When I got home from work today I peaked in the fridge and was convinced there was nothing to make for dinner. Just as I was on the verge of ordering takeout, a minimalist idea popped in my head. I had pasta shells which are a great, filling base for a meal! It was just a matter of what could go with it.
When I think pasta my mind goes immediately to tomatoes. Luckily I had some cherry tomatoes on hand! I had some fresh sage leftover from a few days ago that I figured could be used in place of the classic, basil. Lemon and extra virgin olive oil are things I always have in the pantry (as you should, too!) and with all of that I was set! I grocery shop once a week (every Sunday). My boyfriend and I sit down, plan meals for the week, and make a grocery list based on that. Despite the thinking ahead, we always seem to end up with items at the end of the week that need to be used ASAP before they go bad - I'm sure you can relate. Thanks to this unfortunate weekly occurrence, however, this amazing dish was born!
This week's victims? Fresh basil and brussels sprouts. The basil started to brown and wilt in spots. The brussels sprouts were looking sad. I knew I had to rescue them and let them shine in all the glory they were meant to. So the brainstorming began and with the addition of quinoa and sesame these "victims" of my over-shopping became stars in their own right! Happy 2015! I've been really getting into oatmeal lately (somewhat of a New Years Resolution of mine to eat more healthy grains). This is a first for me, as I never really was into oats like, ever. Perhaps because growing up I only ever had the single packet kind that cooked to mush and was loaded with sugar. That stuff actually made me gag eating it! But I can't deny that true oats have great nutritional value and I wanted to give them a shot. Now I am so glad that I did! The real deal is delicious.
I like sweet sometimes, but I am much more of a savory girl. Oats are perfect for that savory flavor! I love that they are appropriate for breakfast, lunch or dinner. What do you do when you have two very ripe need-to-be-used-TONIGHT avocados? Most people would say make a big batch of guacamole and usually I would share this train of thought. But I needed dinner and straight up did not feel like going to buy tortilla chips and binging on dip as a meal (don't get me wrong - it's totally happened before). So I looked around the fridge and realized I had some chicken stock and sour cream that were begging to be used, too. Enter avocado soup.
I knew it would be good, but this was GOOD! I mean I want it to be in my weekly meal rotation. The best part other than the tangy creamy soup itself? It's ridiculously easy and quick to make and contains few ingredients. Growing up, I was never a huge fan of steak. I found it chewy, tasteless, and hard to swallow. Now on the other hand, I LOVE the tenderness, juiciness, and full on flavor steak has to offer. Looking back on it (no offense, Mom and Dad!) I know my previous feelings towards red meat was because it was often overcooked to hockey puck status and not tenderized or marinated quite correctly.
I know a lot of people share the same experience. This post will help you to appreciate steak way more than you do now! And if you are already a steak lover then this post will give you some tips on bringing your steak to a whole new level of deliciousness! |
AuthorAli is a Brooklyn based blogger and Certified Health Coach with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, providing you with recipes to inspire you to cook more at home! She is a firm believer in knowing that eating healthy can be made easy and inexpensive if you simply know how to cook and understands that for the average person there needs to be balance between "healthy" and "unhealthy". Whether you are looking for easy weeknight recipes, delicious snacks, or want to try something new, Ali's recipes are easy to follow at all skill levels! For more info about Ali and her offerings, check out the About page. Categories
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