meatless night

Tonight we had a vegetarian curry dinner, based on this recipe which a good friend made for us a few months ago: 

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/calling-all-cooks/nanas-egg-curry-rice-recipe/index.html

The picture was taken on the 

stove before serving, so it doesn't capture the (plain brown) rice that went along, or the yogurt, cilantro, and chopped hard boiled eggs which I served on the side to be added according to taste. I used a lot less oil and spices than called for, skipped the tomato sauce, added chickpeas, potato, and spinach, and only boiled 4 eggs which weren't mixed in as mentioned. Yum! Definitely a core member of the meatless rotation.

No post last night since there was no cooking. Thai takeout from the restaurant 2 blocks away was last night's dinner, and we enjoyed our fish curry, chicken-vegetable stir fry, and curry puffs very much. 

pasta with kale and italian sausage

I first made this a while ago when I found leftover sausage in the freezer and also had picked up kale at the co-op because it looked good and I thought kale was probably something we should start eating. I can't really cite a recipe. At the time, I googled "sausage and kale" and found a recipe, but I don't use a recipe now  and probably haven't made it the same way twice. It's nothing exciting, but what doesn't taste good with sausage involved?

the daily crisis

It seems that nearly every day I struggle to come up with the evening meal. With all of the tasty meals we've enjoyed over the years, it's amazing to me that we so often draw a blank when trying to think of what to eat. Then when inspiration strikes, we wonder why we didn't think of the idea sooner, because it's too late to find all the ingredients. This is the daily crisis. We tried making a Meal Master List on a piece of paper, but it's out of space and ragged, and hard to take seriously!

In a fit of frustration last night, I created this blog, more out of surprise that "dinnerplanwoes" was available on my first try. If I'm able to record a history of some of our dinners in this space, maybe over time it could be a reference. If I keep it up, I may look for some friends to follow and chime in with dinner suggestions too. I plan to blabber on only about dinner. Lunch and breakfast, and marriage and parenting, and working, moving, and living, are not planned as regular topics.

After much contemplation, tonight's meal was stir-fried beef with cauliflower and swiss chard, served over rice. The idea came from The Victory Garden Cookbook. I like simple meals, with natural ingredients. We're obviously not vegetarians, but I like meat to be an accent rather than the main course, and I like meatless meals as well. I'm inspired by "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle", "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "French Women don't get Fat" among others.

So what's for dinner tomorrow? Waiting for the next great idea!