No bento, too busy

Last Sat. blockwalked for Obama. Monday....the GI illness arrives, a day later than my fellow block walker. For Super Tuesday I made a chocolate chili, but did not feel well enough to go to the event, and watched at home.
This is the party I missed.
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Then, Wed. my B-I-L arrived and we took him out to dinner, ho-hum restaurant, Ciao Lavanderia in San Antonio. Won't go there again, I don't care if it is Chef Vatel's.

Thursday night, ate closer to home at the Welfare Cafein Welfare, Texas.



Here we are:



We dined on the best weinerschitzel, etc. German Texas has to offer. My California B-I-L, was astounded at the quality of the food in rural Texas. Hey, we know how to eat here! Live music (which was fantastic) provided by the Welfare Fathers.



We ate the following:

Chicken Fredericksburg

Chicken breast sautéed with peaches, jalapenos and onions. Finished in a white wine cream sauce. Garnished with crumbled pecans. Served with spätzel and vegetable.

Smoked Pork Tenderloin

Lightly smoked medallions of pork tenderloin finished on the grill. Topped with sun dried cherry and molasses glaze. Served with potatoes and vegetable.

and I had:

Holstein schnitzel


Topped with lightly grilled lean black forest ham, asparagus and a “sunny side up” egg, garnished with lemon, capers and anchovy.

Notes about the envy of the workplace stir fry

Too salty, otherwise the veggies were good and cooked to crisp tender, which was perfect. I think I will try a different sauce next time. My home-made hoisin turkey meatballs went with the veggies very well. I am stuffed!

A superbowl day of prepping bento box food

I found an idea on foodnetwork, "Envy of the workplace gingered vegetable stir-fry" so I made it up for work on Monday.
I forgot and took a picture before I added the napa cabbage on top. Basically we'll steam the vegs in the container [sliced shitake mushroom caps, julienned carrot, julienned daikon, broccoli flowerets, scallion, garlic and ginger] microwave the sauce [chicken broth, rice wine, sugar, cornstarch, salt] then mix together. Accompanying the veg stir fry will be hoisin turkey meatballs, a slice of ciabatta, lite baby bel cheese, and for my hubby, 2 mini pumpkin muffins and an apple (fill him for that 12 hour shift).

Since we are having a guest later in the week, my B-I-L, and activities on Tues night while watching the super Tues primary returns, I decided to cook ahead. The Tues. activity is a chocolate themed party (Valentines day is so close it seemed to be a good idea). We went to a similarly themed party a year ago, and it was all very sweet stuff. So, I found Tyler Florence's recipe for Beef Chili with Red Beans and Chocolate. I made it today and we ate 1/2 for our family superbowl party. On Tues, it will be turned into nacho dip for the party. There is chocolate in it, and at least it is not another dessert. Besides, it is a very good chili.

On Tuesday lunch will consist of Morroccan Carrot and Goat cheese sandwiches with Carrot and Daikon salad. (Foodnework)

Wed lunch: Roast beef and couscous rolls with sweet and sour carrots. [Foodnetwork and Martin Yan Quick and Easy.]

I made all the food that could be made ahead today, the tapenade for the sandwiches, the carrot and daikon salad and the sweet and sour carrots. That combined with making the chili took about 4 hours of time. Clean up was easy. My husband, who really appreciates the lunches, did the dishes!

Hopefully this week will go well, and my ideas, thanks to Food Network and Martin Yan, will turn out and be tasty.

This is a learning experience every day. It's a lot of work to move from TV dinners and canned soup to fresh food daily, but I think it's worth it. Better for us and it tastes better.

Looking forward to my B-I-L's visit, we will be taking him to Ciao Lavanderia an Italian restaurant in an old laundromat his first night in town, then after that he is my willing victim for home cooking.

From an "all chocolate" party on Super Tuesday for the primary returns to Ciao Lavanderia, such adventure and fun! Crossing my fingers for the outcome I dream of on Super Tuesday.

Now if only our Siamese cat Mr. S. would come home, I would feel relaxed enough to stop blogging and go to bed. Mr. S. has been missing for 4 days, his max. Usually he comes in after 3 days, particularly if I send our boxer out to look for him. Our dog, who is the cat's best friend, will look for him and usually brings him home. But, not this time. I think a neighbor is keeping him, as he has been coming home fatter and fatter. Last week he lost his collar, so evidently it was removed or because he became stuck it automatically loosened, as it was supposed to do. Dunno, but miss the stupid cat.