Happy Tuesday morning everyone! I hope y’all are having a good one so far 🙂
Last night’s dinner was a real winner in my book! I had 2/3 of a maple-roasted sweet potato and some brown rice risotto with asparagus and peas:
I also added a little goat cheese on the sweet potato. It’s so yummy and creamy, and the tang from the cheese mixes perfectly with the sweetness from the potato!
Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- 1 whole sweet potato (aka yam), peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes
- 1 tsp each of olive oil, salt, and pepper
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
Whisk the syrup, oil, salt, and pepper together. Pour over sweet potato cubes and toss to coat well. Pour onto a single layer on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes at 400, turning halfway through. Turn the heat up to broil and broil for 2-3 minutes until you start to see the potatoes caramelize on top. Serve hot (with added goat cheese!)
Easy Spring Risotto
- 3 cups prepared brown rice (I just made my own this past weekend and popped it in the fridge)
- 1 bunch asparagus, tough ends trimmed and cut into fourths
- 1.5 cups frozen peas
- 1 Tbsp butter or olive oil
- 1/2 of a medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 3 cups vegetable stock
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 Tbsp thyme
- 2 Tbsp goat cheese
- salt & pepper to taste
In a skillet over medium heat saute onions in oil or butter until translucent. Add garlic and saute another 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently to make sure it doesn’t burn. Add asparagus and cook another 2-3 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together the flour and stock. Add to pan and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. Add peas and thyme. When the liquid starts to thicken, add the cooked brown rice. Stir together until the sauce can coat the back of a spoon. Take off heat and stir in cheeses, salt, and pepper. Serve immediately!
I really like that risotto recipe since it contains brown rice and doesn’t require 45 minutes of standing over the stove stirring and adding stock the way the traditional risotto does. However, I will say that nothing beats a good traditional risotto…nothing! I also made Nate a piece of salmon that I marinated and cooked with 1 tsp olive oil, 2 tsp maple syrup, 1.5 tsp dijon mustard, and 1 tsp olive oil mayonaise. I just cooked it in a skillet over medium-low heat, covered, for 3 minutes on each side. He said it was really good!
We ate on the couch in front of the TV…oh yes we did! Mainly because we DVR’ed The DaVinci Code and really wanted to watch it. I’ve read the book, but never saw the movie! Honestly it was really good and reflected the book almost verbatim (from what I remember anyway). Definitely an attention getter, though! It was great to just relax though 🙂 After the movie we climbed in bed and passed out!
This morning I got up and did today’s Whittle My Middle workout and the yoga from my HPJ page. This month is coming to a close and I’m noticing a difference! Plus, I can easily slide into the pants, just like I was hoping 🙂 After my workout I showered then whipped up the Green(ish) Monster:
And poured some iced coffee in a tumbler for the road. When I got to work I just poured it into a glass with ice, a Truvia packet, and a little creamer:
‘Twas yummy!
So, I just have to say I really enjoyed reading the pep talk that Gina’s pilot gave her (click here and scroll to the bottom of the post). What he said is so true! Many times something that is going to be rewarding has a hard journey to get there. Sometimes brutal honesty is totally necessary, and I felt ready to go after reading the pep talk! It’s just a great reminder that although I’m not in my dream job right now, it’s going to take hard work to get there. It won’t be easy, and it’s probably going to suck a lot at times, but the journey is what makes the ending worth it! Way to go pilot 🙂
What’s a journey you’re on that frustrates you? Or, have you already overcome that and made it to your goal? I’m in the process of losing the weight I gained after I got married, and it really does suck sometimes. But the results I’ve seen so far have totally been worth the journey! On a lighter note, I’m also growing out my hair…and oh.my.word that is a hard one to stick with! The hardest part is dealing with the awkward shoulder-length (which just doesn’t work for me logistically), but it’s awesome because I can ALMOST put it in a braid!!!
OR
What’s your favorite recipe to make with the following list of seasonal Spring veggies? I’m totally open to new options (rhubarb pie, here I come!!!)
- Artichoke
- Asparagus
- Avocado
- Celeraic
- Fennel
- Fiddlehead Ferns
- Mustard Greens
- Radishes
- Rhubarb
- Watercress
Oh my that risotto looks lushhhh. How many servings is the recipe for though??
Oh man, this makes a ton – if you were to do a 1/2 cup serving (pretty generous) I’d say there’s enough for at least 8-10 people!
Thanks for sharing the easy risotto recipe! I made it tonight, but with carrots and green beans instead of asparagus and peas…was just what I had on hand. It was a definite hit.
Your sweet potato and risotto meal looks so delicious, I’ve gotta remember that. Mmmm. Strawberry rhubarb pie is my absolute favorite, but rhubarb in just about anything makes me happy. I can’t wait!
what the heck are fiddlehead ferns????
Arborio rice dominates. Brown rice is healthy and all, but risotto isn’t risotto without the short grain starchiness of arborio.
Mmmmm, fresh asparagus is my absolute favorite in spring! So tender and delicious!
I like asparagus just lightly grilled with some garlic salt- can’t beat it! 🙂
And yeah- I’m not coming out of a severe injury, but I’m coming back from not running at all for two months. It has been rough!
I never thought about adding goat cheese to sweet potatoes. Sounds delicious!
Asparagus: either just simply roasted/grilled or as part of a lemon asparagus pasta recipe I love!
Rhubarb: amazing rhubarb sauce over ice cream.
Fun fact: James and I had two kinds of rhubarb pie at our wedding b/c we each have a favorite kind (mine: rhubarb cream, his: strawberry rhubarb)!
Your green monsters look like mine… Not quite green, but greenISH. LOL!
I’m actually just starting to try to lose the weight I gained after my wedding as well! (I just read the details on yours!) I’ve gained about 13 lbs or so since my wedding. It’s not a huge amount, and I am relatively happy with the way I am. I’m just not quite ready to be in a bathing suit all summer long (I live in Florida), and that’s not ok with me! So I’m starting that journey!
Amazing recipe!
I´m sure it tasted delicious 🙂
I live in Brazil, so many of those items are never on season… Like artichokes!
I looove artichokes 😉
Have an amazing day, Heather!
Brazilian XOXO´s,
Gabriela
I still get super frustrated with my compartment syndrome. It really hinders me from doing stuff I just really want to do, but I gotta keep remembering that if I want to keep my feeling in my leg I gotta listen to what its telling me, even if I don’t like it 🙁
Artichoke- panini’s with spinach and sundried tomatoes and basil pesto and provolone cheese (or herbed goat cheese) on nutty bread….UUUHHHMAZING!
Asparagus-grilled fa sho!
Avocado- guacamole (the recipe on my blog)
Celeraic- never cooked with that before…not sure what that is actually
Fennel- never cooked with fennel before either
Fiddlehead Ferns-same as fennel
Mustard Greens-same as fennel
Radishes- I usually just add them in a basic greens salad with blue cheese and balsamic vinagarette
Rhubarb- never cooked with it before either, but i remember seeing it on the foodnetwork several times
Watercress- on a panini…any panini!
jeez, I don’t know what to do with any of those veggies but avocado and even then I don’t do anything fancy. That risotto looks amazing.
BED is an annoying ass journey!
very funny….i made risotto too! loved the pilots pepe talk too….
have a good day : )
I read the pep talk this morning and it really stuck out to me too. I’m going through recovering from my injury (stress fracture) right now and it’s HARD. It sucks. But I know that it will be worth it in the end. You just have to keep pushing… even when it’s hard as hell.
Asparagus…simply steamed and the squeeze fresh lemon over it. Add salt and pepper…it tastes so good! 🙂
Life in general is frustrating me right now : /
It seems like when everything finally gets right, everything changes and you have to find your balance again. That’s life though!