Thursday, July 12, 2012

Roasted Okra

You know me and trying new things - especially things that I find on Pinterest. Well, here's another...

Roasted Okra

Don't knock it until you try it - seriously!

I felt like I needed a little something extra to go with dinner last night. Last week a sweet friend of mine let me pick her garden while they were away for the weekend. One of the things I was able to get was okra. I love okra, but the main way that I love it is fried.

I love fried okra. My waist line does not.

I saw this recipe a while back on Pinterest, pinned it, and thought "Hmmm...maybe". I mean, it boasted tasting like fried okra, but isn't actually fried. I was skeptical.

I've had a lot of things that boast tasting like the real, not so good for you food. Some are good; some are not.

The recipe is to wash your okra, cut off the top (I cut the point off too - just because I felt like it), toss the okra in olive oil, salt and pepper, spread okra on a baking sheet, and bake @ 425 for 10-15 minutes. It sounded easy enough.

Let me tell you now...it was GOOD!!! This recipe is definitely a keeper. The okra came out crispy and, surprisingly enough, really did taste like fried okra.

Do us all a favor...if you like okra, try it!!


I would also like to take another minute to brag about the rest of our dinner. Not because it was anything amazing, but because of the fact that David ate and enjoyed it.

When David and I first got married, he was a total meat and potatoes guy. Well, not just potatoes...any kind of starch/carb really - corn, mac n cheese, rice, pasta, bread, etc. He never wanted to try anything new and was perfectly content eating the same thing over and over. That may sound good to you, but I need variety in my life. I like adventure - not just in life, but in my mouth as well!!

There seriously was a time that I fixed chicken and broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo, and he questioned me on what else we were having. When I informed it that was all, he asked me to make some mashed potatoes to go with it. Seriously?! Mashed Potatoes and Fettuccine Alfredo?! Yes, that really happened!

I have taken it on a personal mission to introduce him to new foods (some times honestly and some times not so honestly J). I'm always sneaking little things in on him. He's kind of like a kid when it comes to eating. If you tell him what it is, he makes up his mind before trying it that he isn't going to like it. If you lie hide the truth or disguise it, he'll try it and usually like it...then you can tell him what it is. J
I have been very proud of myself - and him - because I have succeeded on many occasions and there are many new foods that he likes. Some of the ones I can think of off the top of my head are...wheat pasta (had to lie about that one at first, but he caught on and now doesn't know the difference), eggplant Parmesan, zucchini tots, tomatoes (I know, I know, but he didn't like them when we first got married), brown rice, and sushi (that one is probably my favorite thing that he likes now. I never in a MILLION years would have thought that he would like it!)

Last night's dinner was another *woo-hoo* moment for me! I fixed chicken, spinach and goat cheese quesadillas!!! I fix all kinds of quesadillas but this was the first time I had used goat cheese in one of his. I *heart* goat cheese. When I saw a recipe for spinach and goat cheese quesadillas (yes, of course on Pinterest), I knew that I wanted to try it. Once I fixed one for myself and knew I loved it (as if I wasn't going to!), I figured it was time to try it out on David. Surprisingly enough, he really liked it - and even asked for more!

So, our dinner last night consisted of the quesadillas, okra, and sliced tomatoes. It was a BIG score for me and I am very proud!! J

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