These Veggies Are READY For The Runway!

Who would have thought there were vegetables suitable for the runway!

Marc Jacobs wants them!

Check out what veggies I am talking about!

http://gigieatscelebrities.com/2013/04/16/leeks/

Flu Fighting Foods

Who has gotten the flu this year?

http://www.examiner.com/article/flu-fighting-foods

The Sunday Sum Up

Sunday is back again! Check in on all the health and wellness news you may have missed this past week!

http://www.examiner.com/article/the-sunday-sum-up-39

I will dine on iodine

I will dine on iodine - Boulder Nutrition | Examiner.com

The Sunday sum up

Another round of health/well-being news!

The Sunday sum up - Boulder Nutrition | Examiner.com

Feast on fiber in the new year

Where do you get your fiber from?

Feast on fiber in the new year

A holiday for all season(ings)

What are your favorite HERBS?


A holiday for all season(ings)

Sugary sweet without the sugar

I myself am currently digging cinnamon, butternut squash, pumpkin and sauteed onions! WOOP WOOP!


Sugary sweet without the sugar

Popcorn pizzazz

POP AWAY!


Popcorn pizzazz

Stew through October

Stew through October - Boulder Nutrition | Examiner.com

Got allergies?

Got allergies?

Hot benefits of salsa! - Boulder Nutrition | Examiner.com

Spicy Spicy!!!

Hot benefits of salsa! - Boulder Nutrition | Examiner.com

Oh it's my 2nd favorite day of the year!!!

So obviously you now know that today (Thanksgiving) is my 2nd favorite day of the year, November 1 being the first.... and even though both of my siblings decided to NOT come to Thanksgiving dinner with my parents, I still had a good day and a great meal.... Here is the meal I ate (plus a bit more on a second plate!! Oh and... I did eat a lot more when I was putting the left overs away! ha ha)

(On this dish: Breast Meat Turkey, Roasted Onions, Stewed Onion in Turkey Drippings, Roasted Butternut Squash with Cinnamon, Brussels Sprouts & Leek Sautee, Roasted Chestnuts & A Large Salad dressed with Flax Seed Oil Dressing underneath the entire mound! Oh right and I ate the turkey's heart too - mm mm good!)

Hope you all stuffed your face good just like me!! ha ha! Have a good rest of your day.... NEXT UP: CHRISTMAS!

Inevitable Holiday Lbs...

Well I am on DAY 2 of my fall/Thanksgiving break... and let's just say... I think I have already packed on about 5 lbs!!! ha ha!


Typically this ALWAYS happens when I go home though because my dad is a MASTER cook and loves to LOAD UP on the olive oil!!!


So yea, I thought I'd share the wealth... and tell you all a recipe that I am OBSESSED WITH... but you must know, I am not the BRAINS behind this recipe... Kalyn's Kitchen is... so thank you Kalyn for contributing to my new found ass... ha ha!

Warm or Cold Salad with Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Pepper, Capers, and Basil Dressing

(Makes 4-6 servings)

16 oz. frozen or canned artichoke hearts (I prefer frozen artichoke hearts, but canned artichokes are often cheaper)
1 T extra virgin olive oil
salt and fresh ground black pepper
12 oz jar roasted red pepper (or use one red bell pepper roasted on a barbecue grill)
3 T capers (drained but not rinsed, next time I might use even more)
1/2 cup chopped red onion
freshly chopped parsley or basil for garnish (optional)

Basil Dressing:
2 minced shallots (or use about 2 T finely minced red onion)
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil (or use 3-4 tablespoons purchased basil pesto, frozen basil, or Pistou sauce)
3 T fresh lemon juice
1 T white wine vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (I'd use a bit less if using pesto, frozen basil, or pistou sauce)
salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Preheat oven or toaster oven to 350F / 175C. Pour roasted red bell pepper into a colander placed in the sink, and let drain well.)


2. Thaw frozen artichokes in the microwave, or drain well if using canned artichokes. Put artichokes in large bowl and toss with olive oil, salt, and fresh ground black pepper. (Use a bowl that's big enough for finished salad, so you don't have to dirty two bowls.) Spray small baking sheet with non-stick spray or olive oil, then arrange artichokes in a single layer and roast for 20 minutes.


3. While artichokes roast, fit food processor with steel blade and process minced shallot (or red onion) and chopped basil (or basil pesto, frozen basil, or pistou sauce.) When shallots and basil are fairly well chopped, add lemon juice, white wine vinegar, and Dijon and process 30 seconds. Then measure 1/2 cup olive oil (or a little less) and with food processor running, add it slowly through the feed tube and process 1-2 minutes, until dressing mixture is well-blended.


4. Put roasted artichoke hearts back into the bowl and toss with 1/2 cup basil dressing, then let it marinate for a few minutes if you're not rushed for time. While artichoke hearts marinate, cut roasted red pepper into same-size pieces (I cut them into small strips about 1 inch long.) Chop red onion into very small pieces and drain capers. Add roasted red pepper, chopped red onion, and drained caper to marinating artichoke hearts, and enough dressing so that all ingredients are moistened. (You will not need all the dressing, but save it to re-moisten any leftover salad.) Season salad with salt and fresh ground black pepper, sprinkle with chopped parsley or basil if desired, and serve.

***While this recipe doesn't call for too much olive oil: my dad DEFINITELY used about 5x more than what's recommended! ha ha! Oh and I ate like the ENTIRE 6 servings!!***


PERHAPS this could be a Thanksgiving side dish?! Turkey and this concoction sounds like a dream come true to me!

HAPPY FOOD!

Around this time of year people start getting stressed out because the holidays are around the corner and depressed because day light savings make the sun set earlier... and oh right: the weather pretty much "always" stinks and it's cold!


Well I just came across a list of some of the happiest foods in the world... and if you eat happy foods, you become happy because after all, you are what you eat, RIGHT?!


Ready... Set... Happy Foods!
(And yes the rainbow is completely necessary! ha ha)

- Salmon, Sardines, Mackerel, Tuna, Sable Fish(Black Cod), Anchovies & Eel

(AKA: Fatty-Fish or Free Ranged Red Meat full of omega-3 fatty acids & Vitamin D!)

- Spinach, Romaine, Kale, Arugula, Swiss Chard & Mustard Greens

(AKA: Leafy Green Vegetables)

- Flaxseeds, Hempseeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds & Sesame Seeds

(AKA: High in Healthy Fat Seeds)

- Omega-3 &/or Vitamin D Enriched Foods

(AKA: Eggs & Mushrooms)

- Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Broccoli, Asparagus & Artichokes

(AKA: Foods with Folic Acid & Soluble Fiber - to keep things regular... and we all know how happy we can be when we are! ha ha)

- Leeks, Onions, Garlic, Scallions, Shallots & Garlic

(AKA: Any vegetable in the Allium family)

- Seaweed

(AKA: Basically everything that comes from the sea/ocean is HAPPY! Expect in Nemo's case when he couldn't find home... but he eventually did, just remember that! ha ha)

Now that's DIRTY!

So I just got back from a shopping trip at my FAVORITE place ever: Whole Foods (yes, my credit card is going APE-SH** on my right now because of course I spent LOADS!)... I love that store so much though, I don't know what it is because it always calms me down and makes me happy!


Any ways, while I was surfing the produce section for some spinach, bell peppers and leeks, I started thinking about conventional vs. organic... I bought organic spinach (@ $5.99 per pound) and I bought conventional red bell peppers (@ $.99 each - I got 5!)... As for the leeks, I got 2 (@ $2.99 a pound)...


So yea, I know that bell peppers should be bought organic, but am I really willing to spend $4.99 a pound on ORGANIC BELL PEPPERS (or simply orange or yellow for that matter) when the bigger, harder, delicious conventional peppers are SO MUCH cheaper?! Well I guess it really is up to the BUYER and whether or not they want to consume pesticides, and in this case, BRING EM' ON!!!


Wanna know some of the dirtiest pieces of produce around that should be bought organic... here goes:



THE FAMOUS DIRTY DOZEN!

1. Peaches
2. Apples
3. Sweet Bell Peppers
4. Celery
5. Nectarines
6. Strawberries
7. Cherries
8. Lettuce
9. Grapes
10. Pears
11. Spinach
12. Potatoes

THE STRAIGHT EDGE & PRUDE DOZEN (ha ha!)

1. Onions
2. Avocado
3. Sweet Corn (frozen)
4. Pineapples
5. Mango
6. Sweet Peas (frozen)
7. Asparagus
8. Kiwi
9. Bananas
10. Cabbage
11. Broccoli
12. Eggplant

*Yes I know you ALL love my color coding! ha ha*



So what's your preference, do you like your fruits & veggies DIRTY or CLEAN?! Is cost a major factor or are you all about health and not wanting chemicals in your body?! I do agree that we must treat our bodies well, but sometimes I just cannot get myself to buy ONE bell pepper at $4.99!!

Crazy Stir Fry Combinations!!!

Vegetables... Meat... Seasoning... All these ingredients (PLUS MORE) can be found in stir-fry recipes which is why I adore them so much! (And why places such as Mongolian BBQ always get my service - ha ha). I won't lie to you though, I eat a limited diet so my combinations may not be as "crazy" as others who do not restrict foods (allergy issues - long story)... but I find my combos still pretty "top-notch" and delicious which is why I thought I could share a few combos with all of you!

1. Diced Chicken Breast or Turkey Breast, Chili Powder, Garlic, Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper, Bell Pepper Strips, Cilantro, Sliced Onions & Olives

2. Diced Chicken or Turkey Breast, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Olives, Capers, Green Beans, Sliced Onions, Garlic, Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper (Can be made with WHITE FISH of any type as well) 

3. Diced Chicken or Turkey Breast, Water Chestnuts, Diced Tomatoes (or Sun-Dried), Broccoli, Olive Oil, Basil, Garlic, Pepper & Salt

4. Salmon, Diced Cabbage, Straw Mushrooms, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Olive Oil, Red Pepper Flakes (a tiny bit), Onion Powder, Garlic, Salt & Pepper

5. Ground Elk, Diced Zucchini & Summer Squash, Sliced Onions, Olive Oil, Chopped Button Mushrooms, Garlic, Salt, Pepper & Red Pepper

6. Squid, Tomatoes, Red Wine, Olive Oil, Olives & Sliced Onions

7. Octopus, Paprika, Diced Olives, Red Wine, Olive Oil, Thyme, Basil, Lemon Juice, Salt & Pepper

8. Ground Bison, Diced Eggplant, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Oregano, Sliced Onions, Olive Oil, Garlic, Fennel Seeds, Salt & Pepper

9. Salmon, Fennel, Lemon, Celery, Green Bell Peppers, White Wine, Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper

10. Clams, White Wine, Clam Juice, Chopped Parsley, Diced Shallots, Garlic, Minced Anchovies, Olive Oil, Thyme, Salt & Pepper  

11. Ground Ostrich, Spaghetti Squash, Canned Tomato Sauce, Diced Onion, Green Bell Peppers, Salt, Pepper, Olive Oil, Oregano & Basil  

12. Ground Grass-fed Beef, Artichoke Hearts, Olives, Capers, Diced Zucchini, Sliced Onions, Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper, Thyme, Rosemary & Garlic 

13. Tuna, Green Beans, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Hard Boiled Eggs, Olive Oil, Garlic, Artichokes, Salt & Pepper

14. Sea Scallops, Diced Leeks, Olive Oil, Garlic, Clam/Seafood Broth, Shallots & Diced Cabbage

15. Ground Turkey Breast, Diced Cauliflower, Bell Peppers, Onions, Garlic, Dill, Chicken Broth, Olive Oil, Sage, Thyme, Salt & Pepper

16. Hard Boiled Eggs, Shallots, Asparagus, Olive Oil, Olives, Salt & Pepper 

17. Ground Grass Fed Lamb or Goat, Spinach, Olive Oil, Garlic, Ginger Root, Curry Powder, Tumeric or Curry Powder, Salt, Pepper & Cardamon 

**So for the moment that's all I could come up with off the top of my head... but if I come up with more crazy, yet healthy concoctions I will certainly keep you POSTED - PUN INTENDED! 

OH and if you have any you would love to share... please feel free to leave a comment with your ideas! 

(Pictures on post were not taken by me, FYI)

SPRING!

So since it is SPRING (even if the weather is NOT showing it)... I thought I would discuss/list some incoming spring vegetables that are nutritious & delicious!

1. Asparagus

2. Artichokes

3. Fennel

4. Vidalia Onions

5. Leeks & Shallots

6. Garlic

7. Lettuce

8. Mixed Greens & Spinach

9. Cabbage

10. Broccoli

So while I have tons of recipes up my sleeve including each and every one of these vegetables... What sorts of things do you do in order to get your vegetables quota for the day... Do you have any delicious recipes that include the above listed veggies?!

Share you recipes in a COMMENT!

*If you are feeling uninspired to cook with the new spring vegetables here are some recipe links:

My Favorite Salad... Any Season!

So I have a 100% French background and have grown up feasting on delicious French food... I have many favorites but my TOP favorite in terms of salads is definitely the Nicoise! Such an amazing combination of flavors & textures with so many health benefits, there are too many to count... I have decided I would like to share this amazing recipes with all of you because I want everyone else to savor such a delicious FEAST of a salad!

SALAD NICOISE

- Canned or Fresh Seared Ahi Tuna or Salmon

- Anchovies

- Hard Boiled Eggs

- Mixed Greens

- Green Beans

- Kalamata Olives

- Capers

- Artichoke Hearts

- Red Onion Slices

- Cherry &/or Plum Tomatoes

- Bell Peppers

Dressing Ingredients:

- White wine vinegar

- Extra Virgin Olive Oil

- Salt & Pepper

- Grated Lemon Zest

- Fresh Minced Thyme

So there you have it... a delicious and nutritious lunch/dinner recipe that I just absolutely adore... as my French Father ALWAYS says before we eat: "BON APPETITE!"