Mushroom & Sausage Risotto

When you're home alone do you have different behaviour than when your partner is around? The question makes me think of Carrie from SATC and her "Secret Single Behaviour" theory, demonstrated by her eating saltines with grape jelly while standing in her kitchen reading fashion magazines. I truthfully don't think I have any remaining "Secret Single Behaviour" left after 7 years with my husband. I actually think that I had lived alone for long enough before meeting and moving in with him that it wasn't that easy to hide anything that would could have been considered "secretive" anyway.
But nowadays when the rare occasion comes along that I'm alone for days if my husband is away I have developed a new type of SSB: I eat food that I know he hates.
Like tuna sandwiches! And mushrooms!

I bought myself four baby portabello mushrooms at the market this week anticipating a few lonely meals but really had no specific dish in mind for them. Thankfully a little quick browsing on one of my go-to recipe blogs provided me with the perfect use for them.

Asparagus Chorizo Hash

Mmm-mm, this was so good! 

Hit-the-spot good. 

Making-me-crave-it-for-dinner-again-tonight good. 

My mind is truly everywhere else right now, so I don't know what else I can say to make you want to cook this. It's just damn good!

Cuban Pot Roast

As the boxes pile up and moving day nears closer and closer, I'm trying desperately to not bring anything new into our home seeing as it'll just add to the "stuff" that needs to be packed up. I'm even going so far as to not buy anymore groceries. This task is proving to be both frustrating at times and challenging, but not impossible. Thankfully we have a well stocked pantry and freezer, and our fridge has enough fresh produce to lend to these last few meals.

Last night as I pondered what to make for dinner I spied a big ol piece of pork in our fridge that wasn't getting any younger. I've been craving rice (don't ask) so figured why not make a Cuban inspired pot roast and serve it with some lightly spiced rice. I also made some hot and spicy sweet potato fries to accompany the pork and rice and it was one of my favourite meals in a long time. Thank goodness there's lots of leftovers because I could (and will) eat this all day.

Jerk Chicken

This is the kind of meal that heals me at times like these. Times when I'm overwhelmed with thoughts of the future and many questions about the present. My husband and I knew January would be a busy month for us and oh how it delivered! But there's a light at the end of the tunnel and I think I see it shining in the distance around mid February. Only a few more weeks to go!

But where was I...foods that heal me...right.
I always have those days during winter when I just need a little something summery to brighten me up. What better than some spicy jerk chicken, sweet potato fries and a light and zesty cucumber salad.

Empanadas

We just arrived home from our amazing 2 week vacation and I'm feeling rather weird.
I barely got any sleep on our red-eye flight, my stomach is still struggling to adjust to digestion without acidophilus (although I'm so thankful for it's help in saving me from sickness in Cuba), I'm excited to get back into the swing of things yet don't really want to do anything at all, I'm exhausted but I can't sleep, I'm in the middle of load #3 of probably 6 loads of laundry, I'm hungry but have no groceries...
Am I painting a vivid picture of my day so far? Phew. I wish I could just fall asleep.

But on a positive note I felt so thankful this morning to be back in our little home, to climb into our bed that feels just right, to be able to make a cup of my favourite tea, listen to CBC radio and most importantly to be able to reach into the freezer and pull out one of these black bean empanadas for a quick and completely effortless lunch.

Roasted Red Pepper & Chorizo Pizza

I think this is going to become a winter staple meal in our house. Sweet and tangy homemade roasted red peppers paired with spicy chorizo sausage on a thin layer of homemade tomato sauce, sprinkled with a hard cheese and some bitter greens. Mmmm I wish I had leftovers...

One of my favourite preserving blogs Food In Jars, has a really cute feature called "Preserves in Action" that's a showcase for how and when to use preserves. Some are as simple as jam on toast, but most are creative ways to use up your precious homemade preserves. This pizza feels like a decent example of my own Preserves in Action because I was able to use two preserves to make this pizza, the tomato sauce and roasted red peppers.

Balsamic Glazed Pork Chop

It's not often that I'm left with the responsibility of cooking meat seeing as how it's really my husbands forte. However after he spent a very long day at the office yesterday, it was up to me to whip up a hearty meal for the two of us from start to finish. 

I needed something quick, easy and tasty and these did not disappoint.

Pesto Chicken Pizza

I'm normally not one to get excited about a pizza that has pieces of chicken on it. Truthfully I'm not usually that excited about chicken in general. I love my husbands BBQ chicken, or a great whole roast chicken, and even spicy chicken wings but that's about it.
But my husband has been making this pizza for me for years and trust me, it's delicious.
Strangely enough the chicken is really only a minor detail in this pizza. It plays an important role, but the pesto is really the star of the show.

Shaved Beet & Proscuitto Pizza

Last night I planned on making a pizza version of this caramelized onion tart. But as I gathered onions from the pantry I couldn't help but notice the sad looking bag of beets that has been somewhat ignored lately. I think I've already gone off the deep end in terms of pizza toppings, so what's stopping me from trying one with beets?

Breakfast Burrito with Chorizo

This is the start to my day that I needed. 

The start to my day that I actually got was slipping on a patch of ice right outside my door on my way to get my morning coffee. Good thing a chorizo and avocado filled burrito heals all wounds. 

Tomato Risotto with Sausage and Spinach

Now this is my kind of comfort food.
During the cold winter months, after a long day, this is what I crave. And paired with a glass (or two) of white wine, this is my ticket to happiness.

Honey Hoisin Pork Riblets

My husband makes the most amazing ribs you'll ever eat. 

But these aren't his ribs.

I can't even compete with him and his ribs, so I only make these when he's unable to cook for whatever reason (like when he was sick this week).


This recipe will satisfy your rib craving, but doesn't take an entire day to make (like someone else's rib recipe I know...)

Bison & Barley Soup with Swiss Chard

Clearly I'm a bit of a soup fan.

I've only been sharing my homemade world with you for about 2 months and here is my 7th soup! And that's not including all the ones that I've been too shy to show you...

Garlic & Fennel Burgers

I really can't take all the credit for this one.

The first time my husband made these burgers years ago, I was secretly weirded out and unsure of his "fennel in a burger" idea. I kept my skepticism to myself (or maybe I didn't...) and as soon as I took the first bite I was reminded that it's okay for me to blindly trust him with my taste buds. This man knows how to cook.