Cod and Tilapia healthy cooking

I had a filet of cod and one of tilapia I had to cook. This recipe turned out to be delicious; very tasty and super healthy, low calories. It’s amazing how you can put some herbs together and get something so flavory. On a side note, I have been super busy with #FSU3DS, this event I helped organizing at FSU. It’s a 3 day workshop for students to start their own tech business. No joke!. It has been amazing and really motivated me to look into having my own business. But with business you need fuel for your brain so eat some fish!

I had some left over capper sauce which I used to marinate the fish. What you want to do get a cup of big or small cappers, add a cup of fresh parsley, add olive oil and one or two lemon juice. Mix everything with the hand mixer and place in a skillet with a spoon of olive oil and some toasted garlic. Add some water so the sauce does not stick and burn. At that point add the fish (you can use any type of fish). Cover the fish with oregano. Cover with 1/4 of orange juice. Cover with a lid and let cook for 20 minutes. Done.

This was truly a big surprise. The fish gets to be boiled in water and juice. It is tender and very light. Delicious.

Again, I have no time to take pictures so you get a tomato. Ahahahah

Frittata with onions

This is such an easy and rewarding recipe. I made it at night and brought it in the office. I also left half at home for late nights when I don’t feel like cooking. I am sorry I don’t have pictures. I have been cooking many dishes without taking pictures. I know it is not very appealing to a reader, but I guess suck it up because the food is good. I am definitely going to make this recipe again so I will update this page next time.

Frittata x 2 

6 eggs (if you are concerned about cholesterol use only white eggs)

2 small onions (the ones that look like scallions but are bigger)

Olive oil

shredded mozzarella (1/2 cup)

1/4 heavy cream organic of course and grass fed

Slice the onions/shallots (2 are enough for me) so that they are thin. Beat the eggs, add heavy cream, salt, pepper, and cheese. Heat the oil that needs to cover the skillet and place the onions until they are brown. Then add the eggs and cook on low heat. When one of the side is ready (brownish/gold) flip the frittata with a plate and cook the other side.

Spaghetti with mussels and clams

I have not posted in a while. I have been more than busy, super busy, yet I found time to cook, work out and enjoy the long days. Sitting in front of a computer after 12 hours has not being my priority. So since summer is coming up (at least in FL) I am cooking dishes that are very light and juicy. Today’s recipe is spaghetti with clams and mussels.

Spaghetti with mussels and clams x 4

a box of barilla pasta (wheat or regular)

about 8 clams

about 8 mussels

5 cherry tomatoes

3 garlic cloves

1/2 cup of bread crumbs

olive oil

dry chili red pepper, salt, pepper

one lemon

1/2 cup of parsley

dry fish eggs

white wine

Clean under running water the shells of the mussels and clams. make sure they are sealed. If they are semi open or opened they are bad and you need to throw them away. In the mean time heat olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, chili red pepper, lemon juice and parsley. When everything starts getting gold and cook add the clams and mussels pour some white wine and cover with lid. Pretty much you are steaming them until they open. This should take 15-20 minutes but keep checking. You will notice the color of the mussels changing.

Cook and drain the pasta. Add the pasta to the fish mixture and make sure to amalgamate all ingredients. Serve in four different bowls. Sprinkle with olive oil, dry fish eggs and bread crumbs. The bread crumbs absorbs excess oil or liquid.

I love this recipe. It NEVER tastes fishy, it is light, refreshing and yummy.

Grilled chicken with roasted peppers

I was not planning to cook something good enough for the blog, but it actually turned out to be a cute and vibrant dish to make and healthy. I made it with whatever I had in the fridge.

grilled chicken with roasted peppers over rice (2 people)

brown rice (cook in the steamer according to package)

6 chicken strips (3 per person) seasoned with a mix of herbs

one red pepper

5 scallions chopped finely

one clove of garlic minced

salt and pepper, olive oil

half lemon

In a skillet pour some olive oil, the scallion and garlic chopped and the red pepper sliced. Salt and pepper. Cook on medium heat for 3 minutes, squeeze half the lemon and cook until the red pepper is medium soft. Don’t over cook the vegetable.

In the meantime of the grill, grill the chicken already seasoned with a mix of dry herbs you most enjoy. Cook until blackened on the outside and juicy inside.

Cook the rice in the steamer until ready.

Place half cup of rice on a plate. Place the 3 chicken strips on top of the brown rice. Add the pepper on the side and top with the green scallions. And that’s it. You got a meal in less than 30 minutes.

If you want to make it even less caloric, don’t include the rice. Instead cook with the red peppers some fresh spinach. It is a nice complement. If you don’t eat meat replace the meat with more spinach.

Sorry the picture is not that great. You need to realize that I cook and take picture at the same time with greasy hands. Also by the time I am done I am starving and ready to eat.

(Healthy) Food Blogs I Love

These are some of the healthy food blogs I love to read and replicate recipes.

Lunch Box Lunch: This blog offers vegan recipes that are actually tasty for non-vegetarian eaters. They are also quite simple to make. I don’t usually try recipes often from other sites, but so far this blog has impressed me. The best recipe so far is the mushroom risotto. I swear it is the best thing ever. I have also tried the mac and cheese but it did not turn out the way it looked on picture. I might have messed up the recipe. The fact is that vegan cheese has a very pronounced taste and I am not sure I like it. I tried to use it in the French onion soup and it worked.

Foodimentary: This blog caught my eye because it is concise. It gets to the point with few lines. It highlights food history based on the day (e.g. 2/29). Today it’s National Pistachio Day. The author of the blog, John-Bryan Hopkins also likes to add quotes at the end of each post.

AlternativeEating: This is a blog that it is literally very similar to mine, in the sense that I think and do like the author of this blog. I love all her recipes, her stories of her walks through the snow of Sweden, and her working out routine. And it happens that she is also my age. Check her recipes. They are just so yummy.

Today I have surpassed the master of Banana Bread maker. My friend Brigette is well-known to make great banana bread that I can never replicate. Not until today. I made the best banana bread. Amazing.

Suck it up, don’t suck it in!

I have not really talked about working out or being physically active.  That’s because it is just more enjoyable talking about food and eating. Though, I do enjoy being active. I am not a big fan of the traditional concept of the gym advertised by Gold’s Gym or any of these types of business-oriented gyms. I feel uncomfortable and I can’t stand the smell of rubber.  When I think about working out I see fresh air, mountains, and the beach. Now, the gym is good because it provides structure and organization. The gym at school is awesome and the membership is included in tuition so that is one of the primary places in which I work out. I also jog by my house and do heat yoga at this cute place 5 minutes away from my house. Sometimes I do rock climbing, mountain bike, 5Ks, bricks and whatever I am exposed too. I like diversity because I get bored easily. I also noticed my body easily adopts to the same routine and hence I risk not seeing improvements.

For the first month I really concentrated on muscle building by doing Body Tone, steps, and abs classes. Those classes have been great. I am strong, have built resistance, but did not help me lose the 5 pounds of Christmas cookies that are comfortable sitting on my belly.

As a result, last week I finally decided to add cardio even thought it requires a lot of motivation because I am very lazy. I tried jogging for 20-30 minutes 3 times a week. On Sunday I do hot yoga. If you are not familiar hot yoga is a 90 minutes class of yoga in a room heated at 105 degree with humidity at 40%. It is not recommended for beginners. Actually it is very dangerous. I tried many years ago and almost puked and passed out. The only reason why I can handle it now it’s because I have built endurance by taking other yoga classes and body tone classes. What I like about hot yoga is that it detoxes you and RELAX you. I have never being that relax in all my life. Yes, you sweat and burn 900 calories if not more, but be smart: you are primarily losing liquids.

My goal is to do some kind of cardio 3 times a week and do body training twice a week. So far I have lost 1 pound since January 1, 2012. I lost a Santa Claus xmas cookie;) ahahhaah Damn you Santa:) I think it’s pretty good and healthy.

ps. I am sick. Drinking a lot of ginger tea, fresh orange juice, and soup. Let me show you the earrings I bought from this amazing artist from Chicago. Her name is Laura Lombardi. Reasonably priced. Check her website.

Fried Oysters

I am tired. Here another recipe from the Romantic/Valentine’s dinner. It only took me forever to type all the recipes….and I am not even done….

Last night I had a total abandonment of healthy diet. I came back around 8 after having worked out for one hour and half and I was starving. It’s reasonable right? I had wished my dinner would have been ready, but it was not and everything in the kitchen required a lot of preparation. The intention was there. I started baking a sweet potatoe and had half a orange. But that was not enough. For dinner I had one chocolate cupcake that had been sitting in the fridge for one week and a mini chocolate mousse. I know. I did not even enjoy it, but I was hungry. So moral of the story. Rely on yourself for cooking and ALWAYS have a healthy ‘safe item’ in the house.

Fried oysters

8 fresh oysters (we buy them from teh gulf since we are only 40 minutes away)

2 eggs beaten and placed in a bowl

1/2 cup of unbleached flour

1/2 bread crambs or panko

canola oil or olive oil for frying (if you use the olive oil the oysters will have a bitter strong taste)

one lemon, salt and pepper

You will have 3 different bowls each filled with one ingridient (one for eggs, one for flour, one for breadf crambs)

Dip each oyster in flour, eggs, and bread crambs. Then place in hot oil and fry for 2 minutes or until crispy and gold on the outside. Sprinkle with lemon once the oysters are set aside on a plate.

We placed the oysters on top of the filet mignon

What’s the big deal with HFCS High Fructose Corn Syrup

Every time I watch the TV guide channel (I don’t have cable, so I rely on the TV guide channel to entertain myself) I get stuck watching the commercial sponsored and paid by the Corn Refiner Association (surprise!) where they assure that HFCS is “fine” in moderation. Too bad they don’t tell you that HFCS and corn syrup in general is not consumed in “moderation.” It is impossible because it is pretty much in everything we eat (bread, yogurt, cereals, cookies, chips, etc).

Corn Syrup (http://youtu.be/W40yHDFxkAY)

So in response to this campaign, this video was made explaining why indeed HFCS is not that “fine.” It’s a parody to the previous commercial.

Response to Ad (http://youtu.be/hYiEFu54o1E)

 

 

 

 

Lazy, quick healthy dinner

I have not being in the mood to cook complicated dishes. Tonight, I just want to edit a paper I am submitting to a conference in May, so this is the super cheat dinner of all times. 

Salsiccia arrosto con peperoni (roasted sausages with red peppers)

half onion (white)

1 Green pepper

1 red pepper

1 yellow pepper

fresh cilantro (just a hint)

one cup of fresh white mushrooms

3 fresh local sausages or at least buy the ones from your supermarket in the green section

Brown the onion in olive oil, season with salt, pepper, oregano, garlic, and whatever spices you want. Add peppers, mushrooms, cilantro, and last sausages. The sausages should be cut in half and with your knife cut slightly cut the top to get air out when they cook. You might want to look at the following picture. 

Cook at first on medium for 10 minutes, then on low until the veggies and meat are cooked. Cover with a lid when cooking so the veggies will get steamy. 

As far as it goes, I am now on the third week of my healthy diet/way of being. According to my old fashioned scale I only lost a miserable .5 in two weeks, but I am not really upset because I am now feeling so energetic and strong. Also, it might be due to the fact that I am building muscles, not sure though. I have to ask my friend who knows much more than me about this stuff. The point is that real change habits should not be measured by a number but the way you feel and your awareness of what food is healthy for your body. 

Why you don’t eat healthy?

I came back on at 11PM or so on Thursday, without having had dinner of course. I was invited to an interior designer showroom in Havana (45 minutes from Tallahassee) with my friend Brigette who just graduate from the Interior Designer’s program at FSU. We left home at 6:11PM after eating two raw broccoli to placate my famine. The event was said to have appetizers, so I figure I could still follow my low carb diet. I could have, but I believe there was more wine than anything else. By 9PM I had probably engaged in too many conversations with too many different glasses of wine and champagne. They had a good selection of wine and cheese. 

I do want to share a story with you. Ok. I love talking to people. There is a reason why I am in communication after all. I just love listening to people, to their stories. So with any conversations you might have with me we ended up talking about food. But first, let me step back few minutes….after talking to this lovely woman about her career she asked me what I wanted to do. At that point I had my good share of wine so I obviously said,” I want to change the world!” To which she replied, “Oh so you are a democrat.” Which again prompted me to ask, “Why Republicans never changed anything?” Then I was asked if there was one thing I could change what would that be. I said, “Food. The food system.” That spiked a very interesting conversation about people’s eating habits. One of the lady shared her frustration in having only 15-30 minutes for a lunch break and having to rely on McDonald’s because it is the most convenient way to eat and move on. She also pointed out that she felt guilty going there. When I asked if she ever considered going to the local organic store that offers pre-made meals, she mentioned that she was not comfortable with the idea of a buffet where you have to weight by the pounds to get a price and she also did not know about their prepackaged section. I thought that was very interesting, because it illustrates a barrier to a shopper experience of going grocery or eating healthy. Sometimes it’s not about the quality or cost, sometimes it gets down to basics – the system; the mechanics. How you feel in a certain environment. We continued talking sharing ideas and perceptions. I think we now can certainly say that we live in a society with citizen-consumers who are aware. they can differentiate between “good” and “bad” (to a certain degree of course). The problem, now is that we need to talk to people and find out what’s still blocking them from caring about their health, and you can only do that by going out your bubble and talking to real people, to people outside your cycle of friends and coworkers.