Foodie Teddi

I have gotten a few requests for a post about recipes for meals as seen on my Instagram account. A lot of the food I make is more thoughts and ideas than actual recipes, but however you slice it (pun intended), I am happy to share.

I've made Skinnytaste Pasta with Butternut Sauce, Spicy Sausage and Baby Spinach twice (now there's a tongue twister!) and I loved it both times. So tasty. (Can't find the photo, sadly. So take my word. Dee-lish.)

I made Foodie with Family Slow-Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken. Honestly, I didn't love it nearly as much as I wanted to. This recipe makes a ton so I halved all the ingredients. The sauce just did not get thick enough. Thinking of trying a different recipe with similar ingredients, because I do like these flavors!

I adapted my own version of this All Recipes Creamy Pesto Shrimp. I used a Knorr dry pesto packet and combined it with a combo of 1% milk and water - no heavy cream here. This came together nicely - very simple to make. It was nothing groundbreaking or spectacular, but a solid, tasty meal that was a cinch to throw together. Next time, I would skip the shrimp, add a great side salad, and have a Meatless Monday.

I've made Skinnytaste Petite Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Loaves twice. I love the controlled portion size and cuteness factor of this. I like to keep a few and give a few away. I have several in my freezer right now. Yum.

If I need a quick and easy lean protein, I turn to frozen turkey burgers or turkey dogs. (I use Applegate Farms brand.) I season with salt, pepper and a little truffle oil. Sometimes I'll melt a slice of cheese on top, depending on what else I'm serving it with. Kale Caesar salad, baked sweet potato fries, grilled mushrooms, mac and cheese, and peas are favorite "side dishes" of mine.

If kale is my main salad green, I need a thick, flavorful dressing to complement the texture and taste. I use Newman's Own Creamy Caesar dressing and shaved parmesan. (I love salad dressing. I'd rather use the full serving and skimp elsewhere. I am just not one of those "lemon juice is a dressing!" people.)

Frozen sweet potato fries are always in my freezer. I love the Alexia brand or Ore Ida. Sliced mushrooms are always in my fridge. I love to toss them in a pan with a little salt, pepper, and truffle oil.

Which brings me to truffle oil. It's an investment (my bottle was $30) but worth every penny. I use it on ... well, everything that I can, as evidenced by the rest of this post.

If I'm making boxed mac and cheese, I either use Kraft or Annie's. The old Teddi would make a pot, eat the whole thing and call it "dinner". I won't ever give it up, but now I put it on a plate (instead of a bowl) alongside one veggie and one protein. Don't get me wrong - I still eat a lot of it, but not as much as I used to and it's part of a more balanced meal now (instead of being the meal itself).

I also love to make my own pizza using a multigrain crust, part skim mozzarella, jarred tomato sauce, and truffle oil. It's so easy and yummy. Served with kale Caesar salad and wine, this is my go-to "Girls Night In" dinner.

I definitely need to broaden my horizons. My repertoire is pretty small - it's all been about simplicity and convenience thus far.

Next on my list of recipes to try:

Skinnytaste Whole Wheat Pancakes
Self.com Warm Berry Baked Oatmeal
Skinnytaste Mushroom Kale Lasagna Rolls
Skinnytaste Skinny Baked Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
Real Simple Mustardy Kale and Butternut Squash
Eat Live Run Peanut Butter Cake with Salted Chocolate Ganache

What else should I add to that list?