food fixins: june eleventh:

(*this photo was taken the day we initiated our new tiered bamboo steamer)

a    b e e t       d i s a s t e r :

i was looking for recipes from magazines at the library when i noticed a beautiful photo with the recipe title 'jewel-tone pancakes with creamy yogurt-dill sauce.' this is not the first time that i thought i would like eating something that i didn't like because it looked good. (there have been several failed cheese meals, to say the least) these little beet pancakes looked just like potato pancakes, grilled and crisp, only these were bright red and deep purple. i disregarded the fact that they were made of beets, as well as the yogurt sauce i've never even been a big fan of (very popular in mediterranean and middle eastern dishes so i always use it sparingly). this was clearly NOT a winning combination for me and yet i threw a dime in the copy machine and presented the page to dan along with five other recipes for the week. i felt like i had impulse shopped a pair of gorgeous shoes from anthropologie that weren't even my size.

tuesday night dan disappeared into the kitchen for an entire hour working on dinner. the faint smell of oil frying was a comfort. it smelled great. just like hash browns. but when he handed me my plate, i stared at it like a bird with its head cocked and one eye focused in concentration. i couldn't help but coach myself: "hash browns, hash browns, hash browns." i took a big bite and felt my stomach turn. "no, no, no!" how could thinking of hash browns POSSIBLY help me try (and enjoy) beets?! i couldn't even fake it. i told dan right away that i wouldn't eat it. his face fell as he spooned a big glob of yogurt dill into his mouth. he loves yogurt-dill sauce. i chastised myself as i tip toed away to the kitchen where i pulled out a pan to make a grilled peanut butter sandwich. my poor husband. he spent his time and energy cooking something new for me while i sat on the couch and drank beer, watching my recordings of chelsea lately.

i promise myself, and dan, and all readers, i will no longer impulse shop recipes.

if YOU are interested in this beet recipe (from vegetarian times 5/10), phoebe bites did a !!!beautiful!!! job of cooking and sharing it here.

as for the rest of the week, i was safe and sound...

m e a l s

dan's vegetarian chili-mac

spice market sweet potato & lentil packets (vt 5/10) (oh my god i’d died and gone to heaven…!)

hawaiian-style sweet-and-sour roasted pineapple and bell peppers (vt 5/10)

creamy fettuccine with leeks, corn, and arugula (real simple 6/10)