Read Your Recipe!
A meat-free Monday option – and a truly bowl-licking experience. I love love those sesame noodles from many Asian restaurants (and Trader Joe’s), the only problem being the high calorie count. This bowl of noodles and veggies clocks in around 400 calories and almost 20 grams of protein – a perfect dinner amount.
More of an idea than a recipe, these eggs would make a great snack for you and your kids. They take no time to make, can be made ahead, and are pretty enough for a party appetizer.
There are so many reasons for fear and panic, but kitchen panic is by far the most unnecessary. One of my friends walked in the kitchen while I was cooking the jalapenos – she started coughing so much she had to leave. That’s called pepper air (well, that’s what I call it), and it’s most definitely due cause for kitchen panic, as it’s fair warning for kick-butt spiciness. I experienced said panic, which is ridiculous as I live within walking distance of like, fifty restaurants. There is no need to freak out, it’s just food. Turns out this pepper air was a boggart (Harry Potter reference – I’m about to finish book 4), and the burritos were declared delish by even my spice-shunning friends.
Sometimes students ask me, “what is the single healthiest food I should eat?” A difficult question and one which even experts would disagree on; however, from everything I’ve read I think there are a few foods I can answer with confidently. If your day’s worth of food included blueberries, walnuts, spinach, yogurt, eggs and salmon, I think you’d live to be a thousand.
My hypothetical day of calorie free eating would include french fries at lunch, dinner, and for several snacks. Not the seemingly healthier steak fry – I want the McDonald’s ones. They definitely have the best fries. Well, studies have shown that people who eat more potatoes generally tend to be a higher weight. The poor potato – it gets such a bad rap! The potato itself is a healthy vegetable, full of vitamin C. It’s what we do with the potato that leads to a problem. Obviously, baking the potato is a much better option than deep frying it in a vat of oil.
Big weekend for the fam, as Tess got dedicated at our church! Back to my parent’s house for brunch with family and close friends – always fun to have a menu to plan! We had two egg casseroles, cream cheese glazed cinnamon buns, cranberry white chocolate biscotti, fruit, and Greek yogurt set already, but I felt like there was something missing. The egg dishes were healthy, as was the fruit and yogurt. The rolls were decidedly UNhealthy, as were these particular biscotti. I needed something on middle ground – an easy to grab, easy to make, tasty and mostly healthy side dish.
I love pancakes. I crave pancakes. Every time my husband and I eat out for breakfast I try to convince him to order pancakes while I order healthy egg white omelette and we share plates. He thinks I am a food bully and usually refuses me because of his convictions. Boo.
When I was 21 I did a short (but amazing) semester abroad in the French West Indies. Oddly enough, considering we were living in paradise, my dear friend Carrie and I found ourselves slightly homesick at times. There is something comforting about seeing a familiar item when you’re far from home, and for us it was an Almond Joy bar. Never a candy I’d been interested in, suddenly I HAD to have it. It was epic, memorable, and began my love affair with all things chocolate/coconut.
If you don’t have kids, then go to Europe. You get married and you say to your husband or wife, let’s make sure to take at least one trip to Europe before we have kids. And then you get pregnant. And then maybe you go to Europe in twenty or so years – at least that’s our new plan.
Cornbread is easy, universally pleasing, and goes with everything: chili, salads, stews, soups, thanksgiving-y foods, or anything southern. If you preheat your oven and get started on the batter, you’re oven will ding by the time you’re ready to put it in – it’s that quick. Also, I’ve never met someone who doesn’t like cornbread. I made this as part of a “bring a meal to your friend who just had a baby” meal, as I felt sure they’d love it. This cornbread isn’t sweet, it’s savory from the cheese and as a result, would be a great addition to most meals.
Today’s recipe for fusilli with tuna, mushrooms and rosemary gives us a lot to talk about.
Let’s start with the pasta: What comes to mind when you read fusilli? Fusilli Jerry, right? From Seinfeld? Anyone?