I hate Wednesdays. The week feels like it has dragged on forever, but you still have two more days to go until the weekend. The only bright spot is Wednesday night television - Criminal Minds, Law and Order SVU, and Toddlers and Tiaras (don't judge - you try watching five minutes and tell me you don't feel like the best parent in the world!). Really all I want to do tonight is lie down in a dark, quiet room and watch my shows all by myself. Unfortunately, it is only January 12 - far too early in the year to blow my New Year's resolution of enforcing the family dinner. These are the nights that leftovers were made for. Fortunately, my fridge was stocked with leftovers from the two previous nights.
Last night I made Pappardelle with Butternut Squash, Blue Cheese, and Pine Nuts: http://dinnerdujour.org/2010/10/27/pappardelle-with-butternut-squash-blue-cheese-and-pine-nuts/ This was another great recipe from Nigella Lawson. You essentially throw everything into a big pot then add noodles. Bonus points to Trader Joe's for selling bags of pre-cubed butternut squash. The squash really mellowed out the blue cheese, which melted on impact with the noodles. The sage leaves gave it a nice savory undertone. And really, who can argue with pine nuts? I was unable to find whole wheat or quinoa Pappardelle, so I got the normal white-flour/egg noodles. One time won't kill us.
The other option for leftovers was Brussels sprouts with quinoa, tempeh, and toasted almonds from Peter Berley:
http://www.notakeout.com/quinoa-with-brussels-sprouts-tempeh/
I made this Monday night. We had to stop at Whole Foods to get organic Brussels sprouts so Annika and I stopped on the way home from work/school. When I told her what we were buying at the store, she shouted "Brussels sprouts? I LOVE Brussels sprouts!!!" And that is a testament to this dish. It can make small children love Brussels sprouts. The braise with onions, soy sauce (I use low sodium), and sherry (which I use in place of the mirin because it is what I have in the pantry) really takes the bitterness out of the Brussels sprouts and makes them saltily delicious. The tempeh picks up the braise flavor nicely. If you haven't had tempeh before, it is a soy product. But it is much more firm and less moldy-tasting than tofu. Topping it with freshly toasted almonds (see my last post for my feelings on freshly-toasted nuts and seeds) pushes this dish from good to great. The almonds are tiny slivers of slightly sweet and crunchy goodness that accent the saltier braise.
Today when I got home, completely exhausted, I took Astrid back to the bedroom to nurse her and started mentally preparing for dinner. It really will be easier when Astrid is older and everyone in the family eats the same thing. My husband, Swede, got home pretty early from work, so I palmed off (yes, "palm" is correct Google it) dinner on him. As I sat there in my sanctuary nursing my baby, I couldn't help but worry about what chaos was happening out in the kitchen. You're probably thinking, "it's just leftovers, how hard can it be?" Well, my husband can remodel a kitchen and decorate a kitchen, but actually using it to cook? You better have a fire extinguisher handy. Case in point - he tried to make Annika a grilled cheese sandwich a couple weeks ago and I came out to the kitchen to find a piece of bread with cheese on it sitting on a skillet CHEESE SIDE DOWN. Yes, he was grilling the cheese by applying it directly to the hot skillet. My concern over my leftovers was justified, but ultimately unfounded.
I entered the dining room to find the table set and a fresh pitcher of water. The leftovers were warmed in the microwave - on a glass plate instead of in the chemical-ridden plastic container and Swede was even making a fresh salad! Color me impressed. Annika got to choose what leftovers we'd eat. Giving her autonomy over food makes her more likely to eat that food. She chose Brussels sprouts (really, if you think you don't like Brussels sprouts, you need to try this dish!). The entire meal made it to the table without incident.
When I sat down at the table, though, Swede and Annika were icily staring each other down. All was not perfect after all. Something had happened in my absence, but what? Annika relented first by saying "dad, I forgive you." And then they were friends. I'm still not sure what exactly happened but I learned at dinner it ended by Annika telling her father "I'm never talking to you again" and Swede replying - like the fully grown five-year old he apparently is - "I don't care!" We managed to have a (mostly) amicable dinner during which Annika only climbed off her chair three times, didn't spill her water, and ate almost all her food. The Brussels sprouts and tempeh disappeared leaving only a few lonely pieces of romaine on her plate from the salad.
Mission accomplished! And I hardly had to do anything but show up and eat. Moral of the story? Always make extra portions so you can have at least one leftover day.
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