What’s Cooking This Week 🍽️
Cheesy Baked Pimento Dip | Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin | Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs | Steak Salads | Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers | Spring Carbonara | & April Restaurant Club
I had an espresso martini last night and it’s proven me completely worthless today.
We surprised a girlfriend with tickets to Chicago Magic Lounge, had an ABSOLUTE BLAST, but that martini + lack of sleep is not a recipe that makes for a productive weekend.
This is 40.
I desperately wish I was the weekly reset type who spends a Saturdays enjoying a spotless house, but I have yet to find that energy. One of the joys of being self employed is a flexible work week, one of the downsides of that flexibility is that I find myself working in some capacity every.single.day. Let this be your reminder that if you ever see me talking about healthy work boundaries, there’s a strong chance I’ve been kidnapped.
The weeks ahead are set to start picking up speed I don’t usually see until summer and in full transparency, it’s giving me a bit of anxiety of how to manage it all. Heavily relying on the life edit that has never failed in making even the busiest schedules feel more manageable and that’s having a dinner plan.
So here’s what’s cooking this week:
Cheesy Baked Pimento Corn & Lobster Dip (40 Minutes)
Celebrating the Masters Sunday, mourning another year of missing out, and doing our own spin on an Augusta worthy recipe. The agenda: watch the finals, judge the outfits, and snack on this while we manifest ourselves into a ticket lottery win next year.
What You’ll Need:
1 cup mayonnaise
8 oz cream cheese
1 teaspoon hot sauce
½ teaspoon ground mustard
½ teaspoon kosher salt
Black pepper
16 oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese
½ cup (2 4 oz jars) sliced pimentos
1 tablespoon pimento juice
12 oz steamed lobster or crab meat
2 cups fresh or frozen (but defrosted) corn kernels
½ cup green onion
Crackers and vegetables for dipping
THE RECIPE 🍴: https://danpelosi.com/recipe/cheesy-baked-pimento-corn-and-lobster-dip/
PORK TENDERLOIN ( Crock Pot )
Our ButcherBox subscription roughly steers what makes the menu every week and why you rarely see protein in my grocery list. We’re on a bi-monthly delivery schedule and other than our most used meats (mainly chicken thighs which we get at Costco) we typically always have more than enough protein in our freezer to keep us stocked. Last month’s gifted box (which I’m still pinching myself at the partnership) included a few pork tenderloins perfect for this week’s Crock Pot Monday.
Sharing again, because our household has had this meat delivery subscription for YEARS and it’s been such a game changer for ensuring we get the best quality meat every single time. Their current promo offers a FREE* Signature Box ($179 value) and FREE ground beef for life. And code LINDSEY gets you $20 off each of your first 3 boxes.
What You’ll Need:
2 pork tenderloins (about 1 pound each)
1/2 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper or to taste
1/4 cup butter cut into pats
OPTIONAL: Chopped parsley
THE RECIPE 🍴: https://www.saltandlavender.com/crockpot-pork-tenderloin/
APRIL RESTAURANT CLUB: DAISIES
Our monthly reservation to try new Chicago restaurants has taken our group to some of the best spots throughout the city and Daisies has long been on our list.
Arguably the biggest pro of having a foodie group of friends is always having someone down to set the reservation alert. As always, I’ll share my thoughts on Instagram. You can always peep at our past reservations in my ‘Restaurant Club’ highlights there, Parts 1-3.
TERIYAKI CHICKEN MEATBALLS (15 Minutes)
I made the rookie mistake of heading to Costco on an empty stomach last week and the result was a hefty $$$ bill and a fridge full of the most random snacks. One of my better (and repeat) purchases was a package of these AmyLu Teriyaki Pineapple Chicken Meatballs. I’m a big fan of the brand in general and tend to keep at least one variety in the freezer for dinner in a pinch and these meatballs are often a favorite. Jasmine rice and an easy vegetable on the side and dinner comes together in minutes.
Simple Steak Salads (30 Minutes)
I made a meatless version of this for our friends last weekend and the texts that ensued only confirmed this salad dressing deserves a spot in a hall of fame.
I love a good salad and this is easily one of my very favorites. It’s the same dressing as the Spring Orzo Pasta Salad I share often and a recipe you’ll see on a regular basis as we enter outdoor entertaining and potluck season.
What You’ll Need:
Marinated Skirt Steak:
1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 lb skirt or flank steak
Simple Green Salad:
3 cups arugula
3 cups romaine
1 medium cucumber
1 avocado
2 green onions
3 oz feta cheese
1 oz freshly grated Parmesan cheese to top
Crispy Shallot Vinaigrette:
1/3 cup olive oil
1 large shallot or 2 small shallots
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1/2 lemon
1 tsp honey
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
Pinch of kosher salt and pepper
THE RECIPE 🍴: https://broccyourbody.com/simple-grilled-steak-salad/
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Skewers (30 Minutes)
Not going to lie, I was influenced to add this recipe to the menu solely based on how good they look. Now the good news is that I have followed this food creator for some time and feel like she’s a legitimate follow so the odds are stacked in our favor that they’re going to turn out as good as they look.
What You’ll Need:
ten 5 inch skewers
2 lbs chicken breasts
For the marinade:
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves
1 lemon
2 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp ground pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp honey
For the garlic parmesan melted butter:
1 stick ½ cup unsalted butter
6 garlic cloves
3 tbsp fresh parsley
⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
THE RECIPE 🍴: https://www.foodbymaria.com/garlic-parmesan-chicken-skewers/
SPRING CARBONARA (30 Minutes)
There are a few variations of this recipe that have shown up in past menus, but I would go as far to say that this is the best of all of them. It’s rich as a carbonara should be, but balanced with lemon and mint to make what tastes like the epitome of a spring pasta. We have a weekend with no plans, before 2 big travel weekends which calls for a quiet evening at home with a fabulous meal to celebrate.
What You’ll Need:
4 ounces pancetta
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound fettuccine or another pasta of your choice
1 lb fresh English peas or frozen
3 scallions
1 egg whisked
½ cup freshly grated parmesan
½ cup freshly grated pecorino romano
1 lemon
Fresh mint for serving
THE RECIPE 🍴: https://whatsgabycooking.com/spring-pasta-carbonara/
Welcome to THE LIFE EDIT- I’m Linds 👋🏼
Crock pot pork tenderloin looks amaziing!
Baked Pimento Dip - Brilliant! Never saw before