Archive for the ‘leftovers’ Category
I think Spring is my favorite time of year. It’s funny really… In Florida, we don’t really have seasons. Not for real. There isn’t really a distinction between Summer and Fall, Winter and Spring – ya know what I mean? It’s like so subtle, that you could almost miss it.
Well, after surviving my first winter in Paris (save for one year living in Connecticut – random), the turn of Spring has made me giddy with excitement, and has left me feeling a whole new sympathy for those living in colder climates full time. Props to you, guys. I don’t know how you do it!
It’s funny actually– I haven’t really taken into consideration the whole winter thing. Not until now that it’s over at least. I mean, I brought jackets and coats and what not – but I didn’t really think too much about how it would affect my body, how I feel and what I eat.
So as the weather gets warmer (we saw temps near the 70s today!), I’ve felt a major shift in my mood…and of course, my appetite.
Take the other day for example. I woke up wanting one thing, and one thing only. Green juice.
Well, the whole raw food, juicing movement hasn’t quite caught on here in Paris, but I finally found a place where I could get my fix and was so excited to get my hands on this yummy lunch today…
I went to Bob’s Juice Bar in the tenth arrondissement and got the formule – a large juice and a quinoa salad,
and was more than happy with my experience there! The people were very nice, and were more than willing to whip up something special for my juice blend. This one had cucumber, spinach, apple, ginger and lemon. And they even blended in some spirulina at the end. Oh. And they spoke English. Double bonus.
After enjoying my salad, and savoring every sip of my green drink, I came home to relax for a bit and finally spent a little bit of time in the kitchen after several days of a hiatus.
I whipped up a batch of my Stove Top Granola with a little some somethin’ extra this time – a little tropical mix of dried fruit. Yum.
I seriously love this stuff. And it’s so easy! I enjoyed the fruits of my labor (pun intended) over a little bit of yogurt this afternoon.
Other than granola, I haven’t much felt like getting in the kitchen lately. Perhaps it’s the sunny Paris days that are luring me away from the kitchen. Or perhaps it’s the less than easy work space…
Would you like the grand tour? It will just take a second 
This is the extent of our counter space. And you have to hope you don’t need to chop anything and get into the microwave at the same time…
And our pantry. Well…
…it needs work.
Oh, and don’t get me started on the kitchen gadgets. This is our most heavy duty knife…
…and it couldn’t hurt a fly! Oh and that last picture also features our dishwasher….hand power, baby!
Looks like the, ahem, dishwasher has been slacking on the job. I see a few things in the sink! Oopsie.
Needless to say, my kitchen adventures (besides the granola which luckily requires no real effort) have been less than inspired. I like the whole get in get out of the kitchen method – preparing a dish on a weekend (like Vegetable Stew for instance) and eating the leftovers until you’re blue in the face they’re gone.
Speaking of leftovers, I jazzed up the last of my veggie stew tonight with some broccoli and fresh shaved parmesan.
Even these veggies had a little taste of the Spring that’s in the air – lots of zucchini, eggplant, and tomatoes. Love.
Luckily the weather is turning and things that don’t require top much kitchen time like salads are sounded much more appealing. I have all these ideas in my head for really delicious recipes, and I can’t wait to put some of my ideas to the test when I get home – just bear with me for the next 5.5 weeks, k?
How about you? First – do you live somewhere with a real winter? Like…ya know. With that white stuff… I think it’s called snow
And do you notice your tastes changing as the seasons change? What are you craving? What are some of your favorite Spring recipes? What’s your favorite time of year?
Leftovers.
Even just the word doesn’t sound too appealing, not to me at least. Nope, I’ve never been much of a leftovers kinda gal, but lately I’ve been inspired to jazz them up a bit and make something new.
Some leftovers are easy to use. Like this jar for example. It’s technically a leftover, recycled into my new favorite water cup.
And of course, there’s the leftover dinner that’s not nearly as exciting as it was in it’s original form, but alas, it must be eaten.
Take this morning’s breakfast for example. I had some leftover sautéed onion and red bell pepper from last night’s dinner (which looked much like dinner this night, and pretty much every other night for that matter…).
What to do, what to do….
I went the savory breakfast route and decided to make an egg scramble with my leftover veggies, and a handful of the heaping bag of spinach I got at the market earlier this week. I’ve had spinach for the last three days and have barely made a dent! Best .74 euro I ever spent
First I threw the leftover veggies into a pan with melted butter to heat them through…
..then the spinach.
Once it was cooked through,
I added two eggs.
Yo, breakfast. Why you lookin’ at me like that!? I realize now what it was trying to tell me…“You’re burning me!” Oops.
Then. Scramble.
And done! If you’re feeling extra classy, you can break up a Babybel cheese and place it in various spots around your scramble. You’d think with all the cheeses in France, I’d have something amazingly delicious in it like Camembert, or some type of gouda with cumin….need to get on that!
It’s no looker, but didn’t you listen to your mama growing up? Beauty is on the inside!
I enjoyed my breakfast with coffee, something I’m learning to love without my chemical laden, sugar filled coffee-mate. Just a little bit of lait entier, and crème léger, and sometimes a bit of honey if I’m in the mood.
And I certainly never eat chocolate with my breakfast…nope. Never. Not me.
Hey, who ate my chocolate and left an empty wrapper!? Chocolate fairy did it again. Remind me to have a chat with her…
Two questions for you today:
1. What’s your favorite way to use leftovers? Leftover cooked veggies, grans, chicken? Anything! How do you use them?
2. Breakfast: Sweet or Savory? Or just chocolate….? No? Just me?
