expand my cooking realm

I’ve mentioned before, I’m more adept at cooking things I do not instead of do eat. I need to work on that!

One day, HB asked if I could help him eat healthier. I danced at the request!!! Yes I did notice the adorable protrusion at his waist (think: Winnie the Pooh!), but I just continued to make him dishes from the incredibly small list of things he will eat without pushing him to eat well, so you can imagine how ecstatic I was to finally stop making mac n cheese on a weekly basis. So, I’m expecting a spike of entries to commence very soon under this goal. Even if it’s stuff I don’t eat.

Pork Chops. He likes his meat simple, as in no sauces and no garnishes, so I prepared this with a very simple salt and pepper rub. He loved it, but requested a different rub. The other day I found one that had the cutest little pig drawn on the label and so we’ll see how he likes this new rub tonight!

Sausage and Shrimp Linguine with Vodka Sauce. It was supposed to be Portuguese Chorizo and Shrimp, not sausage, but my local market didn’t seem to have what I needed, so sausage it was. It was pretty simple to make, but HB claims that it was the most delicious thing I’ve ever made! (I love that man, I tell you!) Paired with my famous garlic bread, the heavenly look on his face would have made it a prime moment for me to hustle anything I wanted out of that man (Chanel handbag? Jimmy Choo boots? A dog?), but I failed to capitalize on that moment.

I actually made this awhile ago (Nov. 20 to be exact!) during one of the evenings HB had a business dinner. Mmm!

Baked tilapia (who knew it was this easy to make fish!), roasted veggies, sauteed spinach, steamed broccoli and rice. And yes, it was all for ME!!!!

Baked cranberries for dessert. No sharing!

I toasted some Ezekiel bread for the first time. Does that count? ;-)

Roasted eggplant, red bell pepper, yellow squash, baby carrots, zucchini. Mmm!

Green Beans, Tofu and Bok Choy Stir fry

I can cook and bake a number of things, but the problem is, most of it I don’t eat.

For instance, my steak marinade. Everyone’s who’s tried it raves about it (especially HB who is a steak connoisseur). I can also make delicious chicken in a variety of ways. I have a few tasty beef recipes too. So what’s the problem? I’m a vegetarian!

And then there’s the baking stuff. I make a mean pumpkin pie and cheesecake, but I’ve since shaped my life to eat as clean as possible. Doh!

I recently ordered some delicious Chinese stir-fry and while they were absolutely delicious, the sodium levels killed me. That’s when I realized that if I wanted to continue to eat healthy, I will need to expand my small circle of things I do eat and cook my own stuff. Not only will this venture make my tastebuds dance, but I will also have it made exactly I need it to nutritionally!

New Recipes
Sautéed Spinach with Garlic
Eggplant in Hot Garlic Sauce
Sautéed Green Beans
Sautéed Shrimp