Weekly Menu

The BEST Blueberry Muffins were baked this weekend!  Our friends and future Austin neighbors Rob & Lisa were visiting this weekend, so what a great opportunity to show off my baking skills ;)  This will definitely be my new "go-to" muffin recipe - chock full of yummy fruit!! 

Here's what I plan to dine on this week:

Carmelized Salmon & Green Beans Amondine

Roast Pork (in the Crock Pot) with Roasted Broccoli

Goat Cheese & Spinach Quesadillas (had them at Iron Cactus this weekend and I bet I can make copy-cat recipe)

Tamales & Black Beans

Roasted Vegetable & Hummus Tart

Smokey Goes to Rehab

Smokey!  He's our wiener dog.  Approximately one year ago, we found Smokey at the Buda Wiener Dog Races.  From the moment Andrew laid eyes on Buddy Boy (as he was named at the time), he knew that we had to have him.  Within a week, we paid the adoption fee, signed the papers and were proud parents of a tweenie dachshund.  We share many joyful moments with Smokey and some stressful too.

Joyful:  doing tricks for treats, furiously shaking his "squirrel" until he nearly gives himself a concussion, rolling around in the grass immediately after getting a bath, the classic running to greet us at the door when we get home, cuddling on the couch, licking us when we're trying to exercise on the floor, Andrew and I making fun of his quirky noises.

Stressful: enduring separation anxiety whining every time we would leave the room, cleaning up countless "accidents" both when we're home and not home, and most recently his incessant barking at other dogs from "fearful aggression."

I'm so happy to state that we began rehab on Sunday!  We are enrolled in "Barking & Growling."  In just one session, we learned many tips that will quell both our stress when walking him and Smokey's stress towards other dogs.  By the end of six sessions we hope to be able to take Smokey on a walk in the neighborhood, and take him out to friends houses, dog parks, and dog friendly bars without him going bonkers barking defensively and pulling/lunging at other dogs.  I never thought that I would pay good money to take my dog to a psychologist, however I am confident that this will be money well spent.  I'll report back how we're doing!

Weekly Menu

We have not eaten any recipes that we consider keepers in a week or so - hopefully this week will be yummier!!

I forgot:  I did make King Ranch Chicken for the second time ever last week and this version turned out way better than my previous attempt.  The secret is green enchilada sauce, I think. 

The Plan:

Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breasts (Cooking Light May 2010), Red Bell Pepper Rice, & Broccoli

Soy Chorizo & Egg Breakfast-for-Dinner Tacos with Refried Black Beans

Parmesean Crusted Chicken/Tofu & Spring Onion Pasta (Cooking Light May 2010)

Chicken/Tofu Stir Fry

Blueberry Muffins (Thanks Susan!)

Weekly Menu

Our favorite dish last week - Carmelized Salmon!  Pretty easy (the hardest part was finding all the ingredients - had to go to Central Market) and OH SO YUMMY!  Definitely our new favorite salmon recipe too, thanks Court5203 :)

This week we're having...

Mediterranean:  hummus, tabouli, grilled chicken & spinach

Curried Coconut and Chicken Soup (in the Crockpot)

Veggie Lasagna & Salad

Pizza-dillas

(Packaged) Lobster Ravaoli with TBD Sauce :)

Leftovers

Livin' The 'Merican Dream

Last week was our week of being an 'Merican!  On Wednesday we went to a country music concert at The Nutty Brown Cafe (no, not owned by one of my relatives).  On Sunday we again went to see some more country music - this time an all-day-long-festival held in the American-esque venue - a baseball field!  I credit our friend Jacob (who has the bestest handlebar mustache this side of the Red River) with inviting us to the country music festivities and showing me some great local music.

Another trait of being 'Merican is having a yard sale - which we did on Saturday!  When two lives become one, such as we did when we got married last month, the man's stuff must be sold, ha!  It was actually fun to sit outside on a temperate overcast spring morning, people watch (we encountered all walks & ages of life), meet neighbors that we hadn't yet, and make a little spending money as well as clear out all the junk!  One man's trash, is truly another man's treasure.

Lastly, 'Mericans love to eat, and eat out we did twice this week!  We don't usually eat out more than once a week, though this week we had both out-to-eat meals compensated - score.  On Saturday night (mistake numero uno, as it is the busiest night to haul the kids out of the house and let them jump/climb/frolic throughout the restaurant) we went to Golden Corral.  You see, Andrew had been asking me when we could go as soon as this Golden Corral opened up near our house last year.  I have been avoiding the opportunities to go, but this one I could not pass up - a free meal coupon that Andrew received for his birthday in the mail (how come I didn't get one?).  I'm a sucker for coupons, so let's go.  I realize now why I am a picky restaurant eater-outer.  That place is purely disgusting.  The fluorescent seizure-inducing atmosphere, the food saturated in oil or bathed in hot water, and the clientele that joined us for dinner are all reasons why I will not return anytime soon.  Andrew and I each had a salad plate, a main dinner plate, and a dessert plate (I shamefully admit to being completely gluttonous with the dessert plate - that chocolate cookie pizza, slice of cake, macaroon were really yummy).  And that was well below HALF the calories of what most patrons were consuming.  Aside from the amount of food people were eating, was how they were eating it - I though that after the age of about 4 years old, one was educated on how to use utensils and not to use his or her fingers to consume food.  Disgustingly too many sloppy eaters causing running over of food onto table & floor - and I won't even blame the kids for that one.  Kids yelling/jumping/running as if they were at a Gymboree - again I can't blame the kids - parents must reprimand!!! 

I am both astonished and ashamed that this is how well over half of the country lives, treats their bodies, and disciplines their children.  Sadly, I can see that this may be the future of America.

In closing, I don't follow world news or politics closely, I obviously was tuned in to the happenings of Bin Laden this past week.  Although I am not proud to be 'Merican, I am grateful of my God given freedom and very proud and honored to be the American that our military protects. 

Weekly Menu

Last week I learned that if you cook for 4 people when only 2 people eat a meal - you have lots of leftovers.  Also lots of leftovers after the delicious Easter feast, means that Becky didn't cook as much as she thought she would!  That's OK - I've been busy at work.


I made my best pizza ever yet last week - Pear, carmelized onion, gorgonzola & walnut - mmm, mmm! Andrew made classic pepperoni & mushroom with carmelized onions. 

On tap this week...

Ham, Broccoli, & Cheese Calzones (www.goodlifeeats.com)

Migas & Black Beans

Herbed Chicken & Artichoke (from our new CrockPot!) and Polenta

Carmelized Salmon (from Central Market, thanks Court!) and Fresh Herb Rice

Make Your Own Hamburgers/Veggieburgers and Sweet Potato Fries

Leftovers