Weekly Menu

I am trying to bring order back into my life and with order, weekly menu is on the top of my priority list. Not only did I create the menu and buy all the ingredients for this week's dinners, but I also prepped lunches. Yeay for organization and preparation. I feel ready for this week. Now, all I need is for the chef to stick with MY plan;)

SUNDAY: Hers - Salmon burgers / His - Venison Chili

MONDAY (MEATLESS MONDAY): Fragrant fried rice pilaf

TUESDAY: Broiled steak with rice salad

WEDNESDAY: Chicken succotash with avocado and goat cheese

THURSDAY: Tuna/Chicken white bean and arugula sandwiches

FRIDAY: Shrimp with peas risotto

SATURDAY: Date night

Happy eating!!!

xoxo, The Faux Foodie Girl

Frozen Breakfast - Green Monster Style

These days there is not much time to sit down and enjoy breakfast.

These days it's all about the speed and efficiency.

These days it's all about getting the most nutrients out of my meals with the shortest prep time possible.

These days, it's back to GREEN MONSTERS.

These days it's about doing the best I can and taking care of myself, so I can take care of them... because I love them :)

INGEDIENTS:
1 cup of baby spinach
1/2 cup of blackberries
1/2 cup of blueberries
1/3 cup of strawberries
1/2 cup of almond milk
1 tbsp of Amazing Grass
Cville granola clusters
1/2 cup of ice

RECIPE:
Blend all together and Enjoy!!!

Thankful Thursdays - 12 weeks

Today I am thankful...

For your smile

For your big blue eyes

For the incredible love I feel

Today, 12 WEEKS ago, you changed my life forever and I couldn't imagine a day without you....

THANK YOU

Hugs & Giggles....

The Faux Foodie Mommy

Meatless Mondays

Pssss, chef doesn't want me to say this out loud, but I can't resist it - we have joined the foodie revolution - MEATLESS MONDAYS!!!!  According to association's website, going meatless once a week may reduce your risk of chronic preventable conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. It can also help reduce your carbon footprint and save precious resources like fresh water and fossil fuel.

Why Monday? Well, it marks a new beginning, new possibilities, new structure - a perfect day to make a change!

So on our meatless monday, the chef made black bean burgers and sweet potato fries. It was my first time having a black bean, and the verdict is still not in on this one...just not quite sure. I liked the idea of it, I like how I felt after eating it, but I can't decide if I actually liked it.

Black bean burger on a toasted bun, baby spinach, 1/2 slice of pepper jack, mustard and a little ketchup and...

...and crispy sweet potato fries 

A great start to a week, just a little push in a right direction - yeay for Meatless Mondays!

RECIPE:

• two cans of black beans
• Vegeta
• ground cumin
• cayenne pepper
• oregano
• lime juice
• bread crumbs
• 2 tbsp plain yogurt
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Just mush everything together by hand and form into patties. The chef pan fried the patties, but you can also grill them... Bon Apetit! UPDATED: the chef just notified me that he used the food processor and not mushed everything together by hand ;)

QUESTION: Did you make a change today? Do you see Mondays as new beginnings?

xoxo, The Faux Foodie Girl

What I Want NOW: J.CREW

Yes, this is a foodie blog, but I can't resist the new J.CREW catalog that just arrived and if I could I would get these tomorrow...

The more I look at the catalog, the more I want them - I really want them NOW!!!!

xoxo,The Faux Foodie Girl

I am still hungry

I am still hungry.... The chef prepared a really healthy and light dinner tonight. The flavors and colors were perfect, but not enough to satisfy my appetite. 

He made the pan seared tilapia, steamed mixed veggies, avocado and tomato salad. I even had some french baguette, so starches were definitely not missed.

The best part of the dinner was the avocado and tomato salad. Even though the salad calls for shallots, cilantro and something else that I can't remember now, it was still the most flavorful thing on my plate. The hint of lime, ripe sweet juicy tomatoes, olive oil, sea salt and bland avocado were a winning combination. The good thing is I have some leftovers for tomorrow.

The steamed veggies and pan seared tilapia - well they were just OK - very healthy tasting if that says anything. Eating this meal made me feel as though I was on a diet, so to distract myself from that thought I had some Hagen Daaz ice cream. It was delicious.

Perhaps the chef knew I wanted some ice cream tonight, so he prepared the light dinner - it's all about the balance ;) What do you do to balance your meals?

xoxo, The Faux Foodie Girl

Wordless Wednesdays

I have no idea where or why or whom started this trend, but I like it - Wordless Wednesdays....

Family Meals

One of the best things about having family in town is eating our meals at the table - together! It's a rarity these days, but for some reason Mili-Mali has cooperated and let us eat in peace. Three nights in a row as we were finishing up the meal she would be getting restless in her little chair - perfect timing.

When I say the whole family, I really mean the whole family - including the Sous Chef. She sits on the ottoman as it makes her feel closer to us...closer to where the action is - or should I say where food is:)

My poor little Sous-Chef is going through a really rough times right now and I really need her to pull through it. About 12 weeks ago we found out she has melanoma on her paw and she went through a 6 week long radiation treatment and everything looking good, last thursday we got an alarming news. Tomorrow we go back to the oncologist to find out more and I am on pins and needles. I am not ready for any bad news.... Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers....

 

Breakfast or really brunch since we didn't eat till 11:30 were pancakes with peanut butter, banana, blueberries and strawberries - delicious!!!

 Dinner was one of my favorite Robin Miller recipes - cashew chicken and jasmine rice - so yummy....

 And a little kitchen sink salad - baby spinach, green, red, yellow and orange peppers, scallions and carrots with olive oil and vinegar - simple and satisfying. I've been craving veggies lately so this little salad was perfect.

And all together with a glass of wine. I had a glass of Tenuta Ca'Bolani Sauvignon Blanc - crispy, sharp and refreshing - a perfect glass of summer white - you should try it...

Do you eat all your meals with the family at the kitchen table or do you eat in front of the TV? We are very much the kitchen table kind, but with the TV on.

xoxo, The Faux Foodie Girl

Food Trucks in the Burbs

The food trucks phenomenon has arrived to the SFL burbs and I finally feel as one of the cool kids! While doing the early morning feeding I read on Twitter that the Food Trucks will be in the Dodge dealership parking lot down the street from our house - how perfect, we have family in town and no plans for the evening, so this was great timing - something new - something different - something cool. 

 It was a family affair - the chef, Mili-Mali (sleeping in her stroller) and Moi - please excuse the au natural face - the heat is really getting to me - no desire to do my hair, no make up.

My lovely sister-in-law and her husband....they are expecting a bambino in November - can't wait to meet their little one at Thanksgiving!!!! Isn't she glowing!!!! So happy they came down to visit us and meet Mili-Mali. 

I have been following food trucks on twitter and Facebook for months now, but until tonight I have not had a chance to actually try one. I am absolutely amazed by the power of social media and explosion of Food Truck industry - this would make for an interesting business school thesis....anyone interested in this topic - I'll collaborate with you!

The one and only food truck that I have been following religiously from the begging on twitter -@LatinBurger was there and of course I had to try it. The line was super long, but isn't that always a sign that the food is good, and it really was.

I had a Macho Match Box - double burger with caramelized onions, some type of reddish mayo, with cheese, fries and Macho Taco. It was really good - delicious and greasy, just like the food truck burger should be.

We also had some Peruvian ceviche with fried plantains - D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S!!!! I love, love ceviche, but this was really good and I really think the secret was in the tangerine that was added to all the fishy goodness. 

I never thought of having ceviche with fried plantains but it was such a good pairing - perfect for soaking all the juices. I want some more...

The portions were big and I wish I could have tried some more, but I hear that the food trucks gather in the HardRock parking lot on Thursdays - I think I may have to schedule a Girls' Night Out and try others because the food and the trucks looked so delicious.

So how was your Saturday night? Did you do something "cool"? Mind you, I am already in bed, so I am really not that cool, but for a moment I really felt like one of the cool kids...

xoxo, The Faux Foodie Girl

I don't know what to name this post

Sometimes the hardest thing about a blog post is actually coming up with a title. Today I simply was not able to come up with the title, so this is a titleless post...

I found some time yesterday to read my many copies of the Whole Living magazine and it was a true wake up call. I've been struggling for a couple of weeks now to start eating wholesome and healthy.  Making the right food choices has been difficult. But somehow reading the Whole Living magazine really helped me start today the way I used to with a green monster and not a croissant (which by the way is sitting in my bread box - hoping that someone else in the house would eat it).

So the breakfast was a fantastic green monster smoothie topped with rolled oats. I was so focused on my breakfast [read: busy getting ready for work day and getting Mili-Mali ready for the day], that I completely forgot to take a picture, but I did take a photo last night of all the ingredients all ready in the blender ;)

Lunch - a sandwich full good, actually great stuff - multigrain bread + roasted turkey breast + roasted pepper hummus + orange pepper + spinach + avocado + pepper jack cheese - it was delicious!!!!

And than dinner time came...the chef prepared lightly breaded tilapia, steamed mixed veggies and sweet potato fries. It was delicious. I had two helpings of everything, and I still felt light after I cleaned my plate. There is nothing better than knowing I ate good and a lot and it was completely satisfying and fulfilling.

 The sweet potato fries were so crunchy and sprinkled with coarse salt. There is nothing better than a contrast of sweet and salty - my favorite combination.

Dessert - none today, which is so odd for me, but I think I am saving it for tomorrow when I will have a double chocolate craving....I know it's coming, I can feel it.

It's been a long day - Mili-Mali early feeding [she slept from 8pm last night till 3:30am and than again till 6:30am- in my book this is a great night], a long day in the office, more Mili-Mali time - this time it was tummy time and she did great, and than the usual house stuff - the least I can say - it's bed time. I started a new book today - Happiest Baby on the Block - hope this will be a little better than BabyWise. Babywise was so frustrating and it made me feel as if I were incompetent mother. I guess it just wasn't for us, as I think Mili-Mali has good sleeping habits and is a pretty happy baby... Don't you agree!?!

xoxo, The Faux Foodie Girl