With all the food that I have in my home, I alway seem to need something else and find myself out and about shopping for more food. It’s ridiculous. I think I spend as much time grocery shopping as I do cooking. Today I challenged myself.  I was not going to the supermarket.

I usually create a menu in my head before I wake up. I really do.  I sort of memorize a menu for the day, in my head or in my cell phone. I may  anticipate two or three meals at a time. Sometimes I get them all done, depending on the time of day that I arise.  I like to get up at around 5 or 6 in the morning when the house tranquil; everyone is still asleep and I can cook in peace in my sanctuary.

There should have been lamb, crab cakes and chicken patties on the menu too, however I decided to multitask and do some laundry and clean the house, so I only had time to cook the stewed chicken with sundried tomatoes and capers, rice and beans and a green bean salad. I also prepared a whole grain mustard chicken, but I haven’t taken a photo yet. I’m relaxing right now, so I’m not sure if I will even get a photo of that dish. Well…maybe next time.

The green bean salad was amazing and the red wine vinaigrette that I prepared and tossed it with, was even more spectacular. My son D’Angelo seemed thrilled that I had prepared the salad dressing from scratch. I’m glad I did, because the taste is so much cleaner than store bought salad dressings.

In any event, I’m running low on capers, so I need to add that to my list of things to get, once I make it back into the supermarket because I use capers a lot.  Shopping in advance for my ingredients really simplifies my life. Having all the  ingredients on hand,  allows me to effortlessly create a meal …or two.

Maybe I’ll grill my lamb tomorrow….or just maybe those spicy crab cakes…. who knows?