The Food Nanny & plantoeat

One day between General Conference sessions we were watching more TV & The Food Nanny came on to BYU-TV. This cute, spunky lady comes into peoples’ homes & helps them figure out how to make dinner part of their family’s routine. She gives great recipes, teaches cooking techniques, & empowers people to be successful at having family dinner.

I was SUPER excited when I tried to get to her original web-site & instead found this http://www.byutv.org/foodnanny/plan/ . You can drag & drop themes & recipes into different days of the week, print out the recipes & the shopping list, and then enjoy the yummy feasts. The recipes look tasty (even if my trainer might not approve of every one).

Since my eating has changed, I haven’t quite filled out the menu plan with regular foods. Every day is a new adventure & there’s not much habit or consistency. For a long time, I have tried to decide what’s for dinner by 10:30 a.m. And for as disorganized as I am in many areas of my life, I usually accomplish this little decision. (What else would I think of while working out besides food?!)

PlanToEat is a web-site that you pay for the opportunity to add recipes, make meal plans & shopping lists. I was excited about the concept, even though I have seen a software program by DVO that would do the same idea. Enter recipes & ingredients, get calories & nutrients, & a grocery list. The web-site allows you to upload recipes from Cooking Light & other online recipe databases.

Tired, boring, good night!!!

Orange-Glazed Chicken with Carrots & Bulgur

Martha (yes, THE Martha) and I have a working relationship. Every day she sends a message to my phone & lets me know what’s for dinner. Usually, it is at 3:34 – one day she was late & Jared proclaimed, “She doesn’t know what to make for dinner!” Love it!!! If you have an iphone & want Martha to send you a memo, sign up for Martha’s Everyday Food app. Or just try this recipe – it’s an easy fast favorite.

8 chicken drumsticks (about 3 pounds total) – or thighs, skin off

Coarse salt & ground pepper

1/2 cup orange marmalade

1 tablespoon olive oil

4 medium carrots, cut into 1/2-inch chunks

1 cup bulgur (or brown rice or quinoa or couscous)

1 teaspoon grated lime zest, plus 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Preheat oven to 475. On large rimmed baking sheet, arrange chicken in a single layer; season with salt and pepper. Roast 10 minutes. Brush with half the marmalade, and rotate sheet. Continue to roast, brushing once more with marmalade, until chicken is browned and cooked through, 10-15 minutes more.

While chicken is roasting, heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add carrots & season with salt & pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until beginning to brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

Cook bulgur & 1-1/2 cups boiling water in rice cooker. Stir in lime zest & juice.