Prodactivity

That’s productive activity, and that’s what I did today.

30 Minutes Movement:  Speed walking around the Lancaster Rockvale Outlets for exercise.  One speedy loop to window shop and ponder what stores we needed to go into to buy Christmas gifts.  One slow loop to actually shop.  Estimated 2.5 miles completed.  Actual 99% shopping completed.

We came home good and hungry, so I got right to work making dinner.  The stovetop was a busy place tonight.  Broccoli steaming.  Trader Joes Basmati Rice Medley simmering.  Soy ginger top sirloin steak searing (from Yeehaw).  Despite the meal being 100% stove top cooked, I set it up and then walked away and let it do it’s thing.  I love when I can do that!

A nice hearty winter meal!

Soy Ginger Steak

• soy sauce
• ginger vinaigrette (from Tait Farm Foods)
• ground ginger
• chili pepper flakes
• garlic cloves, roughly chopped

Mix quantities to your taste.  Pour over steak.  Tenderize the meat (this is my favorite tenderizer).  Allow to sit at least a few hours or overnight. Sear for 3 minutes on each side.  Turn heat to low to finish cooking until desired doneness.  I removed it from the heat at ~135° F which after resting brought it to medium (140° F).

• Very Rare Steak– 120°
• Rare Steak– 125°
• Medium-Rare Steak– 130° – 135°
• Medium Steak– 140° – 145°
• Medium-Well Steak– 150° – 155°
• Well-Done Steak – 160°

Activity Factoid:  Aerobic activity raises your heart beat to meet the demand of your moving body.  It makes the cardiovascular system stronger.  It involves moving in a rhythmic manner for a sustained time period.  Examples include brisk walking, bicycling, dancing, and swimming.

Source.

Rice and Beans, You Got McDonald’s Beat

If I rated my dinners on complexity and time this would be an SE meal, as in super easy.

5:00 PM  Start rice on the stove top on low

5:02 PM Go about doing housework (all the things I was supposed to do Monday night and prepping for more visitors this weekend!)

5:45 PM Open, rinse and dump a can of kidney beans into the pot

5:47 PM Add salsa, pinches of chipotle seasoning, chili powder, cumin and cinnamon

5:52 PM Snap ends of asparagus and steam in microwave for three minutes

5:55 PM Slice and sauté button mushrooms

5:57 PM Dump mushrooms into pot and stir everything together

5:58 PM Plate rice and beans and top with cheese, salsa and sour cream

5:59 PM Plate asparagus and drizzle with balsamic vinegar

6:00 PM Eat!

Only 15 minutes working time!  I don’t think it can get more convenient and I’m pretty sure it actually takes longer on average to go through the McDonald’s drive through window.

Highlight of the meal was this mango salsa.  Definitely gets better with age!

Only downfall of the meal is the case of the asparagus pees we will surely have later.  Sorry to over share, but really, why does something that tastes so good going in, have to smell so rancid going out?  I guess technically we could ask that question about all of our food.  Don’t answer that question.

Do your dinners have McDonald’s beat in time or taste?  Guaranteed they do in quality and healthfulness, cause that’s not hard to do!