Happy Friday!

After a day of 50° temperatures and sun, it snowed last night.  Why, Colorado, why?!  Just kidding, as much as I utterly detest being cold, I don’t mind snowy weather.  Maybe because it makes hot tea, oatmeal breakfasts and wearing comfy clothes that much better?  Who knows.

Anyway, today marks the halfway point for our Food Lover’s Cleanse, so I thought I’d share some thoughts, hopes for next week and favorite meals so far.  Also, sorry to use the word “cleanse,” for what I consider to basically be my usual diet/cooking habits, but on steroids.  It’s Bon Appétit’s word, not mine!

In a nut shell, I’m in love.  Or should I say I’m obsessed?  I’m checking the #BACleanse hashtag on Instagram 929384749586 times a day, I’m looking forward to cooking dinner every single night, I’m posting food pictures at a rate that’s probably annoying every single follower I have and I’m loving every food-filled second.

Joey, on the other hand, probably won’t eat a salad again after next week and I swear I saw him wipe away a tear as he passed up the rum cake and leftover candy in the break room earlier this week.  It’s a much bigger change of pace for him than for me, but he’s being such a trooper.

Both of us, however, have been loving this whole cook-dinner-and-transform-the-leftovers-into-a-lunch-salad-for-the-next-day thing.  Love it in a way that I hope can become a habit that lives on past the end of this “cleanse.”  Also, turns out eating a massive amount of greens at lunch means a salad actually can be filling.  If only I’d known that was the key all along.

As for the actual food, it’s all been amazing.  Like “why is this the first time I’ve used a recipe from BA?!” amazing.  Like “how is there this much flavor without butter, bacon or mass amounts of cheese?!” amazing.  Like “I don’t even miss pasta or pizza!” amazing.  Okay, just kidding, we already decided the new deep dish pizza place that opened last week is the first place we’re going once this cleanse is over.  But aside from pizza cravings (and the mild desire for spontaneous dinners out or occasional coffee shop visits), this meal plan has been totally, completely, 100% satisfying.

Favorites this week have included the Bistro Salad with Roasted Vegetables, Beet Soup with Caraway (that color!), Scrambled Eggs with Caramelized Onions and Chèvre, Mahi-Mahi with Fennel, Olives and Orange (that Joey hated, but I loved) and last night’s Bean and Walnut Salad with Fried Eggs.  Oh and did I mention that Spicy Orange Hazelnut Chocolate Bark?  Gimme.  Gimme all of that.

We’re hitting the store (or two…) again tonight and though I’m super excited for everything on next week’s menu — Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Celery Root with Walnuts and Thyme, Braised Chicken Thighs, Curried Brussels Sprouts — I’m also terrified of that grocery bill.  Wish us luck!