Whipped-up Gourmet

The BF and I have been eating basically every single meal at home. It's something I like to do, we enjoy cooking together and trying out new recipes and ideas, but its also a must when money is tight. At the start of each week I like to get some input from the BF and the kiddos if they're around and make a tentative list/schedule of meals. I am so proud of how great we've been doing! Its easy to feel like I'm always making a grocery list and heading to the store, but the more we eat at home the better we are at grocery shopping for the week and  only stopping for misc items during the week if necessary.

So last night we were faced with a dilemma: Go to the grocer and then cook or whip up something at home and save the shopping for another day.

We bought a tri-tip roast at Fresh & Easy last week to grill up this weekend, and it was pretty big - especially after getting it out of the vacuum sealed packaging! The BF suggested cutting a chunk off to cook for dinner tonight, saving the majority of it for sometime this weekend. He's so smart! He sliced up some strips and I seasoned the meat with salt, pepper, and a little curry powder and sauteed the pieces up in a skillet.

Originally the plan was peanut chicken over spinach and rice (mmm...Thai food...), but we used the chicken for Teriyaki chicken and rice when the kids were over for dinner on Wednesday. I knew the BF and I had been thinking about that deliciously spicy peanut sauce all week, and I had found a great new recipe to try for the sauce. Tri-tip + Peanut Sauce + Spinach + leftover rice = a meal that rivals our favorite Thai place!

The rice, meat, and peanut sauce are all hot to start with and cause the spinach to wilt slightly and its heavenly. Believe you me! Here's the recipe:

• 1/4 cup Peanut Butter
• 2 tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1 clove minced garlic (I grated in 2 cloves)
• 1/4 cup lime juice 
• 1/4 cup coconut milk
• 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
• garlic chili paste (or some sort of hot sauce, its not right until your mouth tingles!)
• 2 tbsp honey

I put it all in a glass Pyrex bowl and microwave 30 seconds to a minute at a time. Once it starts to warm up you will be able to smell the peanut-y spice. Its divine! 

I will definitely be making this sauce again, it was a hit - smooth and creamy with the addition of coconut milk, it really adds a nice flavor. 

This is me. I am only showing you this so you can drool over the wilted spinach. YUM! 

And now I will leave you with this:

That is some serious brownie mix ribbon. Two of our friends biked over to hang out, and it was perfect with a little vanilla ice cream after a dip in the hot tub. 

Got the BF's parents and niece coming through town tonight and tomorrow, we are VERY excited to show off our apartment, its a happy home (especially after our whirlwind after-dinner clean up) ! 

Don't forget to soak up some rays - its beautiful out today!