Meatless Monday: Loaded Veggie Tortilla Soup

It's official.  We're "New Year's Resolutioners!"  I always try to avoid becoming one of "them," like I was avoiding the plague.  I go around wearing an imaginary new year's resolution mask and gown to shield myself from the infection.  If asked, I proudly tell people that I have no new year's resolutions...by proudly, I mean semi-apologetically smugly.  This year, thanks to the inability to avoid far too many tastings of food and alcohol alike over the past month of vacation, I've been infected.  Something must be done.  

Bring round the "Meatless Monday" bandwagon so I can hop on...

This Monday I made this amazing soup I came across on Pinterest. I thought I might be sad that there wasn't chicken stock.   You should have seen me in the grocery aisle picking up the chicken stock, then putting it down in favor of veggie stock, then repeating the process a few more times before J joined me in the aisle and I was left with whatever I had in my hand...a stock hot potato if you will...I ended up with veggie stock.  The strange thing is, I didn't miss the chicken stock one bit.  If you're not going vegetarian, I'm sure it would be tasty with some chicken stock, and shredded chicken thrown in, but it's just as delectable all veggie all the time.

Loaded Veggie Tortilla Soup

*The author, Minimalist Baker (who btw has a ton of other great recipes) called it nacho soup, but I think it's more like tortilla soup than any nachos i've ever eaten.

Ingredients: 

• 1 TBS olive oil
• 1/2 large onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, diced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp each sea salt and black peper
• 1 can tomato paste
• 2 1/2 C water
• 2 C low sodium vegetable broth
• 1 cup your favorite fresh, chunky salsa**
• 1 4-oz can mild diced green chilis
• 2 15-oz cans black beans, lightly drained
• Optional toppings: tortilla chips, fresh onion, cilantro, avocado, grated cheese, sour cream, hot sauce, lime juice, etc. 

**I used a canned organic chunky salsa

Directions:

1. Heat a large pot over medium heat. 
2. Add olive oil, onion, garlic, and stir.  Cook for about 5 mins or until softened and transparent.  Turn down the heat if the garlic starts to brown. 
3. Add salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder and stir to coat.  Then add tomato paste, water, veggie broth, salsa, green chilis and stir to combine.  Bring to a simmer, then add black beans.  Bring to a simmer again, reduce heat to low and cook for another 20-30 mins. 
4. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more spices, salt or pepper.  Add hot sauce for more heat.  (I didn't adjust the seasonings at all, everything was spot on)
5. Serve hot with tortilla chips, and optional toppings. 

I'll miss you (a)Lot 2

As I get ready to leave the neighborhood I've made my home for the past year and a half I'm starting to feel a little sad about the places I won't be able to walk down the block to. Last night J came over and we were trying to decide which of our spots to go to since, as he put it, my "Brooklyn days are numbered." We ended up at Lot 2 which I'm so sad I only discovered early this summer. They have the most delicious menu. The menu is tiny, and usually that worries me. What if there isn't anything I like, but I've never disliked anything there. I always have a hard time deciding what to get, mostly because the one staple on the menu is their burger and I think it is the best burger I've ever tasted. Served with whole grain mustard, ketchup, and mayo on the side (I'm a mustard only girl) and picked onions with bread and butter pickles, it is always cooked perfectly. J's big pet peeve is when you order a burger medium and it comes out medium well or worse (gasp), well done but these guys are pros. It's not unusual to go there and see a family sitting at the large corner table all eating burgers...they're that good.

So last night I had one last Lot 2 burger, and my favorite cocktail there, the father-in-law...kind of like a Manhattan, but I honestly don't know what's in it, it's just so delicious I can't bring myself to branch out. J had an apple and cider stew with carrots, caramelized Brussels Sprouts, and other deliciousness I can't remember. I wish I had taken pictures but we were too busy eating. The whole place is lit with candles and just perfect and glowy for a date night. Then on the way home we stopped at the bakery down the block and got a tiny cheesecake. I'm going to miss this neighborhood.

Breakfast

Confession: I've never been a big breakfast person. I hate almost all breakfast foods. I HATE eggs and heavily dislike bacon (gasp).

In an effort to be healthier and stop eating pancakes and French toast multiple times a week I'm going back to the old staple...fruit.  I also grabbed a piece of ham for some protein but it didn't look so pretty. 

Meeting the (my) Parents

This trip home was the first time J met my parents, and we both did a good job pretending that we weren't nervous but I think it's safe to say that we were both holding our breath a little. (Spoiler alert: It went great!)

Here is my only tip for bringing someone home for the first time, over an extended period of time.  STAY BUSY!

The Pink Door

J and I spent a great day in Seattle which included more time wandering around Pike Place Market trying to remember where The Pink Door is exactly.  It is a little tricky to find if you're not looking for it (especially when the door is open and you walk right on past it) but so worth the effort. 

If it's a nice day, be sure to sit on the deck.  It has a great view, and also screens so you can feel like you're sitting in the sun without looking like a lobster.  Everything is great, but it can be a little expensive if you decide to splurge for the fresh seafood (do it!).

 

With that said, it is entirely possible to keep costs down and have an amazing meal.  Three words, INFUSED OLIVE OIL.  I can't even begin to tell you how delicious it is, and they just keep bringing you more bread....so many carbs

Here is what I would order for a budget Pink Door experience:

• Red Table Wine - it's soooo good
• Cheese Board - notice we practically licked it clean
• Fill up on bread basket / olive oil combo 
• If you're feeling too cheap, now is the time to sample one of their amazing desserts

Sign of Trouble: Vegetables star of Meal

J and I have been together 6ish months.  I would say I have probably gained at least a pound for every month that we've been dating.  Haha.  I don't mean to make it sound like I'm walking around going, "poor me"...my clothes all still fit, I'm fine, but it is an alarming trend should the relationship continue on this path.  You always hear about how people in relationships gain weight, and it's totally true.  Suddenly you're eating out, sharing desserts you wouldn't have eaten otherwise, getting drinks you probably wouldn't have had otherwise, and forget about working out!  You'd rather be sleeping in on a Saturday morning than going to work out.

Don't get me started on the number of pancakes I've consumed this year...

So, in an effort to get back into the swing of things I decided to cook on Friday night.  I love cooking, and I'm really not supposed to eat a bunch of gluten/corn/dairy...I'm one of those controversial "gluten intolerant" people that may or may not scientifically exist (my very real symptoms are a story for another day, but lets just say I can tell when I've been eating this gluten/corn/dairy cocktail) so cooking at home is always fun/easier.

Look how beautiful!

I decided to go with a nice baked salmon, lightly seasoned with salt/pepper and olive oil then topped with lemon and shallots along with baked green beans & mushrooms.  You basically drizzle with oil, salt/pepper, all on one foil/parchment lined baking sheet and pop it into an oven at 350 for 20ish mins...

I also made some wild rice...far less beautiful! My lids for my pots don't form a tight seal and the water always evaporates too fast so I have to Macguiver it.

 

Unfortunately it didn't taste as good as it looked.  :(  The salmon was ok, it could have used a little something extra.  Maybe some garlic?  Not sure.  It wasn't bad. 

The rice was seriously the most disgusting wild rice I've ever eaten.  I think it was just the brand though, I finally got the moisture ratio worked out thanks to some tin foil (pictured above), but it just had this weird flavor that neither J nor I were fans of. 

And then the veggies were the stars of the show.  You know it's trouble when simple green beans and mushrooms are the best part of the meal, and you practically fight over seconds on green beans.  

O-RE-O, Oh Ohhh - An addiction story - Part II

I can report that these are unnecessary in case you hadn't guessed.  They are structurally unsound, one bite and the cookies split apart, don't even think about dunking them in milk lest you want to try to fish pieces out of your cup, and the isn't worth the extra effort.  I can also confirm that they are a gazillion calories...sample at your own risk.

O-RE-O, Ohhh Oh - my story of addiction

It is a short story without many words...preferably double-stuffed

Sti̱n ygeiá sas! (Cheers!)

Until recently I've lived my life oblivious to what it means to really have some sort of cultural heritage, and then I met and became quite fond of a certain Greek-American.  My family is such a hodgepodge of who knows what from where that we never really had anything to identify with and I didn't realize I was missing out...until I met him, that is.  I got ripped off!  No fun festivals! No traditional foods! No traditional dancing! Unless you count 4th of July, potato salad, and...pole dancing (?) we've got nothing on these Greeks. Anytime we go to an event I feel like I'm walking around with my eyes widened and jaw hanging open just trying to eat it all up...often literally, there is never a shortage of food.

This weekend we went to a Greek Food Festival in Yonkers, or maybe it was just a Greek Festival that was mainly food.  I'm not entirely sure how it was billed.  Unfortunately, it was the same day that Greece lost their World Cup match.  We all tried not to mention it, and then we all ate, and ate some more.  We only sampled a small bit of the offerings but were filled with Gyro, and Crepes (pronounced Crep-ez), and these little fried dough balls - Loukoumades (how can you go wrong with fried dough?).  I think the Loukoumades were my favorite, they kind of have the same consistency of funnel cake but they're in a round ball so they're a little puffier, and then the addition of honey is brilliant.   

All of this food was just the backdrop to an extreme good-natured patriotism that I'm not sure I've witnessed by anyone other than those that shout would drop the "A" off America in favor of 'Merica.  There was even traditional Greek dancing...my favorite part.  I'm told the Cretan dances (those from Crete) are the best and most exciting.  This is coming from a biased source as my favorite Greek is from Crete, where this magical dancing originates but judging from the dances I saw, and the crowd response, I think he might be right.  The Cretan dancing seemed some how rowdier and with a strong beat for the crowd to follow along to...more jumping and stomping and clapping...more fun.

Beecher's - (like me) New York via Seattle: The Cellar

From left to right: some sort of tequila, pineapple, bell pepper combo that was delicious ($14), heirloom tomato, mozzarella, basil, black garlic ($16), mac & cheese:kale, mama lils peppers ($17), asparagus: lemon olive oil, walnuts, candied citrus ($13)

I think this picture speaks for itself...doesn't it?  Beecher's New York is kind of a magical place.  I'm a huge fan of dark cozy restaurants in New York where you're often crammed right up against the next table.  This one is billed as a "cellar" complete with wooden tables that look straight from a dude ranch, booths upholstered in hairy cowhide, and very friendly service...great!  It is a little on the pricey side (but what isn't in New York in the Flat-Iron district?), I couldn't help but briefly contemplate over how easily I could make this at home, and how much that would cost...but mmm it's delicious and by the 2nd cocktail you'll be petting the cowhide booths while you talk (trust me).

Bottom line: I'd definitely go again when I'm back off the health kick I'm currently trying to be on, maybe in the fall.  I think it'd be a great hearty fall date spot. Make a reservation on open table, they fill up!

Caipirinha, Capoeira, & Tina

In case you weren't cool enough to have your own viewing party, and your World Cup runneth under, here are some related things to get you through.

Perhaps you should start by filling that cup with a Caipirinha (pronounced kie-purr-REEN-yah), Brazil's national drink!  It is made with cachaça, an intensely sweet Brazillian style of rum that is made from sugarcane juice. Enjoy! (recipe)

photo credit

Total Time: 3 minutes

Yield: 1 Cocktail

Ingredients: 

• 1 lime, quartered
• 2 teaspoons fine sugar
• 2 ounces cachaca

Preparation: 

1. Place the lime wedges and sugar into an old-fashioned glass. 
2. Muddle well. 
3. Fill the glass with ice cubes. 
4. Pour in the cachaca. 
5. Stir well. 

Note: Keep the sugar mixed in the drink by stirring often