I’ve decided today we should talk about my love of lists; because we don’t do that often enough. Insert eye roll here.
Not surprisingly, I’m going to make that great statement and then veer off into a different direction. Have no fear; I’ll get back to lists momentarily or within a hundred words or so. I have a tendency to ramble. Shit I just used up 25% of my words telling you that, and yes, I counted and then did the math. Whatever.
I mentioned in Friday’s post I had a sudden influx of greens. I was like a squirrel stockpiling nuts for obvious reasons, one of which is they’re well, nuts. Except in my case I had a fridge full of produce and no real idea how to handle it all, other than to know my weekend would be spent frolicking and dance partying it up in the kitchen. Not always a bad thing, although when I put my head to the pillow on Friday night (or really the back of the couch and then the Hubby’s shoulder, where I may have drooled just a little bit), my mind was a swirling mess of rapid fire words: spinach, red leaf lettuce, Bok Choy, radishes, carrots, Bok Choy, spinach, green leaf lettuce, kale, and Bok-The-Ef-Up-Choy. I awoke to the same tumbled mess of confusion. I needed to do something to reign it all in and regain control, so I did the one thing I knew with complete certainty would calm my mind.
I made a list; a glorious Saturday morning list. A wonderful and willful list fueled by a morning cup of coffee and the knowledge I was having a rare dinner out with friends, which meant my main meal was covered, so I could spend my day processing goodies and then of course photographing them, so I could share the joy and spread the wealth with all of you. I am so selfless. Oh and by share the joy, I really mean the moment. I’m not planning on sending out any packages, and there goes my minute of selflessness. Oops. I had the best of intentions, I swear and to make it up to you, I’m going to share that very same Saturday morning list. To hell with cartoons, lists are the new Saturday morning line up.
Now let’s get bumping, bullet point style.
- I pulled all the veggies out of the fridge so I knew what the heck I was dealing with. Much like still waters, those crisper drawers run deep. In my rare charitable moment, I photographed the same. Can you say, “Holy produce Batman.” I can. I can type it too; I am so multi-talented.
- I made my grocery store list (yes, an entirely separate and equally as gratifying list) and then hit up The Bin for my typical score, including my lunches for the week, which is now looking particularly tasty. Thai Peanut Noodles, Curried Couscous Salad, Vegan Chick Pea Salad and Vegetable Lasagne. Yep, I heart them.
- I made Lentil Stew with Bok Choy, and I do mean a whole lot of Bok Choy; multiple bunches went into this bad boy. Two words: damn good.
The bubbles are because the stew is so hot, not because he’s passing gas, despite the lentils.
- I made the base for my Veggified Pizza. Secret’s in the sauce, and since I published the recipe long ago, it’s not so much a secret, but it does use up more Bok Choy and makes a mean pizza in the process. In this picture, we have carrots, garlic, green beans, and the stems of the Bok Choy. The leaves come later.
- I made Kale Chips and it’s worth mentioning I did so successfully, without burning the crap out of them. Sweet, sweet victory is mine.
- I made Garlicky Radish Chips because why not. I used this recipe here, although I added half a teaspoon of garlic powder because we all know everything is better with garlic. I also dropped the oven temperature to 300 because I like to do things long and slow, and I do mean all the things. Wink, wink.
- On a whim, I went off list and did more magical things with my radishes because I could and possible because I just had that damn many of them. I roasted some along with carrots and fresh rosemary, and for the kicker……I made muffins using a cup and a half of shredded radish. “Yeah, shredding radishes was fun,” she says sarcastically. They were totally worth it though, and you’d never know these puppies housed a single vegetable. Matter of fact, puppies should be so lucky to get a scrap of these.
- I washed all the greens: the seemingly never-ending pile of Bok Choy, the red leaf lettuce, the green leaf lettuce, the Kale and the Spinach. After years of participating in a CSA, I’ve learned a side of creepy crawlers is quite common with my produce, which is why it’s absolutely essentially you wash it. Say hello to my little friend. I named him Benny, and he is now living (I hope) somewhere in my backyard. Special thanks to the Hubby for taking him outside because you know I wasn’t touching that.
- I chopped up veggies for the Hubby’s lunch time wraps. I also made him some hard-boiled eggs, so he’ll have options. Food options that is. I may be lewd and inappropriate, but swinging is not my thing.
- I opted to skip making scalloped potatoes and went straight up mashed instead. It didn’t hurt I had some homemade chive butter in the fridge just begging for a home. The Gouda cheese was icing on the cake. Mmmm mashed potatoes…♫ you’re so fine. You’re so fine, you blow my mind. Hey Mashed. Hey. Hey. Hey Mashed.” ♫
- Last but most certainly not least, I had a rejuvenating evening out with friends. The margaritas didn’t hurt.
While I didn’t actually complete every last item on my list, I certainly had a good time knocking out the ones which really mattered. I also called it quits at 3 p.m. on Sunday and spent the rest of the afternoon and evening relaxing fireside with my kitties and my computer; gotta recharge those batteries.
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Have you ever spent almost an entire weekend in the kitchen processing produce? Would you want to? What was your favorite thing made in the last week?
Thanks for the shout out!
Absolutely. The radish chips were great.
What a wonderful vegetable world you live in Meghan! Since you’re in need of a roommate ( 😉 ) I’m coming to Cleveland to live!! Love it!
Sometimes I do think I live in my own little world of music, food and kitties. What can I say? I like it here; you would too Fran.
Feel free to send me some of your greens cravings! I’m having a hard time deviating from carbs gahh
I’ve been loving the greens probably because just a few short weeks ago, I was all over the carbs. Yep, those are some of my favorites in pretty much any way, shape or form.
Hey Mashed. Thank you for that. Now I have a new song to crowd out the Buddy Holly ones that have been flooding my head since Friday.
You certainly have a lot of bok choy. Bok choy makes me think of Chinese food, in particular vegetable dumplings and moo goo gai pan.
Your kale chips are crisped to perfection 😉 Really, not a burnt piece to be seen. Impressive.
Sounds like a fun outing with your friends. I bet that was welcomed amidst the craziness of your vegetable fridge.
I’m glad I can keep you musically on your toes. It was L.L. and J.T. today so that should be interesting for you. 😉
The outing was half the reason all the prep was even possible. It was like a reward at the end of it all.
I love when I see other people eating roasted radish chips! That is a favorite of mine :).
I can see why. They’re delicious.
If you could spare if, I wouldn’t mind you sending some of that kitchen motivation my way — I’ve been lacking and slacking in that department. I do alright when it comes to baking (because I love the product so I can justify the effort), but when it comes to more savoury meals? I usually opt for whatever takes the least amount of work. And homemade chive butter in mashed potatoes? Mind.is.blown.
It’s forced motivation through the CSA, but I love it. It gets my wheels going and before you know if, I’m a crazy prepping and meal planning machine.
High five for making Kale chips and not burning any! Maybe I should slow things down more often 😉
Overall it sounds like an excellent weekend processing produce, including lots and lots of bok choy, and sometimes those are the best of weekends…. not that I’ve EVER had that quantity of produce to process but a girl can dream right?
I still have one bunch of Bok Choy left. Oops.
Radish chips. Why didn’t I think if that too? I keep shifting the bag back and forth.
My spouse didn’t spend the last 6 months dreaming of radish chips, so I’ve been fixing the things he wants to eat (fried egg sandwiches every morning, plus pizza plus Skyline plus brats/cabbage/potatoes). Tonight I’m inflicting turnip greens on him, cloaked in a Korma sauce with some chicken and lentils, with a supersized side of naan.
I also made a tomato tart (our fabulous CSA parted with a quart of heirloom tomatoes so my spouse could taste fresh tomatoes in 2013) but though I tried to use your amazingly easy crust I was stopped by the “quiche” and “bake at 400” in the instructions and caved again. A short walk to the grocery store (with my Big Dog and my spouse by my side–little dogs had already walked 3+ miles and were pooped) and I was in business thanks to Pillsbury.
By the time you went to the grocery store and back, you could have been done with the crust.
I’m happy you’ve got the spouse home again.
Thoroughly impressed, m’dear…THOROUGHLY IMPRESSSSSSSED! Mad props fro not burning the kale chips…that is definitely worth bragging over…and radish chips?! Omg, I don’t like radishes, but I’m pretty sure I could get in on some of THAT! Plus, I’m totally mystified by the radish muffins! And seriously girl, I hope you still aren’t thinking you’ve lost your funny, because I definitely got an ab workout out of this post! It’s like you knew I skipped out of the gym early today because I was so hungry the kettle bells looked more like kettle CORN! Lol Oh and please know that I was singing right along with you and those mashed potatoes with CHIVE BUTTER and GOUDA CHEESE?!? Be still my heart!
PS, I hope you’re considering submitting that soup pic to Food Gawker!! Even if it’s not your recipe, it looks GORGEOUS!
Thanks love. I actually felt some of my writing mojo come back with this post. It gets better from here too.
Chive Butter and Gouda. It was a winner. Last week, I did mashed potatoes and leeks. It was really good, but it couldn’t compete with the chive butter and gouda.
The radish muffins were really good. I’m thinking of bringing a batch to Thanksgiving and just not telling people what’s inside.
So glad you loved the lentil soup – what a great idea putting bok choy in there – love it!!!
I do love the soup. This is the second time I’ve made it, and the first go around, I used collards. Thanks for the recipe; it’s a winner.
Hello there, I am stoked to have 3 posts to Arman Bomb in a row 😉
Great job on all that kitchen work- and putting radishes in muffins? You sure you can’t taste them?! I’m jealous of your kale chip success…mine are terrible. You take one bit and it crumbles into ashes.
Ahh bok choy. I remember my Asian side of the family would force that upon me as a child steamed. Just steamed! I need to try out your creative means to make friends with the choy again!
Three posts. Shit; that ain’t nothing after the bomb I dropped on you this weekend. Guess I was a little bit behind. Oops.
Definitely make the pizza with bok choy; so much better than steamed.
Oh and I’m sure you can’t taste the radishes. I really tried. The Hubby couldn’t taste them either and neither could the few coworkers who gave them a whirl as well.