Simple Dinners

Note to those of you who actually read this blog: My star reviewer had a bit of an issue with a discrepancy in the last post so the title has been changed...my apologies to any who took exception! :)

On to more important things...

Weeknight dinners...

Last night...

A couple weeks ago I hosted Friday night dinner. On the menu were Rosemary Pecans. A few snack attacks later the result was a Ziploc full of pecan crumbs and rosemary needles. As I was thinking about how to not let perfectly good crumbs go to waste I stopped at the dry cleaner on the way home and a quick dash next door to Metropolitan Market produced an organic chicken breast...got home, threw it in the oven topped with the rosemary pecan crumbs, olive oil and white wine at 400 degrees, and about 45 minutes later I was enjoying a delicously moist chicken breast with hints of rosemary and a crunchy topping.

Disclaimer for gasping calorie-counters: I ate half the chicken breast...the other half is in the refrigerator to aid in a future dinner this week...if it's anything exciting you might hear about the rosemary-pecan crusted chicken again! (I know you will all wait with baited breath...)

Tonight...

Spinach Lentil Soup courtesy of Whole Foods (I don't venture there often...probably because an excursion Sunday afternoon had me oohing and aahing for the better part of an hour...) along with a whole wheat-brie quesadila.

(For the curious wanting to know more about the above photo:

The sugar snap peas in last night's dinner also came from Whole Foods...crisp and bright green after steaming for 2 minutes.

Which leads me to a sidebar regarding dinner for one: I love being able to pick out a handful or two of veggies in the produce section. And hitting the meat counters and finding one chicken breast in a package...

Salad is usually a blend of greens, grape tomatoes, shredded carrots, or whatever other vegetable or fruit happens to reside in my fridge at the moment...probably topped with balsamic vinaigrette.)

Top Ten Things I Love about the Pacific Northwest

Because no blog is complete without a top ten list...

10. The Mountain (you turn a corner...and it takes your breath away...every time)

9. Rain (no, really...it's part of the culture!)

8. Coffee (see number 9)

7. Friendly People

6. Many Shades of Green

5. Maybe I mentioned The Mountain?

4. Perhaps I noted coffee?

3. Multiple ski resorts with plenty of fluffy white stuff, all in less than a day's drive

2. The Food (hmm...I sense another top ten list!)

1. And finally...The Mountain

(sunset on Mt. Rainier as seen from the Stadium District, Tacoma)

Sunny Days in January

The expectation around here in January is a continuous stream of gray and rainy days. Day begins after we arrive at work and ends before we leave work. Coffee provides warmth, or for some, a cup of tea all day long. Curling up with a good book and knitting some new creation are comforting ways to occupy damp, dark evenings. Skiing as often as possible recharges our batteries.

Then suddenly one morning you awaken and realize that a glorious light is streaming in. The sun shines...not one...not two...but five days in a row. While no rain in the city almost certainly means no new snow in the mountains, this is still a thing of beauty. And you do everything possible to make the most of it...

Because a clear blue sky most likely means another bonus...The Mountain is out!

(photo from the pier at a waterfront park, Ruston Way, Tacoma)

Lunch on the Water

Lunch today at C.I. Shenanigan's on the waterfront in Old Town, Tacoma... http://www.cishenanigans.com/tac.php

We were led to a table at the back of the restaurant facing the water. It's an overcast day (as usual) that gradually cleared to blue sky (unusual) as we ate. My first choice: Where to sit? Facing the Olympics and Vashon Island? Or facing the Cascades with Mt. Rainier and her halo peaking over Old Town's architecture? I faced the Olympics, but unfortunately it cleared from the east so my seatmates across the table had the better view...

I tried Republic of Tea's Pomegranate Green Tea, brought to us in a bottle. This was the last bottle, and two of us had ordered it, but the bottle was just right to split between two people and we were only charged for one drink. Very tasty!

Then came bread... slices of sourdough, multigrain, and garlic. Not sure which were tastier, although the garlic bread had the added dimension of an actual roasted clove tucked into it. A pat of butter with a sprig of rosemary on top proved a delightful spread.

I had the warm steak salad. Sauteed mushrooms in a warm creamy dressing sat atop a bed of spinach with barbecued steak, tomatoes and red onion. There was just enough dressing to coat the leaves and flavor the condiments. This was one of the better salads I've had. Apparently their steak comes fresh from a ranch in Idaho. Not quite local, but definitely flavorful.

The service was accommodating and excellent, just enough to be helpful without hovering. I would go back...for lunch again...or for dinner...

And our last view was of a sky becoming more blue and a sailboat floating past Brown's Point while a kayaker paddled past our window with smooth quick strokes.

One Pot Wonders

As part of my holiday gift this year, I received a cookbook titled "one pot wonders" from one of my favorite people--presumably to reduce the amount of dishes when I cook and not because I'm supposed to cook for him...

This morning over a hasty breakfast I paged through the book and landed on "roasted new potatoes with coarse salt and rosemary." Ahhh...just happen to have baby reds in my possession...a side trip to the grocery store for rosemary after the gym and dinner ingredients are ready...

There is something to be said for roasted food. The wait is lengthy, yes, but the scent that floats from the kitchen and that first taste is worth an hour of anticipation.

So tonight...a plate of roasted potatoes dripping with butter/olive oil, garlic and rosemary...a perfect way to end an evening...

Oh, yeah, and I'm certain a Tupperware will find its way to the reason for my splendid dinner.