A recap, a preview, plus food!

We're going to kill three birds with one stone in this epic post!  Let's get to it.

Weekend Recap:
On Friday, I didn't work.  It was wonderful.  However, I was up at 7:00 am cleaning my apartment because my mom was in town.  She had stayed the night at my sister's, but was coming to my place to spend the day.  After cleaning my kitchen, doing laundry and sweeping floors, we drank coffee and lounged during the morning hours.  We went to Chipotle for lunch.  I eat at Chipotle regularly, but my mom had only eaten there once before and wasn't impressed.  The horror.  This time she got what I get and she loved it.  We then proceeded to Big Lots.  I went in to get dish towels, and came out with dish towels, a vacuum, a scale, lotion, spices, and some kitchen utensils.  That store is dangerous.  We cooked dinner at home that night.  We made broiled grouper, aparagus and mushroom risotto, and roasted cauliflower.  The risotto was ridiculously incredible.  There are no words for how amazing it was.

Saturday, we woke up and had leftover risotto for breakfast.  Yes, that good.  My sister came by apartment and we enjoyed a few hours of being The Girls.  We then went to meet two of my sister's friends for lunch at Torchy's Tacos.  My mom had never been and we're all obsessed.  It was the first time I had eaten there since going gluten-free but I got the Resolution (January's Taco of the Month) and was quite pleased.  It has grilled mahi mahi, avocado slices, mango, queso fresco and the diablo sauce.  We also all shared their amazing guacamole and their crack.  I mean queso.  My mom then had to get on the road back to Houston whiel the rest of us headed to the Town Lake Animal Center.  My sister adopted a dog.  It is a Great Dane/Lab mix, and her name is Stevie.  She's cute.  And she was free!  Apparently during January, dogs over 45 lbs. are free.  We had no idea but were pleasantly surprised.  We used the saved money on dog things at Petsmart.

Sunday, I slept in way late.  It was cold and rainy all day, so I stayed in my pajamas and laid on the couch and watched football.  I also baked gluten-free chocolate cupcakes and watched Sin City.  I contemplated going to the grocery store, but saw no reason to get out in the nasty weather.  Groceries can wait for Monday.

This coming week should be a good one.  Thursday is an awesome show going on at The Ghost Room downtown.  And Friday my best friend Erin is coming in from Houston.  We are planning on dinner at Bess Bistro for Friday night, and then a whole lot of fun for the weekend.

My dinners for this coming week:
Monday: Pork Chops with Sauteed Apples, Onions and Cabbage.  And maybe a little apple cider gravy to go on top.

Tuesday: The rest of my pork in a stir fry with broccoli, bell peppers and snow peas.  Served with rice noodles (which I bought at Big Lots for $1.00).

Wednesday: Grilled Flank Steak and Creamy Parmesan Spinach (out of October's issue of Food Network Magazine).

Thursday: I have half a package of arborio rice left from the weekend, so there will be more risotto!  I think I will make this one a spinach artichoke risotto.  Or perhaps I will do an assortment of wild mushrooms.