I never thought my love for the 80's could be any stronger, but it has reached an all-time high. Thanks to one of my lovely coworkers (hi Moaky!), I now appreciate and miss that beautiful decade more than ever. I am not ashamed to admit that I have dabbled with online dating in the past, and it always was an experience to remember. I did meet some wonderful people along the way, but I also have many hilarious stories (think allergic reaction + bloody nose + shrieking). I am lucky to have the online dating chapter of my life behind me, but after seeing this video from Moak, I am not so sure. Before eHarmony, Match, and OKcupid, apparently there were VHS movies you could get with video clips of potential suitors. I cannot stop watching this video... it just doesn't get old: Single Hotties in the 80's.
I wasn't sure what to make for dinner tonight, so I just took a few ingredients from the fridge and threw them together. This turned out to be one of my favorite dinners in a while. The toasty garlic was delicious, and I loved the combo of flavors. I really think the spinach from the farmers market this week is the best spinach I have ever tasted. The leaves are enormous (almost the size of my face), and they are thick with almost a little crunch. I snacked on some leaves while I was cooking, and it tasted like I was eating them fresh out of the garden. Try this recipe out next time you are in a rush and don't have a dinner plan. You won't regret it!
Chicken & Brussel Bowl Serves 2, Prep time: 5 min, Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients:
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1-2 tsp. coconut oil
- 8 oz. chicken, poached & shredded
- 1 cup brussel sprouts, quartered
- 1 cup spinach
- Sea salt & pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Melt coconut oil over medium heat
2. Add garlic and cook for 5 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned
3. Add brussel sprouts and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often
4. Add shredded chicken and spinach and cook for another 3-4 minutes
5. Add salt & pepper to taste, and serve in a bowl. That was easy!
My first memory of brussel sprouts was when my mom used to steam them in the microwave when I was a young kid, and the whole house would smell like sewage. I never understood how anyone could even taste such a foul-smelling food. Later in life I realized how amazing brussel sprouts are if you just roast them in the oven. I am still not sure what my mom was thinking back then, but the good news is that she roasts them now too! I can't get enough of these this year; at last night's Thanksgiving potluck, Chris made delicious roasted brussel sprouts with parsnips. It was such a great combination of flavors, and I will absolutely make those together soon. Last week on Thanksgiving, I wanted to make a sweet and savory side dish, so I decided on roasted brussel sprouts with toasted pecans and fresh pomegranate seeds. This was probably one of my favorite creations to date! Sorry to mom and Aunt Randi for giving them stomach aches for making such a delicious side dish... I didn't mean for them to eat so many!
Ingredients:
- A lot of brussel sprouts (filled up two 9x11 pans)
- Seeds from 2 pomegranates
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- Olive oil
- Sea salt, pepper, & garlic powder
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees (convection if you have it)
2. Wash brussel sprouts, cut off the ends, and cut in half (keep all the leaves that fall off - these are the best part!)
3. Put the sprouts in a baking dish, and drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Toss until well combined.
4. Add pecans to the sprouts and mix
5. Bake for 20-30 minutes depending on your crispiness preference, stirring every 5-10 minutes
6. When sprouts come out of the oven, mix in the pomegranate seeds, and serve immediately
Huge news people! After meeting some great fellow paleo Bostonians last weekend, I was asked to teach a cooking class this weekend for a "Healthy Boston Adventures" meetup. There should be around 13 people coming to my apartment, and I will be cooking/teaching a 3-course paleo feast consisting of:
- Slammin' salmon cakes with avocado, strawberry, tomato, & lime salsa
- Acorn squash and grass-fed beef autumn casserole
- Crispy apple crisp (creative name, I know)
I just got home from Trader Joes after a huge shopping spree, and I can't wait for the class! I obviously love to cook, but this is my first attempt at a cooking class. I'm looking forward to teaching the group about paleo and showing them how easy and healthy the recipes can be. If it goes well, I would love to do more of them. I will post all of the recipes and a recap this weekend after the class! It should definitely be interesting because I have never made any of these things before, and I have to actually create the recipes before the group gets here. I decided to go with a salmon cake appetizer because it should be an easy, affordable seafood appetizer (and I just learned that Trader Joes has wild canned salmon). I absolutely love seafood, so on that note, I thought I would share a few summer seafood recipes I have made over the past few months. I highly recommend all three!
Wild Cod Lettuce Wraps topped with Organic Peach/Avocado Salsa
Ingredients:
- Wild cod (I used one frozen package from TJ - about 1lb)
- Olive oil
- Sea salt, pepper, & garlic powder
- 2 organic peaches, chopped
- 1 organic avocado, chopped
- Juice from 1/2 lime
- 1-2 cups brussel sprouts, halved
- Bibb/Boston lettuce cups
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Brush cod with a little olive oil and spices
3. Coat brussel sprouts with olive oil and spices
4. Bake cod and brussel sprouts for about 15 minutes
5. While fish and veggies are cooking, prepare salsa by combining peaches, avocado, lime, salt, pepper, and garlic powder
6. When the fish is cooked (should easily flake with a fork), pull apart pieces and put them in the lettuce cups. Top with salsa and serve with brussel sprouts. Perfect feast for roomie bonding night, right Katie? :)
Pecan Pesto Mahi Mahi w/ Summer Vegetables
Ingredients:
- Wild mahi mahi (I used one frozen package from TJ - about 1lb)
- Homemade pecan pesto (will post recipe separately - includes pecans, fresh basil, olive oil, lemon, salt, and pepper)
- 1 zucchini, sliced
- 1 summer squash, sliced
- 1 lb mini heirloom tomatoes, quartered
- Olive oil
- Sea salt & pepper
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Brush mahi mahi with a little olive oil and top with a dollup of homemade pesto. Bake for 15-20 minutes depending on thickness of the fish
3. While the fish is cooking, head some olive oil over medium heat and sautee the zucchini and squash for about 10 minutes or until cooked to your liking
4. Plate your fish on top of the summer veggie mixture and top with heirloom tomatoes
Very Berry Nutty Salmon Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 4-5oz piece of salmon
- 1-2 cups mache lettuce
- 1/4 cup raspberries
- 1/2 tomato, chopped
- 1 Tbsp. sliced almonds
- 1 Tbsp. raw sunflower seeds
- 1-2 Tbsp. paleo salad dressing (optional) - I used Steve's Original Wild Berry and love it!
Instructions:
1. Boil a pot of water. When boiling, add your salmon, cover the pot, and turn off the heat.
2. Let cook 12-15 minutes
3. While your salmon poaches, arrange your lettuce, raspberries, tomato, almonds, and sunflower seeds on a plate
4. Top salad with salmon and add your favorite paleo salad dressing (or olive oil & lemon)
Ingredients:
