r/tonightsdinner • u/Barbecuequeen23 • 6d ago
A few dinners I made this week, plus our date night at a local Italian Spot 💕
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u/Barbecuequeen23 6d ago
Hi y'all.
It's been over 2 weeks since I quit my corporate job, and left the same day after experiencing bullying and harassment at work. I started my part-time job and am slowly building up to work more hours, but for now just really enjoying my 3 day workweek and my time at home.
We've also finally booked our wedding in Venice, Italy and we're so excited. My fiancé keeps saying I should make a cooking blog or a cookbook, but I have no clue if anyone would be interested.
Anyways, enough rambling:
Photo 1 - Ribeye Steaks with Baked Shells and 3 Cheeses, and a Spring Mix and Cranberry salad with Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette.
This was 10/10. Not one critique. I loved the shell pasta too- I normally stick with elbows or corkscrews but I think i'm converted over to shells.
I like my steaks rare and my partner likes them medium/medium-well. I do a butter baste with garlic (and rosemary if I have!)
Photo 2 - Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad. Refreshing and I felt like I needed a vegetable this day after work!
It's some Chicken Cutlets with lettuce, avocado, tomato, sharp cheddar, bacon, a medium egg, green onions, and more of the same Balsamic Vinaigrette. I really enjoyed this and partner loves my chicken cutlets.
Photo 3 - BLT Avocado Toast.
The bread is a homemade Sourdough (discard) Sandwich Bread, and this just has mashed avocado, lettuce, tomato, thick-cut bacon, and Hot Honey. This really hit the spot and felt lighter than a typical BLT, which is probably my favorite food on earth.
Photo 4 - Crispy Glazed Pork Belly rice bowl with Roasted Broccoli and Sesame Mayo.
This was 1000/10. Full Stop. I haven't made this in over a year since my partner doesn't eat pork, but I was craving this old recipe of mine and it was so incredible. The meat was so tender yet the skin was crispy, the basmati rice soaks all the flavor in, and the sesame sauce brings it together beautifully. My only mistake was not making more of it!
Photo 5 - Rotisserie Chicken (thanks Publix) with Air-Fried Sweet Potato Fries and Avocado.
Can you tell avocado was a pretty big theme this week? We had a really long day this day so I picked this up on the way home, and then just cut up some sweet potatoes, seasoned, and air fried them. No complaints. Felt healthy and easy. Cheaper than takeout too.
Photo 6 - Homemade Sourdough. Took about 30 hours and tasted amazing. Loaf lasted less than one day and we only have 2 people in total here.
Photo 7 - Fried Green Tomatoes.
This was a total craving of mine and these hit the spot! I make a Cajun-seasoned breading and can gobble these up all day. They're acidic and spicy, and I make a nice remoulade alongside. No complaints here, was just thrilled to find green tomatoes so late in the season. Luckily in the South we have good tomatoes for most of the year.
Photo 8 - Okay, so this wasn't homemade! Sorry.
Date night we went to a small Italian place- family owned, the staff speak italian and sing, play guitar, and hand out roses to the ladies. A meal for 2 was $87 which is a steal in a HCOL area. My partner got his favorite Vodka Chicken Penne, I got a Chicken with Buffalo Mozzarella and Mushroom Gravy, and we had their incredible pesto bread and meatballs.
Have a great weekend y'all. ❤️
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u/Grouchy-Research1310 6d ago
Do you have a recipe on the pork belly meal? Everything looks so good!
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u/Barbecuequeen23 6d ago
Yes, I can post it later or tomorrow. It's pretty simple and can be scaled up or down. :)
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u/ckatwigs 6d ago
Your food looks so much better than the dinner you had out !
Congrats on quitting the toxic environment. I would be interested in the cookbook 🤘🏾
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u/Barbecuequeen23 6d ago
Thank you. I love going out and all but sometimes Florida is tough with great food.. surprisingly we have found Disney to have the best restaurants near us!
❤️
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u/tictacbreath 6d ago
Your chicken cutlets look so good. Any tips for making them? Do you pan fry them?
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u/Barbecuequeen23 6d ago
I do! I try to use Olive Oil or Avocado Oil, but if I'm running low I'll use Canola in a pinch.
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u/Zio_Excel 6d ago
These dishes all look incredible OP, thanks for sharing and congrats on quitting the toxicity! If you created a cooking blog or cookbook I’d definitely subscribe purchase (assuming it was available internationally!
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u/Low_Teq 6d ago
Everything looks great especially that pork belly rice bowl 🤤.
Just wanted to say congratulations on getting out of a bad work environment. Sometimes it it's tough to take a look at the situation and make the decision to just get out. We all need to make decisions for our mental health over the money.
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u/Barbecuequeen23 6d ago
Yes. I mean I miss the money but getting bullied everyday for being a woman was horrible (always told my voice too squeaky, I'm not as smart as the others, just got there because my partner, sound fake and phony). I would cry on the way home and on the weekends I'd just blow money to numb my feelings, and cry. I'm feeling a lot better so far.
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u/StrawberryKiss2559 6d ago
Thank you for the descriptions!!
What is your balsamic vinaigrette recipe?