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.

Sautéed Spinach with Coconut

There's nothing quite like feeling re-energized in the kitchen, eh? I don't know why but I've been on a rice kick lately. I cook up a big pot of rice and then use it in meals over a few days. This is a perfect example of how I've managed to sneak rice into my brunch; top it with sauteed spiced spinach, toasted coconut and a poached egg. It's heavenly!

Go to 101 Cookbooks for the spinach recipe and thank me later.

Tofu & Bok Choy Stir Fry

Finally a taste of spring! Bok choy is often one of the first green signs of spring at my local farmers market. Sure asparagus and radishes are often the veggies that get people (including myself) excited for spring, but in my little neck of the woods bok choy is truly my saviour from the depths of winter woes.

Last spring/summer I got hooked on this little dish but would always gobble it up too fast to tell you about it. It's really quite simple and so satisfying.

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.

Bean & Corn Salad

I know you probably won't believe me when I say I've been lacking some serious kitchen inspiration lately, but it's true!
Despite the stack of cookbooks on my dining table, hoards of bookmarked recipes on my computer, and a fridge full of local produce just begging to be eaten, I just can't seem to get excited about cooking lately.
Actually I should rephrase that. I haven't been excited about "everyday" cooking (such as making myself and my husband healthy and delicious lunches everyday). Planning meals for dinner has been less of a problem, thanks to cooking classes I've been taking with the Feisty Chef. But for the food we eat during the hours of 11am - 4pm, I've been drawing a blank.

Last night I finally mustered up the motivation to inspire myself and I weeded through recipes I've bookmarked for the last few years and found some new ones I haven't tried, namely this one.

Herbed Pasta Salad

This year on Canada day my husband and I did what we've done for the last few years; watch a lamb roast on a spit for hours in our friends backyard, and then eventually eat it. I brought a few dishes of yummy summer outdoor food with us to share and this salad was one of the stars of the show (next to the lamb of course) and I've been craving it ever since.

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.

Risotto

2010 has been the year of pork in our household. Maybe it's because it's inexpensive, and is great for quick meals. Maybe it's because we can buy local pork any day of the week, only a few blocks from our home. Or maybe because it's just so delicious and adaptable.

Regardless of why we eat so much pork, our favourite accompaniment to a pork chop is risotto. So I guess 2010 has also been the year of risotto. Not a bad year, if you ask me.