Come Pick Me Up, Come Take Me Out

Supporting local businesses!  Yeah, that's the ticket to indulging in take-out lunch specials on days when you could cook but you just can't bring yourself to do it.  You want to eat healthy, but you also want some indulgence.  You planned to plan ahead but you waited too long and now your stomach is making the choices.  If you cohabitate, this is a very familiar place to be.  One hopes the other will 'figure out the meal', so you wait it out and both come up with zeroes.  Grouchy and famished, decision-making can then turn dark.

This is the perfect time to surrender, admit you have no power and order out.  Of course you can still make semi-appropriate choices, like these vegetable heavy bowls (mine had glass noodles underneath, which are heavenly in their light sauce) from Yori Bowl.  Sure, I was weaker and chose the Korean fried chicken chunks in a delicious sauce while P went for the Spicy Pork.  I try not to have food regret, which is a delicate balance, because I also try not to get heavy in weight, as my short frame can't handle much extra stomach bulge or else I begin to feel constricted and lethargic.  

If your biggest problem is that you can't figure out what to eat for lunch, you must remind yourself that life is still pretty effing great.  

Don't Dream It's Over

Spaghetti Carbonara

A girl and her pasta. Pasta to women is like ponies for little girls.  I dreamed of a pasta diner that includes a slew of girly pasta dishes to delight in. I thought of a room made to look like a teen's bedroom with posters and record players, plants and colorful eccentric knick-knacks.  A place for girlfriends to chat for hours while slurping down oodles of noodles of every variety and of course a vintage dessert of the day.  I'd still love to eat at a place like that but also think a drive through pasta pick-up establishment could be awesome too.  A no nonsense biz where you could pick up a vat of piping hot pasta to-go in quart containers.  Only a few choices, but done very well.  

Any way you can get it, it's important to create a giant bowl for yourself and lavish in one of the many delicious classics.  

It's All for You

A simple Taco bowl is a great meal to make for yourself when you're feeling ill but need nourishment, something to stick to the gut and aid in restful sleep, but easy.  Spiced Ground turkey, cheesy beans with corn and hot sauce as the dressing, maybe some pickled jalapenos and sour cream over sturdy crunchy, cool lettuce brings all the textures together in a dish spicy enough to wake up your ailing taste buds, yet comforting.

Months later than this day, I watched Janet Jackson's reemergence after 7 years on the American Music Awards and she looked fabulous, age appropriate, cute as a button and her icon speech left me in tears.  She said sincerely to keep God close in whatever you do because that's where he wants to be.  I thought that was the best thing said in an award speech in ages.  She stressed hard work but more importantly that she was in it for the music, always as was her family and that fame should not be the driving force.  This year they wheeled out all the old broads, Gloria Estafan, Gwen Stefani (who also did a great job btw), Jen Lopez hosted the show and danced like she was 25, all well over 50 ladies.  And as SZA's ass and breasts tried to bust out and have their television debut, it was a reminder that the sexualization of women in all genres seems to be going backwards.  Some say by choice this time, but really? 

Sick as a Dog, What's Your Story?

A sick day dinner plate that was better than most meals I make while feeling well rested.  Roasted Briny Chicken over cheesy polenta, fresh green beans with mushrooms and sauteed cabbage with garlic.

Resting on the couch with a calm, sleeping cat is priceless, healing, zen hoodoo.

Riding to work feeling ill but still appreciating the first blooming trees of spring

Ducks on the pier reminding me to breathe and be still.

I See Your True Colors Shining Through

Cheeseburger on a Salad (sung to The Smith's Girlfriend in a Coma), I know, I know, it's serious.  But although still slightly awkward to eat, I was trying to improve on my lettuce cup burger because often I don't get enough lettuce.  I can live without the bun but I know there must be a better way to eat it. It's much more enjoyable to have a well dressed salad underneath with delicious bites of tomatoes, olives and manageable lettuce pieces.  I think the absolute best idea might be to cut the burger also in bite sized pieces next time and call it Cheese Burger Salad. 

House plant blooming for first time! 

First signs of spring in the hood

We've Been Together Since Way Back When

Birthday Korean Chicken with two sauces from the new spot, Yori Bowl, who went into the old, new Korean chicken spot, Chic Hen. They were great but didn't last that long. 

Steamed Dumplings

Birthday Carrot Cake Slice

Brooklyn has the best tiny markets that sell everything you'd ever want or need.  Mr Mango not only carries every vegetable but fresh pie and cake slices, as well as fresh baked cookies to die for and perfect for all the single people or occasions like this where we only need one slice of birthday cake. 

Delicious and calming Miso Soup

Earlier, a Black Bag Matinee and Breakfast at the Alamo.  THE BREAKFAST CLUB: Thick cut bacon, fried egg, Swiss cheese, lemon-garlic aioli, arugula, tomato, toasted bun, served with fries & ketchup and the FRIED EGG FRITO PIE: Fritos, Shiner chili, queso, cotija, sriracha sour cream & green onions topped with a fried egg.  The Frito Pie was exceptional and so much better than I imagined it to be.  

Which is similar to celebrating a birthday with your mate over 30 something times and enjoying it more than you ever imagined possible.  Love is being happy to see someone over and over and over.

There is No End to What We Can Do Together

Deluxe Fried Egg and Cheese Burger on Toast

With homemade shoestring fries 

This is a messy delight and best eaten with a knife and fork.
I love burgers and All the different ways you can prepare them and ingredients to put in them, finding what to pair them with.  I hope to never stop finding fun ways to make burgers.  

These fries were made from tiny potatoes julienned and shallow-fried in a pan because I couldn't bear a roasted potato, or bother to make potato salad.  But outside of the endless cutting, these were such a great idea because small like this it's harder to eat too many and you don't need to drown them in ketchup because they hold the perfect amount of seasoning.   

This is the Day of the Expanding Man

Freddy, who ran our favorite Mexican Food Truck, aptly named Freddy's Food Truck, retired to focus on his art, but will from time to time pitch a sidewalk tent nearby to sell homemade salsas and these tamales.  

Pictured with my homemade tacos, was half of a sweet peppery pork tamal.  His wife seasons the meat and tops with a roasted red, slightly sweetened pepper sauce. These were wrapped in banana leaves.  I admit, I am a bigger fan of corn husks because it's all about the corny masa for me.  But they also must have the right ratio of filler to masa in order to be extraordinary.  There's nothing worse than a thick dry lackluster tamal.  These were really good. I'll compare them to a surprisingly tasty ham and pineapple pizza when you really wanted pepperoni and mushroom. 

Stewed Chicken Tacos

No matter the filling, I'm a huge fan of the Test Kitchen way of taco'ing.  You need a ripping hot oven. Paint oil on your corn tortillas on both sides, cheese the bottom with your choice of melty cheese for 10 minutes (450) on a baking tray, then top them quickly before folding.  They are crispy, crunchy and the best part is you can make them all at once and serve right away.  I'm just realizing you could bean and cheese your Tostadas using this method and leave for another minute or so before topping.   What a time saver!  

I Will Be Loosened From Bonds That Hold Me Fast

St Patty's Irish Lamb Stew

I'll admit, I feel terrible for eating lamb.  We do eat eggs, which are technically baby chickens, so if you're ready to put on your judgy-mcjudgement hat, let's just take a moment to reflect.  After years on the east coast, Greek diners have lured me into eating this delicious meat but seldom have I ever made it at home and could count on my hands how many times in life I have partaken.  In San Francisco I recall being at the age where wearing fur and eating lamb could bring on violent acts against you, by me even.  The Smith's, Meat is Murder blaring from a cheap cassette player while trolling the Union Square area, down the street from my Tenderloin dwelling.  Those days are gone.  However, apparently, I still suffer from massive guilt from the symbolic and biblical meaning this incredibly adorable animal represents.  This stew was very special and healthier than a huge corned beef rack to celebrate the St Patrick's Day holiday and I assure you, nothing went to waste.  

As we age, we naturally eat less meat (or we're supposed to) and as farm raised, grass fed, free roaming meats are harder to afford, vegetarians we all might become. 

Cabbage Forward Chicken Vegetable Soup
And making the stew gave an excuse to use all the extra vegetables and to make a cabbage-forward chicken and vegetable soup.  If you're chopping up vegetables, why not make a second pot of something?  

Another fun idea was these Cheddar-nut Crackers that were full of butter and cheese, so there was little to not like about them.  I would freeze a roll to make for a second occasion like I did here, which made them even more special.  

Makin' Love Out of Nothing at All

We always have leftover curry sauce from take out, so I used that as my sauce for a quick ground turkey, vegetable stir fry to serve over left over rice.

Sometimes, these odd leftovers can become the best tasting because they are unexpected.  I only had red peppers, celery, chick peas, red onion on hand but a handful of toasted nuts, along with the delicious curry elevated this quickie dinner.  Enough to be a great for lunch box meal the next day.