Menu Planning Monday {the one where I talk about Food Porn}

Anyone else love just looking at food pictures? Pictures full of bright colors that instantly make your mouth water. Pictures where you’d swear you can smell the spices and sauces. Pictures that make you start thinking about going to culinary school . . . just so you could have the food you crave all. day. long.

Then you, my friend, are addicted to food porn.

This past week, I found lots of food porn on two foodie blogs: The Sprouted Kitchen and Noshtopia.

(be prepared to drool after you click on those links)

The variety of ingredients — new and exciting ones — made me think back to the time I brought sexy BACK with Fennel. (sigh)

These foodies aren’t afraid when it comes to the more exotic grocery and Whole Foods items. Oh, no! They’re confidently using things like quinoa, kale, broccolini, golden beets, radicchio, and herbs de provence.

(it’s like they think they’re on Top Chef, or something)

This week, I’m ventured out of my safe-cooking box and looked to these foodie bloggers (and a few others I found linked on their sites) for menu-planning inspiration.

Monday:

Photo from My Kitchen

Grilled Chicken and Roasted Farmer’s Market Veggies: So, yeah, this is a thrown together dish thanks to Saturday’s trip to Houston’s Mid-town Farmers’ Market. In addition to roasting a portabella cap and corn on the cob, the roasted veggies will include NEW ones for me: pattypan squash and two different varieties of young eggplant. Yum!

Tuesday:

Photo from The Sprouted Kitchen

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad: We tried Quinoa this past week for the first time (in Red Beans & Quinoa Burritos); I was very pleasantly surprised by this easy to prepare grain and it’s very filling and tasty consistency. I’m excited to prepare this salad, which adds brocollini and red peppers to the flavor profile.

Wednesday:

Photo from The Sprouted Kitchen

Walnut Crusted Tilapia and Edemama Hash. . . Ok, two things. First of all, the original recipe actually calls for Salmon but I have bunches and bunches of Tilapia fillets in my freezer. AND . . . while I do have edemama, the thought of mashed edemama is the one thing that DOESN’T sound appetizing. Of course, I’m supposed to be a culinary adventurer this week. Sigh — what to do, what to do? Eureka! I’ve got it . . . fresh green beans from the Farmers’ Market. 🙂

Thursday:

Photo from Noshtopia

Ginger Teriyaki Beef with Lemony Kale: Kale is one of the leafy greens that I’ve purchased, wanting to try it . . . but, unfortunately, it has spoiled each time thanks to my timidity. NO MORE FEAR THIS WEEK — I. will. make. KALE!

Friday:

Girls Night Out at Mi Luna, a little quaint Tapas Bar in Houston’s Rice Village! (Have I thought about what Hubby and the kids will do for dinner? ABSOLUTELY NOT!)

Saturday:

Photo from This Week for Dinner

Butternut Squash Soup and my good ol’ Spinach Salad; as I’ve mentioned before, I have TONS of frozen Butternut Squash puree left over from the week I made baby food. (We ended up doing Baby-Led Weaning because someone didn’t give Mr. Boy the memo that babies like purees).