Menus, July 15, 2014

" What is life, if not a marathon of love?
” 

Jarod Kintz

I am only one degree of separation away from being a marathon runner. Which is to say,  I know a few marathon runners. And I am only two degrees away from being a World Cup soccer player. Which is to say,  have watched World Cup soccer matches on at least 2 televisions. So I am only zero degrees away from knowing a thing or two about overtime.
All sorts of overtimes
There's the  resigned shrug of the shoulders that comes when the job's not done, but well...

Time's Over

There's the kind of over time that requires the slow and steady doing of one thing over a very long time; a long, determined effort that over time produces something

that speedy just can't

And then there's the World Cup, world-weary kind of overtime that comes at the end of regular play, or regular play. The kind of overtime that happens when you get to the day's end, and find out that you're not nearly finished,

even though you feel absolutely finished.

So, what do you do when the day's been two grueling halves of nonstop running, half-time was a long-ago rushed lunch, and you're facing overtime with the possibility of sudden death?

Well, you could do your best imitation of a world class athlete
who's just run 7 miles in 90 minutes,

or you could do your best imitation of a world class athlete
who's just run 7 miles in 90 minutes.

Sure, you could bring in burgers call up for a pizza or call out for Chinese, and that can work for who-knows-how long, but after awhile, either your body or your budget are going to tell you 

It's time to stop phoning it in.

Or you could jump in the car and head to your favorite bookstore for a new cookbook filled with 15 minute recipes, or spend 20 minutes sifting through those magazine and newspaper articles you've saved for that quick-dinner idea you remembered telling your friend about just the other day...
Or, you could do what you want to do anyway. Sit down.
And, since you're sitting, why not ask the internet for a few fifteen minute dinner ideas? Healthy, inexpensive stuff that you can have on a plate in the time it takes to decide which take out menu to order from.
Stuff sort of like this:

Friday: Chili Lime Salmon

Marinated salmon gets thrown on the grill.(Or in a pan, or under the broiler..) There's your quick and awesome protein. With an extra two minutes, you can brush that marinade on to some zucchini halves or asparagus spears and you've got veg. Throw a bowl of instant brown rice in the microwave for a carb and you've got a healthy dinner in less than 20 minutes. Score.





Saturday:Grilled Marinated Leg of Lamb 

Here's the week's only real work dinner, and it's not that bad. If you have a Costco nearby, check out their half-of-a-regular-grocery-store price on lamb. If you don't like lamb, or it's priced for special occasions only where you live, try this same idea with pork or chicken- the leftovers will be just as nice in Monday's pitas. 
We'll be pairing this up with a new summer favorite, grilled salad.






Sunday: Salmon Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce

No time for cilantro lime sauce? Just stir some plain Greek yogurt or sour cream into some salsa and go. And you can get that cabbage in a pre-shredded coleslaw pack too.









Monday: Garlic-Rosemary Lamb Pitas

The leftover lamb gets tucked into pita bread, or for the gluten avoiders, served on a bed of greens. We may open a bag of crackers and hummus with this, or stir up a couscous salad









Tuesday:Greek Style Scampi

Google 15 minute Mediterranean Diet and what do you get? This terrific and terrifically fast dinner! 










I hope you know that 
whether your field is a boardroom
or a child's nighttime bedroom,
what you bring to the field of play
when you wonder if you have anything left to bring matters.
The love you bring to your particular game,
when love is all you have left to bring,
that matters.
So this week, whether the course of your particular marathon
is 26.2 miles, or the next 26.2 hours, 
or the next 26.2 minutes,
I hope you find a way to find 
all the love you need to love your way

straight through the finish line.