A good meal is like a present.

After a long week of more professional development and learning about my students, I have found myself overwhelmed with what is ahead of me. Surprise, surprise….I know, Mom, I need to remove the word “overwhelmed” out of my vocabulary. It seems that what I am usually overwhelmed with are beyond my control. Cooking and eating a good meal at the end of the day, though, has been a calming gift to myself to relieve some stress. “A good meal is like a present, and it can feel goofy, at best, to give yourself a present.” – Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant (the book I am reading that relates so much to me right now). On that note, I think that I am going to share a few recipe ideas that I have experimented with in the past month here in Dallas. I find myself cooking without recipes and adding ingredient after ingredient without making a note of anything.* I figure that this will, therefore, help me keep track of what turns out well! (These will not exactly be recipes, however, seeing that I do have the tendency to throw things together- I guess I take after my mother! For marinades and rubs, just experiment and taste- it’s no fun to follow a recipe!)

* “In the end, the experimentation, the impulsiveness, and the invention that such conditions allow for will probably make you a better cook.” –Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant

I have learned to take advantage of the grills that my apartment complex provides in our courtyard. I have also discovered the Dallas Farmer’s Market downtown that is awesome! While trying to be economical while shopping for myself, I clearly managed to buy way too many fruits and vegetables. Therefore, I try to use them with everything and in anything! Here are some grilled meals using fresh produce that I have concocted for myself:

Orange-ginger Grilled Shrimp Kebobs (with Grilled Peaches)

Shrimp marinade: soy sauce, Dijon mustard, orange marmalade, & fresh ginger

Peach marinade: balsamic vinegar, EVOO, orange juice, & honey (cut the peaches in half beforehand)

Place the shrimp on skewers and cook for about 1-2 minutes on each side on medium heat. Place halved peaches (with cut-side down) on grill for about 1-2 minutes. Finish the peaches off with a dollop of goat cheese (may sound different, but the tangy cheese with the sweet peaches is amazing!)

I have also placed halved peaches and figs on skewers to grill- that is great too! They look very pretty! Even though I have been cooking for myself

Chili-rubbed Grilled Tilapia (with peach-melon chutney)

Tilapia rub: make the spice mixture- chili powder, cumin, garlic powder (or fresh is always better), salt, pepper

Fruit chutney: chopped peaches, melon (I used an Israeli melon that is even sweeter than a cantaloupe from the market), jarred roasted red peppers, onions, fresh cilantro, lime zest and juice, salt & pepper- Start with sautéing the onions (raw onions are the worst in my opinion) and add the other ingredients

Place the tilapia on foil and grill about 5 minutes on each side on medium heat.

Add the chutney on top of the fish.

This dish is great with asparagus or also as tacos. I placed the tilapia in homemade tortillas (from Central Market!) with the chutney, rice, and some lettuce.

Cilantro-lime Grilled Chicken (with avocado chutney)

Chicken marinade: EVOO, lime zest and juice, fresh cilantro, fresh garlic salt & pepper

            Chutney: chopped tomatoes and avocado, lime zest and juice, salt & pepper

Grill chicken for about 6 minutes on each side on medium-high heat.

Add the chutney on top of the chicken. Great with rice as well.

This is just a start, but I thought it would be fun to document what I have been cooking! Many of these are very easy- it is honestly just the chopping and dishes later that take the most time. Most of them are based off of some type of recipe that I seen being made on the Food Network or read in a cooking magazine, but others are just me experimenting!  I have cooked many more dishes as well that I will hopefully add. Some include Asian Salmon with a nectarine chutney, Chipolte Salmon Salad, Couscous-stuffed red peppers, Avocado BLT pizza, Eggplant Gratin, Almond Butter Chocolate Cookies, Oatmeal Peach Pancakes, and the best granola recipe! It is definitely going to be hard to keep up with this now that teaching has begun!

“Alone and lonely are not synonymous; you will have yourself- and the food you love- for company.” -Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant