Nothin’ Special Dinner

(I wrote this post last night, but I couldn’t connect to the Internet.  Better late than never!)

My boyfriend gets off work later some nights.  So, I cook dinner for one.  This is great because I can cook whatever I want and don’t have to worry about cooking something he won’t like.  Plus if it turns out bad, I don’t feel bad about making a gross meal. 

I still have some of these fabulous noodles!

Plus, I had some leftover spaghetti sauce from something I made early in the week….. Hmmm……??……..??………  I totally went blank as to why the sauce was in the fridge.  Hope it wasn’t too old.  Well, I didn’t get sick…so, I assume it was ok.  Aaaaand, it tasted good… that’s what really counts. Right?

I also had some edamame in the freezer.  It sounds good and simple.  So, I warmed up a bowl and sprinkled it with salt.  Voila!  Dinner!

  Simple, but still good!

I am looking forward to Thanksgiving!  It’s at my brother and sister-in-law’s house this year.  I’m thankful that I have such a loving family to spend the holidays with!  I wish my boyfriend was joining us, but his family is spending Thanksgiving at his uncle’s this year.  :(  I’m glad we both get to be with our families though. 

Does anyone else have trouble planning the holidays with different families?

Seafood Lasagna

1 cup chicken broth

1 pound bay scallops

1 pound shrimp

8 oz crabmeat

white pepper to taste

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

1 1/2 cup milk

salt to taste

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Parmesan cheese

9 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained

 

In a large skillet add broth and bring to a boil.  Add the scallops, shrimp, crab and pepper.  Return to boil.  Reduce heat; simmer for about 4-5 minutes.  Drain, reserving cooking liquid. 

In a saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter; stir in flour until smooth.  combine milk and reserved cooking liquid; gradually add to the saucepan.  Add salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Remove from heat; stir in cream and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.  Stir 3/4 cup white sauce into seafood mixture. 

 

Spread 1/2 cup white sauce in a greased 13x9x2 baking dish.  Top with three noodles.

 

Spread with half seafood mixture and 1 1/4 cup sauce.

Repeat layers.  Top with remaining noodles, sauce and Parmesan.

 

Bake; uncovered at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.  Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting. 

 

Or don’t wait and pile it on your plate like a blob!  If you are willing to try a non-traditional lasagna, I think you will like it.  My boyfriend wasn’t crazy about it.  I think he didn’t like the combo of seafood and lasagna, but I thought it was yummy!  Fattening, but yummy!

Add some peas and it’s health food!  Right?!?!

 

Gotta Freakin’ Try This!

I got this fruit and nut bar in Boston at Whole Foods.  I loved loved loved it! 

I have to find some more of these!  It was so good!

Best-Ever Potato Soup

This is the actually name of the recipe.  It is in a Taste of Home Cookbook.  I have to say it is extremely yummy!

6 bacon strips, diced

Chicken broth

3 cups cubed peeled potatoes

1 grated carrot

1 chopped onion

Dried parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

3 tablespoons flour

2 cups milk

1 cup sour cream

8 oz Velveeta

Cook bacon.

Add broth, vegetables and seasoning to large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Combine flour, milk and sour cream until smooth; add to soup. Bring to a boil and stir for about 2 minutes. Add cheese and bacon. Stir until cheese is melted and soup is heated through.

 

The boiling soup looks kind of creepy, but it tastes delicious once it is done.

  

Weekend Hike with the Pups

The other end of the Scale… (Pun Intended)

So, I am reading Portia’s book.  It’s all about eating disorders and self control.  Then on TV last night and the night before, I have seen programs about obesity.  Hence, reading a book about starving yourself and watching TV about gorging yourself. 

The first show I saw was on TLC.  (Of course, TLC has all those weird reality shows… I hate/love Sister Wives, but that’s for another day). 

It featured an obese couple trying to have a baby.  She was unable to get pregnant because her weight caused her to be on irregular cycles.  They also showed an obese woman who was pregnant and had to get a c-section.  Not to be mean, but both stories were kind of boring.  HEL-LO… Reality TV… I want lots of drama…

I saved the best for last… A metro-sexual obese man.  He would spend hours in the morning fixing his hair in bed.  Applying product (and, yes, he did use the word “product”) … Blow drying…  Brushing… Blow drying… Hair spray… Blow drying… etcetera etcetera etcetera, but I guarantee it included a lot of blow drying. 

He was also invited to a church to sing.  Guess what this means?!?!  New outfit!!  (Insert girl scream here)  So, he, of course, had to go fabric shopping with his wife.  (YAY!)  It looked as though he could barely walk because of his weight; therefore, he had to use a wheelchair.  Since he is in a wheelchair, it was his wife and her sister running around the fabric shop showing him dozens of fabric samples.   

Then, his wife slaved overnight to make him some sort of brown vest and outfit.  (Unfortunately, I missed the end result.)  All the while, he demanded dinner and a refill because I am assuming he could not physically get it himself.  I quote, “My cup NOT runneth over.”  (shaking his glass and wanting a refill on his drink). 

Summary:  An overweight pre-madonna.  I have so many opinions… I am bursting at the seams… (Again, pun intended), but I will just leave you with my description of the show and let you judge accordingly. 

OBESE SHOW NUMBER TWO

Last night, I saw the Heart Attack Grill on the Travel Channel (?).  (I can’t remember.  It seems like all the channels have shows about food now.) 

Apparently, they put lard on all their burgers and cook the fries in lard.  BLECH!  Not only does this sound really gross and just made me vomit in my mouth a little, but I hate the word lard.

Here’s the kicker:  If you are over 350 pounds, you eat for free…  yea… no words…

Thanksgiving Preparations

I usually go over to my brother’s in-laws for Thanksgiving.  It’s usually a pretty good crowd.

Of course, everyone brings a dish.  This year, I am responsible for the green bean casserole. 

I think they give me this dish because it’s easy and not hard to mess up.  Plus, I have to travel about three hours.  I need to google the recipe.  Anyone have a to-die-for green bean casserole recipe to impress my family?