Tip Of The Day: Cooking Chick Peas

Chick Peas are a healthy addition to your diet. Cooking them yourself vs. purchasing them in the can is much healthier, no preservatives and you control the sodium ;)

The Tip Of The Day: Don't Cook Chick Peas With Salt, It Makes Them Tough!

Soak Chick Peas over night in water. This helps them cook faster.

Add some aromatics to the water, onion quartered, and a bay leaf.

Cover with water and cook until tender. Peas are done when you can squish them.

1/2 cup green olives pitted and slice

2 garlic cloves chopped

1 lemon - zest lemon set aside, reserve juice

Salt

Fresh ground pepper

Fresh parsley

Saute garlic in olive oil for a minute or so, add chick peas and mash with potato masher, heat through, add olives, lemon zest, lemon juice from 1/2 lemon, salt, pepper and fresh parsley.

Serve.

Easy Basil Oil

Basil oil can be used in every one's caprese salads, drizzled over grilled fish and seafood, bruschetta the list is endless......

Ingredients:

1 Cup olive oil

1/4 Cup packed fresh basil

Add oil and basil to a blender, season with salt and pepper, blend until smooth, drain into small pitcher if needed.

Caprese Salad:

Slice fresh mozzarella and fresh tomatoes arrange on a platter alternating slices in a circle. Drizzle with basil oil and some balsamic vinegar. Serve.

Grilled shrimp:

Marinate shrimp with minced garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Grill. Drizzle with basil oil. Serve.

Happy Cooking ;)

Quick and Easy Healthy Chicken Stir Fry

In a hurry to make dinner and not a lot of time to do it or are you tired? If so here is a quick and easy recipe any one can do with any meat and veggies on hand.

Here I've whipped up a quick chicken stir fry. In my new handy dandy wok which I love by Nordic Ware provided to us by CSN Stores.

Ingredients:

• Two large chicken breasts sliced thin
• One stalk celery sliced 1/2" thick on an angle
• One large carrot sliced 1/2" thick on an angle
• Two handfuls whole french green beans
• Two scallions (green onions) sliced on an angle
• Two cups cooked whole wheat thin spaghetti noodles
• One large clove garlic, chopped
• Low Sodium Soy Sauce
• 1/2 cup cold water or cold chicken broth
• Corn Starch
• Salt
• Pepper

You can add more or less vegetables: mushrooms, fennel, kayle, ginger etc...

Marinate the chicken slices in two tablespoons low sodium soy sauce while you are slicing up the veggies.

Add one tablespoon olive oil to wok and heat.

Season chicken with salt and pepper add to heated wok, let sit a minute to lightly brown and then turn and cook through. Remove from wok and place in a covered dish, set aside.

Add a dash more oil to wok and add the veggies. Season with salt and pepper. Cook veggies until almost tender but with a bit of a crunch for that "fresh taste".

Mix in a small bowl one tablespoon cornstarch, two tablespoons low sodium soy sauce and 1/2 cup cold water or cold chicken broth, set aside.

Add cooked chicken, whole wheat noodles and veggies to the wok toss to combine and heat, add corn starch soy mixture, toss to combine until thickened (if too thick add a little more broth or water a little at a time).

Remove to serving platter and enjoy.

Serves (2) healthy size servings.

Happy Cooking :)

Healthy Heart Smart Oatmeal For Breakfast

Are you looking for a healthier version of breakfast for you or your children? Well it's probably sitting in your cupboard as you are sitting here reading this post.

Oatmeal

Yes the Old Fashion Oats that you use for cookies! Forget the little flavored packages that need 1/2 cup of hot water. Have you read the ingredients in those? You may want to. Oatmeal has so many health benefits as well as keeping you fuller longer.

I make Old Fashion Oats for my kids. Make per instructions on the box. That Simple.

Here is Karen B's recipe:

Ingredients:

1 Cup Old Fashion Oats (not instant)

2 Cups Water

1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

Tiny pinch of Salt (optional)

Pat of Butter

Honey

Bring water to a boil, add Oats and reduce heat to low, add cinnamon and vanilla. Stir. Cover and cook five minutes until Oats are tender but not mushy.

Ladle into serving bowls, top with a pat of butter and locally grown honey ;)

You can also add raisins, nuts and berries.

Tip: Purchasing locally harvested honey is very important. It is known to help with seasonal allergies because the bees harvest honey from flowers in your area. If your area has orange blossoms your local honey bees will produce honey with from the orange blossoms which is a benefit to you.

If you purchase honey from California and you live in Michigan the honey won't help. Purchasing honey locally will also help your local economy.

Enjoy ;)

Quick and Easy Healthy Baby Mixed Greens and Salmon Salad

You can throw this salad together in just minutes!

It is so healthy for you 1/2 can of Salmon is about 40 calories, 1.5g fat (the good one) and 6g protein. Go ahead and it tastes great too!

Ingredients:

• Organic mixed baby greens
• Natural canned salmon in natural juices
• Grape tomatoes (halved)
• Blueberries
• Nuts (optional)
• Seedless English cucumbers (sliced)
• Balsamic vinegar
• Olive Oil

Wash and dry your greens toss into a mixing bowl, toss in the salmon, tomatoes, blueberries, nuts, and cumbers, toss.

Drizzle with Balsamic vinegar and Olive Oil, season with very little salt and pepper.

Amazingly tasty :)

Happy Cooking!

Easy Homemade Ravioli In Just Minutes!

Tip of the day:

Do you love Ravioli? But just don't care to take the time to make it? Well, here is a recipe that will knock your socks off quick and easy!

Go to the market in the speciality section and grab a package of "wonton wrappers". Yes, wonton wrappers!

Using 2 wonton wrappers at a time (cover the rest of the wrappers with a damp paper towel to prevent them from drying out) spoon 1 tablespoon or so of your favorite filling in the center of the first wrapper. Wet the edges of both wrappers with water and place the second wrapper over the top of the first wrapper. Press the edges together or pinch with your fingers or the back side of a fork to get a good seal.

Cook in lightly boiling water a few at a time for about 2 minutes until tender. Remove w/slotted spoon.

Serve with your favorite olive oil and herbs or a great marinara sauce!

Enjoy!

Sesame Crusted Seared Ahi Tuna Steak With Honey Soy Glaze

This seared tuna dish literally takes about six minutes to cook! You blink and it's done and ready to plate.

Serve the Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna on top some baby mixed greens drizzled with Honey Soy Glaze sauce paired along side some Soy and Pea Risotto (or rice cooked with soy sauce and frozen peas will work) and your meal is fit for a King or two!

Ingredients:

• One Ahi Tuna Steak
• Soy Sauce
• Sesame Seeds - Toasted
• Sesame Oil
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• Wasabi (optional)

Because the soy sauce has so much sodium I skip the salt all together. If you feel you need or want it use sea salt when you pepper the Tuna Steak.

Prepare your side dishes in advance along with setting the table and pouring the wine. You want to be prepared to cook, plate and serve your Tuna in under 10 minutes.

Pour 1/2 Cup Soy Sauce into dish just large enough to fit the Tuna Steak.

Prepare the Tuna patting dry and rub with lots of fresh ground pepper (salt optional).

Lay Tuna into pan with soy sauce flipping once to coat both sides. Turn every ten minutes. I do this for about 20 - 30 minutes prior to cooking bringing the Tuna to room temperature.

Tip: you can do this step in advance keeping it in the refrigerator, turning every so often.

If you didn't purchase "toasted" sesame seeds toast them while the fish is marinating. Just toss into a dry pan and heat over medium heat, stirring until they become a nice light brown toasted color. Don't walk away, they will burn in a second!

When every thing is prepared, wine is poured.... dredge your Tuna into the toasted sesame seeds on both sides. Set aside on a plate.

Pour soy marinade and three tablespoons honey into a small sauce pan, heat on med to med high heat to reduce slightly and thicken the sugar from the honey. Cook for about the same time you cook the Tuna. When it starts to bubble foam like bubbles remove from heat.

Heat a stainless steel pan (not non-stick, you are not supposed to heat those on high temperatures!) drizzle in about 3 tablespoons sesame oil, just before the oil starts to smoke place your Tuna steak into the very hot oil.

It will make a searing sound and a grand show of steam with smoke, don't be alarmed, you want it nice and browned in a short amount of time.

Cook the Tuna for about 3 minutes on each side depending on how you like it cooked. We have cooked the tuna here rare with a nice sear. You can gage the wellness by looking at the side of the fillet while cooking.

Remove the Seared Tuna and place on top mixed baby greens. With a spoon drizzle the soy honey glaze over the Tuna and greens.

Serve immediately!

Enjoy!

Mashed Potato's With Herbs And Sweet Potato's

Sweet Potato's are the much healthier potato to eat. Not everyone likes Sweet Potato's. My Family is actually starting to enjoy them more and more.

Here is a great recipe to help jump start your Family to start eating healthier.

Mashed Potato's with Herbs and Sweet Potato's are just as easy to do as plain mashed potato's.

Ingredients:

• Yukon Gold Potato's (one per person)
• Sweet Potato's (one per person)
• Two Tablespoons Fresh Chives (chopped)
• Two Tablespoons Fresh Flat Leaf Italian Parsley (chopped)
• Salt
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• Three table spoons Butter
• Milk

Wash all the potato's.

Peel the Sweet Potato's (and the white ones if you prefer, I leave the skins on).

Cut all the potatoes into 1 - 1/2 in square pieces.

Place potatoes into large sauce pan and just cover with water. Bring to boil reduce to simmer until just fork tender. Don't over cook or they will turn to mush.

Drain in colander.

Place butter into hot sauce pan and melt. Add 1/2 Cup Milk and heat, season with salt, Pepper, Chives and Parsley.

Add Potato's back into sauce pan and toss together, just enough to mix well and heat (you can add more milk a little at a time if needed)

Serve.

This recipe is also great for left overs, just reheat in the microwave!

Let me know what your family thinks ;)

Enjoy!

Anti Tummy Bloat Cucumber Lemon Ginger Water

Instead of drinking diet soda's or just plain old water here is a drink that is healthy, all natural and actually tastes great!

Anti Tummy Bloat Water is easy to make and all the ingredients are in your refrigerator. Drink for a couple days before any big event to help get rid of tummy bloating. Or drink it anytime, why not, it's good for you ;)

Ingredients:

• Lemon Slices
• Cucumber Slices
• Shredded Ginger
• Fresh Spearmint Leaves
• Water

Combine all ingredients into a pitcher and fill with water. Place in refrigerator to chill.

You will find this so refreshing it's like going to the spa!

Enjoy!