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Monday, December 31, 2012

Sun. Dec 30th

Pineapple Black Olive Pizza for Lunch!

Daily Tidbit:   Is there anything better than exhausting oneself doing post holiday shopping with the family, and then going directly to a good friend's house to throw your feet under a table and enjoy some good company and delicious homemade Pizza, with cool toppings like Pineapple, Arugula and Black Olives?  Not today!  I have to admit that for many years I thought Pineapple was just too strange on Pizza, but last year I gave it another chance only to find that I actually enjoy it!  Truth is Pizza is good, so just about anything you like could be good thrown on top.   

If you need some inspiration for your next pizza night, here are 5 Crazy, Weird, Delicious Pizza Toppings from Zagat:

http://blog.zagat.com/2012/06/where-to-find-crazy-weird-delicious.html

 

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Pineapple Orange Zucchini Smoothie!

Breakfast:  Plain Shredded Wheat Cereal with Walnuts
1 cup Plain Shredded Wheat Cereal
1 cup Fat Free Milk
2 tbsp plain Chopped Walnuts
5 oz Pineapple Orange Zucchini Smoothie (recipe below)
Regular Coffee, sprinkle Cinnamon, splash Fat Free Milk


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Pineapple Black Olive Pizza for Lunch!
 
Lunch: Homemade Pizza at a Friend's house!

3 slices of Homemade PizzaByZach:   
2 slices with Pineapples & Black Olives &
1 slice with Arugula and Lemon, YUM & YUM
Spiced Hot Apple Cider
Coffee, black with a little Sugar
 



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Snack:  1/4 cup lightly salted, dry roasted Peanuts, Fat Free Milk





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Shrimp Satay with Veggies

Dinner:  Shrimp Satay with Veggies
1 Large serving - as pictured - of Shrimp Satay:  
12 Shrimp over Veggies:  Broccoli, Peas, Onions, Carrots, Mushrooms, Baby Corn, Red Peppers, and Water Chestnuts, and then topped with fresh chopped Cilantro, Scallions & 1/2 Avocado (full recipe below)
Red Wine 
 

 
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Dessert: No Food, just another glass of Wine!

 
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RECIPES:

Pineapple Orange Zucchini Smoothie Recipe:


Into blender put:

1 cup fresh cut Pineapple
1 cup All Natural Fat Free Vanilla Yogurt
2 Bananas
1/2 cup raw Zucchini (skinned and chopped)  
1/2 cup Orange Juice

Blend and serve!  The Zucchini is totally undetectable, by appearance or taste; it is like getting a serving of Vegetable for free!






 

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Shrimp Satay Recipe:

This is a new and easy recipe for Satay that I found in Women's Health Magazine, which uses Coconut Milk, Hot Sauce and the usual Peanut Butter, Soy Sauce and a few other ingredients.  I adapted the recipe according to what we have in the house and how we like it and we LOVED it!


Sautee Veggies of choice in oil in hot pan.  Meanwhile whisk the following ingredients together to make the Satay Sauce:


-1/2 cup Light Coconut Milk
-3/4 cup Creamy All Natural Peanut Butter
-4 tbsp Soy Sauce
-1 tbsp crushed Ginger Paste
-Juice from 1 Lime
-3 tbsp Hot Sauce (Hot Red Chili Sauce, akin to Tabasco I guess)


When Veggies are cooked to desired done-ness, add the Satay sauce, heat and then add the Shrimp, cover and cook until done.  Serve immediately with Cilantro, Scallions & Avocado, if desired.
 
PS.  We ended up adding a little Crushed Red Pepper Flake at the table, to add a little more heat, which made it a perfect balance with the cooling, creamy Avocado on top.


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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Sat. Dec 29th




A slice of my friend's Homemade Fruit Cake for Dessert!

Daily Tidbit:  A dear friend was kind enough to share a slice of her homemade Fruit Cake with me today, something I had never had before!  This famous seasonal treat has been known to make its way into a joke or two, but I have to say, I enjoyed every bite!  (Yes, it was made with real fruit!)  Meanwhile, little did I know that Dec. 27th is actually National Fruit Cake Day, I only missed it by two days!  

For those looking to enjoy this treat as it was intended: home-made and with real fruit, then check out Cooking Light's updated Lighter version and enjoy!

http://simmerandboil.cookinglight.com/2012/12/27/give-the-fruitcake-a-facelift/
 

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Cheerios with Walnuts

Breakfast:  Cheerios with Walnuts
1 cup Cheerios
 
1 cup Fat Free Milk
2 tbsp plain Chopped Walnuts
5 oz Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie (recipe below) 

Regular Coffee, sprinkle Cinnamon, splash Fat Free Milk


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Spinach Egg Flaxseed Salad
 

Lunch:  2 Eggs Over Easy Spinach Salad
I put the following ingredients together in a bowl and then added the hot Over Easy Eggs on top, chopped them up and mixed everything together:


-1 packed cup fresh Baby Spinach
-Red Onion, sliced
-1 Plum Tomato, sliced
-1 tsp EVOO
-2 tsp Red Wine Vinegar
-Fresh Corn, cut from 1/2 Cob
-1/2 tbsp Flaxseed   

Water with Lemon 


*A good addition to this salad would have been some Dijon Mustard mixed into the dressing, along with the Oil, Vinegar and Eggs.
 


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Multi-Grain Crispbread with Kalamata Hummus

Snack:   1 Wasa Multi Grain Crispbread topped with 1 tbsp Kalamata Olive Hummus (recipe below)
Decaf Coffee, 1/2 tsp unsweetened Dark Cocoa, splash Fat Free Milk




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Snack:   1/4 cup lightly salted, dry roasted Peanuts, Fat Free Milk


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Fresh Salsa + Black Beans + Avocado
Cheddar Mozz Nachos

Dinner: Nachos with fresh Salsa, Beans & Avocado

Organic White Corn Tortilla Chips, toasted with Part Skim Mozzarella & Cheddar Cheese, served with:
1/2 cup Black Beans + 1 cup fresh Salsa (recipe below) + 1/2 Avocado 
Red Wine

 
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Fruit Cake


Dessert: Thin Slice of Fruit Cake with Icing, Water 

 
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RECIPES:
 
Strawberry Banana Spinach Smoothie Recipe:

Into blender put:

2 Bananas
1 cup Fat Free All Natural Vanilla Yogurt
1 cup Strawberries (frozen/ thawed)
1 packed cup Baby Spinach

Blend and serve!


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Kalamata Olive Hummus Recipe:

I cooked Dried Chick Peas in my Slow Cooker (1 cup of Chick Peas, in 4 cups of water, for 6 hours).  I drained the Chick Peas and prepared the Hummus as follows:
Into Food Processor put:
1 large clove Garlic, process first before adding other ingredients 2.5 cups Chick Peas, from Slow Cooker (still warm) juice from 1/2 Lime 1/2 tsp Salt (or more to taste) 2 tbsp Tahini

Process.  While Processing, stream in 1-2 tbsp EVOO and up to 1/4 cup of cool water depending on the desired texture/ consistency.   
I used half of this recipe as "Plain Hummus" then  took the leftover half, still inside the food processor, and threw in 8 pitted Black Kalamata Olives and processed until they were incorporated into the Hummus.  That is it!

 

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Fresh Salsa Recipe:

Into food processor put:

1 large clove Garlic (process this first before adding other ingredients)
1/4 Large Red Onion
1/4 Large White Onion
Juice of 1/2 Lime
Large bunch of Cilantro 
1 Pint Cherry Tomatoes
Salt, to taste
   
Process.  While Processing, stream in 1 tbsp EVOO.  Transfer to bowl.  Mix in 1/4 cup sliced Scallions.  Refrigerate to allow flavors to meld.
 

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Saturday, December 29, 2012

Fri. Dec 28th

Italian Chicken Salad for Lunch!

Daily Tidbit:   Starting to think about New Years Eve eats?  Check out these smart ideas from PBS:


http://www.pbs.org/food/features/new-years-eve-hors-doeuvres/?utm_source=foodnewsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_term=main1&utm_content=newyears&utm_campaign=newyears


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Plain Shredded Wheat with Walnuts

Breakfast:  Plain Shredded Wheat Cereal with Walnuts
1 cup
Plain Shredded Wheat Cereal 
1 cup Fat Free Milk
2 tbsp plain Chopped Walnuts
5 oz Organic Orange Juice (from Concentrate)
Regular Coffee, sprinkle Cinnamon, splash Fat Free Milk


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Italian Chicken Salad

Lunch out: Italian Chicken Salad

Delicious Balsamic Marinated Chicken Breast salad served over mixed Italian greens with Green & Black Olives, Red Onions, Roasted Red Peppers, Cucumbers, fresh Mozzarella and sliced Tomatoes tossed in a Balsamic Vinaigrette
Water with Lemon
Diet Coke

 

I have to figure out how to recreate this salad at home; it is delicious!  I asked the waiter, who also happened to be the owner of this small-town bistro, how long they marinate the Chicken.  I usually do about 30 minutes....turns out that is not enough for this type of flavor and texture.  He said one whole day, or at least over night.  I'm trying this next time!

 

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Snack:   1/4 cup lightly salted, dry roasted Peanut
Decaf Coffee, sprinkle Cinnamon, splash Fat Free Milk
 


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Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Cauliflower Gratin

Dinner: Baked Salmon & Veggies
1 fillet of Wild Caught Alaskan Keta Salmon

Smashed Sweet Potatoes (recipe below)
Cauliflower Gratin (recipe below)
Plate sprinkled with fresh chopped Cilantro
Red Wine


   
I cook the Salmon simply, by spraying it with Canola Oil, seasoning with salt and baking it in my Toaster Oven at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.  I remove the skin before eating it, however, it is home to lots of nutrients and good fats, so if you like the taste - enjoy!
 

 
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Dessert: None tonight.

 
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RECIPES:


 
Mashed Sweet Potatoes Recipe:
 
Microwave 3 large whole Sweet Potatoes until soft.  Remove skins and chop and toss into a large bowl.  Mash (I used a Masher).  Then add 1 tbsp Butter and 1 tbsp 100% Pure Maple Syrup and salt to taste.  Mix and serve!
 
  
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Cauliflower Gratin Recipe:
 
Steam Cauliflower in covered pan on stove with a couple tbsp of water until soft, and strain.  Return empty pan to stove and heat 1 tbsp Canola Oil & 1 tbsp Butter until melted.  Add 1/2 Large chopped Red Onion and saute.  After a couple minutes add 2 cloves of Garlic, sliced and 1 tsp Ground Mustard and a couple turns of the Pepper Mill.  Cook for 1-2 minutes then add 1 tbsp Flour and cook another couple minutes.  Then add 1 cup 1% Milk and whisk until the sauce starts to thicken.  Then add 1 cup freshly grated Cheddar Cheese and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese.  Once cheese melts, add Cauliflower to the dish and mix together.  Put into a broiler safe pan, mash Cauliflower if desired and then top with Panko Crumbs.  Spray Panko Crumbs with a little Canola Oil and then broil dish until the top begins to bubble and brown!   
 
I did not add salt because the Parmesan Cheese is fairly salty by itself.  However, if you don't use Parmesan Cheese, you will most likely need to add a little! 
 
 
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Friday, December 28, 2012

Thurs. Dec 27th

Zucchini "Chips" with Hummus for Snack!

Daily Tidbit:   Zucchini is a work horse in my kitchen.  I use it for all sorts of things, but today I found a new way to use them; as Chips!  I made some hummus for my snack today and was thinking about how great crackers or toasted pita chips are at scooping up and enjoying yummy hummus.  Then it dawned on me, I could cut Zucchini into cracker/ chip shapes and use them as a substitute, thus getting me another serving or two of Veggies and more Fiber and Vitamins into my day!  Worked great, loved it!

Read here for info on the benefits of eating both cooked and raw Zucchini, alongside some more recipe ideas (such as putting Zucchini in Smoothies...yes I'll be trying this sometime soon!) from the San Fransisco Chronicle:

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-raw-grilled-zucchini-2771.html 


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Cheerios with Walnuts

Breakfast:  Cheerios with Walnuts
1 cup Cheerios
1 cup Fat Free Milk
2 tbsp plain Chopped Walnuts
5 oz Organic Orange Juice (from Concentrate)
Regular Coffee, sprinkle Cinnamon, splash Fat Free Milk


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Mozzarella Nachos with Homemade Salsa
 
Lunch: Nachos topped with Homemade Salsa
Organic Yellow Corn Lower Sodium Tortilla Chips, toasted with Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese and topped with Homemade Cooked Salsa & 1/2 Avocado, sliced
Water with Lime


*Salsa made on stove with Canola Oil, White Onion, Scallions, Garlic, Green Chilis, Black Beans, Pinto Beans, Red Bell Pepper and canned Whole Tomatoes, crushed.





 


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Snack:  3 small Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups (Trader Joe's)
Decaf Coffee, sprinkle Cinnamon, splash Fat Free Milk
 

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Zucchini "Chips" with Hummus & Olives

Snack:  Zucchini "Chips" with "Warm" Hummus (recipe below) & 2 Black Kalamata Olives, Water




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3 tbsp jarred Medium Salsa + 1 tbsp water + 1/2 Avocado
Cheddar Cheese Nachos

Dinner: Cheddar Nachos with jarred Salsa & Avocado
White Organic Corn Tortilla Chips, toasted with Cheddar Cheese

3 tbsp jarred Medium Salsa + 1 tbsp water + 1/2 Avocado, chopped 
Red Wine


Do you ever have one of those days when you only want one thing, so you have it twice?  That is the type of day I'm having today.  I changed the Nachos up a little for dinner though - using different chips, a different cheese and a different types of Salsa.  Result:  Double  YUM and happy me!
 

 
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Fuji Apple
 
Dessert: 1 Local Fuji Apple, Water
 
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RECIPES:


"Warm Hummus" Recipe:

I cooked Dried Chick Peas in my Slow Cooker (1 cup of Chick Peas, in 4 cups of water, for 6 hours).  I drained the Chick Peas and prepared the Hummus as follows:

Into Food Processor put:

1 large clove Garlic, process first before adding other ingredients
2.5 cups Chick Peas, from Slow Cooker (still warm)
juice from 1/2 Lime
1/2 tsp Salt
2 tbsp Tahini

Process.  While Processing, stream in 2 tbsp EVOO and up to 1/4 cup of cool water depending on the desired texture/ consistencyServe!    


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