Weekly Gourmet

Today is Monday. Today's recipe I used more as a suggestion rather than a guide. I took out some chicken this morning because that sounded healthier than anything I had eaten in the prior 72 hours, and then proceeded to laze about the house. At one point I zoned out at Jewel and walked around buying things that seemed necessary, mostly in a bored trance. I then spent the afternoon hours ramped up on coffee, finally remembering I have a house and several children over here that needed attention. I organized our new mudroom cabinets, helped my kids write their names in the "to" section of their Valentines (we have to mess up something), there was tidying, dust-busting - it was a whole thing today.  So anyways, back to 4:52 p.m. without a plan in my head. I used what turned out to be boneless, skinless chicken thighs and the last of the vegetables I bought last week and hadn't used yet to make a super homey, creamy, mushroomy chicken in a saucy-thing. I think it was Fren...

  Today is Sunday. I made a Greek-inspired pasta today. Greece is my favorite place on earth. Well, my favorite place that I have seen. There could be other good ones out there, but thus far in my research, Greece is the best. Don't tell Italy I said that. Sorry Countrymen, but you can't beat their amazing food, sunny weather, and incredibly friendly people. That's how I judge places. Is their food good? Italy- yes. London- no. México- yes. The South- no. Can I get tan there? Greece- YES. Various islands- yes. The Midwest- yes. Are the people nice? London- no. Spain- no. Costco- no. And so forth. Greece wins. Italy next, then México. Oopa. This recipe is a big, fat, Greek party for your mouth. The flavors really come together nicely. It is also pretty easy to make and very customizable. You can omit the chicken, omit whatever veggies make your kids' scream, add in different veggies, etc. You can sauté shrimp with the same oil and seasonings used for the chicken and toss...

 Today is Thursday. Taco Thursday. My mom still comes over and folds my laundry for me. And sews things. And she brings me all the groceries she finds on sale. Tonight I got an eggplant and fancy onions. The point is, she is a saint, and she deserves a taco. So don't get any crazy ideas that I normally have dinner parties twice a week on school nights-- it just worked out that way this week. Party yet again tonight. Fiesta actually. For my Mamacita Carmelita and my Poppi Chulo. OK I don't really call him that. But she's my Mamacita, in my phone and everything. "Yo, Mamacita, I need some celery on the cheap." And she's on it. She has ALREADY bought it most weeks. In unrelated news: I got an instant pot for Christmas. Pressure cooker? I still don't understand how to refer to it. Liz is dubious of apparatuses. Apparati? Everyone's onto pressure cookers and air fryers (got one of those for Christmas as well) and I still don't even really know how to us...