vegetables – Loving Food, Fashion, & Life

A Vegetable Frittata To Love

Posted on March 7, 2014 by LFFL

Made with zucchini, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, red onion, olive oil, salt & pepper, minced garlic cloves, eggs, half-and-half, Parmesan cheese, butter, scallions, and Gruyère cheese.

This was a lovely and fancy breakfast and there were plenty of leftovers for the next few days. Zapping a serving inside the microwave each day was all it took for me to have some scrumptiousness in my mouth in no time at all.

Chopped vegetables ready for baking.

Then pan sautee the vegetables.

Add eggs.

I love looking at all the pretty colors in food dishes. It makes for an appetizing meal.

It was great to not have to think about what I was going to have for breakfast each day. A wedge of this loveliness piping hot from the microwave and I’m ready to roll.

Recipe for—Roasted Vegetable Frittata

So, if you have nothing else to do today, make yourself a frittata and load it up with all kinds of goodies.

Take-Away Life Lesson: You really can pretty much throw just about anything into a frittata and make it your own. And there you have breakfast for a few days.

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Eggbert's Sunriser—A Hash Brown Goulash

Posted on March 1, 2014 by LFFL

Made with frozen diced hash browns, frozen steak fries, canola oil, salt & pepper, butter, onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, diced ham, sharp cheddar cheese, eggs, and salsa.

This was a big pile of goulash with a little bit of everything thrown into it—or so it seemed. I don’t think it really mattered what you put into this.

Once again, I must say—this would have probably tasted SO much better had I made my own hash browns from scratch instead of using the frozen store-bought kind that the recipe called for. I mean, I just followed recipe directions and, soon after, regretted getting the frozen variety.

I thought this was a pretty good dish for goulash, but “real” potatoes would have made a BIG difference—I know for a fact.

Melt the cheese in the oven.

Cook the steak fries.

Cook the hash browns.

Sautee the veggies & ham.

Top with shredded cheese.

Cheese melted.

And although a jalapeño is optional for this recipe, I did buy one just in case I wanted to use it. I’m not a spicy foods girl so I was reluctant to even bother with it. As I sliced the jalepeño, I made the mistake of chopping a teeny tiny part and tasting it. That was a HUGE MISTAKE!!! And I mean HUGE!

I didn’t realize my tongue and lips were going to burn for an eternity while I sucked ice cubes, drank milk, soaked cotton balls in milk and put them on my tongue, and everything else I could think of to put out the fire—OH THE MISERY!! Why would I think a piece of jalapeño THAT tiny would burn the dickens out of my mouth?!

Needless to say, that darn jalapeño went straight to the garbage and never made an appearance into the recipe or my LIFE ever again!

Once you’re done with the goulash, make some eggs to your liking and top the goulash with the eggs and some salsa.

Recipe for—Eggbert’s Sunriser

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try your hand at some hash brown goulash with some fresh potatoes.

Take-Away Life Lesson: NEVER pop a raw jalapeño piece into your mouth to taste it no matter how tiny of a piece it is unless you have about 30-45 minutes to set yourself on fire.

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Potstickers For The New Year

Posted on January 1, 2014 by LFFL

Pork & Vegetable Potstickers made with dumpling dough, ground pork, green cabbage, celery, onion, and a mix of ginger, garlic, and black pepper.

Well my New Year’s resolution to eat a little healthier went right down the drain as soon as I woke up this morning. The first thing I stuffed in my face for the new year was one of those gigantic plumpalicious cinnamon rolls from the diner—or at least HALF of one.

To be fair, I didn’t buy it today—it was leftover from last night. So is it still technically my fault? Should I have known to throw it in the trash at midnight last night? Isn’t it still considered 2013 food, technically? I did eat a bowl of oatmeal this morning right afterwards to try to wash it out of my system.

PEOPLE, I’M LOOKING FOR SOME KIND OF CREDIT SOMEWHERE!

Let’s move on to my non-homemade potstickers-from-a-box. This is what I resorted to since I spent 90% of my day trying to figure out all aspects of my new camera—so I wasn’t in much of a cooking mood after reading that lengthy instruction manual. Who knew a wee camera could have 252 pages of instruction on CD to accompany itself?!!

And with some of the pictures I’ve taken today, I swear my cell phone did a much better job. I’m sure it was user-error and there was probably a setting I should have left well enough alone. But I’m still in the learning and playing phase with said camera.

Enjoy my first blog photos with the new camera while I still try to get the hang of it.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, spend your day reading a 252-page instruction manual.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Nothing wrong with breaking a New Year’s resolution a few hours after midnight. It happens.

Still Loving The Diner

Posted on November 3, 2013 by LFFL

Burrito Platter served with Spanish rice and soupy beans.

Here are more of my little trips to my hometown diner. Such yummy good food.

Catfish Fillet with tartar sauce and a side of Cabbage, Corn Nuggets, Ham & Beans, and Cornbread.

Chicken Fillet Sandwich

Chicken Fillet sandwich deep-fried with cheddar jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles.

This here is why I like dealing with the same one or two servers over and over once they know me well enough and I realize they are really good at their jobs.

The day I ordered the chicken sandwich on the left, I specifically called-in my order and asked for LETTUCE ONLY with my sandwich. I told them to leave off the pickles and tomatoes.

As you can see, my sandwich came with the usual on it—EVERYTHING.

Another day I called-in and ordered the chicken sandwich on the right and specifically asked for LETTUCE ONLY. I told the person what happened the last time I ordered and she said she would check the order herself personally AND give me EXTRA lettuce even.

Now as you can plainly see, the one on the right came with absolutely NOTHING on it. I even looked under the bun to make sure the lettuce wasn’t hidden inside the sandwich somewhere. Needless to say, I didn’t get the EXTRA lettuce she said she’d give me because I didn’t even get the regular lettuce they normally put on it.

Unfortunately when I placed my orders, I couldn’t ask for the person who usually takes care of me because he had already gone home for the day. So I just placed my order with whomever answered the phones on both occasions.

I cannot understand how I can be so specific, thorough, and detailed—even down to explaining how my order was screwed up the last time, only to have it screwed up again!

French Toast

Apple Pie

French Toast made with thick-cut egg bread dipped in egg, topped with whipped butter and powdered sugar; served with maple syrup.

A slice of Apple Pie.

Another day I walk into my local diner and I’m standing at the counter for 5 long minutes waiting to place an order to-go. I turn and I see a diner pow-wow meeting or gossip-fest of some sort going on.

I’m not sure what it was, but no one even looked up to say hi or take my order. After 5 minutes of standing there, someone else in the restaurant (who was NOT part of this group) finally came and helped me. Unbelievable.

But, nevertheless, I still love my local hometown diner.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, continue to frequent your favorite diner even if you get irritated every now and again with the little mistakes that keep happening to you.

Take-Away Life Lesson: We’re all only human.

Veggie Cake Patties

Posted on October 22, 2013 by LFFL

I’m gonna start off by saying “no, thank you” off top to these li’l patties. These were some type of Veggie Cake Patties and Potato Salad that I got in the Whole Foods deli area.

The potato salad was A-ok. The veggie patties—they were a hard swallow. I tried them cold and then I tried them warmed. They tasted a lot better warmed in the microwave, but I still would never eat them again.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try a veggie cake patty if you dare. Or better yet, maybe stay away from these two in particular.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Sometimes you just gotta have the right taste buds to enjoy what life can offer you.

Tofu Veggie Stir Fry

Posted on October 6, 2013 by LFFL

Made with extra-firm tofu, carrot chips, snap peas, onions, soy sauce, fresh chopped ginger, chopped garlic cloves, honey, rice vinegar, and olive oil; served with long grain brown rice.

Here’s something to serve up healthy.

Recipe for—Tofu Veggie Stir Fry

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try your hand at a healthy stir fry.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Always use fresh ginger rather than ground ginger whenever possible. The two flavors cannot compare.

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Chicken Teriyaki

Chicken Teriyaki

Posted on September 12, 2013 by LFFL

Made with diced chicken tenderloins, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, kale, firm tofu, sliced red onions, celery, mushrooms, yellow onions, sweet Vidalia onions, scallions, bean sprouts, and teriyaki sauce; served over brown rice.

I just loved eating this for dinner and it was all due to the teriyaki sauce. That sauce can make anything taste yumalicious!

Just put some assorted vegetables inside a pan and throw a bottle of teriyaki sauce all over them. Yet another way to love life!

I discovered this lovely sauce at the health food store, but later found out you can get this exact bottle at Wal-Mart for at least one dollar (if not more) cheaper.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try throwing some teriyaki sauce over your favorite meats and vegetables and love every minute of it.

Take-Away Life Lesson: If Wal-Mart is selling the exact product as your local health food store, it’s probably going to be cheaper at a Wal-Mart.

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