Date Night--August 14, 2013

The last few weeks have been pretty rough.  Don't get me wrong, we had our Date Nights, but there wasn't anything blog worthy about them.

Tonight, however, is another story.  I've been planning this one since Sunday, and I'm kind of excited about it.  It's a very classic, very comfort food kind of a menu.

Wanna know what it is?  Okay, I'll tell you.

Appetizers
Shrimp Cocktail--I bought these stemless cocktail glasses a few months ago.  I think I'll put the shrimp and a wedge of lemon on the rim and the cocktail sauce in the middle.  Pretty, right?

Cocktail
Manhattans--Whenever I say "classic" you can bet we're having Manhattans

Main Course
Salisbury Setak--I made this once before but didn't make the patties thin enough.  Josh thought the sauce/gravy was spot on.  I figured it's time to try again. 


 

Salisbury Steaks

Ingredients

• 1lb extra lean ground beef (96% lean)
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 1 small onion, minced
• 1/3 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
• 1 packet dry onion soup mix
• 2 cups fat free beef broth
• 1/4 cup liquid egg substitute
• 2 tbsp ketchup
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp mustard powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. In a medium sized bowl, combine ground beef, ½ of the onions, breadcrumbs, egg substitute, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, onion soup mix and pepper.
2. Shape into 8 oval patties. Spray a large nonstick skillet with an olive oil mister or non-fat cooking spray and set over medium high heat. Brown both sides of patties, about 3-4 minutes each side.
3. Remove patties from pan, and then return pan to heat. Add in remaining onions and mushrooms, and 1 tbsp of the beef broth, and cook for about 2-3 minutes. Return the Salisbury steak patties to the pan.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining beef broth, remaining Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, flour, and mustard powder.
5. Pour into skillet over the meat, turn heat down to medium-low, cover and cook for about 20 minutes.

Preparation time: 20 minute(s)
Cooking time: 30 minute(s)

Diet tags: Low calorie, Reduced fat, Reduced carbohydrate, High protein

Number of servings (yield): 8

Culinary tradition: USA (Traditional)

Entire recipe makes 8 servings
Serving size is 1 Salisbury Steak patty with sauce
Each serving = 3 Points +
PER SERVING: 126 calories; 3g fat; 12g carbohydrates; 15g protein; 1.5g fiber

Read more: http://www.laaloosh.com/2013/04/23/salisbury-steaks-recipe/#ixzz2bx9VQpiT

Side Dishes

Mashed Potatoes--What else could I serve?

Mashed Potatoes with Garlic

Ingredients   2 lbs potatoes 3 clove(s) (medium) garlic clove(s), peeled    .5 cup(s) light sour cream    2 T butter, melted 3/4 tsp Kosher salt, or to taste    1/4 tsp black pepper, or to taste    Instructions Place potatoes and garlic in a large saucepan; fill with enough water to cover them. Set pan over high heat; bring to a boil. Boil until potatoes are fork-tender, about 8 minutes; drain and return potatoes and garlic to pan. Add sour cream to pan; stir and then mash mixture until almost smooth (or desired consistency). Stir in butter.Season to taste with salt and pepper. Yields about 3/4 cup per serving.

Roasted Broccoli.  

Toss your broccoli flroettes with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Bake for 20- 25 minutes at 425 degrees. Make yoru florettes small. The high temperature causes the broccoli to carmalize.  YUM!

Dessert

Chocolate Cherry Baked Oatmeal Singles--I actually gave Josh 5 dessert recipes to choose from and this was his selection.  I feel like maybe I've made these before, but I can't remember.  Can you?

Chocolate Cherry Baked Oatmeal Singles

Source: Emily Bites Original

Ingredients:

2 cups old-fashioned oats

3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg whites

1 large egg

3/4 cup skim milk

1 (5.3 oz) container nonfat Cherry flavored Greek Yogurt, stirred (I highly recommend Yoplait Greek 100 Black Cherry)

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ cup mini chocolate chips

2/3 cup pitted & chopped sweet cherries, fresh or defrosted from frozen

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350. Lightly mist 12 cups in a muffin tin with cooking spray.

2. Combine the oats, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl and stir until thoroughly mixed. 

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg whites, egg, milk, yogurt and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until blended together. Stir in the chocolate chips and cherry pieces.

4. Spoon the oatmeal mixture evenly into the prepared muffin cups. Bake uncovered for 18-22 minutes or until oatmeal is cooked through and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Yields 12 oatmeal singles. WW P+:  3 per single (P+ calculated using the recipe builder on weightwatchers.com)

Nutrition Information per bread bowl from myfitnesspal.com: 127 calories, 22 g carbs, 3 g fat, 5 g protein, 2 g fiber

 

So that's my dinner plan for this evening.  What are you making?

happy cooking