All posts filed under: healthy foods

dark chocolate truffles to take to party at work

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Although I am running between jury duty and work this week, I have committed to bake something for my co-workers. It’s been a tradition of mine forever and this year, no matter how hectic this week is, if I am excused from Jury duty before Friday, I will take these dark chocolate truffles to work. Ingredients 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream 1 2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Dark Chocolate Morsels Finely chopped toasted nuts, toasted flaked coconut and/or NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Baking Cocoa for coating truffles Directions LINE baking sheet with parchment or wax paper. HEAT cream to a gentle boil in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate. Stir until mixture is smooth and chocolate is melted. Refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes or until slightly thickened. DROP chocolate mixture by rounded measuring teaspoon onto prepared baking sheet. Refrigerate for 20 minutes. Shape or roll into balls; coat with nuts, coconut or cocoa. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.      

side dishes galore for thanksgiving dinner

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I  spent this past weekend, choosing my recipes and planning my  Thanksgiving menu.  Since I am not a fan of turkey and neither are the members of my family, it is very important to have a fun selection of side dishes which are not only easy to prepare but also fun to eat. So below are the side dishes on my menu for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner. {Click on the photo to get the recipe}

thanksgiving wish – healthy side dish

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I love the holiday but hate turkey, is that so bad? No matter how the bird has been cooked and prepped, I absolutely cannot stand eating more than a sliver just to keep the chef- for- the- day happy. So, this year, I am actually involved in the prep work and since most of the participants are as conscious of eaters as I have become in the last 10 plus years, I am going to introduce side dishes which truly offer wholesome nutrition without having to watch the calories. First up is Shaved Parsnip Salad, which I found here,  and which will be the first course. Ingredients 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper 2 hearts of romaine, cut into bite-size pieces 3 parsnips (about 8 ounces), peeled and shaved very thinly (on a mandolin or with a vegetable peeler) 4 medjool or 6 regular dates, pitted and cut into 1/2 inch pieces Directions Whisk together vinegar and oil; season with salt and pepper. Toss parsnips, …

healthy baking: fall cake recipe

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I am not a fan of frosted bland layer cakes. I  much prefer bundt cakes made with dried fruits and nuts, maybe some fresh lemon or orange peel shavings (aka rinds), and definitely infused with  cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Since this type of cake is not very popular in the U.S., most restaurants and cafes offer either carrot cake or zucchini bread as an alternative. So I usually order either to give me the fix I need, if and when I crave for a slice of  “robust” cake. I want to state here that I can only tolerate the cream frosting on either cake since it actually and truly compliments the flavors throughout it. Over the weekend, while I searched for a cake to bake for this year’s Thanksgiving dinner, I came across this visually amazing blog and found an interesting recipe for a cake which I wanted to share with everyone who comes across my blog and also make for this year’s Thanksgiving dessert table. Harvest Cake (Makes 1-9inch cake, to make a layered cake …

artichoke heaven in rome, italy

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Outside of the norm of playing tourist in Rome, yup in Rome, Italy, I get to eat the best artichoke salads and appetizers. It’s not like the U.S. when most times the vegetable is served pickled from a Jar or a can. Here they actually take the time to steam it just right, clean it perfectly and serve it my favorite style, a little bit of REAL olive oil and the best of the best Parmesan cheese. I couldn’t stop eating them at every meal and to think for years I opted for Insalata Caprese (tomato and buffalo cheese salad)

healthy cooking: artichoke ravioli

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Recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.net  I found this recipe when I was searching for a pasta dish which, of course, had to be healthier than the norm.  When I read the ingredients I knew I had to try it. Sure enough it was delicious, especially with piled shredded parmesan cheese. Artichoke Ravioli with Spinach, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and Squash: Artichoke ravioli (or flavor of your choice), cooked per instructions 2 tsp olive oil 1/4 red onion, cut into large pieces 1 cup of mushrooms, quartered 1/2 zucchini, diced 1/2 yellow squash, diced 1/2 cup of grape tomatoes 1 clove of garlic, minced 1 cup of baby spinach Basil olive oil Asiago cheese, shredded Fresh basil leaves Cook the ravioli per instructions (while the vegetables are cooking). Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and mushrooms and cook for 4-5 minutes or until softened. Add the zucchini, squash, and grape tomatoes then cook for 2-3 minutes before adding the spinach and minced garlic. Cook for an …

healthy eating: creamy light mac and cheese

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Who doesn’t love mac and cheese America? Sorry everyone else, but the thing is, mac and cheese is probably the most consumed food in the U.S., especially by folks with little kids and  those who are very young at heart. Of course, although delicious, the dish comes with a price to pay, because it is basically full of “probably” everything that isn’t good for you. Because of my family’s commitment to eat healthy, I  have stayed away from  making mac and cheese for the longest time, until of course today, when I decided to search for a healthier mac and cheese recipe, so that I could introduce this tasty dish back into my household. You can either go here to get the recipe or scroll below and if you happen to make it, please let me know what you think of this version? Ingredients 3 cups cubed peeled butternut squash (about 1 [1-pound] squash) 1 1/4 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth 1 1/2 cups fat-free milk 2 garlic cloves 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons fat-free …

healthy recipes: beet salad with goat cheese

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I love beets and although this particular vegetable is an acquired taste, I do recommend it to anyone willing to try something new, well at least once. Anyway, no one has to convince me to eat beets nor explain the health benefits associated with it. So, after ordering beet salad with goat cheese at a restaurant in San Francisco the other night, I decided I needed to find a recipe I could try at home. Now, I understand many people have nut allergies, particularly walnuts, so please be cautious with the recipe and if you or someone you know has allergies, leave out the walnuts or put them in a separate dish so that anyone  who isn’t allergic to them can add them to the salad and those who are, can avoid them. Ingredients 4 medium beets – scrubbed, trimmed and cut in half 1/3 cup chopped walnuts 3 tablespoons maple syrup 1 (10 ounce) package mixed baby salad greens 1/2 cup frozen orange juice concentrate 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil …

burlingame avenue, burlingame, ca: a road trip from san francisco

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A quick escape from San Francisco “summer time” dreary weather is Burlingame, CA, about 20 or so miles south of the city. There are many ways of getting there,  by car, by train and by bus. The best day to be on Burlingame Avenue is Saturday after 10a.m., when all the locals, dressed in their casual attire, gather their babies, dogs and elderly parents and walk about the area just to have a family outing. Of course I  go to Burlingame Avenue in Burlingame once a month during the summer months,  and after having an extended breakfast early in the morning  at Crepevine or Stacks, I do some shopping throughout most of the day and then either eat an early dinner or have a light snack before I return to my foggy and cold city. This past weekend,  I discovered a really great eatery, called Urban Bistro, while I was walking towards Crepevine for a brunch get together with some friends. I called everyone and asked them to join me at Urban Bistro just to …