Produce Update

Pretty close, but not perfect.  Only had two casualties.  (a soggy orange at the beginning of the week and I never got around to using the kale before it went bad.)

Fried Okra with Ranch

Okra - half sauteed w/ EVOO, onion, garlic & tomatoes, half fried (Paula Deen's recipe!  Turned out great, but we couldn't eat them all - so while that sounds as waste too, health-wise it was a smart move not to eat it all.)
Green Beans - sauteed w/ EVOO, s&p
Oranges - ate 2, threw away 1
Bananas - ate them all
Beets - boiled, peeled, sliced then eaten plain for snacks (just me - Chris won't eat them!)
Cauliflower - roasted w/ EVOO, s&p, cayenne
Celery - ate as a snack w/ salad dressing
Carrots - ate as a snack w/ salad dressing
Onions - 1 sauteed w/ the okra, still have 2 left
Sweet Potatoes - diced then roasted w/ EVOO, s&p, cayenne
Potatoes - 1/3 roasted w/ the cauliflower, 1/3 diced then roasted w/ the sweet potatoes, still have two left
Kale -wah, wah... I planned to make kale chips but it never happened and I had to throw out the bunch
Avocado - topped chicken breasts (served w/ roasted cauliflower & potatoes)
Plums - ate as is

If it were cooler out, the celery, carrots, onion and potatoes would have been perfect for a roast.

Two onions and two potatoes left... until tomorrow's new bin!

A PSA from Vegetables

My apologies if you are offended by cussing carrots...




 Courtesy of Natalie Dee.

Eat your veggies!

We are members of a neat little store, Urban Acres, that offers "co-op style" produce shares every other week.  On my scheduled day, I drive down to Irving to pick up my 15# share from one of the several "farm stands" throughout the Dallas area.  (or as my Dad says "What did you get from this hippies this week?") 

Their priorities are 1.  local & organic and 2.  organic.  So often we do get random organic fruits & vegetables that are most definitely not local to North Texas.  (bananas!)  It's a good way to get quality produce, support local (and not so local) organic farmers, support a local Texas business and try new foods!

Since you have no say in what you get in your 15# of produce, it forces us to eat outside of our comfort zone.  This can also be bad because if you're not on top of things, produce can go bad quickly - especially if you have no idea what it is or how to prepare it.

SO... here comes the accountability of the new blog!  I hate food waste.  Of course we would still have some food waste buying produce at the farmer's market or grocery store, but when paying $2/#, I try my best to use it up.  (a compost bin would be a great solution!) 

This is what we have in our bin this week and I'm going to try my best to use it before it goes bad.  This week should be fairly easy because we like and know how to prepare everything in the bin.  (Except for the onions that Chris won't eat!)

Okra
Green Beans
Oranges
Bananas
Beets
Cauliflower
Celery
Carrots
Onions
Sweet Potatoes
Potatoes
Kale
Avocado
Plums

Fruits & Veggies More Matters! 

I'll report back how we do.  (Y'all didn't know this blog was going to be so riveting!) 

Taco Seasoning

Each weekend I try to meal plan for the upcoming week's dinners.  If I ask Chris what he wants for dinner, he always answers "tacos."  Without fail!  We don't have them every week and I do try to change it up with crispy shells or soft tortillas, adding shredded potatoes (like my mom), Hatch chiles, tomatoes or anything else interesting we have on hand. 

The best part about making your own taco seasoning is that you can control the amount of salt.  I quickly calculated the difference in sodium in this recipe (as written) and the McCormick's packet of Taco Seasoning Mix.  This homemade seasoning is ~ 28% less sodium (per packet) but you could easily reduce the salt down to 1/2 or 3/4 teaspoon and reduce it further.  (Full disclosure:  McCormick also makes a 30% less sodium taco seasoning mix.)  You can also adjust the heat by adding more or less red pepper flakes.

If you still buy those taco seasoning packets - you need to try this recipe!  The ingredients are pretty common for a well stocked spice rack and once you have everything out, the measuring takes no time.   

Taco Seasoning
Source: allrecipes.com

1 Tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Combine all ingredients.

Ground Beef Tacos
Brown 1# ground beef.  Drain fat, if needed.  Add homemade taco seasoning to the browned meat with 1/2-3/4 cup water.  Let simmer until water evaporates to desired consistency.  Serve in warm taco shells or tortillas and top with shredded cheese, lettuce and diced tomatoes.

Red-Hot Sesame Dressing

 photo: Eating Well

This is one of my favorite salad dressing recipes.  It's great on plain cucumbers or on a salad topped with mandarin oranges and chow mein noodles.  So many of my favorite flavors - soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and Sriracha! 

Red-Hot Sesame Dressing

1/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon Sriracha
1 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds

1.  Whisk all ingredients (except the sesame seeds) together until the brown sugar dissolves.
2.  Stir in sesame seeds.

Lasts up to one week when covered and stored in the refrigerator.

Adapted from Eating Well: Red-Hot Sesame Dressing 

Here we go!

Well, here I am.  A blogger.  I was talking to friends this weekend and confessed that I follow 398 blogs in my Google Reader.  (!!!!!)

  "¡Aye Dios Mio!"

That's a lot.  Especially for someone who doesn't have their own blog!  I probably should go through and edit my list because I'm sure some of the ones I follow don't even exist anymore.  Some are friend's blogs, fashion blogs, personal finance blogs, photography blogs, Dallas blogs, a lot are food blogs and I admit - most are people I don't even know! 

Some of my favorite big time bloggers are: Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman), Heather Armstrong (dooce), Michael K (Dlisted), Kelle Hampton (Enjoying the Small Things) and Marion Nestle (Food Politics).  I'm sure I'll be sharing some of the food blogs that I find recipes from soon enough.

So here I am.  A non-blogging blogging expert.  I plan to use my blog to share about the things that I love - my family, my dogs, books, FOOD, clothes, tv, movies and to document the latest development in our life... a growing family.