Quick supper

My dinner tonight. I made the pico de gallo last night and it tasted even better tonight. It was clean-out-the-fridge day so I made veggie quesadillas, using spinach, mushrooms, onions and cheese. This whole meal took less than 25 minute to make. 

Teriyaki Beef and Veggie Stir-Fry

We hardly eat beef at our house (like never, really) but I have noticed that the price of chicken has steadily gone up since the whole Swine Flu thing. And there is only so much pork I can eat, even if it is a thrifty buy. So this week when beef was on special at our store, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to try a beef stir-fry.

Let me back up a little by saying that I haven't been inspired to cook too much lately. I don't know if it is because the weather is warming up or maybe it is the pregnancy fatigue and hormones but, well I just wasn't inspired by my old cookbooks and recipes. Joe must have picked up on the vibe because for Mother's Day he gave me a fabulous gift (one of many gifts, actually) - he got me a subscription to a cookbook club - so up my alley, right!! Yay! I can't wait to get some new cookbooks. Because aside from the gorgeous Morimoto cookbook I got for my 40th from my college friend, Nicole I actually haven't bought a new cookbooks since Chez Panisse came out - when was that, like the 80's, right? Still it a good one to stop at if you are stopping, I love the recipes by Alice Waters, but I am getting off track here...

Anyway, instead of plopping down money for a cookbook, I usually pull recipes and ideas from the internet. I have enjoyed reading wonderful food bloggers like Blazing Wok and Just Cook It, to name a few. And although browsing through the internet is a great (and free) way to get cooking ideas and recipes, there is something lovely and wonderful about flipping through a cookbook. Maybe it is the glossy color photos and detail step-by-step instructions. Maybe it is the collecting of them that is thrilling. Whatever it is, thank you Joe for the great idea (and the ok to spend money!) I can't wait to get the new Ina Garten book Back to Basics and of course books by my favorite Chefs; Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey.

Here are a few books Joe got me for Mother's Day.

The Better Homes and Garden book was so right on for Mother's Day. I have been using my mother's well used, beaten and tattered book from the 70's and it is nice to get an updated edition of my own. It was one of the few American food books that she used. When she met my dad she had never cooked an American recipe. This book taught her everything about American cuisine(scary, I know!) LOL.

Here is the beef teriyaki stir-fry we made for dinner Sunday night. The sauce is a compilation of several recipes that I mingled together: from Dr. Weil's (another fav recipe resource of mine) Salmon Teriyaki and the Beef Teriyaki recipe from by new 365 Last-Minutes Meals book.

Combine ingredients for teriyaki sauce and pour over meat and marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hour (or as long as you like, overnight even!)

Quickly stir fry your vegetables in a little vegetable oil. Remove from pan and set aside.

Drain the meat from the marinade (and reserve the marinade for later). Cook the meat until well done.

Add the vegetables to the meat.

Using your reserved marinade, add a tablespoon of cornstarch and mix well. Then add the sauce to the meat and veggies and stir-fry until the cornstarch sauce mixture is bubbling and thicken.

Serve over rice and enjoy. At the last minute I threw in some pineapple I had in the fridge. You can omit this but I did it on a whim, it is the pregnancy hormones talking to me again! Joe enjoyed it!

What the Pregnant Lady is Eating: Greek Yogurt

Yogurt! Sometimes twice a day. The Greek yogurt is the best, especially plain with a drizzle of honey. So delish!

Warm beets, oranges and goat cheese salad.

Simple and so delish. Add a few shakes of red wine vinegar for some added acidity. The beets were so sweet, like candy.

Ice -cream!

Now that Lent is over we can eat ice cream again!

Mile High Ice Cream Pie, Champps - Indianapolis

Make a simple Easter Dinner in less than 1.5 hours.

My centerpiece.

Honey ham, candied carrots, French green beans, corn, potato casserole.

Strawberry crunch pie with vanilla bean ice-cream. 

All this made in under 1.5 hours! The dessert was store bought.

What the Pregnant Lady is Eating: Sardines

I like fresh sardines, but the canned boneless, skinless fillets in soya bean oil are great too. My mom used to make sandwiches using fresh toasted crusty French bread, filled with sardines, pickled onions, soy sauce and Sambal. So spicy, tangy and salty. Simple and nutritious. Yes, a little pungent but super yum. Just don't try kissing your honey after eating one of these.