My Valentine Goodies

I made these on Valentine Goodies for My son's teachers at Montessori and a scrumptious Hazelnut Cheesecake for the Hubby =) Just thought I should post the pics since I didn't get a chance earlier with this horrible flu season we have been battling. Chocolate and Peanut Cookies: Chocolate chip cookies: Hazelnut Cheesecake:

Spinach and Egg Bagelwich

I love making breakfast items, and this is one of my favorite and filling breakfast foods: The Spinach and Egg with pepper jack cheese Bagelwich. That's right folks, a bagel (an onion one at that) turned into a sandwich for breakfast. This recipe is for two people, and one bagelwich per person: 3 eggs whisked with a pinch of salt, a pinch of cayenne pepper, and red chilli pepper flakes about 1 tsp. whisk all of this together in a bowl and pour over a pan that's on medium high heat with a tbsp of olive oil. Then after a minute or so, add fresh baby spinach leaves. then using your awesome skills that i know you have, flip the entire omelet over for the other side to be cooked. once done, fold in half and cut down the middle. once your bagel has been toasted (if you prefer), spread a thin layer of cream cheese on both sides, put the spinach omelet on bottom half and top with a slice of pepper jack cheese. place the top back on and Enjoy!! =)

Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Spicy Black Bean Stuffed Peppers (serves 2) 2 small peppers- any kind you’d like 1/2 medium sized onion, diced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 TBSP olive oil 1, 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed 1/4 cup water 2 tsp cumin 2 tsp chili powder 1/2 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tsp salt pinch cayenne pepper for a little heat 1/2 cup sweet corn 1/2 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese, or any cheese you like fresh cilantro, salsa, and sour cream for serving Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut a slit through the entire length of each of your peppers. Place them on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes, until the skins are softened and beginning to blister. Heat olive oil in a small saucepan set over medium heat. Add your onion and saute for 3 minutes, until beginning to soften and turn translucent. Add garlic and stir constantly for 30 seconds, until fragrant. Stir in your black beans along with the water. Add your cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt, and cayenne. Stir, cover the pot, reduce the heat to low and simmer the beans for at least 15 minutes, but up to 30 minutes. Stir in corn. Divide the bean mixture evenly among the two peppers and sprinkle with cheese. Broil for 3 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling. Garnish with fresh cilantro, salsa, and sour cream if you’d like.

Pot Roast over Mashed Potatoes

Pot Roast in slow cooker: Salt and pepper the beef cubes and sprinkle with flour. Sear the meat on all sides in pan with little oil. Chop two carrots Two celery And one onion. Place veggies on the bottom of slow cooker. Then place beef cubes on top of veggies. Pour 16 oz. of beef broth on top 1 cup of water 1 Tbsp garlic 2 Tbsp Worcester sauce 2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper. And some fresh thyme and rosemary. cover and Cook in slow cooker for 4 hrs on high you can make roast veggies as a sides too if desired. I chose to make mashed potatoes to have on the bottom of the pot roast as seen in the picture. Roasted veggies: 3 turnips 2 potatoes 2 carrots And 1 onion All chopped roughly. Put in a bowl with fresh rosemary and thyme, 1 tsp of each finely chopped. 2 Tbsp olive oil. Salt and pepper. Bake at 400 for 30 mins. To make the gravy, put the bottom veggies and liquid from the slow cooker (once completely cooked) in a blender and season with salt if you desire. Pour the blended mixture in a gravy bowl.

Strawberry Shortcakes

Strawberry Shortcake For whipped cream: Half cup heavy cream And tablespoon of sugar with a teaspoon of vanilla. Beat in mixer on high until whip forms. For Shortcakes: Chop one and a half really cold sticks of butter. 2 cups flour 2 Tbsp Sugar 1 tbsp Baking powder 1 tsp Salt Sift into bowl. Put butter and flour mixture into mixer and mix on medium. Then add half a cup of heavy cream and two eggs mixture to the flour mixture in mixer. Flour the counter Dough will be sticky. Use flour to make into good dough. Roll dough out and cut out biscuits. Put one egg and 2 tablespoons of water in bowl, whisk and brush tops. Sprinkle tops with sugar. Bake 400 for 15-20 mins. Strawberries: Slice strawberries about 3 cups. Add 1/3 cup sugar. Mix and leave alone for masquerading. Then assemble as seen in picture:

Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches Cake In a bowl mix: 1.5 cups flour 1 Tbsp baking powder Then Beat four egg whites in mixer Until frothy Keep machine on and add 1.5 cups sugar until a peak Then Add one yolk at a time. (4) Then add flour in portions: 1/2 now Then add a cup of whole milk And rest of flour mixture Don't over mix!! Butter and flour a cake pan and add parchment paper. Add batter. Bake at 350 for 30 mins. While baking do this: In a bowl add a can condensed milk One can of evaporated milk 1 cup heavy whipping cream Mix together well Invert the cake. Let it cool. Poke holes in the cake Pour the milk mixture on top. Let it cool in fridge. Then Frost the cake and decorate as you wish =)

Baked Salmon in Parchment Paper

I love cooking in Parchment paper, the clean up is a cinch!! Baked Salmon in Parchment Paper with Lemon slices and Squash. Lay out the paper big enough to be folded over the salmon and squash. Place slices of squash on the bottom. Sprinkle with salt. Then lay slices of lemon on top. Then place the salmon on top of the lemon slices, sprinkle with salt, lemon pepper, and garlic powder. Wrap up the parchment paper. Bake at 350 F for about 6-8 mins. Or until done. Enjoy!!

Superbowl Menu

Ok so these are not exactly on the healthy side, but the Superbowl only occurs once a year =)

Gajar Ka Halwa (Sweet Carrot Dish)

I grated organic carrots about 5-6. Then in melted butter, I add a tablespoon of organic coconut oil, I cooked them releasing the carrots moisture for about 30 mins. Stirring often. Then once a golden orange color, I added 1.5 cups of heavy cream. (I know with how much I talk about eating healthy, the heavy cream certainly isn't but it's for the richness). Then I cook that for about 4-5 minutes until the heavy cream has been absorbed by the carrots. Then I add one cup of granulated sugar and 1/2 cup of light brown sugar with 1 tsp of cardamom powder . Cook that for about 10 minutes or more. Until you feel comfortable with the color and texture. Sorry it was my first time so I don't know how to explain it well. Then once the sugars have caramelized quite a bit and the halwa looks like its coming together well, I add 2 tablespoons of Nido and stir well then I add 1/4 cup of raisins that have been soaking in warm water. Stir it all together and plate. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios and sliced almonds. It takes over an hour to make but it's really good

Nandos Chicken Sandwich

I love this Sandwich!! And so does the Hubby!! Nandos Chicken: 2 Chicken Breast clean of fat and skin salt and pepper Nandos Peri Peri Medium sauce Wheat Toast Lettuce Tomatoes Grilled Onions Grilled Bell Peppers lite Mayo Season the chicken breast with salt and pepper. Grill until juicy and cooked through. Brush on Nandos Peri Peri sauce on both sides of the chicken. Assemble the chicken sandwich. Enjoy!! I pared this up with sweet potato baked fries. (season with salt, cayenne pepper, garlic powder and olive oil).

Maple Glazed Salmon with Brown Rice and Quinoa

Maple Glazed Salmon: 4 fillets of fresh Wild Alaskan Salmon: (Don't buy farm fresh Salmon as it's not the same as Wild Alaskan Salmon.) 1 tsp. paprika 1/2 tsp. chili powder 1/2 tsp. ground ancho chile powder 1/4 tsp. ground cumin 1/4 tsp. brown sugar 1 tsp. salt 2 Tbsp. maple syrup *You can keep this spice mixture in an airtight container and use it on meats such as chicken and fish. Preheat the broiler Combine the first 6 ingredients; rub the spice mixture evenly over both sides of the fillets. Place the fish on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray; broil for 6 minutes or until desired doneness. Brush fillets evenly with maple syrup; broil for 1 minute. Brown Rice & Quinoa: Follow box instructions. Add slices of avocados for some green and richness. Enjoy!!!

Grilled Chicken with Brussels Sprouts & Brown Rice Quinoa

This is one of my favorite dishes, especially when I'm craving carbs. We all need carbs because its what gives us energy to burn fat. Consuming brown rice with quinoa is the best way and it's easy!!! Grilled Chicken: 2 chicken breast: 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice 1 tsp olive oil salt and pepper 1/2 tsp. dried oregano 1/2 tsp. dried rosemary 1/4 tsp. cayenne powder mix spices in a bowl to make a paste and rub chicken breast. Be sure to clean the chicken breast of any fat and skin. Grill at 375 for 6-7 mins until done and juicy. Don't over cook otherwise the chicken will be quite dry. Brussels Sprouts: Steam Brussel Sprouts until done, make a garlic and olive oil sauce with a sprinkle of salt. Toss the veggies in a bowl with this sauce. Brown Rice and Quinoa: I found this at my local grocery store, it had a mixture of Brown rice and quinoa. I tried it and fell in love with it!! I believe it is by Far East. But it's an easy alternative to making it yourself from the same ingredients. Enjoy!!

Grilled Chicken & Steamed Broccoli

Hello My Food Lovers!!! I'm sorry I've been wrapped around my books and family here in the past few weeks and it's caused me to post these recipes late. This here is my version of a healthy lunch or dinner. Notice that there are no carbs just protein and greens. It's what I like to call Lean and Green. Honestly, I started eating healthier because I wanted to feel like my old self again. The stamina I had when I was still carrying around that baby weight was just bringing me down so I decided to change my diet, control my cravings and hit the gym. I gotta say, it worked!! I'm about 5'6 and I can proudly say I'm 122 lbs. For so long I was stuck at 125 lbs. and I finally got myself to lose three more pounds (though I still have 2 more pounds to lose to feel closer to what I weighted before pregnancy, I'm happy to know that my healthy decisions will surely get me there soon). Anyways, I thought I should share my story with you so that I can possibly encourage you to eat healthier and lose that extra weight that may be killing your stamina. From here on, I will try to post any tested healthy recipe for you guys so that you may go onto my blog and not have to think about what to make for dinner and have it be healthy all at the same time. First, I would like to urge you to invest in a good electric grill. I've had my Wolf Gang Puck grill/griddle for a few years now and it's helped me in so many ways. It seriously makes cooking easy and fast!! Even before I start prepping I just turn it on and then by the time I'm ready to grill, it's hot and ready. Ok, here is the recipe for this delicious and moist grilled chicken with steamed broccoli: You'll need: (for 2 people) 2 chicken breast (I always rim off all of the fat and skin) salt pepper cayenne pepper lemon juice garlic powder onion powder red chili flakes Method: Lay chicken on a cutting board and sprinkle with salt and pepper on both sides. In a small bowl combine 1 tsp. cayenne pepper, 2 Tbsp. Lemon juice, 1 Tbsp. Garlic Powder, 1 Tbsp Onion Powder and 1 tsp. chili flakes. It will be like a paste, rub both pieces of chicken with this paste and let it marinate for at least 30 mins in the refrigerator so that the flavor is intensified. Once marinated, grill the chicken at 375F for about 6-7 mins. depending on the size of the chicken. Towards the end of the cooking time, I like to cover the chicken with a steel bowl to keep it moist and all the juices in. For Broccoli: Steam the Broccoli and sprinkle with salt and pepper and lemon zest. I really hope I can help those who struggle to lose weight especially after having a baby. I know how hard it is, I've been there. But honestly, it all begins with what you eat.

Chicken and Vegetable Kabobs

Ingredients: 4 Chicken breast cut into chunks about 1 inch pieces. 1 Teaspoon of Salt and 1 teaspoon of Lemon Pepper. 3 Tablespoons of pesto. 2 Tablespoons of Lemon juice. 1 Tablespoon of Oregano. 1 Tablespoon of Thyme. 1 Zucchinis cut into 1 inch pieces. 1 Squashes cut into 1 inch pieces. Handful of Cherry Tomatoes. 1 medium Onion in cut into 1 inch chunks. 1 medium Bell Pepper any color cut into 1 inch chunks. *You can make the same marinade for the veggies if you wish or you can spray with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Method: Mix all of these ingredients together and massage the chicken with all of the herbs. Drizzle olive oil on top and massage chicken again making sure the chicken is well coated. Refrigerate for about 30 mins (the longer you refrigerate the more the chicken will be marinated). Pierce the chicken and veggies through the bamboo skewers and grill each side for about 2-3 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

Homemade Cinnabons

Ingredients For the Dough: 1 cup whole milk one 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons) 1/4 cup plus 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the bowl 1 large egg yolk 1 &1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 &3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more if needed 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg For the Filling: All-purpose flour, for dusting 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for the pan 1 cup brown sugar 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon For the Glaze: 1 cup confectioners' sugar 1/3 cup heavy cream 4oz cream cheese 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted Directions: Make the dough: Warm the milk in a medium saucepan over low heat until it reaches about 100F. Remove from the heat and sprinkle in the yeast and 1/4 teaspoon sugar (don't stir). Set aside until foamy, 5 minutes. Whisk in the melted butter, egg yolk and vanilla. Whisk the flour, the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, the salt and nutmeg in the bowl of a stand mixer. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook until thick and slightly sticky. Knead on medium speed until the dough gathers around the hook, 6 minutes. (Add up to 2 more tablespoons flour if necessary.) Remove the dough and shape into a ball. Butter the mixer bowl and return the dough to the bowl, turning to coat with butter. Cover with plastic wrap or damp paper towel and let rise until doubled, 1 hour 15 minutes. Roll out the dough into a rectangle shape with the longer side towards you. Brush butter all over then sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon mixture (1 cup brown sugar with 3 tablespoons cinnamon) Roll up dough into a log tightly. Cut 2" pieces. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan; place bund in pan leaving space between each. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, 40 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325. Bake the buns until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Cool in the pan 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make the glaze: Sift the confectioners' sugar into a bowl, then whisk in the cream cheese, heavy cream and melted butter. Transfer the buns to a rack and spoon the glaze on top while still warm.

Banana Nut Bread... My Healthy Version

Ingredients: 5 ripened bananas 3/4 cup walnuts chopped 4 egg whites (room temp) 8oz apple sauce 1/2 cup brown sugar 4 Tbsp butter 1 tsp vanilla 1 & 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt 2 & 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (or you can use all purpose flour but I like to stay healthy when I can) In a bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda and mix well then set aside. In another bowl, mash up ripened bananas. Add vanilla and apple sauce and mix well. In mixer bowl cream together the butter and brown sugar. Add the banana and apple sauce mixture to the sugar and butter bowl and mix until combined. Add the egg whites and mix until combined. Then add the flour mixture slowly and mix until combined. Slowly add your walnuts and just mix for about 15 seconds. Pour into loaf pan/s that's been sprayed with nonstick baking spray. Pour the mixture into the pan/s. Preheat over to 350 and bake for 50 mins. *note, you can add more brown sugar if you like. I didn't want mine too sweet and it is why it's like bread and not like cake.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

These were great!! Ingredients: 1 diced Zucchini 1 diced Squash 2 diced Roma Tomatoes 2 whole Bell Peppers 2 Cloves of minced garlic 1 cup diced celery 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 Tbsp soy sauce salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup of marinara sauce 1 Tbsp Panko bread crumbs In a saute pan, saute all veggies with a little butter and the spices including soy sauce. Cut tops off of bell peppers, remove the inner part and stuff with the veggie mixture. Top the mixture with marinara sauce and place bell pepper tops back on. In the center of the Bell pepper tops, add some Panko bread crumbs and sprinkle the bell peppers with olive oil to keep moist and flavorful. Bake for 25 mins at 350.

Thanksgiving Feast made by yours truly

Pomegranate and Beet Salad

Boil about 2 beets. And peel 1 pomegranate. peel the skin from beets and slice in bite size pieces. Mix both in a bowl and add some dried parsley with 1/4 cup of white balsamic vinegar. Mix well and Viola!!

Steamed Corn

This one is a no brainer!! Steam the corn add some butter and salt to taste!