These were the ingredients I used to make this broccoli/onion concoction meal I told you about yesterday. I didn't take an after picture, but it looks really similar to how the website shows it. Bottom line was that the meal was delish. SHOCKINGLY good. I was anticipating going through the night craving candy and chips or bread or something because I knew I'd barely pick at this bowl of onions and leeks to eat only the broccoli. Not the case. phew. The only thing I would change for next time is to use either chicken or shrimp because I didn't care for the texture of the beef.
Now, if I was better at life and blogging I'd be able to tell you exactly how long this recipe took from beginning to end, but I'm not. So, we'll estimate. I took everything out and set it up for that moderately nice photo. That took no time at all. I then chopped the leek and put it into a bowl. I didn't know how much broccoli to use so I estimated and ended up using nearly 2 crowns (I figured I liked broccoli and I would need plenty to pick out). I then chopped an onion. I looked at the clock and after those 3 things were done, it had been just about 4 minutes. I then decided to chop an onion for dinner the following night. I then stood around for a minute wiping the tears from my eyes and yelling "How you doin, baby? you watchin the WOOOs??" (For those not 'in the know', "woos" are elephants) and "How ya doin, pumpkin? You need anything? You ok?" then thinking to myself "what the fuck am I doing - why can't I be more organized so I don't have to plant my kid in front of the boob tube during the last few minutes of light we have?!?!" So then I took out a measuring cup and realized since my toddler likes to play with measuring cups, my 1/2 c was missing. I like pine nuts, so I measured out 3/4c.
While we're on the topic of pine nuts, I'd like to give you a quick PSA. The pinenuts I told you about previously -that I saw at Trader Joe's for the rapist price of $7.99? Turns out that's a good price. Who knew. After the baby and I stopped the car at the ATM at 4:52 yesterday, we deposited mommy's paycheck and took out $100 for groceries for a week. We're going on a food diet and a money diet. I digress. Then we walked over to Henry's which I have discovered is the exact same thing as Sprouts because the Henry's sign was taken down and there was a banner that said something like "Different name, same great something-or-other" with a Sprouts logo under. Inside, everything was labeled "Sprouts". Fine. So we found the feta. $3.99. I can't remember the exact cost at Trader Joe's, but I feel like there may have been one a little less than that. I had to search for one at that price though - most of what I saw was $6 and up. for SIX OUNCES! WTF?! ok, so then we found the bulk pine nuts. I immediately started to freak and wonder "umm should I be getting raw or toasted???" so off we went in search of packaged pine nuts.
I finally stopped to ask a stocker. "Excuse me, could you tell me where to find pine nuts?"
him "We have bulk...over there"
me "Yes - I found those, but I was looking for packaged...Do you not have packaged? orrrr....."
him "ummm... Well, you know if you buy packaged you're paying for the packaging, right???"
me "yes. I realize that but I was looking for toasted pine nuts and there aren't any of those in bulk" (plus I secretly DID want to check the price comparison)
him "oh. ummm uhhhh"
me "nevermind. I'll just get the bulk"
him "sounds good!"
Not to me it doesn't, but whatever dude. So back to the bulk we went and had to get a package of yogurt pretzels for the baby because I didn't want to get arrested for giving him one out of the bulk, which I can only assume would have been cheaper since there is no packaging. Anyway, the pine nuts? Must be rare or exotic or something. Those suckers were OVER $20 a pound!!!! So I got a small bag: here is a picture next to the "6oz" of feta I got
These 4 items at Henry's/Sprouts?
Cost me $16.00 even. Almost 1/5 of my total weekly grocery budget.
oh ...back to dinner... quickly. It was so fast. I did the onions as suggested in the recipe until a little brown then I tossed in the meat - I think those 2 things took about 10 mins total, then I tossed in the broccoli, leek, and pine nuts, sprinkled on the spices and stirred it around for just a few minutes! Under 5! Then I poured the egg whites over and it was done in another 3 minutes or so. I can say without a doubt this is a less than 30 minute meal. May be even less than 20. Healthy and yummy. can't beat that. We'll be bringing this into the rotation.
