Most uninspired week ever....at least it ends on a good note.

I am so disappointed in our dinners this week. I have no pictures to share because I couldn't even bear to take any. The MP gets best husband award for not complaining at all, and even telling me that he actually liked everything.

With my prowess in the kitchen, I wondered whatever could be to blame for this depressingly bland week. What have I come up with? Well, it's got to be the cookbook, of course! I am pretty bummed, because I got this cookbook as a wedding gift and had really high hopes for it. The beef stroganoff I made a few weeks ago was from here, but short of that recipe, I can't think of one other that I've actually found to be a keeper.

This week, we had Vietnamese Clay Pot Fish & Indian Lamb Curry with Spinach. Seriously, they were both so boring that I can't even take the time and effort to type out the recipes!

At least I've ended the week on a good note. Tonight, using the base from an epicurious recipe that I really like, I made a wonderful if I do say so myself stir fry.

First, I started some brown rice. Then, I chopped up some veggies we had on hand - about 1 1/2 c broccoli, 1/2 medium sized red pepper, and about 1/4 c shredded carrots and 3 garlic cloves. I sauteed these in about 1-2 tablespoons of peanut oil for about 10 minutes. Next, I added about 1lb of shrimp, and sauteed for about 3 more minutes until the shrimp were pink.

I scooped everything out of the pan in a bowl and set it aside, and added another teaspoon of peanut oil and some red pepper flakes to taste. After that cooked for a moment, I added about 1c orange juice and 1/4c soy sauce and let that cook down until it was thickened.

I finally added back in the stir fry veggies and shrimp tossing to coat. It was so tasty - a little sweet and a little spicy. This recipe would work justas well with any veggies or meat we had on hand.

Since I don't want a repeat of last week, I have gone back to old trusty and am looking forward to a couple tried and true dinners, with only one new recipe this week. On the menu:
Slow-Cooker Chicken Posole (not from old trusty, but tried and true nonetheless)
Coconut Shrimp Soup
Beef Bulgogi - recipe to follow later in the week.
and the newbie (since I have pureed squash):
Enchiladas with Pumkin Sauce

I'll definitely take more pictures this week, what's a food blog without pictures, anyway?!?!

Always good to have a plan...

My mom is coming to visit from Nashville this weekend, and I am planning to have her take the MP and I out to dinner on Saturday night (don't think she knows this yet!). But the rest of the weekend should include lots of cooking.

I got this as a wedding gift, and know my mom thinks she wants one too. So, we'll definitely be making Ebelskivers at least once this weekend. I am thinking we'll try apple-filled ones for fall...plus I get overly enthusiastic at the farmers market most weeks, and so I am still trying to use up stuff from last week, since I am headed back tomorrow!

On Sunday, we'll definitely spend some time in the kitchen. My dad isn't a big seafood fan, so I think we'll make scallops, which my mom loves. I would usually serve with vegetable risotto, but I think I want to try some more fall veggies, so I am going to make Turnip Gratin. For dessert, we'll have this tasty looking Upside Down Pear Chocolate Cake.

After she heads back on Monday, I am going to try my hand at one of my all time favorite comfort foods, which I have never attempted making...Chicken & Dumplings. At a meat & three, if chicken & dumplings is on the menu, I may as well not bother looking at it, because my decision is made. I am pretty excited to see how these turn out. It seems to be a pretty time intensive process with cooking a whole chicken, shredding it, making the broth, and the dumplings.

Tuesday, we'll have Beef Stroganoff (again...raiding the freezer of meat I've had for a bit) and I am going to also make the MP's very favorite cookies. I use the recipe as a base and add about any combination of mixings you can think of (dried cherries or cranberries, nuts, white or milk chocolate chips, etc). A batch never lasts more than two days, unless I hide some of them!

Wednesday, I have yoga class in the evening, so it'll be leftovers for the MP.

I can't think of what to have Thursday, so I think I will hold off on the hope that we have leftovers still by then - or else see if there's something at the market tomorrow that strikes me. Usually, as I am walking around I remember something I haven't had in awhile that sounds good (maybe some pork loin or chops...).

Guess I am going to head off to the gym for a little pre-emptive workout considering I am going to consume more than my fair share of heavy creams, cheeses, pastas, desserts over the next few days.