Since we ate dinner for lunch (soup/sweet potato) and our fridge was void of veggies, the choices were:
- Go out to dinner (!!!)
- Eat pantry staples 🙁
- Walk to the grocery store for vegetables in the freezing cold…
We chose option 1! Plus, the new job needed to be celebrated!
But if you knew how long it took us to pick a restaurant………
After debating atmosphere, alcohol, tastes, moods, calories, cuisine, cost, and more, we finally decided on Arooji’s – a favorite local Italian restaurant that we like that opened a new location closer to our new house. We’ve been there for wine, but not for dinner, so Italian it was! (Somehow Asian and American seemed too “cold” on this frigid night and Italian seemed warm..)
I have never been an Italian fan – pasta just isn’t my splurge of choice, but tonight it was perfect!
We decided to get a bottle of wine – to celebrate the job and because it was most cost effective. I probably drank more than I should have but it was super fun 🙂
I did well resisting the bread, which is only worth it if it’s better than the husband’s. This bread was good, but it was just plain ciabatta so I had a tiny piece to take the toothpaste out of my wine enjoyment!
I started with a house salad with lemon-gorgonzola vinegarette. Yum! I ate ALL of the salad (tomatoes, cucs, carrots, lettuce, capers, and olives) and about 1 tsp of the dressing – fork dipped. I also had 2 bites of the husband’s wedding soup!
I NEVER order pasta in restaurants, but the seafood was expensive and the salads were small, so I got the Eggplant Parmesan. I didn’t know that’s what I was ordering until I got home and looked up the menu for you all. Nothing on the menu said fried – I quote “Layers of eggplant, marinara, provolone and basil with a side of spaghetti” but I could taste the “friedness” at the first bite. And oh my gosh was it good!!
Plus a shrimp from the husband’s –
Here’s what I had left. The eggplant was the best I’ve ever had, but the spaghetti reminded me of elementary school. I should have left more! I could have totally eaten this whole plate, but I was trying to be mindful of portions. Honestly, I’m not even full. But I am satisfied and I suppose that’s what my goal is.
Here’s the husband’s shrimp + jalopeno spaghetti – it was A. Mazing!!!!!
And here he is after clearing his plate!
I would MUCH rather go out to dinner twice a month and get dessert than go out once a week and not. So tiramisu it was!! This guy was very light and fluffy. I would like to think it wasn’t very caloric, but I’d be dreaming. I almost wish we’d gotten a heavier dessert, but this tiramisu was delicious. I ate half, at least!
We also ordered 1 glass of prosecco but we were served two by accident!! Too much alcohol! I didn’t finish mine (it wasn’t the best wine/dessert pairing I’ve had…) and shared it with the hub.
So all in all, a WONDERFUL meal. I’m guessing close to 1,200-1,400 calories? Yes we had all the courses, but this is exactly why I think going out to eat is one of the most derailing parts of a healthy diet. Yet SO common! Restaurant food is just so caloric – and who wants to go to a restaurant and just eat a salad with minimal dressing!? Tomorrow night we have plans for a very creative-but-healthy dinner to balance out the weekend.
Snacks
This afternoon I had hot tea around 4:00
And a mixture of pumpkin, splenda, cinnamon, and pineapple all heated through around 4:30. Very filling and delicious combo!
Shout Outs
I have to give shout outs to KellyL and RachelD for the fun packages that arrived in my mailbox today!!!
KellyL sent me this cute magnet and a notepad to keep my lists organized
!
So true about cooking with wine. Do you really think I added a whole mini bottle to the Coq au Vin without taking a swig from the bottle?!!?
And Rachel and I did a book swap – Eat, Pray, Love for 2 books I enjoyed. Thanks again girls!!!!
Off to take a bath to warm up, drink some water, and enjoy a good night’s sleep 🙂
Romina says
Option Number 1 was a great choice! I can see why you like that restaurant, it looks great. Very authentic-looking, and I really like the neat tiramisu dish!!
I always have a hard time at restaurants because I have the habit of eating what’s in front of me (because I portion everything well when I make it), so it’s hard double the trouble when trying to eat out and decide when you’re full. Great work though!
VeggieGirl says
You and Matt definitely have a lot to celebrate, so I’m thrilled that you guys treated yourself to a nice meal out – that tiramisu looks particularly enticing :0)
What fun packages you received in the mail!!
Have a great night, Kath, and a lovely weekend!
living2thetruth4god says
I saw this recipe on Fit Tv tonight and thought of you…
Butternut Squash Lasagna with Shiitake Mushrooms and Sage
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
1 pound fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced
2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 cups vegetable broth
4 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme, divided
4 tablespoons sliced fresh sage, divided
3 15-ounce containers whole-milk ricotta cheese
4 cups grated mozzarella cheese, divided
2 cups grated Parmesan cheese, divided
4 large eggs
Olive oil
1 9-ounce package no-boil lasagna noodles
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add onions and saute until soft, 6-8 minutes.
Add mushrooms to pan, cooking until tender, about 3 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper. Transfer mushroom mixture to bowl; set aside.
Add squash, broth, 3 tablespoons thyme, and 3 tablespoons sage to same skillet. Cover and simmer over medium heat until squash is tender, about 6 minutes.
Uncover and cook until squash is very soft but still retains shape, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Mix ricotta, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese, and remaining 1 tablespoon thyme and 1 tablespoon sage in large bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in eggs.
Brush 13x9x2-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with oil.
Spread 1 cup of ricotta mixture over bottom. Arrange 3 noodles on top. Spread 1 3/4 cups of ricotta mixture over noodles. Arrange one third of squash mixture over ricotta. Sprinkle with one third of mushrooms and 1 cup mozzarella. Top with 3 noodles, then 1 3/4 cups of ricotta mixture, half of remaining squash, half of mushrooms, and remaining 1 cup mozzarella. Repeat with noodles, 1 3/4 cups ricotta mixture, remaining squash, and remaining mushrooms. Top with 3 noodles. Spread remaining ricotta mixture over; sprinkle with remaining Parmesan. Cover with foil, which has been brushed with oil.
Bake lasagna, covered, 35 minutes. Uncover; bake until heated through, about 25 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
(The lasagna can be assembled one day ahead and refrigerated.)
Makes 8 servings.
Substitutions: Shiitakes can be substituted with crimini or button mushrooms.
Terrormisu says
Ahh! Tiramisu =) My heart swells with love for that caffeinated puff of deliciousness. Was it coffee-y? Boozey? It’s so rare that all the flavors come through like they should…
A good, authentic tiramisu is one of the most delicious things in the world. Unfortunately I live in the boonies with but one italian restaurant. I envy your ‘misu-access!
hk says
glad you all were able to celebrate, totally deserve it!!! I hope you have a nice, warm weekend 🙂
arimcg says
okay living – i’m making that this week!
Karen says
Looks like you had a lovely night out! You have lots to celebrate! I totally agree, eating out can derail a healthy lifestyle so easily.
Susan says
Kelly L that magnet and pad are too cute! where did you get it?
And this is for whoever what is fit-tv? And isn’t there another station that has all exercise programs. That may be fit tv? I really rarely watch tv 🙂
Caloriecounter =) says
Kath, I just feel like I am the same as you….the way I eat….cook, plan, etc…and then we go to resturaunts and all bets are off =). That’s what life is about though and why we watch it so much of the time. I LOVE procecco…I am not sure if you like oyters, but I CRAVE prosecco and oysters…so fresh and just amazing together. If you get a chance you should try =)
Natalie Rojano says
Susan,
I’m actually watching fit tv right now (a health cop show).
It has good exercise shows in the mornings such as areobics and yoga but it also has health shows and cooking shows.
Melissa Lipking says
Eat, Pray, Love is a great book! One of my favorites….you’ll love it!
Amanda M says
Melissa, I agree. Eat Pray Love is one of those books where I find myself marking pages to remember the author’s wise words. I love that book and may have to re-read it soon 🙂
Scott @ One Food Guy says
Wow, dinner at Arooji’s looks like it was delicious!
Maran says
hey! yeah I would love to walk this weekend if the weather can cooperate! Just shoot me an email and we’ll see what day looks best. PS Dinner looks great! Arooji’s has a “wine room” too right?? MMM
Kelly L. says
Hi Susan- I got them at Stein Mart in Houston. I thought they were fun!
Kelly L. says
I’m sorry but I have to speak up on the whole eating out thing….I think it is perfectly acceptable to go out to eat. You can eat healhty and make good selections when eating out. There are tons of people that eat out everyday and lose or continue to maintain their weight. It’s all about choosing healthfully. People shouldn’t be so afraid of enjoying a meal out.
I’m going to Orlando with my mom next week for 5 days. We’ll be eating breakfast, lunch and dinner out every meal but I’m not worried, I’m looking forward to it. Not only is it a fun chance to try new foods and restuarants but practice making healthy decisions as well. Thats 15 meals out!
Living a healthy lifestyle should allow for eating out when you want to. I fear that we are telling people that in order to lose weight or maintain your wieght you can’t eat out. This type of thinking leads to disordered eating in my opinion. I have seen so many girls be fearful of food they don’t make because of comments that going out to eat is unhealthy.
Sure, I love to eat at home but I also love the chance to eat foods I don’t typically make at home. I know how to make substitutions and modifications to make my meal a little more healthy. I think if we encouraged this mentality rather than a “don’t eat out” mentality everyone would be a little bit more happy.
Just my opinion. Feel free to disagree.. 🙂
the husband says
Yeah I hear ya Kelly L but you can’t deny that most restaurants put very little concern into making their dishes healthy. I’d say the biggest culprits are butter and oil. Especially at pretty fancy places, there is complete disregard for using healthy portions of fats when cooking.
On the other hand, you’re right that we have to be diligent about our choices. Just as easily as restaurants cook with lots of oil, they’re usually willing to accommodate a special request for less oil, etc.
Lauren says
Kelly, I completely agree. I eat dinner out about twice a week, and have never found it difficult to make healthy selections (when I want to). Many women seem to be under the impression that eating out and maintaining a healthy diet/lifestyle are totally incompatible. I’ve just never found this to be the case. I always look at eating out as an opportunity to expand my food repetoire, trying new things that I can easily *fit* into my generally-healthy diet. But, I also believe that it’s entirely okay to occasionally treat a meal out as a splurge, ordering foods that you may not typically prepare on your own. It’s all about balance.
kay says
Eating at restaurants…. do you ever worry if it was prepared with clean hands?? 🙁 Even nice and expensive restaurants have crazy and sometimes less than clean kitchens… I do like to eat out but I think about germs… sorry I know it is gross…
jenna says
I would have to say your splurge looked like it was def. worth it!!! Especially sharing a bottle of wine! When Ryan came to visit me in France we would always go out to these little parisian restaurants and share a bottle of red wine together. So special! And tell Matt congrats on the new job!!!!!!!! Although I wish yall would just move down here to FL and he could go to culinary school!!
Jessie says
Thats such a good point Kay, when i was in highschool i worked at an “upscale” restaurant and i won’t even go into the stories about some of the icky stuff i saw while i was there! I prefer to make it myself, that way i KNOW nothing nasty got in there (like sweat flying off of a hot griller right onto a burger….eek!)
Kelly L. says
Hi Husband,
Let me just say that your dish last night made my mouth water. I. Love. Jalepenos. I will eat anything spicy and the spicier the better. mmmm….
In regards to restaurant eating, I agree most restaurants don’t care if what they are eating is healthy or not but what i find is the nicer the restaurant the more willing they are to work with you. Further when food is prepared using fresh, good ingredients there isn’t as much of a need for butter and oil. Fresh veggies, good cuts of meat, etc. aren’t typically drowned in butter and oil because there is no need (at nice places I mean). I think think the biggest problem with eating out comes from being ill informed. So many people don’t realize that a seeming healthy sandwich for example can pack in tons of artery clogging fat and calories when covered with cheese, mayo and slapped on white bread. Education is the key to healthy decisions!
mel says
Hey Kay,
I can’t speak for other restaurants or employees bc I know some may be gross, but I am a server and our bosses are obsessed with clean hands, healthy servers, etc. they have hand sanitaizers up around every corner and remind you every 5 seconds ! haha! and I know they do the same for the cooks bc I hear them nag!! Try not to worry about germs when eating out..it ruins the fun of it and compared to the germs you encounter on a daily basis (sorry- gross!!) it isn’t a big deal!!
Kath says
Living,
Thanks for sharing – the recipe looks delish!
Re. eating out,
I think my point wasn’t that you can’t eat out and eat healthy, but I wanted to point how how EASY it is to overdo it in restaurants. I made some good choices last night while enjoying myself at the same time (I went easy on bread, had a salad with veggies, kept portion control in mind, stopped eating before I was full). It could have been a lot worse! But my point was that even with making some smart decisions, I still manged to eat 2-3 times what I normally eat for dinner. I have many other examples of how to eat out at a restaurant and eat healthy on the blog, but I think last night’s meal was very typical for American women (bread, wine, dessert) and I just wanted to point out how much it all adds up.
Kath