As Jon and I began dating and got engaged, I started becoming a frequenter of allrecipes.com and cook a good meal here and there. But after we got married (barring the E-Coli strike), I really delved deep into my cookbooks and have found a new form of love and relaxation. Cooking has become a therapeutic end to my day. I'm sure other hygienists can relate out there (or any other profession where your hands are your livelihood) that the last thing you want to do when you get home, is use your hands even more! But, with that said, it has been a stress reliever.
Jon made the comment to me a week or so ago and said "I feel bad that you are in there cooking and I'm just here watching the news." I thought about it a little bit and maybe single Melissa might have been annoyed at that but it is so not the case now. I have about a 5 minute commute home and while dental hygiene might seem like a "cush" career, it is actually a pretty monotonous and "heavy" job some days (but nonetheless a blessing). Think about it: you do the same thing day in and day out, yet luckily, no day or case is the same. But on top of the monotony, you hear about how an individual dislikes being there (of course, "nothing personal") and every bad experience they have had. Now to be honest, it does kind of get on my nerves after a while, but I understand... scraping enamel doesn't really send people dancing in the street (well maybe me but that is why I have a twisted love for dentistry). With the complaints, you do hear about a lot of heartbreaking things.... deaths of children, parents, spouses and illnesses... cancer and Lord, do I wish I had the right words for everything. So often, the dental chair ends up a place similar to a counselors couch where people just let go and to be honest, some people are just emotionally done. Honestly, I do bring these heartbreaks home often time and think about what I could do, what I could say. Often now, I find myself during my cooking time... decompressing and loving just being there in "my space." I told Jon all of this and it seemed to just click and it's something that I feel like we have a learned understanding now. For example, his decompression times are his 30 minute drive home and the time he walks in the door (gives me a great hug and kiss, of course!) and goes and get comfortable for the evening. It is funny that even just a month in, you begin to respect and appreciate things like that.
Now, although I'd like to say just all my meals are complex, they aren't. There are some nights where simplicity is still needed. But the question is: how can you quick and simple but still remain healthy? It is possible! There are tons of cookbooks and websites that specialize in such! My theory: if you can read... you can cook. Simple.
This has become a favorite and quick meal for Jon and I. I shared the dish with my parents this weekend and I think they are about it too! I made Jon and I an asparagus soup with Hummus wraps. For my parents, I substituted the asparagus soup with carrot soup. The great thing about the soup, it's extremely versatile and can be used with most any vegetable. Check it out...
For the soup (yields 5 servings, takes 15 min. to prep and about 20 to cook)
4 cups Chicken Broth, 1 1/2 lbs fresh asparagus cut into 1 inch pieces, 1/2 cup of whipping cream, 1tsp sugar
1.In a saucepan, bring broth and asparagus to a boil. Simmer for about 5-7 minutes or until really tender (from experience: make sure it is really tender or it will be "pulpy" even after you puree it.) Cool for 10 min.
2. In a blender (I favor my NuWave... LOVE IT), cover and process soup in small batches until smooth (puree almost); return to pan.
3. Stir in cream and sugar; heat through
Substitutions: Carrots: 4 large carrots; Broccoli: 3 cups chopped fresh broccoli; Cauliflower: 3 cups Cauliflowerets; or the Vegetable you wish to have!
1 cup of soup: 122 Calories
For the Hummus Wraps (2 Servings, Prep time is 10 min)
2 room temp flour tortillas (8 inches), 6 tablespoons hummus, 1/2 cup shredded carrots, 1 cup fresh baby spinach, 6 slices of tomato, 2 tablespoons of green goddess salad dressing
1. Spread the tortillas with hummus. Layer with carrots, spinach and tomato; drizzle with dressing. Roll tightly.
Total calories: 1 wrap appx 308 calories
Now, Jon and I have made a promise to really watch what we eat and stay active. We have no idea how many people have told us that you gain a "newlywed 20." So, we (for the most part) use organic and low fat/calorie/sodium products. In all recipes, we tend to substitute the usual products for healthier choices.
Here's the final products:
To make the pretty designs in the middle that you often see in restaurants: simply add a tiny bit of cream and design with a toothpick!
Next time, I'll go a little more complex... perhaps, when I crack into my slow cooker!
Until next time, Live.Laugh. Love.
Melissa
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