Back to the Kitchen

Getting back to the kitchen, as with work, can sometimes take some motivation.  Its not that I don't want to cook, but the endless amounts of left overs coupled with out of town guests means a lot more eating out and a lot less cooking in.  That said, Monday I finally got back to it.  


I told my husband that I will only cook red meat if he doesn't eat it for lunch.  He would gladly eat steak for breakfast lunch and dinner (I think he ate In and Out Burger 8 times in one week in college).  But its my job as wife and duty as cook to look out for our health thus the red meat once a day policy.  Well, he had Salmon for lunch on Monday so I made him one of his favorites: 


Irish Beef Hand Pies: http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/irish-beef-hand-pies
The recipe calls for cabbage but I substitute it for yellow onion.  My husband has a thing for the umami flavor and you can really get that out of onions. He tends to like to eat the pies with BBQ sauce.   


I am also resolved to cooking more hearty meals for myself.  I found a great recipe in Ready Made magazine for:


Curried Yellow Split Pea & Carrot Soup: http://www.readymade.com/projects/edible_adventure_yellow_split_pea_carrot_soup
I made it without the spicy cream to make it 100% vegan.  Hubby had a little as a side dish and I at it as my main course.  While it says, "soup" it had the consistency of refried beans. It reminded me a great deal of Ethiopian food.  


As another healthy side I also made:


Green Beans with Lemon and Pine Nuts:  http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Green-Beans-with-Lemon-and-Pine-Nuts-232986
Super easy to make.  


All in I'd say a successful meal. I'd like to figure out a way that my husband would like the hand pies without BBQ sauce.