I am loving that I haven’t had to think about breakfast by making a breakfast casserole over the weekend – this time I paired it up with some strawberries and oranges.
Guess what? I went walking at lunch yesterday! Yep, 50 minutes and it was glorious – probably 60-65 degrees, partly sunny – it felt so good!
Lunch was chicken noodle soup and a sammie – super simple and delicious. I love using the thicker noodles in my soups.
We buy our dog treats in the meat section of our grocery store. He particularly loves smoked turkey necks – each package usually has about 10-15 treats for around $3. This time around, they had raw beef neck bones, so we bought those and I knew I would just throw them on the grill one night I was grilling.
You know what? After I cooked them a few minutes on each side, I put them on the top rack of our grill while I grilled our dinner. As I was taking them off the grill the beef looked so tender – I took a bit and it was delicious! I may have to figure out how to use beef neck bones in a dish – there is quite a bit of meat around the bones. Anyone use them before?
I made marinated london broil for our dinner. I marinated the meat yesterday morning:
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon worchestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (I used half a lemon)
- lemon zest
- salt and pepper
I also prepared our baked potatoes – olive oil, salt and pepper. I put them in the oven and just had Tony turn the oven to 400 around 5:15.
I grilled broccoli on the side too – I like the pattern the olive oil made on the broccoli.
I also made some rosemary butter – just took 1 teaspoon of butter for each of us and chopped in some fresh rosemary, salt and pepper. We split a baked potato too because they were huge!
This was so good – the meat was tender and the potatoes were cooked perfectly.
Right by the post office that I stop at almost every day for work has a bird sanctuary store – actually I am not really sure what it is – they sell bird feeders too – but they had signs everywhere saying “have you set out your oranges yet?” I was perplexed what that meant!
I looked it up and turns out certain birds, namely orioles, like to eat the nectar of oranges. I hung one up on our gazebo, and while we didn’t see any action, the next day the orange was just about gone.
As luck would have it, Tony set out two halves of an orange on our table, and we were able to watch a bird! I took this from inside the house through our screened window. You can see the one that is hanging on the right side of this picture.
I like to think this one is saying “what are you looking at?”
So put your oranges out and see what birds it attracts! It might be a fun project if you have little kids too.
I have to run by my doctors office at lunch today for a blood draw in anticipation of my quarterly doctor appointment with my endocrinologist. And I rescheduled my dinner with my Mom – we are going to Rosebud – check out the menu, what would you order?
Alright, have to put my breakfast together – make it a great day!
What a beautiful bird! An oriole?
A very old school Italian friend of mine swears by neckbones as the very best way to flavor a red sauce – sear first then slow simmer in the tomatoes/seasonings.
I am the founder of one of the best medical weight loss centres in Mumbai, India and I just stumbled upon your blog and I have already shared it half my family and friends. The design of your WP theme is superb and the pics you are a treat for the eyes and the tummy! And the orange juice addicted birds! Never knew birds loved oranges! Unfortunately in our crowded city, I don’t get to see any small cute birds – only pariah kites, crows and pigeons and these hardy guys will eat just about anything you dish out to them!
The oriole is beautiful. I have never heard of the orange trick. I’ll have to give it a try.
This is probably going to sound stupid but how did you grill your broccoli? It looks like it’s all still joined in a bunch. Did you pull the pieces apart after?
Have a great dinner with your Mom!
Those are awesome pictures of the birds! I love bird watching, but I didn’t know like oranges! I will have to try that!
That london broil looks awesome. I am pretty sure I would order the chicken marsala but no way could I eat 2 chicken breasts, maybe that is for two people?
We have a bird feeder in our yard and I love watching the birds.
Aw, Ed is such a lucky dog! I bet he was in hog heaven. 🙂 That bird is so gorgeous! I only saw one like it while we were camping in the boondocks–so pretty with all that yellow. Fun thing to try with the oranges!
Love the birdie! I’m going to try it and see what comes along! 🙂
I’ve use beef neck bones in soups and stews, yours looks like little steaks!
Have a fun dinner with your mom!
haha When I saw the pic of the beef neck I was like “wow, that actually looks like a really nice piece of meat, I’d eat it!!” hehe 😛 I’m glad you tried a bite!
Wow, that is SO COOL about the oranges!!! I’m totally going to do that on our back porch! Thanks for the tip!
I think my mom used to use neck bones in her pho broth and I’ve heard of them used for tacos.
I’m going to pick up an orange today to experiment with my daughter! I hope we get a nibble!
Yes – a pho soup! Perfect Jenn! I’ll have to find a recipe for that.
My cat is jealous of your doc’s neck bones. That sounds so wrong…..
Ha. I love that you tried the beef neck bone!!
Have fun at dinner with your mom!
That oriole is beautiful! We don’t get those up here, but I should see what I can get to come with the oranges (other than squirrels)…
What a gorgeous shot of the bird with his beak in the orange! Plus I love that the bird matches the orange, too.
You are such a good dog mama! Paco joins Rachel’s dogs in wanting to come for a visit!
Shelley – you are too funny with the matching colors!
Kharma and Darwin (my furkids) want to know if they can come visit you?
As long as you come with them Rachel – any time 😀
Beef neck bones make the BEST base for vegetable soup! See you tonight!
Mom
That’s a great idea Momma – see you tonight! 😀
The fruit from breakfast looks just lovely! Yayy for getting your walk on! Remember how good you felt after and use it as motivation for the rest of your workouts this week. Thats so cool that you cook your dog up treats. Frank can’t have bones like that because bulldogs have a tendency to get them lodged in their throats (weird, right?). Enjoy din din- I would get the minestrone (obsessed) with the rosebud salad – no olives, dressing on the side. Is that specific enough 😉
Have fun with your mom! I’m a sucker for pork so I’d order a Panzanella Salad to start and have the Pork Chops Calabrese. YUM.
How cute, I love birds, so I’m definitely going to give this a try!
I should look into treats like this for my dog, I have him on a no grain diet, so those would be the perfect treats!
That bird is so cute! I’m going to try this with my little guy – I think he’d love seeing the birds!