Friday, November 12, 2010

Food for Thought -- Jamaican, Indian, Thai

Meltingpot Readers,

I come to you today prepared to confess. This week I only prepared one meal (meaning dinner). For the rest of the week we depended on our local ethnic take-out eateries -- the Jamaican, Indian and Thai from the title -- to nourish our hungry bodies. And I feel terrible. It's been a ridiculously busy week in the Kinky Gazpacho household. I had a reading, extra work meetings and the older son is in the final week of dress rehearsals for the school play. All of that was piled on top of our usual karate and guitar lessons. It's been a serious blur of activity and last-minute meal ideas. But that's all about to change.

I went grocery shopping today and filled my cart with real food, so I can cook away the guilt I feel for subjecting my family to meals served out of styrofoam and plastic. And don't get me wrong, I LOVE eating take-out Thai etc, but three days in a row and I feel like we all need to detox. So here's what's on the menu for the week. Just thought I'd share. And of course, I don't know what days we'll eat what, but this is what I'm cooking this week.

1. White bean and kale soup with spicy andouille (turkey) sausage.

2. Mexican-esque chicken with hot peppers and green tomatoes (I have to use up the bushel of peppers and tomatoes from the garden that are sitting in the kitchen window teasing me. If anyone else has a recipe for hot peppers let me know because I have a ton!)

3. Wheat-free/sugar-free Apple-Cranberry Crisp

4. Homemade pizza with chicken sausage and green peppers & Lori's Famous Buffalo chicken wings

5. El Esposo's Ginger fruit and Veggie Juice (Obviously El Esposo is making this.)

6. Tortilla de patata with roasted peppers and garlic shrimp.

Wow, I hope I actually make all of this this week because it really sounds good. And I just remembered, I'm flying to Miami on Friday for the Miami Book Fair so I better leave a good taste in the mouth of my boys so they don't miss me too much while I'm gone.

So, what are you all making this weekend or week? And if you feel like making me feel better, what's the longest stint of continuous take-out you ever pulled?

I'm listening.

Peace!

6 comments:

Jade @ Tasting Grace said...

I have a feeling I'm going to have a very long stint of take-out/restaurant food when we move to Thailand in 10 days! It'll be awhile before I get a kitchen of my own.

Lovelyn said...

Those meals sure sound delicious. We had lamb tagine for dinner tonight. Tomorrow will be a gluten free veggie pizza. Sunday will be roasted chicken with potatoes. That's all I have planned so far because I normally do my grocery shopping on Monday. My husband can't eat wheat so we limit the amount of eating out we do.

@Jade - Moving to Thailand in 10 days! I'm so jealous!

blackbookblogger said...

Wow - when you cook you do real cooking, too! A very impressive menu.

I don't know the longest we've gone with just take out, but I know we've gone at least a week with out a true home cooked meal. A lot of prepared meals from the grocery story. I like to cook, but am generally so tired it feels like too much.

Professor Tharps said...

Jade,
You better keep writing here once you move. We want to hear all about it, and not just the food part, although we DO want to hear about the food parts.

Lovelyn,
Yummy. Lamb tagine. (mouth watering)

Bbb,
I can do some impressive cooking. But I can also make hotdogs and spaghetti too :)

Quiskaeya said...

Wow moving to Thailand! Wow very exciting. Happy Travels to you Jade.

I don't think the longest I've ever been without cooking was more than a 1-2 days. But certainly there are a times when spaghetti & sauce and similar quick fix meals rule the menu for a period.

I only plan to cook 3 days this week (there will be plenty of leftovers *smiles*):

Today: Shrimp Alfredo & pasta w/ salad or veggies (probably a medley of squash & zucchini)

Thursday: Pumpkin soup & kale w/ artisan bread.

Sunday: Escovitch Fish with rice n peas & steamed cabbage.

That's what is at the menu at our home :)

ieishah said...

OMG, Jade. In Thailand the food you get from the lady on the corner is as good (and quality!!) as the food in any restaurant. But you probably already know that and it's probably why you're moving! Happy trails...