It Is What It Is: spaghetti squash

Instant Coffee – Both regular and decaf please plus small container of Whole milk for coffee. Packages of Splenda brand sweetener
1 pack RedBull Light on Ice
6 (6) pack of Vitamin Water on Ice (assorted flavors)
12 Assorted Sodas (Ginger Ale, Dr Pepper, Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Orange Crush
Assorted fruit juices (orange/apple/grape) on ice
Bottles of Green Tea
12 Bottles of STILL water (room temp)
12 Bottles of STILL water (cold)
½ gallon of lowfat 1% milk
Container of salsa
Container of guacamole
Large bag of Tortilla Chips
Small veggie tray with Ranch Dip on ice
Small plate of cheese (non smelly, non sweaty) on ice and whole wheat/ healthy crackers
Small Deli Tray of assorted deli meats (salami, turkey, ham) on ice
Assorted condiments (Best Foods Mayonnaise, mustard etc)
A mix of assorted fresh fruit
Package of Dried Apples
Package of Dried Mangos
Package of Dark Chocolate Covered Almonds
Whole Roasted Chicken (hot)
Large container of lemon or Garlic Hummus
Bag of Pita Bread
Loaf of Wheat Bread
Small jar of Peanut Butter
Small jar jelly (either grape, strawberry or raspberry)
Packages of Starfish tuna (packed in water)

Sound check and show time water

Please have someone assist Jaclyn to the stage for placement of two cases of small bottles of water, two times per show day. Once for “LADY GAGA” sound check then just before “LADY GAGA” show time. Water does not need to be fliptop caps. ANYTHING GOES! Room temperature is fine in its original box.

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This list got me thinking about what I would request if I were to travel to some far off destination...

Granted I don't EVER plan** on becoming a singer [these vocal cords of mine just don't belt out anything CLOSE to a tune] but when I am famous for being, well, just ME... I will obviously need to feel as "at home" as possible when I am DOIN' MY THANG in another state/city/country!!!

Hm... So here goes:
- Smart Water [That water is just so dang good]
- Xyience Xenergy Drinks [Cherry Lime &/or Mango Guava]
- VPX Redline &/or Melt Down [Exotic Fruit Flavor]
- 3 12 Packs of Sugar-Free Orbit Gum [Spearmint]
- Hot Water [If they need to install a hot water spigot, so be it!]
- Celestial Seasonings Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Herbal Tea
- A Fridge & Freezer [Yes, in my hotel room]
- Hm.. An Oven/Stove? ha ha! [Well if this cannot be done, let's assume the kitchen at the hotel will be at my beckon call...]
- NuNaturals Stevia Packets
- Cans of Pureed Pumpkin [+ Can Opener]
- Eggs [Poached!]
- Broiled Salmon Belly [Possibly scattered on the bed like rose petals - Ah ha ha!]
- Spaghetti Squash [Yes that's right! I eat this stuff like it's my job!]
- Hair Straightener & Phone Charger [So I don't have to lug them myself... I assume a blow dryer is in the room - BUT WAIT<-- If I were famous wouldn't I have hair & make-up people?] - Blender [Kitchen Aid ONLY!]
- Ice Cubes
- Coffee Flavor Concentrate
- Vanilla Flavor Concentrate [Perhaps I will post WHY I need these things in another blog post...]
- How about the Whole Foods Store? Can that be fit into a hotel room? Ha Ha Ha!
- An Elliptical Trainer &/or Treadmill

Yea, I think that pretty much sums up my list. I don't think I am missing anything but you never know!

YIKES! You better GET ME WHAT I WANT... OR ELSE! ha ha!

What would YOU have in YOUR dressing room?!?!

**If some agent/recording artist/whomever decides WHO get's to be famous for music... thinks I have THE LOOK to be a pop star though, I definitely wouldn't turn down the opportunity to LIP SING my way into Hollywood!!! Ha Ha!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Whole Foods Salmon Sashimi Review

So I got a huge craving yesterday for sashimi... but the thought of going out to sushi didn't sound so hot so I decided, let's get some sashimi from Whole Foods!

And I mean look, it's way cheaper than what I probably would have gotten at a sushi restaurant anyways so I am being financially savvy too! Wow, Whole Foods and inexpensive in the same sentence? How in the WORLD is that possible!?!** [for answer - see bottom]

I settled on some salmon sashimi [that's what I was craving, hard core]... or SAKE if you really want me to get all Japanese technical! Typically this sashimi is... uh... carved[?] from Whole Food's farm raised Norwegian Salmon... Yes, I know what you're thinking: GAHH, you are eating FARM RAISED SALMON... but I have done EXTENSIVE research on Whole Food's farm raised salmon and have found that it comes from a legit source and the fish is not fed unhealthy and unnatural foods.

So anyways on to the good stuff....

Well what sashimi dinner is complete without Nori, Soy Sauce & Sesame Seed = NONE THAT'S WHAT! So of course I had to have them!

Then I sliced the sashimi [and to all you plate decorators and professional chefs out there... I am sorry for my UGLY plate presentation, but honestly, it ALL tastes the SAME! Whoops, I am sorry if I just broke the news to you!]... and placed it a top of a bed of spinach [because spinach tastes amazing with everything]. Of course I am not just going to eat this sashimi, ha, if you only knew me... I am known for eating a TON so of course I had my...

Spaghetti Squash sauteed with Broccoli in Olive Oil over another bed of Spinach...

And "FRIED" Green Beans [by far the BEST thing in the world, seriously: they taste JUST like French Fries... although maybe you should trust me on that because I haven't had a French Fry in oh about 10 years... or maybe even longer!]

Oh wait, isn't this suppose to be a review of the Whole Foods Sashimi Salmon? And here I am showing off my side dishes to the MAIN SUBJECT! [Oh wait, isn't the new thing... focusing in on vegetables are the MAIN part of a meal and simply using protein as a garnish? Well not in my life that's for sure!!!!!]

Well let me tell you... first bite to last... I was having a mouth-gasum... and if you have NO CLUE what that means... I was in serious HEAVEN the entire time I ate!!! The butteriness of the fish complimented the crunchiness of the nori perfectly [I wrap sheets around the fish - not rice, no nothing... the reason for this... is meant for another blog post!]. The fish also tasted incredibly fresh and melted in my mouth the instant it touched my tongue.

So if you ever get a craving for some sashimi [and you can use this sashimi to make roll if you so choose], then get your booty on down to Whole Foods [it's GiGi recommended!]! They also offer Hamachi/Yellowtail, Unagi/Eel, Maguro/Red Tuna, Octopus, Spicy Tuna [A delicious mixture sans MAYO]... and depending on where you live they may offer more or less!

Oh and if you live in the Boulder Area... go into the Pearl Street location - say the name GiGi to the fish counter, and they will know exactly who you're talking about! I swear I think I am going to ask them if they could make some sort of discount deal for the people who come in and mention my name... sort of like a coupon code! ha ha!

**Probably because it takes about 10 to 12 ounces of fish to fill me up... which would probably be the equivilent to about 2 platters of sashimi [which can JACK UP any bill]... While about 10 ounces from Whole Foods is... well you see how much it is above!

Monday, June 29, 2009

Spaghetti? NOPE but close!

So let me just tell you a bit about my diet before I start this post... I do not eat wheat, dairy, gluten, sugar, fruits, soy, nuts.... Wait, maybe I should just tell you what I do eat - that list would be a lot shorter! ha ha.

With such restrictions in my life sometimes it's hard to find substitutes for those "staple" pantry items that everyone seems to have (pasta, rice, bread, etc)...

I have found one substitution that I think works remarkably well and if I could would eat it every single day in mass quantities.

Curious yet on what it is?

Spaghetti Squash!

The stringy strands remind me so much of pasta it's crazy and the way it's tastes is like joy in my mouth (you can obviously tell I haven't eaten sugar in a really long time).

This type of squash is so versatile: top it with tomato sauce, clam sauce, olive tapenade, olive oil and garlic, or just a big slab of salmon - spaghetti squash adopts any flavor you put on it but also gives the added a little some extra too!

What do you want to know first, how to cook it or its health benefits? Health Benefits it is!

Spaghetti Squash has 42 calories in an ENTIRE cup along with 2 grams of fiber! This makes it the lowest calorie winter squash out there so if any of you are on a low carb diet and a bit skeptical when it comes to winter squash, spaghetti squash is completely suitable for all stages!

Within those measly 42 calories there is an abundance of nutrients that only makes me want to buy every grocery store out of their stock! This squash is full of:

Potassium
Beta-Carotene
Vitamin C
Vitamin A
Vitamin E
Folate
Fiber

Woah Woah Woah, now that's a good looking nutritonal profile if I say so myself!

Now since I am all sure you're dying to know how to cook this type of squash so you too can reap it's benefits... Here's what to do:

Bake It -- Pierce the whole shell several times with a large fork or skewer and place in baking dish. Cook squash in preheated 375F oven approximately 1 hour or until flesh is tender.
Boil It -- Heat a pot of water large enough to hold the whole squash. When the water is boiling, drop in the squash and cook for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on its size. When a fork goes easily into the flesh, the squash is done.
Microwave It -- Cut squash in half lengthwise; remove seeds. Place squash cut sides up in a microwave dish with 1/4 cup water. Cover with plastic wrap and cook on high for 10 to 12 minutes, depending on size of squash. Add more cooking time if necessary. Let stand covered, for 5 minutes. With fork "comb" out the strands.
Slow Cooker or Crock-Pot - Choose a smaller spaghetti squash (unless you have an extra large slow cooker) so that it will fit. Add 2 cups of water to slow cooker. Pierce the whole shell several times with a large fork or skewer, add to Crock Pot, cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours.

Once the squash is cooked, let it cool for 10 to 20 minutes so it will be easier to handle, before cutting in half (if it wasn't already) and removing the seeds. Pull a fork lengthwise through the flesh to separate it into long strands. You can do these steps ahead of time, then prepare spaghetti squash recipes whenever you're hankering for some delicious vitamin A, E and C (among other things too of course!)!

Here's a really good link with even more helpful information regarding the health benefits of spaghetti squash and its cousins such as butternut, acorn and pumpkin!

Now that I've let you in on one of my favorite foods, I am going to go eat some right now! I hope you all do the same in the near future! Let me know what you end up doing with it too - I love trying out new recipes!

Monday, June 22, 2009

I am reminded of my youth!!!

Gah! So this might be a ridiculous post but at the same time I think it's pretty appropriate since it is that time of year where EVERYONE is grilling (and a lot of people are trying to maintain their bikini/bathing suit bodies!)....

So first I must give some background information... Ever since I was little I have adored ketchup! Ketchup sandwiches were ranked very high on my favorite food combination list! (Mayo sandwiches being a close second)...

But ever since I realized what high-fructose corn syrup was (which was a VERY LONG TIME AGO - thanks to my health conscious mother)... I stopped eating the stuff!

The other day I was ambling around the grocery store, sort of wasting time but also trying to keep myself busy until a check-out line wasn't about 10 people long... when I came across an interesting product in the condiment aisle...

I didn't really think anything of it until I remembered the days of when I was nine years old and younger, eating my juicy corn-fed hamburgers (yea, that's another topic to be discussed) on my very mushy white bun (how I invented the ketchup sandwich)...

Instead of continuing on to the check out line, I picked up a Heinz Reduced Sugar Ketchup bottle JUST TO SEE what filled the sugar void... and TO MY SURPRISE it was only sweetened with some Splenda (which I allow in my diet)!!!!! Not to mention, instead of the typical 15 calories per tbsp there is ONLY 5 and there is even 20 less milligrams of salt in the low sugar variety!

Ingredients as stated on the bottle:
Tomato Concentrate from Red Ripe Tomatoes, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Natural Flavoring, Onion Powder, *Sucralose, Spice. *NOT IN REGULAR KETCHUP
**Not really sure what "natural flavoring & spice" mean but at this moment in time I am too excited to care!

So of course, out of impulse and because it's that time of the year where I miss having ketchup with my burgers... I bought it!

When I finally got back to my place that afternoon I dropped all of my groceries on the floor because my curiosity was brewing intensely and BOY WAS I PLEASANTLY SURPRISE! WHAT A GREAT BUY! (Typically I have no luck with trying new things... I tried a mock ketchup by Walden Farms once and it was REPULSIVE)

This ketchup tasted EXACTLY like the real stuff! It cannot be beat! It's consistency was spot on and the flavor was tangy yet sweet, just the way ketchup is suppose to be!

When I tried my new LOVE on a burger I cooked that evening... even more in love than before... oh and my love grew EVEN FONDER (if it is at all possible) when... I PUT IT ON SPAGHETTI SQUASH!!! My taste buds are officially ecstatic all thanks to a 15 ounce bottle of Heinz Reduced Sugar Ketchup!

So if any of you out there are trying to avoid high-fructose corn syrup - this product is definitely a WONDERFUL replacement (after all, I wouldn't have an ENTIRE blog post dedicated to it if I didn't think so! ha ha!)

PS: Ketchup (the non/low sugar types) are extremely healthy for you because tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that is known for warding off all sorts of cancers. This antioxidant is also known to be a low dose SPF! Who would have thought that quote "food as thy medicine" could be true! More reasons to love this awesome staple!! **Might as well just swirt the bottle into your mouth, no?**
PSS: This is a Low Carb & GLUTEN-FREE food!