last night's dinner

posted by jennifer:

so,  like i am sure most people do, i go through phases...

-the i can't not have a book i am reading phase.. and i read shamelessly.  even during the day. ..(when some part of my brain is telling me i shouldn't be reading for pleasure until all the "work" is done)  that phase is inevitably replaced by the i don't have the attention span to read a magazine article.

-the i am in an easy going about the state of the house phase... where i rationally realize a mess is what happens in a under 1000 square foot house that 5 people and a cat share.  the dried milk spots on the table legs from one of the numerous spills that happens during any given week.... don't bother me.  the ant meeting at the dirty dishes on the counter and sink... what's up buddies.   that phase is suddenly, and unpredictably replaced by the "why is the house such a damn mess" "how can we live in this constant state of squalor" state of mind. 

-the i can't even think about cooking phase.   grab a box of macaroni from the pantry.  are there any frost covered corn dogs in the recesses of the freezer?  "babe, i am feeding the kids, but you are on your own"..............

i just came out of that phase, and am now in the "i feel like chinese food. let me whip up some:  cream cheese wontons with an apricot sweet and sour sauce; orange chicken; stir fried vegetables; and brown rice." 

last night on the menu:
 -spinach salad with parmesan, dried cherries, and apple wood smoked bacon
 -parmesan dijon baked chicken
 -biscuits
 -roasted red potatoes with rosemary
 -boysenberry/peach/apple crisp

so good.  i thought i would share recipes for the salad and the potatoes.

**spinach salad with parmesan, dried cherries and bacon
       and a pomegranate molasses and citrus dressing**

you will need:
  about 6 cups baby spinach
  parmesan ( i like to shave mine with a vegetable peeler) about 1/4 cup or so
 1/3 cup dried cherries
  4 slices of cooked bacon chopped coarsely

for the dressing:
  1/4 cup olive oil
  1/4 cup pomegranate molasses
   juice from tangerine (or orange)
  1 1/2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  1/4 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)

put all in a mason jar and shake what your mama gave you.... and the dressing too.


**roasted red potatoes with rosemary**

you will need:
  about 6 or 7 scrubbed unpeeled red potatoes
  olive oil (about 3 tablespoons or so)
  salt and pepper to taste
  a couple of rosemary sprigs

dice the potatoes in about 1/2 inch cubes.  put in a baking dish, toss with oil, salt and pepper.    add rosemary sprigs on top.  roast in a 450 degree oven about 45 minutes or until brown.

my crisp (made i have to say from peaches and boysenberries from the yard and taken out of the freezer.... and a couple of straggler apples left from the tree... still edible, but too soft for straight eating... and an orange from the naval tree) was intended to be topped with homemade whipped cream flavored with almond extract.  but come time for dessert, thankfully there was a can of  whipped cream in the refrigerator left over from a previous phase... full circle baby... full circle.

cheers!