"I don't believe in low-fat cooking." Nigella Lawson

Of course you don't, Nigella. I'm betting your hair is naturally that gorgeous, and you don't "believe" in hair products...

*humph*

Well, I believe in all kinds of cooking.  I think there is something to be said for the philosophy, "eat what you want in moderation," but sometimes, understanding where the moderate line begins and ends is the tricksy bit.

I do agree with Nigella.  I think "low-fat/fat-free/low-carb/no-carb/no-sugar/I think it's actually made of paper" diet food is doing more harm than good.  We get hypnotized into think that low-fat means we can eat twice as much, or that the weird 14-letter names of the chemical sugar substitute components in our packaged foods are really good for us.

My new mantra: If it doesn't come from the earth or eat from the earth, I don't want it.  *Mind you, I definitely just ate a granola bar.  The Valley of Nature made it...not me.  It was delicious.  I'm a work in progress :)

So...this will be a weekly thing.  We want to help you out.  We are giving you one recipe for each day of the week.  Maybe some days it will be a beverage, others it will be breakfast.  No matter what the recipe, we stand by the promise that these recipes will have fresh ingredients, interchangeable bits (for you's out there with the allergies), and if eaten in moderation, they will never hurt you :)  We are going to prove to you that cooking is fun.  It's simple.  And it's way more delicious than a Sonic Corn-Dog!

I bet Nigella would love us :)

--Rita

I laughed so hard reading this intro. I agree with Rita. I'm sure everyone on the Food Network or the Cooking Channel are practically perfect in everyway..grr. I do the whole "clean eating". Lots of fruits, veg, lean protein and such. I don't buy processed foods, even my 'fruit roll ups' are organic and all natural. I always thought to eat this way, I would have to make a lot more money than I do now. It's not true. Buy what's in season. A lot of my food is quick prep stuff. My lifestyle is very busy, like many of you, so I don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

--Amos


Monday:
Mornings can be rough...so start your day off with a delicious smoothie!
Simple Strawberry/Banana Smoothie!

• 1/2 frozen banana
• 3-4 fresh or frozen strawberries
• 1/4c milk 
• ice
• 1 heaping scoop of protein powder* (if that's your thing...)

I just dump everything in my blender at once.  It's not fancy.  I vary the amount of ice and milk depending on if I want something really creamy, or thin and more drinkable.  

I usually use frozen fruits because it gives body to the smoothie, but feel free to use whatever you have! 

*Sometimes I have pretty early mornings and an entire meal just doesn't happen for me, so I like to boost my smoothies and shakes with a little protein powder, because my smoothie frequently takes the place of my breakfast "meal".  I really love a vanilla ice-cream flavored whey protein, but if you use supplements like that, find something you like and drink up!


Tuesday:
Hummus Buffalo Shrimp Tacos:
What you'll need:

• Shrimp
• Corn Tortillas
• Hummus (any flavor-I use Red Pepper)
• Veggies
• Buffalo Hot Sauce
• Pepper Jack Sheese

First: Cook Shrimp
Second: Toss Shrimp together in a bag with Buffalo Sauce
Third: Heat up corn tortillas
Fourth: Assemble Tacos and Enjoy!

You can add Ranch Dressing and celery if you'd like. I love spicy food, so I don't bother.

Wednesday:
Turkey Sausage Veggie Polenta

I'm usually a grits girl. I am from Kentucky, it's what we do. Just to switch things up a bit, I use polenta. My mom used to make these sausage/cheese grits that I know are responsible for my hips and thighs. This is a healthier and tasty version.

• Polenta
• Turkey Sausage
• Vegetable Mix (onions, peppers, garlic, etc)
• Salt
• Pepper
• cheese (for topping)

First: Make polenta according to package directions.
Second: Cook up turkey sausage  in a skillet.
Third: Cook up veggies in a skillet, preferably the one used for the sausage. I use onions, peppers, garlic, corn and even some black beans for extra protein.
Fourth: Mix Polenta, Sausage and Veggies together and serve. I sprinkle a little cheese on top. Pepper Jack is my fav.
Fifth: ENJOY!


Thursday:
Pineapple--Green Tea

• 12oz pineapple juice
• 1 empty ice cube tray
• 2 green tea bags (or 2tsp loose green tea)
• 2C water, divided

Well ahead of time, pour the pineapple juice into the ice cube tray and freeze.

Take 1C of the water, bring to a boil over high heat.

Pour over the tea/tea bags and let steep 3-4min.  Remove the bags or strain, and let the tea sit till it comes to room temperature to help prevent the tea from getting cloudy.

Add the remaining 1C of water, cold, to the tea.  Pour in a container and refridgerate.

When ready to serve, pour in a glass w/2 pineapple ice cubes!


Friday:
Banana Cream!!!

I. Love. Ice. Cream. My friend, Terri, is an amateur boxer & she sent me this recipe for ice cream using a banana. Yes, a banana.

• Banana
• Milk
• Flavor of your choice (pb, berries, etc)

First: Freeze a chopped up banana. I usually freeze mine overnight.

Second: Add banana to blender. Then add half cup of milk. I use almond milk, but you can use skim/2%/whatever you like.

Third: Add your flavors. I use peanut butter, berries, cinnamon, whatever I fancy.

Fourth: Blend. It should be the consistency of  soft-serve ice cream.

Fifth: Enjoy!!!



Saturday:
Pizza-Night!!!! (bet you've never had this kind of pizza before....)
Bresaola and Arugula pizza with Parmesan shavings

• store bought pizza dough (read/ask for specific instructions if there is additional preparation for the dough)
• 2oz bresaola (If you find this difficult to locate, Trader Joe's sells it.  So don't fret!)
• 1 small bunch fresh arugula (or any peppery green you can find)
• 5tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1oz Parmesan shavings
• salt

Preheat your oven to 500 F.

Roll/stretch out dough into something that resembles a 9in circle (give or take).  Brush with the olive oil and bake for 20-25min, or until crust is lightly golden.

Take the dough out of the oven, spread the bresoala on top, drizzle with oil, and pop back into the oven for 2-3min MAX!  **You want to head the meat through, but not crisp it up.

Once the meat has been heated through, lay the arugula on top, sprinkle with salt and a little more EVOO, and the shaved Parmesan.

Voila! Pizza con Bresaola y Rucola :)

Sunday:
My take on a delicious iced-treat.
Thai Coffee
*I LOVE Thai coffee; sweet, creamy, iced. Delicious.  But sometimes you just want hot coffee.  So here's my alternative "hot" version of a delicious favorite.

• 8oz brewed hot coffee
• 1tbsp condensed milk
• cinnamon to taste
• 1/8tsp vanilla extract

Make your coffee to the specifications of your particular brewer of choice.  I make a nice strong espresso in my Moka Pot and add hot water (an Americano).

Stir in vanilla once coffee is made to give a nice flavor, then stir in 1tbsp of condensed milk.  You can always add more or less milk to taste, but it gives the coffee a sweet and creamy flavor.  Sprinkle with cinnamon, if you like that kind of thing.  It's delicious!

**Do you want this iced?  Just make a double brew of hot coffee, pour over ice, and add the ingredients in the same way!

It's 100 degrees and I'm thinking about spicy food.

Michigan has been insane this week, and quite frankly I think we need to get it together (by "we" I mean the weather).  Funny thing, all I can seem to think about this week is baking and cooking things in the oven.

"Well Rita," you say, "that's not so ridiculous.  You obviously have air conditioning, right?"

Wrong.  So. Very. Wrong.

I survive in what I lovingly call 'the cave'.  We don't open windows, blinds are like barriers from the demon-heat, and I try to move as little as possible when I'm home.  Amy has her "hot-box" workouts, but I live in a hot box.  I'm getting sweaty just thinking about working out...

But all that being said, I've occupied my time with writing and creating recipes, and also hunting for some delicious dinner ideas I can long for while I wait for the summer of death to end.

So for those of you who have sweet, sweet, air-conditioning, check out this amazing recipe from America's Test Kitchen (probably my favorite cooking show).  They've tested and re-tested this recipe, and now those of us who can't afford a ridiculously expensive and highly impractical Tandoor oven can still make Tandoori chicken!  I would suggest a healthy serving of brown basmati rice on the side, along with some crisp steamed green beans, or quickly steamed cauliflower (I don't overcook cauliflower, mostly to keep it's nutrients, and because a mushy veg just isn't my thing)!

Tandoori Chicken

2tbsp vegetable oil
6 cloves fresh garlic (minced)
2tbsp fresh ginger (minced)
2tsp chili powder
2tsp cumin
1tbsp garam masala   **see note**
4tbsp lime juice, divided
1c yogurt (I splurge and use whole milk plain yogurt, but feel free to try light, or fat-free.  And for heaven sakes, don't use vanilla!)
2tsp salt
3lbs chicken

• Heat the oil in a pan over medium-high heat.  
• Add the garlic and ginger.  Cook them until you can smell them, but make sure they don't caramelize, or get any "color" on them.
• Add the cumin, chili powder, and garam masala.  "Bloom" the spices, which is to say, cook them with the onion and ginger until you can smell them as well.  Take the mixture off the heat and split in 1/2.
• Place one half the mix into a large bowl, and the other into a smaller bowl.  Beginning with the small bowl, mix the spice paste with 2tbsp of lime juice and the yogurt.  Set aside.
• In the big bowl, add the remaining 2tbsp of lime juice and salt to the spice paste.  
• Take the chicken pieces and slice gashes into the meat.  This is going to allow the rub to penetrate into the meat, giving it amazing flavor!
• Add chicken pieces to the big bowl and generously coat all the pieces in the paste.  Marinate at room temperature for 30+ min.
• In the meantime, preheat your oven to 325 degrees, and prepare your baking sheet.  Take one baking sheet and cover with aluminum foil (to help with your clean-up) and place a cooling rack on top of the foil covered sheet.  This will keep the hot air in the oven circulating around all sides of the chicken, giving it a nice crust
• Once the chicken has marinated, pour the yogurt mixture over the chicken pieces and evenly coat.  Place each piece on your prepared baking sheet.
• Cook chicken until the breast (white meat) reaches 125 degrees, and the thigh (dark meat) reaches 130 degrees. 
• Remove from the oven, tent with foil, and get your oven ready for broiling.  Once your oven is preheated, place the chicken under the broiler for 6-8min, or until the breast reaches 160 degrees and the thigh hits about 175 degrees.  

 Now you have delicious, crispy (and fairly healthy), Tandoori Chicken (without the Tandoor oven)!

--Rita

 *a note on garam masala*

**DO NOT skip this ingredient!  You can find garam masala at almost every grocery store that exists.  Kroger has it.  I'm positive.  You mustn't avoid this amazingly pungent spice because it's what makes Indian food so amazing.  Garam Masala literally translates as "Hot Mixture", but don't worry, it's not spicy.  It's intense.  Things like pepper, clove, malabar, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and coriander are just a few of the common spices found in garam masala.  Each chef has his own mixture.  Visit a local spice store, if one is available to you.  Smell things.  Ask if you can taste the spices.  See what you like, and buy that!  And when in doubt and you're at a loss, make your own!!!!

We're getting creative people!

c/o Old School Value 

We are embarking on something cool.

We have been neglecting our duties as bloggers.

We realize this. 

But on the horizon, there is something a-brewin'.  A new weekly segment will soon be in full bloom.

 (wrong kind of Bloom)

This is more like it...

  

Except it has nothing to do with flowers.  Or Orlando Bloom.  But I'd bet he's fully behind our brilliant blog decision*.  So stay tuned for what's coming up in the next week.  

In all seriousness, Amy and I are really dedicated to providing a space for people to interact with each other, to get tips and advice from regular people, and to foster a community that is encouraging and uplifting to everyone.  This is the next step in the conversation.  We want to make sure your mind is fed with good, solid information, your soul is fed with encouraging stories of struggle and success, and your body is fed with workout tips, and delicious treats!  So there's a hint as to what's coming up.  If you have any suggestions, questions, ANYTHING, let us know!  We want to know.  Really :)

--Rita

*this blog is Orlando Bloom approved (pending actual confirmation from the star himself)