The blog of a vegetarian who happens to LOVE food

MONDAY B: Chia Pudding L: Beet Goat cheese salad D: Tofu coconut curry with rice TUESDAY B: Smoothie L: Beet goat cheese salad D: Shrimp fried rice with leftover rice WEDNESDAY B: Acai greens bowl L: Beet goat cheese salad D: White bean stew THURSDAY B: Smoothie L: Peach burrata tomato prosciutto salad D: Fish and chickpea pasta with creamy sauce FRIDAY B: Chia pudding L: With Brad D: Pizza night Snacks: Peanut butter baked oat muffins

Sunday: Dinner:  Roasted Salmon , steamed edamame, sliced apples,  sesame noodles Monday (Uma soccer practice):  Lunch: Foccacia goat cheese sandwich (tomato, basil, avocado, goat cheese, balsamic) Dinner: Hamburger, roasted potatoes Tuesday (Uma mathnasium): Lunch: salad: greens, peach, carrot, cucumber, tomato, pistachio, goat cheese Dinner: marinated chicken, roasted brussel sprouts,  tomato chickpea salad Wednesday (Uma karate), parents' night out: Lunch: leftover chickpea salad over greens Dinner: Rubio's Thursday (Rhea soccer practice): Lunch (Meghna): turkey sandwich Dinner:  Shrimp bean skillet  (not spicy, sub chicken stock for wine), toasted bread Friday (Uma mathnasium): Lunch (Sumit): turkey sandwich Dinner: pizza, roasted beets with goat cheese Groceries: 2 cans white beans 2 cans garbanzo beans 2 heirloom tomatoes pint of cherry tomatoes herb or butter lettuce salad mix parsley pistachios brussel sprouts pickles dijon mustard jalapeno pot...

-Weeknight chicken to try:  1 , 2 , 3  and many more - Roasted broccoli salad

Another keeper from NYTimes Cooking for weeknight cooking: chicken breasts with peppers . I didn't have parsley, so I substituted thyme. I also added more chicken stock to my tomato/pepper mixture to give it a slightly gravy-er consistency, and I added butter to it at the end to thicken it. Overall, a highly adaptable and delicious recipe. I'll try rubbing paprika to the breast next time in addition to the salt and pepper before cooking. Enjoy!

Monday: Channa Masala, rice. Use this recipe or this one Tuesday: Thai fish red curry , rice Wednesday: bean and cheese enchiladas, fava bean soup Thursday: Cuban chicken and black bean quinoa bowls Friday: Chimichurri shrimp over creamy polenta

Deb Perelman at  Smitten Kitchen shares and writes recipes I return to over and over. I make the buttermilk pancakes almost every weekend, and they're a huge hit with anyone who has ever had them them (I've been asked to share the recipe repeatedly). I usually make the base and then add whatever flavor we fancy. My husband and daughter love a banana, coconut pancake (throw in some macadamia nuts or walnuts if they're around). The chocolate chip pancake is hugely popular, and I'm definitely partial to the blueberry. There's this potato salad  recipe that I forgot all about, but the summer I discovered it, I must've made it at least four times to take for BBQs. I've tried plenty from the site, and am rarely disappointed.

Black bean and butternut squash enchiladas Channa Masala Crockpot Beef Chili Chicken Pot Pie , but try with pie crust Butternut Squash quesadilla , or try mushroom, goat cheese, caramelized onion For leftover rotisserie chicken: white bean and chicken soup Most everything on The Modern Proper , also great recipes for leftover rotisserie chicken Ina's Mustard Roasted Chicken Veggie burger Vegetable fritters Cuban chicken bowl Coconut chia pudding

I've recently decided to rejoin the ranks of the gainfully employed. Unfortunately for me, this means a long commute. I'm going to use this space for menu planning and great recipes again. More to come soon. But some food sites I've been using heavily lately: The Kitchn Surprisingly: Williams-Sonoma Recipes David Lebovitz Food & Wine recipes NYT Cooking Food Network (the ads kill me and I almost always want to stop visiting because of their obnoxiousness, but what can I say, Ina and Alton have lots of recipes here)

Monday: Tofu Stir fry , salad, brown rice Tuesday: Ginger chicken , sauteed veggies, bulgur Wednesday: Pasta with roasted tomato sauce and goat cheese, rolls Thursday: Fish, salad, rolls Friday: Grocery List: tofu soy sauce maple syrup chicken thighs greem beans stir fry veggies (some combo of green beans, red pepper, onion, mushroom, snow peas, broccoli) brown basmati rice tomatoes fish

Sunday: pav bhaji Monday: Soy-ginger salmon (adapt this ), tabouleh,  watercress avocado salad Tuesday: Spiced lentil soup , kale salad Wednesday: Three bean vegetarian chili, cornbread Thursday: egg curry, brown rice, roti Friday: open WF fruits coconut milk vegetable broth thyme lemongrass kale watercress avocado cilantro cauliflower carrots bell pepper frozen peas salmon beans cornbread bread rolls

Monday: M in LA Tuesday: Roasted tomatoes with goat cheese sauce, pasta, bread, kale salad Wednesday: Butternut Squash Chickpea Salad , Thursday: Baked chicken with lentils  (cut the recipe in 1/2), bread Friday:

Monday: Rotisserie chicken, spinach goat cheese salad, lentils Tuesday: Pasta with roasted tomatoes, basil, pine nuts, goat cheese. Kale salad Wednesday:  Seoul chicken , rice, sauteed bok choy Thursday: Dinner for Tash Friday:

I should really change the title of this blog since I no longer am a vegetarian, but for now it will have to stay as it is. This was dinner tonight, thanks to inspiration from the Barefoot Contessa , Ina Garten (links to recipes in the menu post below). Weeknight cooking can be stressful for me, especially if I'm craving Indian food since my favorite cuisine can take a lot of preparation and have lengthy cooking times. I'm always on the lookout for fast, delicious, well-rounded meals. I experience great joy when I am able to pull this off successfully. It can turn around an otherwise bad day, or be a great ending for an already great day (today, unfortunately, it was a case of the former). The picture on the right is my joy today. I followed the salad recipe to the letter. I changed a couple of things in the chicken recipe. I used skinned thighs instead of skin-on breasts because I prefer dark meat and I used about a third of the butter required for the sauce. I would r...

Monday: Pav bhaji, fish curry, brown rice, pear chocolate bread pudding Tuesday: Chicken with shallots, watercress avocado salad , green beans Wednesday: Salmon with Herbs , Roasted tomatoes , brown rice Thursday: M in LA, S leftovers Friday: Ba/dada's

Monday: Veg masala burger, tabouleh, salad Tuesday:  Eggplant and Tomato Curry ,  chana dal , chaval, tortilla Wednesday:  Tomato Rice , white fish mildly spiced Thursday:  Mujaddara  (Instead of spiced yogurt, add those flavors to lentil/rice), egg/chicken curry Friday: Black pepper tofu , scallion pancake s, brown rice

DINNER Monday: Dal, chaval, naan, chole Tuesday: M in LA, Rotisserie chicken, roasted onion/potatoes for S? Wednesday: Eggplant parmesan , rosemary bread, lettuce salad with yogurt  vinaigrette Thursday: Spanish rice, guacamole  (mash all ingredients in recipe), tortilla pie , lettuce salad with citrus  vinaigrette Friday: M in LA LUNCH Monday: Avocado, tomato, pine nut salad; black lentil salad Tuesday: Salad with yogurt dressing and chicken Wednesday: More of above Thursday: Leftover Eggplant Parmesan Friday: Mexican leftovers SHOPPING LIST WF: Rotisserie chicken radish carrots red bell pepper lettuce (red leaf or butter) eggplant fruits oatmeal tomato cans orange juice onion potatoes tomatoes lime Spanish rice TJs: whole wheat tortilla rosemary bread avocado

Monday: Fish curry , rice Tuesday: Meghna in LA? Wednesday:  Spaghetti with tomato sauce, garlic bread, spinach salad Thursday:  Bhindi masala, roti, dal, chaval Friday: Chole , puri/naan Lunches: Monday: Spinach salad with avocado, feta and olives Tuesday: Black lentils with olive, red pepper, balsamic vinegar; spinach with feta Wednesday: Sardine chickpea salad , spinach Thursday: Leftover salads Friday: Leftovers TJs: Milk eggs vegetable/canola oil balsamic vinegar organic plum tomatoes avocado dill Italian parsley organic cucumber

Sunday: Vegetarian chili, cornbread Monday:  Paneer kathi rolls  (on whole wheat tortilla if no time for roti) , raita Tuesday: salmon, quinoa mix, salad, bread Wednesday: M in LA, marinade chicken for haryali Thursday: haryali chicken, roti, raita Friday:    chole palak , roti, chaval

Sunday: Rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes , salad Monday. LUNCH: Tender Greens. DINNER: LA Tuesday. LUNCH: Chicken, Mediterranean salad. DINNER: shimla mirch, dal, chaval, roti Wednesday. LUNCH: Leftovers. DINNER: LA Thursday. LUNCH: Hooding. DINNER: Salmon, wild rice, salad Friday. LUNCH: salad, salmon. DINNER: black bean enchiladas, spanish rice, guacamole Grocery List WF chicken shallots garlic salmon mixed greens tomatoes ginger bread

Saturday: Dinner: Rotisserie Chicken, shallot mashed potatoes , salad Sunday: Lunch: Chicken tacos (leftover rotisserie), guacamole, black beans Monday:  Roast chicken , sauteed kale , wild rice Tuesday: Cotton Party Wednesday: tofu, sauteed spinach, brown rice Thursday: LA Friday: Egg curry, roti, rice Cotton Party (cook ahead) Dessert:  Luisa's Cake  with raspberry coulis Side Dish: Tomato rice  (?) Shopping List WF: potatoes shallots onion garlic flat leaf parsley tomatoes baby spinach kale: red and green lab snacks fruit scallions cilantro mushroom (for kale salad) pine nuts (for kale salad) chicken rotisserie chicken beluga lentils TJ: lemon orange juice avocado goat cheese (for spinach salad) Ricotta, 1 cup