All posts tagged: eating well

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

Published by

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 – Lemon butter Chicken and Mashed Cauliflower

Published by

I realized last night, while up with eyes wide-open planning the week, that I wanted to make a chicken dish for dinner tonight. Something different and exciting and this recipe is just perfect, because everyone in my family loves cauliflower – let’s just hope they love mashed cauliflower – oh and the chicken too. INGREDIENTS 4 chicken cutlets, or 2 boneless chicken breasts, sliced in half horizontally kosher salt and black pepper 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (can use GF flour too) 1/4 cup grated parmesan 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 12 fresh sage leaves 4 tablespoons salted butter 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves 2 tablespoons capers MASHED CAULIFLOWER 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets 3 cloves garlic, smashed 2-3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 4 tablespoons salted butter {more} On another note – if you are wondering what to watch on television tonight since you are probably all caught up on the rest – here’s my suggestion – a start -studded 2002 film with Paul Newman, Tom Hanks, Jude Law, and Daniel Craig among so many others. I normally …

Food: Baking a Pie Today

Published by

A lazy holiday today has me a bit off-balance, in that I flew back from a short trip up north and now find myself doing a bit of tiding up around the house, and the need to bake something. Perhaps my Fall/Autumn radar is up. But while killing time at coffee shop bookstore yesterday waiting for my ride home from the airport, I ordered a cup of coffee and a pistachio light dessert – and when I saw this recipe, it reminded of how perfectly tasty that one from the coffee shop was – so I made it – mostly with coconut milk, oil and cream: INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10 full-size graham cracker sheets) 6 tablespoons salted butter or coconut oil, melted 4 tablespoons maple syrup 2 cups date caramel (below) or store-bought dulce de leche 3-4 ripe but firm bananas, sliced 1 1/2 cups heavy cream (see coconut cream variation in notes) 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 2 tablespoons maple syrup chocolate shavings, for topping {more}   and I will be sitting in front of the television set, binge watching  The Detour? Have you see it? …

Food: Lime, Cilantro and Salmon

Published by

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: Gluten-Free and Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Published by

Today is all about food – so you’ll see back to back posts about eating. Maybe because I am hungry since this plant-based diet I am trying out, but not yet ready to talk about until I see results.  But, this recipe about Gluten Free & Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies is something I cannot pass up sharing since from the grocers you can either find gluten-free OR Vegan in products, but seldom the two combined for those with the severest food allergies. Recipe 1 1/4 cup oat flour 1 1/2 cup almond flour 1/4 cup cornstarch 3/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/8 cup pecans (roughly chopped) 2 tablespoons all-vegetable shortening 1 cup dark brown sugar   {I am going to use Coconut sugar instead} 1/4 cup granulated sugar  – {coconut sugar instead} 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons vanilla 4 ounces baking chocolate (roughly chopped) {more} and just in case you haven’t seen this pic from my previous post, I am sharing it with you again. 

Food: Plant Based Desserts

Published by

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

Published by

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? 

Food: Dinner Tonight – Vegetarian Burrito

Published by

I am still trying to understand why it is I crave heavy meals when the weather is so hot? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? But then again, I  have trouble understanding my body makeup and the types of cravings I need to resolve. For example – it was 98 degrees in downtown yesterday, and I wanted a full on burrito – with pulled beef, and all sorts of trimmings with a tall order of fresh squeezed lemonade. So, tonight, I am aiming for burrito at home – but a vegetarian one – not with tofu as this recipe suggests but with grilled-in-the-oven diced cauliflower.   Recipe ½ cup onions, chopped 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1 package extra-firm tofu  ( using cauliflower in stead for my recipe) 1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup cooked quinoa 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 tablespoon ground cumin 2 teaspoons dried oregano 2 teaspoons tamari 2 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast  (omitting for my recipe) pinch of salt as needed to serve: burrito-style whole wheat …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Watermelon Feta Salad

Published by

It’s hot in San Francisco! Can you believe it? And us locals, although we love it, we also can’t handle the heat. Spoiled from the natural air conditioning throughout the summer months with heavy fog at the coast which we complain about the cold and the gray horizon continuously for three months  – but when we do get a few days of unusually hot weather, we complain again, wishing for cooler days. So for all the weirdest hot weather – I have decided to make a salad for dinner tonight. INGREDIENTS 4 cups cubed watermelon 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved 2 Persian cucumbers, diced 1 cup kalamata olives, pitted 8 ounces feta cheese, cubed 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar juice from 1 lemon 2 teaspoons honey 1 cup fresh basil, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives flaky salt and black pepper {more} on another note – check out this beautiful outdoor wedding venue