Menu Recap

Last week's meals were as follows:

Monday Dinner: Tomato Florentine Soup with fresh Bread {Recipe adapted from Good Life Eats}. This was a great recipe. Unfortunately my camera setting was messed up so some of this week's pics are kind of crappy. Daniel gave it 4.42/5 stars.

 

 

For dessert I made these Outrageous Oreo Chocolate Brownies {Recipe adapted from Erin's Food Files}. Daniel gave it 4.7/5 stars. I was a little disappointed that the Oreo flavor wasn't stronger.

Tuesday Dinner: Stuffed Bell Peppers {Recipe courtesy of my friend Laura}. Daniel gave this 4.5/5 stars which is high considering it was a vegetarian dish.

 

Wednesday Dinner: Daniel and I went running {getting in some last minute training for my upcoming half marathon}. Afterward we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant, Buena Vistas, and split the Mex Tex Fajitas.

 

 

Thursday Dinner: Blackened Chicken with Rice and Sauteed Zucchini {Recipe courtesy of my mom}. This is a family favorite and one of the first meals I made for Daniel when we were dating. Daniel gave it 4.75/5 stars. 

 

Friday Dinner: We met up with Daniel's family at Cheddars in Smyrna, TN. I had the Smokehouse Burger and Daniel had Salmon. It was a great visit with family.

 

Saturday Lunch: We spent the rest of Easter weekend at my sister's place in Hermitage, TN. My parents came up from Arkansas and my brother dropped by as well. My brother-in-law made us Grilled BBQ Chicken and Corn on the Cob. My sister made a Strawberry and Almond Salad. Scrumptious.

Saturday Dinner: Some of my extended family came over to my sister and brother-in-laws for Pizza and Games. I made a Meat Pizza and two Supreme Pizzas. My brother made an Alfredo Pizza. And my aunt provided a Veggie tray.

 

Sunday Lunch: My B-I-L made a Potroast with Carrots and Mashed Potatoes and Gravy {my sister is a lucky woman}. 

 

Sunday Dinner: We picked up a pizza from Papa John's after we made it home.

My Cooking Dilemma/52 Books: Book 3

I have a problem. I really like to cook {and bake}. I like to try new things {as in there are very few recipes that I make more than once} and most of the recipes I want to try are not exactly healthy. Daniel and I both need to be healthier... therein lies my dilemma.

In addition, I just purchased my copy of Pioneer Woman's cookbook. I know that it has been out for a while, but I don't generally purchase books {especially cookbooks} when I have access to the ENTIRE internet as a resource. But I gave in. I love PW and decided it was worth supporting her by purchasing her book. I just read the entire cookbook front to back. It is filled with pictures and stories from her blog. As a cook, I can't wait to try many of the recipes. As a graphic designer, I have a hard time not cringing at the layout. But I still love PW and I don't regret buying her cookbook.

In addition to my new cookbook, I have recently discovered several new cooking blogs and have bookmarked recipes to try. But when do I try them? These recipes are not exactly healthy...

There's Confections of a Foodie Bride and her recipes like Dulce De Choco-Leche Cake.

Or this Mocha Crunch Oatmeal from Erin's Food Files.

Or these Thanksgiving Two-Fer Bars from Beantown Baker. It doesn't matter that Thanksgiving is passed... pumpkin and pecan is delicious any time of year.

I'm really struggling here. Even the recipes that would constitute a meal are not exactly healthy. I guess that the best plan of attack is to stick with the healthy meals as much as possible and occasionally splurge on a not-so-healthy recipe {and send the leftovers to work with Daniel to share with his co-workers}.