Showing posts with label Cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cooking. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Food For Life

This week we are going to take another small step into the world of healthy eating and living. One of our favorite points of reference is The Kind Diet, by Alicia Silverstone. Her website, The Kind Life, in addition to the book are fantastic places to begin exploring a world without meat, and clean eating. Alicia begins simply, touching on the idea of being a 'flirt' with becoming a vegetarian and explaining the monumental effects a cleaner diet can have on our bodies.

Below are recipes that are not only meat, free, but are vegan as well. Don't let the process intimidate you, and don't assume you can only eat lettuce and that you won't have enough protein. We assure you, with a small amount of planning and getting excited about changing your life and your body, it will be an easy process!

Black Bean Burger with Guacamole:


What you will need: 
1 avocado
1 tbsp. of lime juice
salt/pepper
1/4 cup of bread crumbs
1/4 cup of chopped garlic
1/4 cup of chopped onion
1 tsp. of cumin
1/4 cup of chopped tomato
15 oz. (one can) of black beans

For the Guacamole:
1. In a small bowl mash avocado, stir in lime juice and season to taste with salt and pepper.

For the Burgers:
1. In a food processor, or with a potato masher combine black beans, bread crumbs, garlic, onion, cumin and olive oil
2. Form mixture into four or five 1/2 thick patties
3. Cook the patties in a light coating of olive oil on a non-stick skillet. (About five minutes each, until cooked through, and browned on each side)
4. To serve, top patties with guacamole and chopped tomato

*add in a delicious hot sauce for an extra kick, and you can also serve with chips and salsa!

Artichokes with roasted red pepper and sun-dried tomato sauce on buttered angel hair pasta:




What you will need:
1 artichoke, peeled and quartered
1 large red pepper, halved and seeded
1/2 onion
2 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup of sun-dried tomatoes
1/2 cup of tomato paste
1tsp. of brown sugar
1 cup of mushrooms, finely chopped
1 dash of red wine
angel hair pasta
1tsp of butter (we use Earth Balance)
2tbs. of olive oil

1. Roast the red pepper, artichoke, garlic and onion in olive oil until artichoke has burt edges and the peppers are fully cooked.
2. Peel the burnt edges of the artichoke off and set the quarters aside.
3. in a bowl, combine the peppers, garlic, onion and sundried tomatoes
4. Stir mixture and add in tomato paste, brown sugar and left over oil from the roasting try in step one.
(taste the mixture to adjust seasoning)
5. Fry the mushrooms in a skillet using olive oil and one tsp. of butter until they are crispy
6. Add in the red pepper mixture, any herbs you like, and a dash (or two) of red wine
7. Pasta water should have been boiling at this point. Once the pasta is cooked drain and stir in once tablespoon of Earth Balance butter.
8. Top pasta with sauce and a slice of artichoke

A side note for today: What we are snacking on. Throughout the work day it is always good to have treats to keep energy levels up. Here are a few of the healthy things we keep in the store to avoid the candy bar, bag of chips snack attack that we all get.


From left to right:
Superfood raw, gluten free antioxidant filled Grawnola in Goji-Mixed Berry
Himalania all natural Goji Berry Trail Mix
Somersault sunflower seed and toasted grain snacks
Kaia Foods buckwheat granola in cocoa bliss

*All available at Whole Foods








Thursday, September 8, 2011

Lunchtime Treats

Season is swiftly approaching us, and amongst other things that means fast lunches, in the middle of busy days. Making, and eating healthy lunches that don't take up all of your time can be a tricky process, so we have done a bit of research to prepare. Here are 5 tasty and quick lunch ideas to try out!

Edamame and Hummus Stuffed Pita:
Puree edamame with greek style yogurt, lemon juice, garlic and a pinch of cayenne. Spread inside a pita and add in shaved fennel, and red peppers, or any fresh veggies your heart desires!


Mini Curried Egg Salad Sliders:
Combine chopped hard boiled eggs, Greek yogurt, curry powder, chopped apples, almond slices, and chives. Scoop onto dinner rolls and top with fresh spinach or lettuce. 


Herbed Cream Cheese and Cucumber Bagel Sandwiches:
Combine shaved carrots and radishes, chopped tarragon, and dill into cream cheese. Spread onto a bagel (flavor of your choice) and top with thinly sliced cucumbers. A thin tomato slice could also be a great addition, and we also think this could be a great breakfast idea as well!


Arugula Pesto Chicken Boats:
Use a food processor to combine arugula, walnut, olive oil, lemon juice and grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese. Toss with cooked chicken, thinly sliced fennel, cranberries and goat cheese. Spoon into endive leaves, bib lettuce or toss onto of a fresh spinach salad. 


Chicken Caprese Kebabs:
Add grilled chicken, cherry tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella onto skewers. Puree basil, garlic, lemon juice and mayonnaise as serve as a dipping sauce. You could also serve with olives, and possibly drizzle the skewers with a balsamic glaze to add an extra flavor.

Recipes courtesy of Bon Appetit

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Meatless Monday


Yes, it's Tuesday, but yesterday was another wonderful Meatless Monday! The last few weeks of summer are upon us (although here in South Florida it feels like it will never end) so we decided to grill. We brought out loads of delicious veggies, and followed another Giada recipe.  If you haven't read up on meatless Monday's you should click the link above and give it a look. It's a great way to switch things up, it's also great for the environment, and for your body, which is always a plus!

Throw in some sliced bread, hummus, cheese and olives to the spread with a crisp white wine and you've got yourself a great meal for a summer night!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Worlds Colliding

Two of the things people are most passionate about in life are food and exercise. Well ok, maybe just food, so for those of us who have to work at the exercise part, there is new incentive! David Romanelli has geniously fused the amazing world of yoga to the amazing world of food. Arriving at the studio, which is located on Madison Ave. in New York, you endure an intense hour long session of yoga, calming your mind, toning your body and refreshing your soul. Of course, David does all of this to the likes of Ziggy Marley, the Grateful Dead and other not so typical music selections for the yoga studio. Then...then comes the real thrill. Right there on your yoga mat, dinner is served. From wine to dessert, pasta and veggies, and everything in between, nothing is spared in what is explained as a heightened state of awareness when enjoying your dinner directly after yoga.
Faced with some obvious criticism, David explains his idea in a very concise way. “It’s a way of getting people in the door,” he said in an interview. “The world is a better place if people do yoga. And if they come because chocolate or wine is involved, I’m fine with it.” David has also coordinated yoga retreats with Katrina Markoff, the genius behind Vosges Haut-Chocolat. Yoga in the morning, spiritual tours and cooking classes are all part of the itinerary. If you ask me it sounds like a wonderful way to spend a week. My only question is, when is David Romanelli coming to south Florida?!?