Honey-Glazed Chicken Legs

3 out of 5 Stars

These unfortunately didn't taste quite as good as they smelled, but they were okay. The recipe said to cook them in a roasting pan, but I don't have one so I used a baking dish. I don't know if this was the reason, but these had to cook 30-45 minutes LONGER than the 30-35 minutes the recipe called for. The picture below was when I took the drumsticks out around 35 minutes. Then I cut one or two open and they were definitely not done. Anyway, it was alright.

Micro Nacho Potatoes

3 out of 5 Stars

These were okay. One ingredient was a sprinkling of chopped green onions and I only had a few that were from last week and were unfortunately bad, so these were sans green onions (the green is bell pepper). I added a dollop of sour cream for dipping (not pictured). The potatoes were a little rubbery, so I must not have timed it right. Also, you're supposed to cook them in a microwave-safe baking dish, but I didn't have one available (I have 2 - one was dirty in a dishwasher and the other had the chicken in it). I just used a plate, so that probably added to the consistency too.

Pan-Seared Steaks with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

4 out of 5 Stars

This was pretty good! I've actually never pan seared a steak before. The recipe called for beef tenderloin steaks, but I unfortunately couldn't find any so I used chuck tender beef. (Is that the same thing?) It cooked a little unusually I thought - when I turned it the first time in the pan, the steaks were a little "concave", if you will. Anyway, the combination with the roasted red pepper sauce was a nice new taste!

I served the steaks with loaded baked potatoes. Steak and potatoes, how can you go wrong?

Side note: In hindsight, this was stupid, but just in case anyone doesn't think about it either - To make the sauce, you use a little jar of roasted red peppers and you need to drain them first. So I walk over to the sink, hold back the peppers with my hand, and pour out the liquid. A minute later my hand is burning! So moral of the story, use a strainer when you drain these, not your hand!

For some reason, I thought the steaks looked a little like big portabella mushrooms.

Frosted Fruit Salad

2 out of 5 Stars

This is a little strong for me. The fruit tastes good, but the lemon yogurt mixed in with it is a little much for me. I'm not a huge fan of lemon so I might like it better with another flavor of yogurt. It's a just, um, too strong. I don't know how else to put it.
Also, I'm a texture person, so the texture of the yogurt in with the fruit wasn't my favorite.

This Week's Recipes are Posted!

Well it's that time again for a new week of recipes! Last week was a great success and I'm looking forward to another 7 days of deliciousness! This week actually has a LOT of recipes. I'll be trying a few for lunches, not just dinners. I am trying to eat more nutritiously and while I've enjoyed my salads, I would like to change it up now and then so as not to burn out or get off track. Also, many of the side dishes with dinners will be new recipes as well, unlike last week.

Check out the recipes over on the right side of the page! I'll review and report back throughout the week!

Happy eating!

Buttery Lime-basted Catfish (well, actually flounder)

5 out of 5 Stars

This dish was sooo good! It tasted like something you would get in a restaurant! It was unbelievably easy too! The recipe called for catfish, but I used flounder because that's what I had. It was really tasty. After making the sauce and brushing it on the fish, there wasn't much left to pour over the fish after it was cooked, so I made up a little more - definitely glad I did! You will absolutely want to try this. It is crazy easy and crazy good!
I didn't have a lot on hand for sides, so I served white rice, leftover steamed veggies, and toast sprinkled with a little of the butter lime sauce.

The sauce on top of the fish might look a little thick in the picture, but it wasn't. It was just the right consistency!

Beef and Black Bean Chili

5 out of 5 Stars

This was really good! You wouldn't believe that this is a 20 minute chili! It's as good as any slow cooked chili I've ever had! I had added a dollop of sour cream, but I'd already stirred it in and eaten a few bites before I remembered to take the picture! The sour cream was really yummy with it! The recipe also mentioned topping it with cheddar cheese, but I opted not to tonight.

When I eat something really hot (temperature-wise) and rich like this, I like to cut it with something light and cold, like a side of applesauce. Well, we didn't have any applesauce so I sliced up an apple to eat on the side. Believe it or not, it really was nice with it! This was sooo easy and very delicious, especially for something so quick.

Side Note: One of the ingredients is a can of black beans and it tells you to drain them and then mash them. I actually don't have a masher, so just in case any of y'all don't have one either, I found simply using a glass works just fine. I simply mashed the beans with the bottom of the glass.

Happy eating!