Everyone knows about quinoa, right? Well, just in case, here's a bit of info. Quinoa is considered a superfood. It is high in protein and contains all nine essential amino acids supplements. It is an excellent source of magnesium, iron, copper,phosphorus and manganese. Also contains lysine and and B2. This seed, sometimes confused as a grain, is very good for people suffering from migraines, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart problems. In other words, it's incredibly healthy!
As part of my annual New Year's regime of becoming less sugarfied (and less judgemental), I have realised I need to vary my breakfast routine a little, otherwise by February I will be dipping into my kids' processed cereal. This one is delicious, but it takes some time to make. It may only happen on weekend mornings, because the idea of cooking something for 15 minutes on a Tuesday morning seems optimistic at best. So Saturday it will be! Sunday too.
BLUEBERRY QUINOA
2/3 cup water
3 tbsp quinoa
2 tbsp quick oats
1 tsp vanilla
1 - 1/2 tsp ground flax seeds
2 tbsp fresh or frozen blueberries*
2 little packs of stevia
Combine water and quinoa in a small pot. Cook on high until it boils. Redude heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in oats, blueberries and vanilla, cook for five minutes. Add flax and stir. Top with stevia. Have a great morning.
*The blueberries, of course, need to be addressed. For me, cooking them for five minutes is usually enough. You many also want to zap them in the microwave before adding them. I think this would work with any fruit you would use in oatmeal, such as strawberries, apples and so on.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Sunday, July 18, 2010
ASIAN COOKED SALAD MESS
Before I post anything on this blog, I like to try it out first.
I found a recipe online for a cooked salad, and thought I would like it. Asian dressing, marinated chicken, pork or shrimp. Cabbage, kale, bok choy, onion, carrots, leeks. I thought it would be a great way to get a whole lot of vegetables at once.
I couldn't wait to try it. Unfortunately due to some unforeseen events, including me forgetting for several days to marinate the shrimp in time, I didn't get to make this salad for five days after my husband went out to buy the ingredients for me. Also unfortunate was that he went to Costco to buy all these vegetables, meaning that for almost a week, a gigantic pile of kale was taking up a ridiculous amount of space in the refrigerator. It still is, as I was only making salad for myself, and I am a smallish girl, so the kale may be taking over the fridge for a while. But finally, one morning I remembered about the shrimp and marinated it for a couple of hours in a Japanese sauce.
I was very excited about making this. I haven't had a salad in many years. I had a good time chopping up all these vegetables and throwing them in the frying pan. The shrimp made a delightful whooshing noise when it hit the pan. Fabulous, right?
My brother phoned me during this whole process. He quickly became engaged in chit chat while I finished cooking. I informed him that I would be eating my lunch in his ear, because there was no way I was letting this get cold. He said it was fine...we had nothing important to talk about, it was just an "I'm bored in traffic and need someone to keep me company" kind of phone call.
So, I get all comfortable at the table, holding the phone in one hand and my fork in the other. I take a bite, and...well it is just lucky I didn't drop the phone right into the salad! It was truly awful...one of the worst things I have ever eaten, and definitely the worst thing I have ever made, and that includes the applesauce cake with the blobs of salt added after the fact (that is another story). It was excessively salty, just a dripping, gooey, soggy mess. After two bites I decided that all I could possibly eat of it was the shrimp. Of course I had to explain to my poor brother what was happening on the other end of his phone call...he offered the appropriate amount of sympathy and then quickly got off the phone. :)
Ugh. It was disappointing, to say the least. The kale is still there, along with the 12 bunches of bok choy, and two massive leeks. I have no idea what I am going to do with any of it!
I found a recipe online for a cooked salad, and thought I would like it. Asian dressing, marinated chicken, pork or shrimp. Cabbage, kale, bok choy, onion, carrots, leeks. I thought it would be a great way to get a whole lot of vegetables at once.
I couldn't wait to try it. Unfortunately due to some unforeseen events, including me forgetting for several days to marinate the shrimp in time, I didn't get to make this salad for five days after my husband went out to buy the ingredients for me. Also unfortunate was that he went to Costco to buy all these vegetables, meaning that for almost a week, a gigantic pile of kale was taking up a ridiculous amount of space in the refrigerator. It still is, as I was only making salad for myself, and I am a smallish girl, so the kale may be taking over the fridge for a while. But finally, one morning I remembered about the shrimp and marinated it for a couple of hours in a Japanese sauce.
I was very excited about making this. I haven't had a salad in many years. I had a good time chopping up all these vegetables and throwing them in the frying pan. The shrimp made a delightful whooshing noise when it hit the pan. Fabulous, right?
My brother phoned me during this whole process. He quickly became engaged in chit chat while I finished cooking. I informed him that I would be eating my lunch in his ear, because there was no way I was letting this get cold. He said it was fine...we had nothing important to talk about, it was just an "I'm bored in traffic and need someone to keep me company" kind of phone call.
So, I get all comfortable at the table, holding the phone in one hand and my fork in the other. I take a bite, and...well it is just lucky I didn't drop the phone right into the salad! It was truly awful...one of the worst things I have ever eaten, and definitely the worst thing I have ever made, and that includes the applesauce cake with the blobs of salt added after the fact (that is another story). It was excessively salty, just a dripping, gooey, soggy mess. After two bites I decided that all I could possibly eat of it was the shrimp. Of course I had to explain to my poor brother what was happening on the other end of his phone call...he offered the appropriate amount of sympathy and then quickly got off the phone. :)
Ugh. It was disappointing, to say the least. The kale is still there, along with the 12 bunches of bok choy, and two massive leeks. I have no idea what I am going to do with any of it!
JAMES AND THE GIANT MANGLED PEACH PANINI
Once upon a time, I had a little boy who ate nothing. He was the ultimate toddler fussy eater. This kid would not eat anything, not even junk food. This is a story in itself, so I will not dwell on it, but the point is, the day I got him to eat a piece of toast with peanut butter on it was, in my mind, cause for a national holiday, complete with fireworks and dancing in the streets.
Of course, his progress did not happen quickly. He went from eating peanut butter toast to bananas. One bite of a banana. The rest? No. One bite was enough for him. Now, I know a million recipes for slightly mangled bananas, it was easy to make muffins or banana bread or something. But then, he started in on peaches, and one bite was enough for that too. I suppose warped peaches could have gone into muffins as well, but I decided to send out a mass email asking my friends and family for peach recipes. This is what I got in response, it was actually the ONLY response I got from an old high school friend.
JAMES AND THE GIANT MANGLED PEACH PANINI
2 slices of whole wheat bread (currently I am using a 5-grain loaf from the Village Grocer, I know that means nothing to everyone not from U'Ville, but it is really good, I will get the name and edit this the next time I have a loaf in the house)
light cream cheese
1 slightly mangled peach (or a perfect intact, beautiful peach will work also ;) ), sliced
I like to grill the peach slices first just to be on the safe side. Just a little bit in a small frying pan does it.
Spread cream cheese on bread
Arrange grilled peach slices on top
If you have a panini press, use it. If not, you can grill this sandwich in the same little frying pan you did the peach slices in.
Words really cannot describe how yummy this is. Enjoy!
Of course, his progress did not happen quickly. He went from eating peanut butter toast to bananas. One bite of a banana. The rest? No. One bite was enough for him. Now, I know a million recipes for slightly mangled bananas, it was easy to make muffins or banana bread or something. But then, he started in on peaches, and one bite was enough for that too. I suppose warped peaches could have gone into muffins as well, but I decided to send out a mass email asking my friends and family for peach recipes. This is what I got in response, it was actually the ONLY response I got from an old high school friend.
JAMES AND THE GIANT MANGLED PEACH PANINI
2 slices of whole wheat bread (currently I am using a 5-grain loaf from the Village Grocer, I know that means nothing to everyone not from U'Ville, but it is really good, I will get the name and edit this the next time I have a loaf in the house)
light cream cheese
1 slightly mangled peach (or a perfect intact, beautiful peach will work also ;) ), sliced
I like to grill the peach slices first just to be on the safe side. Just a little bit in a small frying pan does it.
Spread cream cheese on bread
Arrange grilled peach slices on top
If you have a panini press, use it. If not, you can grill this sandwich in the same little frying pan you did the peach slices in.
Words really cannot describe how yummy this is. Enjoy!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
JULIE'S MEDITTERANEAN PIZZA
My friend Julie is a wonderful cook. She really should be making money from her skill instead of letting people like me blog about it. She is the annoying type who makes all these beautiful meals, and while you're watching her do it, it looks like the easiest thing in the world. Then when you try to do it yourself, it is an impossible, arduous task. With one exception. She showed up at a party last year with this pizza. This amazing pizza that is so easy to make.
Now why, you might be asking, am I including a pizza on this blog? That is not a meal that would generally be considered a problem, since all the toppings are cooked. The answer is, because this one is loaded with vegetables, and let's face it, that is something that is sometimes difficult to get for an OAS sufferer, and the result is sometimes just plain boring. This one is just a little different that your typical Pizza Hut fare. It is much more healthy, I would make it for anyone, including heart patients or anyone wanting to lower their cholesteral levels.
JULIE'S MEDITERANEAN PIZZA
1 pizza crust (Julie would make her own, but I cannot possibly do this, so to recommend that you do it would be laughable. If you can manage whole wheat, go for it, otherwise a regular one will do, but trust me the whole wheat one tastes so much better in this case)
1 jar of red pepper pesto
1 jar of roasted red peppers
1 jar of sliced olives
1 red onion, sliced and broken up into pretty little pieces
small broccoli florets
sliced mushrooms
feta cheese
Spread pesto on pizza crust
Top with red peppers, olives, onion, broccoli, mushrooms, and cheese.
Bake at 350 F for 10 minutes, or if you are using a store bought crust, do whatever they say on the package.
Another nice thing about this pizza is that is looks really fabulous, so when you make it, everyone thinks you bought it at one of those overpriced gourmet grocery stores. It is also good for cutting up into small pieces and taking to a party. I took it to curling once for the snack after the game and everyone was really impressed that I had made it myself. Thank you Julie!
Now why, you might be asking, am I including a pizza on this blog? That is not a meal that would generally be considered a problem, since all the toppings are cooked. The answer is, because this one is loaded with vegetables, and let's face it, that is something that is sometimes difficult to get for an OAS sufferer, and the result is sometimes just plain boring. This one is just a little different that your typical Pizza Hut fare. It is much more healthy, I would make it for anyone, including heart patients or anyone wanting to lower their cholesteral levels.
JULIE'S MEDITERANEAN PIZZA
1 pizza crust (Julie would make her own, but I cannot possibly do this, so to recommend that you do it would be laughable. If you can manage whole wheat, go for it, otherwise a regular one will do, but trust me the whole wheat one tastes so much better in this case)
1 jar of red pepper pesto
1 jar of roasted red peppers
1 jar of sliced olives
1 red onion, sliced and broken up into pretty little pieces
small broccoli florets
sliced mushrooms
feta cheese
Spread pesto on pizza crust
Top with red peppers, olives, onion, broccoli, mushrooms, and cheese.
Bake at 350 F for 10 minutes, or if you are using a store bought crust, do whatever they say on the package.
Another nice thing about this pizza is that is looks really fabulous, so when you make it, everyone thinks you bought it at one of those overpriced gourmet grocery stores. It is also good for cutting up into small pieces and taking to a party. I took it to curling once for the snack after the game and everyone was really impressed that I had made it myself. Thank you Julie!
PARTY SALSA
Who has been to a get-together and had their stomach drop the minute you walk into the room and check out the snacks? Crudite and salsa with tortilla chips, right? A night of munching away on plain, dry tortilla chips in store, right? A night of every well-meaning soul offering you raw veggies and passing you the salsa, a giving you quizzical looks every time you decline. Sometimes you feel like explaining the whole OAS thing, sometimes not.
PARTY SALSA
4 Kiwis, peeled and sliced
2 medium tomatoes, cored and randomly cut
1 jalapeno, halved and seeded (optional)
1 medium onion, sliced
1 tsp dried cilantro
1 tbsp stevia
salt
pepper
Take all the vegetables and throw them in a frying pan. Grill until softened, about five minutes or until you are satisfied with the amount of cooking.
Place everything in a blender, add cilantro and sugar, blend well.
Add salt and pepper to taste, and blend well.
Serve with tortilla chips
Enjoy being able to have at least one of the party snacks! But keep avoiding the dreaded crudite tray.
PARTY SALSA
4 Kiwis, peeled and sliced
2 medium tomatoes, cored and randomly cut
1 jalapeno, halved and seeded (optional)
1 medium onion, sliced
1 tsp dried cilantro
1 tbsp stevia
salt
pepper
Take all the vegetables and throw them in a frying pan. Grill until softened, about five minutes or until you are satisfied with the amount of cooking.
Place everything in a blender, add cilantro and sugar, blend well.
Add salt and pepper to taste, and blend well.
Serve with tortilla chips
Enjoy being able to have at least one of the party snacks! But keep avoiding the dreaded crudite tray.
AVIGNON GRILLED TOMATOES
Ever been to Europe and had that beautiful salad with the sliced tomatoes and the cheese on top, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with herbs? Oh sure, you can get it here, but it is just not the same as in a tiny hole-in-the-wall cafe somewhere in rural France. The North American tomato is a pale version of the European one, and let's not even start talking about the cheese...that would be a whole post on its own.
Not that it matters to someone with OAS. You can't have it anyway. If the tomatoes aren't burning your insides, the delicate little herbs will. Here's a fascimile, don't know if it is reasonable or not...but it is pretty good.
AVIGNON GRILLED TOMATOES
4 plum tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
1/4 cup olive oil or Italian dressing
1/2 shredded mozzerella cheese
2 tbsp fresh grated parmesan (please do not use the pre-shredded crap in a can!)
dried herbs - basil, chives, parsley, oregano, or there is an Italian blend one that will work well
This should be done on the barbeque, but you could bake them in the oven if it is January and you are having a craving for summer.
Place tomatoes on the grill, face side down, brown and turn once. This should be adequate, but if you are not sure, keep turning a few times.
Get a foil covered pan and put the tomatoes on it, the insides facing up.
Drizzle with olive oil or dressing.
Sprinkle with cheeses.
Close the barbeque and grill for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Dress with herbs immediately before serving.
I have made these for parties and they are always a huge hit...I never make enough of them, so they become sought after commodities. I apologise to the city of Avignon for using their name, I'm sure every last one of the people there would be appalled, but that is the last place I had the original salad. Sur le pont d'Avignon and all that. :)
Not that it matters to someone with OAS. You can't have it anyway. If the tomatoes aren't burning your insides, the delicate little herbs will. Here's a fascimile, don't know if it is reasonable or not...but it is pretty good.
AVIGNON GRILLED TOMATOES
4 plum tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
1/4 cup olive oil or Italian dressing
1/2 shredded mozzerella cheese
2 tbsp fresh grated parmesan (please do not use the pre-shredded crap in a can!)
dried herbs - basil, chives, parsley, oregano, or there is an Italian blend one that will work well
This should be done on the barbeque, but you could bake them in the oven if it is January and you are having a craving for summer.
Place tomatoes on the grill, face side down, brown and turn once. This should be adequate, but if you are not sure, keep turning a few times.
Get a foil covered pan and put the tomatoes on it, the insides facing up.
Drizzle with olive oil or dressing.
Sprinkle with cheeses.
Close the barbeque and grill for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.
Dress with herbs immediately before serving.
I have made these for parties and they are always a huge hit...I never make enough of them, so they become sought after commodities. I apologise to the city of Avignon for using their name, I'm sure every last one of the people there would be appalled, but that is the last place I had the original salad. Sur le pont d'Avignon and all that. :)
Thursday, July 8, 2010
GOOD MORNING OATMEAL
GOOD MORNING! This is what I am eating for breakfast these days. Not only is it providing some fruit, but it is causing me to drop pounds...a nice little bonus! :) Oatmeal is also excellent for anyone who needs to lower their cholesterol levels.
Summer Oatmeal
2/3 cup water
1/3 cup quick cooking oatmeal ( I am using Quaker 1 minute)
strawberries, many, many strawberries, cut up
1 scoop of vanilla whey powder
2 tbsp of ground flax seeds
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
two little coffee sized packages of stevia
cinnamon
Cook oatmeal according to package directions
When oatmeal is boiling, throw in the strawberries, stir, and let them boil. They will actually maintain their shape quite well
Turn the heat down a bit and add the whey powder and ground flax seeds, stir well
Add vanilla extract and stir well.
After the oatmeal is in the bowl, sprinkle with stevia and cinnamon.
I never thought I would like a breakfast such as this, but now I am lying in bed waiting for it. I also tried it with blueberries, and it worked fine, but made the overall dish look grey, which was not appetizing. Would also be really good with apples in the fall.
Summer Oatmeal
2/3 cup water
1/3 cup quick cooking oatmeal ( I am using Quaker 1 minute)
strawberries, many, many strawberries, cut up
1 scoop of vanilla whey powder
2 tbsp of ground flax seeds
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
two little coffee sized packages of stevia
cinnamon
Cook oatmeal according to package directions
When oatmeal is boiling, throw in the strawberries, stir, and let them boil. They will actually maintain their shape quite well
Turn the heat down a bit and add the whey powder and ground flax seeds, stir well
Add vanilla extract and stir well.
After the oatmeal is in the bowl, sprinkle with stevia and cinnamon.
I never thought I would like a breakfast such as this, but now I am lying in bed waiting for it. I also tried it with blueberries, and it worked fine, but made the overall dish look grey, which was not appetizing. Would also be really good with apples in the fall.
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