Having such a great experience at the gym put me in the best mood for dinner. I wanted something uber satisfying, something with a salad, but not a "dinner" salad, you know? While pondering the dressing for some red leaf lettuce we had, I thought, dijon!
Dijon mustard is possibly the world's perfect condiment. It adds a little elegance when slathered onto a burger or hot dog, it's perfect on sandwiches of all varieties, and wouldn't you know it, it's a spectacular marinade!
My father always used Dijon as his go-to for quick and tasty dinners, pairing it with everything from chicken to lamb to a Dijon cream sauce for shrimp. Dijon is so versatile, you can spread it on just about any meat, broil, bake, grill, saute, whatever, and you've got yourself a wonderful, flavorful and elegant meal. Since I was practically bottle fed the stuff growing up, I've always had an affinity for that sharp and tangy taste.
Here, I've used Dijon three ways: Rubbed into chicken breasts with simple salt and pepper, in a paste with garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper for a beautiful pork tenderloin, and finally, in a classic French vinaigrette.Dijon, Three Ways
Simple Salad
serves six
1 Large Head Red Leaf Lettuce
1 Tbsp Dijon
4 Tbsp White Wine Vinegar
4 Tbsp Olive Oil
salt and pepper to taste
method: Clean and dry the lettuce, then chop roughly. In a large bowl, combine Dijon, salt, pepper and vinegar, then stream in olive oil and whisk to emulsify. Toss with lettuce and voila!
Nutrition Information: Calories: 97.9; Total Fat: 9.1 g; Sat Fat: 1.2 g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.8 g; Monounsaturated Fat: 6.6 g; Cholesterol: 0.0 mg; Sodium: 460.6 mg; Potassium: 100.8 mg; Total Carbs: 2.7 g; Fiber: 0.6 g; Sugars: 0.2 g; Protein: 0.7 g
Grilled Dijon Chicken
serves four
1 lb. Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast
2 Tbsp Dijon
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
method: Slather chicken breasts with Dijon, salt and pepper, then grill to perfection, about 15-20 minutes, flipping once. Enjoy!
Nutritional Information: Calories: 135.9; Total Fat: 1.4 g; Sat Fat: 0.4 g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3 g; Monounsatured Fat: 0.3 g; Cholesterol: 66.4 mg; Sodium: 843.4 mg; Potassium: 301.6 mg; Total Carbs: 0.6 g; Fiber: 0.2 g; Sugars: 0.0 g; Protein: 26.5 g
Grilled Dijon and Garlic Pork Tenderloin
serves four
1 lb. Pork Tenderloin, split length-wise
2 Tbsp Dijon
3 Cloves Garlic, finely minced
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
method: In a small bowl, combine Dijon, minced garlic, salt, pepper and olive oil. Stir well, then slather onto the pork tenderloin halves. Grill until done, about 20-25 minutes, or use a meat thermometer (especially for pork, these inexpensive kitchen aids work wonders!). Enjoy!
Nutritional Information: Calories: 236.2; Total Fat: 10.3 g; Sat Fat: 2.9 g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.9 g; Monounsatured Fat: 5.3 g; Cholesterol: 89.7 mg; Sodium: 825.3 mg; Potassium: 501.2 mg; Total Carbs: 0.6 g; Fiber: 0.2 g; Sugars: 0.0 g; Protein: 31.7 g
Here, we've completed this bountiful meal with some simple, whole wheat couscous with garlic and shallots. Easy as pie!
Couscous with Garlic and Shallots
serves eight
2 Cups Dry Whole Wheat Couscous
2 Cups plus a Splash Veggie Broth
3 Tbsp Sliced Shallots
3 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
method: In a tall saucepan, saute garlic and shallots in a splash of veggie broth, seasoning with salt and pepper. Once softened, add the two cups veggie broth and bring to the boil. Once boiling, remove from heat source, stir in the dry couscous, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and let it sit for five minutes. Fluff with a fork and enjoy!
Nutritional information: Calories: 160.3; Total Fat: 0.8 g; Sat Fat: 0.0 g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.0 g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0.0 g; Cholesterol: 0.0 mg; Sodium: 530.2 mg; Potassium: 20.4 mg; Total Carbs: 34.5 g; Fiber: 1.6 g; Sigars: 0.5 g; Protein: 5.5 g
transition into movie time, and finally, fluttering off into sleep. 
