lunch

Recently, I had a pretty bad dental issue that left me out of work for a couple days because of the pain.  My husband being the wonderful fella he is made me homemade chicken salad for lunch to feel better.  Take a look at it how can that not make you feel better.  He used some leftover grilled chicken we had, with a small amount of mayo, celery, and some delicious spices.  

Enjoy !!! 

salad rolls

I think every household has a day each week where if they don't use some of the vegetables they bought at the beginning of the week.  Depending on when your family shops it could be any day of the week.  Every ounce of vegetables I buy each week, mainly because it is the most expensive part of my grocery bill, I use.   The greens from some beets, leftover cabbage, stems from fresh herbs, anything and everything is used.  As long as I know that it's edible and my husband nor I will get sick from it then it goes in the mix.  

Last week this happened to me.  I got to the end of the week and had more than usual for leftovers.  My friend Jenni makes this delicious salad rolls.  I think she uses rice paper wrappers, but I had some leftover napa cabbage that I thought would do the trick.  I also had a handful of matchstick carrots, half a red pepper, a little red cabbage, sliced cucumber, sprouts, basil, green onions, and an avocado.  

So I sliced everything thinly so that they would be easy to roll.  This bounty of color below is what I came up with.  

These are so unbelievably simple.  Just put what you want into each roll and roll it up as best you can.  I would totally recommend these.  Next time, I would just use collard greens, romaine, or rice wrappers.

I also made a dipping sauce to go along with this awesome meal.  I just used what I had on hand a little sesame oil, peanut oil, tamari, lemon juice, sesame seeds, white wine vinegar.  I just kept adding a little here and there until I liked the way it tasted.  

We had these salad rolls with some cooked quinoa and 2 pieces of grilled chicken.  That's it simplicity at its best !!! 

Enjoy !!! 

quick pasta creation

This delicious creamy Alfredo looking meal is a farce for sure.  I really wanted a cheesy creamy Alfredo with chicken and broccoli one night, but what I didn't want was the fat and calories that come with Alfredo.  So onward I went to the kitchen to see what I had for options.  

I found broccoli, chicken, sour cream, Greek yogurt, fresh parsley, Parmesan, a can of chicken broth, and some fat-free evaporated milk.  

Bottomline, I took a medium sauce pan and feeled it out.  I put a little of this and a little of that and tested it along the way.   I also used my immersion hand blender to ensure that the sauce became a frothy thick sauce.   It was worth it for sure.  

Check it out!!! It came out wonderfully.  The lesson of this story is to not be scared from cooking.  That is the best part of cooking.  Testing and trying until you have perfected what you are looking for.  

I added the cooked pasta, steamed broccoli, grilled chicken, some chopped onion, and love...

add some more parm on top and enjoy !!! 

Enjoy !!! 

caprese salad

Caprese salad is one of the most fanciest looking things that you can bring to a party plus it is one of the most easiest and quickest to make ahead of time.   I also love having this salad as a side during the summer.  It brightens up any meal and is much healthier than adding a side that is full of carbs.  I am by no means living a carb-free life, but I do like making adjustments here and there so my husband and I have an overall healthier lifestyle. 

You need a total of 6 things to make this wonderful salad 

• 1 pint of cherry tomatoes 
• 1 package of mozzarella pearls 
• 1 large bunch of basil
• 3 tbs of extra virgin olive oil 
• sea salt 
• cracked pepper 

That's it!!! That's the simplicity of it.  Which is the main reason why I love it so much.  This salad is so balanced and full of everything you need to have balanced, vitamin enriched diet.  

Usually, I chop the cherry tomatoes in half.  I then add in the mozzarella, oil, salt, and pepper to let everything settle together so the flavors can mix up right !! 

Then I get my basil going.  I usually stack the leaves high. 

Then I tightly roll the bunch away from me. 

Then chop/slice every which way to get just the most perfect pieces to my salad.

I usually don't put the basil into right before I am going to serve it.  If it goes in too early the basil has  tendency to brown.  So right before you are going to serve it add that beautiful greenery in.  

My husband and I most recently had a delicious summery dinner with this salad, bbq chicken on the grill (really our George foreman grill, as we are still apartment dwellers), and some corn on the cob (cut off just the way I like it). 


The dinner was perfect in every a summer meal should be. 

Enjoy !!! 

new beans to try

These lovely beans are called borlotti beans or sometimes cranberry beans depending on where you buy them.  They are a delicious alternative to green beans or to combine them for a side dish with green beans like I did below.  

Especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables if there is something I haven't tried before I am a sucker for purchasing so I can expand my knowledge of local veg and fruits.  I combined these cranberry beans with some green beans I had.  I did a version of Jessi's kick butt garlic green beans like you see here.

It's so simple.  Garlic, green beans, in this case cranberry beans, a little celery salt, a little tamari, and some love...

Enjoy !!!

Moving/Leftover Granola

This is one of my most favorite things I have just created in awhile.  It is the best feeling when you throw something together in an effort to use up excess ingredients you have laying around your house.  That is exactly what I wanted to accomplish when I created moving granola. 


First off, I love making my own granola.  It is not only a good way to ensure you are not throwing anything out, but it is a perfect way to create a nutritious breakfast for yourself.  One of my most favorite things to have for breakfast is granola and yogurt. 


It leaves you full all morning long and allows you to get through your morning at work and not want a snack the moment you sit down at your desk. 


So as you know my husband and I just recently moved to Massachusetts.  Before we moved I wanted to still ensure that we were eating properly and not rushing in the morning and making stops at a coffee shop because we weren't preparing in the morning to have a healthy breakfast.  That is where moving granola comes into play.


I started by making a sauce to hold everything together so that when I baked it each and every morsel would be covered with cinnamon sweetness.


Add the following items to a saucepan

• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 brown sugar
• 1/3 cup agave nectar (if you don't have this you can use brown rice syrup or just more honey)
• 1/2 tsp of cardamon
• 1 tsp of cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 tsp of ginger
• and it sounds weird but I added the juice of half a lemon because I had it left and didn't want throw it out and it ended up tasting wonderfully once it was all mixed together.

Melt that all together until the consistency of the sauce is smooth and creamy looking.

Then go into your cupboards and pull out all those half used bags of pecans, dried fruit, oatmeal, and anything else you know belongs in that pot.  For the batch I created I used the following items that I had laying around and just didn't want to pack up and move.

• 2 cups of oatmeal
• 1/2 cup of chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
• 1 cup of almond slivers
• 1/2 cup of peanuts
• 1/2 cup of raisins
• 1 cup of banana chips
• 1/2 cup of diced apricots
• There may have been a few other items in there.  Just make sure you know it will create a balanced flavor between the ingredients of the granola batch.  No crazy mix-ins like gummy worms or anything.

Then pour your sauce all over the mixed ingredients.  Mix this up in a large bowl like you see above so you don't make a mess.  Stir it for awhile so that you can ensure each and every bit has the delicious sauce you concocted.

Then spread it on two baking sheets.  Bake it at 350 for about 20 minutes until it gets all golden brown.  Just keep and eye on it and don't panic you will be able to tell when it's done. 

Then add 1/2 a cup of of yogurt or so into a blow and pour on some of that delicious granola.  It will last for a little over a week in an air tight container. 

Enjoy !!!

Steak Stirfry with Tahini Cilantro dressing

Adapted from:  BitchinCamero 


This is such a well balanced tasty meal.  It is satisfying on so many notes of flavor that you will want to make it again and again for your family.  I found it on a great blog called bitchincamero.  It is a wonderful blog that always has tasty healthful treats on it.  


First start out by slicing your lean steak into strips.  

Then add into your wok or large frypan.  If you have it use a little peanut oil or sesame oil when frying it up.  Then add in 1 bag of shredded carrots, 1 bunch of sliced green onions, and 1 sliced red pepper. 

 

I was a little hesitant about the cilantro tahini dressing on top of this.  I thought it was going to make it overpowering, but to be honest when I put on the recommended about all I wanted to do was add more. 

It is so simple to make.  All you need to do is a one bunch of cilantro, 2-3 tbs of tahini, and 2 tbs of white wine vinegar, and 1/4 cup of olive oil.  

Then add some cooked brown rice to a bowl, throw on some of the steak mixture, and pour on that delicious tahini cilantro dressing.  Enjoy it with a delicious mixed salad and you have yourself one hell of a meal. 

Enjoy !!!

Plantains

Some stores don't have plantains all of the time, but everyone once in awhile you can grab 3/$1.00 or a really wonderful deal.  Plantains are filled with wonderful nutrition. I have yet to use them in cooking, but love them both fried or baked as chips depending on my mood.  They are so tasty.  Once I fry or bake them I sprinkle some sugar (just a little it's all you need to bring out the natural sweetness), cinnamon, nutmeg, and whatever else I feel like. 


Plantains are so unbelievably good for you.  They are filled with potassium, fiber, and full of Vitamin A and D.  


Plantain Nutrition Facts
Serving size, 1 cup slices
*from nutritiondata.com

Calories: 179
fat: 0 g
protein: 1 g
carbs: 48 g
fiber: 4 g
potassium: 20% RDA
vitamin C: 28% RDA
vitamin A: 28% RDA
vitamin B6: 18% RDA
Magnesium: 12% RDA
Folate: 12% RDA
Plantains are a great source of fiber and vitamins C and A. They are also high in vitamin B6, magnesium and folate. One cup of plantains contains more potassium that one cup of banana slices. 20% RDA in plantains compared to 15% RDA in bananas.

These I baked in the oven at 400 degrees for about 1/2 hour or so.  Just keep an eye on them.  I am going to try them mashed in with some sweet potato next. 

How will you try Plantains next? ? 

Enjoy !

Trader Joe's knock off corn and black bean salsa

This recipe is adapted from The Pioneer Woman's Corn and Avocado Salsa


This fresh salsa is to die for.  It is a perfect addition to taco salad night in my house.  Plus it is so easy to make and comes a close second to the infamous trader joe's black bean and corn salsa.


Really, this is the ideal addition to any end of summer meal.   


I adapted it a little from the recipe idea I took it from mainly because I wanted to add beans to it.  
It is so simple are you ready???

A whole bag of frozen, but defrosted corn. 

Then you chop up one avocado 2 if your me.  I can't handle just 1 avocado 2 are a must !!! Next, you must chop up 1 large ripe tomato and 1 red onion. 


Then drain and rinse 1 can of black beans and add it to the mix. 





















Then add 1-2 large limes, juiced plus a huge bunch of cilantro chopped.  Finally, add in 1 tsp of salt, 1 tbs of sugar, and salt to taste. 





















Enjoy !!!