Odds and ends

Okay, so I pretty much stuck to my planned meal schedule for the week, and did a good job using up leftovers as well. The chicken with mushrooms and artichoke hearts with CREAM was delicious. Why wouldn't it be?? My parents and my cousin came for dinner that night, and we didn't have much in the way of leftovers for the next night. I did a little shifting, and Friday night we just mixed and matched from the fridge, which was good because I was tired and cranky anyway. The girls had leftover pasta and marinara, and I came up with something new and tasty that sort of reminded me of Moe's favorite potato at Charo Chicken. Have you had it?? I had some cooked potatoes, marinara and mozzarella left over. I heated the potatoes in the microwave smashed them, spread them with marinara and topped it all with shredded mozzarella and romano cheese, which I then baked in the oven. Too lazy, so no vegetables, but I did make a fresh fruit smoothie.

We drink a lot of smoothies over here. Lately I have been adding veggies to them with good results. I have been adding a fresh peeled orange, some frozen mango chunks, half a frozen banana(this is what I do with my over ripe ones) 1/3 c. of juice of your choice, 1/3 c. water, 1 persian cucumber sliced, and a handful of frozen kale(chopped in thin ribbons and frozen to add to soups, spaghetti, etc...). They are a really pretty green if you don't add strawberries. You can totally forgo the veg. and have a great smoothie too, whatever the traffic will bear.

This looked really good as did this. I think the cold wind is getting to me. I just want to curl up with a blanket and enjoy some hot stew.