🌿 Get Your Greens Spring Challenge! 🌻
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oooo, coconut milk makes a really great base for soups, I bet it's going to make a great sauce for whatever you whip up with the shrimp, spinach and bell peppers !
Checking in from Inn at Ocean's Edge, up in Lincolnville, Maine!
We had a nice lunch on the way up. I had part of a fried haddock reuben (2nd one of the week, lol), part of a black bean/spicy-ish veggie burger, and a small side of coleslaw. It was still drizzly/overcast today, but we went for a (very) short walk around the grounds, after we checked into the hotel. Eric, his mom, and Katie went down the long steps to the rocky shore, but wet metal steps and many upon many wet rounded-by-the-sea stones and boulders didn't sound like a great idea to me, so I went in and snuck in a 30-min bike ride in the workout room. Eric, Katie and Pat didn't stay long at the rocky shore, cuz Eric took a tumble on the wet rocks (SO glad I didn't go down there! and SO glad he wasn't badly hurt). They came in while I was still on my ride, so they stopped at the pub, then played cards. We had about an hour to kill before dinner.
Had a great (so yummy) dinner at an Italian place in town that had lots of different kinds of foods, not just pasta. I had charred octopus on chickpea salad. GREAT flourless chococlate torte drizzled with raspberry syrup for dessert, along with a glass of port.
Took a massively long shower, and now sitting in front of the fireplace in my room, with my comfy absorbant hotel robe on, letting my hair dry, and putting my legs up on pillows stacked on the ottoman. I feel decadently delightfully exhausted and stuffed.
Good thing there's no scale here tho - I don't even wanna know. lol
Tomorrow we're having full breakfast at the main inn, down the hill. A late big lunch/early dinner, b/c we have a 2.5 hr sunset schooner ride booked (no food, tho). We'll probably hit Seadog Brewing Pub in town, after, as most restaurants seem to close at 8.
Planning on the infinity pool and hottub tomorrow, between breakfast and late lunch. Katie (daughter) is booking in for a massage. Pat (mother-in-law) wants to walk around in town, she and Eric's Dad used to come up here, whenever they'd come out to Maine to visit us, so she has favorite walks stored in her memory, that she'd like to revisit.
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Sorry no food pix, I'll do better tmo :)
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Herbed crusted Salmon dish at Cheesecake Factory!! Yum! 😋
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Yum!
Snagged a cold so we stayed in. Roasted a turkey.
Tried a new brand of stuffing - much higher % of fine crumbs, so a little gummy.
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Stuffed baby spinach into 1/2 turkey & cheese sandwich for lunch, other 1/2 at dinner. Piece fruit both meals. No pics.
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Roasted Green Veggies, courtesy of Trader Joe's.
Had that plus 2tbsp of PB for dinner :-p.
Wasn't particularly hungry, but wanted to get some greens in.
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Pb has evolved into a regular go to choice, who would've imagined it beyond kidsville!
Funny, stirred a new all natural jar, it was so runny I tucked in the freezer… for just a bit and forgot!
Froze solid overnight - it defrosted well enough to scoop off top/sides and finished defrosting in fridge... turned out fine and remained firm instead of liquified,
so think I will freeze all my fresh stirred jars. Was so surprised - was concerned it would ruin the texture, but no probs afterall. Whew!
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That's interesting!!! Good to know!
Mine was just plain 'ol Skippy. I've tried natural a few times, but miss the consistency of the stuff I grew up with :-,p
I bought a double pack last time I shopped, so it'll be a minute before I have to restock. But I'll give your hack a try, next time!
And, haha, same, on the surprise 'go to' as an adult. Sone of those foods we loved as kids weren't so bad!
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New protein switcheroo ! (I had a challenge in another group that included 'try a new protein, or one you haven't had for a long time - we bought some pork chops yesterday (for the first time in … maybe 15 yrs?) cuz hubby saw them on sale and got a hankering for stuffed pork chops.)
I was out most of the afternoon, and hit the gym too late to make the stuffed pork chops for tonight. One of my stops was at Whole Foods, to make an Amazon Return. They had a bunch of Saffron Road frozen entrees on sale - I got pairs (cuz we are two) of quite a few of them. We had one tonight that included a new-for-me protein: Paneer cheese. Which, I have to say! holicrap is freaking awesome! I was trying to describe what it tasted like, and kept settling on fresh mozzarella, but that's not really quite right, so I googled it. Google says:
Paneer is a fresh, unaged cheese popular in Indian cuisine, often referred to as "Indian cottage cheese". It's made by heating and then curdling milk with an acid, like lemon juice or vinegar, instead of using rennet. Unlike most cheeses, paneer doesn't melt when heated but rather holds its shape and can be used in a variety of dishes like curries, pakoras, and kebabs. Here's a more detailed look at paneer:
- Origin and Usage:Paneer is a staple in the cuisines of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and other parts of the Indian subcontinent. It's widely used in cooking rather than being eaten raw, as it absorbs flavors well.
- Making Paneer:Paneer is made by heating milk and then curdling it with a food acid, like lemon juice, vinegar, or citric acid. The curds are then drained and pressed into a block.
- Flavor and Texture:Paneer has a mild, milky flavor and a soft, spongy, and squeaky texture. It's often described as similar to ricotta or cottage cheese but with a firmer texture.
- Cooking with Paneer:Paneer is a versatile ingredient that can be fried, grilled, baked, or used in curries and sauces. It's known for its ability to hold its shape when heated, making it suitable for various cooking methods.
- Nutritional Benefits:Paneer is a good source of protein and calcium.
This we had tonight:
SO! YUMMY! 😋
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Ty! Had wondered but not explored.
Veg soups today, and mango yogurt dinner.
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happy June all!!! 🌿
had the most awesome scallops and fresh scallions… also a dish of artichokes!
need to start up my greens juices again!
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Looks delicious, SG!
How's the cold, yakky?
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@mkksemail I looove Indian food! Recently we discovered a place in RI! It was delicious and we ordered an extra entree of the spinach Palaak Paneer! So good! Thanks for the info on it. I bet it would be great smoked too!
Today for lunch I made a brisket burger with Lions Mane Mushroom, garlic and onion. I’ll make broc. Salad for dinner!
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oooooo YUMM, Rainbow !!
I have a copy/paste to share:
I made a mega-batch of breakfast scramble yesterday!
- 3 lbs new potatoes (red, & Yukon gold)
- 2 lbs yellow onions
- 1 lb sweet mini peppers
- 1 large yellow bell pepper
- 1 lb thick sliced bacon
- 3/4 lb garlic sausage
- 1 lb ham steak
- 30 eggs
- 30 oz half & haif (usually lf milk, but I have a bunch to use up).
- 1/4 cup+ olive oil
- 1 tbsp+ black pepper
I was debating cottage cheese, but I'll leave it out. Can always add cheese or cottage cheese when reheating.
I usually wouldn't have all those high fat meats in there, but Eric wanted them .
Lots of chopping and dicing! Long time to cook, I think I'm on my 4th 45 min timer. (First potatoes, then onions added, then bacon & sausage added, then peppers & ham steak - check that, I'm on my 5th 45-min timer ).
Next one will be mix up (I've just been layering). Then eggs & dairy, finally
^^^^^ I made that post in another group, yesterday, when I was in the middle of it. I think it ended up being six or seven 45-min timers! Veggies cooked long and slow, and hidden in scrambled eggs - my favorite kind still :p.
I took pix step by step, I'll dig them up & post.
Steps 1. & 2.) 14:04
- 3 lbs new potatoes (1/2 red, & 1/2 Yukon gold), 45 mins after cooking in cast iron skillet at 325F, in oven. I put them in an olive oiled pan (whole), sprayed the top with more olive oil, then sprinkled liberally with organic black pepper. I cut the potatoes after 45 mins cooking (softer then!). Added 2 lbs of diced yellow onions on top, sprayed again with olive oil, and sprinkled again with more black pepper. No mixing, layering.
Step 3.) 15:02
- 2 lbs diced yellow onions atop the cut new potatoes, after 45 mins in the oven (same temp)
Step 4.) 15:05
- 1 lb thick sliced bacon, chopped, & 3/4 lb garlic sausage, also chopped, layered on top (no mixing), back in the oven! (same temp)
progress pic! 16:07 - bacon and sausage kinda cooked! time for next layer, and then back in the oven …
Step 5.) 16:08
- 1 lb ham steak, diced. Layered … back in the oven (same temp, still)
progress pic! 16:29 - ham came pre-cooked, so no worries on the cooking time. But, kinda browned! time for next layer, and then back in the oven …
Step 6.) 16:29
- 1 lb sweet mini peppers, stems removed, but not de-seeded (why throw those nutrient powerhouses away!), then diced. Layer on top …
16:30 … added one 'past its prime, but not yet bad!' large yellow bell pepper - also stems removed, but not de-seeded! - need to add more olive oil and black pepper …
16:31 … sprayed with olive oil, not mixed!, back in the oven (same temp)
progress pic! 17:52 - Looking good! Nice charring at the edges. Time for eggs and dairy!
17:59 … 30 eggs (!)
18:02 … 30 eggs, mixed!
18:06 … 30 oz half & haif (usually lf milk, but I have a bunch to use up).
progress pic! 18:26 - Out of the oven, and all mixed up for the first time. Looks good …. except …. gonna need a bigger vessel 😆
Step 7.) 18:35 eggs and dairy and veg and meat, all in one vessel! back in the oven … same temp
Step 8.) 19:47 Out of the oven! Finally done :).
I should add, I did have it out of the oven one time in between 18:35 and 19:47, mixed it all up, and put it back in.
Mix it up again! … portion out to fifteen servings …
Step 9.) 19:57 Time to eat!
Nutritional info - As pictured:
- 500 calories
- 26g net carbs
- 28g fat
- 32g protein
Nutritional info - WITH (not pictured) 1 slice of Trader Joe's Organic Seeded Bread, and 1 tsp butter:
- 673 calories
- 43g net carbs
- 37g fat
- 38g protein
This is obviously HIGHLY customizable. You can make it
- lower fat by using a different dairy (or even vegan) milk, using lower fat meats (or none at all).
- spiced differently. I'd have added smoked paprika if it was just for me, but I can add that during reheating (add a splash of liquid of your choice, and whatever mods you want to add, then zap in microwave)
- cheesy! hubby always adds some kind of cheese during re-heating, usually cheddar. Sometimes I add cottage cheese during cooking, but not this time. For such a big batch, I wasn't sure if we'd both want that every time, so I can just add a serving to mix in during reheating, if wanted.
❗️ Add a side serving of greens, with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, or coconut vinegar, if you want to get some green in, too.
Now, this might look like breakfast, but it's a fine dinner, too! As from looking at the time stamps, you can see that this is what we did - yummy dinner!
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Wow wow! Hubby would love it!
What size cast iron were you using @mkksemail
The layer cook technique is interesting - have not done that before. Thanks for the share, will try it. I have a stainless steel 12" i could use.
Dinner beef, mixed beans cooked with diced tomatoes, onion, bell peppers & spices, mash taters, green beans.
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Hello I’m new to this group, and wanted to show the organic sprouts my friend grows and shares. These cost a fortune at the stores and farmers markets and I’m so grateful I get to have all this green yumminess in my smoothies, salads, omelettes and wraps. Plus they are so fresh I snack on them like potato chips sometimes. She grew these in 6 days with a grow light set up but says it would be only 14 days using just sunlight.
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Yakky, I believe it's a 12", I'll measure later, to see. The layering cooking method works for me, I like things cooked long and or charred, esp veggies, to tease out the natural sweetness. I've found if I just mix it all in, things all end up kinda soggy, no matter how long you cook them (esp bacon!). BUT, if you layer it on top, it has a chance to char and/or crisp up (as in the case of bacon), while the under layers absorb all the flavors, stay moist, and keep on cooking :D. And yes, that scramble is hubby-approved ;-). I bet yours would love it too.
And may I just say, that dinner looks spectacular! YUM ! All of it does, but onions, bell peppers, beans … close to some of my favorite veg right there!
Kathy, WOW, what a treat to have access to all those baby and micro greens !!! Are they all sprouts, just at different grow stages? Or are they different plants?
Also - WELCOME! Glad you are here :D
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In the photo the micro greens are peas, sunflowers, red cabbage, broccoli, and kale. I enjoyed a sunflower sprouts salad with a homemade pancake for breakfast this morning (I was sort of copying the greens salad First Watch serves alongside their breakfast dishes). I will be growing micro greens for the first time myself by planting cantaloupe seeds. I sampled cantaloupe micro greens at a farmers market, and they did have cantaloupe flavor I could imagine putting in my salads and green smoothies. I will be using natural sunlight on the lanai since I don’t have grow lights. So maybe in a couple of weeks I will have my own harvest - wish me luck!
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oooooo, GOOD LUCK !!! Cantaloupe-flavored greens, I'm intrigued! Are these seeds you saved from a cantaloupe you ate, Kathy? Or do you need to purchase seed separately?
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In your mega breakfast scramble I was SO HAPPY to see you added “sweet mini peppers, stems removed, but not de-seeded (why throw those nutrient powerhouses away!)” !!!!! I recently learned to keep the seeds since they are so nutritious. I’m still getting used to the extra texture but it’s worth training my palate for all those vitamins and so my peppers are chopped super fast - such a time saver!
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Right …. !??! Seems so silly to toss them, then purchase seeds separately to eat! :D
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@KATHY_GOOD1 Welcome!! This group gets me inspired to eat healthier! 😋
Organic Sprouts!!! 🌱 Lovin’ those greens! 🌱They can be so expensive@ WF’s.. I recently picked up a thrift store find- a mini grow light kit to try. We’ll see if it even works. 😉 It got me researching grow lights etc.
Broccoli Salad 🥦
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Had no idea some eeds are ok & nutritious, like in the peppers. Family always carefully de-seeded and removed skins - likely for cuisine recommended styles in the day, and became preferred texture.
Such as mashed taters or fries without skins or rustic with skins on.
I started leaving as much skins on as edible - a lot of fiber there, the kind that helps remove/lower cholesterol… my extended family has not shifted at all though and hubby still pulls off all the strings on bananas and oranges.
♡ i would love to cook with and eat micro greens at will. A small container is so expensive I tend to skip but I may explore growing, it looks relatively easy - and a comfortable height, easy to move in a cart type containet, brilliant! I wonder if potatoes could be done underneath and maybe random carrots as well.
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Made a large pot of lentil, quinoa, cauli-rice, stirfry vegs stew served over petite sirloin..
Also, first time cooked up a pot of soaked pinto beans (with onions & spices) to see whats what. No pic, but smashed some to use with chicken street tacos for dinner tonight.
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That looks delicious!
Over the weekend, I got in my veggies hidden in my scramble, spinach in french onion soup, a serving of Trader Joe's Roasted Green Veggies, bananas, apple, and orange. I haven't updated my Freggie Tracker in a couple weeks, need to do that sometime in the next couple days, I do better when I'm on top of that. It's also the 2nd week of a 3 wk break for my Hogwarts challenge, so I'm not tied to a 4-wk Unbreakable Vow for my green freggies, so I really have to be mindful of it.
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Yep, good idea.
Batch cooking broth (saved bones and veg trimmings), 2nd cook done, will cool, remove bones and strain, chill, defat & store for soup making. Yields about 4 gals - I freeze 3c in quart sized ziplocks.
I don't do smoothies, and find broth veg soups an easy way to get my vegs in, most of the year.
Right now enjoying frozen fruit on hot days… more cold salads than soups. The lentil quinoa stew is making a nice chilled salad at lunch.
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Cheers!!! 😃🥕👩🏻🌾
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I don’t think I’ve ever paired avocado with feta before… pretty tasty! 😋
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Salad looks really interesting & good! Both look refreshing!
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morning all! 🌻
love the pics!!!Eggs and roast brussel sprouts this morning. With my fav Greek island herbs and oregano
🌿 grapefruit on the run..Green juice! Kale, spinach, 🍋
Have a great day! 🪴
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