Fun Friday Foods

October (so far) has given us spectacular weather and the chance to explore our new town a bit more. Last night we were able to take a 2+ hour long walk in the 80° fall sun. With the help of the trusty gps on our phones we were able to wander around different neighborhoods and see some amazing houses without having to think about how we would find our way home. 

Technology really spoils us.

When we got back home we decided it would be a nice night for some pasta with a homemade tomato/red wine sauce. This sweet sauce is well complimented by a slightly more savory chicken. To top our flavors off for the evening we also had whole wheat bread and a balsamic/olive oil dip:

All together a very enjoyable meal :)

For lunch we had some very different flavors from our dinner:

Chicken with mexican flavored spices, cheddar cheese and peppers on top of a homemade ranch flat bread. 

 

It looks a like pizza, but it definitely didn't taste like it!

YUM!!!!

All we do is eat! ....ok, not really, but it is time for some salad!

I am sure to anyone who may read this that it probably seems as though all we do here is eat. This is not true, but it does feel like it some days.

Today was one of those days. 

Tummy grumbles were coming from across the room under a pile of medical school lectures and I was thinking, oh my, I guess it is that time again...but the thought of eating something heavy seemed overwhelming. 

Which meant...it was time for some salad! I could have just put some spinach in a bowl and called it lunch, but of course I did not. I am sure once I find a job that consumes more of my time, meals will not be quite as elaborate as I make them now...but that is not now. So, for lunch...spinach salad with shrimp and baby peppers tossed in a homemade lemon cilantro vinaigrette and lovingly placed in a whole wheat tortilla bowl.

A meal that met my requirement of vegetables, while still squeezing that shrimp in there to give him some meat :)

First I took our whole wheat tortillas and brushed a thin layer of olive oil, and shaped them in small glass oven safe bowls. I baked them at 325 °F for about 20 minutes. When they came out of the oven they were nice and crispy and perfectly shaped bowls for a small salad:

While those were baking, I made the vinaigrette (apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, cilantro, garlic, green onions, parsley, olive oil, and about a tsp of sour cream).

I sliced baby peppers, which just add such a beautiful punch of color to any meal:

 I sautéd our shrimp with green onions for a little extra flavor:

 Lastly, I tossed the spinach and peppers with the vinaigrette, placed it all in the tortilla bowls, and poof: a healthy lunch was ready. 

Now on to the rest of the day!

......before I start scheming dinner that is.....

 

Friday Foods: Lunch and Dinner

 

Today's lunch: Turkey Bruschetta

On most days I am lucky enough to be graced with the presence of my lovely husband at the lunch hour (he gets an hour break and we live close to the school). It is a nice midpoint to the day, and another reason for me to make a meal...as though I really need another reason...

With that said, it also means planning a meal I can get ready quickly or have done by the time he gets home so we are able to enjoy our food rather than wolf it down before he heads back to the salt mines (ahem, I mean class).

I quickly learned while we were still dating that in most cases, to him, it is not really a meal unless there is some form of meat involved. So today I took a little twist on something we both really enjoy: the bruschetta burger. We usually use ground turkey instead of beef for these (less fat and still yummy) and top the patty with bruschetta toppings. Well today, I decided instead to make it as I would regular bruschetta only incorporating the ground turkey on our multigrain bread. 

The result was very similarly flavored to our regular bruschetta burger, just in a bite size package :)

 Hours later, after a trip to the grocery store (where I am convinced they probably think I am shopping for a family of ten...but our groceries last us a week and a half to two weeks...) it was time for dinner.

Tonight's food of choice: Chicken Quesadillas and Cheesy Cilantro Rice 

(with sweet mini peppers)

Quesadillas are always a favorite of a certain husband of mine, but we don't have them exactly the same every time. Tonight's version was on a whole wheat tortilla and was baked in the oven for a delightful, yet healthier crunch than frying them. All and all a pretty good meal, especially with a nice beer on the side.

A little P.S.

The dinner of choice for last night was lightly breaded chicken and mashed potato stuffed yellow bell peppers with a red wine vinegar sauce. Here's a little peek:

Not a great picture...but it was pretty yummy!