Diet Related Depression Ensues

The hazards of summer weather and dining out have it home. It's now time to face reality, buckle down and get back into shape. This was in no way prompted by recent photos of me in a swimsuit and cocktail dress. Really.

I find the biggest challenges with cooking "diet food" is the general consensus that salt can only be had in moderation. I love salt. Or varieties of salt - brined, marinated, encrusted, etc. It's not that I don't enjoy herb based seasonings, but imagine a sauteed scallop in tarragon butter without the butter and salt . Simply not the same.

Tomorrow nights challenge - brightening up a swai fillet. I'm envisioning something with 5 spice, but who knows what tomorrow might hold.

Happy munchings! Use salt.

Eating Your Way Across Arizona

It's been a while, but I had some wonderful guests visit from Canada - both of whom eat out regularly and saw no particular reason to change their habits when traveling. Having guests over typically allows me an opportunity to take them to favorite little spots I've found in the time since they last visited, but my two Canadian friends wished to travel the state. I've not done a particularly great deal of exploring the rest of Arizona, so my knowledge of intriguing eateries outside of Phoenix is limited. It's certainly expanded in the last couple of weeks.

My first stop was to appease my quiche craving and take my one friend to Scratch. Her husband wasn't in town yet and I'd been raving about Scratch so much, we just had to stop. This was the first time I was vaguely disappointed. Our salads came with so many wilted or rotting leaves that we were only left with about half that was edible. The dressing still lived up to expectations. My friend's (we'll call her SC) sandwich of turkey, avocado and sprouts came with so few sprouts that SC was left with an impression of mushiness. And my beloved goat cheese quiche? It was no longer presented in it's square unique shape, but a more typical slice. And as you worked your way through it, there would be bizarre hot spots that were almost burnt. I believe my quiche may have been microwaved, but don't really want to admit so yet.

Our next spot for dinner the next day was Havana Cafe. We went to the older Camelback location and had a wonderful meal of tapas...all of which I'll explain next time.

Sometimes it's just better to do it yourself...

And sometimes it's not.

Out of some serious lunch envy inspiration, I made some type of bizarre decision to forgo stopping by Pita Jungle and instead attempt making my beloved Hummus with Grilled Sirloin myself. After a somewhat lengthy trip to Sprout's which ended up being significantly more expensive than a single dish at Pita Jungle, some frantically hungry cooking with intrigued cats looking on - I had a dish that somewhat resembled what might come out of Pita's kitchens.

To be honest, the failing was less with my abilities and more to do with the pitas I purchased being just a tad too thick and sweet.

So, is recreating restaurant favorites really worth it? Let's examine...

Pita Jungle Version

1. Place phone call to 411. Obtain Pita Jungle number.
2. Call Pita Jungle and order grilled sirloin hummus.
3. Continue driving for 10 minutes on way home.
4. Park.
5. Walk into restaurant, pay approximately $12 and continue home.
6. Enjoy hummus.

My Version

1. Continue driving 10 minutes to Sprout's on way home from work.
2. Park.
3. Pick up basket. Remember to peruse coffee. Coffee snobbery results and continue through to yogurt.
4. Pick up box of favorite crackers on way to yogurt.
   
5. Discover large container of favorite yogurt. Continue to red peppers for lunch next day.
6. Explore beers for guests visiting on weekend. Ignore beer after faced with too many options.
7. Pick up sirloin.
8. Return sirloin after guilt rises up when viewing all natural and grass fed options. Select new sirloin.
9. Pick up container of hummus. No grinding of chick peas tonight!
10. Head to bulk for pine nuts.
    
11. Go through bulk aisles again after first search fails. Find pine nuts and package.
12. Select pita (wrong one!) and continue to check out.
13. Pay approximately $27 and continue home.
14. Put away all groceries.
15. Turn on pan, season sirloin and cube. Place into pan at medium high.
16. Open hummus and arrange into decorative swirl on plate.
17. Add pine nuts to sirloin and brown.
18. When cooked, place sirloin nut mixture over hummus.
19. Microwave pitas for 20 seconds to warm.
20. Kind of enjoy hummus while checking work email.

Well. Really. All I can say is to try and support your local restaurants, folks.

Under $40 Search Continues

My brother's birthday offered up my first option of an easy dinner for two for under $40. BJ's (at Tatum and 101) is offering a special until the end of September. Two soups/salads, with a medium pizza and pazookie dessert for $20. Add on a couple of in house brewery options and tip and you easily stay under $40 and for us, also had leftovers for the lunch the next day. The pizza is thick crust Chicago style, which really isn't my cup of tea but the white chocolate chip macadamia nut pazookie was a great decadent end to the evening.

Recipe of the Week

Turkey Breakfast Sausage

This is one of my staple recipes. It's tasty, low fat and very simple to make. Leave out the brown sugar and you end up with Italian turkey sausage.

1 pound ground turkey (your choice of leanness)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1 teaspoon ground sage
1 teaspoon chopped thyme
1/4 teaspoon chopped rosemary
1 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Mix all ingredients and form the turkey into 2-3 inch patties. Saute patties over medium high heat in a non-stick pan for about 10 - 15 minutes, flipping once when the edges begin to cook.

Happy munchings!
Radish

Dating Challenge - Fine Dining for Fast Food Pricing

I admit to being a food snob, but I try my best to give in to my snobbery only in moderation. As food typically is not the central feature of many work related lunch meetings, I'm perfectly content with Pei Wei, Green Vegetarian and Chipotle. For a lunch option, all these places are great, but when faced with a date choice they immediately fall towards the bottom of my list. I love sharing the experience of a new restaurant find or impeccibly prepared dish while having a leisurely dinner. That's a moment where it's totally all about the food and company for me. I've been totally boggled recently by suggestions of near fast food restaurants as a way to spend an evening together.

Is there a happy medium between fast food price and foodie accepted menu?

So far, I've discovered the tapas menu of Havana Cafe to be universally pleasing, along with Pita Jungle's selections of Mediterranean inspired dishes. The Black Forest Mill and Z Tejas both offer a great happy hour line up as did Kona Grill though it ended relatively early.

So, along with my usual search for those places that offer local produce and other sustainable choices, the next couple of months will be a happy search for where two people (at least one a food snob) can dine for under $40 including drinks. We'll see what we can come up with and report back often.

Happy munchings!
Radish

Savory Spot - Essence Bakery Cafe

Essence Bakery Cafe is certainly another one of those little gems of a find if you happen to be in the Tempe area. Open 10:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday, it's the type of place you might head for a casual late brunch or lunch where you can be assured that your meal came from locally sourced products, grass fed beef and free range eggs.

Don't expect too much out of Essence's decor and ambiance. With so many small tables placed together in the room (though their paper origami flowers add charm), Essence does become very noisy and crowded by the peak of lunch hour. Try to arrange to either arrive slightly early or late to have a bit more elbow room.

My fellow diner on this visit had been so impressed with our visit to Scratch that she was happy to follow along for another lunch trip. She selected the roasted vegetable sandwich (sans goat cheese) and was raving about her sandwich choice of roasted red peppers, zucchini and eggplant for most of the meal. To represent the carnivores, I went with the Local Power Ranch Beef Hamburger and while it wasn't bad, I can't say I would rave about it. The beef had that great flavor that only grass fed has, however the cooks hadn't achieved a proper sear on it resulting in a gray soggy patty. (This is the second time this month I've had to discuss searing with people). With a too thin bun, it ended being a somewhat tasty mess.

Our main disappointment came in the form of a barely dressed salad of local greens. With what seemed to be a slight drizzle of local olive oil, some salt and pepper helped to improve the flavor a bit, but this is definitely where a nice balsamic vinegar would be welcome.

Essence is also known for their macaroons and typically have a daily selection of several flavors such as caramel, mint or hazelnut. Take a moment to indulge and share a macaroon while waiting for your lunch to arrive.

With more people seeking restaurants supporting local vendors and offering more sustainable diet options, Essence should be a solid lunch fixture for years to come.

Essence Bakery and Cafe
www.essencebakery.com
825 West University Drive
Tempe, AZ 85281
480.966.2745