Sunday Supper - Spicy Bok choy

Well this isn't the best way to kick off the return of Sunday Suppers because I forgot to take a photo, but it was good and I want a record of what I did so I can make it again sometime soon so...

But first, a little backstory.  You know how I like to make a short story long. 😊

Last year, I decided to get healthy, or at least eat super healthy.  Well, super healthy compared to the way I'd been eating.  I sort of became one of those annoying people who talk about calories and fat grams and the number of carbs in foods.  I was annoying, but felt great!  Then I went to the doctor for my six month blood work and all my numbers came back even worse.  I pretty much said "'ef it" and went back to eating ice cream and potato chips.  

While my tastebuds may love chips and ice cream, my body doesn't.  I can tell a difference in how I feel, and even how my brain doesn't function as well on all the salt and sugar. So screw the bloodwork numbers.  I'm going to eat what physically makes me feel good.  I'm back to eating healthy foods.  Healthy foods plus a little more bread than I should probably have.  Whatever. 

Anyway, I'm trying to incorporate more vegetables into my diet. And I recently discovered bok choy.  I think in my two years cashiering at the grocery store, only three people have bought it, but one of those three was going on about how versatile it is and how good it is for you so... I've been experimenting with bok choy recipes.

My newest creation I'm calling Spicy Bok Choy.  I thought it was delicious, and super simple.  

Spicy Bok Choy

Mexican Chorizo
2 large carrots
1 large bunch of bok choy
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tbsp olive oil

Heat olive oil in a large pot and add Chorio.  

Grate the carrots and add to pot.

Slice bok choy thinly and add to pot.

Add chicken broth and cover.

Stirring frequently, cook until bok choy is softened.

I'd never cooked with Chorizo before but yum!  It's another one of those things I kept seeing people buy, but I'd never tried.  I think I'll be adding it to a lot of dishes in the future.

Sunday Supper - Creamed Eggs on Toast

Happy Easter!

Today's Sunday Supper recipe is a great way to use up all those hard boiled eggs you found on your Easter egg hunt.

photo courtesy of CopyKat Recpies

This recipe for creamed eggs on toast from copykat.com sounds easy enough and like a great way to use up those extra hard boiled eggs.

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Slow Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast

I hope you're a pork eater because we're going to be eating a LOT of pork over the next 800 years.  LOL  My grocery store keeps having Boston Butts on sale for half price and I keep buying them in multiples and tossing them in the freezer.  Then because they are frozen, we never cook them.  And this past week, they had pork roasts on sale.  It was a big sale so I bought a ton of those too.  Our freezer is now overflowing with pork.  So...

Slow Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast.  This recipe, from therecipecritic.com sounds really good and is super simple.  It doesn't get much easier than dumping a few things into the slow cooker.  The only difficult part is waiting for dinner time.

Now, if I can just remember to take one of those pork roasts out of the freezer...

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Moroccan Carrots

 

photo courtesy of goodhousekeeping.com

Today's Sunday Supper recipe is for Good Housekeeping's Moroccan Carrots.  Easter is right around the corner and what with the diabetes diagnosis and all, I'm trying to focus on carrots, not candy.  

This recipe not only sounds delicious but also quick and simple.

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Pear Halloumi Skewers in Chili Sauce

Today's Sunday Supper is for the vegetarians.

photo courtesy of fruitsandveggies.org

While I'm not ready to go full vegetarian, I have been making a huge effort to eat many, many more vegetables than I used to.  And so, I bring you Pear Halloumi Skewers in Chili Sauce.  The recipe comes from fruitsandveggies.org and sounds delicious.

I'll admit, I had to Google Halloumi.  I'd never heard of it and according to Google, my American friends probably know it as "grilling cheese."   I'm glad the recipe didn't call it by the American name because I would have assumed they meant Kraft American cheese.  I obviously don't have exotic tastes.

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Spicey Beef Stew

Did I ever mention that I got a new Instant Pot for Christmas to replace the one that got cooked in the oven?  Yeah, I know.  If you are new here and didn't hear that original story.... my first Instant Pot suffered a horrible, horrible death and I'm still, three years later, a little angry about it.  But I finally have a replacement and I'm over the moon happy about it.

So...  That was a long way of saying today's Sunday Supper recipe is geared towards using the Instant Pot.

photo courtesy of tasteofhome.com

Spicey Beef Stew from Taste of Home, cooked in the Instant Pot. It's fast, it's easy, it uses simple ingredients and best of all, it falls well within my diabetic low-carb guidelines.  Yum!

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Spaghetti Squash Meatball Casserole

So, we're on a diet.  I don't think I've mentioned it before but my A1C levels hit full blown diabetes in early February.  And my doctor, being the meany that he is, is making me 'fix' it with diet rather than pills.  And yes, I know that that's best.  I know if he gave me pills, I'd continue to eat the cake and cookies and just keep taking more and more pills.  

I know this way is best.  In fact, it's already working.  I'm sticking to the diabetic diet and have already lost 7 pounds in 15 days.  But I'm also still seriously jonesing for cookies and cake and I'm mean.  I mean, I am MEAN!  Sugar/carb withdrawl is not for the faint of heart and it doesn't help that I'm working at a grocery store and surrounded by carts full of cookies, cakes and Little Debbie products.  So yeah, I'm a little mean at the moment.  And I'm blaming my poor doctor instead of blaming myself for allowing myself to get to this point.

The point is, Sunday Suppers are about to get slightly more healthy.

photo courtesy of tasteofhome.com

Today's Sunday Supper recipe is for a spaghetti squash meatball casserole from Taste of Home.  The photo makes it look like yummy comfort food.  We will see.

And yes, I realize I'm struggling with a bit of an attitude.  I really don't know why.  I've eaten within my carb limits every day since I started the diabetic diet (15 days ago) and I have enjoyed every single thing I've eaten so far.  I like zucchini 'noodles' and I'm enjoying all the vegetables I've been eating.  I'm actually a little bit proud of myself and the way I've been eating for the last 15 days.  Heck, the diet is even helping my finances.  According to my credit card statement, my grocery bill for February was $190 less than normal.  My body feels better.  I already have more energy and just feel better in general.  Or at least my physical body does.   But mentally, I really do miss plates full of mounded up mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, not to mention all those cookies and cakes.

If any of you are on diabetic diets and have cookbooks or websites you recommend, please send them my way.

Sunday Supper - Baked Parmesean Spinach Balls

 

photo and recipe courtesy of foodlion.com

I bet even the kids will like these baked parmesean spinach balls since they can eat them with their fingers.  I'm also thinking that if I get really lazy, I could probably bake the ingredients in a baking dish rather than taking the time to make the balls.  But spinach balls would be much more fun to eat than spinach casserole. 

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

 

photo and recipe courtesy of foodlion.com

Today's my son's birthday and since he loves chicken alfredo I thought it would be fun to try this chicken alfredo lasagna recipe.  Actually, he loves shrimp alfredo and likes chicken alfredo, but I'm allergic to seafood so....  But hmmm, I wonder if I could make two lasagnas - one with chicken and one with shrimp.  And, since I know nothing about cooking seafood (it's a Bad allergy!) perhaps I could talk my girl child into doing the baking.  Now, that sounds like a plan!

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Valentine's Day Cocktails

 Today's recipe is a little different and only for the adults.

photo and recipe courtesy of bbcgoodfood.com

Forget Valentine's!  I think I could happily drink one of these cocktails every day!  The recipe sounds delicious and refreshing.  And hey, there's fruit in there so it's healthy and good for you too!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sunday Supper - Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

 

photo courtesy of aheadofthyme.com

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and what better way to say I love you than with a homemade, made from scratch, molten chocolate lava cake?  The recipe, from aheadofthyme.com, looks simple enough and uses ingredients you probably already have in the pantry.  Yum! 

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Beef Birria Tacos

I'm not sure if I ever mentioned it but a while back, not long after we moved in here, my InstantPot was put in the oven and baked until it was a very smelly and unrecognizable blob of melted plastic.  It was tragic and I've been upset over its loss ever since.  My Instant Pot was finally replaced this Christmas and I couldn't be happier.

And so....

photo courtesy of foodlion.com

Beef Birria Tacos made in a pressure cooker.  Tacos and getting to use my Instant Pot - what could be better?

I'll admit, the recipe sounds like a lot of work and I'm likely to skip the whole cooking the tortillia part, but the meat and sauce part sound excellent.  I'll just make it with store bought taco shells and if it tastes as good as it sounds, maybe I'll cook the taco shells next time.  Maybe.

I'm also curious what 12 servings means.  Is that 12 tacos, or is it enough meat for 12 people to eat tacos? I'm fairly certain it's 12 tacos and as a large, taco loving family, we probably won't have a lot of leftover meat, but if we do, I'm sure it's easily freezable.

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Maple Baked Butternut Squash

 

photo courtesy of thecookierookie.com

I was searching for January vegetable dishes and this maple butternut squash recipe from thecookierookie.com popped up.  I actually have real maple syrup on hand (a rareity around here) and so...

You'll find the actual recipe for this dish way, way, way down in the link but, before you get to the recipe, the website has some great tips on how to cut and peel butternut squash.  I found that information to be quite helpful.  I've mentioned before, I'm pretty unadventerous in the kitchen and have never cooked butternut squash before.  It's probably excess information that most of you will have to page through to reach the recipe but for those of us who can barely boil water, I was glad the information was provided.

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Chocolate Carmel Self Saucing Pudding

 

photo courtesy of delicious.com

Mmmm... yum!  

Chocolate carmel self saucing pudding from delicious.com.

(FYI, caster sugar is the Brittish version of super fine sugar according to Google.)

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Unstuffed Cabbage Casserole

So, I'll admit I'm not very adventurous when it comes to food and/or cooking.  I've never had stuffed cabbage or really even know what it is.  But this recipe for unstuffed cabbage casserole sounds pretty good.  And easy.

recipe and photo courtesy of foodlion.com

I like easy.  I am all about easy!  

I'm also all about cheap. One of my goals for 2023 is to spend less and save more.  That's going to be hard to do with grocery prices on the rise like they are, but this recipe should be relatively inexpensive to make.  And I imagine it's pretty filling.

Cheap, easy and filling.  What more could a lazy girl ask for?

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Black-Eyed Peas

Happy New Year!

And since it's New Year's, you've got to eat your black-eyed peas.  So...

photo courtesy of themagicalslowcooker.com

Slow cooker black-eyed peas from themagicalslowcooker.com.  They are made in the slow cooker so they're simple to make.  The recipe calls for simple ingredients that are most likely already in your pantry and it will even help use up some of that Christmas ham you still have hanging around.

Enjoy and Happy New Year!

Sunday Supper - Sugared Nuts

Okay, so maybe today's recipe for sugared nuts isn't a 'dinner' food, but it is southern and they are almost always found at any fancy gathering.  They also make great gifts.

So, I present you with.... Sugared Nuts from Deep South Dish.  Yum!

Sometimes I'm an idiot!

Yes, sometimes I'm an idiot.  A complete and total idiot. Today's Sunday Supper post got retroactively posted to November 6th instead of being posted on December 4th.  I could lie and say I don't know how it happened but...

In any event, today's Sunday Supper is a recipe for beef tenderloin and can be found here.  I apologize for making you follow an extra link but Blogger won't allow me to repost the exact same post.  I do think this dish sounds delicious enough, and easy enough, to bother with that extra link though.

Christmas beef tenderloin, courtesy of southernliving.com

Enjoy!

Sunday Supper - Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole

 I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and don't have too many leftovers.  But if you do...

Thanksgiving Leftovers Casserole from favfamilyrecipes.com.  

I promise, the recipe is there on that page, but you do have to scroll waaaay, way down to get to it.  Besides, you really don't need the recipe.  Just layer all your leftovers in a casserole dish and heat it up.  Yum!

Happy Thanksgiving

This week's post is coming to you a couple of days early.  I still don't have any knitting to show off but the splint comes off in a few days so there is a light at the end of this horrible three week yarnless tunnel.

Instead of knitting, today I'm Thanksgiving chocolate pie baking.  We've changed things up over the last couple of years.  Instead of going to my sisters, we celebrate at home now... and Sarah does the cooking.  As much as I don't like changes to tradition, I have to say, I am LOVING this change!  I still bake the Owen Chocolate Pie(s) but I rarely cry in  the kitchen anymore.  It's Sarah's turn for that holiday thrill.

So, if you are looking for a super simple and delicious fudgy chocolate pie recipe, check out this post from 2014.  Nothing has changed except the "pinch of salt" is actually table salt now instead of the salt from 1,000 tears.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!