Tuesday
Aug042009
Vegetarian Mexican Dinner
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 04:27PM Have some delicious Zucchini Michoacan Style...
...with some Crazy Potatoes on the side...
...and wash it all down with some Iced Hibiscus Tea.
DINNER MENU IDEAS
If you, like me, sometimes get bored with your usual repertoire, and need some fresh inspiration, the below contain meal ideas. Some are very basic, but the main focus for these ideas are usually just regular, daily meals, not necessarily the fanciest or most unusual. Some recipes are housed here, some are offsite, but all have been tried and liked. I try to focus on a) healthy-ish, b) not using too too many processed ingredients and c) things that can be made ahead and quickly prepared (what I call Slow Fast Food). I put meals under the "Dinner" category that might require a little more preparation than Lunch, but check out that one for even faster Slow Food for busy weeknights when you just might want to nuke your own homemade TV Dinner.
Right now they are arranged alphabetically below; you can click on the "Dinner Categories" in order to search by category. I've tried to add categories for the major or unusual ingredients. Eventually I hope there will be enough that you can head over to the categories and click on the ingredient in case you need an idea for how to use up some extra ingredients.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 04:27PM Sunday
Jun072009
Quick Middle Eastern Dinner
Sunday, June 7, 2009 at 12:56AM I don't have a picture of this handy, so you will have to use your imagination. So picture it:
- A hearty bowl of spicy and filling Red Lentil Soup with Harissa Paste and Smoked Paprika (that, maybe, you just grabbed from your freezer because you made a big batch in advance).
- Some storebought hummus and pita, the pita toasted up briefly in the oven so it's warm and a little crispy on the outside.
- A simple green salad dressed with Orange Pomegranate Molasses Dressing.
If you have a little extra time, maybe make a pitcher of Moroccan Mint Iced Tea on the side.
Sunday
Apr192009
Brown Rice and Vegetables, More Exciting Than You'd Think
Sunday, April 19, 2009 at 01:50PM This is a simple meal that is elevated by either of the two possible sauces to use as a topping.
One variety is the Carrot Dresssing, which is bright, tangy and flavorful.
The other is the Condiment Crank of Scallion Dipping Sauce, which is texturally thinner, but with an even more powerful flavor.
All you need to do is make some brown rice (any kind you like, and don't forget you can freeze so that you can heat up on a busy weeknight).
You can steam or stir-fry some veggies, throw them into the rice and pour on one of the two sauces.
Sunday
Apr192009
Teriyaki Salmon, Soba Noodle Soup and Green Salad with Carrot Dressing
Sunday, April 19, 2009 at 01:04PM 
Okay, I've got to send you three places for the recipes. Soup here, salmon here and salad dressing here.
Here's the strategy. First of all, I don't make my own teriyaki sauce, although you certainly could. I use the Soy Vay Teriyaki or the Trader Joe's version of it.
While the salmon is marinating, I make the soup. Now, if you don't have the kombu or the dashi, but do have some otherwise flavorful stock, I don't think the world would end if you skipped the broth prep stage and just followed the rest of the steps (so skip the first batch of ingredients and the first paragraph of instructions). Don't skip the miso, though. Good flavor and it lasts for a long time in the fridge so worth buying if you don't have the ingredient on hand.
I also skip the tofu since I am getting my protein from the salmon. If you are vegetarian, you could, of course, skip the salmon and the dashi and use the tofu.
The carrot dressing is, quite frankly, a bit more involved than I am capable of doing on a hungry weeknight, but it will last several days in the fridge. So I'd make it on a weekend and then use it during the week (DELICIOUS over brown rice and steamed veg).