My sleep last night was abysmal. ABYSMAL.
Multiple factors, some within my control, some without, went into making last night so terrible. But the thing you should know is that the cat does not care if I slept poorly and really, really need the extra nine minutes of rest my snooze button promises. No. He leapt out of his warm snuggly position under my arm and galloped off the edge of the bed. And then he tried – key word is tried – to jump onto my dresser for reasons known only to him, failed, and landed on the floor with a thud loud enough to wake my deep sleeping husband.
Anyway. I’m up. The cat’s needs have been tended to (for now). Let’s think about dinner.
In fact, I got to thinking about dinner yesterday after I read Julie’s Dinners Last Week post. I started drooling over her description of the Diwali meals she and her family ate, and wondered if I could make my own aloo gobi. YES, apparently I can.
Dinners for the Week of October 27-November (!!!!) 2
- Aloo Gobi: I found this post about aloo gobi, which has recipes for both semi-dry and gravy versions. Since I like-ah the sauce, I think I am more interested in the aloo gobi masala option. My husband was mildly enthused about this idea, but he did express his feeling that aloo gobi is a side dish, not an entrée, and he would be requiring a protein. Oh look, this same website has a recipe for tandoori style chicken! Maybe that would work for my husband?
- Salmon and Farro Bowl with Honey Mustard Dressing: Julie also posted a recipe for salmon and farro, and that sounded delicious. I am a little wary of the honey mustard dressing, as my husband dislikes mustard (and salmon for that matter, hmm, perhaps I should rethink this one?) and I dislike honey mustard. But I read through the recipe and it seems like it might be okay. We’ll see. This will be the recipe that drops off the list if I am too tired to deal with dinner.
- Tacos: We haven’t had proper ground beef tacos for awhile. Let’s do it.
- Lentil Stuffed Sweet Potatoes: We did not get around to making these last week, but Julie did, and she gives them a thumbs up. Back on the meal plan they go!
- Green Curry: This is kind of a cheat, because I made this last night. But I’m counting it because it was a lot of work. I was actually in the mood for red curry, but my grocery store didn’t have my preferred curry paste (Maesri) and then the South Asian grocery store didn’t have red curry paste. FYI: green curry paste is much spicier than red. I ended up adding a second can of coconut milk to help cut some of the heat.
All right, the cat has just come into my office to remind me that we need to go wake up Carla. I did not know when I acquired a cat that he would be such a rigid manager. I guess someone needs to be in charge.
What time does your alarm clock go off on weekdays? And does your alarm clock purr?
My alarm clock does not purr, but she likes to start the day with a cuddle and then a trip outside. After that it’s naptime, so I’m on my own to keep track of my morning schedule.
My takeaways are that I wanted to go to Julie’s for Diwali, we are overdue for tacos, and that curry sounds right up my alley. I would make it on the stovetop instead of the IP because that sounds like it would take way too long.
I had a few nights of absolutely rotten sleep but I’m back in a good groove now and it is sooooo nice. I hope that you catch up on sleep soon!
Ugh so sorry about your crappy sleep. Hope you get a better one tonight!
I stayed up slightly too late reading last night but still slept pretty well. I am, however still yawning my way through my first half-hour at work. We were at a late, rowdy party Friday night and I think I’m still recovering.
Giving thanks here that Lucy is not such a rigid manager. When Matt is away she might wake me up at 3:30 a.m. to feed her, and I might decide to do that so we can sleep later in the morning (or so she doesn’t wake me up half an hour before my alarm), but on my mornings off she is happy to worm under the covers and cuddle. (The jumping for the desk and missing thing is a delightful visual).
I am okay with some mustard but react violently to dijon, giggled at ‘my husband doesn’t like the sauce for this or the protein, hmmmm’. I sampled and bought some amazing curry sauce at the craft show last week so will be doing a yellow thai curry this week, and probably that’s it because husband is gone again, la la la la la,
My fuzzy alarm clock think 4am is the best time for a quick treat to fuel their zooming. If I try to sleep through it, one reminds me of the necessity of snack by clawing gently at my blanket, with increasing intensity if I try to ignore him.
But they keep me warm on cold nights, so all is forgiven.
Glad you have Lenny to keep you on schedule!
I am sorry to hear about the terrible sleep. I am right there with you sister. Sleep has been awful for me lately. My alarm is my apple watch – it vibrates to wake me. But I rarely sleep until my alarm goes off which is highly highly annoying. So my anxiety/perimenopausal issues are my alarm clock – or it’s my 4.5 year old yelling at the top of his lungs for me…
We have tacos tentatively on the menu, too. We ordered pizza last night and I’ll make a chili for the pumpkin carving gathering we are going to on Wed night. I also marinated tuna steaks on Sat and Phil seared them on the grill. We had asian-style rice and air fried carrots as sides. So I technically will make 2-3 meals this week which is the most I have cooked/done meal prep in over a month.
I was up at 6 am today-in total darkness. I’m one of the rare ones actually looking forward to daylight savings, just so it will be light out at the break of dawn.
Kitty playing at 5:30 am is making me laugh. 💜
I’m retired so I usually don’t have to set an alarm. However, my cat cries constantly if I’m not up by 7-8, so she’s my alarm. When I taught, she didn’t understand weekends or holidays and thought I should be up by 5:30 am. 🙁 My boyfriend’s favorite dressing is honey mustard. I love mustard but am not fond of honey. I’m a bleu cheese, vinaigrette, ranch kind of person.
Yay for aloo gobi! I have a recipe that I don’t love, so I hope you make this and that it is delicious, and that you tell us about it after. To go with it, you could either do a tandoori chicken, OR you could make extra of the gobi sauce and use that on chicken, OR you could cheat and buy a simmer sauce for the chicken. OR you could use a simmer sauce and do shrimp if your husband likes that.
I think one could easily switch out the protein in the farro bowls, too. Don’t like salmon? Use another fish that you do like. Or tofu. Or chicken. If you are not a fan of honey mustard, think of a dressing you do like, and use that. I think it’s a pretty adaptable recipe.
Do you like eggs? My husband and I both used leftover lentils from the sweet potato dish and served it with a fried egg. Delicious. Thank you for the inspiration!
We’ve trained our cats poorly, because on weekdays we are up by about 6; therefore, on weekends, they start their purring/yowling/slapping the window blinds (!!) if we’re not up and at ’em by about 7:00. I guess we should be grateful for that extra hour of grace.
I agree with Kari, I’m looking forward to Standard Time so it’s not SO dark in the mornings!
I’m making a lentil coconut-curry soup tonight that I think no one is going to like except me! But it’s so cold and rainy today, and I NEED soup!
Ugh – sorry about the sleep, or lack thereof. Days when I don’t haven’t had enough sleep are the worst. I hate the fuzzy head feeling that seems to come with it. Leo jumping on the dresser for a reason only he understands cracked me up. I’m feeling seen by Nance’s comment about salmon. I’ve not given up yet and Coach does like fish. I’m not into fish, but I hope to one day get there. I’ve been in a weird sleep thing where I wake up to my 7:13 am alarm and on the weekend, waking up at 8:30 or later actually happens. No idea why, but I’m loving it. I do prefer to have my workout done before tots get dropped off, but right now a long walk a few days a week while pushing 3 or 4 littles in the quad stroller is counting for my workout.
My sleep last night was great (not to rub your nose in it – sorry!) UNTIL my husband woke up at 3:30 am with some kind of coughing/allergy/couldn’t breathe fit. So, I’ve been up since then and am so foggy headed, I’m surprised I was able to type a coherent sentence. (Did I?)
My alarm clock does not purr, but rather meows loudly. On weekdays I get up at 5 if I’m running, 5:30 if it’s a non-running day. Sorry for your poor sleep! Can you take a nap? I know some people are anti-nappers, but a nap is the only thing that gets me through some days.
That Aloo Gobi looks good- but I looked at the recipe and it has some unusual ingredients- mango powder? Coriander leaves? Do you have those things or are you making a substitution? I haven’t made Indian food in a long time.
O Elusive Sleep, Where Art Thou? I used to be a morning person – up and ready to go at 6/6:30 am. Not any more.
In about 5 minutes I will start to prepare the Sheet Pan Veggie Shawarma with Lemon Tahini Dressing (Gluten Free and Vegan) recipe which I found on your blog. Thank you.
This is the first time in my life I’ve ever heard of aloo gobi. I mean, it looks awesome, but also, what fun words to say out loud.
Your Manager seems kinda demanding.
Luckily, most days do not require an alarm at all. I know, this is probably astounding for most people.
I had also not heard of Aloo Gobi before but it sounds delicious. Thanks for always sharing good recipes! 🙂 I love to know what other people cook.
USUALLY my alarm clock goes off at 6 am and it does not purr (sadly).
I would love to have a purring alarm clock… And you don’t want to know when my alarm goes off. Let’s go with oh-dark-thirty. 🙂