MahiMahi with Pineapple Salsa

     I Love MahiMahi!  I Love fresh Salsa & I Love this Meal. 
In a moment I'll share the recipe, but first I want to do something I've been meaning to add to this blog... sharing tips on healthy living.  Not that I'm a genius at it, I'm a work in progress {as you can see from some of the recipes} but I plan to add little tips now and then.  You may have noticed the Note at the end of the Mac & Cheese post about "not eating white foods" - If not, check it out - It's a great way to eat a little bit healthier.  
    Today's tip is all about portion control. I don't believe in giving up foods you love. I believe in portion control - a little bit goes a long way; when you get the taste of something you love, you don't feel deprived and you don't binge. You learn self control can be both satisfying and healthy. If you haven't noticed before my salad is always half of the meal, a whole grain is 1/4 and depending on the day the protein is usually a 1/4, sometimes less. Anyway, controlling your portion size is a great way to eat what you love without feeling guilty.
Now on with the Food!


The Salsa Deets
1 Jalapeno finely Chopped
2 Tomatoes Chopped
3 Slices of Fresh Pineapple Chopped
4 finely chopped Basil Leaves
1 sprig Cilantro finely Chopped
1 TBS Lime Juice
1 tsp Lemon Pepper
1 tsp Sea Salt
The How To
Chop Ingredients & Mix in a bowl. 
Let sit about an Hour prior to serving to allow flavors to blend and concentrate. 

The MahiMahi How To
Cut Each MahiMahi Steak in half (it's all about portion control)
Season with Salt and Lemon Pepper
Heat pan on high add 1/2 TBS olive oil
Cook MahiMahi on each side for 3 minutes
Cover and Remove from heat to continue cooking for 5 minutes.


Serve with Salad and Quinoa {I made herbed Quinoa} & you've got yourself a great plate.

Plate, Pray & Enjoy!

Gelato e Sorbetto

I Love Gelato and Sorbetto!
The summer I studied abroad in Italy I gained 5 pounds - mainly from this delicious stuff! Now, I can make it myself and it is delicious, but sometimes you just need a quick fix. Enter Talenti  Gelato e Sorbetto.

 Lately I've been on a Fro Yo' kick and haven't even thought of my long lost love. But alas, these delicious loves always find a way back to you (that's what extra long workouts are for!).  This weekend I was at my local market and saw one of my favorite brands of Gelato & Sorbetto - Talenti. Of course I couldn't resist and had to pick up a few. I picked up a new flavor and an old favorite.

An Oldie but Goodie Caribbean Coconut Gelato It's sweet, creamy, and hits the spot on hot days like today!

A New Found Favorite Blood Orange Sorbetto. It's fresh, light & slightly tart. Sorbetto is a very refreshing treat.

If you're a fan of Gelato and/or Sorbetto or just looking for a new frozen treat give Talenti  Gelato e Sorbettos a try!

The Perfect French Toast

I L-O-V-E - Love French Toast! 
I happen to be married to the World's Best French Toast Maker.
My Mr. cooks exactly 3 things: Toast, Oatmeal, and French Toast. But he makes the best Toast, Oatmeal and French Toast ever!  Seriously he does. His toast is so good - I think it's due to the reckless abandon in his use of butter. My toast is never as good since I am too stingy with the butter, so if he's home he's in charge of the toast.
I digress, back to the French Toast. 
A few weeks back I picked up a loaf of fresh Challah bread from our favorite bakery.  The Mr. was craving French Toast so I suggested we try making it with the Challah bread.  Because he loves me, he obliged. Let me say this - Best French Toast Ever! Even better than my Mr.'s normally delicious French Toast. It is light and fluffy and oh so good.
The Deets 
(For 2)
5 Slices Challah Bread or your favorite Wheat Bread
3 Eggs
1/4 Cup Milk (we use skim)
1/2 tsp Vanilla
The How To
Whisk eggs, milk and vanilla in a shallow bowl
Dip Bread in egg mixture
Heat skillet to Medium Low
Once pan is hot place in pan
Cook to desired shade of Golden Brown
Flip & cook otherside to perfection

{don't these slices kinda look like Easter Bunnies? -  Can you tell I'm excited for Easter?}

I eat mine with butter & powdered sugar.  
My Mr. drenches his in syrup.

Add a glass of milk, some fresh fruit and a little protein and you've got a great breakfast.

Plate, Pray & Enjoy!

BALT - Bacon Avocado Lettuce & Tomato Sandwich

Every Once in a While  you just need a little Bacon.  A few weeks ago I was talking to my sister who was making BLTs for dinner - I was momentarily baffled, and had to search my mind to remember what a BLT was. When was the last time I ate a BLT? Since I couldn't remember the last time I indulged in a BLT, I decided it was time for a little BLT action.
The Deets for a BLT (serves 2)
4 slices whole wheat bread
6 slices Bacon
1/2 Tomato
1 Avocado
Romaine Lettuce 
The How To
Toast Bread

Cook Bacon to desired texture (I like mine more on the crispy side)

Slice Tomato & Avocado

Assemble 

Add a side & Dinner's ready!

Plate, Pray & Enjoy!

Whole Foods Foodie Fantasy Contest

I did something brave today. 

I made my first ever video and submitted it to Whole Foods for their Foodie Fantasy Contest. 

Here is my video submission

How Awesome would it be to win this trip? Ah-May-Zing!

I am so excited about this contest, I mean really, really excited...

Hopefully my submission isn't too dorky & I win; 

but if not, hey, at least I learned how to use iMovie! 

Head on over to FB & check out the Contest Page on Facebook , while you're there be sure to leave me lots of loving comments.

Wish Me Luck!

Ahi Tuna Tacos with Slaw

I Love Fish Tacos! During the Summer I will make them every week or two, with Ahi Tuna or MahiMahi. The Fish Taco is easy, healthy & oh so tasty!
The Slaw on the other hand, is a totally new concept.  As I've mentioned, I joined a food coop a few months back, which means I get mystery produce every 2 weeks. Most of it is stuff I use on a regular basis, but sometimes I am challenged with foods I don't normally eat. This week it was Cabbage. Purple Cabbage. What does one do with Purple Cabbage? Well I added it to fried rice {it turned everything purplish blue - but tasted good} and since I still had over half a head left I decided to make a slaw.
Here's my first attempt at purple slaw.

The Deets on the Slaw
2 Cups Shredded Purple Cabbage
1/2 Bell Pepper thinly sliced
3 Sweet Peppers (1 red, 1 orange & 1 yellow)
1/2 Cup Shredded Carrot
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Lemon Pepper
1 TBS Rice Vinegar
1 tsp Sesame Oil
1/2 tsp Sriracha Sauce
1/2 tsp Sugar
1/4 Cup Plain Yogurt (nonfat)
1 TBS Lime Juice

The How To on the Slaw
Whisk Vinegar, Sesame Oil and Yogurt
Add Sriracha, Salt, Lemon Pepper & Sugar
Add to shredded Vegetables
Add Lime Juice and Mix well
Let sit for an hour before serving for flavors to mix

Taco Taco Deets
1 Ahi Tuna Fillet
1 tsp Taco Seasoning
1 tsp Lemon Pepper
1 TBS Lime juice
1/2 TBS Olive Oil
1 Avocado diced
1 Tomato diced
2 handfuls Romaine lettuce or Spinach
4 Corn Tortillas

The How To
Heat Olive Oil in Pan over Medium High
Sprinkle Tuna with Taco Seasoning and Lemon Pepper
Sear Tuna on each side for 4 minutes, remove from heat and sprinkle with lime juice

Use fork to "pull apart" Tuna

Heat Tortillas & assemble your tacos as desired

Serve with Black Beans {I also added baked sweet potatoes today}

Plate, Pray & Enjoy!

Mean Green Smoothie just in time for St. Patrick's Day!

Sometimes I have visions of grandeur when it comes to healthy eating. Usually my healthy ideas taste fantastic, but sometimes it's a miss...I won't say epic failure, but only because I can usually turn an epic failure into a "not too bad" or even a "pretty good".  Let me share the smoothie that almost became an epic failure.
The Mean Green Smoothie
4 Leaves of Kale {Next time I'll only use 2}
1 cup Yogurt (Stonyfield organic - usually I use plain but I was out)
1 Banana
1 Orange
1 Kiwi
1/4 Cup Milk

This is how I started the Mean Green Smoothie - Not so good. 
So, I added the following:
1/2 Cup Black Berries
1/2 Cup Strawberries
1 Orange
1 Kiwi
Makes 4 Smoothies

Much Better!  It still tastes a little too healthy, but it's well worth it.  Think of all those vitamins & fiber!

Enjoy your Mean Green Smoothie. 
It's a great start to help you Attack your Day!

Cuppies & Joe...Boom Boom Wow!

Last weekend I went to a party at Cuppies & Joe
Let me just say, the  Boom Boom Pow is Wow oh Wow!

This is the Boom Boom Pow Cupcake

Vanilla Bean Cupcake, Chocolate Buttercream, Caramel & Sea Salt

It was Delicious! Chocolaty, Salty, Gooey Goodness!

It was pretty obvious that Cuppies & Joe is an OKC hotspot.  There was a line out the door the entire time I was there. Yes, an out the door line for almost 2 hours! If your in the area stop by Cuppies & Joe and try the Boom Boom Pow or one of the other delicious concoctions.  

Meatless Monday: Vegetable Fried Rice

Monday, Monday you're here again. Time to start the week off right with a meatless monday meal. Today's meatless meal is vegetable fried rice. This is a great way to start the week, because you can do all the prep the night before & once you get home from work all you have to do is throw it together. Even those of us who love to cook have days (usually Mondays) where we just don't want to cook.  That's why I've made a habit of prepping my Monday meals while making Sunday dinner. Last night while making a delicious Sunday dinner, I prepped my veggies & rice.  Because I took the time to prep last night while I had time, tonight's dinner only took about 15 minutes (including phone time).  
Here's How I like my Vegetable Stir Fry - Lots & Lots of Veggies - whatever veggies I've got on hand (which is usually a lot) & as close to a 50/50 ratio of veggies to rice as I can get.
The Deets
1/2 Cup Mushrooms chopped
2 Cups finely chopped Carrots
1 Yellow Squash 
1 Large Broccoli Floret 
1/2 Bell Pepper 
5 Sweet Peppers (red, yellow, orange) 
1 Jalapeno
1 1/2 Cup Brown Rice cooked according to directions
3 Eggs
Sesame Seeds
1 tsp Sesame Oil
1 TBS Olive Oil 
2 TBS Soy Sauce
1 TBS Tempura Sauce

The How To
Chop all vegetables to desired size (for stir fry I like mine chopped very fine)
Add oil to pan and heat to medium high
Begin with mushrooms and squash, once seared nicely add peppers, next add remaining vegetables, add 1 TBS Soy sauce and cook on medium high for 5 minutes.

  (this version from a few weeks ago has Purple Cabbage)

In separate pan scramble eggs

Add cooked rice and eggs to vegetables, add soy sauce and tempura sauce. Mix well and continue over medium high for another 5 minutes.  Add Sesame seeds.

Plate, Pray & Enjoy!

Seared Halibut with Truffled Mushroom Risotto and Wilted Kale

The Risotto

1 TBS Olive Oil

1/2 Shallot

1/2 Cup finely chopped Mushrooms

1 Cups Risotto 

2 Cups Chicken Broth

1/2 TBS Truffle Oil

1/4 Cup Fresh Parmesan Cheese  

The How To

In Sauce Pan heat Oil, add Shallot & Mushrooms until Caramelized 

Add Risotto 

Add 1 Cups Chicken Broth

Cover & Simmer over medium low

Once liquid is mostly absorbed add remaining 1 Cups Chicken Broth

Finish with Truffle Oil & Parmesan

Wilted Kale & Watercress with Mushrooms & Squash

3 Leaves of Kale

1/2 Bunch of Watercress

1/2 Cup rough Chopped Mushrooms

1/2 Cup rough Chopped Squash

1 TBS Olive Oil

The How To

In Saute Pan heat oil over medium high

Add Mushrooms and Squash until well Seared

Add Kale and Watercress until wilted

Halibut 

2 Halibut Steaks

1 TBS Olive Oil

Seasoning Salt, Salt & Pepper to Taste

How To

Heat Olive Oil in Pan over High

Season Halibut Steaks with Salt & Pepper

Sear Halibut on each side for 4 minutes

Remove from Heat and cover for 5 minutes to finish cooking

Plate, Pray & Enjoy!

The List: Top 30 Foods for Your Health

Have you seen "The List"?
It seems every few years a new list is created of the healthiest foods, usually the top 15 or so remain the same, but occasionally there are new additions.  Here is the latest list of Healthy Foods, with my commentary on each food of course.
Almonds   Yum! Top salads, add to yogurt or eat by the handful - Be sure to buy them "RAW"
Avocados  One of my favorite foods! Sometimes I will sprinkle with lemon or lime & a little sea salt & scoop it right out of the shell.  Also great on salads, sandwiches and in tacos.
Barley  It's on my list for the market tonight - I can't even remember the last time I made it. You can't go wrong with a whole grain & Barley is nutty & very versatile.
Black Beans I have finally learned to like beans! I love black beans with rice as a side to Enchiladas & Tacos
Blueberries Ok. I have a confession to make...I eat blueberries almost every day. Love them!
Broccoli Honestly not my fav. It's a little rough on my tender tummy - but I do like it in fried rice & stir-fry
Bulgur just another kind of wheat.  Little 'heartier" tasting.
Chard Good Stuff, I usually buy Rainbow Chard, because it's fun - usually I saute it with a touch of olive oil & a pinch of salt - quick & easy side dish
Chicken Breasts The oh-so versatile chicken. I usually butterfly & cut in half to keep portion size under control
Edamame Confession time...I am obsessed with Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Edamame...bad thing - no trader joe's within 300 miles - good thing a BFF who loves me & sends them to me!
Eggs I love a good hard boiled (hold the yok), an omelet, scramble or egg salad.  I don't like yoke but I do use every other one when cooking because the yoke contains some good stuff.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil kitchen staple.
Kale not just for plate decorating! I actually love kale. Sauteed with mushrooms & a little shallot - perfect. (Side note - the decorating comment is from a friend who didn't know you ate kale - she thought it was just for presentation)
Kidney Beans not something I enjoy on their own, but you can use them instead of chick peas to make hummus
Kiwi Hello Vitamin C! Cut in half & eat with a spoon...yumm yumm
Lentils Still working on this one...I will try harder to like them
Mushrooms This was a surprise to me. I love mushrooms anyway I can get them; in stirfry, fried rice, risotto...
Nonfat Greek Yogurt although I do prefer regular yogurt, Greek is ok - its just a bit too thick some days
Oatmeal I love oatmeal.  I also love making oatflour to add to baked goods.
Oranges Who would have thought an average fruit would make the A team? Love them - especially when I juice them
Peanut and Nut Butters I do NOT like peanuts...so I buy Almond butter.
Pumpkin I've made some not so good pumpkin sides...but pumpkin desserts I can rock!
Quinoa My favorite Grain.  I would say we eat Quinoa once a week. Tastes Great, Versatile & Delish!
Sardines Not a Chance!!! I will not eat them in a can I will not eat them Sam-I-Am!
Skim Milk Everyday, at least once a day.
Spinach My favorite Salad Green. We've always got spinach on hand.
Sweet Potatoes One of my new found favorites, I've been making some pretty good stuff with these sweet babies lately.
Walnuts Does it count if they're sugar coated? An ok nut, but not my fav, unless they are glazed - then I love them, especially in salad.
Whole-Grain Pasta The only kind allowed in our house.
Wild Salmon Only Wild. I don't buy farmed fish - it grosses me out.  I love Salmon, especially smoked.

I'd say I'm doing pretty good, really there are only 4 things on the list I don't eat on at least a monthly basis.  And only one I refuse to eat, sorry I will not eat sardines, I don't care what bountiful benefits they promise. How does your score stack up?  Happy Healthy Eating!

It's Sandwich Time! Grilled Edition.

Short, Sweet and to the Point:

I Love Sandwiches.

I especially Love Grilled Sandwiches.

Here is my idea of A Perfect Sandwich:
2 Slices Whole Wheat Bread (I Love Big Sky Bakery & Alpine Valley Organic)
2 Slices of Uncured Hard Salami
Extra Sharp Vintage White Cheddar (Tillamook)
1/2 Avocado
1/2 Tomato
1 handful Spinach
1 handful Sprouts
Butter

The Construction
Butter Bread, layout cheese & cook over medium low until golden brown
Once bread is golden brown & cheese is melted add Salami & Veggies
Add a Pickle & you're good to go!

Sunshine Juice

So by now you know I love my Jack Lalanne Power Juicer.  You also probably look at some of my juice concoctions and think "no thanks" or even "yuck" but really, none of them taste bad, they just take a little stronger palate sometimes.  In honor of Jack Lalanne, who passed away last month, I have made "normal" juice to please the masses. I call it Sunshine Juice. It's the perfect way to start the morning. 
Sunshine Juice
3 Ruby Red Grapefruits
3 Oranges
Remember Citrus Must be peeled or the juice will be bitter.

That's it! Juice away.

Have a Sun-shiny Day!

For the Love of Cheese...Ode to the Cow

     If I were to make a list of my favorite things  {all things not just food} Cheese would be very near the top of the list.  I've already professed my love of fresh mozzarella. This post is dedicated to a few of my favorite Cow Milk Cheeses, I am a big fan of both sheep & goat cheeses but today is all about my favorite animal, the Cow. {Seriously I love cows - they are the most selfless animals on the planet. Think of all they give us - Milk, Cheese, Ice Cream, Butter, Steaks, Cheeseburgers, Leather [i.e. shoes]... I love cows!} 
     I should warn you that I am not a maitre fromager, I don't know the lingo, I just know what I like.  Someday, I'll take a few lessons on the craft but until then, here's my simple analysis of the creamy goodness.
I've got a Soft Spot for Soft Cheeses
Delice de Bourgogne is a French Triple Cream made from Cow's milk. Hands down my favorite soft cheese. I love love love Delice de Bourgogne. It's so good I don't even know where to start, it's rich and buttery and oh so creamy. I think Delice de Bourgogne is The Perfect Cheese. You must try this cheese!

Saint Nectaire is a French cheese made from cow's milk raised in the volcanic Auvergne region.  If you like a little more pungent cheese, Saint Nectaire is for you. It's rich, creamy, and nutty with a slightly grassy mushroomy flavor. 

Mt Tam from Cowgirl Creamery in California. Mt Tam is a slightly firmer version of the triple cream. It's buttery and mellow.  This is a great starter cheese for the faint of heart who aren't into stronger flavors.  It's much milder than a Brie.

Something New!
Mountina When I saw Mountina at Whole Foods the first thing I noticed was the byline "An Alpine Cheese from the Mountains of...Montana" How could I not try a cheese from my home state? I have to be honest, I wasn't expecting much, Montana is known for a lot of great things but dairy isn't one of them. I was pleasantly surprised, the Mountina has some serious depth! Mountina is a semi-firm raw cow's milk cheese with a mild washed rind. It's nutty, it's sweet, it's creamy, it's fantastic! Mountina is slightly reminiscent of raclette, but milder and in my opinion better.

Something Just a Little Different
Sottocenere is one of my favorite "special" cheeses. Sottocenere is an Italian semi-soft raw cow's milk cheese with slivers of black truffle. I Love this Cheese! It's a delicate, silky, aromatic, slightly nutty cheese.  It is one of my personal favorites.

The Everyday
If you haven't noticed by now, I am really trying to each less processed foods.  This applies to snacks, meats and yes, even cheeses.  It can be hard to find small brand cheese in a lot of locals.  My favorite national brand is Tillamook. Tillamook is an Oregon Co-op, that's right, the farmers are the owners. If you visit the Oregon coast, you will see lush farms with pretty Dairy cows dotting the land. It's beautiful, the cows really do look happy & the people are so nice. I love knowing that is where my cheese comes from. If they had a Nordstrom & an Anthro, I'd move there - that's how picturesque Tillamook is. And the cheese, oh the cheese, best Cheddar ever! My favorite is the Vintage White Extra Sharp Cheddar. But the Medium just so happens to be the "World's Best". Don't believe me? They've got the award to prove it.

*While Cheese is an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D, it's important to eat full fat cheese in moderation* 

A Sweet Treat for Your Sweet Heart: Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

Happy Valentines Day! 

Today I'm Sharing a Sweet Treat for Your Sweetie

When I think of Valentines Day treats I think Chocolate & Cherries {But I don't like real chocolate covered cherries - weird right}

I Love this Cherry Chocolate Hot Chocolate 

But My Favorite Chocolate Cherry Treat is Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies. My mom used to make them for us every year & we couldn't wait to get our hands on them!

The Cookie Deets

1 1/4 Cup Flour

1/2 Cocoa Powder

1 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Butter

1 Egg

1 1/2 tsp Vanilla

1/4 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

Maraschino Cherries (set aside for construction) 

The How To

Mix all ingredients - except the Cherries

The Dough will be slightly crumbly

The Filling/Sauce Deets

6 oz Chocolate

1/2 Cup Sweet Condensed Milk

4 Tablespoons Cherry Juice

The How To

Mix all ingredients & Melt until smooth 

(about 1 minute in the microwave)

Construction

Roll Dough into Ball, then Poke a hole in the ball & work the hole until it is large enough to fit a cherry & chocolate sauce. 

Add Cherry

Fill with Chocolate Sauce

Bake at 350 for 10 Minutes & Enjoy!

Happy Valentines Day to you & yours!

Chicken Parmesan

A Lighter Version of the Classic Chicken Parmesan. It's made with fresh ingredients, Pan Seared Chicken (Not Fried) & Whole Wheat Pasta.
The Deets For the Chicken
4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts Butterflied
1/8 Cup Flour
1/4 Cup Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
1 Egg
1 TBS Olive Oil
The How To
Dredge Chicken in Flour
Dredge Chicken in Egg wash
Dredge Chicken in Bread Crumbs
Heat Oil over medium high in Medium Skillet
Add Chicken & cook for 2 minutes on each side
Remove from Heat and Cover

The Deets For the Sauce
3 Cups Tomatoes Diced (or 2 Cans) Today I used Yellow Sunshine Baby Tomatoes - hence the yellow sauce instead of traditional red
5 Leaves of Basil Roughly Chopped
1 Clove Garlic Minced
1 Shallot Chopped
1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 pinch Sugar
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper

The How To

In Medium Sauce Pan Heat Oil, add Garlic and Shallot until clear
Add Tomatoes,  Basil, Salt, Pepper and Sugar
Cook over Medium Heat for 10 minutes

The Deets for Assembly 
Tomato Sauce prepared above
1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese
8 Slices Fresh Mozzarella
4 Large Basil Leaves

The Assembly 

Place Chicken Breasts on Baking Sheet
Top each with 2 TBS Tomato Sauce
Sprinkle with Parmesan
Top with Basil & Mozzarella
Bake at 450 for 10 Minutes

Add Cooked Whole Wheat Spaghetti to left over Tomato Sauce Top with Parmesan. Add your favorite Salad or Vegetable

Plate, Pray & Enjoy