Ah Sunday. It was just Friday, wasn’t it? This weekend went way too quickly, but that means it was a good one. 🙂
Last time we chatted, it was Friday and I was off to run a bunch of errands. I did all of that, taught a private lesson, stopped at Cien Montaditos (I do this at least 2 times per week)
Had a meeting (which turned into extra private lessons in my building!), ate dinner and then went out with some friends. I live in Lavapies and right now, there is a food festival called Tapapies happening where many bars and restaurants offer a drink and a tapa for 2.50E.
Really, it’s no deal so I opted out of all of the tapas and just drank the beer 😉 It’s fun nonetheless, and my roommates and I are going to go later this week when I think I’ll partake in the eating part more.
This picture was atrocious and the black and white only helps it mildly. Pictured: me, Annie, Kristen (my roommate!)
Saturday, I slept late and then went out adventuring around town with Annie! We walked, shopped, and ate Indian food because…when in Madrid…
And found a CVS-ish store. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
And then I decided that it’s time to do something about this sedentary lifestyle that I have adopted. I put on my big-girl pants and re-downloaded Nike Training Club, put on a good playlist, and hopped, lunged, and push-uped for a half hour in my apartment.
It felt good to get moving, but boy are my muscles SORE today.
Then dinner, coffee, and beer to get ready for a night out 🙂 
Ok, getting to the point of this post! Cooking (Cocinando)
Having my own apartment has made me realize 1. How much I miss my dear mother and the cooking that she does. 2. That I am very spoiled. 3. If I don’t cook for myself, I will be eating chicken and vegetables for the next year.
This morning, I did my shopping for the week…along with every other Madrileno and their mother.
- Peanuts
- Diced tomatoes (can)
- Tomato sauce (can)
- White beans (jar)
- Pinto beans (dry)
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Spinach
- Carrots
- Ground turkey
- Chicken breasts
- Cheese
- Mushrooms
- Eggplant
- Onion
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Peanut Butter
- Bread
Total: 29.50 Euro
With this, I made Turkey Chili and a Chicken-Eggplant-Broccoli-Mushroom Peanut stir-fry, both of which made huge portions and will be frozen for this week and next week. Better than plain chichen breasts every night, right? Right.
Easy Chili for Poor People
Ingredients:
- 1 Onion
- 2 Tbs. Oil
- 1 lb Ground beef or turkey
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 can tomato sauce (plain)
- 1.5 cups water
- 2 different types of beans (I used pinto an white beans)
- 1 Tbs. Cumin
- 1 Tbs. Chili powder
- A few handfuls of spinach (optional)
Directions:
- Heat oil in a big pot. Then add onion and turkey/ beef to saute until the meat is brown.
- Add the cans of tomato products, the beans, the water and the spices. Stir.
- Add the spinach if you want. Mine was going bad, so I threw it in there.
- Top with cheese and eat.
Easy Peanut Chicken-Vegetable Stir-fry for Lazy People
Ingredients:
- 1 Tiny piece of ginger
- 2 Cloves of garlic
- 2 Tbs OIl
- Chicken breast, cubed
- 1 Eggplant, diced
- 1/2 Head of broccoli, chopped
- 1 Package of mushrooms, sliced
- 1/4 cup of peanut butter
- 1/4 Water
- Vinegar, if you have it
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
Directions:
- Saute the garlic and ginger in some oil.
- Add the chicken breast and cook until…cooked?
- Add the vegetables and let the cook a bit. You may want to add some water here to get them cooked.
- In a seperate bowl, make the sauce. Add the peanut butter, water, vinegar and soy sauce together and stir.
- Add sauce to the vegetables and chicken.
- Let it cook for a few minutes.
- Eat.
I was going to buy vinegar, but it was too much money so I used a tiny pack that I took from a restaurant (part of my salad).
It worked perfectly, but I’m sure the sauce would be fine without it. Don’t skip the ginger. (Ginger is cheap, my piece was .10 E)
After I post this, I am off to make some brown rice for the week, and then I’m all set up for a healthy and flavorful week! 
