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Showing posts from January, 2013

Wheat bread, a new endeavor for me

So I've been trying my hand at baking bread lately and I've been working on this recipe. I've been using a framework of other recipes to create my own and it's been a lot more fun than I expected. I must admit that I'm not a baker and this recipe is not perfect. I urge you to tweak it and mold it to work for you. Please share what works for you and what doesn't! Tweet me if you have questions! What ya need: 2 cups of stone-ground whole wheat flour (whole wheat bread flour works as well) 1 envelope of active yeast 2-3 tablespoons of wheat gluten flour or seitan 1 tablespoon of kosher sea salt 2 teaspoons of sunflower seeds 1 teaspoon of flaxseed 3/4 teaspoon of dried, pure stevia leaf 11 ounces of warm water 1 tablespoon of olive oil 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (I like soybean oil here as well) 1 teaspoon of molasses 1 teaspoon of honey 1 tablespoon of butter or margarine, at room temperature Ok, so: Grab a medium bowl and rinse it with hot wa

Salsa, for everything!

Salsa is one of those condiments, or sauces, if you like that nomenclature more, that is almost universal. A good salsa goes well with so many things. Try it on a burger, on eggs, on chicken, on roast pork, and, obviously, with some chips. I love experimenting with salsa recipes and styles. Much like barbecue sauce, salsa doesn't have a universal recipe or style. There's room to play, and I *LOVE* that. To add, it's generally quite healthy! So, try out one of my favorite salsa recipes and let me know what you think! What ya need: 4  medium ripe tomatoes, diced 1 bunch of cilantro, finely chopped 1 bunch of green onions, chopped 2 medium jalapeño peppers, minced (for less heat, use 1 and for flavor only, seed the peppers) 1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded and finely chopped 1 ear of corn, cooked 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced 6 tablespoons of  freshly squeezed lime juice 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil Kosher sea salt, to taste Freshly ground bla

Spinach Frittata, fuel for happiness

Frittatas are delicious. They are easy, and generally quite healthy! Try this one out and let me know what you think! What ya need- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 6 cherry tomatoes, quartered 6 eggs 1/2 cup of spinach, chopped 3 tablespoons of almond milk 1 tablespoon of olive oil 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper Ok, so- Preheat your oven to 350ºF. In an medium, oven-proof skillet, caramelize the onions over medium heat. Once caramelized, remove the pan from the heat, the onions from the pan, and wipe the skillet clean with a damp towel. In a bowl, whip together the eggs and almond milk until light and fluffy. Add the onions into the egg mixture and mix together. Now, lightly grease the skillet from earlier with cooking spray. Pour the egg mixture into the skillet and put the tomatoes on top. Bake for 20 minutes, or until firm. Remove from the skillet and let cool. Throw some salsa on top for a nice little twist! Enjoy!

Garlic Roasted Balsamic Asparagus, because it's delicious

A healthy side-dish is always a good choice. Here's a healthy and delicious side dish for you to enjoy. It's a perfect addition to any lean protein, but also tastes great on its own as a snack. Let me know what you think of it! What ya need: 1 pound of fresh asparagus   1 tablespoon of quality olive oil (you don't need extra virgin, unless you prefer it)   1 tablespoon of high-quality balsamic vinegar   1/2 teaspoon of fresh, minced garlic   1/2 teaspoon of kosher sea salt   1/4 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper Ok, so: Preheat your oven to 425ºF. Cut off the tough lower ends (about lower 1/6) of the asparagus and throw those away. Rinse what's left of the stalk and pat dry. Place these stalks on a cookie sheet, in a single layer, and drizzle with the oil and vinegar. After the stalks are coated, sprinkle the garlic, salt, and pepper over them.  Now bake at 425ºF for 5 minutes. Turn, or toss, the stalks and bake for another 5 minutes. Remove from the o

BBQ Sauce, for happiness

Barbeque sauce is tasty. Why not make your own? It's not really that difficult and it goes with everything. I came across this sauce when I was traveling through Alabama. It's delicious and has Cherry Coke in it, so it's definitely something awesome, haha. What ya need: 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil 2 cups of finely chopped onions 2 garlic cloves,  minced 24 ounces of chili sauce 12 ounces of cherry preserves or jam 1 cup of Cherry Coke (regular, not diet) 1/3 cup of golden brown sugar 1/4 cup of fine balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon (at least) of hot pepper sauce Ok, so: Grab a large, heavy saucepan and heat it over medium heat. Add the onions and saute until translucent. Add the garlic and saute for another minute. Stir in the chili sauce, Cherry Coke, brown sugar, and vinegar. Bring this all to a simmer and reduce the heat to low. Reduce this down to about 4 cups, stirring often enough to prevent burning or scorching. Add the hot sauce and stir in completely. A