I really do love food, as evidenced by my current state of impressive girth. One of the things I like most about food is to eat it, but I also love all the other parts. Planning, shopping, prepping, cooking, and most of all, sitting down at a pretty table with my people. Savoring it.
I've written about my goal to make less food, and I have done really well toward this goal. Some nights, there is nary a bite left over. We call those clean plate meals.
For example:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hv_O9dBMvQhdbRYnRaMD4GBriulkUGH2d1da0eH5gd5ob4RQzN6EI3K-elRwuvgisByTHobRcgA39Hk4mkF2th52gZAZdh6xcUrhltcQwNG3kP_WdL7BWLa22k3o4KqF0kriuFqOpKNW/s400/19820900_10210809522292833_1562749551_o.jpg) |
chicken tikka masala comes from heaven, and comes together in 15 minutes with Trader Joe's simmer sauce |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKA9Yl_9dykgw6LKxcsB1SAQXPTnDCzjiw8ITPbH2TPGGlrmQQV0nNb98djB3e0AVuMbVcgkygMQGCi1Bjn8mLCJhIRH2xey2XinBK7eko6WTX_bsf8zxSBv-fiL4YP78bj0y6Eu3rYVxc/s400/20170706_190631+%25281%2529.jpg) |
I love a meal that goes into one bowl |
Another family favorite is
slow cooker carnitas. We can't clean plate that one without reinforcements. I didn't get a photo of the lovely table, but this is what was left over:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqC6J7Mk_a4ogX5JVobHcybf8JQ87YJTKvtWuxEEMN86JuBWbmqDQ2YJuTVyjHyv1rR1qPkaqCFxkhJBoLzop1AeN8cQGd72s3RihxScap08wsiULqEhRW07-aOo-QPdahBEnUnAo1_TbF/s400/19885798_10210846702622318_602967966_o.jpg) |
I need to bite it |
I could have sworn I had a photo of the summer grill table full of marinated chicken, spicy sausage, corn and salad but I can't find it so you'll have to use your imagination.
After all of this deliciousness, it came to pass that I found myself with a fridge full of really good leftovers one night, and I was determined to use them. I requested a vote to decide which of the yumminesses would fulfill its destiny on that fine night, but that resulted in a tie that I didn't want to break. I had the time and the inclination, so I made both.
Please forgive my ridiculously poor and random photographs.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibasFKZQZb97ihqWiX10eUPoHkValW_3fbMFEisZcZRzwEAUByoImeH1y6PyHD3Mo5rxDRFOJMzW-zWbBr87e8IGi7WMrF6ywrhozeGlgyrRZv-3dqGuAdalXRiR6naGoG7zbfTu2X-I8Z/s400/20170711_191803.jpg) |
On the left, frying up some rice with savory veg. On the right, I scrambled eggs with diced green chiles & carnitas |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShyr3xx2OkZblobmj3tJAmY3Cl4_tpm2OIPwLOK8V47_WMgkqVxKn9FgySbq1rhaUMbhxXAZgaJdU8jVMLHWcl2Qf8baPbCpzv5F8Y61EJDeBQVE_vPPIm8fbkymRcLITiWj7jeI1DM6N/s400/20170711_191808.jpg) |
What mess? Check out the towering tupperware |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMBO0h_-TG2-1zJTMtWgR31m6JU04K-KEbxYUp0QG3P1rStNxUeMEIcq8HLAcyTLQIh9vTcS3m6htNXBt8zO4V9rA320ZmsXfaTme2qN0b6ymrXXxAHrVJwB70ZPc1jusIVkp4yXzOGIC/s400/20170711_193029.jpg) |
Summer grill surplus was made big bite sized while I added some veggie stock and seasonings to the rice dish |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y5U5Y3n9A6Zt39M367oecZJDXxaWRCtuNYkLDE5RDW0b9zUbxdEFbJ3axLBq8ECC0yGekD8Ww5PHn3b5yy3wBmgplK1EKmv9JDv4kIqT9y88awSrBRA-PrHqYsZComLPz275s0pFpPjJ/s400/20170711_193656.jpg) |
Jambalaya! Machaca! |
The jambalaya wasn't that good. I think some things really are better with Zatarain's.
The machaca, though?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iiH4KAJGHbHcWYBpgq6KVhODCdUWIXrsEIi4iLC4SbgLEvOzUmX9QRyUDAGyOmm5l86sDPhIdd9s6oUcNkAm_qe_YAhCe40lmQSFniweRJNhVFQhY-wUfIAX_VMrM0BXc8sSkkXuoacI/s400/20170712_192500.jpg) |
Heaven in a flour tortilla. |
Once we'd eaten our way through those pesky lefties, I took
inspiration from Jane and tried my hand at slow cooked ribs for another clean plate special:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVgisJ9zhhypsWuj-b033bOabWjGxlbPlmseDbXHPjGdLEqgO0fbH6KrDl200xENXEXTIgZGv-DjPjMzSe92JcziHPtdKvpUyMLPNv4Unocccc_7Spit9RDFyHsmCKkNTXl61uhvkZOx8Z/s400/20170718_194501.jpg) |
Jane, the crock pot works really, really well but you can really only fit one rack. I finished them on the grill |
I just noticed that there are no humans in any of these photos, and that we eat a shit ton of meat. But hey, we run anemic 'round these parts, and it's all grass fed and preservative free* and surrounded by bountiful veggie sides.
*Except the ribs, they were full of nitrates and woe.