Set the Table

Polenta, baked salmon, and roasted broccoli! One of the most...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:20:35 -0400

Polenta, baked salmon, and roasted broccoli!

One of the most deliciously simple meals yet!

*Polenta from Trader Joes is in a tube form…slice off the portions you want and lightly cook in a TBSP of grapeseed oil in a pan

*Top with sauteed mushrooms, garlic, and onion

*Serve with roasted broccoli and oven-baked salmon

Spring salad! In Southern California it is peak strawberry...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 15:42:49 -0400

Irvine Saturday Farmer's Market purchases...fair trade coffee, organic strawberries, organic red leaf lettuce, citrus fruits, locally made breads, catgrass, and a miniature clay sculpture

Spring salad!

In Southern California it is peak strawberry season! Be sure to buy organic if you can because they are high on the Dirty Dozen list.

Dinner was a fantastic and quick combination of the market purchases.

*Marinated a chicken breast in a dressing of one fresh squeezed orange (and some pulp) and grapeseed oil (best for grilling or high temps)

*Washed and spun the lettuce (also organic because it’s on the dirty dozen), then rip by hand (prevents browning)

*Toss in Newman’s balsamic dressing or your own creation

*Slice as many strawberries as you want and toss altogether

*When the chicken is ready (I grill at a low heat until 165 degrees-juicy!), thinly slice it and layer over the salad!

A new take on an old fave- curry! *Thawed 4-6 oz wild caught...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:26:17 -0400

Salmon curry over quinoa

Curry

Bake salmon with lemon slices

Prepped veggies: broccoli florets, baby bella mushrooms and carrots

Curry paste and Coconut milk

Quinoa

A new take on an old fave- curry!

*Thawed 4-6 oz wild caught salmon, douse with some olive oil, fresh ginger, cracked pepper, lemon juice, and two lemon slices. Bake in toaster oven slowly at 300 degrees while every else cooks.

*Rinse 1 c. quinoa, let it dry, and place in rice cooker w/ 1 3/4 c. water, and 1-2 tsp Better than Bouillon

*Wash and chop 2 c. broccoli florets, 2 c. brown (crimini) or baby bella mushrooms, and 1 c. carrot.

*Heat the skillet (preferably nonstick) on med and add one can of curry paste…let it aromatize, spread it around bottom of pan, add coconut milk. If you like spicy curry one can is enough, otherwise, add more coconut milk to your preference.

*Mix the paste into the milk well, then add the carrots. After a few minutes, add the broccoli and mushrooms.

*Temp the salmon-should be at least 145 degrees.

*In a bowl place quinoa and cover with curry mixture, then take 1/2 of the salmon and place on top, with a dollop of Greek yogurt.

The salmon will be so delicious because of cooking it slowly with lemon. If you are sensitive to spice add more Greek yogurt and mix your portion well before eating! Enjoy the texture of quinoa and delicious curry!

April Fools Day is my wedding anniversary. Today we celebrated...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 02:45:00 -0400

XOXO roll

Sexy roll

Cream corn croquettes

Dessert- Fromage from Hamada-ya (inside Mitsuwa)

April Fools Day is my wedding anniversary. Today we celebrated 10 years! One of the best times we ever had was spent in Japan. To celebrate we dined at Tustin hotspot Honda-Ya. There is ALWAYS a wait, but it is worth it! The food and service are incredible and very authentic.

Skewer skills metal skewers rock- so easy to use! Stick...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 01:43:42 -0400

Skewer skills

*metal skewers rock- so easy to use!

*Stick anything you like on and brush with some olive oil or grapeseed oil

*Grill and serve! I like to make coconut rice as a side:

Lightly brown coconut flakes in a saute pan over medium heat

and add to the rice for an instant island flavor!

Cinna swirl pancakes with cream cheese icing! A couple of years...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:54:52 -0400

Cinna swirl pancakes with cream cheese icing!

A couple of years ago my sister first took me to eat at an Atlanta hotspot called The Flying Biscuit Cafe. It is THE best brunch I have ever eaten…their grits are to die for, and I can never forget the delicious ooey gooeyness of their cinnamon swirl pancakes! I had a big craving for them one day so we recreated them using this recipe…

** hint- use a frosting applicator to squeeze out the cinnamon and then use a toothpick to execute your design!

*Cream cheese icing is a must!

be ready- you will never want to eat regular pancakes again!

Fried rice in less than 10 minutes! *I got home late tonight but...

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 01:46:00 -0400

Fried rice in less than 10 minutes!

*I got home late tonight but I needed something quick and filling to eat…luckily I had leftover rice in my frig and frozen mixed veggies to use!

*Heat the saute/wok pan on med high and put 1 TBSP grapeseed oil to coat the bottom.

*Add about a cup of the leftover rice (at least one day old) and smooth it over the bottom of the pan…leave it like that for about 3-4 minutes

*flip the rice over and let it sizzle 1-2 minutes then make a hole in the middle

*crack an egg in the hole, let it cook a few seconds and then scramble it up into the rice

*then add 1/2 frozen veggies and stir them in well

*drizzle 1 TBSP soy sauce around the edge of the whole mixture, then mix it all up, and serve!

Serves 1-2

Scramble to your health! I whipped up a yummy breakfast of eggs...

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 13:43:18 -0400

Scramble to your health!

I whipped up a yummy breakfast of eggs and three veg/fruit servings!

* I used frozen spinach- 1 c., and warmed it up in the saute pan with 1/2 a large tomato, diced…when the spinach was wilted I added 1 tsp grapeseed oil and moved the mixture over to one side of the pan

added

*2 organic eggs whipped with 1TBSP water & 1 tsp Greek yogurt

*Mixed it all together, added a dash of seasalt & fresh cracked pepper, and topped the scramble with about 1/4 c sharp cheddar cheese.

Served with a 1/2 orange and some salsa!

Weekend brunch! *huevos rancheros- simple and classic. You can...

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 01:36:55 -0400

Weekend brunch!

*huevos rancheros- simple and classic. You can make it however you like but I prefer sunny side up on corn tortillas, black beans, salsa, cilantro, and avocado.

Grill crazy! I made this last fall but I am still remembering...

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:42:47 -0400

Grill crazy!

I made this last fall but I am still remembering the intense FLAVOR and my mouth is watering…this was originally one of Giada’s fantastic recipes!

*I brushed two nice portabello mushrooms inside and out with olive oil, enough so they were saturated and wouldn’t stick.

*Seasoned with fresh cracked pepper and slapped on the grill~5 min a side.

*Prepped the beautiful salad of fresh mozzarella, garden tomatoes and freshly picked basil beforehand.

*Liberally fill each mushroom with the salad and drizzle more olive oil, and sprinkle a little sea salt on top.

Power food rush! This is becoming a fairly typical am routine...

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:47:00 -0400

Power food rush!

This is becoming a fairly typical am routine for me.

I use my frozen fruits that I purchase in large quantities during season, ideally at the farmer’s market. For example, it is now prime strawberry picking season in SOCAL so I have loads of them washed, cut, and frozen to use whenever I like!

*This particular concoction was made from :

1c. frozen organic strawberries (they are on the Dirty Dozen list)

1/2 c frozen blueberries

1 banana

1/2 c Pom juice

2 tsp green tea powder

1 tsp cinnamon

2 TBSP wheat germ

1/2 c almond milk

**Makes two 12 oz smoothies

It was very good, and a nice alternative from the smoothies I have made with yogurt.

Sweet strawberries and chocolate for dessert! *Fresh...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:30:40 -0400

Sweet strawberries and chocolate for dessert!

*Fresh farmers’ market berries and orange slices

*Melted Trader Joe’s Almond Bark (Dark chocolate pieces) in a “double boiler”: put about 1 c water in a sauce pan and set a glass mixing bowl over the top. Bring to a boil and add the chocolate, about 3 oz for 7 large berries.

*When the chocolate is melted dip the fruit in and coat evenly, then set on wax paper. Make sure the wax paper is on a tray or plate so after all the fruit is covered you can transfer it easily into the frig.

*Ready to eat when the chocolate “dries” or hardens to your preference!

Nutritious and delicious dinner for two! Salmon is so heart...

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 14:23:00 -0400

Nutritious and delicious dinner for two! Salmon is so heart healthy and this recipe leaves you wanting to eat it every day!

*Marinade two wild-caught salmon fillets: I used the juice of a Myer lemon blended with a TBSP of basil pesto and a tsp. of grapeseed oil. I let the fish bathe while the rice cooks.

*I prefer wild rice for it’s texture, taste, and nutritive properties. Rinse the rice first, then combine 1 c. wild rice & 2 2/3 c water, and some chicken bouillon ( I use “Better than Bouillon”) in rice cooker.

* Chop several baby bella mushrooms and some onion and saute in grapeseed oil just until tender. When the rice is finished, add this mixture.

*Have a steamer full of broccoli florets ready to steam when you cook the fish. We bought a grill basket ($10 @ Lowe’s) which worked great! The fish was perfectly cooked at a LOW temp on the gas grill.

*Add a little fresh chopped basil for garnish. If you have a little leftover lemon juice you can pour it over the broccoli and fish before serving.

The salmon was “melt-in-your-mouth” perfect, the rice absurdly delicious, and it’s awesome no-guilt meal!

Perfect dinner for one!*Marinade an organic chicken breast in my...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:37:00 -0400

Perfect dinner for one!
*Marinade an organic chicken breast in my citrus marinade

*Serve over a bed of green tea soba noodles tossed with seaweed strips and sesame oil

*Pour a little more sauce over the top.

My healthy and satisfying lunch! *Loads of broccoli, steamed al...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:33:41 -0400

My healthy and satisfying lunch!

*Loads of broccoli, steamed al dente, and a side of gyoza!

*Perfect dipping sauce- my citrus marinade.

Homemade orange chicken *Using my citrus marinade I prepped two...

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:55:00 -0400

Homemade orange chicken

*Using my citrus marinade I prepped two chicken breasts and let them soak for about an hour. During this time I cooked rice, and assembled the skillet for steaming the veggies.

*We eat a lot of broccoli so it’s economical to buy pre-packaged florets, although at the farmer’s market crowns are 75 cents each!

*Washed and quartered baby bella mushrooms. They have SO much flavor I use them as my go-to mushroom.

In a hot skillet I steamed the veggies using grapeseed oil, a 1/8 c of the marinade, 1 tsp Sriracha, more fresh squeezed orange juice, and about 1TBSP of honey. Leave a lid on this for about 5 minutes, then turn off the heat.

*I grilled the chicken because I love the flavor. if you want a more-glazed finish I recommend a skillet.

*When the chicken is ready (165 degrees) dice it up and add to the veggies. Squeeze a little more honey and fresh orange over the top, and serve over rice. Be sure to scoop up some of the sauce.

reddeoh21: The greatest wealth is health. on We Heart It -...

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:13:04 -0400

reddeoh21:

The greatest wealth is health. on We Heart It - http://weheartit.com/entry/29636184/via/babyrabbit

At a loss about how to use up forgotten farmers market citrus in...

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 20:13:00 -0400

At a loss about how to use up forgotten farmers market citrus in your fridge?

*in about 5 minutes you can make a mouth-watering marinade!

*I grabbed several ingredients I had around-you can improvise too!

*I used peeled ginger I keep in the freezer, peeled garlic, juice from squeezing one of those big, juicy oranges, and one small Myer lemon, add about 2 TBSP soy sauce, 1/4 c grapeseed oil (for grilling or sauteing the meat), and some fresh cracked pepper. I also added a tiny drop of sesame oil because I am making an Asian dinner tonight. Tiny because sesame oil does not withstand heat well.

*Grated the ginger and garlic into a small mixing bowl, and added in everything else.

*Poured over the meat (I was using organic chicken breasts) and used a fork to puncture holes. This helps the meat absorb the flavors faster.

*The nice thing about a citrus-based marinade is that it’s fast-acting, especially if you don’t have a lot of time to let the meat marinade.

*This can also be used on vegetables, or as a nice tangy salad vinaigrette!

Chicken and wild rice soup *I used shredded chicken I had...

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 19:29:26 -0400

Chicken and wild rice soup

*I used shredded chicken I had leftover from a grilled whole chicken (free range and organic)

*In a broth made from combining organic chicken stock and homemade chicken broth I added my choice ingredients: frozen kale, gold potatoes (a creamier, more flavorful type), carrot, corn, celery, jalapeno, onion, garlic, and wild rice.

*Seasoned with fresh cracked pepper and fresh parsley.

The veggies purchased at the Farmer’s Market: *Turned into a...

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 13:42:25 -0500

The veggies purchased at the Farmer’s Market:

*Turned into a simply mouth-watering meal of salty, tangy, crunchy, juicy, and creamy fun for my tongue!

*Pound a thinly sliced chicken breast and lightly coat in flour, then an egg wash, and finally, panko crumbs; fry lightly in a skillet of hot grapeseed oil.

*Toss veggies in olive oil, salt/pepper & roast @425 for 10 min. Sprinkle parmesan and lemon zest afterwards.