Saturday I went to the Farmer's Market again. I really didn't have any intention of going this weekend but Saturday was one of those days where everything I planned screwed up. I was going to the mall to buy a shirt. I thought I was getting a good start to my day but when I got to the mall the store didn't open for another hour. So I headed over to the only thing open that early the Farmer's Market. It was lovely as usual. I bought a big bag of zucchini (they didn't have any yellow squash so I'm going to make my Summer Squash Casserole with zucchini this week I'll take FP and share.) I also bought some eggplant, garlic, corn, and more Austrian Fruit Bread for my Mom. I went back to the mall where I looked at the shirt and it looked nothing like the picture in the ad paper. I came home and realized I had forgotten to take out the steaks that I wanted to BBQ for dinner. I decided I needed to go back to bed for awhile. It was one of those days.
We ended up eating In and Out Burgers "Protein Style" with grilled onions (Protein Style = wrapped in lettuce, no bun) Mmmm. If you are near an In and Out order this (it's on the secret menu) and is so much better than with a bun.
Sunday I talked to my sis who just got approved for panni removal (she had RNY in '04). My sister, my niece ('04) and I (06') all had open RNY. They had surgery in the states and I went to Mexico.
I did a lot of cooking yesterday. I cooked a batch of my apples and some of the Asian pears together and made a crumble for my Mom. It made the house smell wonderful and Fall-like so I enjoyed that and she gets a treat too.
For dinner I BBQ's Beef Kabobs and the corn I picked up yesterday and popped open a can of beans. I thought my day of cooking was over and then I got a call from my caterer friend to "come help right away" so I spent most of yesterday night making gourmet boxed lunches for some corporate meeting.
I'm going to be trying a few experimental recipes this week so check back for recipes and food porn (if the experiments don't work LOL then I guess you'll get ummm nothing)
Tonight's dinner was experiment #1. One of the cooking contests I enter every year is sponsored by Hidden Valley Ranch and this year I entered an adaptation of this recipe. This new version came out so much better than the contest winner. I call them Beef Fiesta Bites (think crustless mini quiches but better). I hope you try them. This can be served as a main dish with a salad. We had a Tomato, Cucumber & Feta Salad with them. It's also a great weight loss surgery friendly appetizer at a holiday party.
Shelly's Beef Fiesta Bites
1/2 yellow Onion, diced
2 clove Garlic, diced
1 teaspoon Butter
1 teaspoon Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix, dry powder
5 Eggs
1 can/4 oz. Chopped Green Chiles, drained
1 jar/4 oz. Red Pimentos, drained
1 1/2 cups Shredded cheese, Mexican Blend
1 cup Crumbled Browned Ground Beef
Preheat oven to 350°F. Brown ground beef set aside. Saute onion in butter till golden. Add garlic and saute 1 minute more. Set aside to cool. Mix all ingredients together. Be sure meat & onions have cooled slightly before adding eggs. Spoon into lightly greased mini muffin tins. Bake for 30 minutes or until centers are firm. Makes 24.
Highlights of the day:
* My shipment of Justin's Almond Butter came I was running scary low. Try some smeared on an apple. It's my favorite snack.
* It's much cooler today.
* My cat Rose who absolutely hates her picture being taken let me take 2 or 3 good ones before she got snarly & pissy.
Listening to: "Breathe" Michelle Branch