What's For Dinner? Week 4

{June 18-24}

Couple of new, yummy recipes to share this week... plus one that I'll share and recommend you not try. :)

First off: breakfast last weekend was Weelicious Whole Wheat Waffles. Had 'em before... loved 'em again.

CSA bag #3! Picked up on June 14th. The reason I show them a week late is because, in most cases, the veggies go into the menu on the following week.

This bag's contents: another head of bok choy, 2 small heads of green leaf lettuce, bunching onions, asparagus, 1 bunch of kale and 2 tomatoes.

I'll be honest with you. The bok choy and green leaf lettuce did not look as good of quality as something I would have hand selected at a Farmer's Market or store. I was a little disappointed about that. Diane remarked to me at this pick up that the lettuces were coming from the fields now (as opposed to the green house) so maybe they have a harder time with critters and no use of pesticides. (Remember - they're chemical free.) The green leaf lettuce was a smidge wilty and the bok choy was very holey. I actually (very sadly) didn't even use the green leaf lettuce. It just wasn't very good. But the bok choy was fine - I just trimmed it up a bit. And the kale was fantastic! Never had it before but I tried an awesome new recipe with it!

Okay, here's the recipe I actually do not recommend you try. It's the first time Catherine (at Weelicious) has let me down. Haha! But she has enhanced our family menus in so many other ways that I forgive her for this. ;) I really don't think I messed it up either. These were supposed to be for lunch on Saturday.
Veggie Pancakes:
That's shredded carrot and zucchini in the batter - meant to be served as a savory thing, not with syrup. She shows them served with ketchup or marinara. Anyway, you make them just like a regular pancake - I used my griddle like usual.

Neither kid liked them. Well, Sophie made a face and then went on to eat half of one. But Will gagged (he gags so easily) and didn't want a second bite. I tasted one too and they were terrible. I don't know... too eggy? They just tasted bland and terrible. Don't make them. Thankfully, there was enough on their plates in other categories to fill them up: peanuts, cheese slices, berries, raw peas.

Here's an old (easy!) favorite of mine. I used to make it often and just haven't in awhile, I guess. It's a perfect recipe for using the asparagus and 1 tomato in this week's CSA bag.

Frittata with Asparagus, Tomato and Fontina from Giada De Laurentiis on Food Network.

It's done mostly on the stove top and then finished under the broiler.

Light and satisfying.

I tried something new this week:

Kale Avocado Salad from Weelicious.

I chopped the kale into a fine shred, washed it and then tossed it with the olive oil, lemon juice, s&p as directed. Then you add an avocado and some pine nuts and just mash it all together with your hands or a spoon. The first time I made it, I cut the recipe in half because Craig wasn't home for dinner and I didn't want a lot of leftovers to brown with oxidation.

I was serving a simple grilled cheese for dinner this night because the kids and I were out playing in the yard and I just wanted an easy, casual evening with them while Craig was helping clean out his grandpa's house. It's been so nice to have our typical summer evening routine: weed and water the garden, play in yard/driveway, sometimes wash and hang a load of laundry out on my new clothesline (LOVE IT!!), make and eat dinner. I just love being outside with the kids. So anywho... I served the kale salad with grilled cheese and some sliced nectarine and it was sooooo delish. Reminded me a little of guacamole because of the tangy lemon juice. I didn't toast the pine nuts but they added a nice, crunchy texture to the salad.

On Tuesday evening, we went to Oak Shade Grove for the GBU steak dinner. They do this every year and everyone gathers around the GIANT outdoor grill to cook their steaks. Along side, we have salad, baked potato and dessert... but I save myself for the strawberry shortcake leftovers at our house. Will and Sophie had a good time, but mostly cared about the playground nearby.

I made the bok choy fajitas again and this time served them for dinner to everyone (instead of just me eating them) along with the kale avocado salad, some fruit and some cheese.

It was a good meal and a horrible meal depending on which side of the table you sat.

Sophie and I happily ate ours and enjoyed them (the fajitas)......while Will (I'm so sorry to admit) threw up on his plate. I told you has a sensitive gag reflex. He was on his 4th bite and things seemed to be going okay - he wasn't loving them but he was eating them politely - and suddenly I could see it in his face. Sometimes we can talk him out of it - it's definitely a mind over matter thing for him - but it must have been the steamed bok choy that didn't sit well with him, because he couldn't swallow that 4th bite. :( Yuck. He's always fine after it happens and doesn't get all upset, but it's hard to go back to eating after you've watched and cleaned that up. :( And Craig took a bite and went straight to the garbage to spit it out. Seriously. This is what I'm dealing with, you guys. Grrr! I've probably scared you away from trying them but they really are good. I promise. Oh well. Win some, lose some.