All posts filed under: healthy cooking

healthy recipe: sweet potato lovers

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I love sweet potato and always incorporated it with my meals. So, naturally I look for variations in recipe for this starchy treat. I found one here and of course I had to share it. Big Comfy Sweet Potatoes Serves 4 Ingredients: 4 medium-large sweet potatoes (organic, if possible) 1 ½ cups black beans (equivalent to 1 can) 1 ripe avocado Optional toppings: cilantro green onion sprouts lime wedges crumbled goat’s cheese crushed chili flakes Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 400°F/200°C. Prick sweet potatoes a few times with a fork. Place on a baking sheet in the oven and roast for 30-45 minutes, depending on the size of the potato. You will know it’s done when a knife can easily pierce the skin and the center is soft. 2. Remove sweet potatoes from oven and slice each one down the center, almost through to the bottom. Open up to reveal its orange flesh. 3. Stuff the sweet potato with black beans and top it with avocado, and any other herbs, sprouts or veggies you like. …

healthy eating: kale salad with lovely vignaigrette dressing

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Kale is one of those things you either love or hate. I happen to love it, up to now mostly steaming it to make it easier on the digestive system. The other reason is because I haven’t yet found the best dressing to pair it with. So, as you can imagine, I paused here while searching online for ideas to incorporate into my weekly menu. Kale, Orange nad Hazelnut – a variation I already love. But what caught my attention the most was the dressing. Ingredients 8 cups Tuscan kale, large stems removed, chopped into bite-sized pieces 2 blood oranges or cara cara oranges 1/2 cup stilton, or other blue cheese, crumbled 1/2 cup blanched hazelnuts, toasted and chopped   for the vinaigrette: 1 tablespoon minced shallot 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic 1/2 tablespoon dijon mustard 1/2 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 tablespoon minced parsley zest and juice from 1 lemon pinch of kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper Make the vinaigrette. In a small bowl, combine shallot, garlic, dijon, honey and vinegar. …

eating right or juicing after a vacation

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I have to admit, although I watched what I ate mostly, sticking to salads and soups everywhere I went on this trip, I did eat desserts and bread every single day, also downing a few cans of soda for energy and wine and mixed drinks while winding down at the end of the day. So, as you know, like most people returning from a vacation, I plan to watch what I eat and go back to my exercise regiment right away, adding a juicing option not so regimented. Here’s a good recipe to consider: Kale Juice Serving: 2 Servings Ingredients 6 leaves kale (1 bunch) 2 stalks celery 2 green apples 2 pears 1 lime Instructions First wash your fruits and veggies. Leave the kale leaves and celery as is, these can go in your juicer whole. Chop your green apples and pears in half (leaving the skins on) just making sure to remove the seeds. Cut the lime in half and feel free to leave the rind on, the juicer will take care of the …

healthy recipe: sweet potato, kale and sage skillet quinoa

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As always, I am on a healthy kick, eating everything I can that’s good for you. Seldom, eating junk-food. I’ve been like this all my life, even before the healthy eating campaign that’s been in place gradually for the last five years or so. Anyway, this bit of info is not important, what’s important is the recipe I found here and as always want to share it with everyone: Ingredients: 2 cups of cooked quinoa 1 extra large shallot, chopped {about 1/2 cup} 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped 2 sweet potatoes 4 cups Tuscan kale, ribs removed + shredded 2 tablespoons coconut oil 1/2 teaspoon paprika sea salt + coarse ground pepper, to taste 1. Preheat the oven to 400. Scrub and dry your sweet potatoes and pierce a few times each with a knife. Do NOT cover in foil. Place a cookie sheet {to catch the drips} on the bottom shelf in the oven and toss the potatoes onto the shelf above it. Roast as is for about 45 minutes, or until soft and tender. Cool …

healthy recipe: sweet potato vegetarian chili

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Oh my God! I drooled when I saw this recipe and immediately ran to the grocery store to get the ingredients to make it. I found it here and well, see for yourself, if you are into healthy eating, curbing all gluten.   Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chipped 2 teaspoons chili powder 2 dried guajillo chiles, deseeded, stemmed & sliced thin (1 for the chile, 1 for the topping) 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 2 14-oz. cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes 4 cups vegetable broth 1.5 cups cubed sweet potatoes 2 cans of beans – black, red, pinto, or a combo 1 cup chopped kale 1/2 cup corn kernels (frozen is fine) a good squeeze of lime salt, pepper topping options: chopped scallions tortilla strips – toast 10-15 minutes in the oven toasted chiles – toast 1-2 minutes in a 350 oven (or until they curl up) toasted pumpkin seeds diced avocado w/ a squeeze of lime Instructions Heat oil in a medium-large pot over medium heat. Add …

five friday finds just because

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My mind wanders in different directions, every second of every day. One minute I’m wondering what we’ll have for dinner and the next, I’m writing out in my head an entire plot for my next novel. This is of course in between, juggling finances and functioning just in general. So, I thought it would be fun to share, five finds all in one blog, based on whats going through my head.  Hope you enjoy, if not have a great weekend anyway. Finding the best chocolates for Valentine’s Day – from this list  Healthy Eating Soup Recipe from here   New fast food hot spot in San Francisco – worth trying Watch the 2014 Winter Olympics  How to buy my first novel – click here  

healthy eating: roast chicken and mashed cauliflower

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Lots of things captured my attention when I saw the original recipe here. First the roast chicken, my favorite and second a new take on the traditional  (starchy) mashed potatoes – also known as my weakness. Although I love the idea of spending some time working with a whole chicken, flavoring it up and by the way kudos to those of you who have the time to do it, I think I am going to stick to experimenting this recipe with organic chicken breasts from my local ‘nutty healthy’ grocery store or simply buying an already roasted chicken from their ‘nutty healthy’ bakery. Anyway, the mashed cauliflower is simple and easy to make and for sure an amazing alternative to the traditional mashed potatoes. While I work out my weekly menu – aiming to gluten-free myself – I have to say this meal will become a weekly must. 🙂 Truffled Cauliflower Mash (serves 4-6) 2 heads of cauliflower, cut into florets 1 onion, cut in half and sliced 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and cut in …

gluten free – i know you’ve heard it before

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The New Year, when most people vow to diet and eat well and just after January and/or on the cusp of Valentine’s Day, the bad eating habits start up again. Well, actually during the Superbowl all the way through Easter (possibly for some here in the US). I don’t set such goals for myself at the beginning of the year. I simply make sure I remain on a healthy eating kick throughout the year, even through the holidays. My downfall is, I drink more wine and mixed drinks during the holidays, hence the quick extra pounds. Anyway, I’ve decided to go Gluten Free. I have been slowly doing it for over a year and now, am mentally and tummy ready to go all the way. I am fortunate to live in a city where many gluten-free restaurants and grocery products are popping up everywhere, so it makes for an easy transition. The challenge is I am going to document the progress and share recipes and feelings with my readers. Hoping to connect with everyone making …

vegetarian side dishes for thanksgiving

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As we know, now that most people are trying to eat healthy or substituting the traditional recipes for gluten free ingredients and more, it’s becoming, in my opinion, fun to find new recipes to incorporate into the T-day menu. So, while I take into consideration most of the vegetarians in my family, I have searched and found some additional fun recipes to share from here: {Photo and recipe credit click here}

untraditional thanksgiving menu

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I am always looking for healthy ways to make a meal, mostly switching out the butters, fatty oils and starchy foods for the healthy alternatives. So, it’s no surprise to anyone who knows me that I came to a screeching  holt on the internet when I stumbled upon these amazing recipes  from my favorite blogger here and thanks to her, I plan to incorporate her suggestions into my untraditional Thanksgiving Day dinner party: {Click on the photo for recipes and credits}