinner, and in the meantime, don’t forget to ask me your anonymous burning questions!

Technorati Tags: fashion, hair

Comfort food for me is similar to a lot of people: mac and cheese, soups, stews, usually carby starchy stuff. However, there are a few things that aren’t “normal” and among them are roasted vegetables. I’ll never forget the first time my mom roasted brussels sprouts. See, usually she would steam them and then toss them with reconstituted minced onion. I got SO tired of them, and then one day, they appeared on my plate golden brown, with crispy edges, and it was like eating a whole new vegetable!

So tonight’s meal included a lovely mixture of roasted brussels sprouts, red peppers, mushrooms, and a bit of garlic, but the real star was the herb crusted roast I made.

Technorati Tags: beef, dinner, simple recipe

It was another one of those days where I had no idea what was going to be for dinner because, well, my mind kept changing every few minutes. At 10 a.m, I emailed my friend saying “I’m having steak and roasted brussels sprouts!” Then, when I talked to Adam after work, it was going to be a burger and salads. Then it was going to be steak and salad, then, I went rogue.

I went to our local produce market and just started grabbing stuff: Chinese eggplant, spaghetti squash, baby portabella mushrooms, red peppers, spinach, ground beef, coconut milk… and I still had no idea what I was going to make. On the very short ride home, I decided it was a burger night, but I wanted a new and unique veggie dish to go along with it. New and unique it was!

First I made burgers with:

• ground beef
• garlic powder
• 1 egg
• parsley flakes
• salt & pepper

Then, I started chopping. The Chinese eggplant got peeled and cut into chunks. The red pepper got diced, the mushrooms got sliced, and the spaghetti squash went into the oven to roast at 325 for an hour. When the squash was done, it got dumped into a bowl. Then the recipe started:

Coconut Garden

1 Chinese eggplant, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces

6 mini portabella mushrooms (or half a big one) cut into small pieces

1 red pepper, diced

1 small spaghetti squash, roasted and scooped

1 lb raw baby spinach

1/4 c. coconut milk

1 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. curry powder

1 Tbsp. oil of your choice

S&P to taste

Directions

Heat a large wok, and once hot, add oil. Add the eggplant first and cook a few minutes. When lightly browned, add in the red peppers, then the mushrooms, and allow them to cook until they’ve released their juices. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add the spinach and cook until wilted. Stir in squash strings, stir a few times to combine, then lower the heat. Add the coconut milk and curry powder, and stir well. Serve.

I call this Cow and a Garden because, well, I had a burger and a garden full of veggies in a CaliBowl.

I finally got my first anonymous question from my “Ask Me” page! Did you even know it was there? What do you want to know about me? There has to be something…

My first and only question so far:

I love you and Adam together. How did you know he was the one?

Well, Adam and I met in the winter of 2004, and not long after that he had a minor surgery that ended up with complications that left him on disability for almost three months. What does this have to do with anything? I knew that Adam and I had something great going pretty much from day one. He called the morning after our first date, and the rest is history. He had this minor surgery on a Wednesday afternoon, and stayed overnight in the hospital until Thursday. After work Thursday, I headed straight for his house to visit and take care of him (I’d taken Friday off work), and a few hours into me being there, Adam started developing spinal headaches as a side effect from the spinal anesthetic from his surgery. Next thing I knew, I was calling an ambulance to take him to the hospital, and spent the evening in the ER. When he was waiting for the doctor to come in and see him, I looked at him and realized that the worst thing I could imagine was losing him… and that’s when I knew

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Technorati Tags: beef, burger, food, simple recipe, vegetables, vegetarian

A period of time went by where we’d watch Shrek 2 almost every day! Don’t get me started on the crapstorm that was Shrek 3… ANYWAY, in Shrek 2, “Mongo” was the name of the enormous gingerbread cookie they baked to attack the castle.

So on Friday night, Adam made a fantastic suggestion. “Let’s go to the grocery store and get the stuff to make a REALLY good sandwich!” We are both fans of sandwiches in general, but sometimes there’s something special that makes a sandwich into something “really good”. We hit up the local Meijer store and got some fresh Italian bread, fresh roasted turkey, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and good Swiss cheese.

Upon arriving home, we prepped the counter: cleaned and dried the cutting boards, sliced the bread, sliced the veggies, washed the lettuce, smushed up the avocado, and then Adam got building. First the turkey, then cheese, then avocado, lettuce, tomato, and then a little Smart Balance mayo on the top of the bread.

Upon closing it, we realized just how enormous this sandwich was. Compare this sandwich to the 2-liter of diet Pepsi that we happily consumed (yes, I know, its all chemicals and caffeine and crap, but I like it and I drink it.)

I felt a little like Homer Simpson looking at this thing… MMMMM….. sannnndddwicchhh….

We did not eat this whole thing in one sitting. We had small pieces with some baked Doritos (yes, I know, more chemicals. Again: delicious and enjoyable)

Yesterday, I made the best chili I’ve ever made. Seriously… ever.

Usually, I make a quick chili or chili mac on a work night. I make it on the stove top with ground beef, cans of stuff, and about a half hour of simmering. Yesterday though, I made weekend chili. It was slow, took patience, lots of seasoning, and… you just want the recipe don’t you?

Chili Con Carne y Frijoles

Ingredients

2 lbs. beef, cut into 1″ chunks (I used top round)

1 32 oz. can crushed tomatoes

1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes with jalapeños, drained

1 6 oz. can diced jalapeños

1 medium white or yellow onion, diced

2 14 oz. cans dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

2 14 oz. cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 Tbsp. garlic powder

3 Tbsp. chili powder

2 tsp. cumin

Directions

In a large slow-cooker, place the meat, tomatoes, and peppers. Stir well. Add beans, spices, onion, and vinegar. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Serve and enjoy.

I’m a chili snob, as is Adam, and we both agreed that this was the best chili I’ve ever made. I may have just gotten the proportions right, or it may have been that I used stew meat instead of ground beef, but it was wonderful. The flavors were more complex than normal, and my toppings of cheese, sour cream, and avocado just made the good thing even better. Don’t forget to Spring the recipe!

I didn’t want to wait until lunch to have chili… so breakfast today was an omelet made with spinach, chili, cheese, and avocado… and that breakfast lasted almost 7 hours!

OH! You probably want to know who won the iHerb.com giveaway, don’t you? Before I get to that, don’t forget that if you visit iHerb and use the special discount code SIF006 at checkout, you will receive $5 off your first order!

Onto the winner… using Random.org:

Comment number 149, which was…..

MORGAN from Live, Love, Eat, and Play! Congratulations! Send me an email with your preferred contact email for iHerb to get ahold of you, and I’ll pass it on!

Thank you so much for your interest in the iHerb giveaway! The next contest revolves around Cute Food Saturday: In honor of CFS’s one year anniversary, I’d love to present a reader-created CFS full of cute food YOU’VE made! You’ve got about a month and a half to get thinking and creating, and the anniversary post will be a contest! Please email me submissions by February 25! Readers will be able to vote for the cutest food, and the winner will receive a special cute food prize! So get thinking!!! I’ve already gotten a few submissions, and they’re ADORABLE!!

Have a wonderful Sunday night and a happy Monday!

Technorati Tags: beef, chili, dinner, food, giveaway, Mexican, sandwich, simple recipe

In honor of CFS’s one year anniversary, I’d love to present a reader-created CFS full of cute food YOU’VE made! You’ve got about a month and a half to get thinking and creating, and the anniversary post will be a contest! Please email me submissions by February 25! Readers will be able to vote for the cutest food, and the winner will receive a special cute food prize! So get thinking!!! I’ve already gotten a few submissions, and they’re ADORABLE!!

Before I get to today’s Cute Food, I just have to link to someone… I’m a little obsessed with making my CrackBerry Blackberry cute. It has a pink case on it, and I always have fun backgrounds. This girl made a whole page of cute food wallpapers for me! I think they work with most bigger blackberries… Thank you for those!

Now, onto the cute:

This next one is for my good friend Bobby

That’s all for today! Don’t forget to email me your own cute food submissions by February 25!

Technorati Tags: cute food, giveaway