What's Cooking April 2022 Part 2

It's been a while, I've been cooking, working a little, feeding birds, knitting, reading, napping. Balance.

Husband went on a retreat the weekend of April 8th so I had a weekend alone! Okay, the cats were still here but we're all pretty quiet on our own.

I decided to make bagels since we were out. And after baking bagels, I just can't buy them. Somehow when husband is gone time is different and I seem to have more hours. So I used a bagel recipe I've made before but decided start Friday at 10 so I was waiting for dough to rise at midnight.

Worth it!

Saturday bagel morning, Friday steak and baked potato. Always bake more potatoes when making them. They can be used for breakfast the next day and even dinner. I found a serving of pot roast in the freezer that went nicely over a potato.

After a husband retreat weekend, I try to make something for Sunday dinner that he didn't have over the weekend and since I worked, something easy. Fish and vegetables.

No recipe, I make this a lot - roast bell peppers (or any kind) with onion, garlic, olive oil, seasoning. Once soft add fish, bake until done. Since I had overdosed on potatoes, I served over rice but pasta is nice too.

Other cooking:

Pernil, I wasn't sure about this but I had a bone in roast in the freezer so gave it a try. Very good!

Broccoli beef, easy weeknight meal to use up the broccoli I had. Also used sirloin steak strips.

Roasted Salmon Nicoise Platter. I love this salad. I did not use eggs since I think we had them for breakfast. I vary the lettuce.

Oh yes, had the eggs with the raspberry scones!

Needed a basic roast chicken, love roast chicken. Chicken for dinner, quesadillas for brunch, stock for the freezer. Lots out of a three-ish pound chicken.

Totally forgot about Easter. I don't love ham, love lamb, but had a beef brisket in the freezer so used that. In my basic Butcher Box order I don't choose so get a variety of beef and pork.

I found this recipe for a smaller piece of meat and while I was wary it would be too sweet for me, it was delicious!

A giant Irish potato pancake, carrot cake and roasted asparagus to round out the Easter meal.

It felt like we had had a lot of meat so I saw this pasta salad and it was nice and fresh. I served it on a bed of arugula. Perfect! I halved the recipe so still had leftovers for brunching.

And last but not least but needing salt, shrimp etouffe. Easy, I had orange peppers so used them. Salt, it needed salt. I used about 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne and my Creole seasoning did not have salt, so add some.

Loving the birds on the feeders! I may now have a wildlife preserve. I also may be creating a custom mix of seeds for the feeder. Once a personal chef, always a personal chef.

Still trying to find 10 minutes to meditate daily. True confession, I often clear my mind so well that I sleep. Sometimes a short 10 minute nap, sometimes more. I figure my mind is clear so just go with it.

Women's group almost done and I have SO enjoyed our book - Wisdom Distilled from the Daily:Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today by Joan Chittister. I will read it again I'm sure.