Lunch combo

I rushed home from class today thinking that I had another clinical off-site in the afternoon. Ha was I wrong! In the process of looking up directions, I double-checked my assignment and found out that I didn't actually have to be anywhere this afternoon. It felt like 4 hours of my day just freed up, even though technically they were free all along! Yay!

And so, I got to slow down and actually relax for lunch, which was wonderful. (1) Rassol'nik (Russian dill pickle soup) from Saturday's Lunch; (2) Pan-roasted brussels sprouts from last night's dinner; and (3) Pepper stuffed with mushrooms and barley (from Saturday's dinner, which I missed because I was babysitting!).

[A note on our Stuffed Peppers: Boil the peppers for about 10 min to soften them up! Then fill with stuffing of your choice, arrange in a dish pan, pour over sauce of choice (we usually use tomato juice, cheese, and extra veggies), and cook in the oven at 350F. Cooking time will depend on the nature of the filling. If it contains meat, it will be about 30 min. Today's pepper with already cooked barley and sauteed mushrooms stayed in the oven for just 15 min!]

And then many small snacks and breaks followed in the afternoon!

... Tea time with Trader Joe's dark chocolate covered almonds with sea salt = wow... Some Popchips and Vegetable Straws with hummus... A coffee break with some cheese and toast... I also foresee having a piece of fruit before dinner time... I  know, I know... it's a snack-attack-kind-of-day.

Grandma and I need suggestions/inspirations for tonight's dinner! We are all out of ideas! :)

You folks have just one day left to enter the Food Should Taste Good Giveaway!!! Don't miss your chance to win 5 free bags of chips of your choice!

♥ V.

I loved words. I love to sing them and speak them and even now, 

I must admit, I have fallen into the joy of writing them.

— Anne Rice

There are pickles in my soup! {Russian Rassol'nik}

I bet you've never had a soup based entirely on dill pickles... And if you have, it was either (1) a culinary accident experiment, or (2) Russian soup Rassol'nik. In the case of today's lunch, it was the latter. One of my favorite soups, Rassol'nik is incredibly versatile, healthy, easy to make, and delicious. Because pickles control the scene flavor, the broth can be either vegetable- or chicken-based without sacrificing the traditional flavor at all. So choose your pickles wisely!

Here is a wonderful step-by-step recipe for vegetarian and meat versions of Rassol'nik. Most often, it's made with barley, but we often substitute in rice, quinoa, or even buckwheat. Today was quinoa day.

While making Rassol'nik, my grandma overheard on the Russian TV that cauliflower was good for bone health. Immediately, she went online in search of cauliflower recipes!

I never considered just how nutritious cauliflower is, and I tend to be skeptical about health advice given on Russian television. But, indeed! Cauliflower is quite the powerfood! It's a great source of Potassium, Sodium, Dietary Fiber, Protein, and Vitamins C, K, Riboflavin, Niacin, and Thiamin. WAY TO GO, CAULIFLOWER.

Steamed cauliflower & broccoli, topped with tzatziki + melted parmisan and chopped walnuts.

Simple. Beautiful. Delicious. Nutritious. What else could I ask for?!

A run is tentatively scheduled for 3:30pm. A protein-packed snack, most likely in a form of Chobani love, to follow. I'm babysitting tonight for the most wonderful family that I met 4 years ago. It's so incredible watching the kids grow up... The youngest was just 6 months when I started babysitting for them!

Hope your day is going well. Stay warm, happy, and healthy, and get some fresh air!

♥ V.

>>>Food Should Taste Good Giveaway<<<