Food, Pleasure, and Health

My Frinspiration : Horchata & Peanut Butter Avocado Cookies

2013-05-17T08:15:00.001-05:00

My Frinspiration {Friday Inspiration} is dedicated to all the bloggers : you, you, you, and you..

..because you are my inspiration to continue blogging ..to exploring new ingredients/recipe ideas, to fun fitness tips, to building friendships, to learning important & unimportant life lessons and much more.

...lately I have been feeling guilty of pinning recipes & bookmarking pages (read: hundreds) that I find exciting and intriguing. But in reality they are rarely revisited and often forgotten. But since last week or so I have been taking a mental note of few recipes I came across recently and actually got down to making it instead of saving it for later. So here is to my Frinspiration from this week.

Horchata: this rice-based sweet Mexican drink is laced with dates which is a healthier substitution to traditional sweetened condensed milk. Recipe inspired from here & here.

Notes:
- soak dates in warm water for half an hour if they are dry and hard to pulse. Or, microwave them in little bit of water for couple minutes to soften it quicker.
- any rice works fine. I used Basmati rice.
- I spiked mine with couple tablespoon of Baileys but it tastes refreshingly delicious by itself.

Peanut Butter Avocado Cookies comes from here. In the past, I have failed miserably with chocolate-avocado mousse but this cookie has changed my outlook on dessert & avocados completely. I know this is a keeper when the boyfriend ate two cookies with no question or any suspicious look. Did I mention his co-workers liked it too.. That pretty much says it all about this cookie (make it ASAP).

Notes:
-I substituted agave nectar for 100% pure maple syrup & added heaping tablespoon of chia seeds.
- The original recipe yields: 15-18 cookies but I only got about 8. My version was definitely bigger and slightly thicker however, the end result was not dense at all. I had to increase the baking time for few more minutes - keep an eye to make sure they do not burn or come out under done.

-How often do you make recipes/DIY projects and such you come across on the blog?

-Whats your one Frinspiration?

Let's share, support, & inspire each other.

Cheddar Polenta with Sun-dried Tomatoes & Shrimp

2013-05-15T07:34:00.008-05:00

This is a gourmet meal on a weeknight kind of situation which involves quick chopping and throwing of ingredients into a skillet then plating it on a bed of polenta.

Polenta is an Italian style grits made from corn and has a bright yellow color. You can purchase polenta precooked or click here for details on making it from scratch. Generally, 1 cup polenta : 4 cups water is the desired ratio for cooking.

This comforting bowl has creamy cheddar polenta on the bottom ( I used precooked polenta tube) which is then layered with sun-dried tomatoes & shrimp. Its simple yet has bold flavors from the sun-dried tomatoes while the lemon juice brings everything together.

If you are a vegetarian, skip the shrimp and enjoy the cheesy polenta with sun-dried tomatoes or by itself with a dash or salt and pepper.

Cheddar Polenta with Sun-dried Tomatoes & Shrimp
serves: 2

Ingredients
about 1/3 - 18 oz precooked polenta tube ( I used this)
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/4 cup red onions, finely chopped
12-14 large shrimp, shelled
8 sun-dried tomatoes, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoon garlic powder
chives, finely chopped (for garnish)
1 lemon juice, freshly squeezed
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions
- Cook polenta according to the package directions and towards the end add cheddar cheese. Reduce heat and allow cheese to melt slowly then combine them together.
- In a skillet heat oil over medium heat, sautee onion until translucent then add sun-dried tomatoes allowing it to soften for 2-3 minutes.
- Add shrimps to the skillet, cook until it is no longer pink.
- Season it generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder and stir everything together.
- Remove from heat.
- In a plate, put polenta then top it with sun-dried tomatoes & shrimp. Drizzle lemon juice.
- Garnish with chives and serve it warm.

Bon Appetit.

-Do you have gourmet meal in a minute recipe? Please share the link on the comment section.

Marvelous Hummus Recipes

2013-05-13T07:07:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful time with your mama, or if you live worlds apart from her, atleast called her to say - I love you..

Monday is upon us (already?) and it only means one thing - join Katie @ Marvelous in my Monday party.

Marvelous is the feeling of accomplishment - I made few changes to my blog design, header, and added few features (pin it button, more social icon - add me to your bloglovin because google reader is going away after July 1st. For a zero tech savy person, copy pasting codes and changing plugins is kind of a big deal. I would love to hear your feedback.

Marvelous is catching up with friends & brunching at The Porch.

Marvelous is good weather, maxi dress, and good food. Also, if you are in Dallas area - please please please visit Velvet Taco. They have become my favorite Taco joint.

bread with roasted garlic paste, burratta cheese, and apple cucumber slaw is one of the best thing I ate this weekend.

...and not so marvelous is sleeping in instead of making hummus. I like to have hummus on hand always (if possible) because its not only great with pita chips but as a topping on salad, as a spread on sandwiches, simply on a piece of toast or to eat by the spoonful.

Since my laziness won over hummus - I will just talk about hummus & share some marvelous recipes from the past...hoping that it will inspire you to recreate it at home because its so easy (my height of laziness was maxed out yesterday otherwise it takes only ten minutes) - all you need is few ingredients and a food processor. It's also a lot cheaper than buying the pre-made ones.

Hummus is an Arabic word meaning chickpeas/garbanzo beans and the more complete name in Arabic is hummus bi tahina which means "chickpeas with tahini"; tahini (sesame paste) imparts a deep flavor when combined with mashed garbanzo beans & few key ingredients such as olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and salt.

If you are new to hummus, start with a simple recipe like this. And if you don't have tahini, use peanut butter and adjust some spices. It works wonderfully because I did it last year.

Peanut Butter Hummus

Get creative - don't hesitate to incorporate vibrant, flavorful things like roasted peppers (from a jar or roast your own), sun-dried tomatoes, roasted cauliflower, or artichoke to your base/traditional recipe. I like mine a tad garlicky with extra squeeze of lemon juice but experiment and personalize your hummus.

Spinach hummus is a personal favorite of mine..

1 can of navy beans, about 4 cups baby spinach, 2-3 garlic cloves, 1/4 cup tahini, salt, pepper, 1/4 olive oil (or as needed). I added 1-2 tbsp. water for slightly thin texture. Blend everything in a processor until they reach smooth consistency.

I made two batches - one with raw, chopped spinach and another one by sauteing in olive oil for couple minutes but I could not tell any difference between the two. Feel free to do whatever your heart desires.

If you don't like greens hummus, try Roasted Cauliflower Hummus.

Avocado Hummus from Kiran makes one hell of a smooth, delicious hummus.

Edamame White Bean Hummus from Aparna, Not a Leaf is another great idea. We made it during Super Bowl and it was fantastic.

Note
-Peeling the skin off beans (both canned or cooked) makes a smooth hummus.

Marvelous is not having to go to work on a Monday! Instead I am off to one of my good friend's engagement ceremony and reception afterwards.

Sending lots of positive thoughts to everyone. Smile a lot. Be Grateful. And Live in the Present.

- How did you celebrate Mother's Day?
- Do you like hummus - classic or flavored? How else do you eat hummus besides the obvious?

Virtual Coffee Date {Peanut Butter Crisps}

2013-05-10T06:37:00.002-05:00

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd ask you - hey did you notice few changes on my blog, although the header and few things are still a work in progress, what do you think?

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd bring some peanut butter crisps with me while we catch up on our lives.

These mini treats have a rich peanut buttery flavor, little fudgy & slightly crispy - perfect with a cup of joe (or milk) and it's super addictive! To make things extra special I dipped them in dark chocolate & finished it off with a few sprinkles of sea salt.. You already want a piece or ten right now - don't you?

Recipe at the end

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd tell you that I got accepted into Graduate School for Fall. I'd tell you how I am excited & little anxious. As a warning, I 'd also let you know that I will be coming for time management advice frequently and ranting a lot.

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd tell you about an incident that involves spicy dinner and a couple of things I learned.. I invited a friend for dinner and wanted to made extra special Green Curry..but in between tasting things here and adding green curry paste there, it ended up being too spicy like throat burning spicy and I learned not to taste food too much while cooking. Always have a plan B. Brown sugar & coconut milk does not always solve problems. However, having unlimited supply of peanut butter crisps does solve some problem, especially for unforeseen circumstances like this one.

extra fiery bowl of Green Curry with Tofu

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd show you this Reverse Gender Stereotypes At The Gym video. Even if you have already seen it, lets watch it again..'laughter is the best medicine'.

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd tell you how my facebook is starting to look more like a wedding and baby album - it's again that time of the year friend. Does anyone feel this way?

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd tell you about this homemade lemon scented cleaner which I heard is fantastic. Well, it's all-natural, no harsh chemicals, and good for the environment too. I am planning to making it over the weekend and report back on our next coffee date.

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd tell you how I have started to stretch or do some yoga in the morning..its very rejuvenating and gives me that extra boost of energy I need in the morning.

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd tell you how I have really enjoyed our coffee date like the last time. No matter how busy, overwhelming, or frustrating things are - let's not forget to sit down, take a breather and vent/share/laugh/cry about things over our favorite beverage, and treats - we both can help each other.

Peanut Butter Crisps
about 36 cubes

Ingredients
2 cups rice crispy cereal
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 cup tagatose (or use 1.5-2 cups regular sugar)
4-6 oz dark chocolate
seal salt (optional)

Directions
- In a small sauce pan, over low-medium heat melt peanut butter and butter together until its completely melted and smooth.

- In a bowl mix rice crispy cereal and sugar, then pour melted peanut butter and butter over rice crispy bowl. Mix them together.

- Lightly grease or in a lined baking pan spread the mixture, pressing them down. Chill till firm in refrigerator ( I left mine over night).

- Cut them into 1x1x1 inch cubes or any other size you prefer.

- Melt chocolate in double boiler. Once chocolate is completely melted, dip squares in chocolate and sprinkle sea salt. Place them on a greased or lined cookie sheet returning to the fridge until firm and chocolate hardens.

Happy Friday friends and hope you all have an amazing weekend!

- Have you had a cooking/baking disaster when you have guest(s) over?

- What are your thoughts on homemade cleaners? Any prior experiences?

Mexican Lasagna with Whipped Guacamole

2013-05-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

While most food bloggers posted their delicious Cinco de Mayo recipes and over the top margaritas earlier last week - I am finally here only tres days late.

Even if its Ocho de Mayo, I will still share Mexican Lasagna with you because it's perfect for every occasion. Not only in May but I would make this in mid-December. For birthday's..Anniversaries. On busy weeknights. Even for Mother's Day - your madre will be proud of you.

Make this your go-to potluck recipe..Its straight up easy, delicious, and super versatile like I told you..I can't stress enough - just make it.

This Mexican lasagna is like a blank canvass; perfect opportunity for you to layer soft corn tortillas, drizzle spicy chipotle sauce, and tuck in your favorite meat or veggies, and sprinkle generous amounts of cheese of your choice. Then, bake it until sauce is bubbly hot and cheese is completely muy gooey.

I chose the Chicken & Black Bean route but I have made it before with sauteed veggies (squash, mushrooms, carrots) and black beans. It's equally delicious and very satisfying. Feel free to add your choice of meat, beans and veggies. And if you want to veganize it - stick with your choice of veggies, forgo the cheese or use non-dairy cheese or crumble some tofu. I haven't personally tried it with tofu but from what I have heard it makes a good substitute for cheese in recipes like these.

While meat, veggies, cheeses can be substituted/replaced/doubled - do whatever you feel like but pairing the lasagna with fluffy guacamole (recipe below) is a MUST- even though this is not your purist guac with chunky texture, its smooth texture will swoon you completely. You will want this melt-in-your- mouth guac on everything!

Mexican Lasagna with Chicken & Black Beans

Makes 4 slices or 2 generous servings

Ingredients

5 corn tortillas

4 oz ground chicken

1/3 cup black beans, canned, rinsed

1/2 onion, chopped

1/2 bell pepper chopped

1 jalapenos (use less if you prefer less hot)

1 cup chipotle enchilada sauce, divided

1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded ( I used reduced fat)

2 teaspoon garlic powder

2 teaspoon red chili powder (skip if you prefer less hot)

1/2 heaping tablespoon taco seasoning

2 teaspoon cumin powder

1 tablespoon oil (canola or olive)

cilantro, chopped (for garnish)

salt and pepper to taste

Directions

- Preheat oven to 375F

- Over medium heat, add oil on a skillet. When heated, brown ground chicken for few minutes.

- Add onions and bell pepper. Let them sweat for couple minutes and add black beans, jalapeno and stir them together. Continue this for 2-3 minutes.

- Add all the spices and 1/4 cup enchilada sauce. Allow it to cook for few minutes then remove from heat. Let it cool for few minutes or leave it in the refrigerator for quick chill.

- In a baking dish, pour about 2-3 tablespoon enchilada sauce then one tortilla. Spread 1 tablespoon of sauce over the tortilla then spoon chicken-bean mixture followed by 1 tablespoon of cheese or more if you like.

- Layer it likewise with the remaining tortillas. Just make sure the tortillas are well covered in sauce otherwise it will be very dry.

- Top the last tortilla with remaining sauce and cheese.

- Bake it covered for 10-12 minutes or until the sauce bubbles and cheese is melted completely.

Whipped Guacamole

Makes about 1.5 ramekin dish

2 avocado, seeded and peeled

1 tomato, chopped

juice from 1 lemon

4-5 cilantro leaves

salt and pepper

-In a food processor, add all the above ingredients and process until its extremely soft and fluffy.

Storing tips:
- Lasagna can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and reheated for later use.
- If you have leftover guacamole (how is that even possible?) - squeeze additional 1 tablespoon lemon juice, stir it, and store it in a air tight container in the fridge to prevent browning. No body wants brown guac! Make sure you eat it within the next day.

Happy Ocho de Mayo amigos!

Off to a marvelous week + Winner Announced #MIMM

2013-05-06T07:08:00.000-05:00

Before I join the Marvelous Monday party @healthydivaeats, I want to announce the Nu Natural Giveaway winners from last week. Congratulations - Jessie, mindrunningwild, Brittany and Katherine. I hope you guys will enjoy the Nu Natural products as much as I did.

I am off to a marvelous week because Food, Fitness, and Cleaning is all in check. Is it just me or does anyone else find cleaning/scrubbing relaxing and comforting at times?

Make someone else a marvelous breakie..Giving is a good thing. Savor each and every morsel. Have some actual human-human conversation. Let Instagram & Twitter wait.

My first ever trip to Trader Joe's was marvelous - more like highlight of my weekend. I was definitely the uber-excited kid in the candy store. On a side note - I am currently obsessed with sockbun and I am debating the haircut I mentioned earlier.

Marvelous is being part of the food-fitness blogging community. That means you, you, you, you and you. Thank you so much for all your thoughtful comments and support on my last post. No matter what area of the world you are in- I am glad that blogging has brought us together.

Marvelous is yoga! If you are a beginner and want to practice yoga, improve certain poses, or learn breathing techniques - check out this website there is something for everyone. I love the fact its free, no registration is required and there are tons of high quality videos with amazing instructors.

Happy Belated Cinco de Mayo and cheers to all the margaritas friends. Here is a sneak peek of my stupidly easy, extra delicious, and super quick Mexican Lasagna with whipped guacamole. I think this deserves a post of its own - please come back Wednesday for the recipe and I promise you will not be disappointed.

Some days are more marvelous than others. We win some, we some lose..

Sending everyone lots of positive thoughts. Always smile. Live in the present. And don't forget to count your blessings ♥.

- Now that I will be visiting Trader Joe's pretty often, any absolute favorite I must get from there?

- How did you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

- Or just share your highlights/lowlights from the weekend.

Weight Maintenance : Highs and Lows

2013-05-01T08:16:00.000-05:00

REMINDER: Don't forget to enter the Naturals Giveaway currently going on the blog!

I am sure most of us can relate to a story or two about weight - be it a weight gain, weight loss, or weight maintenance.

..lately, I am struggling to maintain my happy weight. Last year I ran a lot and no matter how much I ate, it did not really matter because I was constantly burning off everything..But right after my half-marathon, my running decreased however, my stomach continued to remain a bottomless pit.

But thankfully not only me but my jeans, family, and friends noticed my weight gain which was a good wake up call for me. A lot of people assume that being a dietitian, I always eat perfectly & exercise rigorously and will never gain an ounce..I really wish that was true but I honor my hunger (sometimes little too much), feed my sweet tooth (always) and sometimes count facebook and instagram as a workout. Just kidding. Just kidding.

For the past couple of weeks, I have started making changes to my eating habits and exercise and I am just amazed to see how only a few tweaks can make such a huge difference. Here are some of my current tweaks:

- Food tracking. Even though I do not like rigorously calorie counting everything I eat, myfitnesspal was a great resource for me to keep track of where my calories were coming. It gave me a visual idea of how quickly a piece of cake here and a bite of a sandwich there adds up. But again, remember calorie counting is not for everyone and certainly not a practical/permanent solution!

- Paying close attention to my hunger cues. Normally, I am used to eating three meals and two snacks in between. I noticed I was eating because it was time to eat and not because I was hungry. I continue to eat three meals but not always at 11:30-noon just because its lunch time. It's the same with my snacks.

- Exercise. Move & Lose. My exercise was very inconsistent although I was doing small runs, yoga, or brisk walking - I had no routine and I was definitely not pushing myself hard. But currently, I am starting to run on the treadmill and enjoy the burn from pull-up s & pushups. I do not have a fixed routine yet but I am consistently doing either cardio or free weights six times a week.

- Cut down refined carbohydrates and load up on protein + veggies. No, I have not stopped eating brownies or cupcakes but I am more conscious of refined carbohydrates around me.

- Hunger vs. Thirst. Whenever a unusual hunger strikes, I wait and find out if I am really hungry or just thirsty. Having a water bottle on my desk has really helped me to stay hydrated and helps control my impulse eating.

- No cheat days. I do not like the concept of pigging out one day a week because you've been dieting hard on the other days. It may work for some people but I simply enjoy food and love working out. Therefore I am trying to still maintain similar eating habits and exercise routine all week long including the weekends.

so the main question is - have I lost weight? Maybe a little but I definitely am feeling much better about myself. I feel a lot stronger. My clothes fit better. Overall it's a great motivation to keep making small changes to what I am already doing.

What's your weight story?

Do you eat lunch/snack at a fixed time?

REMINDER: Don't forget to enter the Naturals Giveaway currently going on the blog!

Anise & Almond Muffins & Marvelous NuNaturals Giveaway #MIMM

2013-04-29T06:47:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone is ready to tackle another week with fresher, stronger, and more positive perspective on things. My weekend was very relaxing - spent sometime shopping, at the library, and baking. And thanks guys for your "YES" on my hair-cut, I am so excited for a new look. Soon.

For my MIMM party @healthydivaeats, I am doing something little different today, I have a marvelous muffin recipe to share, talk about a new product and also a chance to enter a giveaway.

Recently, I was contacted by Nu Naturals to try out their Nu Naturals Stevia products. All their products are 100% natural, gluten free, does NOT contain Aspartame, Saccharin, Sucralose, high-fructose corn syrup, sugar, or any artificial ingredients/colors. They are free of soy, yeast, wheat, milk, and synthetic. Some of their products are zero calories.

I normally do not bake with artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes besides good old sugar but I was intrigued by the variety of products they offered and happily agreed to try some of them.

I received several products from them but I was mostly interested in PreSweet Tagatose, an ingredient/product I have never even heard of before but I was really curious to find out more about this white powder. With some reading, I found out that Tagatose is a naturally occurring monosaccharide (sugar) found in milk, fruits, and vegetables, a pre-biotic ingredient (promotes good bacteria in your gut) with a texture very similar to table sugar with less calories. Sugar alternatives like these could be beneficial for people who wants to consume less refined sugar, lose weight, or for diabetics. It also does not promote tooth decay.

More on tagatose:
- It is 92% as sweet as sugar and does not have after taste.
- It is low calorie (6 calories/serving). Each 1 Tsp. serving of Tagatose = 1 tsp. sugar.
- It is GRAS (generally recognized as safe) product in the USA and it is approved as a "novel food ingredient", with no limitation on its usage.

- Tagatose is chemically similar to fructose.

- It is not efficiently absorbed and digested by humans, it does have some laxative effect and unabsorbed tagatose can cause some digestive issues including gas, rumbling sounds and diarrhea.

So that was Tagatose 101 for you but spend sometime here to find out more.

Now let's move to anise & almond muffins I made using tagatose (instead of regular sugar). I made jumbo size muffins just like cardamom & pistachio muffins; as much as I love the sweet fragrance from cardamom, I have recently fallen in love with anise seeds while I ate biscotti in NY- its mild, licorice taste swooned me completely.

Like peanut butter and chocolate - anise seed and almond is another match made in heaven.

Muffins came out very moist and mildly sweet - great for breakfast and afternoon snack..I loved the slight hint of licorice throughout the muffin and crunch from almond. This muffin stays good for couple days if stored in air-tight container and it freezes really well too.

Anise & Almond Muffins
yields: 6 jumbo muffins or 12 regular

Ingredients

1.5 cups whole wheat flour

3/4 cup plain, non-fat Greek yogurt
3 tablespoon milk (I used unsweetend almond milk)
1 large egg

1/4 cup tagatose
1/3 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt

1 tablespoon anise seeds

1/2 cup roughly chopped or use slivered almonds (i used plain whole almond but use roasted if you like)

Directions

-Preheat oven to 350F.

-In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt.

-In another bowl, mix egg, tagatose, and vanilla extract together until they smooth then add Greek yogurt, milk, and canola oil. Make a smooth paste.

-Pour dry ingredients gently to wet ingredients. Add anise seeds and almonds and combine them well together.

-Scoop the batter (~1/4 cup) into greased jumbo muffin pan (6 servings) or regular muffin pan (12 servings). May use paper muffin liners too.

-Bake for 22-25 minutes (may vary due to different oven) or until the tooth-pick inserted comes out clean.

-Remove from the pan and allow it to cool completely.

Note:

- Tagatose caramelizes like sugar but I read that it browns relatively quicker so I would recommend lowering the temperature by about 25F and allow slightly longer baking time (this is purely based of my reading various sources and one time experience). I would recommend paying little extra attention while baking to prevent browning.

Now the Giveaway!
Nu Naturals has offered four of my readers a sample pack that includes Lemon/Orange/Peppermint Flavored Stevia Liquids, PLUS their new chocolate Stevia liquid.

The giveaway is open to all US + International readers but NO P.O. Boxes.

I will pick 4 readers on May 6th 2013 by using random.org

To enter:

- leave me a comment telling which product you would like to win or if you have used any Nunaturals products before.

For additional entries:
- like my facebook page
- follow me on twitter
- like NuNaturals on facebook

Also, use discount code - BLG0613 to receive 15% discount on their entire order effective until June 30, 2013. Online ordering customers may also receive FREE SHIPPING to the CONTINENTAL U. S. on all orders exceeding $ 35.00 after discounts.

Disclaimer: NuNaturals provided NuNaturals products for free, however I was not compensated for my time and all opinions are 100% mine.

Sending lots of positivity. Keep everything marvelous friends!

Virtual Coffee Date

2013-04-26T07:57:00.000-05:00

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd tell you how excited I am because it's Friday, even though I have to be at a health fair bright and early on a Saturday morning. But it's okay - no matter how rough or breezy the week was or how busy or relaxing this weekend is going to be...its all okay.

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd share my sticky-situation story at work the other day. Half way to work I noticed few stains on my sweater. Well, I tried to cover it with my lab coat, only to discover more stains on my lab coat...just wait, it gets worse..Pour me another cup of coffee and I'd tell you how I got peanut butter and honey all over my sleeves. Clumsy me was only trying to make peanut butter banana smoothies. I was pretty close to being pissed instead I laughed hard at myself because honestly I was helpless...it was one of those very sticky kind of days.

If we were having coffee this morning, I would recommend you to read The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz.This book will give you an insight to Parisian life, makes you want to drink wine with every meal and cover yourself with butter, sugar and dive into chocolate. I'd even let you borrow the book, only if you promise to use bookmarks and not fold pages.

mine were not vegan (I used 2 eggs), substituted with light red kidney beans, and topped with sea salt.

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd tell you about my late night brownie cravings and blame David Lebovitz for it because his book has so many dessert recipes I am tempted to try - oh butter, flour, and good quality chocolate. I'd also tell you how much I resisted a stick of butter, flour and baked Vegan Gluten Free Black Bean Brownies from minimalistbaker and saved us from unnecessary lbs in our thighs...because I would totally share these BEST brownie with you too...I'd also tell you all about my "brownie police" boyfriend who refused to believe bean brownies are even real but now he totally loves them..I am just happy that bean brownies & him are now BFFs.

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd ask your fashion advice on things like necklaces, hairstyles, or handbags I really really really want.

maybe in Royal Blue


not going blonde but love the hair cut. Yes or No?

natural or navy blue or none

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd tell you how much I have started to like push ups, leg presses, and possibly even pull ups. Even 10-15 pushups a day feels like a huge accomplishment. Weights and resistance training is a new world to me so I am all ears for your suggestions and tips.

If we were having coffee this morning, I'd tell you about my exciting weekend plans but I have none yet and there is nothing exciting about laundry and cleaning chores...instead I'd love to hear what you would tell me if we were having coffee this morning?

Happy Friday and hope you have a wonderful weekend ♥

Homemade Sushi:Futomaki & Uramaki California Rolls

2013-04-24T07:23:00.000-05:00

My bucket list # 152455 Homemade Sushi. Mission accomplished!

If you are a sushi fanatic and would like to eat sushi on any given da y, don't let anything stop you. Still wondering why I never attempted this sooner..you know what they say - things happen at the right time for the right reason - this quote is not even relevant here but whatever...just go to your nearest Asian or International supermarket and gather the essentials ASAP.

Rice: Not just any rice but make sure you have, short or medium grain, Japanese white rice or sushi rice. Cook rice according to the directions on the package. Allow it to cool and add rice vinegar, salt, and sugar to the cooked rice. This is a great link with detail instructions on cooking perfect sushi rice.

Note: rice must be cooked completely and for best results- chill it before rolling but do not freeze it.

The word sushi actually means 'vinegared rice'.

Nori Sheets, also known as dry-roasted seaweed, is used for rolling sushi.

Tools: bamboo rolling mat & condiments are a MUST.

Gari, or pickled ginger, is a sweet, thinly sliced young ginger that has been marinated in a sugar and vinegar solution. It is often eaten between sushi dishes as a palate cleanser...Or secretly eaten straight up when no one is looking.

Wasabi, commonly known as Japanese horseradish, is a member of the cabbage family. It has an extremely strong flavor and can potentially cause nose, throat, and head burning sensations. Exercise caution if you are new to this addictive green paste.

Wasabi, when mixed with mayonnaise, makes a great condiment for sandwiches and fries.

And last but not least - God of all condiments in Asian cuisine - Soy sauce. Any kind will work.

Now its time for the fillings - your choices are endless. Possibilities are limitless! The different types and varieties of sushi boggles my mind but here is a great resource if you are interested. This is also a great time to bring out your sushi rolling bamboo mat that you have been wanting to use for years. Before using the mat, make sure it is dusted and cleaned.

I made the most generic and common type of sushi usually found in America: Maki Rolls.

First I made Futomaki California rolls with sliced avocado, sliced cucumber and imitation crabs. Futomaki basically is a type of thick maki roll with nori sheets on the outside. Refer to the instructional video for rolling.

Notes: Nori sheets have a rough and smooth side. Remember to put rice and other fillings on the rough side of the nori sheet so when you roll the smooth side is on the outside.

Serve them immediately with a few drops of wasabi mixed in with soy sauce and cleanse your palate as necessary with the gari. Steamed edamame (soybeans) with sea-salt also makes for a great accompaniment. Actually, edamame is great with or without sushi.

Next I made Uramaki California rolls. The fillings are identical but in this type of roll, fillings are wrapped with nori sheets on the inside while the rice is on the outside surrounding the nori. It is then topped with sesame seeds. Check this video for tutorials.

Get your chopsticks ready and dig in!

because they will be gone FAST!

Except for cooking the rice correctly, which is a very important step - I really did not follow any recipe. Just watched a few instructional videos for rolling purposes. However, I am not a sushi expert - so feel free to use fillings of your choice and make the types of roll you desire. As long as you have the above mentioned sushi essentials, you should be able to enjoy making home-made sushi in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Hope you enjoy ♥

-Do you like sushi? any favorites?

-If you have made/or make sushi at home, any tips/suggestions/filling ideas?

Low Key... + Caprese Quinoa Salad #MIMM

2013-04-22T08:14:00.003-05:00

Hello Marvelous Monday and that only means one thing - its time to join Katie @healthydivaeats for Marvelous Monday party. After tragedies in Boston and West, Texas this week- I just wanted to say home, relax, and catch up on few things around the house. It was marvelously low-key compared to past weekends in NY & exploring Dallas.

My marvelous weekend included:

Going to the Dallas Farmers Market for fresh produce & plants

Gardening my first herbs and vegetable garden on my patio

Starting to solve 1000 piece puzzle

Starting to work out regularly - lifting weights and running on a treadmill

Staying hydrated with fresh cucumber lemon water

a pitcher full of water, ice, cucumber and lemon slices

Eating Caprese Quinoa Salad (recipe:serves 2 )

Ingredients

1/4 cup quinoa, dry

5-6 cherry tomatoes, halved

3 oz, fresh mozzarella, cubed

3-4 basil leaves, chopped

2 tablespoon olive oil

salt and pepper, to taste

DIrections

-In a small sauce pan, cook quinoa according to the direction on back of the package

-In a bowl, toss all the ingredients together and adjust taste as necessary. May serve immediately but I noticed flavors come well together after letting it sit in refrigerator for couple hours.

This salad is great by itself but I enjoyed it alongside grilled chicken, turkey-lentil seekh kebab and roasted veggies - oh marvelous is the smell of charcoal.

...and trying to enjoy every moment because

google images

Sending you lots of positivity and don't forget to keep everything marvelous friends ♥

Do you have a mini-garden on the patio? Any tips for the first timer?

Boston

2013-04-17T11:02:00.000-05:00

..About half an hour ago, I published a post on Boston and just expressing my anger, how pissed, sad, and heart broken I was.

How much I sobbed, cleaned and scrubbed to take my mind off such devious act.

I was slowly losing hope in humanity, yet could not because after grueling 26.2 miles of running - runners rushed to the hospital to donate blood, and not to mention thousands of heroic acts, prayers and support from everywhere.

Good outweighs bad.

but mistakenly I deleted the whole post.

I truly believe that it all happened for a reason - instead of dwelling on negativity - I need to change my lens and focus on overwhelming amount of love, strength, and positivity from everywhere.

Although, I don't know anyone personally affected at this tragic event, I am just crushed thinking about runners, their life long dream, loved ones at the finish line, at home, on tv..

...I am not a pro-runner but running gives me power, hope, and confidence to keep moving on and that's exactly what I did yesterday evening supporting a virtual run event - Runners United To Remember.

Sincere thanks to everyone (you all know who you are) who posted about focusing on positivity and helping me believe in humanity, goodness, strength in this world.

Let's all count blessings in our life, hug our loved ones tighter, and continue to pray for Boston.

..Exploring Big-D #MIMM

2013-04-15T11:23:00.002-05:00

...after the whole girl situation this week {thanks everyone for your kind comments}, I was so ready for the weekend and also, one of our friend was visiting us from Florida.

As always, I am joining Katie's Marvelous Monday party to share my weekend highlights.. It was a lot of fun like my previous weekend in New York. So I will let pictures tell our story in D-town.

Friday evening started with Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets at American Airline Center.

And we won!

Weather was marvelous ..and majority of Saturday was spent at the pool with Megan @ Meganwarerd.

This girl here - Shivangi, my friend from middle school knows how to have fun in Uptown.

I miserably failed to cook or workout this weekend. But there were lots of good eats starting with dinner at Taco Diner.


Crispy Chicken Enchilada Verdes

If you are in Ft. Worth area - brunch at Brewed is a MUST. Loved their philosophy is farm to table. Do not forget to order regular or sweet potato fries.

What do you all think about Kombucha tea? Well, I am a newbie here but absolutely loved their passion fruit kombucha tea.

Other marvelous spicy eat: Inchins Bamboo Garden (one of my go-to Indo-Chinese restaurant).

We strolled around Fort Worth Stockyards. This area gives a real Texas experience - cowboys boots, rodeo, and I hear burgers/steak is mucho delicisio here.

I stopped by at a tea/spice mecca : The Spice and Tea Exchange. I did not buy anything but def. going back.

...our food adventure continued.

pani puri (very popular street food in Southeast Asia)

oh wait - actually I did make homemade mo:mos (Nepali Dumplings).

Sunday night ended (sadly) at Top Golf. It was my first time, I sucked at it but was fascinated by this high-tech thing. This place is a lot of fun.

The End.

Monday is here and we all know how that's like but I am trying to keeping it marvelous because guess what - Friday is only few days away.

google images

If things bother you, makes you unhappy, or jealous - just think about this quote

google images

and always be thankful for every little thing that you have..

How was your weekend? Any highlights/lowlights?

Sending you all lots of positivity. Keep it marvelous friends.

...About a Girl + Mom's Savory Pancake Recipe

2013-04-12T09:11:00.000-05:00

..yesterday I met a girl - in her early twenties, smart, and beautiful..but sadly, she thinks otherwise like - Ugly. Lonely. Unhappy. My heart ached for her. It ached even more for her family who were helpless and devastated..because they received a call from the ER telling them that their child does not want to live anymore..their child overdosed on multiple medications..their child thought dying was the ultimate answer.

While her mother was numb, father remained still. She wiped her hefty tears mixed in with dark mascara as I walked in..She tried, tried very hard to put on a happy face but to no avail because she's been bleating inside for too long, or at least I thought so.. but honestly, I don't know and never will know her story, her misery or her past.

But I wanted to hold hands, hug her tight, and tell her it's all going to be all right. I wanted to tell her you have a loving family. I wanted to tell her you can have a prosperous life ahead. I wanted to tell her ... so many things but I did not. Instead I asked her about things like appetite & weight history. I simply did what I had to do and left - with a heavy heart and countless thoughts.

Not even sure why I am telling you all this..maybe because I need to scribble my emotions, or maybe because I am having difficulty forgetting her, her mom's shocked face, and deep sadness in her father's eyes..I just pray that she will get strength to fight negative demons and find a way to end her misery through love, positivity, and happiness. Not death.

..I am just going to stop right here because I know could go on and on about a girl and my helplessness but instead I will share a recipe that I learned from my mom. Its not sweet, but savory pancakes with tangy tomato chutney I find comfort in during times like this.

Also, I am highlighting a new spice from my pantry : carom seeds in this pancake - they are from the same family as cumin and dill.

It is used a lot in Indian/Nepali cooking mainly for savory dishes and known for its magical home remedy against digestive issues such as gas and diarrhea. When cooked, it has a very mild taste but by itself it's bitter and peppery. Also, if you have gas after eating beans, add them while cooking and see if it helps. I came across this very helpful link which explains how to use it in cooking: "Use 1/4 tsp per 2 cups of cooked beans to the pot (1 cup dried beans yields approx 3 cups cooked). Count the number of dried beans, multiply by 3 and then count off how many 1/4 tsps you need".

Savory Pancakes

yields: 6

Ingredients

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoon chickpea flour (besan)

2 teaspoon carom seeds (in Hindi:ajwar, Nepali:jwano)

1/2 teaspoon turmeric (in Hindi:haldi, Nepali:besar)

2-3 mushroom, thinly chopped

2 tablespoon carrot, shredded
2 tablespoon zucchini, shredded

2-3 tablespoon part-skim mozzarella, shredded

1-2 chili, chopped(if desired)
2 teaspoon cumin or garam masala

salt as needed

about 1.5 cups water (see notes)

cooking oil or cooking spray

Directions

- In a medium bowl, combine all the above ingredients and mix well. Slowly add water and continue to mix until it becomes a smooth paste.

- Heat a pan over medium heat, add 1 teaspoon cooking oil or use cooking spray and pour 1/4 cup batter in the pan. Use ladle to spread the batter a little bit.

-Allow it to cook for about minutes on each side, flipping the pancakes gently with a spatula.

-Remove from heat and continue with rest of the batter.

Notes:

- Throw in any veggies (thinly chopped/sliced) or boiled and shredded meat of your choice.

-For water- if you add more veggies, it needs to be adjusted accordingly. Add water until it is slightly runny, similar to the consistency of a pancake.

- It stores well in the refrigerator in airtight container for few days. Possibly be frozen but I have not tried that yet.

-Have you dealt with a similar situation? How did you or how would you have handle it?

-Or tell me about your comfort food - if you have a recipe link up.

Have a wonderful weekend ♥

Me, Myself, and I in the Kitchen

2013-04-10T08:18:00.000-05:00

I have known Aparna @notaleaf for less than a year through blog-world but I am already very fond of her posts, her delicious recipes and adventures in Michigan. She recently tagged me in her post about "My Kitchen and I" where she answered several questions related to kitchen/food/cooking. And now its my turn to answer them.

What are the three fave things in your fridge/freezer right now?

- Ezekiel 4:9 Flax Sprouted Whole Grain Bread, mozzarella cheese, and frozen spinach.

What’s the one thing you always have on hand?
- Fresh garlic/ginger besides a sharp knife.

What’s one thing you’d never have?
- Probably soda & canned meat.

If you had an unlimited supply of anything, what would that be?
- Fresh herbs and would love for it always stay fresh.

What’s your go-to market and what do you get there?
- I go to different ones depending on what I need for that week - I could be seen anywhere from Kroger, Tom Thumb, Indian, Asian grocery stores to Dallas Farmer's market mainly in summer or for fresh produce on weekends. I also love whole foods for their bulk bin section and new products to try. I stay away from processed section as much as possible and overfill my grocery cart with fresh/frozen produce, almond milk, and canned beans.

What ingredient are you currently loving?
- Currently, I am intrigued with nutritional yeast. It's a good source of vitamin B12 with almost cheesy flavor and I have heard it can be sprinkled over popcorn, salads, cereal, smoothies/juices etc. However, I have only tried it with oven-baked sweet potatoes - loved the great texture and taste.

What’s your favorite thing to whip up at home?

- Hummus and Guacamole - I can't get enough of it.

Any songs you like cooking to?
- Nothing particular but usually have Pandora - Jack Johnson's station or have TV in the background. A glass of red wine is totally acceptable as well :)

What are the best items to have on hand for a quick and easy dinner?
- Pasta/noodles, frozen veggies, canned beans/tomato - trust me they make life much easier.

What are your favorite kind of leftovers?

- I don't mind fried rice, noodles, pasta , chili, soups. As long as there is no change in taste or texture after re-heating it- I will gladly eat it.

Fill in the blank: If I’m cooking to impress, I make….
- hmmmm this chocolate roulade, vanilla cupcakes with salted caramel, chicken mo:mo (nepali dumplings) and Mediterranean pasta are few things I have made/baked and have supposedly impressed people. And recently these toasted coconut donuts.

What’s your condiment of choice?
- I add Sriracha, Valentina hot sauce to almost everything. I like salsa too.

What’s the strangest thing in your fridge at the moment?
- well, not strange but old - I made some cranberry jam long time ago (don't ask me when) to make cranberry jam filled muffins. Things got a little busy and well...I never made it. Thanks for reminding me to toss it right away.

When a midnight snack attack strikes, what’s the plan?
- Its usually chocolate or peanut butter..I smear peanut butter on banana or apple slices or eat chocolate alone - it all depends on how bad the snack attack is.

Since I had fun answering these questions I thought I would continue the fun by tagging the following people:
- Jessie @ jessielovestorun
- Khushboo @ Kthadani
- Megan @ meganwarerd
- Nisha @ honeywhatscooking

New York Weekend Review #MIMM

2013-04-08T12:53:00.000-05:00

..obviously, nobody wants to be back at work on a Monday morning after an amazing weekend in NY. Thanks, Katie @ healthydivaeats for the Marvelous in my Monday party because I can't wait to share marvelous highlights from the weekend.

Marvelous is the city of New York, spending time with my family, and catching up with friends from college.

This is one city if I could I would move like right now..

Marvelous are these flats - I don't believe in "too many shoes", esp. if it has leopard print on them.

Marvelous are doughnuts from Doughnut Plant in Lower East Side. If you are in the area - you ought to try - Coconut Cream, Tres Leches, and Peanut Butter and Banana Cream. Last time I was in NY, I had Green Tea ones. I am totally aware of my donut habit lately, but I feel the same way about donuts like shoes - so flew these babies home with me.

Meyer Lemon, Tres Leches, and Pistachios

Marvelous was Macy's Flower Show - vibrant colors, architecture, and spirit representing Southeast Asian flair. It was simply beautiful.

I can't believe my parents were here for three weeks and right now they are flying already some thousand miles away from me...you know how they say - time flies when you are having fun and being spoiled by them. I miss them already but it surely feels marvelous to have my routine life again.

...and fresh flowers always brightens up my day. Literally - its marvelous to wake up and smell the roses.

and before I end this marvelous post, I want to share a song - Good Life by One Republic because whenever I am happy, sad, angry, grateful, disappointed, lonely - whatever I am feeling at that moment, it instantly makes me feel marvelous because I am sure we all have at least one thing in life to be thankful for, celebrate and smile about..

Sending lots of positivity and marvelous thoughts to everyone!

What's your go to song?

Toasted Coconut Donuts

2013-04-03T09:47:00.002-05:00

I have been stung by the baking bug, more like donutquitoo. If you follow me on Instagram you may have noticed it here and here.

..In Hindu tradition (varies from one household to another and I am not an expert when it comes to religion/tradition so feel free to chime in) whenever a new purchase/investment is made, it is customary to perform a puja (prayer) and offer the purchase/investment to God in which it involves breaking a whole coconut. My family performed the puja on my brothers new car, broke a whole coconut, and sprinkled coconut water all around the car in order to receive blessings and protection from God. The meat of the coconut is often kept as 'prasad' (holy food offering given to God during pujas) and eaten later. Even though I missed the prayer, I was excited to receive big chunk of fresh coconut meat.

Fresh coconut meat is good by itself but when incorporated into a donut - I think it serves it's purpose best. Just saying.

If coconut donut is not your thing - use same recipe (below) but skip the grated coconut altogether & substitute coconut extract with vanilla extract. Use glaze of your choice or roll them in cinnamon sugar. Either way it will brighten up your day.

If you are not familiar with removing meat out of coconut's shell - I highly recommend reading this. Grating coconut meat is also quite a task but worth it.. If you are anything like me - you will do one of two things : whine a lot or watch your mom do it skillfully. At the end, the crunchy, slightly nutty flavor of toasted coconut will steal the show as it sits atop soft, moist donut glazed with sticky sugar glaze.

All I can say is half a dozen is not enough (for 2 people) and soon you will be back to the grind - grating more coconut.

Toasted Coconut Donuts

yields: 6 donuts

Ingredients

1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon coconut extract
1/4 cup milk ( i used unsweetened almond milk)
1/4 cup grated coconut (i used freshly grated)
cooking spray

frosting

1/2 cup powdered sugar
2-3 drops coconut extract
2-3 tablespoon milk
1/2 cup grated coconut (toasted - directions to follow)

Special tools

Donut pan
Large size ziplock bag or piping bag

Directions

- Preheat oven to 325F and spray donut pan and keep it aside.
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and grated coconut.
- Melt butter in microwave.
- In a kitchenAid mixer, add egg, milk, oil, coconut extract, melted butter then mix it. together. Add flour mixture and stir it until everything combines well. May use handheld mixer or use a strong whisk to combine ingredients.
- Pour the mixture into a zip lock bag, seal it, and make a hole at the end by cutting with a scissor or use a piping bag. Pour batter evenly in a greased donut pan filling 3/4 of it.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Remove from oven, allow it to cool before frosting.

To toast coconut

- Line baking sheet with parchment paper and evenly spread a layer of grated coconut.
- Bake it along with donuts. I placed grated coconut on top rack while donuts were on the middle rack.
- Remember to stir it - I stirred it once after 5-6 minutes.
- Remove from oven along with donuts or may leave little longer for extra crunch.

For frosting

- In a small bowl combine the powdered sugar, coconut extract and milk. Blend it together to form a slightly thick paste.
- Take individual donut, dip in sugar glaze, then immediately adorn with toasted coconuts.

It's best when served immediately.

More donut recipe:

chocolate donut

pumpkin spiced donut

On a side note: here's a great article that discusses the hype regarding coconut oil by a fellow dietitian Gina@ CandidRD : Is Coconut Oil Really As Great As They Say?

Do you or your family follows any tradition when new purchase/investment is made?
or just tell me about your favorite donut.

..Keeping Monday Marvelous!

2013-04-01T10:00:00.000-05:00

Let's make this Monday Marvelous as always (hosted by Katie @healthydivaeats) ..delete un-marvelous stress, anxiety, and negativity from last week. I am ready to hit the restart button and start fresh this week.

I don't mind spontaneity every now and then but for the most part I love following routine. Pre-planning things down to a T. Constantly putting things on my calender. Crossing things off my to-do List. While it might sound bizarre to some of you but that's the only way to keep my insanity in check. It hit me hard when my parents asked me what's your plan now? I stood there blank because right now I am at a point in my life where everything is very uncertain hence the aforementioned emotional train wreck. Thank you Parita @myinnershakti for linking A future, unplanned post. Glad I am not alone.

...marvelous is the weather in Dallas and Easter lunch at RA - Japanese Fusion Restaurant.

Must Try: Edamame Dip

...marvelous is being able to finally run again..I ~~want to~~ have decided to run another half-marathon in October/November.. Carb loading is already in order with oats-dates-cocoa balls however, actual training is still a work in progress.

...marvelous is flying kite on a beautiful day

...marvelous is this fable I am currently listening to - Monk Who Sold His Ferrari . Its a step-by-step approach to living with greater courage, balance, abundance, and joy.

...marvelous is going to be this week - or at least that's the hope. Sending you all marvelously positive thoughts. Make it a marvelous week friends.

-Are you a to-do list, calendar person?

-If you are a runner, any favorite training schedule?

Asian Fried Quinoa : Pass the Cook Book Club

2013-03-28T10:15:00.000-05:00

I can't believe its already been a month since my first post Pots De Creme for Pass the Cook Book Club hosted by Kita @ passthesushi. For the month of March, recipes were chosen from Guy Fieri Food: Cookin' It, Livin' It, Lovin' It.

I chose the Asian Fried Quinoa (other two recipes were Cherry Cobbler Pizza and Snake Bite) because quinoa is something I already have in my pantry, its nutritional benefits are endless and cooks quickly like rice..I normally use quinoa in salad or something similar to black bean quinoa patties but this recipe was perfect opportunity to make something similar to my all time favorite fried rice only here the rice is substituted with quinoa (more nutrients on my plate).

It makes quick, flavorful weeknight dinner, pretty flexible and great way to clear your fridge too. In case you have leftover, simply reheat it for lunch next day.

Within last couple years or so, quinoa has become a mainstream grain (although its not a grain) because it has great nutrient profile - protein powerhouse (has all its 8 essential amino acid making it a complete protein), complex carbohydrate (gluten-free), rich source of vitamins/minerals such as calcium, iron, B vitamins to name a few.

Right now, all I am going to say is if you have not tried it yet, you MUST, at least once. And I think this recipe is perfect to get started on quinoa bandwagon because it's a very basic recipe with alot of flexibility. The original recipe is Asian inspired but feel free to add/remove/substitute vegetables and seasonings of your choice.

quinoa mix - red, white, black

I made few changes to the original recipe (scroll down). I skipped shallot, celery, cabbage and used snow peas instead of sugar snap peas. Grab your ingredients and get the party started!

Asian Fried Quinoa (pg 310)

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups quinoa (I used mixed quinoa with red, white, black variety)

3 cups water or vege stock

3 tbs grape or olive oil

2 cups diced onions, about 1 ½ med onion

¼ cup chopped shallot

¼ cup minced garlic

½ cup minced ginger

1 cup finely chopped green onions

1 cup diced carrots ( I shredded )

2 cups shredded baby bok choy

1 cup finely diced celery

2 cups shredded napa cabbage

1 cup diced sugar snap peas

3 tbs low sodium soy sauce

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

Directions:

- In a large, dry, heavy bottomed skillet, toast the quinoa until lightly golden, 5 to 6 minutes, stirring often. Add the water and reduce the heat to medium. Cover and cook until quinoa opens and the liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a bowl to cool.

-Wipe out the skillet and heat 1 ½ tbs of the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onions and cook until well browned and soft, about 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the shallots, and cook for 2 minutes, then the garlic, ginger, and green onion, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes more. Add the carrots, bok choy, celery, cabbage, and snap peas and stir until just wilted. Pour in the soy sauce and combine. Transfer mixture to a bowl and cover.

-Heat remaining oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add the quinoa. When heated through, pour the eggs over the quinoa until eggs have cooked. Return the vegetables to the pan. Adjust the seasoning with additional soy sauce if needed.

Notes:

- pay close attention while toasting quinoa, esp. if you are using mixed variety because of its dark color its hard to tell if its getting toasted or almost burnt. Latter happened in my case.

To join the club, click for our facebook group here. Remember, you don’t need a blog – you just need to want to cook! And don't forget to check out what members are cooking.

Sweet MIMM

2013-03-25T09:26:00.000-05:00

Thank you guys for your kind words and prayers on my previous MIMM post. She is staying strong and we all are praying for her quick recovery.

google images

Let's start Marvelous Monday sweet with a dessert called Shahi Tukray, somewhat similar to bread pudding. Its true Royal indulgence dating back to Mughal Empire's era. Typically, a piece of toast is deep fried in ghee (clarified butter), soaked in heavy cream or full-fat milk infused with saffron thread, sugar, & topped with nuts/dried fruits.

I heart this dessert but the amount of fats in this dessert scares me especially now I am running less and eating MORE, I wanted to re-create skinny version because you all know how I feel about my skinny jeans. I would be lying if I said it's very Royal tasting like the real deal but it did satisfy my Shahi Tukray cravings (read: I ate three pieces in one sitting) with way less calories and fats. It's also approved by my sweet-toothed parents. But, if you want the whole shebang - try Shahi Tukda from Sailu's Kitchen. For my Skinny Shahi Tukray recipe, head over to Have the Cake, March Challenge:Bread Pudding.

This weekend was full of indulgence while visiting extended families in Houston. In between curries, fritters, and coconut cake - salad greens, smoothies, and cheerios also made an appearance.

I am Currently...

Reading The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger.

google images

Enjoying the story of a woman who moves from Bangladesh to Rochester for love...interesting read so far on intercultural & interfaith marriage.

Eating Sprouted Mung Bean & Cilantro Salad. Its a Spring-must-have.

Basically, life is good right now. I am living in the present, putting aside my worries, & being grateful for every little thing life has to offer.

google images

Sending lots of positivity to everyone and hope you all have a great week. Also, special thanks to Katie @ healthydivaeats for hosting MIMM.

What are you reading or eating lately?

Sprouted Mung Bean & Cilantro Salad {Recipe Redux}

2013-03-20T23:23:00.000-05:00

March is not only National Nutrition Month but its a month - full of hope, restlessness, & excitement because guess what - we are officially one day into Spring ..which also happens to be my favorite season.

As much as I enjoyed last month's Dark Chocolate Mousse for Recipe Redux, I am ready to re-introduce greens and cold salad into my life. I will definitely miss the comfort of warm split peas and barley soup, lingering smell of lemongrass while I made udon noodle soup, and my ultimate chipotle turkey chili after a long day at work. Nevertheless, there is a indefinite joy about Farmers Market on a Spring morning and getting my hands on fresh produce. On a similar note, this month's Recipe Redux had a theme to "use any fresh green herb in a nontraditional way". I am paying my humble respect to Spring & greens by making a simple "sprouted mung beans & cilantro salad".

Mung Bean (green gram or golden gram) is native to Indian Subcontinent, highly nutritious and also believed to be easier on digestion while compared to other beans. When these beans are allowed to soak in water for about 2-3 days, they germinate into sprouts. Here is a very helpful link on "how to sprout mung beans at home".

Raw mung beans when soaked in water will normally double once sprouted. You really don't need a recipe to make this salad. Just grab some basic ingredients from your fridge and toss them together.

Cilantro, a popular herb with lacy leaves is commonly recognized in Asia as coriander. It is known for its high antioxidants, antibacterial effects on bacteria and fungi, and believed to improve digestion by relieving gas & bloating. It also has cooling effect in summer (source, source).

Cilantro is normally used as a garnish but in this salad I added generous amount of it (chopped) to bring out its slightly pungent flavor.

Mix in with sprouted mung beans, chopped cilantro leaves, thinly minced ginger roots & roughly chopped green chili pepper, and freshly squeezed lemon juice and dash of salt..every bite into the salad brings a refreshing reminder that Spring is here. But wait, before diving into the salad, leave it in the refrigerator (an hour or so) to allow its flavors to come together.

It is best to consume sprouted beans as soon as possible because there is some risk of food-borne illness associated with it. I read home-grown sprouts are slightly less riskier than store-bought ones (source, source,) but regardless, buy them from trusted source, follow precaution and remember to store them properly in the refrigerator for about 3-5 days. If you notice any brown/black spot - throw them away. If you cannot consume it within 3-5 days, it is best to freeze them for future use.

I am not very familiar with cooked vs. uncooked sprouted beans and its nutritional benefits. If you do, please feel free to share your thoughts and don't forget to check out other Recipe-Redux recipes.

Marvelous in my Monday

2013-03-18T12:55:00.000-05:00

This week flew by so quick and I am excited (read: trying very hard) for another Marvelous Monday, hosted by Katie @ Healthy Diva Eats.

In stead of green beer, my weekend included quality time with my mom, home-cooked meals and lots of relaxing.

I made and ate too many pistachio-almond-cherry biscotti during daily tea-time talk with the family ..I am already thinking about next batch with few healthy adjustments before posting the recipe :)

I took advantage of marvelous Saturday morning, went for quick jog and soaked up the sun by Lake Carolyn.

Not so marvelous is finding out that someone in your family being diagnosed with cancer. It's very difficult for my family at this time. It feels so unfair & very hard to accept. Because of the sudden news, I had trouble falling asleep last night..all I could think was her, her kindness and what a strong and great lady she is. I just don't know what else to do but pray that she gets all the strength to fight off the disease and live a healthy, happy life.

All my problem and worries (which are often not too serious anyways) seems even trivial right now. Instead of worrying about every little things and fussing over nothing, I want to focus my energy in appreciating what I have and enjoy the present.

Sending positivity and lots of prayers to everyone for a healthy, happy Monday and rest of the week.

Tell me what is marvelous or not so marvelous in your life.

Positive Acne Report

2013-03-15T10:14:00.002-05:00

Since my last acne ~~rambling~~ post, good things have happened to my skin. Thanks guys for sharing your side of the story and tips. I really appreciated that.

First thing first, after being antibiotics dependent for more than a year, I finally broke that dependency and now I am living free of any antibiotics (both oral and topical) for about three months :) I was afraid at first that I might have bad breakout but I think at some point my skin got immune to it or something- antibiotics was not effective at all.

My current skin regimen

Face wash includes PanOxyl® 10% Acne Foaming Wash. This product contains highest amount of Benzoyl Peroxide without a prescription. I use it on alternate days when I am in the shower and it seems to work best on days when I have flared skin and bad breakouts. However, it does make my skin dry that's why I try not to use it as much.

I also use Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Daily Scrub when I am not using PanOxyl® 10% Acne Foaming Wash . It's the only scrub that does not irritate my skin and actually makes my skin soft.

Currently, I am experimenting few moisturizers

I used Origin - Zero Oil™ Oil-free moisture lotion with Saw Palmetto & Mint for a year or so but did not see any drastic change in my skin. Although it blends well with my foundation.

I briefly tried MAC Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Gel. I did not really like it as it left my skin looking oily and little blotchy.

Per my blogger-friend Parita @ myinnershakti's recommendation - I am trying out two new moisturizers. I use Cetaphil Dermacontrol Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30. It's really good in many ways- its very light, does not make my skin oily and blends well with my foundation too.

Lately, I find Aveeno Positively Radiant Tinted Moisturizer to be truly amazing. I always thought these products were gimmicks and would not work on skin with acne marks but I was so wrong. I am getting comfortable using just this and some blush on most days. Although it does not give full coverage like with concealer & foundation but it blends really well with my skin tone and hides most of my acne marks and I feel confident about my skin with this product on.

But if I need more coverage, I use Cetaphil Dermacontrol Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30 or Origin - Zero Oil™ Oil-free moisture lotion with Saw Palmetto & Mint. Then, follow up with MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer and MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 Foundation.

I normally put BareMinerals READYBlush (The Faux Pax) as my blush-I like how it stays well all day and I love it's pretty color too.

I make an effort on most days to wash/cleanse my face before going to bed. In the past, I was doing PanOxyl® 10% Acne Foaming Wash but now I regularly use Desertessence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash Original again of course, with Parita @ myinnershakti's recommendation. Some days, I am shocked to see so much dirt and oil that accumulates on my skin, g-r-o-s-s.

I found this only at Whole Foods

I then, follow up with Cetaphil Dermacontrol Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30 after cleansing. In the past, I never used any night cream.

On a different note, my parents got here safely. My mom got me a herbal soap called Okhati Sabun made up of neem (Azadirachta indica). This plant is known for its antibacterial properties in the medicinal Ayurveda world. Some of my friends and family member swears by this product so instead of Desertessence Thoroughly Clean Face Wash Original, I used this soap two nights in a row - no major change yet.

Anyways, that's pretty much what my skin care looks like and I don't know much or care about makeup although smokey eye is something I want to learn.

Some Do's & Dont's
- I do break out every once in a while but not BAD compared to what I had in the past
- I stopped drinking dairy milk altogether but I do eat little bit if its in a dessert, yogurt or something
- I do drink coffee every once a while and I think I breakout right after that but most likely that's not true. I live for chocolate though
- 99% of the time I use Kleenex to wipe my face instead of hand towel
- I do not touch my skin as much and resist really hard not to squeeze or poke it
- I do not change my pillow cover as much although I think that would help more
- I do juice 2-3 times a week and I think its helping my skin but I know its again one of those pseudo things I like to believe

It took me 26 years to finally accept that I will never have blemishes free, smooth, glowing skin and I am okay with what I have right now. As long as acne is controlled & make up covers it- its all good.

I am just sharing what is working for me right now after 2 years of trial and error but in my opinion (and experience), if you have extremely bad breakout, instead of spending money on different products - it might be worth (money, time, frustration) to see a dermatologist for better treatment plan.

If you guys have any acne related suggestions, tips, advice please leave it in the comment section because this is something I struggle with and see so many other people struggle with it in a daily basis so lets share, care, and help others too.

Sincere thanks to Parita @ myinnershakti.

Breakfast Scrambled Tacos + More BF Ideas #NNM

2013-03-13T09:37:00.000-05:00

March is National Nutrition Month (NNM) and theme for 2013 is "Eat Right, Your Way, Every Day," where it encourages personalized healthy eating styles and recognizes that food preferences, lifestyle, cultural and ethnic traditions and health concerns all impact individual food choices (source).

And...today is Registered Dietitians Day. Click here to find more about what dietitians do?

source: google images

For NNM & National Dietitians Day, I am not doing much but I just want to emphasize the importance of breakfast although I may sound like a broken record telling how breakfast is the most important meal of the day and that we should not skip it..yada yada yada.We have all heard it since we were little yet unfortunately, it still remains the most skipped meal.

Most of us (okay me), skip breakfast mainly because I don't have time (prefer that extra 10 minutes of sleep), get bored with same old breakfast, and nothing can't beat the convenience of fairly healthy yet pricey granola bars.

Let's not forget that our body needs energy to function, when we eat breakfast - we stay more focused at work/school and tend to not overeat during our next meal. Start eating breakfast if you already don't and notice the difference in your productivity & energy level. And, if you are not into breakfast food, that's okay - just grab something like low-fat yogurt, a piece of fruit, granola bar, even leftovers, although an ideal combination would be some sort of carbohydrate (whole grain, fruit) paired with lean protein. That's it for breakfast 101, now let's get into an actual breakfast.

As much as I enjoy warm bowl of oatmeal and love the convenience of chilled Swiss oatmeal in the morning, I like having variety and savory breakfast every once in a while and if you want to get out of that rut too, these breakfast scrambled tacos with scrambled eggs, sautee veggies, topped with cheese & salsa might be your answer- its quick, fairly healthy & can be made even on a busy morning in between retouching up your nails & dealing with a bad hair day. You get the picture right?

If tacos are not your thing, Fried Egg Sandwich on whole wheat toast/English muffin with mashed avocados inspired by Nisha @ Honey, Whats Cooking? are equally delicious and super easy to make. Add a slice of low-fat cheese or a slice of tomato for an extra layer of deliciousness.

..but you have extra time and energy in the morning chocolate chip pancakes, crepes w/ cranberry compote or classic waffles would be totally awesome. I am going to save those for the weekend because right now untangling hair is far more important. Priorities I tell you!

Breakfast Scrambled Tacos

makes 2 tacos

Ingredients

2 eggs
2 tablespoon onion, chopped
2-3 mushrooms, chopped (i used cremini)
2 tablespoon corn ( i used from can but frozen/thawed will also work fine)
2-3 teaspoon taco seasoning
2 tablespoon, cheese of your choice ( i used shredded Mexican cheese blend)
2 corn tortilla (may use other kind)
chopped cilantro, for garnish
salsa of your choice
cooking oil spray

Directions

-In a small pan, make scrambled eggs using my ooeey goeey method, remove it from heat and keep it aside
-In the same pan, spray some cooking oil and saute all the above vegetables along with taco seasoning for 3-5 minutes except for cheese and garnishes
-Warm the tortilla in microwave for 5 seconds
-Fill the tortilla with scrambled eggs, add saute veggies, then top it off with cheese, cilantro and add salsa.
-Enjoy it warm

Few More Quick, Delicious & Healthy Breakfast Ideas for you

-Creamy Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal @ The Realistic Nutritionist
-Indian Spiced Omelet @ The Picky Eater
-Raspberry Banana Chia Smoothie @ ohmyveggies
-Tofu Scramble Wraps @ ohmyveggies (it's freezer friendly too)
-Make ahead Chocolate Oatmeal @ crumbblog
-Breakfast Pizza @ chocolate covered Katie
-Eggs in a Basket
-Almond Butter Oatmeal Balls @ princessmisia (grab it and go)

What is your go-to breakfast? Sweet or Savory?

Extra Marvelous in My Monday

2013-03-11T09:07:00.003-05:00

..lately, I find myself in a very happy, almost balanced zone. I say almost because, its not like that 100% of the time. But at least I am not always having a-lot-of-one-of-those days. Its weird but good weird kinda feeling..which made me think about all this - do we choose to be or not to be happy? Is it all a mind game? Am I starting to look at same things/situations differently now because I am writing a Marvelous Monday post?

source

...you know what, forget the over analyzing and let's just soak up the good feeling and hope that it will last forever. Talking about Marvelous - I had a marvelous birthday. I had totally unexpected, surprise birthday hangout with my friends, bowling, cakes - yes, 3 and adult beverages. ~~Good~~ Greatest times. Thanks for all your lovely birthday wishes blog friends- I feel special. I am glad that some of you also feel the same way about birthdays. Yay. I am not the only Debbie-Downer.

I feel very blessed to have so many people in my life who genuinely cares about me. Thanks everyone!!!!

Original weekend involved marvelous brunch plan with a friend, who blogs @ meganwareRD. Check her out - she is awesome. But last minute plan change. The BF and I got pizza @ Pie Five Pizza. It was my first time and simply loved the concept and choices.

I got thin crust with spicy marinara, chicken, veggies & extra red peppers

This Monday and next couple weeks is going to be extra marvelous one because no, I am not moving to NY. Not yet. But my parents are in town. Well, they will be here in next few hours. Can you believe I have not seen them for 1.5 years? I am so looking forward to spend time with them, take some break from the kitchen and devour mom's aloo-bodi tama, aloo-paratha, potato salad amongst many other amazing dishes.. A big shout out to all the mom's out there - thanks for all you do and nothing will ever beat your food with little bit of this, little bit of that and whole lots of love.

Back to my almost balanced zone thing - my exercise lately has been not-so-marvelous, I miss running and I have only been walking and doing yoga sporadically. I don't like not-running and because of that I am starting to like my body less and less everyday and it kinda makes me upset about it.This post from Parita @ myinnershakti was a great realization that we are "beautiful work in progress" even though there are days when you do not like your own body - its important to challenge our negative thoughts and make positive steps towards it. Basically, spring needs to kick in for me so I can get back to running again.

Marvelous and not-so marvelous days are an inevitable part of our lives and I hope with each experiences we only get stronger and better.

source

Sending lots of happy thoughts and positivity you way. Have a marvelous day and marvelous week. Check out MIMM's host Katie's space for more marvelous Monday posts.

Please share your thoughts about happiness with me because I have been thinking a lot about it and now my head hurts.