Turning a New Leaf

As many of you know (all 4 of you who read this...haha), I am married to THE guy that could/would eat at McDonalds three meals a day (sick) or eat out in general for three meals a day.  B isn't a bad cook and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to follow a recipe...but for some reason would prefer Sonic, KFC, or Taco Bell to cooking a meal at home (lazy).  Instead of changing him when we became married, he changed me and I was a known culprit in throwing up my hands and giving in to eating out for the 4th time for the week and it was only Tuesday (lazy).  I refused fast food and tried to make him give up on chains (see above).   I think that we had a routine of Noodles and Co on Mondays, Chipotle or Cafe Rio on Tuesdays, Pei Wei on Wednesdays, and then local eateries the rest of the week and into the weekend.  I am suprised that I did not weigh 300lbs and be featured on the TV show the Biggest Loser.  

After eating out at Pats BBQ on a Thursday...this is what eating out does to you!

Well, a lot has changed in the past month and so have our eating habits. 

I can not tell you the last time that we have eaten out in a restuarant.  Most likely it is the fact that we have a 3 month old and it is a 50/50 chance that either she will need to be held during the entire meal or decide to cry/scream in her carseat (which she is not fond of unless a car is moving or you are swinging the carseat like a county fair ride).  Or it is probably because I should be nominated for wife of the year because I have had a hot meal ready every single work night.  It has been really fun trying out new recipes and cooking some of the classics.  I like to challenge myself and see what I can do with the ingredients that I have because "running to the grocery store" is no longer in my vocabulary with a 3 month old unless I want it to be a 2 hour process.  I also like to try and broaden Mr. B's horizons by introducing new veggies once a week.  (He couldn't handle any more than that!)  Last week it was mushrooms.  I started out with his favorite fungii and bought him basic button mushrooms but then threw in portobello, cremini, shiitake, and oyster and used them throughout different recipes all week.  So far, no complaints or gripes = success!  My ultimate goal is for him to request a spinach or kale dish...but that will be the day that he also turns to me and says that K-State is far more superior than KU in EVERYTHING!  haha  Meaning that will never happen.  But I can keep hoping and praying.  (For a short period of time, I hid spinach in my lasagne and just told him it was basil and he bought it...so miracles can happen!!!)

Tomorrow's menu:  http://taste-for-adventure.tablespoon.com/2012/01/03/spicy-asian-shrimp-lettuce-cups/

To our dear friends "Rondy": I wish that we could say "Come on down b/c I don't want leftovers!"

Have a great week!

-Manda

P.S.  Lainey pic of the week - Mohawkin' it out!