This Week's Menu

It's another yummy week here at Sweet Bean's! I started my microbiology class yesterday, so I'm looking to simplify my meal prep on mondays and wednesdays (I have 5 hours of class each night).


I'm trying four new recipes this week!:

1. Moroccan-spiced brisket (in the slow cooker)
2. French onion burgers, from Rachael Ray's Just in Time
3. Cuban Black Beans (slow cooker!) from Andrea's Recipes
4. Balsamic Chicken in pesto gravy, also from JIT (this is supposedly a 15-minute meal).

Father's Day Redux.

This is what we ate:

1. Slow Cooker Moroccan Brisket with Red Onions and Apricot Couscous
   
2. Chocolate Chip Cookie-Topped Brownies from Eggs on Sunday
   

Enough said.

This Week's Menu

I'm pretty excited about our food this week:


I'm trying 3 new recipes, several featuring our brand new slow cooker (I thought the slow cooker would be great for when I went back to school). New recipes:

1. Rosemary Lemon-Pepper pork tenderloin from Rachael Ray.
2. Tomatillo-green chile chicken soft tacos from the lovely Lindsey.
3. Gorgonzola burgers from R.R. (I borrowed this cookbook from my mom---not a lot of figure-friendly food, as Rachael would say, but some great-looking recipes).
   

The tomato soup is an Ina Garten recipe, and can be found here. It is super-delicious, and quite easy. I'm also going to be making black beans in the slow-cooker for the first time. Fun!

Editor's note: the pork tenderloin was unbelievable! I also made the salad accompaniment that Rachael Ray suggested...perfect. I'm loving that cookbook. We bought a cool meat thermometer---definitely necessary for the cooking of the meat products. No more guessing and overcooking.

Weekly Menu

For the cookout and the Wii party, I'll be making this yummy (hopefully!) cherry/cornmeal upside down cake from smitten kitchen.



Rachael Ray's balsamic roast pork tenderloin recipe looks pretty simple. I'll let you know how it turns out!

P.S. It's been OK eating meat, I've even enjoyed it. I'm kind of paranoid cooking it, though, and I feel like a total beginner cook again. Lame.

Vegetarian Cookbooks: Jeanne Lemlin

I first discovered Jeanne Lemlin's cooking via the Food Network almost 10 years ago. She was preparing three different vegetarian dishes: a sweet potato/vegetable tian, couscous/spinach/pine nut casserole, and some yummy baked ziti. After trying all three dishes, Tony and I ran out and bought: Simple Vegetarian Pleasures immediately!

As Lemlin states in the forward to this book, her approach to cooking changed dramatically after the arrival of her son. She wanted to prepare delicious vegetarian fare, but no longer had the time and energy to spend hours in the kitchen every night. Thus the concept behind this cookbook, and her James Beard Award-winning Quick Vegetarian Pleasures was born (also on my bookshelf!).

I have yet to be disappointed in any of the recipes (she covers everything from breakfast to dessert) from this book. Here is a Lauren/Tony favorite:

Tortellini with Leeks and Cream

1 lb. frozen cheese tortellini
1 T butter
1 T olive oil
2 large leeks, thick greens and roots removed, thoroughly washed and thinly sliced
(leeks are very sandy! slice in half lengthwise, and fan the layers under running water to clean)
1/2 c heavy whipping cream
salt/pepper


Sauté leeks in butter and olive oil over medium heat until soft (about 10 minutes). Stir frequently, and do not allow leeks to brown. Add cream, and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Meanwhile, prepare tortellini according to package directions. Drain, and toss with leek/cream mixture. Serve with cheese from Parma!

Pretty cinchy, and SO delicious! Also try this recipe for 10-minute chilaquiles.

Jamie Oliver, I love you

image via Food Network

Try this Roast Carrot and Avocado Salad with Orange and Lemon Dressing from Jamie Cooks at Home (I love going for a run on my apt. building's treadmill. The gym has cable TV and I can watch Bravo and FoodTV!). It seems like a complicated recipe, but it just has lots of ingredients. It's a snap to put together. It is the MOST delicious salad ever.

I think roasted carrots are my third most favorite food (after eggs and strawberries).

Speaking of food, I have a huge crush on Cafe Johnsonia. It's a great blog.