Cheap Eats and a Birthday!

Last Sunday we went out for dinner, last night we went out for dinner to celebrate Chase’s birthday and he’s working tonight, and then next Sunday is Easter, so my posts are a little cattywampus these days. Plus living in the Allergy Capital of the World is taking its toll on me lately. Everyone I know is sneezy, red-nosed, puffy-eyed, tired, and miserable. I’m still cooking frugally and healthfully and have a couple of dinner pictures to share.

Oh, I do love cabbage, especially when it’s shredded and paired with mushrooms. So quick and delicious.



I had some lovely leeks and chard from the farmers market and couldn’t wait to make this beautiful sauté with the chard stems.




But then I looked at the fresh, crisp greens, all washed and waiting to be eaten, so I chopped them up and added them in, along with mushrooms and broccoli. It was the right thing to do.




I made myself a snack one evening using my leftover Quick White Bean Sauce as a dip with raw zucchini.

I knew I was feeling really bad with allergies when I just couldn’t get inspired to bake Chase’s birthday cake. He requested a lemon cake, and while I wanted to make a beautiful lemony layer cake with blueberry filling, I also knew I had to transport it to my mom’s house. If you’ve ever driven with a layer cake in a warm car, you know how heart-wrenching it is to watch the icing wither and the layers slide. So anyway, I finally pulled myself together and decided to make the Lemon Bundtlettes from Millennium. I’ve made them before so I knew they would be delicious. I also made a lemony glaze to pour over the tops and a blueberry sauce to accompany them. Chase doesn’t like frosting so much anyway, as this cake turned out to be just what he wanted. So here’s the cake – I snapped a shot before I packed them.

And here’s the so-stuffed-with-Indian-food-he-can’t-sit-up birthday boy, further stuffing himself with birthday cake, and his lovely gf (who ate reasonably!).

For you local vegan readers, we ate dinner at Clay Pit. It was outstanding AND they have specially marked their vegan items on the menu! There’s lots to choose from, from appetizers, soup, salads, and entrees – yay!

Also for you local readers, we ate dinner last week at Tino’s (Arbor Walk). I was really enjoying my moussaka, until I bit down on a 2-inch stick, which I thought at first was a bone, but thankfully (I guess) was an herb stem. Then I found a 6-inch piece of twine, which was bright orange I assume to make it more visible and which I also assume was once tied to a hunk of lamb. I was a little grossed out. Go to El Greco for great Greek food and outstanding service.

It’s super windy today, i.e., pollen is blowing like crazy, so I am homebound and looking forward to catching up with all of you today, in between many loads of laundry….