SUnday Dinner - 10/10/2010 (Pre-race Dinner Edition)

I'm going apologize up front this post. I'm very tired. This morning I ran the Louisiana Half this morning. I'm sooo sleepy. I'm not sure I can put together a coherent sentence. Today's Sunday Night Dinner post is really pre-race dinner post. The idea of a dinner a night before a reasonable amount of carbs, a lean protein, and fruits/veg. I normally choose my favorites, blackend white fish, potatoes, pasta with pesto, and salad.

Because of the girlies, I backed off the spice from the original recipe. I don't think the flavor suffered. It's still peppery, but not hot. But if you like it spicy, double the cayenne. Also, I think the original Paul Prudhomme recipe, while tasty, has too much butter.  The last think you want the night before a big race is a lot of butter in your belly.

Like most people, I'm obsessed with potatoes. Especially baked potatoes. After trial and error and some internet  research, I came up with the best (I think) way to bake a potato.

Baked Potatoes
Ingredients
1/2 potato per person
olive oil
course salt

Directions
Pre-heat oven to 400deg. Scrub the potatoes well. Massage the potatoes with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt. Cook in the oven for 45mins to an hour (depending on the size). Potatoes are done when a fork easily yields.

Blackend White Fish
Ingredients
6 fillets of white fish, tilapia, flounder, etc.  
2 sticks butter
1 tbsp paprika
2 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne
3/4 tsp white pepper
3/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves

Directions
Heat a broiler pan in a 400deg oven for a min of 10mins. Melt the butter in a small pan.

Add the peppers, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano.

Place the fish on a very hot broiler pan. Pour the seasoning-butter mixture over the fish. Coat fish well. Cook for 20 mins. Turn the oven to broil at 400deg. Broil for 5 additional mins.

Carefully, remove the pan. And serve immediately.

I served the fish with a half of a baked potato, pasta with pesto, fruit salad with yogurt and veg salad. This was a hearty, filling meal that is low(ish) in calories.

If you have any question/comments about this recipe, pls leave me a comment or email at megmehell at yahoo dot com.

I hope you enjoy this dinner as much as I did. What did y'all have for dinner? What do you eat the night before a long run? 

Sunday Dinner - 09/12/2010

Today we spent the day with the Shuttle Sisters swimming and boating in Lake Pontchartrain. Consequently, we didn't eat a real dinner. Just a plate of food leftover from our pot luck lunch. My contribution to the party was the potato salad below. I like using red potatoes but you can use which ever potatoes rock your world.

Potato Salad
Ingredients
3lbs red potatoes, cut very small
½ cup red onion, diced
½ cup celery, diced
½ cup bell pepper, diced
¼ cup parsley, minced
¼ cup green onion, minced
¾ cup Greek non-fat yogurt
¾ cup low fat sour cream
2tbsp, Dijon mustard/Remoulade sauce
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste

Directions
Boil potatoes in salted water until soft, about 10min. Drain and set to the side.

Combine red onion, celery, bell pepper, parsley, and green onion. Stir in the Greek yogurt, sour cream, Dijon mustard/Remoulade sauce, salt and pepper.

When the potatoes are cool, mix into the bowl with the veg and dressing.

Served with Mel's pulled pork, chicken and pasta salad and Kristy's mac and cheese this potato salad was crunchy and zesty.


If you have any question/comments about this recipe, pls leave me a comment or email at megmehell at yahoo dot com.

I hope you enjoy this dinner as much as I did. What did y'all have for dinner? 

Don't forget to help me choose my race name and enter to win a Giftcard to CSN. 

Sunday Dinner - 05/09/2010 (Mother's Day)

I actually started this post yesterday but didn't get a chance to finish before it was time to go visit with my mom.

Happy Mother's Day!!! Since I became a mom, I like celebrating Mother's Day by not doing anything productive. I don't want to cook or clean or put girls to bed. This may sounds silly. But like all moms I rarely sit still. So on Mother's Day, I want to just laze around. But this year was different.  We had my in-laws over for lunch, which of course mean me doing some cooking. I don't really mind since they were taking girls home with them for the week. (Remember, I'm going to Fla to watch the shuttle launch with my friends)

Actually, the Big Man did the heavy lifting, lunch wise. I just did the sides. My MIL didn't have any requests for lunch so I made easy, tasty dishes that I like; green beans with potatoes, baked potato slices (this doesn't really have a name), and broiled tomatoes with Parmesan.

Baked Potato Slices
Ingredients
1 potato per person, sliced thin
1tbsp olive oil
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
random Italian seasonings


Directions
Pre-heat oven to 350deg. Slice potatoes evenly (I like using the mandolin slicer) about  1/4in thick. In a large bowl, coat sliced potatoes  with olive oil and seasonings.

 Toss gently. Layer potatoes on a baking sheet. 

Bake for 45mins or until done.

 

Green Beans with Potatoes
Ingredients
2lbs fresh green beans
3 potatoes, 1in cubes
1tbsp olive oil
1lg onion, chopped
1/2lb bacon
1 can low sodium chicken broth
salt, to taste pepper
pepper, to taste

Directions
In a heavy bottom pot (with a lid), heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onions cook until soft, about 5mins.

Chop the bacon strips into thirds. Add bacon to onions. Cook  for a few mins.

Add the potatoes and stir. Add salt and pepper.

Wash and trim the ends of the beans. Add to the pot.

Add the chicken broth and stir well. Cover. Stirring occasionally, cook for 25-35mins until potatoes are soft.

I love this dish. I like to make it for holidays in lieu green bean casserole that's loaded with sodium.


Broiled Tomatoes with Parmesan
Ingredients
4 roma tomatoes
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
garlic, minced
olive oil
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
Italian seasonings,

Directions
Pre-heat the ovens broiler. Slice the tomatoes in half, down the length. 

Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet. Lightly drizzle the olive oil over the tomatoes. Season the tomatoes with salt, pepper, garlic and Italian seasonings. 

Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese over the tomatoes. Broil for 5-7mins. Keep an eye on them so they don't burn. 


I'm really happy with how the Mother's Day lunch. Minimal effort but tasty. All of these recipes can easily be halved or doubled.

If you have any question/comments about this recipe, pls leave me a comment or email at megmehell at yahoo.