All posts filed under: healthy eating

Food: Dinner Tonight – Spicy Vegetarian and Tortilla Soup

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After a week or more of pure sunshine, we experienced heavy rains overnight – and colder temps. So, soup is in order – especially since I am really craving Mexican food. This vegetarian and tortilla soup will do the trick minus the crockpot suggestion for my love of cooking. INGREDIENTS 1 medium yellow onion, diced 1 poblano pepper, diced 2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth 2-3 canned chipotle peppers in adobo, finely chopped 1 (28 ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes kosher salt and pepper 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa juice and zest of 1 lime 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, plus more for serving tortilla chips, diced mango, sliced avocado, feta, and yogurt, for serving  {more} On another note – what movies have you seen at home or at the movie theater?  Here’s what I’ve been up to.  

Holiday Series: Thanksgiving Preliminary Prep

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I start out with one menu – and then shift it throughout the week leading to Thanksgiving, so with that mindset, here’s what I am considering for the holiday, perhaps even leading to smaller dinner parties up to New Year’s eve. {featured source and inspiration for this blog post}

Food: Holiday Series – Thanksgiving Main Course

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I am not a fan of Turkey, never have been and I doubt I’ll ever be. So this year, while searching for a main dish recipe I can live with, I stumbled upon this one, while reading an article on ‘how to have a sustainable Thanksgiving.’  And guess what? We are having A butternut Squash Vegducken! INGREDIENTS 1 cup pecans 1 (7 1/2″-long) zucchini 1 (9 1/2″-long) globe eggplant 1 (11 1/2″-long) butternut squash 2 scallions 2 garlic cloves, divided 1 shallot, coarsely chopped 1/4 pound shiitake mushrooms, trimmed, coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon olive oil 9 sprigs thyme, divided 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup 2 large eggs 1 cup finely grated Parmesan 1/2 cup fine plain breadcrumbs 6 tablespoons coarsely chopped parsley, divided Kosher salt 2 tablespoons mint, coarsely chopped 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Special equipment: Kitchen twine  {follow recipe here} And in case you are curious about the sustainable Thanksgiving suggestions, I have included the article here.    {featured image credit}

Holiday Series: Vegan Pumpkin Mousse

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I am not a fan of pumpkin pie, or cake but I am a fan of pudding or mousse alternative, so I feel like this year, we are going to have this vegan pumpkin mousse on our dessert table for thanksgiving.  So easy to make and naturally spoon right out of the blender. Okay, no I’ll do my best to scoop the masterpiece into serving bowls for a more civilized way of indulging. Ingredients 1 cup (225g) full fat coconut yogurt or coconut cream* 1/2 cup (125g) pumpkin puree  1/4 cup (80g) maple syrup 1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 tsp salt  {more} On another healthier alternative to desserts – here’s a banana Chia pudding recipe – although this one I’m considering for breakfast come Sunday morning.  {featured image source and inspiration for this post}

Food: Dinner Tonight – White Bean, Chicken, Squash Soup

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Walked out of the house this morning at 5:30, headed to my commuter train, and I actually shivered. It was breezy and cold. Did I mention just how much I love this time of year? Well, I do. So, while on the train, I normally go over my to-do list, which of course includes dinner for the family, and considering the cold, although it will hit up to the 70’s mid-day, I know by dinner time it will dip down–just in time for a bowl of soup and toasted second day old Italian bread. This recipe is the perfect combination of ingredients and so easy to make and can be made with a crockpot as suggested. INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons salted butter 1 pound chicken breasts or thighs (use bone-in for additional flavor) 2 shallots, thinly sliced 4-6 cloves garlic, minced or grated 4 ribs celery, chopped 3 sprigs fresh thyme + 2 tablespoons thyme leaves 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 6 cups low sodium chicken broth 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc 1 cup grated parmesan, plus 1 parmesan rind 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes kosher salt and black pepper 1 can …

Food: Dinner Tonight – White Bean Soup

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I do most of the cooking for my household and my mothers and last night while helping her with dinner, she expressed she was craving a certain white bean soup she made for us while growing up. So tonight, I’ll be making this recipe, adding diced potatoes to the mix. Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large onion chopped 2 garlic cloves minced 1 large carrot chopped 1 celery rib chopped 6 cups vegetable broth 1 teaspoon dried thyme ½ teaspoon oregano 1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 3 15-ounces canned white beans drained and rinsed 2 cups baby spinach Fresh parsley for serving Grated parmesan cheese for serving  {more} On another note – have you seen the show Pennysworth? If you have a dark side or can stomach the concept of savagery, then take a peek, and let me know what you think?  Just to clarify I had no idea what to expect, and but now I am hooked and feel I should continue to watch the series. 

Food: Lime, Cilantro and Salmon

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I’ve been testing out plant based diet – or way of eating and so far, it’s been challenging. What sucks is that the second we are aware of something changing, we become obsessed with all the bad associated with it. In this case, I am having withdrawals for mostly salmon. Not so much beef, or chicken, but for sure salmon. Yesterday, I had my first scrambled eggs, by accident, since I was in a place which offered nothing plant-based for breakfast yesterday, and I had to default to eggs. But that’s okay, I am well disciplined in life and will bounce back to plant-based approach.  And make the following dish for dinner tonight – no rice of course. INGREDIENTS 4 (5-6 ounce) salmon filets, skin on or off 2 teaspoons chili powder, chipotle or regular 2 teaspoons smoked paprika kosher salt and black pepper 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 red or orange bell peppers, thinly sliced 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced 3 tablespoons salted butter 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated zest and juice of 2 limes, plus more for serving 1 tablespoon honey 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped 1/4 cup fresh …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Salad with Chickpea, Corn, Tomato, Avocado

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Ingredients that go way back in my culture, are now coming to light – in all sorts of ways. But the only difference in this case, is that we used to eat roasted lightly salted chickpeas as a snack (instead of candy) and never have considered it in salad. 🙂 So, since I am on the verge of converting to plant-based ‘not-diet’ – I figured I’d give this salad a try – with the feta cheese. Because…I have trouble letting-go of cheese. INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, and or parsley, roughly chopped 1 tablespoon fresh chopped chives 1 can (14 ounce) chickpeas, drained 4 ears grilled or steamed corn, kernels removed 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 2 Persian cucumbers, diced 1 cup cubed feta cheese 1 avocado, diced SHALLOT VINAIGRETTE 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 1 shallot, finely chopped 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice + the zest of 1 lemon 2 teaspoons honey 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 1 pinch crushed red peppers flakes kosher salt and black pepper {more} On another note, what films have you seen lately and recommend? yes, I did go..and..see…Hobbs and Shaw

Food: Plant Based Desserts

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Would you ever consider a plant based diet? You know, to help flush out the impurities in your system and somewhat recharge your body. Well, I’ve been leaning towards this concept and have been doing much research to determine if this style of life is the right one for my body. With that said, the first thing I did was research if desserts could be made with only plant-based ingredients and look what I stumbled upon! Would you try the diet or the way-of-eating since plant-based diet isn’t considered an actual diet? Or are you too much of a meat lover? I’d love to hear your side of the story

Food: Apricots and Chamomile Panna Cotta

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Two separate recipes I found here, reminding me of my childhood indeed. The sad thing is I hardly remember much of my past, until I see something online and BAM! It all comes back, like how to preserve apricots and chamomile Panna Cotta with cherries –  that’s all I’m saying. Do you watch the Hallmark channel? If so, have you seen Rome in Love ? Let me know what you think? Have you read the book? And what you think of books turned to movies?