PHEW! Last nights recipe was insane! Don't get me wrong, scallops are pretty good since I've converted to liking them and last nights scallops were delicious but the process of making good scallops was good, bad and ugly (hence the title of today's post)!
The Good
The meal did turn out pretty good despite the actual making of it, that I will explain later. Scallops on top of stir fried noodles with a teriyaki wine sauce was great =) I've never really taken to scallops but after making three recipes from the cookbook, I've discovered a new food I thoroughly enjoy.
The Bad
For some strange reason, I can not get my scallops to sear right. I know all things come with patience, but this is my third time cooking these little suckers! Directions say to get your pan hot and the scallops should sear on each side for no more than 3 minutes. This usually consists of the scallops getting stuck to the pan and the seasoning coming off of the scallops. This meal also did not take the 30 minutes it suggests, it took more like an hour after fighting with the heat and keeping the pan coated so nothing is burned.
The Ugly
The dishes after my ordeal was very ugly, not to mention the pan that I cooked the scallops in. The bottom was completely coated with sesame seeds and was a little burnt!!! It was pretty ugly.
Teriyaki Sesame Scallops with Asian Noodles
1 frozen bag of large sea scallops
salt
black pepper
3 1/2 tablespoons of sesame seeds
olive oil
5 tablespoons teriyaki marinade
1 1/2 tablespoons sweet rice wine
1 1/2 tablespoons of water
sliced green onions for garnish
Thaw scallops and pat dry. The drier the scallops are the better they will sear rather than steam. Sprinkle salt and pepper over scallops and dredge in sesame seeds. Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet and add the sesame seed covered scallops, cooking approximately 3 minutes on each side. If there is not enough room in your skillet for all the scallops, you can cook half and just keep them warm as you cook the remainder.
Combine the teriyaki marinade, sweet rice wine, and water. Add to pan and cook 1 minute. Spoon the sauce over the scallops and garnish with the onions.
Asian Noodles
3 ounces of whole wheat noodles
1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
1/2 cup sliced green onions
2 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
Cook noodles like normal. While noodles cook, put oil in a wok or other non stick skillet and heat. Saute the green onions, add the garlic and drain noodles with soy sauce to the pan. Cook and toss well merging all the flavors together.
Place noodles on a plate and top with scallops and marinade.
- Health Info -
Scallops - Scallops are actually a very good source of a very important nutrient for cardiovascular health, vitamin B12. In addition to their B12, scallops are a very good source of omega-3 fatty acids and a good source of magnesium and potassium, three other nutrients that provide significant benefits for the cardiovascular system. Omega-3 fats keep your blood flowing smoothly by preventing the formation of blood clots. Magnesium helps out by causing blood vessels to relax, thus helping to lower blood pressure while improving blood flow. Potassium helps to maintain normal blood pressure levels.
Sesame Seeds - Not only are sesame seeds a very good source of manganese and copper, but they are also a good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1, zinc and dietary fiber.
Green Onions - The green onion's medicinal part is its stem. It works as well as an antipyretic, expectorant, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal. It is effective against colds, headaches, chills to the stomach, indigestion, and also for insomnia. The white stem contains a lot of glucose and allyl sulfides. The compounds responsible for the strong odor of green onions are also what provide some of the biggest health benefits green onions offer. Onions contain allyl propyl disulphide, which has been shown to lower blood sugar levels. Quercetin, an antioxidant found in green onions, offers anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine benefits. Onions are rich in chromium, an essential mineral used by the body to regulate glucose and for the metabolism and storage of macro nutrients. Green onions are rich in vitamin C which not only boosts immunity, but offers protection from cardiovascular disease, eye disease, and skin wrinkling. Other nutrients found in green onions, include fiber, manganese, vitamin B6, potassium, and copper.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Free for All
The nights that I do not cook, we call it "Free for All" nights. I used to say, "tonight is leftovers,' it sounded so depressing until I realized that I enjoyed food a little less when it was "leftover night" and let's face it, we were given taste buds from The Man above for a reason!! So "leftover nights" turned into "free for all nights", when everyone in the house is free to come up with their own meal =)
Last night was a "Free for All". I usually just have a salad on these nights, but the tortillas and avocado were calling my name, I had to have quesadillas!! They turned out great... tortillas, black beans, Mexican cheese, cilantro, onions, chipolte peppers in adobe sauce and then sour cream, pico de gallo, and avocado for dipping =) Hit the spot perfectly!!
The other AWESOME thing about this cookbook is all the fresh food you have at your finger tips! This also gives you a chance to get creative with what you eat =) Free for All nights are always interesting!!
Last night was a "Free for All". I usually just have a salad on these nights, but the tortillas and avocado were calling my name, I had to have quesadillas!! They turned out great... tortillas, black beans, Mexican cheese, cilantro, onions, chipolte peppers in adobe sauce and then sour cream, pico de gallo, and avocado for dipping =) Hit the spot perfectly!!
The other AWESOME thing about this cookbook is all the fresh food you have at your finger tips! This also gives you a chance to get creative with what you eat =) Free for All nights are always interesting!!
Friday, June 17, 2011
Hotter than HOT Spicy Pork Chops with Crunchy Asian Coleslaw ~ This one is GOOD!!
WOW!!!! Talk about a SPICY dish!! What's that saying, oh yeah, if you can't handle the heat than get out of the kitchen. A warning for sure! Although this dish packs a lot of heat, it is incredibly good!! This recipe was made in under 30 minutes =) A great meal for weeknights and I highly suggest having a glass of ice water near by, or a nice cold beer would pair well too.
With everything that I make, I have to figure out something for my two year old, so there is a non spicy recommendation for the kiddos or for those that can't handle the heat below!
Hotter than HOT Spicy Pork Chops with Crunchy Asian Coleslaw
4 Boneless Pork Chops (a medium thick cut works well)
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons chili sauce with garlic
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
sliced green onions for garnish
Heat your pan and spray cooking spray. Add your pork chops. (If you prefer to grill, by all means, fire it up)! While the pork is cooking, combine all other ingredients besides the green onion to make your hot sauce.
(This is a good time to create your coleslaw, see directions below).
Your pork should cook through and through, there should not be any pink in the middle. After the pork is cooked, pour the hot sauce over the pork and allow to cook for a few minutes (for the kids, see below). The sauce should thicken a bit. Place on a plate and garnish with the green onions.
Crunchy Asian Coleslaw
The book calls this part of the recipe a salad, well growing up in the south, I call it coleslaw =) What is so great about this coleslaw, its thrown together in 5 minutes! Literally!! And its mayo free =)
1 small bag of coleslaw mix (cabbage, carrot, etc)
1 cup of sugar snap peas
1 cup matchstick cut cucumber
1/2 cup matchstick cut carrots
1/3 cup Newman's Own Sesame Ginger Dressing
fresh cilantro leaves to taste
roasted sesame seeds for garnish
Toss all ingredients in a medium bowl and its done =) Sprinkle sesame seeds on each serving.
For the Kiddos
My daughter likes spicy foods, but this meal would have been beyond her spicy comfort zone! Before placing the sauce on the pork chops, I cut off some pork chop for her.
I placed her cut up portions on her plate and dressed her pork chops with pear baby food. Really any fruit compliments pork chops, I suppose the best would be apple, but we didn't have any apple sauce handy, so pear would have to do. I spooned some pear over the pork chops and cut up the coleslaw so a little mouth would have an easier time eating and digging in.
She loved this!
It's good to serve this dish to the kids in a small bowl, so they can scoop the coleslaw easier since it is cut up. When it was time for dessert, I gave her the rest of the pear baby food container.
It ended her meal perfectly =)
If your children are a bit older and would want to try the hot sauce with their meal, serve it on the side. That way, if they can't handle it, its not all over their pork chops and the meal is still saved =)
The Twist
This recipe would also do great as lettuce wraps. The combination of the spicy pork with the crunch and flavor of the coleslaw would all mix well wrapped together.
- Health Info -
Pork - Pork is naturally low in salt and a rich source of good quality protein. It is also a good source of several vitamins and minerals needed for good health including iron, zinc, some of the B group vitamins, selenium and phosphorus. Lean pork is a rich source of B12. A 100g portion of pork provides you with 70% of your daily requirement of the vitamin!
Cabbage - Cabbage, being rich in iodine, helps in proper functioning of the brain and the nervous system, apart from keeping the endocrines glands in proper condition. Thus, it is good for brain and treatment of neurotic disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (Woot Woot). The various other nutrients present in cabbage such as vitamin-E which keeps the skin, eye and hair healthy, calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc., are very useful for overall health.
Carrots - Carrots are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds, and the richest vegetable source of the pro-vitamin A carotene. Carrots' antioxidant compounds help protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer and also promote good vision, especially night vision (which I lack because I'm always running into walls when its dark).
Chili Peppers - Chili Peppers contain significant quantities of vitamin C. The red peppers (not the green) also have high concentrations of beta-carotene. The heat from any type of hot pepper triggers the pain receptors in your mouth, which turns on the feel-good endorphins in the brain. This decreases feeling of stress or depression, who knew?
Pears - Pears provide a good source of fiber, vitamin B2, C, E, copper, and potassium. They
are an excellent source of pectin, which is a water soluble fiber.
With everything that I make, I have to figure out something for my two year old, so there is a non spicy recommendation for the kiddos or for those that can't handle the heat below!
Hotter than HOT Spicy Pork Chops with Crunchy Asian Coleslaw
4 Boneless Pork Chops (a medium thick cut works well)
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons chili sauce with garlic
2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
sliced green onions for garnish
Heat your pan and spray cooking spray. Add your pork chops. (If you prefer to grill, by all means, fire it up)! While the pork is cooking, combine all other ingredients besides the green onion to make your hot sauce.
(This is a good time to create your coleslaw, see directions below).
Your pork should cook through and through, there should not be any pink in the middle. After the pork is cooked, pour the hot sauce over the pork and allow to cook for a few minutes (for the kids, see below). The sauce should thicken a bit. Place on a plate and garnish with the green onions.
Crunchy Asian Coleslaw
The book calls this part of the recipe a salad, well growing up in the south, I call it coleslaw =) What is so great about this coleslaw, its thrown together in 5 minutes! Literally!! And its mayo free =)
1 small bag of coleslaw mix (cabbage, carrot, etc)
1 cup of sugar snap peas
1 cup matchstick cut cucumber
1/2 cup matchstick cut carrots
1/3 cup Newman's Own Sesame Ginger Dressing
fresh cilantro leaves to taste
roasted sesame seeds for garnish
Toss all ingredients in a medium bowl and its done =) Sprinkle sesame seeds on each serving.
For the Kiddos
My daughter likes spicy foods, but this meal would have been beyond her spicy comfort zone! Before placing the sauce on the pork chops, I cut off some pork chop for her.
I placed her cut up portions on her plate and dressed her pork chops with pear baby food. Really any fruit compliments pork chops, I suppose the best would be apple, but we didn't have any apple sauce handy, so pear would have to do. I spooned some pear over the pork chops and cut up the coleslaw so a little mouth would have an easier time eating and digging in.
She loved this!
It's good to serve this dish to the kids in a small bowl, so they can scoop the coleslaw easier since it is cut up. When it was time for dessert, I gave her the rest of the pear baby food container.
It ended her meal perfectly =)
If your children are a bit older and would want to try the hot sauce with their meal, serve it on the side. That way, if they can't handle it, its not all over their pork chops and the meal is still saved =)
The Twist
This recipe would also do great as lettuce wraps. The combination of the spicy pork with the crunch and flavor of the coleslaw would all mix well wrapped together.
- Health Info -
Pork - Pork is naturally low in salt and a rich source of good quality protein. It is also a good source of several vitamins and minerals needed for good health including iron, zinc, some of the B group vitamins, selenium and phosphorus. Lean pork is a rich source of B12. A 100g portion of pork provides you with 70% of your daily requirement of the vitamin!
Cabbage - Cabbage, being rich in iodine, helps in proper functioning of the brain and the nervous system, apart from keeping the endocrines glands in proper condition. Thus, it is good for brain and treatment of neurotic disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (Woot Woot). The various other nutrients present in cabbage such as vitamin-E which keeps the skin, eye and hair healthy, calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc., are very useful for overall health.
Carrots - Carrots are an excellent source of antioxidant compounds, and the richest vegetable source of the pro-vitamin A carotene. Carrots' antioxidant compounds help protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer and also promote good vision, especially night vision (which I lack because I'm always running into walls when its dark).
Chili Peppers - Chili Peppers contain significant quantities of vitamin C. The red peppers (not the green) also have high concentrations of beta-carotene. The heat from any type of hot pepper triggers the pain receptors in your mouth, which turns on the feel-good endorphins in the brain. This decreases feeling of stress or depression, who knew?
Pears - Pears provide a good source of fiber, vitamin B2, C, E, copper, and potassium. They
are an excellent source of pectin, which is a water soluble fiber.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Popeye's Blueberry Chicken Salad
Last night, I made a quick meal for my family and friends and everyone raved about it! Being a weeknight, I am always looking for something quick and healthy to eat. The salad came out great and it surprised me because I didn't expect the mixture of flavors with the blueberry. I love baby spinach and this definitely included a lot of it =) Gather your ingredients before lighting any fire or turning on your stove top!
Popeye's Blueberry Chicken Salad
Blueberry Sauce (see directions below)
3 chicken breasts no skin and boneless
1 cup of blueberries
1 cup feta cheese
cooking spray
baby spinach (enough for your guest) I bought a huge plastic container of it and it served well for four people with some leftover (again, I love spinach)
Prepare the Blueberry Sauce first. Get out your blender or food processor. Combine 1 cup of blueberries, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme, 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt. Blend well.
Mix about a 1/3 cup of the Blueberry Sauce with the chicken. Heat your grill pan or your grill whichever you prefer =) Spray cooking spray and add chicken but first make sure your pan or grill is the right temperature. Cook your chicken through and through, flipping periodically to avoid being burned on each side.
While the chicken is grilling, place a reasonable size amount of spinach on each plate (about a handful). When the chicken is complete, slice it into strips and place on each plate. Top with feta cheese and remaining blueberries. Drizzle the Blueberry Sauce on top for dressing.
For the kiddos old enough to eat from Mommy and Daddy's plate - Place some chicken aside, cut into chunks and throw some blueberries on their plate. Drizzle their chicken with a little sauce and serve. For older children, make them a small salad! My two year old loved this combination and little did she know she was eating antioxidants and protein =)
To compliment the salad, I recommend pairing it with a glass of red wine =)
Mix your salad really well before you take your first bite. Mixing all the ingredients. together is key to experiencing the best flavor =)
Enjoy and let me know what you think in the comment section below!
~ Health Info ~
Blueberries - Especially the wild species, blueberries contain antioxidants which have been found to reduce the risks of some cancers. One study suggests certain compounds present in blueberries have a major effect in reducing the degradation of brain function, as in Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. Other studies have shown that blueberries may help diminish stroke damage, prevent urinary tract infections, and lower cholesterol and lipid levels in the blood, which help alleviate and even reverse signs and symptoms of heart disease. In addition, blueberries are high in manganese as well as vitamin K, and have a very low glycemic load, making it an ideal food for diabetics.
Spinach - Researchers have identified at least 13 different flavonoid compounds in spinach that function as antioxidants and as anti-cancer agents. The anti-cancer properties of these flavonoids have been shown to slow down cell division in stomach cancer cells and reduce skin cancers. The spinach carotenoid is known to combat prostate cancer.
Red grapes - Because of the low incidence of heart disease in France which is attributed to greater consumption of red wine, it is believed that something in the grape helps to lower cholesterol levels in the body and thus slows down the build up of deposits in the arteries. Compounds such as resveratrol (a polyphenol antioxidant) have been discovered in grapes and these have been positively linked to fighting cancer, heart disease, degenerative nerve disease and other ailments.
Popeye's Blueberry Chicken Salad
Blueberry Sauce (see directions below)
3 chicken breasts no skin and boneless
1 cup of blueberries
1 cup feta cheese
cooking spray
baby spinach (enough for your guest) I bought a huge plastic container of it and it served well for four people with some leftover (again, I love spinach)
Prepare the Blueberry Sauce first. Get out your blender or food processor. Combine 1 cup of blueberries, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 teaspoons of fresh thyme, 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt. Blend well.
Mix about a 1/3 cup of the Blueberry Sauce with the chicken. Heat your grill pan or your grill whichever you prefer =) Spray cooking spray and add chicken but first make sure your pan or grill is the right temperature. Cook your chicken through and through, flipping periodically to avoid being burned on each side.
While the chicken is grilling, place a reasonable size amount of spinach on each plate (about a handful). When the chicken is complete, slice it into strips and place on each plate. Top with feta cheese and remaining blueberries. Drizzle the Blueberry Sauce on top for dressing.
For the kiddos old enough to eat from Mommy and Daddy's plate - Place some chicken aside, cut into chunks and throw some blueberries on their plate. Drizzle their chicken with a little sauce and serve. For older children, make them a small salad! My two year old loved this combination and little did she know she was eating antioxidants and protein =)
To compliment the salad, I recommend pairing it with a glass of red wine =)
Mix your salad really well before you take your first bite. Mixing all the ingredients. together is key to experiencing the best flavor =)
Enjoy and let me know what you think in the comment section below!
~ Health Info ~
Blueberries - Especially the wild species, blueberries contain antioxidants which have been found to reduce the risks of some cancers. One study suggests certain compounds present in blueberries have a major effect in reducing the degradation of brain function, as in Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. Other studies have shown that blueberries may help diminish stroke damage, prevent urinary tract infections, and lower cholesterol and lipid levels in the blood, which help alleviate and even reverse signs and symptoms of heart disease. In addition, blueberries are high in manganese as well as vitamin K, and have a very low glycemic load, making it an ideal food for diabetics.
Spinach - Researchers have identified at least 13 different flavonoid compounds in spinach that function as antioxidants and as anti-cancer agents. The anti-cancer properties of these flavonoids have been shown to slow down cell division in stomach cancer cells and reduce skin cancers. The spinach carotenoid is known to combat prostate cancer.
Red grapes - Because of the low incidence of heart disease in France which is attributed to greater consumption of red wine, it is believed that something in the grape helps to lower cholesterol levels in the body and thus slows down the build up of deposits in the arteries. Compounds such as resveratrol (a polyphenol antioxidant) have been discovered in grapes and these have been positively linked to fighting cancer, heart disease, degenerative nerve disease and other ailments.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
First Post =)
The idea of cooking healthy and eating healthy all started when my daughter Jolie was 6 months old with the introduction of solid foods into her diet. My husband and I were still on the, its cheap and easy diet. In other words, it was spaghetti two times a week and then there were leftovers and not to mention the fast food that came the nights neither one of us felt like cooking although we both share a tremendous love for food and cooking.
So I began to make Jolie her baby food thinking that I didn't want her growing up on french fries and noodles. After slaving in the kitchen a few times a week making pureed sweet potatoes and green beans (which didn't come out like I had originally planned) I decided just to go with store-bought baby food and table food. Once I realized that someone very little liked the idea of eating off of mommy and daddy's plate, I got a little worried what was going into that little mouth of hers.
I received a cookbook as a gift called Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld (If you're a mother, I'm sure you've heard about it). The book was a great way to sneak in foods that picky toddlers or older kids wouldn't eat, like broccoli. I gave it a go and the results ended up being lack luster. After trying several recipes and again slaving over steaming and pureeing food all to add a cup of veggies here or there, I decided this book wasn't for me. Disappointed, I gave up on trying new cookbooks and went back to preparing the original weekly meals like spaghetti while I was pregnant with our second daughter, Cora.
Until I received another cookbook soon after Cora was born. I immediately fell in love with this cookbook and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to cook, doesn't have time to cook healthy meals and who is even on a budget. The book is Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast. After making several recipes and loving everyone of them, I thought to myself, I have to let people in on such a secret to have healthy meals prepared fast with only little ingredients.
This blog is about my journey cooking through the book, sort of like the movie Julie and Julia just a bit healthier and less time consuming!
So I began to make Jolie her baby food thinking that I didn't want her growing up on french fries and noodles. After slaving in the kitchen a few times a week making pureed sweet potatoes and green beans (which didn't come out like I had originally planned) I decided just to go with store-bought baby food and table food. Once I realized that someone very little liked the idea of eating off of mommy and daddy's plate, I got a little worried what was going into that little mouth of hers.
I received a cookbook as a gift called Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld (If you're a mother, I'm sure you've heard about it). The book was a great way to sneak in foods that picky toddlers or older kids wouldn't eat, like broccoli. I gave it a go and the results ended up being lack luster. After trying several recipes and again slaving over steaming and pureeing food all to add a cup of veggies here or there, I decided this book wasn't for me. Disappointed, I gave up on trying new cookbooks and went back to preparing the original weekly meals like spaghetti while I was pregnant with our second daughter, Cora.
Until I received another cookbook soon after Cora was born. I immediately fell in love with this cookbook and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to cook, doesn't have time to cook healthy meals and who is even on a budget. The book is Cooking Light Fresh Food Fast. After making several recipes and loving everyone of them, I thought to myself, I have to let people in on such a secret to have healthy meals prepared fast with only little ingredients.
This blog is about my journey cooking through the book, sort of like the movie Julie and Julia just a bit healthier and less time consuming!
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