Last week I bought three lamb chops but for various reasons didn't get around to cooking them. So today, as Big J and I were planning our weekly dinners, we decided to get a couple more chops and fix them tonight.
I wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with them beyond grilling them either inside or out. I did a quick search on Epicurious and found a good sounding recipe for Spiced Lamb Chops with Mint-Mango Sauce. Fortunately, I'd picked up mangoes and a jalapeno and had mint on hand from last week. I also had all the spices with the exception of ground coriander, but I had whole coriander and made quick work of that in the spice grinder.
So I was all set. Honestly, given the amount of ingredients in this particular dish, it was amazing that I had everything on hand.
The dish came together easily. It took perhaps 15 minutes between mixing the spices and prepping and grilling the lamb. Big J and I agreed that the lamb, which I can humbly say I grilled to perfection, with it's fragrant and complex rub, was delicious. The mint-mango sauce was also good, but we didn't feel that it paired as well as we would have liked.
On the upside, we are having shrimp later this week and the sauce will be delicious with grilled shrimp.
I served the lamb with rice, a tomato and cucumber salad, and sauteed zucchini.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Oh yeah, I'm a quitter, but I really want to be a loser
Okay, my second time trying this no-dairy, no alcohol, no bread meal plan...I made it 4 days. I won't make excuses, but I had a hell of a week at work and I was just starting to resent that I couldn't eat yogurt, have cream in my coffee, or enjoy a glass of wine after a particularly crappy day.
So new plan -- A few years ago, Big J and I went to see a dietitian. It was, possibly, the best thing we could have done. We both lost weight, learned a better way of eating that was sustainable, and felt good about ourselves. So here I am, about 10 years later, starting that food plan again. The plan is based on the diabetic exchange plan, and more than a diet it is a way of thinking about what you eat and what portions.
The best thing about the plan is that it exemplifies the concept of "all things in moderation." I get cream in my coffee, I can have cheese and yogurt, and I can have a glass of wine because it all fits into the plan.
One thing I did learn over the past week: It is really easy to eat without knowing it. Last Wednesday little j had some pretzels in her pocket and ate all but two, which she put on the kitchen table next to me while I was doing some work. Ordinarily, I wouldn't think twice about eating them, but in this case, I couldn't have them. It really caused me to think about how many times per day I put something in my mouth just because it is there -- the stray pretzel, the last tater tot, whatever. I don't graze while I'm fixing dinner; instead I have a small snack and a glass of water before I start, then I keep a glass of water close by. It's the little things that add up. (That and a crazy dissertation-induced Cheetos obsession, but I guess I can't use that excuse any more!)
So new plan -- A few years ago, Big J and I went to see a dietitian. It was, possibly, the best thing we could have done. We both lost weight, learned a better way of eating that was sustainable, and felt good about ourselves. So here I am, about 10 years later, starting that food plan again. The plan is based on the diabetic exchange plan, and more than a diet it is a way of thinking about what you eat and what portions.
The best thing about the plan is that it exemplifies the concept of "all things in moderation." I get cream in my coffee, I can have cheese and yogurt, and I can have a glass of wine because it all fits into the plan.
One thing I did learn over the past week: It is really easy to eat without knowing it. Last Wednesday little j had some pretzels in her pocket and ate all but two, which she put on the kitchen table next to me while I was doing some work. Ordinarily, I wouldn't think twice about eating them, but in this case, I couldn't have them. It really caused me to think about how many times per day I put something in my mouth just because it is there -- the stray pretzel, the last tater tot, whatever. I don't graze while I'm fixing dinner; instead I have a small snack and a glass of water before I start, then I keep a glass of water close by. It's the little things that add up. (That and a crazy dissertation-induced Cheetos obsession, but I guess I can't use that excuse any more!)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Two Thoughts
In my last post I mentioned that I had made organic tater tots for little j -- and then today in the NYT there is this interesting article by Mark Bittman and how we eat; specifically that organic junk food is still junk food. Point taken.
The second thought concerns my recent meal of the cabbage, beans, protein, salsa. This morning I saw a recipe for Japanese Pizza. What a perfect base for almost anything! I was thinking that it sounded particularly good as a base for my own creation. Imagine how good it would be with shrimp and some lime -- or a pseudo fish taco with the cabbage as a base, lightly sauteed fish, cucumber, cilantro, and drizzle of your favorite sauce. Really, the possibilities are endless, and who doesn't need more cabbage in their diet!
The second thought concerns my recent meal of the cabbage, beans, protein, salsa. This morning I saw a recipe for Japanese Pizza. What a perfect base for almost anything! I was thinking that it sounded particularly good as a base for my own creation. Imagine how good it would be with shrimp and some lime -- or a pseudo fish taco with the cabbage as a base, lightly sauteed fish, cucumber, cilantro, and drizzle of your favorite sauce. Really, the possibilities are endless, and who doesn't need more cabbage in their diet!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Temptation!
Day 2 and I'm doing well. But I made tater tots (organic) for little j's dinner and there are a few left on her plate . . . staring at me . . . I think they are calling my name . . . I will eat more vegetables!
P.S. I miss wine!
P.S. I miss wine!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Odd, But Tasty, Lunch
Day 1 is going well. I haven't been struck by cravings -- even little j's leftover donuts are still sitting around. I started off the morning with a bowl of oatmeal topped with strawberries and 1/2 a banana and two cups of creamless coffee.
After an apple around 10:30, I came home for lunch. I honestly had no idea what I was going to have, but knew that there was a mish-mash of leftovers in the fridge. So here's what I came up with:
I tossed some shredded cabbage with a little olive oil and lime juice and topped that with about 1/2 cup of warmed black beans (no seasoning), about 4 ounces of sliced sirloin (one of the best cuts of beef you can buy, lean and delicious), added a couple tablespoons of a delicious tomatillo and avocado salsa we made for shrimp tacos on Saturday, and then squeezed a couple lime wedges over the whole thing.
Not bad my friends. In retrospect I could have added chopped red bell pepper and perhaps some cucumber. But I can definitely see this making a return to the lunch table!
After an apple around 10:30, I came home for lunch. I honestly had no idea what I was going to have, but knew that there was a mish-mash of leftovers in the fridge. So here's what I came up with:
I tossed some shredded cabbage with a little olive oil and lime juice and topped that with about 1/2 cup of warmed black beans (no seasoning), about 4 ounces of sliced sirloin (one of the best cuts of beef you can buy, lean and delicious), added a couple tablespoons of a delicious tomatillo and avocado salsa we made for shrimp tacos on Saturday, and then squeezed a couple lime wedges over the whole thing.
Not bad my friends. In retrospect I could have added chopped red bell pepper and perhaps some cucumber. But I can definitely see this making a return to the lunch table!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
New Food Plan
So a few months ago I blogged about a new food plan. Yeah, that didn't go so well. But I am trying it again, this time with the support from Big J who just completed his first 12 days successfully.
So here's the deal: no dairy, no processed food, no alcohol, no bread. I can have lean protein such as chicken, buffalo, fish, egg whites; whole grain carbs like brown rice, wheat pasta, quinoa, and oatmeal; tons of fruits and veggies; healthy fats; and plenty of water and green and herbal tea. I can still have coffee, but without the usual 1/2 and 1/2.
I totally think this is doable. And it's only 12 days Hopefully by the end of 12 days I will want to continue to forgo the 1/2 and 1/2, but we'll see!
So here's the deal: no dairy, no processed food, no alcohol, no bread. I can have lean protein such as chicken, buffalo, fish, egg whites; whole grain carbs like brown rice, wheat pasta, quinoa, and oatmeal; tons of fruits and veggies; healthy fats; and plenty of water and green and herbal tea. I can still have coffee, but without the usual 1/2 and 1/2.
I totally think this is doable. And it's only 12 days Hopefully by the end of 12 days I will want to continue to forgo the 1/2 and 1/2, but we'll see!
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