Dinners & Things: 4/21-4/28

On Sunday I realized it had been a while since I baked anything and it was a cold and rainy day so I cleaned out bits and bobs in the fridge to make a small batch of magic cookie bars and then this lemon blueberry almond loaf I've been dreaming about since Nuala made it on her spring break.  Dinner was actually at the restaurant where she works because we were going to go there with my family, but they couldn't make it. 

It's the end of the semester and Mondays for this one have been unequivocally the hardest ones I've had. Whatever, I'll get over it. We debated going out, but we also had Tapas on the brain because Watts is going to Spain next week and our television consumption has been a steady diet of Anthony Bourdain in Spain and Jose Andres' show with his daughters (side note: When I feel down, I'd like there to be a number I can call Jose Andres on. His jovial spirit makes me want to say 'fuck yeah' to everything). So, instead of going out, we cracked a bottle of Spanish wine and ate tapas.  I made some patatas bravas, some vaguely mediterranean flavored meatballs, roasted asparagus, olives, some sauces for dipping and toasted bread with tomato.  We sat outside in

On Tuesday I made a simple sweet potato and black bean chili kind of based on this recipe but there was lager in it instead of orange juice and I also had some veggie chorizo that we crumbled over the top for some flare and I'm sure I did something else to it but I just can't remember. To be honest, Monday and Tuesday are my favorite types of meals. Small plates or throw it all in a pot and see what happens. 

For some reason- allergies?-cold?- I was super congested on Wednesday and all I really wanted to do was go to sleep, but I didn't. Instead I made a Red Lentil Soup which is a favorite around these parts. It's quick, easy and always delicious. 

I think that soup was what I needed because Thursday I woke up feeling better, a little congested but not like the day before. I made Beet Burgers which are a favorite in Flora Shedden's Gatherings. I shredded  an onion and a couple of cloves of garlic and sauted it because I can't handle raw onions at all. Then I shredded a couple of beets, added them to the onion and garlic, added cumin, salt, carraway seeds, an egg, feta, flour and some oats. Then I make nice little patties and top them off with some cheddar cheese. One time I went out to a restaurant in Durham with my sister and I order a Beet sandwich. I thought it was going to be like this. My sister thought I was a total weirdo when it was a steamed slice of beet on a roll with nothing else. I gagged it down .

Then it was the weekend and between Nuala's junior prom, Watts leaving for Spain, favors for friends, birthdays for friends and visits from old friends I didn't cook anything.