Top Chef - Views From the Ville

Thank you to Bertolli for providing the olive oil used to make my Parmesan Roasted Asparagus recipe. All words and thoughts are my own.

Up until the past few years, I was convinced that I didn’t like asparagus. Granted, I couldn’t ever remember actually trying asparagus, but that doesn’t really matter, right? You’re allowed to know what foods you’ll like and won’t like just by looking at them. Aren’t you?

Then a few years ago we were at our local farmer’s market in Florida and lo and behold there was a whole stand of asparagus that day. Hubby wasn’t really sure if he liked asparagus, either, but we are always looking for a new side to pair with our proteins, so we decided to go for it. I consulted with the attendant at the market to get her thoughts on what makes “good” asparagus, and we took a bunch home.

Parmesan Roasted Asparagus Recipe

That night we just roasted it (again on the suggestion of the girl from the farmer’s market) and we both were surprised to find just how much we liked it. Through a little trial and error, I ended up with this recipe for Parmesan Roasted Asparagus. Continue reading »

Frozen Lunch Options from ConAgra

I really enjoy cooking which a lot of you probably know from the number of recipe and meal ideas I’ve shared with you over time. When it comes to lunch, though, I rarely find myself in the mood to cook something. I also don’t usually find myself with the time to cook lunch for myself, to be honest. By the time I’m done making lunch for Bubbles and then feeding her, the afternoon is already marching on and there are tasks that need to be completed.

Thankfully there are a number of frozen entries with which I can keep my freezer stocked. This makes it very convenient to grab-and-go even if the “go” part is only as far as the backyard to watch Bubbles play. Of course, convenience isn’t the only consideration when it comes to lunch. I actually have quite a list of requirements. I want them to be low in fat and calories, use fresh ingredients, and be a decent source of fiber and protein. Oh – and they have to taste good (kind of the most important part). Continue reading »