After partying and getting home in the wee hours of the morning, we woke up a bit late this morning. I grabbed my phone and, eerily, my second sister called no sooner than I settled back down into bed to look at my text messages. Her boyfriend had sent me a text about an hour prior and she was calling to get a recipe from us. They started us on this Whole30 journey with their success story, and we borrowed the book from them. They wanted a shot of the pork, kale and butternut squash stew-like ingredients list from it. She had suggested it before and I did make a pork shoulder last week that needs to be used up. That’s probably what will be for dinner tonight.
I enjoyed the egg foo yung so much yesterday I made it again for brunch today. My first sister had a need for Mom with my nephew so that meant she would be coming today. Since Sunday is a good clean up day, we did a deeper cleaning than usual and waited for her arrival.
The visit was nice, we chat about Whole30, life and and she got to see the rowing machine that was a gift from her and Dad on Christmas. After that we went out to get the real groceries for the week. Gross Out was a success, I saved $125 supposedly… they have plenty of veg and meat that is compliant, frozen or otherwise and its great.
We couldn’t really decide on dinner before shopping, and even for a bit when we got home. We had too many choices really. But my girlfriend wanted to cook some soup for the week and found a Pho recipe for the instant pot. I worked on the previously named Pork, Kale and Butternut Squash dish, and yet again… it’s wonderfully delicious. Warming on a cool night, and very much a comfort food.
My girlfriends Pho turned out great too. I had to have a small bowl, with some coconut amino acids and salt its as good as I remember from real Pho restaurants. After that I reminded her of the baked apples I was going to make the previous night. One problem, no apple corer. So I looked up a recipe and then forgot the timing… oh well. Cooking to smell is good enough with baked things usually.
But I should have timed it. It turned out a happy accident – ghee, cinnamon and cardamom inside a barely cut into apple turned into little apple sauce balls that were heaviliy reminiscent of icecream scoops. Happily plopped them into some bowls, grabbed some of the same spices, nuts (sliced almonds and walnuts), and sliced strawberries, and went to town. On a cold night, this is what you want. Will do it all over again!