Houston Happenings: Eating

Here's an update on some of our other adventures.  Most of our week is spent at school (Reid) and work (Ronda), so our "fun" things have to wait for the weekend.  However, R&R happen to both be fairly content homebodies, so our trips to try a few new restaurants and our Saturday jaunts to Whole Foods are about as wild and wacky as it gets for us.  Right now it's too hot to go out much, but we're hoping to see more of Houston as the weather cools.  In the mean time, it's odd how excited we two can get about going to Whole Foods shopping.  I'm enjoying meal planning, and Reid and I both enjoy the eating.  I like to see how well I can purchase what I need for the meals I've planned while staying on budget.  Right now the only thing putting us over is a serious ice cream addiction I'm trying to break.  Haagen Daas chocolate peanut butter-it's just so good. ;) But I'm kicking the habit (after we finish the pints in the freezer that is...)

Here are some of our homemade creations:

Summer Gazpacho

Meatzza (Pizza with ground beef as the base) and plum salad. That green plastic plate is so fine dining!

Homemade Egg Drop Soup (one of Reid's favorites)

Cod with Roasted Tomatoes and succotash

Same succotash from above mixed with leftover quinoa and some nitrate-free all-beef hot dogs from Applegate.  Reid added a little cayenne to this wonderful frugal creation so that used up all our left-overs.

Skillet Lasagna (grain-free).  We used eggplant for "noodles." The basil came from our "garden."  Yes, we're growing basil on our balcony.  Couldn't keep Reid away from the dirt for long.  Of course I'm not complaining; I've already used basil sprigs in several dishes. This recipe has definitely become a favorite. 

Spiced Lentil Soup with Roasted Tomato and Eggplant.  I had an extra eggplant leftover because I over-estimated on the eggplant for my lasagna above.  I diced and roasted it so it wouldn't go bad. It worked out great because I threw it in this soup for some serious deliciousness.  The green stuff is wilted kale. 

Finally, I made peach cobbler over Labor Day weekend as a special treat.  I used almond flour for the crumbly part, so it's grain-free (and also sweetened only with honey. Except if you count the giant scoop of Haagen Daas Ice Cream).  It was delicious even if it did make a giant mess in my oven.

Duh, I should have known that juiciness would be running everywhere. 

In addition to Whole Foods, we have made a visit to a local farm.  Right now all the farmers are struggling due to the drought, and the produce at the farmer's markets has been really scarce.  However, I did discover that purchasing raw milk is in fact LEGAL in the state of Texas, so you better believe I was on the hunt for a quality source.  We found just what we were looking for in Tomball, about 45 min away.  We drove up to Gramen Farm several weeks ago.  They raise pastured cows, goats, and chickens.  It was amazing! We bought beef liver, heart, and some stew meat from a cow that had been processed the day before.  We also bought a freshly processed chicken.  Of course, we sampled their raw goat and cow milk.  Delicious! We bought a half gallon of cow milk and drink it in two days with meals.  The couple that owns the farm were people after our own hearts.  We took up so much of their time shooting the breeze about all sorts of health topics.  The farmer's wife makes most of their toiletry products and we ended up buying some of her tooth powder.  So yes, we now "brush" our teeth with powder.  And you know what, it feels like a dental cleaning after every brush. :)