freshly ground wheat flour

I'm so excited to start grinding my own flour.  Here are some articles to get you started on why it's better to grind your own flour and why store-bought wheat flour/bread (which I have been consuming all my life) may not be that nutritious.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Grind-flour

http://www.healthbanquet.com/fresh-milled-flour.html

http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/category/grains-and-grain-mills

Just have to get a grinder and then I'm on my way to making healthier homemade breads more often!  Christmas present anyone?

dover sole

fish fish fish.  I love fish!  I got very fresh Dover sole fillets from the market and cooked these with green beans and brown rice for a light and delicious meal!  Look how beautiful these fillets are!  (still uncooked in this photo)

I love almost any type of white fish, especially sole and trout.  For an easy and super quick way to cook white fish that always turns out great, melt 1 tbsp. butter in a non-stick pan.  Add your washed off fillets of fish and salt and pepper the fillets.  Sautee for a few minutes on each side (fish cooks fast) until opaque (no longer translucent looking) and add some fresh lemon juice (from 1/4 lemon).  Also, add a splash (~1/4 cup) white wine if you have it!  Serve on a plate with a slice of lemon and whatever sides you desire.

YUMMO!!  You can see how delicate sole is because it fell apart a bit!  That's OK though because it still tastes fantastic.  Stay tuned for my yummy broiled and brown sugar/butter glazed salmon and baked white fish recipes.

For this dinner I made brown rice and green beans.  The brown rice I have takes 45min.  I started thinking early on what I wanted for dinner so I started the rice early.  It's important to think about a timeline before you start cooking if you want dinner in a timely manner.  Here's how I made this dinner.

6pm- start rice (follow package instructions)
6:15- start heating water for green beans (want enough water to just cover green beans)
6:20- start green beans (these take 20minutes to cook in boiling water in an uncovered pot)
6:40- green beans are done, turn off heat and strain until about 1" water is left (just to keep beans hot).  Start cooking fish.
6:45- rice is done, turn off heat and fluff rice with spoon/fork.  Fish should be done.

I think timing comes with practice.  Please comment if you'd like to continue seeing dinner timelines.

basic Indian curry

I made this in a jiffy and did not include all ingredients that a curry typically has (cumin, coconut milk, etc.).  I added some oil (1 tbsp.) to a non-stick pan.  Then, I cut 3 red potatoes into 12 chunks each and tossed these in the pan and cooked with stirring occasionally for ~8 minutes.  Next, I added in 3 sliced carrots and sauteed for another ~8 minutes (until both were almost cooked through).  Also, I added salt and pepper to the veggies.  Then, I pushed them aside and cooked a chicken breast cut into chunks in the other half of the pan until cooked through ~6 minutes (time depends on size of pieces.  just cut one open to check for no more pink).  Then, I added 1-2 tbsp. yellow curry and a pinch of ginger and sauteed for a minute.  Next, I added ~3/4 cup water and a splash of left over cream.  I cooked it all for another minute or so. 

Put it in a bowl and topped it with fresh chopped parsley (wouldn't recommend this next time.  turns out the flavors don't mesh that well). 

I thought this dish was bland, but my hubby loved it (he loves anything).  Next time I would follow an authentic Indian curry recipe!  This was a healthy dish though with good ingredients:)

snack mix

Healthier than store bought trail mix (contains much less sodium, no preservatives, and dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate).  Yummier too!

Mix together:
salted pretzels (I like Snyder's of Hanover minis)
raisins
dark chocolate
unsalted nuts (walnuts, pecans, cashews, almonds)

The salt on the pretzels is plenty to add some saltiness to the mix.  Alternatively, you could buy unsalted pretzels and one type of salted nuts (i.e. salted cashews and the rest unsalted).  Store in an airtight container for a couple of weeks.  Pretzels may not remain super crispy, probably due to some moisture from the raisins/nuts. 

hamburger foil wraps

Delicious and soooo easy!  You can easily adjust all ingredients (i.e. add zucchini or bell pepper or use ground turkey) and ingredient amounts (to make more or less foil wraps).  Here's a recipe for 4 hamburger foil wraps.

Slice 3 medium sized Russet potatoes (there are many different kinds of potatoes and you can use whichever you like best, but I like Russet or red potatoes for this) as thin and uniformly as you can (so they can cook quickly and for the same amount of time).

Slice 3 large carrots in thin and uniform slices.

Slice 1 medium onion (I like white onions for this) in thin strips.

Pile potatoes, then carrots, then onions in the center of a piece of aluminum foil (about 12"x12" square of foil).  Add a small slice of butter (~1/4 tbsp.) and salt and pepper.  Split all veggies between the 4 pieces of foil.

Next, add a patty of hamburger.  Four foil wraps will require ~1 to 1.5 lbs. of ground beef.  I was a little short this time around, so the patties look small.  Salt and pepper the meat.  Place on top of the veggies.

Grab two sides of foil and fold together.  It may be tough to fold the sides together, but just be somewhat forceful.  If the foil seems like it's going to rip, you need a larger piece of foil. 

Then, roll the ends in.

Repeat with a second piece of foil so that juices do not leak in the oven.



Place hamburger foil wraps on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.  

When done, be careful opening up the wrap as it will be hot and steamy!  You may need to use a couple of forks.  Once done, the veggies will be soft and delicous and meat well done. 

Place foil wrap on a plate and serve with ketchup and maybe a salad or bread.  Delicous!  And EASY cleanup!  Wad up the leftovers and toss in the garbage.  These foil wraps are great for camping.  They can be cooked on the grill with turning every 10-15 minutes.

For dessert:
blueberries and stawberries with fresh whipped cream

homemade pizza!!!

The easiest pizza dough you will ever make, one without yeast and rising time!  This will for sure remain a tradition in our home.  We had some friends over tonight and it was great fun making this with them.

Mix together 2 cups flour (one cup wheat and one cup white is good.  all wheat won't work that well), 2 tsp. baking powder, 1/8 tsp. salt.  Then, add 1/4 olive oil and 2/3 cup milk. 

Mix with fork until ball forms.

Place ball on floured surface and knead a few times until you form a smooth ball.  To see the fold over-palm press down kneading method, check out this video:  http://youtu.be/dWj8oHMPFm0 Next, roll out the dough until you form about a 11"x14" rectangle.  Dough should be thin, about 1/8" thick.  It's best to place the rolling pin in the middle of the dough and press firmly in an outward motion.  Repeat this while constantly turning the dough and re-flouring your surface so that the dough does not stick.  Transfer rolled out dough to a baking sheet (ungreased). Fold over edges and press down firmly to form crust.  If you don't press down firmly, your crust will open up while baking.

Spread your favorite tomato sauce in a thin layer (we like Prego Heart Smart).  One pizza probably takes ~3/4 cup sauce (I never measure).  You can add as little or as much as you like.



Next, add cheese (~2 cups for one pizza) and your favorite toppings!  Meat should go down before veggies.

before:

after:

I carefully shake the whole pizza off of the cookie sheet and onto a cutting board so that I don't mark up the baking sheet when slicing the pizza.  I cut it into 12 squares.  Enjoy with a nice green salad or by itself.  Great as left overs, just heat in the microwave or oven or eat cold!

For dessert:
Strawberry shortcakes with fresh whipped cream.
 

not sure why this picture keeps rotating on me

Whipped cream:
1 cup whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla
1-2 tbsp. sugar
In cold bowl (place in freezer 10-15 min. prior to whipping) whip cream until peaks form.  Add vanila and sugar and beat a minute longer.

chicken, red potatoes, green beans

I was tired of pan grilled, baked, and roasted chicken, so I decided to bread it this time.  Usually I would do 4 coats of egg, flour, milk, and breadcrumbs, in that order, but I only had flour and milk.  Still turned out great!  Cut a chicken breast into small strips, toss in milk, then toss in flour with salt and pepper mixed in.

 Place strips in pan with heated oil (coconut oil is best) and let brown (do not touch/move) for a few minutes, then turn over and cook for another few minutes (until cooked through).  The trick is to not touch them during the cooking process except for turning them over and then the breading turns out perfect!  See....

I boiled some red potatoes (you can cut them in halves or quarters to quicken the process)

and heated up some left over green beans.  This dinner took 15 minutes.  Making dinner at home is so quick if you have the ingredients or can think of something to make with the ingredients you have:)

And, Breyer's all natural chocolate ice cream with pecans for dessert!!

coconut oil

I'm switching to using coconut oil more often than butter and canola oil for sure!

YOU NEED to read this article!

Dr. Mercola discusses benefits of coconut oil 

Main points:

1. coconut oil contains lauric acid which gets converted into monolaurin which "has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-protozoa properties"

2. coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) which are easier to digest and use as energy than long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) found in most vegetable or seed oils

3. coconut oil is high in saturated fat, but not all saturated fats are created equal.  (trans fats are artificial saturated fats and are not good...think margarine)

4. good for your skin

5. better for cooking (olive oil is best in dressings and drizzled over pasta, not for cooking.  vegetable oil is worst for cooking...who knew?!)

clams, mussels, fish, and shrimp in tomato broth

A delicious wannabe cioppino recipe edited from Giada's version.  I simmered clams, mussels, white roughy, and shrimp (separately because my dad is allergic) in a tomato-dry white wine broth.  Make sure to buy clams and mussels that have not opened up when at the store because these are bad.  When you get home, scrub the clams and mussels well and debeard the mussels.  Wash off the shrimp and fish well too.  Leave the tails on the shrimp, but remove the outer skin layer.  First you add some olive oil to the bottom of a large pot, saute some garlic, a bay leaf, and some red pepper flakes (however much you want) for a minute.  Then add about a cup of dry white wine and bring to a boil.  Stir in a 28oz. can of diced tomatoes (I would use crushed tomatoes next time for a richer, thicker broth) and simmer for about 5 minutes until the tomatoes start to break down.  Add clams (10-20), cover and simmer for 5 minutes.  Add mussels (10-20), cover and simmer another few minutes until all clams and mussels open.  If some do not, they are bad; throw them out.

Then, I removed the mussels and clams and put them in a large bowl and covered it with foil.  I added a nice large fillet of white roughy to the tomato broth and simmered until it was cooked through, about 5 minutes.

I cooked the shrimp on the side in some of the broth for a couple of minutes until they were no longer opaque.

Add some fresh, chopped basil to the pans toward the end (~1/2 cup). 

I am a HUGE fan of cioppino and this was a very similar dish.  Next time I will try cioppino (has a richer, tastier broth).  Serve this with warm crusty bread and a side vegetable (we had green beans).  yummo! as Rachel would say:)  I made this dinner in about 20 minutes (green beans take ~20 minutes to cook in boiling salted water) and it cost $20-25 (not including wine) and serves 3-4 people.  Very affordable!

pork, sweet potato, broccoli

I always strive to have a protein, starch or grain, and veggie (and often times a fruit as well) in a dinner. 

protein:
I browned boneless pork chops in a nonstick pan.  If your nonstick pan is in good shape, you do not need any oil in the bottom of the pan because the meat won't stick too bad.  For most of my cooking I use Calphalon stainless steal cookware because I'm not sure how much I trust that the nonstick surface of a pan is not slowly dispersing into our food, but for browning meats, a non-stick pan is perfect.  The pork chops were about a 1/2" thick and took ~3-5 minutes on either side, or until they were no longer pink in the middle.  I sprinkled on some freshly ground pepper on each side (didn't add salt because I added a sauce later). You always want to let your meat rest on a plate covered in foil for ~8 minutes so that the juices can redistriubute throughout the meat.  However, I sometimes skip this step when in a hurry.

starch:
Sweet potato is the easiest starch you will ever make!  Wash the skin off, pat dry, make some cuts on the top of the potato, plop it on a plate, and microwave until fork tender.  This potato took 5 minutes.  (you can also oven roast them at 375 degrees for about an hour)

My hubby and I like to eat them plain, but a little butter, salt, and pepper is good too.  It took me only a few months to learn how to eat starch/veggies without salt.  They are so flavorful and rich on their own once you get your tastebuds unaccustomed to the massive amounts of salt added to most foods these days (especially at restaurants). 

veggie:
I made broccoli with garlic butter and cashews.  If you are tired of plain or cheese-topped broccoli, try this recipe!  You'll love it!  I got it from here:  http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/broccoli-with-garlic-butter-and-cashews/Detail.aspx.  However, I only made sauce for 2 small heads of broccoli.  I melted a little less than a tablespoon of butter in a pan, added 1 clove garlic (pressed), 2 teaspoons of soy sauce (low sodium kind), 1 teaspoon brown sugar, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, and some cashews.  I did not add any salt to the water when boiling the broccoli because there is enough salt in the sauce.  However, when making broccoli plain, I usually add some salt to the water. 

and voila!  You have dinner in 15 minutes. (if doing things simultaneously)

Here I added a little homemade BBQ sauce on top of my pork chop (50:50 mix of ketchup and soy sauce).  I try to not eat condiments these days due to their high salt content, preservatives, and other unknown ingredients.  However. ketchup and soy sauce will probably remain in my fridge.

dessert:
If you please:)  I do! (most of the time, unfortunately)

These are dark chocolate walnut toffee bars.  Recipe is on the back of a Diamond walnut bag.  They are delicious!  If you have a sweet tooth, these are a healthier option than say oreos (yucky processed junk) or brownies because they have less sugar and more butter (getting a little more fat in my diet as opposed to sugar is OK with me because fats fill me up longer and give me less headaches) and have some healthy fats in the walnuts and antioxidants in the dark chocolate (milk chocolate has no nutritional value).  However, if you can live without desserts, by all means do because it does not add any nutrion to our diet.  I read on an M.D.'s (Joy Bauer) blog once that a person with a 2000 calorie/day diet should be getting ~32 grams of sugar per day.  Maybe that does not sound like a lot, but if you weighed that on a scale you would be disgusted!  Sugar from fruits, veggies, and milk do not count because those occur naturally and pair with key nutrients naturally.  I can of coke has ~45 grams of sugar.  There's your added sugar for the day.  Better not have anything else loaded with sugar!  That should be reason enough for all soda drinkers to stop!  I don't believe diet soda is much better...who knows what those fake sugars are doing to our bodies.  Anyway, that's my rant about sugar.  I try to stick to one treat per day (and it's hard!).