Messy Minute Dinner: fake sopes and mint rice

Last week we had a meal created totally out of necessity. I had fallen behind on my grocery shopping and suddenly the clock struck five. It was do or die. Start cooking or surely perish under the regime of a tantruming toddler. I found some ready made Polenta in my fridge. I buy this as Trader Joe's. I normally cook it with Marinera Sauce. But as luck would have it, I was out of the red stuff ( I have been sticking to not buying tomato sauce when a healthier more economical, and better tasting version can be made at home) Instead, I came to see the Polenta for what it really was, CORN! I lightly coated the medallions with olive oil and threw them on the grill outside. Meanwhile I steamed some brown rice and cooked up a can of black beans. I mashed the beans in the pan. I put all the mint I had in the blender with a splash of water. My friend Jason suggested the blender was better then the knife and he was right, the mint stays greener longer! I mixed the mint sauce into my rice. I diced a tiny bit of garlic into it and cooked it together for a short while. Just until I felt the mint had stuck to the rice. Once the polenta cakes were done I treated them like sopes. I topped them with beans and some grape tomato salsa I conjured up with onion, lemon (I was out of limes!), cilantro and sea salt. I sliced a some avocado onto them and served the rice on the side. It was such a good dinner. I can't wait to make it again with more time and a better selection of ingredients. They were beyond messy to eat, and I think that's why Nico loved them all the more.

Dinner Time: Pizza and Mache

Tonight I took it easy and had pizza for dinner. I bought a pretty decent frozen pizza with whole wheat flour and no additives, like soy or sugar, from Whole Foods. I steamed some broccoli and then finely chopped it and coated the cooked pizza with it. I usually use a knife to work the veg into the hot cheese, right when the pizza comes out of the oven, so that it all melts together. I also made Nico a Mache salad. Its also known as lamb's ear greens. Some avocado, carrots, grape tomato, with oil and balsamic. He ate a large bowl with his hands and was begging for more. I really suggest trying Mache for the baby in your house. It's so soft, its fun to eat.

Set it and Forget it

This is one of my favorites for dinner. I love roasting any hardy veggies I have in the fridge. I usually do a medley of Potato( cut into fries), Brussel Sprouts (cut in half), Carrot (matchsticked), and thickly sliced Red Onion. Now in winter I can add Parsnips too! This week I'll add beets to the mix, but off to the side so as not to stain the entire meal. I toss it all in Olive Oil, salt and pepper and roast it uncovered on a sheet at 425 for about 1 hour. It can serve as a main dish or as a side to portobello burgers is a fave around here. The house smells divine and the work is minimal. Nico loves this mix and nothing gives me greater joy then seeing him eat his veg. Any veggies you would add?

Wednesday Night Supper

Last night we had broccoli raab bruschetta. It's a favorite around here. We have our bruschetta meal once a week. Its a recipe from our friend, superb chef Elizabeth Singelton Baldi. Toast sourdough boule slices brushed with olive oil on a grill or in your broiler. Rub a garlic clove over them while they are warm. Put mayo on them (I know it sounds gross, but its so good!) Slice tomato and sprinkle with thyme. Drizzle good olive oil and crack some salt on them. For the broccoli ones, I steam the raab with some red onion. I coarsely chop them and in a bowl mix them wit olive oil and lots of balsamic. Load that onto your mayoe'd bread. No thyme on these. We always eat these with a wild arugula salad or some "grains" from Trader Joes. These bags are a must have for me in my pantry. They are healthy and delicious! I added quinoa to mine last night. Make sure you use broth to cook them, not water. They are good with parm too!

Dinner Time

My weekly dinner menu's are still going strong. They have really saved my sanity and possibly my marriage, not to mention, money and time. I never really stress anymore about what's for supper. Tonight we had salmon, Basmati rice with mung bean and lentil, and fresh pea tendrils sauteed in garlic. Not too shabby right? We bought the tendrils at the Hollywood Farmer's Market and the seller promised us they would grow another serving if we water the pot. How's that for value? I'll post my dinner menus whenever I can so my moms out there can get inspired too!