Operation Meat vs. Veggie: First Night-Four Stars

Okay...so tonight I made the Brussel Sprout & Mushroom Alfredo Fettuccine...

Just as I finished cooking it up, and started serving my hubby commented, "So it's a veggie dish then hey?"

I cracked up laughing...okay, so this dish is not going to pull the wool over his eyes. Fair enough.

So despite the fact that it was meatless, he said during the meal " the combo of brussel sprouts and mushroom is actually quite good". YES! That's right-he liked the brussel sprouts. Okay, in all fairness it's not that he hates them to begin with, he just doesn't love them the way I do, and wouldn't choose them.

Then, with a few mouth fulls to go, and a few extra servings sitting in the pan, he sat back and said "wow-I'm actually really full, I'll just finish up the veggies here".

A full man is a happy man.

Final verdict on this new recipe, he says "I'd like to see you make this again."

Cost breakdown...

Mushrooms: .385kg/$2.95
Brussel Sprouts: .255kg/$1.12
Fettuccine Noodles: $2.89
Alfredo Sauce: $4.49

Total for aprox. 3 people--> $11.45  That's just $3.82 a person!

Whoooaaa, okay I am actually shocked at that.

What I could have done better...I actually bought the sauce instead of making it, hard to believe that meal could be cheaper, but it definitely could have had I done that.

What it would have cost with meat--> ~$16.45 or $5.48 a person.

So not a huge savings, but considering everything--I think we'll definitely being doing it again.

The only bummer, Jayna didn't like it, at all...not even pureed. Go figure.

So overall, I'd call that a 4 star dinner!

My recipe (and to be fair-I do a lot of eyeballing, so you'll have to give it your best shot) or find a recipe online-remember, I didn't make the sauce from scratch, but after checking recipes later-it's super easy to do.

Cook up the pasta, while that is going you can start to cut the brussel sprouts into thin slices, add to a hot pan with about a cup of water and let cook up for about 3-5minutes. Then drain water and add about 2 tbsps of butter and sliced mushrooms. Season as necessary. Because I chose a garlic alfredo I just added salt and pepper. When the mushrooms are brown and brussels cooked add in the sauce and turn the temperature down to low, let simmer while the pasta finishes. If you have some fresh herbs-some fresh parsley would be a fabulous touch!

Meat vs. Veggie

Most weeks it's a rarity to have 1 meal that is vegetarian.

Okay, actually, over the course of a month it's rare to have as many as 3 vegetarian meals.

It's not that I am a big meat person...in fact, I could do without, but my hubby on the other hand...well, he is a meat eater.

He even eats liver paste (ew!).

This week though, I am going to throw his stomach for a loop, I just finished up the weekly meal plan and guess what, there is 1...that's right, I said it, 1 MEAT DISH!

Ssshhh...don't tell. (Now watch, this will be the one post that my hubby decides to actually read.)

That's right, this week my meal plan consists of: Bean Enchilada's, Fettuccine with mushrooms (and brussel sprouts-double SHHH), Spaghetti and beanballs, and this Rice Hoppin' John recipes (thanks google, I think?!)...the one star meat dish this week Casserole Cabbage Rolls.

Now why? Why the sudden onslaught of veggie meals?

Okay a few reasons, first-is it really cheaper to cook this way? I'll find out this afternoon I guess. Truth be told, I couldn't tell you what a can of beans cost, I never REALLY pay attention. Second (my poor hubby)- while I am pregnant and getting round' round the middle is relatively okay, I am not the only one getting round...if you know what I am saying. So I am hoping that this low calorie (but hopefully still fulfilling meals> will help. Third-I am bored, bored, bored of what we normally eat and I can hardly get the oomph to get up and cook most nights.

Plus...doesn't it sound kind of fun?

I am not going to make a big deal out of the lack of meat, in fact, I am not going to say a thing...and I am going to watch and see if there is a reaction out of him.

Stay-tuned this week...

BTW: I do really love my husband, I swear this isn't punishment for something! But you are thinking the same thing as me...can I pull it off without him knowing? Can YOU pull it off without your hubby or significant other knowing???