A Special food recipe blog

Picadillo news

2007-11-26T08:39:00.000-08:00

Grilled eggplant with miso

2007-11-21T22:39:00.000-08:00

Total cooking time: 25 mins plus
Total servings: 4

3 - eggplants, cut into 2 cm round slices oil, for brushing

75 g - white miso (about 1/4 cup)

2 tablespoons - mirin

2 tablespoons - light soy sauce

2 tablespoons - sugar, sesame seeds, and grated daikon, to garnish

Dressing
60 ml - light soy sauce
1 tablespoon - white vinegar
1 teaspoon - sesame oil
1 tablespoon - mirin
1 teaspoon - sugar

Sprinkle eggplant slices with salt and leave in a colander (30 mins).
Rinse under running water and pat dried with paper towels.
Brush eggplant slices with oil and cook in a hot grill for about 7 - 8 mins on either side.

Place miso, mirin, soy sauce and sugar in a small bowl and mix together.

Reduce grill to low. Brush one side of eggplant with miso mixture and grill for about 2 mins, but be careful not to burn the mixture.

To make dressing, combine the soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, mirin and sugar in a small bowl. Place the finish eggplant on a dish, pour on dressing and garnish with sesame seeds and grated daikon.

How to beat childhood obesity?

2007-11-05T11:22:00.000-08:00

Do you find your kids these days, spending more time on the computer than going to play ball, riding bicycle, or running around the block. And with all the junk food advertisements aiming at children by the media, us parents definitely have our jobs cut out for us.

The bottom line is our lifestyles have changed. We don't walk as much as we used to. We eat pre-packaged or fast foods instead of home cooked meals. And what exercise can compete with video games?

Times have definitely changed but that doesn't mean we have to completely give up. It's just a matter of putting some simple measures into place.

Here are some easy tips to ensure your kids develop a life-long healthy lifestyle.

1. Limit your kids television, computer and video games time. This may not be easy at first, but be persistent. Suggest an activity they can do, or better yet go outside with them and join in. Children learn through example, so if you're all set to go for a bike ride they may just want to join you.

2. Get your kids involved in the family food shopping. Make a list of healthy foods everyone agrees on and point out the health benefits to your kids. You'll be surprised at how open to eating healthy your kids can be. You don't have to drastically cut out the cakes and cookies altogether, but instead let each child choose one item they can enjoy as a special treat. This teaches kids to learn about moderation and that , yes, they can have cookies or chocolates as treats not as regular food staples.

3. Don't super size your kids. Be careful to serve kid appropriate food portions. Remember, if they're not fully satisfied they can simply go back for seconds. Also, teach them to eat slowly and take breaks between mouthfuls to allow the brain to register when it's full.

4. Try to avoid branding any foods as "bad for you". Instead focus on teaching your kids everything can be enjoyed in moderation. This takes the pressure off them and gets rid of the diet mentality which can set them up for a life of yo-yo dieting.

5. Be more active! Simply stated, kids need more activity in their lives. The same goes for all of us, if we eat more calories than we're using up we will gain weight. It's as simple as that. So get out there and make it fun. Try not to use the word "exercise". You want this to be a lifestyle habit not something that has to be done.

6. Be a positive role model. Rather than focusing on changes for your child only, change as a family. Have a family meeting and talk about healthy eating and good nutrition. Explain all the benefits of exercise and let your kids suggest some simple activities you can do together. Start slowly and build up. If you set a good example your kids will eventually follow.

Just remember any change can be difficult at first and you may initially have to put with tears or even temper tantrums, but be persistent. The benefits of a healthy lifestyle will far outweigh any difficulties you may face in getting there. Your kids will thank you for it in the long run....

2007-10-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

Low Fat, Low Carb Baked Tortilla Chip with a Mango Salsa Dressing

Here are a couple of low fat low cholesterol recipes that are just great for sitting around watching television. For this first Baked Tortilla chip recipe that is fast to create in your microwave you will need 12 corn tortilla chips, vegetable oil, and salt. Use the vegetable oil and brush the tortilla shells on both sides, now cut each tortilla chip into 6 separate wedges. Place in a single layer in your microwave. Microwave on high for around 1 � minutes, then turn the wedges and microwave again for another 1 � minutes. Continue turning and cooking at the same intervals until all tortilla chips are crisp. They will become crisper after you remove them from the microwave. Salt the chips after removing them from the microwave. The normal cooking time is around 7 minutes.

The perfect dip for the low fat low cholesterol tortilla chip recipe is the mango salsa recipe which is also low in fat and cholesterol. For this recipe you will need 2 peeled and cubed mangoes, � cup of diced red bell pepper, 3 tablespoons of finely chopped basil, 3 tablespoons of vinegar, 4 teaspoons of lemon juice, 2 finely chopped and de-seeded jalapeno peppers, and salt to taste. Mix together all ingredients in a medium size bowl until well blended. Let the salsa warm to room temperature before serving.

You can use the above recipes and change them just a bit to add new and unique flavors and still keep the recipes low fat and low cholesterol. You can add your favorite cheese as long as your purchase low fat and low cholesterol cheese. You can also replace the jalapeno peppers with ordinary green peppers.

Either way, enjoy these tasty low fat low cholesterol recipes for your snacking pleasure.