Try Something Different: Breakfast for Dinner!

 

 

Breakfast is, hands down, my husband’s favorite meal of the day.  I am not talking about a bowl of cereal or a peice of toast and coffee, (although is weekday breakfasts usually consist of these three items).  I am talking pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, the works!  His only complaint WAS that we only ever had these feasts on the weekends.  One day after asking him what he wanted to do for dinner he suggested breakfast.  I had everything I needed so a trip to the store at 5 in the afternoon (which we all know is hellacious) wasn’t necessary so I was all in.  It was a hit.  Even my daughter ate everything on her plate which is not something that happens very often.  Something about having blueberry pancakes, bacon and eggs for dinner was so exciting to them.  So we made a tradition of it and now we have breakfast for dinner on a weekly basis.  So if you find yourself at 4:30 in the afternoon with no idea of what to make for dinner, or you simply want to change things up give breakfast a try.  

Check the Recipe page for some of my favorite breakfast recipes. 

Kingwood Farmer’s Market Vendor of the Week: Nisha’s Quick-n-Ezee Indian Food

In the spirit of exotic food my pick for vendor of the week is Nisha’s Quick-n-Ezee Indian Food.  Before the Farmers Market made its way to town center I had never tried Indian food.  All I knew of it was that it was extremely spicey and was made mainly with curry.  Manny, the gentelmen who works the booth every week was happy to prove me wrong however.  They do have some spicey food but they also have standard Indian cuisine that is less spicey for those who can’t handle too much heat.  Manny calls his food an Americanized version of Indian food.  The key to this transformation is the fusion of typical Indian flavors with other spices that are not often used in Indian food.  For instance to create a spicey and cool flavor in thier paratha dip they fuse mint and serrano peppers together before mixing it in with the other ingredients.  If you have never tried Indian food before and are still unsure if this cuisine is right for you, fear not, every single thing that Manny brings to the market you can try before you take anything home.  Just let Manny know that you are an Indian food virgin and he will steer you in the right direction.  At his booth you can find samosas, paratrhas, and other Indian breads as well as tiki masala, mango chutney and other amazing dipping sauces and marinades.  All of his food will last for up to 2 weeks and the fridge and can be frozen for up to 2 months.  He takes credit cards and checks so if you go to the market without cash fear not, you don’t have to leave empty handed.

Nisha’s is a family owned restaurant that opened in 2008.  Since the opening of their establishment they have been named the number one take out restaurant in Houston for 2010 by the Houston Press.  Thier restaurant will be reopening in December of this year at 290 and Jones Rd.  Aside from thier market business and the soon to open retail space Nisha’s also caters for any event. 

For more information about Nisha’s Quick-n-Ezee Indian Food click here: www.nishasindianfood.com

You can reach them by phone at 832-226-6467

or by email at nisha@nishasindianfood.com

Have you ever tried Nisha’s?  What did you think? Tell us about your experience!

 

Feeling Exotic?!?

Let’s talk exotic food!  I am usually not afraid to try anything new but there are something’s I won’t touch.  Escargot, raw oysters and cow tongue to name a few.  When I say exotic I mean that it is a dish that originated someplace other than the United States.  About a year ago I was introduced to Pierogies, a polish side dish that is very common up north but I had never heard of them before.  Piergoies are essentially half moon ravioli’s stuffed with mashed potatoes.  The only brand that I have ever found here in Texas is Mrs. T’s.  They are sold in the frozen potato section of every grocery store.  One box should be enough for a family of four but if you want leftovers I suggest getting two boxes.  To cook the pierogies you simply place the frozen pasta in a pot of boiling water until they float to the top.  While boiling the pasta you sauté a thinly sliced white onion with one stick of butter until the onions are clear, if you are making two boxes you should sauté a large onion and 1 ½ to 2 sticks of butter.  When the pierogies are cooked you place them in a baking dish and then pour the onions and butter over the pasta.  Place them in the oven at 350◦ for 20 to 30 minutes.   I have only ever eaten pierogies with barbecue chicken and sausage but if any of you find a new main course that it goes with then PLEASE share.

There is a second food that I have just recently been introduced to by my Brazilian brother-in-law.  Pao de Queijo, or cheese bread can be eaten virtually any time of day.  My sister-in-law eats them for breakfast with a cup of coffee, she snacks on them and at times she eats them for dinner.  I think we can all agree that it’s not the most nutritious dinner in the world but how many of us need to eat dinner and just don’t really feel like cooking? You can find the recipe for these little balls of joy online or you can find frozen packages at certain grocery stores. I know that the HEB in the woodlands carries the large rolls and the HEB in Kingwood carries the cocktail sized rolls.  You simply heat the oven to 350◦ and bake for about 25 minutes or until they are golden brown. 

If you feel like having something a little different with your dinner tonight, or for breakfast for that matter, then try the pierogies or Pao de Queijo, you will not be disappointed! 

A special thank you to my dear friend Erinn and my brother-in-law Claudio for introducing me to these wonderful new foods!