Veg and Dippity

Always volunteer to bring the veg to the party.  That way you know they’ll be a tray full of low calorie, high fiber, filling, and delicious foods to fill you up.  Pile your plate high with the veg and take smaller portions of the richer foods.  This philosophy will get you and your waistline through the endless holiday buffets, desserts, and special treats.

So to abide by my rule, I am bringing the veg and dip to the family Christmas gathering tomorrow. Today, when I got home from work I had fully intended to take the easy way out and make a little dip packet.  One of those just add mayo and sour cream deals.

I was really looking forward to a dill dip that I bought at Christkindlmarkt.  Turns out, I didn’t actually buy the dill dip!  I ended up buying curry spices, tomato and onion, and pumpkin dip.  Oops.

I was not giving up on my beloved dill though.  Next stop, spice shelves.  Obviously I grabbed dill, plus parsley, nutmeg and sea salt.  My overgrown chive plant also caught my eye.

Turns out, dip packets are totally unnecessary.  A little of this and a little of that and I had a fresh and delicious dip.  Plus, my chive plant is happier and ready to sprout some new growth.  Win-win!

Herb Dippity

• 1 cup mayo
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried dill
• 2 tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 grinds sea salt

Mix it up and dip away.

30 Minutes Activity:  Walking, even though it was the last thing I wanted to do on a Friday after dinner and drinks.  But I did it. 

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!