February Food!

There's a handful of "go-to" meals I make that I could basically eat all the time. Since I like cooking, I try to switch it up. Here's a couple oldies but goodies. 

So there's only a couple of meals that Alex and I make together and spaghetti is one of them. Growing up, I just ate noodles, with sauce and cheese. Alex's brother wouldn't eat veggies growing up, so his Mom would make their spaghetti a little more "gourmet" with lots of veggies and meat. We've been making this for a while and probably have it once a month. So good.

It takes a little time to prepare because of all the cutting of vegetables. We use onion, garlic, carrots, tomatoes, celery, and mushrooms. Chop them all really fine, sauté, sweat them, then add ground beef and some kind of tomato paste and whatever seasonings you're feeling that day! Sometimes Alex sneaks in some Worcestershire, ketchup or other things. I usually don't notice. It helps him with his creativity :)

One of my favorite go-to meals is Spicy Sausage Pasta. Probably not the best meal nutritionally, but I LOVE it. I was never a smoked sausage person, but in this dish it's so good.

You've probably noticed, but I cook almost everything with onion and garlic. You just can't go wrong. So naturally, you cook the O/G and smoked sausage until the sausage browns, then add chicken broth, cream, ro-tel tomatoes with green chiles, and dry pasta. You bring to a boil, then reduce to low for about 15 min. Top it off with cheese of your choice and green onions. Ugh so good. Also on my Pinterest.

Next up is something that takes a little more effort and makes a mess: Sweet and Sour Chicken. I doubt the sauce is gluten-free, but the base of the chicken is. Sometimes I like these meals that take a little longer because I appreciate them more. I've also made this a couple times and it's really tasty.

This is not my own picture. Totally forgot to take one. Also from Pinterest. The base is just dipping the chicken pieces in cornstarch and egg and baking them in a pan full of oil. Smells kind of like donuts when you make it. Same concept. I usually don't cook them fully through and throw them into a glass-bakeware dish. The sauce is ketchup, soy sauce, white distilled vinegar, garlic salt, and sugar (though I use xylitol). Side Note: I am a big believer in xylitol. It tastes the exact same as sugar AND helps your teeth! Don't eat too much though...not good for your digestion. You put the sauce over the chicken then bake in the oven for about another 30-40 min.

If you're looking for an easy meal, just make egg and avocado salad. I grew up eating egg salad, and loved guacamole. Who knew they mixed? Yet another Pinterest meal. I see a trend here. 

It just feels more gourmet when you toast the bread ha. After boiling the eggs, you just mix the avocado, some mayo, curry powder, and salt and pepper. I usually let the eggs cool a little before mixing them in. So easy. I eat most meals with salad too. None of that iceberg lettuce crap. I go for the real stuff. Spinach, arugula, kale, etc. I love my greens. 

Now this is a meal I know nothing about. Alex had literally never eaten mac and cheese growing up and I was in shock when he told me that. I need to remember that his Mom made mostly Japanese meals though, since she is from Japan. They ate an "equivalent" of mac and cheese in egg and meat form. 

This, here, is Nishoku-Donburi. Alex made it for me, but I helped mix the eggs :) Go me. You mix the eggs with sugar and salt, then scramble them. The meat is just ground beef, soy sauce, brown sugar, and salt. Super simple. You serve it over rice. I was going to mix the two, but Alex got mad at me and said I had to separate them haha. He's very picky when it comes to his meals. It's pretty tasty actually. Good mix of sweet and salty.

I actually feel really accomplished when I'm cooking and learning new meals, or perfecting old ones. My children better appreciate the food I make haha.

xoxo, kay