Tasty Tuesday: Grilled Zucchini Orzo

One food that I obsess over each summer is zucchini. I love it. I can't get enough of it, even when the garden is overflowing with zucchini and it's coming out of our ears, I can't wait to eat more of it. It genuinely is one of my favorite foods; as a child, I loved loved loved fried zucchini (oh of course I still do!), but now that I have grown up (a little), I have branched out and found that I love zucchini in all of its ways: masked in casseroles, hidden in desserts, showcased as a steamed side, with a bit of pasta, with a bit of quinoa, with a few mushrooms, with a little salt, breaded and baked and dipped in tomato sauce...well, you get the idea.

This summer, I have been doing my best to eat as clean as possible (while allowing room for cheats of ice cream and other goodies - what's life if you can't enjoy food, am I right?!). Going along with clean eating, I have discovered a new recipe for zucchini that I am currently maybe a bit too excited about. I have, in fact, made this dish three times in the past week (I can't help myself, really).

So, without further adieu, I give you: Grilled Zucchini Orzo

Grill 3 cubed zucchini and 2 diced onions in a small amount of olive oil until nice. Boil up some orzo (I make the entire box, but that might be a bit much for you!) and cook as directed. Chop up about a half a cup of fresh basil, 2 cups of arugula, and a red pepper if that's your style (not for me - no thanks). Drain the orzo, add it to the grilled veggies, toss in the basil/arugula/pepper, add in a bit of salt and pepper and your desired amount of balsamic vinegar before plating. Top the pasta dish with sprinkles of Mediterranean mix Feta Cheese and enjoy. You can thank me later.

It's so quick and easy, yet so flavorful and delicious, it's no wonder why I've had the urge to cook it so often while I'm in full-on study mode! 

Hope you enjoy!!!! :)

Tasty Tuesdays: Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

It's been a while, but we're back! Tasty Tuesday for this week will showcase some cinnamon rolls I made for Sunday Brunch with my family this past weekend. I even saved a few to give to Mike when he returned from his coaching weekend in Kentucky! AND they were delicious!

2 packets of yeast mixed into 2 cups of 110degree F water, adding 1 egg, 1/2 cup sugar and 3cups whole wheat flour + 3 cups self-rising flour. Knead together and let sit until rising into double the original size. 

Roll out into a rectangle, splash some melted butter and cinnamon/sugar mixture on top, and roll the rectangle up. 

Cut into preferred sizes using some floss (easy to cut without smashing the dough and ruining its shape). Bake in 400degree F oven for 15-18minutes. Glaze with a simple vanilla icing and enjoy!

Tasty Tuesday

Well, week 2 of our low fat diet plan has now passed us. Since we were with family for most of the previous week, the meals had been put on hold, but now they've been made and enjoyed and free to be shared with you!



I'm loving the fact that I have meals chosen for the week and the necessary ingredients available in the pantry. I love to have something nice cooking for Mike when he comes in at night (who would have ever thought that I could be a medical student and a loving, kitchen-friendly girlfriend at the same time!). I also love when we get to cook together - which isn't always very feasible considering our little kitchen space. NOTE: when we move to the UK and get our first house, it will need a nice big kitchen for the two of us to cook dinner together!

Also, we started our first class at the gym today, 20-20-20. It was easier than I anticipated, but I know I'll be sore tomorrow in all of the muscles that my running has ignored!

Fresh Veggies for a Pita-Pizza; Spaghetti with turkey/fresh salad/garlic bread; cilantro and sweet tilapia over rice; garlic and sweet chicken; spicy enchiladas, and a background of fresh guacamole with oven-baked chips.

Tasty (FAT) Tuesday

Joyeux Mardi Gras, tout le monde! I can't believe it's that time of the year again already...it honestly feels like we've just celebrated new year. Crazy how life continues to fly by despite our desires to slow it down.

I love fat Tuesday. Going to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras is on my to-do list for next year. If we are in the states, we will make it there. Sorry, medical school, but I need my celebrating with parades, beer, and amazingly delicious french/cajun food. I can't even imagine how much fun it would be! So for the time being, Mike & I celebrated with a nice workout sesh followed by an overindulgence in Paczkis (Polish donuts that are traditionally eaten on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday). No King's Cake in sight, and we didn't even make pancakes in honor of England's tradition for today - affectionately called "Pancake Day". Well, maybe it'll be a night snack - lent begins tomorrow so I need to fatten up as best I can today! ;)  And I LOVE english pancakes - its a mixture of flour, egg, and milk that results in a thin little thing reminiscent of a french crepe. We sprinkle some squeezed lemon juice and sugar on top to finish it off. It's delicious. If I'm dying for chocolate, some Nutella spread over the crepe with some sliced bananas really hit the spot.

Of course I have more to tell you about than just Fat Tuesday traditions! If you remember from last week, we decided to follow a menu for our nightly dinners. It has been phenomenal. I'm back in the kitchen cooking again, which means that I am finally working with my hands (despite being on my psych rotation!).

And, since it's not super-healthy cooking like I sometimes do in the kitchen, Mike actually likes what I make (he always turns down my baked whitefish with grilled asparagus and wild rice). So, here's a little spread of what we've enjoyed in the past week. Apologies for the photo quality, they were only taken from my I-Phone!

BBQ roast with sweet potato; BBQ Tortillas; Fisherman's Stew; Chicken Quesadillas, Beef Stir Fry; Kale & Mushroom Breakfast Bake; Fruit Medley; Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread; and Chicken Pasta Salad.

Tasty Tuesdays: Sun-Ripened Salmon

For today's Tasty Tuesday, we have a simple salmon dish that is quick, healthy, and really delicious. I recently invited a few friends over for dinner and served this - and it was a hit, especially with a health-conscious crowd!

Heat oven to 350degrees. Take 1lb of Salmon and place into an oiled pan, skin down. Spread some minced garlic, salt, and pepper onto the salmon. Then, add about a half of a cup of sun-ripened tomato dressing onto the salmon. Add a bag of cleaned spinach, diced tomatoes, diced mushrooms and a bit more of the dressing into the pan. Pop the whole thing in the oven for about 30 minutes (just check the salmon temperature before taking it out - it shouldn't come out dry unless you over cooked it!). Plate the salmon with plenty of vegetables, grab yourself a glass of Moscato or Reisling or Pinot Grigio and enjoy. It really is that easy. And it is so yummy, too. Oh and did I mention how healthy it is? Talk about a low-cal, high fiber, high antioxidant/vitamin meal!!!

The Vegetables & Salmon before cooking:

The Vegetables & Salmon after cooking:

It may not look like much, but it is so flaky and full of flavor, with lots of delicious veggies, the photo definitely doesn't do it justice! You'll have to take my word for it ;)

This is one of our favorites - the only complaint is that we can't afford to have it often enough!

Tasty Tuesday: Lucky New Year Dinner

After celebrating the end of another year with glasses of champagne, nothing tastes better on New Year's Day than sauerkraut and sausage. It's a tradition of my family (now a tradition in our family) to eat this meal, so that the new year may bring good fortune and progress. I know many cultures do many different things (Spanish eat 12 grapes at midnight to signify the passed 12 months - some sour, some sweet), and growing up with strong German heritage meant, among many other things, new years sauerkraut and sausage.

I made a variation of my moms classic, but grilled some onions and the bratwursts before combining with steamed sauerkraut. It was exactly what I needed to start this new year off on the right foot!

Happy New Year!

Best wishes for a wonderful 2012!

We had a fun NYE with a few friends at our apartment...normally Mike & I are up for getting dressed to the nines, hair done, and going to some upscale affair for our New Year's Eve, but that really wasn't a possibility for us this year. So instead, we had some friends round ours for a fondue night and games. The food was delicious, and it took hours to eat. If you know anything about me, you know I like to really take my time with food. I love slow dinners that take hours to finish. There's nothing better than a beautiful meal slowly shared between those you love.

Appetizer: Cheese Fondue

with bread, broccoli, carrots, apples, and pears

 Appetizer: Brie Pastry with Jam

on crackers

Main: Steak, Shrimp, and Chicken with Broccoli and Mushrooms

with a Jerk Dipping Sauce

Dessert: Raspberry Dark Chocolate Fondue
with strawberries, marshmallows, bananas, and cake

Ben & Gina 

Mikey

Me

Happy New Year!!!!

We played "The Game of Things" and some Cranium, ate too much food, drank too much champagne, laughed too hard, and stayed up too late...a pretty successful end to another great year!

Tasty Tuesday: Christmas Dinner

For Christmas, Mike & I were in charge of making a few desserts...

Mike chose to make Mince Pie, which we made entirely from scratch. The dough was a shortbread sort of crust, which was so delicious but so crumbly, it was hard to put the top of the pie on but we made it work! It turned out perfectly, looked pretty and tasted just like a Mince Pie you'd eat in England. Since we don't have double cream here, we made-do with some heavy whipping cream that we whipped up and put on top before devouring the pie - and that worked quite well actually. Every Christmas that we spend in the US we make an English classic, which helps it feel a little bit more like "Christmas at home" for Mike (two years ago we made Cherry Bakewell Tarts!). It's no Christmas Dinner, but it's a little something to remind us of England!






I have been dying for some chocolate/peppermint dessert, and finally decided on making a Triple Chocolate Cupcake with touches of Peppermint. I made chocolate cupcakes, poured them into their molds and placed one peppermint kiss into the center and baked until done. Then I made a standard icing (powdered sugar, vanilla, butter, and cream cheese), spread the icing and sprinkled crushed peppermint candy canes over the top. Tasted like a Chocolate Christmas Candy Cane, yummm! :)

 For Christmas Eve, as tradition has it, our family got together for dinner and to open presents. This year, we decided to make it as homemade as possible - and the meal was delicious. Mike made a comment about how we should have that meal as our wedding meal because "it's nicer than any wedding meal I've ever had"!haha It was so nice to have a delicious meal with our family all sat around Mom & Dad's table. Being with family - that's what Christmas is all about!!!! ;)

Andrea made rolls with a cream cheese/sour cream plus vegetable topping.

She even shaped it into a Christmas wreath!

Salad with fruit, Christmas Cookies, Cranberry Salad, Puppy Chow

Ham with pineapples, pears, peaches, raisins, and brown sugar - absolutely delicious!!!

The Dinner Table's Centerpiece, one of Dad's Christmas Gifts to Mom

The Family gathered around the Table for Christmas Dinner: