Culinary Conquests

Once in a while the mood strikes and I thought I might as well take advantage of it. So, this evening I did something I haven't done in a while: I cooked multiple dishes for a few days of suppers all at once. I am aware that some people do that on a regular basis, but I personally can't stand making that many dishes dirty all at once and having to face on them afterwards (I detest doing the dishes and we only have an apartment sized dishwasher, which probably couldn't handle anything other than flatware, plates, bowls, glasses and mugs. And before I get any protests from my partner, I had better add that he does the dishes as well. I just don't think it would be fair to expect him to clean up a huge mess like that either). However, tonight I didn't think it would bother me that much so I went for it.

First, I prepared BBQ chicken breasts (a recipe I got from my mom...you basically make the 'BBQ sauce' and cook the chicken in it). While they were in the oven, I started prepping for a vegetarian lasagna (yum!) and then, while the lasagna was baking, I made a spinach salad for tonight. I was totally impressed with myself for staying in the kitchen for so long and cleaning up after myself as I went along. Now all I have to do is make a couple of sides on Thursday to go with the chicken. I am taking a break to sit here and type this, following which I am hoping to work out, shower, and make a cherry cheesecake. Of course, that is subject to change depending on how long everything else takes and how energetic I am feeling when I get up again...

Anyway, I haven't posted any recipes on here yet (although I was going to share a quick and easy salsa one a couple of weeks ago...perhaps later...) and since I so enjoyed the salad I whipped together, I thought I would post the ingredients so others could replicate it and give it a try if they so desired. It's based largely on a couple of different salads I have had at Boston Pizza in the last few months (and contains a couple of ingredients I would previously have never considered putting into my salad). Unfortunately, I can't list specific amounts because I just sort of judged it as I was going and threw in whatever looked like enough to me.

BayGirl's Spinach Salad:

baby spinach leaves
orange bell pepper, coarsely chopped
fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced
hard boiled egg, sliced
marble cheese, finely chopped
pecans
Craisins

Top with ranch dressing (or dressing of your choice) and enjoy!

It probably would have been better if I had included a picture, but it didn't occur to me to post this until after I had eaten it. Perhaps next time I make it I will try and remember to add a shot to this entry.