Possibly Not Even Worth Writing About . . .

But I will anyway.









  
I did not eat this today.  It looks good though doesn't it?  It's Chicken Paprikash from foodtv.com  I may have to try it for dinner one night.  If for no other reason than to see if you really can prepare it in 20 minutes as advertised.  I love "easy" meals that you are supposed to be able to cook real quickly on a weeknight but somehow they turn into a major production between boiling water and chopping things and what not.  If you really want to eat something in 20 minutes then just give me like 2 or 3 things that are in a jar I can dump out together and heat up.  End of story. 

My lunch was the last of the beef tenderloin from Saturday night, and a big helping of Melba toast with Boursin cheese.  Neither of those things make a great photo which is why I have a pic of something else.  I slightly warmed the meat but not enough to fundamentally change the doneness from medium rare.  Found some salt in the kitchen and there you go.  Lunch.  I ate the toast and Boursin while on a conference call that someone had the nerve to schedule during lunch.  It is not cool to be on a lunch call where the majority of the people are in one location getting a catered lunch while you and 2 other saps sit at your desk not eating or eating cheese and Melba toast.  No offense to the cheese and Melba toast.  I have a crazy wicked weakness for Melba toast anyway. 

I had dessert today too.  The office had chocolate cream pie in honor of Chungry turning 50.  You would never think he is that old to look at him.  That, plus he has the appetite of a much younger man.  Oh and now it seems we have cupcakes for the occasion too!  Strictly for research and blogging purposes I will go get a cupcake. . . .

Hmm they all seem to be chocolate or look like they are all chocolate.  No one seems to know what they are.

This seems to be chocolate with some vaguely mocha tasting frosting.  It's ok.  Moist, but I still think I prefer the baby bundt cakes.  Now I need a glass of milk.  That was overkill.

so, where was I? oh yeah.  Don't need to rate my meal b/c it was more of the same leftovers.  That is about as boring as having dumplings over and over again. You know who you are.  As far as the desserts go I can't even say that it's fair to rate a chocolate cream pie.  I mean can you ever have a bad one of those?  How do you screw up whipped cream and pudding?  In the alternative, is it possible to make a really outstanding choc cream pie?  I like them but can't say that I have ever had one that was WOW.  As a general pie category I will give the chocolate cream pies of the world a 3.  The cupcakes I may refrain from rating all together.  They are so subjective.  These for me were just meh.  Best thing about them was that the frosting was not cream cheese or buttercream.  I'm guessing a ganache.  Maybe it's time we all stop with the $3 cupcakes and go back to making them with a box of cake mix and frosting in a can?  Please?

Lunch Round Up . . .

I have been remiss in my postings this week and am getting behind.  Here is a brief recap of what has been going on with lunch and the menu for today:

Monday:  Called to duty as lunch companion again.  And went for dumplings, again.  Pork chicken combo with spicy sauce instead of mild.  The spicy is only marginally so compared to the mild so I'll be getting it from now on.  Dumplings were good.  Wrappers not too doughy which is always a plus for me.

And while we are at it, let's check on the quality of lime garnish Starbucks is putting into its Refreshers.  You may recall the last one I got was pretty gross.  Here is the most recent lime slice:

Eh, not much better.  Not sure why this Starbucks repeatedly has old yucky looking limes.

Tuesday some of us piled in the car and took a field trip to Arby's.    As I was on the heels of the Trader Joe's burrito fiasco I wasn't that hungry and had a salad with Diet Mountain Dew.

That was not a typo.  I did indeed have a Diet Dew fountain drink at the Arby's.  I know you're jealous.  The fountain Diet Dew is hard to come by.  It was heaven.  Salad was good too.  Very fresh.  First salad I have ever had at the Arby's.  My usual fare is the junior roast beef, potato cakes and jamoca shake.  To mix it up I will have a french dip.  Since I didn't get my usual I took a picture of my friend's food.

You see here he got curly fries in lieu of potato cakes.  While I do like the Arby's curly fries, as a lifelong potato cake person I cannot personally advocate for the curly fries, but will not hold it against you if you get them.  Our other co-worker had ordered a chocolate shake before I could stop him.  After extolling the virtues of the jamoca shake he went back and changed his order then concurred that it was indeed a fine shake.  While we ate, known Arby's fanatic, Favorite Lunch Buddy 1/Ducky Momo regaled us all with tales of living in NYC and trekking far distances to the only known Arby's on the island and singlehandedly educating the franchise about the appropriateness of serving potato cakes all day vs. just at breakfast.  And I have to agree, who doesn't know that? That is just criminal to deprive people of potato cakes after 10.  Oh that's right, it was an Arby's in New York City.  Combined with a Cinnabon.  Down in the West Village.  So many reasons why they would be completely clueless as to Arby's tradition.  Reasons, but not excuses.  There is no excuse for running an Arby's that way!  Anyway, Arby's was a pleasure as always, and we all left happy.  Do I even need to rate it for you?  Fine then.  A 5 with a RECOMMENDED.

Indeed!

Which brings us to today, Wednesday and leftover Trader Joe's chicken enchiladas.

They are not quite that color, I used an Instagram filter b/c they came out kind of dark and I wanted to show some details.  Details of an enchilada are kind of impossible though.  Especially leftover enchiladas.  So these came in a pack of 4--clearly 2 servings thank you very much Trader Joe's.   Hubs got these for dinner Monday night.  He ate most of it and thought they were just ok.  I tried them then too and will say I thought they could use more ranchero sauce and the chicken was dry.  What a difference a day and a half makes.  Leftover these are fabulous!  I could still use a little more ranchero sauce on them but overall very nice.  Great melding of flavors.  Chicken is nice and tender now and moist.  Not too much cilantro.  Not a big fan. People over use and it drives me crazy.  This is just right.  Ranchero is nearly 100% the way I prefer it.  Little bit of a beef stock undertone and not too much of a just plain tomato flavor.  Good hint of garlic.  Reminds me of my favorite place back home.

 

Here is the unfiltered shot after I have eaten about half of it.  Please excuse my dirty utensils!  Just overall feeling very pleased about this lunch.  From a calorie standpoint, it's 590 for both enchiladas.  If I'm being honest I should have only eaten one.  That started out my intent but I got carried away but my enjoyment of them.  No bundt cake for me later.  Which reminds me, we just got a Nothing Bundt Cake next door to the Trader Joe's which makes it all to easy to go buy cake.  And they are f'ing good.  I need to check on those calories.  I'm sure they are just short of catastrophic.  So far we have had cinnamon swirl, white chocolate (that I had none of b/c Hubs and Little Dude ate the whole thing before I could say Boo), white choc with raspberry and chocolate chocolate chip.  No one liked cinnamon but me, but it was really nice.  All the flavors are great.  Not too heavy which unfortch makes it easy to eat the whole thing.  And by whole thing I mean the small 4 inch cakes, the Bundtinis.  And yes, you do feel ridiculous ordering a Bundtini.  I just ask "for the small one there".

Oh, ratings.  Cake and enchiladas I would actually give 5s to and recommended.   

Now we are all caught up.  Tomorrow I will more than likely be having my leftover Trader Joe's Chicken Tikka Masala.  Stay tuned.  I know how thrilling that sounds.