DINNER: Boeuf bourguignon.. I mean beef and potatoes

This afternoon, I was channeling Anthony Bourdain and made Boeuf Bourguignon for the family.  The smell was divine and the results looked fabulous (I chronicled it here.)

Unfortunately, with all the carbs, excess protein and oil, boeuf bourguignon is definitely a diet-no-no.  So I decided to choose something similar for my dinner - beef with mashed potatoes.  I had this a few days before (I think Monday) and it was surprisingly edible and hearty.  But today next to the boeuf bourguignon, it was just unpalatable.  The smell was sad (my husband and child's cries of "disgusting"and "it stinks" didn't help.) and the taste was just as unpleasant.  I ate 3 bites, gave up and tossed it into the trash.

Instead, I ate an heirloom tomato dressed in balsamic and some sauteed greens.... alas, ...

DINNER: Lasagna

This was my lasagna this evening for dinner.  Actually I wish my lasagna looked like that.  The Nutrisystem lasagna is fine - it's edible, and for the most part, thick tomato sauces usually make anything palatable. 

The lasagna has a meat-ish sauce that is filled with kidney beans -which I assume is for protein and fiber.  I ate it with summer tomatoes and some sauteed greens and it was more than enough food for dinner. 

Not bad. and it smelled better than what my husband cooked for the kids!

DINNER: Beef and Mashed Potatoes

This was pretty good.  I am finding that the hot food can be very palatable - much aking to how Chef Boyardee and Hormel's beef stew are appealing in a comfort food sort of way.  Not haute cuisine but satisfying nonetheless.

The actual beef and mashed potatoes looks NOTHING like the photo (prop still photographers are truly amazing) - it was more mashed potatoes with beef string sauce (i.e., the beef was cooked down to beyond a cube form).

The portion was surprisingly ample and I am still amazed that it was a mere 220 calories.  Unlike the baked morning goods, this was easy to finish off.