All posts filed under: healthy cooking

Food: Dinner Tonight – Chipotle Lime Chicken of Sorts

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Since I am being super careful with my carbs and sugar intake, I am  extra aware of how to tweak the meals I find online for our family dinner. So here’s the changes I’ve made to this recipe to work with my diet plan. Omit the honey, and the sweet potatoes, and eat the mango sparingly.  Simple 🙂 INGREDIENTS 1 pound boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon cumin 2 limes 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated kosher salt and pepper 2 sweet potatoes, cut into matchsticks 2 avocados, lightly mashed 3 heads romaine lettuce chopped 1 mango, diced 8 ounces feta, crumbled {more}    

Lifestyle: Eating Healthy – Beef Satay and Peanut Sauce

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  In kicking off week three of my efforts to cut out carbs and sugar, I am finding more recipes to keep me inspired to stay on track.  Like this easy recipe, which technically is a pretty solid alternative for the entire family (less folks with peanut allergies) and with a bowl of sticky rice, the meal turns pretty satisfying even for the pessimist in your efforts to ditch starchy/sugary. Happy Monday   {more}  

Food: No Carb, No Sugar Avocado Smoothie

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I’ve been on this plan since April 2nd and I have to say, I am proud of myself for not falling off the wagon. Meaning, ordering chili fries and beer, or the need to munch through a large bag of skittles just because it is forbidden on this healthy eating plan. I can actually look at rice, or potatoes just to name a few, or sit through a meal with friends eating starchy foods and be okay.  So I guess my body has adjusted – hopefully well into the rest of the year. This morning, after eating two eggs in scramble, or boiled, every morning past, I decided to try this smoothie, even though I had a tough time thinking avocado to be a tasty option in smoothies – but it was fine and a great alternative to the usual eggs and bacon option. Ingredients 1/2 avocado (3-4 oz) 3/4 cup full – fat coconut milk (from a can) 1/4 cup almond milk 1 tsp fresh grated ginger (about 1/2 inch piece) 1/2 tsp turmeric 1 tsp lemon or lime juice (or more to taste) 1 cup crushed ice …

Food: Healthy Nachos Alternative

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Two weeks into this healthy eating plan – no sugar, no carbs – I find myself having a withdrawals here and there, or maybe its my mind playing tricks on me. But today I woke up craving Nachos, knowing very well the typical tortilla chips included in the recipe is not a smart idea when aiming to wean myself off all things carb-heavy. So naturally the first thing on my list today was to find an alternative to the traditional tortilla chips and aim to make the healthier version of one of my favorite meals/snacks/comfort foods for dinner tonight.  I’ll let you know how it goes, unless of course you’ve tried this recipe and can share your experience with us here. Ingredients Fat Head Tortilla Chips 170 g pre-shredded/grated mozzarella 85 g almond meal/flour 2 tbsp cream cheese 1 egg salt to taste 1 tsp cumin powder 1 tsp coriander/cilantro powder pinch chilli powder Nacho Meat Sauce 1 red onion diced 500 g ground/mince beef 400 g tinned/canned tomatoes diced 1/2 tsp chilli powder, or to taste 1 tbsp tomato paste Topping Options guacamole salsa shredded/grated cheese sour cream jalapeños

Lifestyle: No Carb, No Sugar Plan

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April fools day, I began a lifestyle change – in terms of eating better. Meaning, I don’t want to diet, or order a meal plan to follow. I simply decided to cut out carbs and sugar as much as possible from my daily meals. I have to tell you, it is day 9 and I feel pretty determined to go on, even when I am craving sugar like nobody’s business.  I also want to report that I’ve been a little grouchy, call it having withdrawals, but I know in the long run this is going to help me. At least I hope in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Last night I was craving a fat dessert, and opted to drink two bottles of water instead. Which helped. But today, I decided to make a list of desserts that are good to keep in mind  – for the just in case.  

Food: Dinner Tonight – Pesto, Asparagus, ricotta, prosciutto pasta on the spicy side

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Love a spicy kick to my meals and this pasta is going to be made for dinner tonight – with a bottle of my favorite chilled white Merlot wine. INGREDIENTS 4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto 1 pound long cut pasta 1 bunch asparagus, ends trimmed and chopped 1 cup basil pesto, homemade or store bought 1 jalapeño, seeded, if desired, and chopped 3/4 cup whole milk ricotta cheese zest and juice of 1 lemon kosher salt and pepper 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives grated parmesan, for serving {more}

Food: Dinner Tonight – Roasted Cauliflower and Halloumi Cheese Tacos

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Last March I visited a friend in England and she introduced me to Halloumi cheese dish served in a Mediterranean restaurant in London. Since then I have included this amazing cheese in salads, and simply served fried with a bit of tomato sauce for dipping – kind of like mozzarella sticks in a restaurant without the batter.  You see the cheese has the best elasticity and even melted holds together very well – so you can actually use it in variety of appetizers and as a side dish. So, guess what happened to me when I saw this recipe for roasted Cauliflower and Halloumi cheese tacos!!!!!!!!!  With a beer of your choice to wash it down of course. My mouth is watering as I settle into my kitchen to duplicate the recipe: INGREDIENTS 1 large, or 2 small, heads cauliflower, cut into florets 2 tablespoons sesame or olive oil 2 teaspoons smoked paprika 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon kosher salt and pepper 1 (14 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed 8 ounces halloumi cheese, sliced 1 cucumber or zucchini, shredded SPICY AVOCADO BASIL GUACAMOLE 1 avocado, halved …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Chicken, Lemon Butter and Orzo

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I love cooking or coming up with a different take on the same old protein. And for tonight, I am tasting lemony chicken, and this recipe will do the trick. INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 pound chicken breasts or small thighs kosher salt and pepper 1 Meyer lemon, sliced 2 tablespoons butter 1 clove garlic, minced or grated 1 cup orzo pasta 1/3 cup white wine 2 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth 1/2 a bunch kale, roughly torn zest + juice of 1 lemon 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill {more}

Food: Dinner Tonight – Chicken, Chickpeas and Sweet Potato

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A simple take on the old recipe with chicken. A funny story I had been turned-off of chicken recently, mostly craving beef instead for my protein intake. But I am back to serving meals with chicken in mind – and here’s a great one for dinner tonight: INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs 1/4 cup olive oil plus, more for drizzling 2 lemons, juice and zest from 1 + 1 sliced 2 tablespoons Harissa seasoning 1 tablespoon honey kosher salt and black pepper 2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1 inch chunks 1 sweet onion, sliced 1 can (14 ounces) chickpeas, drained 1/2 cup crumbled feta 1/3 cup green olives, smashed plain greek yogurt and fresh mint or cilantro, for serving {more}

Food: There Is Actually 43 Cauliflower Recipes?

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Cauliflower is the best tasting vegetable but it is an acquired taste or takes time acquiring the taste for it.  While growing up in a Mediterrean home – my family used to simply saute the cauliflower in olive oil and sprinkle a dash of sea salt  and black pepper and voila – the best snack ever. I used to eat an entire cauliflower in one sitting – not too smart – but that’s how much I love(d) it. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw this article about 43 cauliflower recipes to choose from: I mean you get the picture(s) – for the rest go here