A Thing or Two

Kale Chips

2011-02-05T23:07:00.000-08:00

You know that you're deprived when you resort to bitter greens as a snack. Yes, I am still going strong on the diet and actually enjoying the fact that I have to get REALLY creative in order to enjoy my food. Besides the lean protein, I'm going off of a small list of low glycemic and low carb veggies that have their limit too. The only food I'm allowed to eat freely is lettuce and other leafy greens. I'd heard the words "kale chips" once before and decided to see they were all about.

Lacinato Kale

It was Brianna's birthday on Saturday and I knew that would mean I’d be surrounded my tasty little appetizers and desserts. I knew that if I wanted to go to this party I was going to have to come up with something I could snack on. So I went to the store and purchased about three bunches of "curly kale". I brought it home, rinsed it well with veggie wash, cut, tossed and baked. Oh how I wish I had experimented before bringing it to a party. WAY to salty and soggy. Not the taste I was going for. My mistake? Not drying the kale enough before baking. Not to mention that when I laid it out on the baking sheet it was overflowing, then shrunk down to about half after baking.

I knew there was hope for kale chips and I was determined to make it work. So this time I went to another market where they had “Lacinato Kale”, a smoother version. I cleaned and cut it into pieces and put them in a large baggie with paper towels to soak up extra water. After it was all said and done, it turned out great! They are so addicting. I made it again a few days ago when I had friends over with the intention of sharing of course. It didn't exactly turn out that way. The few chips that my guests were able to try made a great impression. Everyone felt guilty eating the only thing I was aloud to snack on, or maybe it was the fact that I placed the bowl in front of me and never took my eyes off of it. It was funny how everyone was teasing me for my boring snack and then quickly changed their tune. Ha! Even the guys wanted more. So there you have it, you don't need greasy potato chips after all.

2 Kale Bunches, cut into smaller pieces

1 Tbs. Olive Oil

Sea Salt, Pepper and Chili Pepper

Parchment Paper

Preheat oven to 350

Place parchment paper down on baking sheet

Toss kale, olive oil and seasonings in large bowl

Bake for about 15-20 mins, or until crispy

Remove from oven and serve

Serves 3-5 (or one)

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, Ideal Protein Approved

Raw Ginger Dressing

2011-01-28T01:26:00.000-08:00

***Revised 2.5.11***
(I made this again tonight and made a few changes. I wanted it to be a lot thicker, less oil and more ginger.)

Like I sad in my last post, I’ve been on a specific, strict diet/cleanse that only allows lean protein, certain low glycimic veggies, olive oil and a few more items. I’ve been more disciplined in the last week and a half then I’ve ever been. It has really made me realize how many hidden sugars are in almost everything we eat.

I went out to sushi with some friends over the weekend in hopes that I could politely explain to the chef my food restrictions without 1) Looking like “that girl” and 2) having to eat sheets of seaweed all night. It really helped that one of my girlfriends, that was with me, is also on the same program so we could yell at each other when ever we reached for someone else's rice covered roll. The chef was nice enough to make up a few rolls using a only a variety of yummy, fresh sashimi. Then being as hungry as I was and knowing that ginger is on the “approved” list of foods, I ordered a house salad with ginger dressing. Innocent enough I thought. In fact my friend ordered two and what’s the more is we ordered a side of dressing to dip our sashimi in. It was like candy! Ginger never tasted so good. And when I was all done and filled to the brim, I decided it was a good time to find out what the ingredients were. All I heard was, “Ketchup, Sugar, Peanut Oil..”. Really!? Awesome. Again, a great reminder that we have no idea what we are eating even when we are trying to be healthy.

I was determined to create my own ginger dressing. Being that I made mine in the Blendtec, it turned out to be a creamy ginger dressing. Its made eating two salads a day something to look forward to. If you don’t own a billion dollar blender, just mince all of the ingredients and blend them in a regular blender.

3/4 c. Ginger, fresh and peeled

1/4 c. Onion

2 Celery Stalk

1/2 Garlic Clove

1/3 c. Olive Oil

1/2 c. Apple Cider Vinegar

4 tea. Braggs Liquid Aminos (or soy sauce)

1/2 tea. Stevia

1 Lemon, juice

1/2 tea Sea Salt

1/4 tea. Ground Pepper

Mix all of the ingredients together in the blender until well blended.

Serves 20

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, Raw

Blendtec Joytec

2011-01-21T23:47:00.000-08:00

Let me start off by apologizing in advance for all of the upcoming “Blendtec” recipes you will endure. Oh yes folks, you heard it right..I own a Blendtec! Isn’t that incredible news?!?! Okay, I’m sure most of you aren’t quite as excited as I am assuming you’ve never laid your eyes on one of these babies and experienced all the wonder that is Blendtec. Don’t be surprised on your next visit to Costco if you see me with a tiny little microphone strapped to my head while standing in a sea of Blendtec boxes, harassing all of the patrons to “come have a look!” in a British accent. I should be getting a commission check from those people every time I fit the word “Blendtec” into my daily conversations.

It all started about 5 years ago while at a spa/esthetic convention, I was drawn away from the brazilian waxing booth when I heard the words “ice cream in 60seconds!”. Yep, it was that easy. They were selling the “Vita-mix”, a $500 blender that could do anything. In a matter of 5 mins, they made ice cream, chicken tortilla soup, a smoothie and something else. I thought of all the wonderful things I could make (almond butter, raw veggie soup, hummus, green drinks and more. Really this would be a good investment for my health. I knew right then that one day I too would be the proud owner of such a device. At the time I was juicing my fruits and veggies but was frustrated with the fact that I was discarding much of the nutrients that are in the pulp, seeds and rind. I was also making green smoothies in the morning but could only use a few veggies that I know would blend well. Then later I added that little food processor I was telling you about. I think I’ll hold on to that one for the small jobs.

Over the years I’ve done plenty of research to make sure the Vita-mix was the way to go. Through all of the reviews, I came to the conclusion that it’s competitor, Blendtec, was the best choice. The week before christmas I was spending my last pennies at Costco when I saw the ‘One Armed Bandit’ demoing the $400 Blendtec. Although I had included this on my xmas wish list every year, I figured santa wasn’t going to spend the big bucks on a blender. It was too bad I didn’t have the money on hand because if purchased from a demo, you get a 7 year extended warranty. The good news is that I collected enough cash and returnable gifts this year to go buy me my own suppa powwa blenda! I called the company to make sure the whole “extended warranty” claim was legit. Indeed it was and I tracked down the ‘One Armed Bandit’ at a Costco just 30mins out of town, in a place where beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano. Costco of San Juan Capistrano.

I’ve been on a special detox/diet this week that only allows me to have certain veggies and chicken or fish in addition to other special protein foods. I must say, eating 2 cups of veggies with every meal isn’t easy. But it’s been effortless when blended with ice, mint, ginger and vanilla protein for a green smoothie or chicken and seasonings for a hot and hearty soup (that is still considered raw minus the chicken of course). I’m in veggie heaven. So as I sit here enjoying my tasty chicken soup that I made within 5 mins of getting home from work, I thought to myself, “This is something I need to share with the world!”, whether or not they care. So while I’m on this detox (losing 10lbs in two weeks), the only recipes that you will see will be the most creative I can get with a very limited diet. P.S Feel free to ask me about the diet if you are curious.

Indian Eggplant Turkey Burger

2011-01-11T01:42:00.000-08:00

Indian is by far my favorite cuisine. I get so excited when I meet indian people and ask them for their secret family recipes. The ones I’ve met lately are a bit americanized, so unfortunately they don’t have all of maa-ta-jee’s recipes memorized. I honestly think I scared my new buddy that I made last week at 711 around the corner. When I found out he was indian I had 20 questions for him before I realized that I was holding up the line. That’s when he suggested I come back on saturday when his mom was working, which was two days ago, oops. As I explained before, I wasn’t in the best condition to leave the house this weekend. But there is always next!

I was in the mood for Indian food and figured tonight was just as good as any to attempt my first indian dish. I’ve always hesitated because I know that to make an authentic Indian meal, it would take all day (and more) and a lot more spices then I own... Baby steps. The burger turned out great, the eggplant could have been sliced thiner and feta would have been a better choice for cheese. I made curry cauliflower on the side but didn't love it enough to post the recipe, I’ll have to work on that one. My little $35 food processor came in handy tonight. First, I used it for mincing the onion, then I threw the mint, cilantro and garlic in and cut the prep time by about 5 mins. I topped the burger with the left-over Yogurt Avocado dip I made last night for the sweet potato fries. Oh, and this was all done in my toaster oven on “Grill”. I found out the hard way that the propane tank under the BBQ was out. It turned out fine but I do love those grill marks you get from the real deal.

1 lb. Ground Turkey

1 Onion, minced

1/4 c. Mint, finely chopped

1/4 c. Cilantro, finely chopped

2 Garlic Cloves, minced
1/2 tea. Sea Salt
1/2 tea. Pepper

1/2 tea. Ground Ginger

1/2 tea. Turmeric

1/2 tea. Paprika

1/2 tea. Cumin

1/4 tea. Cinnamon

1 Eggplant, cut into 8 slices

4 Slices Provolone Cheese or Feta

1/4 Onion, thinly sliced

In large bowl add Turkey, Onion, Mint, Cilantro, Garlic and Spices and mix well with (clean) hands.
Even out mixture in bowl and separate into fours by drawing a X with your finger (just an idea)
Shape into 4 patties
Place patties and Eggplant onto grill and cook for 10 mins on each side
Top patties with Cheese and Onions.

Serves 4

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, No Butter

Mango Mint Lassi

2011-01-11T01:24:00.000-08:00

To accompany the Indian burgers of course.

2 1/2 c. Plain Yogurt

2 1/2 c. Frozen Mango (Trader Joes)

2 tbs. Agave Nectar

2 tbs . Mint

Place all ingredients in blender and blend!

Serves 4

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, Vegetarian

Butternut Squash Chicken Tacos

2011-01-10T02:13:00.000-08:00

This turned out to be the main dish for Betania’s birthday dinner. It was ending up to be a low-protein menu so I decided to add chicken to the mix. A good thing about this recipe is that you can omit the chicken if needed and it’s a great vegetarian dish. I ate the left-overs the next day without the tortilla, and it made for a good meal. If I had planned for this in the beginning I would’ve made it with rice instead of roasted veggies.

1 Roasted Chicken

1 Garlic Clove, minced

3 c. Chicken Broth

8 Chicken breasts

1/4 c. Water

1 Red Onion

1 10 oz. can Enchilada Sauce

1/2 tea. Cumin

1/2 tea. Cinnamon

1/4 tea. Chipotle

1 Butternut Squash, halved

1 can Corn

1/2 tea. Sea Salt

1 can Black Refried Beans

1 Lime

Cilantro

12 Corn Tortillas (Gluten Free)

Pre-heat oven to 350
Heat large pot on medium heat
Add Broth and Garlic and bring to a boil
Add Chicken, reduce heat and cover for about 30
( Start here if you are using a Roasted chicken)
Remove Chicken and shred, using two forks
In large pan, saute Onion and add Enchilada Sauce, Water, Chicken, Spices and simmer
In Medium sauce pan, heat Corn
In separate pan, heat Black Beans
Cut Squash in half and place face up on baking pan
Place in oven and bake for 45 mins, or until tender
Remove and spoon over Corn and add Salt and stir
Spoon Chicken mixture into Tortilla, top with Squash mixture, then Beans and Cilantro and Lime.

Serves 8-12

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, No Butter, Can be Vegetarian

Mint Zucchini Quiche

2011-01-08T23:45:00.000-08:00

I decided to attempt my first quiche today. I’ve found myself ordering it at least once a week at Pannikin, but I always leave feeling guilty for the amount of butter, gluten and cheese I end up ingesting. I wasn’t quite sure how this was going to turn out. I didn’t have any gluten-free flour on hand so I decided to use rice bread. I pulled out all the ingredients that sounded good together, cooked them up and added enough eggs and milk to cover everything. Sadly, I couldn’t figure out if the eggs were going to expand and if I was going to have an egg mountain when it was said and done. I pulled out this little baking dish I had found at Ross a few months ago (9"x6"). It was cute and affordable so I purchased it (a sad addiction I’m afraid) . It seemed to be the perfect size for my experimental quiche. Obviously you won't be using the same odd sized dish, so just add more of everything to fill it up.

Everything turned out great, even the rice bread held to its soft, chewy consistency. I didn't realize until after I was done that there seems to be a pattern in most of my egg dishes (zucchini, spinach and sun dried tomatoes). I guess that’s what I always seem to have stocked in the fridge.

1/2 tbs. Olive Oil

1/2 Zucchini, thinly sliced

2 tbs. Sun Dried Tomatoes

2 c. Fresh Baby Spinach (with stems removed)

6 Slices Rice Bread

3/4 c. Mint

4 Eggs

1/4 c. Milk (I used rice milk, but any would do)

Salt/Pepper

3 tbs. Goat Cheese

Pre heat oven to 350

In small sauce pan, add oil, zucchini and sun dried tomatoes.
Saute until zucchini is soft.
Add spinach and mint and cook until both are soft
Add a pinch of salt and pepper
Cut the crust off of the rice bread and place into the baking dish.
Coat the entire dish, including the sides with the bread pieces, cutting smaller pieces to fit.
Spoon vegetable mixture onto bread.
Beat eggs and milk in small bowl and pour over veggies
Place into oven and bake for 30 mins
Remove and top with goat cheese

Serves 3-4

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, No Butter, Vegetarian

Apple Beet Spinach Salad

2011-01-08T23:24:00.000-08:00

I served this along side the Mint Zucchini Quiche and they complemented one another. I thought it was strange at first, but then again I talk to my food all the time.

1/2 tea. Coconut Oil (olive oil works)

1/2 c. Walnuts

1 tbs. Honey

1 Apple, thinly sliced

3 Baby Beets, ( pre-steamed & peeled, I get mine from Trader Joes) sliced

4 c. Baby Spinach

3 tbs. Orange Champagne Vinegar (Trader Joes)

1/4 c. Goat Cheese

In medium bowl toss apples and beets
In small pan, heat oil on medium
Add walnuts and cook for about 5 mins
Add honey and cook an additional 2 mins, stirring frequently
Add to apple and beet mixture
In larger bowl, toss spinach and orange vinegar
Mix all ingredients together and spoon onto dishes
Top with goat cheese and serve

Serves 2-3

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, No Butter, Vegetarian

Tangerine Mint Spritzer

2011-01-08T23:19:00.000-08:00

1 Lime, Juice

1 Tangerine

1/4 c. Mint

Ice

8 oz, Sparkling Water

Add Lime Juice, Tangerine and Mint to each glass and press with fork
Top with ice and sparkling water and serve

(to sweeten, add a bit of Agave or Honey to mixture, before adding ice)

Serves 2

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, Vegan

Sweet Potato Wedges

2011-01-07T20:15:00.000-08:00

I was in the mood for some sweet potato fries as a little snack before dinner. I can honesty say that I''ve spent the majority of my day in the kitchen. 'Party of one please'. After all, I had 4 days to kill. Oh yes, you heard that right. 4 long days of not leaving the house. Why, one may ask? Well being a medical Esthetician I like to experiment with things like lasers and acid. I know, sounds like a party. So I made a little trip to Trader Joes and grabbed everything that could fit into the the friedge (sorry roommies). I don’t love the way the dip looks, but it does taste good. Remember, the larger the wedges, the longer they will need to cook. Serve with some ice cold Stone IPA ,(just a suggestion) and enjoy:)

Sweet Potato Wedges

6 Small or 3 Lrg Sweet Potatoes

3 tbs. Olive Oil

2 tea. Sea Salt

1 tea. Black Pepper

1/2 tea. Chili Powder

1/2 tea. Chipotle

1/2 tea. Cinnamon

1/2 tea. Cumin

Preheat oven to 450
Cut potatoes into wedges.
Place in bowl and toss with Olive Oil.
In separate small bowl mix spices and then toss in with potatoes
Lay foil on baking sheet
Spread out potatoes evenly
Place in oven and bake until potatoes are golden brown, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes.
Let cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

Avocado, Parmesan Yogurt Dip

1/2 c. Plain Yogurt

1/2 Avocado

1 Garlic Clove

3 tbs. Parmesan Cheese

Sea Salt

In food processor add all ingredients and blend well.
Garnish with avocado so people know why this dip is green.

Serves 2-3

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, No Butter, Vegetarian

Cold Fighter Offer

2011-01-06T21:56:00.000-08:00

Sick again. Ask any of my childhood coaches, catching a ball was never my thing. Catching a cold? Now that’s another story. Being sick is no fun, except for the whole movie marathon, napping, snacking, lazing part. But the problem is that I must return to work tomorrow and I have no other choice than to kick this thing. I’m not one for prescription meds so besides the ol’ natural supplements from Jimbo's (Wellness Formula which I highly recommend) I had to come up with something to boost my immune system. I knew that I could find something around the kitchen to throw in the Blendtec. I started pulling out all of the immune boosting foods like garlic, berries, broccoli, etc. and decided to blend them all together. What was the worst that could happen? I could just toss it and make it again. But no, it worked! I know it sounds crazy but it actually tasted great. I'd even eat this when I'm feeling normal again. Just make sure you don’t have some big date planned that evening, a whole clove of raw garlic isn’t the most attractive thing. I just hope it doesn’t stay with me for my clients tomorrow (sorry guys). So take my word for it on this one and give a shot.

1 c. Ice

½ c. Water

1 Lemon, juiced

1 Orange, juiced

4 Strawberries, Frozen or Fresh

4 Pineapple chunks, Frozen or Fresh

½ C. Broccoli

1 Garlic Clove

½ tbs Ginger (or ginger powder)

1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1 tsp. Honey

Lemon, Orange, Strawberries & Broccoli- Vitamin C immune boosters, increase body resistance, decrease toxicity and reduce the duration of the illness

Honey- Contains a variety of flavonoids and phenolic acids as anti-oxidants and an effective throat soother.

Garlic- Garlic contains antiseptic and antispasmodic properties, besides several other medicinal qualities.

Ginger & Pineapple - Stimulates circulation and helps clear your sinuses and lungs of mucus.

Cayenne Pepper -Reduces fever and utilizes chemicals to block stronger pain with weak pain signals. (like white willow and it’s synthetic version, Aspirin)

Spanish Bruschetta

2011-01-03T13:36:00.000-08:00

Tonight we celebrated Betania’s birthday with a few close friends and a couple Modelo’s. Her favorite cuisine seems to be Mexican/Spanish so it gave me somewhere to start. When thinking of an appetizer, Bruschetta kept coming to mind and I figured I could change a few ingredients to make it fit onto the menu. I really must say, I hate to brag, but YUM!! Who would have thought this would be so good? If you are going to try any of these recipes and you are looking for a good appetizer, I encourage you to give this a try.

I recently enjoyed a balsamic reduction and a gourmet restaurant and assumed it was difficult to make. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I’m planning to use it on many more recipes. I'd suggest using the entire bottle of balsamic (will reduce by about half) and pore it into a small jar or jug to have on hand for the future.

What you will need

¾ c. Balsamic Vinegar

½ French Bread Baguette, sliced (into about 20 pieces)

½ c. Olive Oil

2 Garlic Cloves, Minced

12 oz Queso Fresco, thinly sliced (about 20 pieces)

4 Roma Tomatoes, diced

2 Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce Puréed or finely chopped.

¼ c. Cilantro

1/8 c. Olive oil

Balsamic Reduction

Pour the balsamic vinegar into small saucepan.
Heat pan to high.
Whisk briskly and constantly to prevent burning.
Reduce by half, or until the vinegar takes on a syrupy quality.

Pre-heat oven to broil on high.
Place bread on baking pan.

Mix oil and garlic in small bowl.
Brush the top of the bread with oil and garlic mixture. Place in oven and broil for about 7 mins or until the edges turn slightly brown.
Remove from oven and top with cheese slices.
Return to oven for 5 mins and remove from heat
Mix tomatoes, chipotle purée, cilantro and olive oil.
Top bread with tomato mixture.
Drizzle with balsamic reduction and serve immediately.

Serves 10-15

Vegetarian, But Not So Healthy

Sun Dried Tomato & Leek Scramble

2010-12-19T13:30:00.000-08:00

This morning I was in the mood for eggs with a little flavor and greens. It would have been good topped with avocado but there was none to be found. I enjoyed it with a side of toasted rice bread and topped with coconut oil (inspired by Rheanna), mmm mmm good.

1 Garlic Clove, Minced

¼ c. Sun Dried Tomatoes

½ Leek, Chopped

½ Zucchini, Chopped

6 Eggs

½ c. Baby Spinach

¼ c. Basil

Pinch Salt, Pepper

Spray pan with non-stick oil
Sauté garlic, tomatoes, leeks & zucchini
Add eggs, spinach, basil, salt & pepper
Scramble and serve topped with salsa & avocado

Serves 2

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, No Butter, Vegetarian

Wild Rice Cranberry Pecan Salad

2010-12-15T14:33:00.000-08:00

I’ve always loved wild rice salad, but as healthy as it sounds, it’s typically made with a lot of sugar, butter and mayo. So this is my healthier version. I couldn’t find any green onions at the store (Trader Joes), so I used a leek and it did the job.

1 c. Brown Jasmine & Wild Rice Mixed

2 c. Water

½ tea. Sea Salt

½ c. Dried Cranberries ( Orange flavored are good too)

½ c. Chopped Pecans (place in large baggie and crush with a bottle)

¼ c. Chopped Green Onions

1 tbsp. Lemon Juice

1 tea. Grated Orange Peel or 2 tbs. Orange Juice

1 ½ tbsp. Olive Oil

½ tbsp. Agave Nectar

1 Pinch Sea Salt & Black Pepper

Rinse rice well
Say the above aloud 3x really fast
Bring water to a boil, add salt and rice.
Reduce heat to low and cover
Cook for 50mins (do not stir or uncover)
In small bowl, mix lemon juice, oil, orange peel/juice, agave, salt and pepper to taste.
Remove rice from heat, uncover, stir and let cool to room temperature.
In medium bowl, mix rice, cranberries, pecans & onions
Add lemon/oil mixture, toss and chill

Can be served immediately but tastes even better after being chilled for at least 2 hours.

Serves 4-6

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, No Butter, No Dairy,Vegan

Pegboard Wall for Kitchenware

2010-12-11T16:36:00.000-08:00

‘Hey Brittany, what did you do on Saturday night?’ You know you have a problem when you ditch all plans to work on a project for your kitchen. Ok, so I admit it, I have issues. But I’m sure you all have been standing by, waiting for an update, so here it is. My apologies for the lack of posts, but life has been wonderfully busy.

I’d like to tell you that this was a necessity but in reality all of my pots and pans were just fine where they were. I am, however, looking forward to the convenience of having all essential cooking tools ready for action. Luckily this project didn’t break the bank and I was able to run around Home Depot with a purpose.

I was excited to get everything started last weekend. I drove to the store and gathered all that I needed, including the 8x4 ft pegboard, and brought it to the cutting station at HD. I walked up to the guy with big clear goggles and gave him my dimensions. He looked at me with regret in his eyes and said, “Sorry, miss, the big saw just broke. Come back in a few days.” With shoulders drooped I returned the items to their homes and left. Days later, after hearing the good news of a repaired saw, I returned.

(A little shout out to Ryan for suggesting the stud frame. Not sure how I was planning to hang anything from a board that was mounted flush to the wall.)

Measure the area where you plan to mount your pegboard. Take the dimensions to the hardware store and have the board and studs cut accordingly (2 of the studs being the length of the board and 2 the width, minus 4 inches.) Lay the studs down in a frame shape on the ground, place board over frame (rough side down), line up studs and secure them together by nailing about every foot, all around. Mount board to wall and paint it and the surrounding wall (if you so desire). Insert hooks and hang your pots, pans and other kitchen goods.

Attempting to straighten

a steel S hook.

After starting the project, I was thinking about how smoothly everything was going.... until I ran into a little issue with the S hooks that I purchased. They just wouldn’t fit without having to bend one side. So after a bit of research I realized that they actually make special hooks just for a pegboard..who knew??

These are the items you will need:

Pegboard
“Studs” (for the frame)
Pegboard Hooks
Paint
Paint Roller and Tray
Nails (small, to secure studs and board)

After

Before

Large screws

Cost: $42

Goat Cheese with Plum & Jalapeño Jam

2010-08-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

My dear client Phoebe dropped off a few jars of her famous homemade plum jam, straight from her own tree. I was looking forward to getting my precious jar from her this year and ended up with three! Oh the possibilities are endless with these jars of goodness. I’ve been attempting to put it on everything: oatmeal, rice cakes & almond butter, cottage cheese, ice cream, etc. So when I received an invite to a potluck event this evening I knew I had to incorporate it into something.

This dish quickly became a lot simpler than I had planned it to be. My original thought was rolling the goat cheese in crushed macadamia nuts. But with my luck, they ended up spilling on the ground during the photo shoot (a bit camera shy I suppose). After standing over them in shock for a few seconds, I decided to move on.

I realized today how unwilling I am to except the fact that summer is over. I was a bit disturbed while walking through Target, with the already filled isles of Thanksgiving and Christmas paraphernalia. I couldn’t even get away from it in my own kitchen! I suppose I hadn’t thought enough about my color scheme before planning for this recipe. It went from summer appetizer to Christmas log, a red and green neon mess. So there you have it, I’m a sell out just like the rest of ‘em. Of course, the important thing here is that it tasted fabulous and it was very easy to prepare. So I have no idea how it would have tasted with the macadamia nuts but I’ll add it into the recipe anyway, to show my respects.

So enjoy, any time of the year.

1 12oz Goat Cheese Roll

¼ C Macadamia Nuts, Chopped (or placed in a plastic bag and beat to a bloody pulp)

3 tbsp. Plum or other fruit Jam

2 tbsp. Jalapeño jam

Roll goat cheese in the chopped nuts and top with jam. Yep, it’s that easy.

Serve with crackers and fruit (plums, grapes, strawberries)

No Butter, Vegetarian

Cucumber Pear Salad

2010-08-12T00:38:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning to the sun shining through my window (sky lights) and the birds chirping (well I couldn’t exactly hear them, but I’m sure they were). The new day called for a new summer recipe. I didn’t have much time before work so this had to be a quick one. I spotted my victims and came up this this lil ditty. Simple, fresh and cool (that should be the name of my next hip hop trio). This served me well as a snack but it would also be good as a salad before a main course or along side some chilled salmon.

Cucumber Pear Salad

2 Cucumbers, pealed & thinly sliced

2 Pears, pealed & thinly sliced

1 Lime, juice

½ Mint, chopped

Mix all of the ingredients together and serve chilled.

Serves 5

Gluten Free, Raw, No Refined Sugar, No Butter, Vegan, FLT

Texas Turkey Chili

2010-08-09T23:14:00.000-07:00

Although today actually felt like summer, I decided to make soup, my Texas Chili to be exact. I knew the week ahead was going to be a busy one so I wanted to be prepared. I always make a large portion of this and separate it into containers to freeze. It tastes just as good if not better the next time I heat it up. Of course it’s also great to serve guests with warm corn bread right out of the oven.

1 lb. Turkey, ground

1 Red Onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, crushed

3 Zucchini or Yellow Squash, chopped

1 can (16 oz) Pinto Beans, drained

1 can (16 oz) Red Kidney Beans, drained

1 can (16oz) White Kidney Beans, drained

1 can (16 oz) Corn

1 can (32 oz) Crushed tomatoes

2 c. Water

2 tbs. Cilantro, chopped

2 1/2 tbs. Mexican Chili Powder

2 tbs Cumin

½ tea Oregano

1 tea Paprika

1/4 tea Black Pepper, ground

½ tea Sea Salt

In large pot, brown turkey and drain.
Add onions and garlic and cook 5 mins on med heat.
Add remaining ingredients, cover and bring to boil.
Turn heat to low and cook 45 mins.
Top with Avocado, Cilantro and Sour Cream if you so desire.

Serves 8

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, No Butter, Can be Vegetarian

Rum Banana Pear & Ginger Berry Lime Topping

2010-08-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

Cold, creamy, rich ice cream on a warm summer evening. Ok well I can dream can’t I? We haven’t seen much sun at all this summer, they say it’s been the worst summer in years. I’ll admit to being spoiled but that doesn’t make it better. With good friends around I quickly forget about my summertime blues.

It was our friend Russell’s birthday last evening. I planned to bring the ice cream, but I needed to come up with something quick and tasty to top it with. Something sweet and rich and another fresh and tangy. I found the bag of frozen mixed berries and knew this was going to be an easy one. I made the two toppings over the stove in about 15 mins from start to finish then picked up the ice cream on my way. The perfect dessert if you’re in a hurry!

Rum Banana Pear

Coconut Spray

2 Pears, peeled & sliced

2 Bananas, sliced

3 tbs. Dark Rum

1 tbs. Agave

¼ tea. Cinnamon

Ginger Berry Lime

1 ½ c. Frozen mixed berries

2 tbs. Agave

½ Lime, juice

½ tea. Ginger powder

Vanilla Ice Cream (Soy if preferred)

In smaller saucepan add all of the berry ingredients and cover over medium heat.
In medium saucepan over medium heat, spray with coconut oil and add pears & bananas.
Add remaining ingredients.
Cook both for 10 mins, stirring occasionally.
Serve in separate bowls to top vanilla ice cream.
Garnish berry topping with mint or a lime wedge.

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, No Butter, Can be Vegan

Spicy Honey Polenta & Brussel Sprout Mint Salad

2010-08-05T23:16:00.000-07:00

Polenta. Polenta. Polenta. It has really found its way into my recipes lately. It wasn’t until recently that I gave it a chance. Rheanna once cooked me up one of her fabulous dinners, which of course included polenta and I was sold. You might start to see a pattern in my dishes, sweet & spicy. I’ve been trying to get creative with my recipes since I discovered my allergy to gluten. This recipe is fit for 3 (the amount or mouths I was feeding tonight). A smaller portion but still very filling. And for a light dessert, dark chocolate covered goji berries from Henrys. My sweet tooth is surly satisfied.

Coconut oil cooking spray

10 Brussels Sprouts, halved

1 c. Corn

1 c. Grape Tomatoes

3/4 c Mint or Basil, chopped

2 tbs. Honey

¼ tea. Chili Powder

9 Polenta, thick slices

Salt/Pepper

Heat saucepan on medium heat and spray with Coconut Oil.
Add Brussels sprouts and a pinch of salt/pepper.
Cook for 5 mins then add Mint, Tomatoes, Corn and cook until Sprouts are soft.
In separate pan, heat coconut oil on med heat.
Pour honey in pan and sprinkle with chili powder.
Place polenta slices evenly on pan and cook 7 mins on each side.

Serves 3

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, No Butter, Vegan

Tropical Mango Avocado Salsa

2010-08-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

I was in the mood for salmon last week. I love my salmon a little sweet and a little spicy. I made it with grilled bananas and quinoa this time. I usually have the Mango Papaya Salsa from Trader Joes, but being the hot item that it is, I can’t seem to keep it on the shelf. So I decided I’d create my own, as healthy and easy as possible. I was excited to use a few things from my garden (which, by the way, is thriving thanks to those water spheres).

Salmon with Quinoa
& Grilled Bananas

I always have a variety of frozen fruits on hand for my Green Smoothies (that just might be the next post). So I grabbed a saucepan and tossed in a few things that sounded right together. It was perfect for the salmon, but I could still have kicked up the spicy. I decided to recreate it before telling the world how it was done. I made it again tonight to top a chicken quesadilla. This can be served on top of a variety of dishes: fish, chicken, toasted baguette, tacos, etc.

1/3 Red Onion, chopped

1 c. Mango frozen chunks, cut into small pieces

Chicken & Mozzerela Quesadilla
w/ Brown Rice Tortillas

1/2 c. Pineapple frozen chunks, cut into small pieces

1 tea. Agave Nectar

½ Lime, juice

¼ tea. Chili Powder

3 Chives, chopped

1 tbs. Basil, chopped

1 tbs. Cilantro

1 Avocado, cubed

Heat pan on medium/low and spray with Coconut Oil.
Add Onions, Mango and Pineapple and cook, covered for 5 mins.
Add Agave, Lime Juice, Chili, Chives, Cilantro, Basil and cook an additional 10 mins.
Remove from pan and toss with Avocado.

Serves 2-4

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, No Butter, Vegan

Camping Cuisine

2010-08-01T23:56:00.000-07:00

Ahh camping, how I love thee. We took a trip up to Idyllwild this weekend. I was looking forward to a weekend of no phone service, fishing, stars, no showers, hiking, bonfires, s'mores, cold beer and cigars. We left early Saturday morning, after an evening of preparing the food for the trip. Our reservations were made through “Reserve America”, not recommended. Maybe it’s a good idea to see what’s available, but I’d advise you to call the campsite directly. We loaded up the cars and hit the road. In only a little over 2 hours we arrived… to a Boy Scout camp. Luckily we were surrounded by Boy Scouts so they were enthusiastic about putting their skills to work and help us out in anyway they could. I mean they had to, its mandatory right? They pointed us to another site down the street, where the ranger pointed us to another and then another.

Finally we found what we were looking for, but it would have been nice if they had given us the right address from the start. So we pull up to check-in and discover that we weren’t at just any old campsite, oh no. This was “resort camping” (Thousand Trails) Cabins, horseback riding, ice cream socials, wine tasting, live music, a pool, bathrooms & showers and no bonfires. With smiles on their faces, they gave us a map and sent us on our way to pick out our own spot. We found a few, surrounded a bunch of resort dwellers, giving us looks as if to say “oh no, you kids better not cause any trouble, we’ll be watching you”. That’s when Andrew, an employee, showed up in his golf cart to find us standing there looking at one another. He told us about another area he thought we might be interested and led the way. It was nearly untouched land, literally no one in sight on all sides of us. We were on the highest point of the mountain with a breathtaking view. He went on his way and reminded us to watch out for the rattlesnakes. So clearly I went exploring, it was amazing. I stood there for a few mins, looking around trying to take it all in, when I glanced down near my right foot to see a snake curled up and waiting to greet me. Now I was camping.

Okay about the food, I decided to prepare all that I could before hand at home and it really cut down on prep time and preparation supplies later on. I also wanted to come up with some way to use all of the delicious tomatoes that my boss gave us from her garden. We decided to split things up, so I only had two meals to plan for. Our friends, Scott and Beth Anne, made scrumptious turkey burgers and potato fries for dinner.

Lunch: Wasabi Turkey Croissant & Caprese Cucumber Salad

Wasabi Turkey Croissant

Croissant

Wasabi Mayo (Trader Joes)

Sliced Goat Cheese (TJ)

Romaine Lettuce

Turkey

Avocado

Caprese Cucumber Salad

5 Med Tomatoes, chopped

1 Cucumber, chopped

8 oz Mozzarella, cherry size cut in half

10 Basil Leaves, chopped

¼ c. Pine Nuts, lightly browned in toaster oven

3 tbs. Balsamic Vinegar

1 tbs. Virgin Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

To be done at home:

Combine the Tomatoes, Cucumber, Mozzarella & Basil, put in container.
In a baggie or small jar (I use baby food jars) add Vinegar, Oil, Salt & Pepper.
Put Pine Nuts in a baggie
Combine all the ingredients when you are ready to serve.

Breakfast: Asparagus Scrabble & Apple Chicken Sausage

1 doz. Eggs

2 tbs. Cilantro, diced

2 Tomatoes, chopped

½ c. Fresh Spinach

10 Asparagus

2 Potatoes, chopped

1 Yellow Onion, diced

1 Avocado

½ c. Mozzarella cheese

5 Apple Chicken Sausages

5 Tortillas

To be done at home:

Prepare Potatoes, Onion, tomatoes Cilantro and separate into baggies

On Site:

Cook Sausage on grill
Cook Potatoes and Onions covered for 5 mins and then add Asparagus to pan
Beat eggs in bowl and add to separate pan.
Cook half way and add Cilantro, Tomatoes, Spinach & Asparagus
Top with Avocado & Cheese
Serve with Tortilla

It Is Finished

2010-07-30T23:49:00.000-07:00

Now this was a fun project. I've been determined to find a dinning table for the patio for over a year now. As you know, I love entertaining so the fact that our kitchen table only seats 3 was not cutting it. I've been to a great deal of thrift stores, garage sales, antique stores and countless hours on Craigslist. I had come to the point were I was sure I was going to have to spend at least $200 for the right one. And then last week, while searching through Craigslist, there it was. The One. It had just posted "College student moving home this week. Need to sell table ASAP! $20.” I couldn’t believe it, I was sure there had to of been something wrong with it. I was so excited that I took the ½ hour trip downtown on a Monday night to pick it up. Apparently this kids’ grandma had given it to him when he started school and now he was in a rush to get rid of it. I arrived to pick it up and he helped me load it into my car. I tried to act calm as I handed him a $20 bill for this beautifully designed, heavy, solid oak table that was atleast 80 years old. It appears as if to only have been used with the leaves folded in to seat 4. Which meant that when fully expanded (the only way I was going to use it) the table was in pretty good condition. Of course within a few days I learned the hard way that there was no sealant on that side of the table. I left a beautiful wine stain to haunt me forever. I knew I was going to have to take good care of it, especially with it being outside and the main dining table.

So I went to one of the happiest places on earth, Home Depot. I passed the old perverted sales guy that somehow remembers my name and went straight to the paint aisle. I was going to need a few things, but most of which I knew I could use for other jobs in the future (my justification for spending more then the table itself) I decided to get a stain that was darker than the current stain, I went with dark walnut. I purchased both a stain and a heavier sealant because it’s an outside table, but you may not need both for some jobs. They do make some products with two in one. I was looking forward to starting the project, but it was going to have to wait until the next day.

I woke up, bright and early and got started. I was wishing I had picked up a mask for the project, my silk scarf wasn’t holding up so well. I finished sanding the table and was onto the stain when Gabe, my roommate Kari’s boyfriend, saw what I was doing and couldn’t resist the urge to do something manly. So I gave him a few chairs to start on. The day before, at my favorite thrift store, I’d found the perfect chairs to go with the table. After turning them over to remove the seats, we discovered that they were made in 1920. It was bitter sweet. I love having antique pieces but I don’t always like to refinish them without knowing their true value. Too late! It was a good, hard work’n Sunday. Kari soon realized that this wasn’t going to be a quick project. So like the dear friend that she is, she ran out and picked up lunch from Mozy’s for us and made some iced cold lemonade. That day I was reminded of an old boyfriend who once said to me while I attempted to help him build a fence, “Hey, this is a man’s job, can you go make us some lunch?” Needless to say that didn’t last long. If he knew what good for him, he would have let me do both. The staining was a breeze, I was surprised at how easy it was and after the table and chairs, I started looking around for anything else I could spruce-up a bit. But that was it for the day. Now it was time to just let it dry and go get ready for Anthology with Meghan.

The next day I felt very inspired and eager to finish the table. I shook the can of sealant (which it said NOT to do). I should have grabbed a stir stick from Home Depot. I started on the inside of a leg and I applied it with a clean paintbrush. I was a bit nervous when I saw it turn white with a bunch of tiny bubbles. It especially looked worse every time I brushed another stroke in the same spot. But after about 5 mins it turned clear so I finished the entire table. I was on a roll so I grabbed an old frame I had purchased the day before at a garage sale for $.75 and painted it a vibrant red. The same red that I decided needed to be on the old serving table I’d picked up on the side of the road years back. So I pulled out the tarp and went to town. An ugly, old green chair and smaller frame got the metal/rust spray-paint finish. I waited a good few days before setting anything on either table. I should have waited longer on the red table, I set a few things back on it 2 days later and it removed the paint in those spots. As for my dining table, in less than a week it’s held up to a few gatherings and wine spills. As a wise man once said, "It is finished."

Moral of the story: Take your time searching for a good deal. You can refinish anything. Read the directions. Give things enough time to dry. Don’t ever tell a girl that she can’t help you fix something.

What you’ll need:

Tarp/Newspaper

Sand paper # 120 (the heavy stuff)

Sand paper # 220 (to smooth it out)

Sanding block

Stain of your choice

Staining Cloth/Sponge

Bowl or Paint tray

Sealant/Urethane (depending on inside/outside)

Disposable Gloves

Paint Brush

Stir stick

Mask

Plan your project to be in an open, ventilated, dry area and lay down your tarp or newspaper.

Start with the heavier sand paper, using long strokes and going WITH THE GRAIN, followed by the smoother sand paper to finish it off. Wipe off all remaining dust using a clean, dry cloth (I also used a hairdryer to get into the crevasses).

Pour just a bit of the stain into the bowl/tray (a little goes a very long way) Dip in the staining cloth and apply IN THE DIRECTION of the grain. Let sit 5 mins and repeat for a darker stain. Remove any excess stain with dry cloth.

Allow drying for a minimum of 8 hrs.

DO NOT shake sealant. Pour sealant into clean bowl/tray and apply with paintbrush, avoiding going over the same area too many times. (Will appear as a milky color but this will completely dry clear. Repeat if necessary (especially for outside furniture, may need up to 4 coats)

Allow drying an additional 24+ hours before using the furniture again.

Table $20, Frame $.75, Green Chair $0, Wood Chairs $25, Serving table $0, Supplies $36 Total Cost = $81.75

Zucchini & Basil Chicken Omelet

2010-07-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

Breakfast for dinner, a great time to try something new. It took me a few minutes to think about what really sounded good, and once I considered the eggs I realized the time had come. Ladies and gentleman, what I’m about to say may shock you…. I’ve never made an omelet before! Yes, you heard right. I’m not sure if it was the fear of trying to keep it together in one piece or that I wasn’t going to be able to cook it enough on both sides with out overdoing it. So I took the challenge.

Now it’s time to figure out what to stuff it with. It is dinner time so I decided to start it off right, a few sprays of my trusty coconut oil and some fresh garlic. Anything to follow is sure to win. Zucchini, tomatoes, spinach, fresh basil, mozzarella cheese and basil chicken sausage made the cut. Topped with avo, sour cream and salsa.‘So easy’ I thought, a piece of cake. Until it came to transferring it onto the plate. I’ll have to work a bit on that technique, but it got there. Wow, all that fear of the unknown, now I can check that one off of the list.

Just when I think it’s all going so well, things got even better. I suddenly heard a little voice calling my name through the screen door. My dear friend Stacie had stopped by to say hello and bring me some home baked (from Henry’s), gluten/dairy free chocolate chip cookies! Really, what could be better? She sat watching me in the kitchen for a bit as I tried not to burn dinner and focus on what she was saying. After she left, I sat out on the patio, on this cool summer evening enjoying my omelet and yummy cookies (I only had two, okay?). And of course my Trader Joes mineral water and lime, my favorite. Now it’s time to get ready for an evening of live music by the beautiful Rheanna and Gayle at the Soda Bar. Ciao!

Oh oh! And by the way, those cookies were amazing. I can honestly say that they are on my top 5 cookie list, (in my head) gluten/dairy free or not. They are apparently from Henry’s in the frozen section, uncooked yummy cookie dough.

Coconut Cooking Spray

6 Eggs

1 tbls Rice Milk

1 Garlic Clove, minced

1 Basil Chicken Sausage, chopped

1 Zucchini, chopped

10 Grape Tomatoes, halved

2 Tbls. Mozzarella Cheese

Sm. Bunch Spinach

5 Fresh Spinach Leaves, chopped

1 Avocado

2 tbls. Sour Cream

Salsa

Salt & Pepper

Heat 2 pans (small & medium) on medium heat and spray with oil.
To the smaller pan add Garlic, Sausage, Zucchini and Tomatoes and cover, stirring occasionally.
Beat eggs and milk in small bowl and add half to the medium pan.
Cook omelet until it doesn’t run when you tilt pan.
Add Cheese, Spinach, Basil and cooked mixture to one half of the omelet and fold over the other half. Cover pan and cook an additional 2 mins.
Top with Avocado, Sour Cream, Basil and Salsa.

Serves 2

Gluten Free, No Refined Sugar, No Butter

Glass Thumb

2010-07-25T20:20:00.000-07:00

I drive past it every day, to work and back and then some. The new little garden shop on the corner. Yesterday they looked quiet and I thought I’d just stop by to purchase a little something to show my support. That’s where it all began. My new found love for succulents! I thought I’d seen it all, cacti, aloe, ice plant, blah blah blah. But I was wrong, I felt as if I’d stepped onto another planet, or a stroll along the ocean floor. There must have been a hundred different variations. Now, I’d love to tell you that I have a green thumb and find time to water and nurture my plants, but the wilting plants in my house would tell you otherwise. So the thought of a succulent that looks like a flower and only needs to be watered once a week, was brilliant.

$34.00 later (not in the budget), I was on my way to the larger nursery near my house to pick up some pots and soil. I was greeted by a man, an old hippie with a long white beard and questionable tattoos. I was immediately distracted by the sale sign that hung above the herb, vegetable and fruit plants. $2.99 for each?! Sold! I began to grab for the heirloom tomatoes when another employee came over to tell me that sale was actually $.99 for each! The memories of old, dead herb and veggie plants quickly left my mind. How can you go wrong with $.99? So Santa followed me around with a tray collecting all that I handed to him. I was really impressed by his cooking ideas and mostly his extensive knowledge of plants, a true botanist. The pots they had were a bit pricey so I decided I’d add a little thrift store shopping to the list. After a bag of soil and 8 plants I was looking at a measly $14!

So today I drove down to the local thrift store (a trip I take often) and found exactly what I needed at a good price, pots of all sizes. I’d told my friend Rheanna about the amazing deal I’d found at the nursery and she was eager to buy some plants for herself. I was looking forward introducing her to that knowledgeable new friend of mine, but when we got there he was nowhere to be found. I walked up to the owner to let him know how much I appreciated all the help I received the day before. I was surprised to see the baffled expression on his face. “Jose?” He said. “Hmm, I don’t think so, this guy has a long, white beard and tattoos” I replied. With an even more puzzled look he said, “That guy doesn’t work here, he works at the motel around he corner.” A bit taken aback, I thanked him and carried on around the garden as I tried to process the situation.

Remembering my lack of ability to keep plants alive, I thought of my options for building some sort of watering system. But then I remembered! Those glass water sphere things! So I ran to Ross where I’d seen them before and found a package of 6 for only $8.00.

I came back home excited to start my little garden but could only find two left handed gloves, which I decided against using. Not a good idea. I must have pulled ten tiny splinters from my fingers just from the soil alone. I turned on some Billie Holiday (who always seems right for the occasion) washed the old pots, added some fresh soil, placed in my new plants and shoved a water filled glass sphere in each, and voila!! My garden. A perfect end to a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

Garden

Chives
Cilantro
Rosemary
Oregano
Banana Peppers
Chili Peppers
Heirloom Tomatoes
Strawberries

Pots $11, Plants & Soil $14, Water Spheres $8 = Total cost $33

Succulents

Plants $34, Pots $12 = Total Cost $46 (ouch)