Dinners with Drea

My darling friend Andrea and I have clocked in quite a few hours in the kitchen this week and I've loved every second of it! It's so nice to be able to prepare food with friends while listening to good music and enjoying a post-work libation.  Sometimes a gal just needs a quiet week of cookin up comfort foods, watching movies and rocking sweat pants, ya know?

On Monday we whipped up one of my go-to favorites;  Turkey Meatball Soup (SO.FREAKING.GOOD)....

How cute are we with our little European cafe table set up in her kitchen?

Tuesday night was, naturally, Taco Tuesday! (Why can't every day be Taco Tuesday?)  We feasted on lightly beer-battered fish tacos with fresh avocado, Trader Joe's mango/papaya salsa (are we on an island?!) and Coronas. Ole!

Wednesday was Caesar Burger night; hand made garlic, parmesan, caesar turkey burgers...

I swear, the smell of  browning meat and garlic is my nostrils version of heaven....

Until you add chunks of fresh mozzarella...then my nostrils bail on the previous heaven and jump ship to this version...

Add some caesar salad to your bun (we used 100 calorie bread) and voila! Yum. O.

Have you had Apricot Ale? It's deliciously summery.

There's something to be said for the comfort of a kitchen and laying low to regroup a bit. I know I often preach about seizing the day, being a yes woman and grabbing every adventure that comes your way (you should still always embrace it all!); but I also deeply appreciate the quieter side of life and am thankful for this week of good, easy company and great home cooked meals.

Recipes after the jump!

In "what's cookin' good lookin'?" love,

Trish

Turkey Meatball Soup:
Adapted from Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld

SOUP
3 ounces whole-wheat pasta shapes, such as bowties or wagon wheels
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, with their juice
1/4 cup carrot puree (or 1/2 cup finely chopped carrots)
1/2 cup sweet potato or squash puree (or 1 cup finely chopped)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 cups beef or chicken broth

MEATBALLS
3 slices whole-wheat bread, cubed
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup sweet potato puree (or 1/2 cup chopped sweet potatoes, microwaved for 5 minutes and mashed with fork)
1/4 cup nonfat milk
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
1/4 teaspoon paprika
--1/2 pound lean ground turkey

1. Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Add one tablespoon olive oil to a large pot and saute onion and garlic.  Cook, stirring often until the onion is softened but not browned.  If you don't have veggie puree, add the carrots and sweet potatoes, too.
3. When everything is softened, put in a blender or food processor and add tomatoes.  Puree until smooth.  Return to pot.  Add salt and broth.  Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 - 15 minutes.  If your tomatoes are still too acidic, add up to 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.  (Just don't tell Jessica or health expert, Joy Bauer.)
4. Meanwhile, begin the meatballs.  PUt the bread in a large bowl.  Add the egg, sweet potato puree, milk, Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt and paprika, and let soak until the bread is very soft.  Stir to break up the bread, add the ground turkey and mix until smooth.  Form into mini-meatballs about 1/2-inch in diameter.  
5. Add the meatballs to the pot.  Simmer, covered, until the meatballs are no longer pink in the center, 12 - 15 minutes.  Stir in the pasta.  Serve with Parmesan.

Fish Tacos:

Ingredients

• Fresh salsa
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 1/3 cup beer
• 8 ounces tilapia fillet, cut crosswise into 1-inch wide strips
• 2 teaspoons canola oil
• 4 corn tortillas, warmed

Preparation

1. Prepare Avocados and Salsa.
2. Combine flour, cumin, salt and cayenne in a medium bowl. Whisk in beer to create a batter.
3. Coat tilapia pieces in the batter. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Letting excess batter drip back into the bowl, add the fish to the pan; cook until crispy and golden, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Serve the fish with tortillas and salsa.

Caesar Burgers:

....you'll just have to contact me if you want this guy :)