Garbage Dinner

October 18th, 2012 | Posted by Nicole in Eats of the Week | Healthy Living - (0 Comments)

Sounds disgusting, and the picture doesn’t look too appetizing. But, this is what happens when I am not home and Mr. Cyclist scavenges through the freezer and cupboard to create a dinner of leftovers.

Definition of garbage dinner: Take a lot of your odds and ends and leftover foods, and combine them into a one-pot meal tastefully and somewhat artfully.

I heard of someone else who uses this term “garbage dinner”, but I can’t think of who. It’s a pretty smart idea. That way, you don’t have little bags of this and that hanging out in the pantry until you have to throw them away.

For our meal, we had lots of frozen vegetables: peas, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, brussels sprouts, carrots, peppers, onions, and potatoes cooked in a curry sauce (that is the dark ugly color you see). Served on top of whole wheat egg noodles. With an egg on top for protein. Haha! The curry sauce was pretty tasty and I like vegetables, so I enjoyed this meal.

Have you ever made meals out of leftovers like this?

, , , ,

What to Do With Red Wine That’s “Gone Bad”?

December 12th, 2011 | Posted by Nicole in Kitchen | Recipes - (1 Comments)

Sometimes I don’t finish a bottle of red wine before it starts to “go bad”. And I often leave it sitting on the counter for weeks just in case I find a use for it in cooking. Well, tonight was one of those nights!

You can add red wine to asparagus instead of, or along with balsamic vinegar. I like to add it to any vegetable that goes well with balsamic vinegar. Red wine has a similar flavor when cooked, but in my opinion, adds more depth of flavor (and it’s healthy). Just add a few splashes, let it reduce, and add a few spices, and you’re done!

, , , , , , , ,

What to Do with Leftover Canned Pumpkin?

November 30th, 2011 | Posted by Nicole in Recipes - (2 Comments)

Make pumpkin oatmeal!

This is probably the easiest and healthiest thing you can do with that extra canned pumpkin that is leftover from holiday baking, etc. Usually leftover canned ingredients just linger in my fridge, but I told myself that I am not going to waste more food!

Boring oatmeal picture. But, yes, I had to show you that it actually does turn orange!

Directions:

  • Pour out about 1/2 cup dry oatmeal, and add your water or milk (I prefer milk).
  • Add a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.
  • Add about 1/4 cup canned pumpkin, and stir.
  • I added 1 or 2 Tbsp. of raisins to help sweeten it, and 1 packet of stevia.
We tend to pay premium, over-priced amounts for anything with pumpkin in it which I think it ridiculous. So, this is just another way to make delicious and healthy (because of all the extra vitamin A and antioxidants from the pumpkin) food.

, , , , ,

Still Think about Calories from Thanksgiving?

November 28th, 2011 | Posted by Nicole in Miscellaneous | Recipes - (2 Comments)

Never fear! Remind yourself it takes 3500 calories extra to gain 1 pound!

And if you still have leftovers, there are plenty of creative ways to use them up here:

It’s the start of a new week. Time for healthy habits :)

, , , , ,