Food for Real

It’s the first weekend in a few weeks that I’ve had the chance to stay home! And as always, when I have a little time on my hands, I cook.

Yesterday, I decided it would be nice to treat myself to a manicure. While I sat in the nail salon, I noticed that one of my favorite channels was on the flat screen right in front of me: The Food Network. Score. I usually hate sitting through manicures, not only because the smell of nail polish gives me a headache, but also because it can be very, very b-o-r-i-n-g. (No pain, no gain I suppose). So when I realized that I could watch some cooking during this necessary task (if you know me, you know I struggle with painting my own nails), I was pretty excited.

I couldn’t hear what was being said, but I became completely immersed in Ina Garten’s Country French Omelet. Of course, I didn’t look up the recipe before I decided to cook it this morning, so I had to adapt my own recipe based on what I saw on TV. But luckily, I found the actual recipe for you, which you should totally give a try!! Or you can try mine if you’d prefer. Here is it (btw, not the healthiest breakfast in the world, but in my opinion, it’s all about moderation and enjoying yourself):

The Spread

*Sidenote: Sorry, these pics aren’t the best b/c I have to use my phone. New digital camera coming soon.

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• Turkey Bacon
• Low-fat milk
• Chives
• 1 small yellow potato

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Cook bacon over medium heat and lay on paper towel to drain. Don’t pour out fat from pan.
3. Add chopped potatoes to pan and cook in bacon fat for about 8 minutes or until tender
4. Break up bacon into small pieces and put in a bowl. Add the potatoes.
5. Crack the eggs, add just a little bit of the low-fat milk, salt & pepper to taste.
6. Pour out bacon fat from pan and lower heat to low. Add some butter to pan until it melts. Add whisked eggs & milk
7. Add bacon and potatoes to eggs.
8. Chop up some chives and add those in too.
9. Turn off the heat and stick that pan into the oven for about 8 minutes.
10. Take it out of the oven, cut in half, and serve! So good.

Or you can follow this recipe from the Food Network which was my initial inspiration for the dish. You’ll see it’s pretty much the same thing. Enjoy!

What an amazing fun and food filled weekend! Friday nights have become my new “relax-time” nights, so I was excited to cook dinner and do nothing else for a scheduled block of time. I left my dietetic food service rotation around 5:15 and headed to Coolidge Corner to pick up some champagne, because a major celebration was to take place that night: Miss Bootsy was to participate in her first visit to the home of Mr. Pugsley (see fine specimens below).

Pug meets Cat

Cat meets Pug

Boots being elegant

Pug in a bath!

That night, I whipped up an easy dinner of Baked Rosemary-Pesto Chicken with a Harvest Grain Blend w/Green Beans and Yellow Squash. Here’s how:

Serves 2 with a little leftover for the next day:

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breast
• pesto in a jar from Trader Joe’s
• 2 Yellow Squash
• Green Beans (about 4 cups)
• Harvest Grain Blend from Trader Joe’s
• Chicken Stock
• Olive oil
• Rosemary
• Salt & Pepper

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 450F
2. Cover chicken in 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon of pesto per chicken breast, salt and pepper to taste, and a few pines of rosemary. Put into oven and let cook for 30 minutes.
3. Boil 2 cups of chicken stock and a teaspoon of olive oil. Also boil a pot of water for steaming the green beans and squash.
4. Add 1 cup Harvest Grains to boiling chicken stock, reduce heat to low, and let simmer covered for about 10-15 minutes.
5. Steam the green beans and squash.
6. Remove grains from heat once done, and chop up the veggies a bit.
7. Add the chopped veggies to the grain and mix.
8. When chicken is done, take it out of the oven.
9. Service chicken breast over the grain/veggie medley

About to put the chicken into the oven

Preheat oven to 450F, let chicken bake for 30 minutes

Veggie & Grain Medley - Photo Cred: R.Ferrari

Only 30 minutes later, dinner is served!

This takes 30 minutes! It’s perfect for a Friday night when you’re feeling tired and looking forward to watching a movie with a big glass of wine and your favorite pair of slippers.

On Saturday morning, Richie and I had the pleasure of cooking his adorable two nieces Deja and Aaliyah a brunch feast of pancakes, fresh berries, cheesy eggs, toast, and hot chocolate with marshmallows and/or whipped cream! Who doesn’t love Hot Cocoa on a Saturday morning?! This was truly the highlight of my weekend. We didn’t take any pictures, unfortunately, because we were quite involved in riveting conversation about elephants and their superior communication techniques and about the gene connection between dinosaurs and birds. Fascinating stuff!

That night I attended the MSDA New Year’s Potluck event! Needless to say, when you get a bunch of nutrition students together for a potluck, the food is probably going to be outstanding – just sayin’. I also learned that my article for the Massachusetts Dietetic Association Newsletter made front page! Check it out here (you may have to be an ADA member to see this).  The event was a great way to meet new people and catch up with old friends! Stay tuned for our upcoming events this year, including a Nutrition & Social Media lecture taught by myself and Elizabeth Jarrard, the Walk for Hunger, and yoga in the park!

MSDA New Year's Potluck 2011!

I brought an antipasto plate of tomato, basil, mozerella, spicy olives, cucumber feta salad, mini pickles, salami, and marinated mushrooms

Nathalia's Cat: Grumpy Bear!

Myself, Nathalia, Nikita

Sara and Kerry (check out Kerry's blog at http://kerryscookingchronicles.blogspot.com/)

Nothing like good food, a little wine, and good people to get the night going!

If you're interested in getting involved with the MSDA, contact us at msdaadmin@gmail.com

The weekend just kept getting better. On Sunday morning, I went to the S&S Restaurant for brunch w/Rich and we split French Toast and Eggs Benedict. If you haven’t been to the S&S, please go! It’s my favorite brunch spot, and reminds me a lot of an old fashioned New York diner (but a lot cleaner!). My dad used to take me here a lot when I was a little girl, which makes it that much more special to me every time I walk in. Plus, the mimosas are fabulous! Later that day, I made a quick visit to my parent’s house where they and my beautiful grandmother were watching Curb your Enthusiasm. Then I headed to my friend’s house for a bridesmaid meeting where we planned a bridal shower for one of my best friends who is getting married in July! As if it could get any better, I finished off the weekend with dinner from Kelley’s of a fresh New England lobster roll.

Monday was  Class Day for some of us Boston based dietetic interns. We braved the icy cold weather outside and made it to Brigham and Women’s Hospital where we reviewed information on tube feeding procedures.

My BU Gals at Class Day

Overall it was a successful start to my last week in the food service rotation! Next week, I start my surgical/medical rotation at Lowell General. I’m very excited to meet the dietitians there and can’t wait to get into clinical mode!

How have you been spending your weekends lately? How do you manage to fit in relax time? Do you have any pets? Anything else you’d like to share? I’d love to hear from you!

Be well, and enjoy the day!