Winning at Tech Week: Part One

Ever have one of those weeks where each and every one of your meals comes from Starbucks? Or, if you're downtown, a combo of Starbucks, then Freshii, then late night McDonalds? I heard your head drop in shame. But friend, know you're not alone.  The plastic cartons you throw into your overflowing messenger bag, the receipts you refuse to look at because you totally could have put the contents of that stupid protein box together for half the price at home, I know. I've been there. And usually it is during what people in my industry call "tech week." The week before opening when you go home to sleep and change clothes but otherwise live on public transportation or in the theater.

I always start the day off so well-intentioned, so I grab pre-packaged things that have greens and proteins and whole grains because inevitably I'm going to get home at midnight and want greasy thai food from the place near my house that's open till 2am.

The Starbucks Hearty Veggie and brown rice salad bowl -- $6.95 

Freshii Mediterranean brown rice bowl - $8.99 + $0.99 extra for chicken, 

WHICH THEY TOTALLY SKIMP ON.

Dude.  If I were to do that for 5 days in a row, in addition to the giant coffees the size of my head throughout the day, I would go broke.  Which is actually what happens almost every single time I'm in a show.  So, this time I decided to do what was economically correct and make giant vats of things that I would normally order at corporate chains. Like a chump. 

Recipes #39 and #40: Ripped Off Starbucks Rice Bowl and Ripped Off Freshii Rice Bowl

Choice of libation:

Crabbie's, the alcoholic ginger beer for horses. And Filipino-American actresses.

Choice of music:

Yeah.  So? What.  

Don't tell me this didn't make you immediately type this into your Spotify account.

First of all, YES. These are my hands despite the lack of chipped off blue nail polish.  

Also, this is a trick I learned from Rachael Ray. I know. I can hear your judgement all the way from Ravenswood. But listen: She taught me that if you have a bunch of little tomatoes, instead of chopping them in half one at a time, put a bunch of them under a plate or tupperware lid to trap them and cut them all at once. MAJOR TIME SAVER. Just watch her show on mute. It's totally worth it.

The Starbuck's rice bowl has a lemon tahini dressing. 

Slightly pretentious? Yes. Delicious? Yes. 

You guys, I love roasted squash.

All those beautiful colors going into my giant salad vat!

Not a euphemism!

Now that's an impressive salad!

Still not a euphemism!

This is everything that I like, ever. I mean. Outside of booze.

I DID NOT SKIMP ON CHICKEN.

$60 worth of meals for $40 worth of groceries and a very enjoyable evening of ginger beer and Ace of Base at home? I would call this winning at tech week.  Hooray!

Hearty Veggie Rice Bowl

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup tahini

1/3 cup lemon juice (juice form about 3 lemons)

4 Tablespoons soy sauce

2 tsp Siracha

4 cups broccoli (save 2 cups for the next recipe)

1 cup shredded red cabbage

2 cups halved cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup pickled sliced beets

2 cup cubed butternut squash

2 cup garden peas

1 bunch of baby spinach (they were out of good kale at the store)

4 cups brown rice (save 2 cups for next recipe)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. Cook the brown rice as you would normally - I used a rice cooker

3. Lightly coat cubed butternut squash, tomatoes and broccoli with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast in oven for 35 minutes or so

4. Stir the tahini, lemon juice, siracha and soy sauce together.

5. Put salad ingredients in a big mixing bowl. Mix that salad.

6. Put the dressing in a tiny container.  They sell these really cool tupperwares now that come with tiny containers already. THEY'VE THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING!

Mediterranean Rice Bowl

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup goat cheese

1 small jar artichoke hearts

2 red bell peppers, diced

1 cup roasted cherry tomatoes (leftover from above)

2 cups broccoli (leftover from above)

1 bunch of baby spinach 

2 cups of diced cooked and seasoned chicken

2 cups brown rice (leftover from above)

1. MIX EVERYTHING IN A BOWL. 

THE END.

(I may be tipsy right now)

(Shhh....)

(Don't turn around)