I had every intention of being a lazy person yesterday because its my one day of the week that I don’t have to be anywhere. Tony made me brunch – spicy scrambled eggs, hash browns made out of frozen french fries and toast with jalapeno jelly. The battery of my DSLR is being charged – underneath my desk at work. I plugged it in Friday and completely forgot it. I’ll be picking it up on my way to the restaurant tonight, but my iPhone had to do all the work yesterday!
While Tony was watching football, I watched Biggest Loser that I had on the DVR. As soon as the show was over, I got my workout clothes on and got Insane! I did a 40 minute plyo cardio routine – its been a while since I did any cardio and I thought I would die, but surprisingly, I did the whole routine without stopping. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still hard, but it goes to show that strength training really helps – probably more than cardio!
I put on my Healthy for the Holidays page on Facebook that my goal for 2014 is to fine tune my nutrition. The problem is getting hungry after I work at the restaurant. For example – Saturday we ate brunch around 11, so by the time I was ready to leave for work at 3:45, I wasn’t hungry. I ended up eating a cup of soup around 5:30 and by the time I was heading home around 10, I was hungry! I ended up fixing a hot dog and chips for “dinner.” I need to plan meals for that time of night too. Blog reader Peggy had some good ideas – making my own homemade “frozen” dinners so I can just heat up when I get home. Bonnie suggested salad with lean protein – takes a long time to eat and its filling. Lynne suggested something eggy, like an omelet. And my sister suggested Mason Jar Meals ala Big Red Kitchen. Thanks for the ideas ladies!
For Tony’s football food, I made him one of his favorites – steak tartar. Ew. I wouldn’t even try it. It’s ground sirloin mixed with anchovy paste, one egg yolk, salt and pepper. That’s it. He spreads it over party rye bread and it couldn’t make him happier.
For our anniversary dinner, we decided to make steak, crab cakes and asparagus and edamame risotto. Our store sells canned crab meat for $9.99 for a 16 ounce can. It had some pretty big pieces of crab in there!
I ended up using half the can for 4 crab cakes – I used this recipe from Food Network. There was hardly any binder at all so these were really good. We ended up buying one steak – well, it was 16 ounces – for less than $9 dollars. We spent under $20 for this meal that would have easily cost us $60 in a restaurant.
I made the crab cakes earlier in the day and kept them in the fridge so they wouldn’t fall apart when I cooked them. Look at all that crab meat!
Because our steak was so thick, I ended up cooking it 3x3x3x3 – and then 2 minutes on each side. Perfect mid-rare! And I am very proud of my grill marks.
I made a butter sauce with fresh rosemary and garlic to pour over the steak. So good!
I wish the picture was better, but this plate of food was delicious. Best part though? We ate at the dining room table! Helen and I talk about our distain of eating dinner in front of the t.v. every single night. We only use our dining table when we have company over, which isn’t that often. So Tony, thank you for spending 45 minutes at the dinner table last night – best Anniversary gift ever! I love you!
I am taking a blog break until Thursday. I have to work tonight at the restaurant. My brother and his family are in town too.
Long time readers will remember that in January of 2011, Tony was diagnosed with colon cancer. We knew he had to have another colonoscopy and back in October I made an appointment for him – the next available time wasn’t until January! Well, he’s having some symptoms again, and they were able to squeeze us in tomorrow morning. So on Christmas Eve we’ll be at the hospital. Please send all your good thoughts our way that it’s anything but cancer again. Not sure Tony could handle that again.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday with family, friends and good food! Hugs from My Bizzy Kitchen!!
Oh, Biz – that last part almost made me cry! I’m going to send up prayers double time tonight and tomorrow that the symptoms are just something simple and that Tony is still cancer free! Huge hugs to you!!!!
And – happy anniversary – your dinner looks better than any restaurant!
Sending lots of good thoughts your way for tomorrow. Hope you enjoy your Christmas!
MMMMM….you cook a mean steak there Biz!!! Bet it was nice and tender and oh eating it at the dinner table makes for an even tastier dinner with candle light???? Well, I will be praying for you both…Keep calm, God’s got it!!!!
Praying praying praying for you two! Your anniversary dinner looks so darn beautiful. You’re an amazing chef
That food looks absolutely delicious.
All the best to you both 🙂
Happy anniversary and merry Christmas to you both. Sending positive thoughts Tony’s way for a good report from the doctor.
Best,
Bonnie
Looks like a fabulous bday dinner! I will be praying for you guys!
Anniversary dinner. 🙂 brain fart!
I started following you just as your wonderful husband was getting out of the hospital and on his way home. You inspired me then and you continue to do so. I will keep you both in my heart and send you positive vibrations from the west coast. Hang tight Tony, you will be fine!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Anniversary! You rock to cook all of that!
As for Steak Tartare, I was very reluctant to try it. But when a friend and I did a 7 course wine tasting dinner, I gave it a taste. It was so good! Not at all what I was expecting. But there was a lot of spice, so I’m not sure what Tony would like about it. 😉 I would be reluctant to make it at home, though, for fear of not having the right quality of meat to serve raw!
I had a lamb tartar at my work Christmas party, it was very tasty. Have never made it though, may have to give it a try. I loved y our post about your anniversary, perfect gifts for each other. Sending healthy thoughts your way, glad they could get Tony in there sooner. Hope you are home with good news for a very Merry Christmas!
Thoughts are with you Biz and Tony.
I absolutely LOVE reading your blog (first time commenter though, I think!) and look forward to it every day. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and, most importantly, sending good healthy thoughts to Tony. Keep us posted!
Thinking good thoughts for you and Tony.
Merry Christmas!
Will be thinking and hoping for the two of you over the week. Glad you could get in so quickly.
Glad to hear Tony is able to get this checked out today. Will be thinking of you two and wishing good thoughts and prayers your way. Merry Christmas!
Your anniversary meal looks wonderful! Good thoughts and a prayer from me to you and Tony! It sucks to be at the hospital on Christmas Eve, but the sooner the better – glad they got you in!
That tartare looks wonderful – I’ve never had it with the anchovy paste in it…oh, and you forgot the raw onion 😉 Merry Christmas and Peace.
Only pleasant, happy and healthy thoughts in the universe for the entire “Biz Family”. Happy to hear you had a TV free zone dinner. Those are the best. I sit at the counter in the kitchen half the time for dinner because I hate the whole TV & dinner thing. I am so 1950’s dinner at the table style :). Merry Christmas!
OH BIZ N TONY!!!!!! We send all positive thoughts and many prayers your way! Please let us know, once your family knows, and please tell Tony the ‘non-friend’ is thinking of him. 😉
Enjoy your time off, enjoy each other, Happy Anniversary and Merry Christmas,
Much love and prayers,
Peggy and family
Good Thoughts and Prayers are heading your way. Please enjoy your Christmas Holidays with friends and family.
Oh Biz. I’ll keep only good thoughts for you and Tony. Enjoy the time away-from this anyway. I totally concur about watching dinner in front of the tv. Summer finds us eating outside and it is so much more pleasant instead of listening to the stupid network politico shows which is what manservant likes to watch. I also tell him that he would probably eat fewer calories if we had a conversation. That way he couldn’t always have food in his mouth. Well, maybe he still could!