Food, Glorious Food

     I once heard a comedian talk about how as a society, we're obsessed with food.  That it's pretty sad when you hear a news story about a horrible fire and your first thought is: Mmm...marshmallows!
     Then there's the classic conversation from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings : 

Aragorn: Gentlemen, we do not stop till nightfall.

Pippin: What about breakfast?

Aragorn: You already had it.

Pippin: We had one, yes.  What about second breakfast?

Aragorn walks away.

Merry: I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip.

Pippin: What about elevenses?  Luncheon?  Afternoon tea?  Dinner?  Supper?  He knows about them, doesn't he?

Merry: I wouldn't count on it.

     Why think about food?  Aren't we always thinking about food in some form?  Do I have time for breakfast?  What am I going to take to work for lunch?  Where's the snacks?  What do I fix for dinner?  What groceries do we need this week?

     Lyle's birthday was this week.  We had some good meals.  Thought this was a good a time as any to talk about food likes and dislikes.  Lyle's food dislikes: beans.  Lyle's food likes: anything except beans.  I'm not so easy.  I'm a picky eater.  I don't like many condiments.  I won't/can't eat salad dressing, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, some sauces, onions, pickles, spaghetti-o's, cottage cheese, sour cream, any pepper other than a bell pepper...and that's not the end of the list.  However, there are many things I like too.

     This week we went out to eat for Lyle's birthday 4 times.  The first time was with Sam and Sandra in the ward and we went to Benihana.  This is one of our favorite places to eat.  Expensive enough that we don't get there often, but we're signed up on their email program so in our birthday month we get a $30 off dinner coupon.  Such yummy food!  And you get to see it made and have an entertaining show at the same time.  Love their chicken fried rice and tempura vegetables (other than the onions)!  Good chicken, steak, shrimp.  And surprise, surprise, I will sip on their onion soup appetizer, I just won't eat the onions out of it.

     Dinner no. 2 was Lyle's parents taking us to Bombay House.  Oh Indian food, how whole my life feels while I'm eating you!  I'm not a big spice person so I always choose the mild food option.  We get naan bread and rice with the meals.  Our favorite: Chicken Saag.  Yes, it may look gross, but one bite and heaven awaits!  One of us always gets it whenever we go.  It was my turn this time!  Chicken Saag is a spinach based sauce, which explains the green, with chicken (obviously) and other spices and pureed veggies (like onions, but their pureed so it's okay) in it.  Other favorites:  Chicken Mushrooms, Tikka Masala,  and Coconut Kurma.  We never leave without having Gulab Jamun.  It's a desert of fried dough balls in warm syrup with coconut.

Tikka Masala, Tandoori chicken, Naan and Chicken Saag

     Tuesday night is spent with the kids.  Tuesday was actually Lyle's birthday.  This meant a birthday dinner with the kids.  Lyle chose Golden Corral.  It's a family favorite.  It's a good buffet.  I always have to make myself get some salad and fruit because I know I'm going to get at least one plate filled with dessert.  They always have some kind of macaroon- I love coconut- and this time it was cherry macaroons.  Mmm, mmm, boy!  And as a stepmom I always have to make sure the kids get something decent to eat as well: they want the soft serve ice cream.  And this time they had cotton candy (what?).  They have a good variety of foods and yes, I also get some actual entree in between the other stuff.

     Last night we went to Rodizio Grill.  Again a coupon discount for their email club.  I love getting free dinners!  Always leave there SO full.  Is there really any use, Mr. Waiter, to ask me if I want dessert?  Big Fat No.  Nowhere left to stuff it; sorry, buddy!  I love the bacon wrapped turkey and the roasted pineapple.  The glazed ham is really good.  I'm not so much a pork person, so that's saying something.  And I love the parmesan beef.  Now I have one meal for which I don't have to worry about eating too many carbs.  Just too much food period.

     Now for a little more personal angle on food, I thought I'd talk about what we like to eat at home.  Lyle's the cook here.  I can cook and I'm not bad at all, but Lyle actually enjoys it.  Many weekends he likes getting up early and making hashbrowns, hash (potatoes, eggs, cheese, bacon, etc.) or sometimes omelettes for breakfast.  Because we both work, we do do (I said doo doo; probably not a good idea in a blog about food) the busy-parent-instant-meals-thing like mac and cheese, hamburger helper, and the oh so easy spaghetti sometimes.  But we have a couple of favorite dinners.  So I thought I'd share them.  I'm making Chicken Enchiladas for dinner.  Care to join me?

     Also, here's Lyle's recipe for Spinach Lasagna, another favorite.  Actually it's a friend's recipe that Lyle's modified for us. 

Dave's Lyle's Spinach Lasagna

Note: we added more spinach so this makes more than the original recipe.  It can make 2 small pans or 1 big pan, but sometimes that ends up with too much meat/spinach filling.

1 lb sausage

1 lb hamburger

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp Italian seasoning

3 or 4(recipe calls for 1) tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 1/2 - 2 lbs spinach (frozen or fresh)

lasagna noodles

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

2 cans tomato sauce

2 cups mozzarella cheese (but we use more)

Cook noodles.  Warm soup.  Brown meats.  Add seasonings and spinach to the meat. Cook until spinach is tender and mixed well with meat.  Layer pan with noodles.  Next layer is the meat/spinach filling.  Then layer with 1 can soup and one of tomato sauce.  Sprinkle with half the cheese.  Repeat layers.  Cook 350 degrees for 45 min. - 1 hour.

 Enjoy!  Bon Appetite!