KZ Kitchen

Dinner didn't make it to the table quite as speedily as it did on Monday night. I had to stop at Wells Fargo for quarters on the way home, so we ate at 5:05p.m. instead of 4:35p.m. While waiting in line, we all watched the barefoot contessa make butternut squash tortellini with cranberry-nut topping. Boiling pasta was part of my plan for the evening, but with chicken, peppers, plaintain and peanut sauce.

 

When I got home, Joel made use of the quarters, by starting a load of laundry, while I chopped my ingredients. Coconut milk and peanut stir-fry sauce worked well to bring the meat, veggies, and whole grain pasta together.

 

 

That's all for today from this slippered contessa.

 

 

 

Adjusting to a 40-hour work week isn't easy. However, a thoughtful husband makes things run more smoothly.

Joel has lightened the load by offering assistance with the housework, now that we are both gone from 6:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This afternoon I left St. Louis Park at 3:25p.m and we had supper on the table by 4:35p.m.

No, it wasn't all leftovers! Joel husked the corn, while I snapped the fresh green beans. The ciabatta bread warmed in the toaster oven while I sliced the steak and seasoned it with Canadian Steak Seasoning, red wine vinegar, and lime flavored olive oil. I sliced half an onion and sauteed the rings in olive oil while the vegetables steamed on the stove top. While the steak sizzled in the George Foreman grill I melted butter to season the corn and green beans. A dollop of ( store bought, I must confess) potato salad completed the meal.

 

 

 

Although I have to admit that I turned on the oven and baked bread today, I realize that not everyone is comfortable heating up their home on humid summer days.

 

So, what do you do when you're in the mood for something creamy like flan, but are somewhat convicted that being eco-friendly and not cranking up the air conditioning might be a good idea?

 

The International Aisle at your grocery store might have an answer. I picked up a plastic packet of orage colored crystals on one of my trips to Cub Foods several weeks ago. This week I finally convinced myself that I should try to prepare the egg nog flavored gelatin dessert.

 

All you have to do, is dissolve the contents of the packet in boiling milk, then let it cool in the fridge for a couple of hours.

Instructions are in English as well as Spanish.

 

 

 

For a while, Joel requested pico made with freshly chopped cilantro, tomato, onion and jalapeno in his weekday lunches.

When chips were buy-one-get-one bag a week or so back, I bought one bag of scoops and the other something new, multigrain. The seasoning on the "healthy" chips is good. The strength of the chip for dipping is not so great.

 

More recently, he has come home having decided that he needs to eat fruit and vegetables for lunch. Yogurt with tart raspberries, cubes of fresh cantelope, slices of cucumber... 

 

Mid morning, today, an email chimed in the inbox on our computer: "Oh this vegetable thing is terrible."

 

He decided that I deserve to go out to eat tonight, since I worked so hard entertaining friends this weekend.

 

We'll probably end up at La Casita since I've got a coupon and since it is relatively close to where we live.

 

What should I order?