Surf and Turf goes Italian

Hello Everyone!  My mom finally made it home and my dad and I had a wonderful birthday celebration waiting for her!  We had toyed with the idea of going out to eat.  However with the rain my parents and I decided to cook at home and stay dry!  However with the grill being outside I am not sure how dry my dad stayed!  Tonights birthday menu featured Steak, Maui Maui, and Shrimp!  With Parmesan Edamame Risotto, and an Undone Caprese Salad for sides! Yes some very Italian inspired side dishes!   My dad was in charge of grilling while I was in charge of the salad and the Risotto!  I have mentioned before that I just love cooking for people, and I enjoyed collaborating a meal with my dad for my moms birthday!

I am going to share these recipes quickly because there is cake to be eaten,

and presents to unwrap!

Lets start first with the bigger of the two dishes the Parmesan Edamame Risotto:
Inspired and mainly made from this Eating Well Recipe.  The original recipe was for Shrimp and Pea Risotto.  Being as my dad is allergic to shellfish, and we already had a main entree I just used the recipe as a guide for flavor.  And yes I did sub in Edamame for regular peas, the peas my parents had in the freezer looked a bit dried up!
Here is what I used:

1/2 Cup Aborio Rice (Risotto Rice)
2 1/2 Cups Chicken Broth
1/2 Medium Onion
2 Garlic Cloves
1/2 Cup Edamame
1/2 Cup Dry White Wine
1/2 Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese
Pinch of Salt
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

Lets get started.  I have made Risotto before but always feel overwhelmed when I make Risotto for some reason.  I think because Risotto is such a time consuming process, oh well here it goes!
First start by getting your Chicken stock boiling.  The recipe called for hot stock!

While the chicken stock was heating up I began heating my oil to saute my onions in.

Saute your onion till translucent and soft, add your garlic and cook for 30 seconds.  At this point you add your Risotto Rice and stir to combine.

You want your Risotto Rice to be nice and covered in your onions and olive oil!

Now it is time for you to add your chicken broth and your white wine.  You add a splash of wine, and 1/2 cup chicken stock at a time.  I had to add stock and wine five times before both liquids were done!

My dad was kind enough to grate my parmesan cheese for me!

Do not be alarmed that your risotto looks a little soupy!  The risotto rice will absorb everything I promise!

As your adding your last amounts of chicken stock and wine stir in your edamame.

Top with your cheese.

Stir to combine and put in a pretty serving platter!
And side dish one is done!

Just look at these Heirloom Tomatoes,

Aren't the colors just beautiful.

Those Heirloom Tomatoes are the basis for this delicious undone Caprese Salad.  This salad is really very simple to assemble!
What you will need:
1/2 Quart of Heirloom Tomatoes (sliced in half)
1 1/2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Basil Cubes
A dash of pepper
As Much Fresh Mozzarella as you like
and a drizzle of balsamic Vinegar

What you will do:
Slice your Tomatoes in Half and sprinkle with salt.

For the olive oil basil dressing simply combine, Olive Oil, Basil, And Pepper.

Drizzle olive oil over your tomatoes and stir to combine.

 I let the tomatoes sit at room temperature to allow all the flavors to combine.
Top your salad with fresh mozzarella and serve!

My dad was busy at the grill making these, 

into a fantastic entree!  He grilled a steak for himself!  On the Shrimp I sprinkled Chili Powder, Garlic and Black Pepper.  The Maui Maui was Garlic Powder, and Lemon Pepper.

Yum, fresh caprese salad, risotto and fresh grilled seafood!  Oh Yum!  Accompanied by Great Harvest garden vegetable bread.

Yum Oh Yum!
And cupcakes made it home from Omaha!

Boy oh Boy!
We are off to celebrate!  See you tomorrow, and remember to live Happily Ever Healthy!

Healthy Baking, and Cooking Substitutions

Hello Everyone!  We are officially at the middle of the week, can you believe it?  And while my days are all pretty much monotone I still enjoy knowing that the weekend is a few short days away.  I mentioned this yesterday but today is my mom's birthday, she is still in Omaha with my sister but is returning to Minnesota this afternoon.  We will definetly be celebrating tonight!  And right about now Mark is in his interview, I cannot wait to hear how it goes!

Since I had the same typical oatmeal breakfast (you know the massive amounts of peanut butter, banana, and oats) I decided to blog a bit about healthy baking/cooking!  I have not done a lot of baking for the blog but what little I have done I always try to make healthy substitutions.  Same goes for normal cooking, I try to make a recipe as healthy as possible with out sacrificing taste!  Check out these recipes where I use healthy Substitutions! My  Sugar Top Muffins
Tuna Salad with Pasta,

and my Tzatziki CousCous Salad!

Here is a great resource I found.  This substitution guide comes to you from Anna of fANNEtastic Food!
Click Here!
What I love about this substitution guide is that the guide is easy to read.  Plus she gives you a few substitution suggestions for each item.  Take butter for example, she gives you three different substitution options to follow!  Go check it out when you have some free time!
Here is a list of substitutions and ideas I regularly use in cooking/baking!
1-When I am baking I almost always substitute oil for unsweetened apple sauce.
I also find when I bake with applesauce that I can reduce the amount of sugar, since applesauce lends some sweetness in a natural form!  (Try to use organic if you can!)
2-When making a salad that is usually loaded with Mayo I always sub in greek yogurt!  Partly because I do not like the smell of Mayo (I never have).  But greek yogurt is lower in fat and calories, and you won't lose out on that tang or creaminess that Mayo provides!

3-When making a pasta dish that is loaded with toppings I usually cut the pasta portion in half.  I will make less pasta and make up for the difference in added veggies.  I add more veggies for many reasons, not only are you adding vitamins/minerals to your dish but your getting an array of texture, color and flavor (and I am obsessed with veggies)!

4-Use fresh herbs whenever possible!  Fresh herbs and spices are one of my favorite things to add to a dish.  You can add a punch of flavor without harming the nutrition of your dish!  Some of my favorite fresh herbs and spices to use are Cilantro, Basil, Sage, Garlic, and Cayenne Pepper.  I am like my mother and often do not cook with salt, I let my guest add the salt to their individual plates if they so desire.

5- And finally don't be scared to experiment with flavors!  I do this all the time in the kitchen, I enjoy seeing what flavor combinations work and which ones I cannot stand!  Don't be scared to try new things!  You will never know if a substitution will work in a recipe till you try it!  And if you mess up its ok, you learn from your mistakes and try again!!

I hope you find these little tips helpful!  Now go start experimenting in your kitchen!  Have a wonderful day, I will see you this afternoon but until then remember to live Happily Ever Healthy!

PS is anyone else on Blogger having trouble uploading pictures this morning?  I promise to add pictures as soon as I can upload them!

Chana Masala for One

Good Evening!  I feel like I have had a whirlwind of a day!  I got back from my workout and 6 mile run and was ready for dinner!  I first made sure all the dogs went out and got fed before I started, I means dogs have to eat too!  I know I said I was going to make something with beets tonight, but I could not figure out what to make, and all the recipes I found did not sound good!  I knew I could put the beets on top of an elaborate salad but I just was not in the mood to eat just a salad for dinner.  And besides I knew after a 2.5 hour workout my body would need a little more then a plate full of veggies to make me satisfied!

While I was trying to figure out the dinner dilemma I came across a simple recipe for Chana Masala.  For those of you who do not know what Chana Masala is I will explain it.  Here is what wikipedia says Chana Masala is, 

Chana masala or chole masala is a popular vegetable dish in Pakistani cuisine & Indian cuisine.^[1] The main ingredient is chickpeas. It is fairly dry and spicy with a sour citrus note. The dish is found throughoutSouth Asia, and is particularly popular in northern India and Pakistan.

Thank you Wikipedia!  I just love that site, whenever I don't know what something is I head straight for Google and Wikipedia.  Ok I am off on a tangent!  lets get back to talking about my amazing dinner that looked something like this when I was finished! 

Chana Masala with Cilantro Yogurt Sauce Served over Barley!

I followed this, recipe to a tee since I have never attempted to make Chana Masala before.  The only thing I did was cut the recipe in half.  Since I was only feeding me myself and I there was no point in making an entire batch (the original recipe serves 8)!  And lets be real I was hungry but there was no way I could have eaten what 8 people normally would!  

Lets get started talking about this dish

Here is what you will need:

Chana Masala (Half Recipe Serves 4-1/2 Cup Servings)

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil 

1/2 Medium Onion 

1 Garlic Clove

1/2 Teaspoon Cumin Seed

1/4 Teaspoon Coriander

1/8 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

1/2 Teaspoon Garam Masala (I used a bit more) * See Note

1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cardamom

2 Tablespoons Water

1-15 Ounce Can Diced Tomatoes Undrained 

1 Tablespoon Cilantro

1.4 Teaspoon Cayenne (more if you like things spicy)

1- 15 Ounce Can Chickpeas drained and rinsed

*Note:  I could not find Garam Masala in my grocery store!  If you can't find the seasoning either do not leave it out!  Garam Masala is simply a blend of particular spices.  I did a quick google search and found away to make a homemade Garam Masal!  

Here is what you will need:

1/2 Teaspoon Cumin 

1/2 Teaspoon Paprika

1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon

1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

1/4 Teaspoon Crumbled Bay Leaves (I left this out!)

1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cloves

Simply Combine all the spices together, stir to combine and use as much as the recipe calls for!

Now lets talk about how to prepare this Chana Masala shall we?

Ready, Set, Lets Cook!

Start by heating your oil and sauteing your onions.

You want your onions to cook until they start to turn a bit brown.  Almost like that perfect browned color of of a perfect S'More(which actually sounds good right about now!).  They should look something like this, 

Then turn your heat down to to medium and add your spices and garlic!  (Note have all your spices pre- measured and combined in a little bowl)  that way you can dump them all in at once!  

Stir everything to combine, and let the spices toast for 30 seconds.  Once you have done this add the water and stir to get everything off the bottom of the pan.

Once the water has cooked away slowly pour in your tomato juice, and then add your tomatoes, 

Let the mixture come to a boil, when your sauce/mixture starts to get thick thats when you will add your chickpeas.  

Stir everything together you want the chickpeas to be nice and covered in the sauce! 

Heat for 5 minutes, add your cilantro and simmer an additional 5 minutes!  And just like that dinner is done!

Here is the recipe for the Cilantro Yogurt Sauce I mentioned above!

For Cilantro Yogurt Sauce:

2 Tablespoons Greek Yogurt (I used Fage, my favorite!)

1 Cilantro Cube

A dash of Cumin

Simply Stir everything together and enjoy!  

I cannot wait to try this Chana Masala tomorrow once all the flavors have had time to combine.  I bet it will be amazing!  See you all tomorrow, and remember to live Happily Ever Healthy!

PS I have a question for you all!  Do you refer spicy food, or do you like your food more on the mild side?  Clearly based on all my recipes you know I like my food spicy!  Night!

Nice Is Nice

Good Evening!  I have another great recipe to share with you.  But first let me share with you the nail polish I bought today and am currently obsessing over!  The nail polish is by Essie and is called Nice is Nice!  Just check out this color, 

I found this color while we were at Target and just fell in love! I have been looking for a nice pale purple nail polish.  I love this color because the purple color is not overpowering, you just get a faint tint on your nails!  Love it!

Now lets talk about dinner, for some odd reason I have been freezing all day!  I think it is due to the fact that my dad keeps the air on super low in our house!  I honestly wear a sweat pants and a sweat shirt in our house all summer.  So anyways I thought (despite the temp outside being relatively humid) that white bean chili sounded amazing!  My dad however did not, so he decided he would make his own chili full of meat!  See everyone was just as happy as clams.  

I could not find a recipe that I liked, because for some odd reason I wanted a mexican, tex Mex. flare to my white bean chili (and I didn't really feel like cooking chicken)!  I pulled some inspiration from Gina's Skinny Taste, and random sites on the web and came up with this little beauty I like to call Fiesta White Bean Chili/Soup!

Here is What You Are Going to Need!

This soup makes 6 (1 Cup ) Servings:

1-15 Ounce Can Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth (I used Swanson)

2-15 Ounce Can Cannellini Beans (or White Beans)

1/4 Medium Red Onion (finely Chopped)

1 Cup Corn 

1 Small Can Green Chili's

2 Teaspoons Sracha 

2 Cilantro Cubes (the frozen ones I like from Trader Joe's)

Cumin Seed, Paprika, Chili Powder, and Garlic to Taste

See not a huge list of ingredients!

Now here is what you need to do:

In a large pot heat your olive oil, and begin sauteing your onion and spices until translucent.

Once your onions are translucent add your green chili's 

and your corn.

The next steps are really easy!  Add your chicken broth, and both cans of beans!  

*Note one can of beans should be drained and rinsed the other should just be dumped into the pot!  

Now cover and simmer until the soup is hot!  See I told you this soup came together really quickly, and an added bonus this soup is really flavorful!

I had to take a picture of my parents pot! 

 I know that sounds really weird but I have been obsessing over the Le Creuset line of cooking wear!  Click here at your own risk, they have some of the most beautiful cooking wear!  I know I am strange!

We served dinner tonight alongside baked potatoes, bread, crackers, and cheese!  But I was just as happy with my soup and potato!  I even spooned some of my soup into my baked potato, so yummy!

I think that you really need to try this soup.  This soup is full of bright summer flavors and just delicious! I hope you enjoy it!  I am off to watch a movie and to paint my toenails in my new polish!  See you tomorrow, and remember to live Happily Ever Healthy!

Settling into Home

Good Evening!  I hope you all had a splendid day!  I do not know if mine was necissarily splendid but I did get a lot done.  Remember that gym debate I was having earlier?  Well I went to both Work Out World and the YMCA to take tours of each facility.  And which gym am I going to join your wonder?  Drum roll please...

The membership is a bit more pricey then Work Out World but I was more comfortable with the facility (big selling point for me). I also loved that the YMCA had free Yoga and Pilates classes (added bonus)!  I have been wanting to get back into Yoga and Pilates forever, and what better time then right now!  I mean I have nothing but free time to kill.  Anyways thats that.  I also made a copy of my house key (I guess that is kind of important) applied for countless jobs, and did a bit of networking while I was at it.  Oh yea I even had time to start cleaning/unpacking and make an amazing dinner (well it was amazing in my eyes at least).  I will let you guys decide what you think of this dinner!

Dinner was fresh, and completely vegetarian!  I love dinners like this (I know I have mentioned that before)!  Anyways the star of tonights dinner was homemade falafel.  They were tasty, healthy and packed with tons of flavor!  I was a little nervous these baked chickpea patties would not turn out well since I have never made them before.  But I was pleasantly surprised! I got the chickpea patty/falafel recipe from a wonderful blog called Oh She Glows!  Seriously go check it out, click here!  Also while your there check out this, I have been drooling over the pictures!  Angela does all vegan cooking all her recipes look delicious, amazingly fresh, and she takes some amazing photos!  I followed her recipe for Crispy Chickpea Bites in the Oven to a tee!  And they were wonderful!  Here is a picture montage of the chickpea bites/falafel making process!

Combine Everything in a Bowl

Then Put Everything in a Food Processor (seriously getting one of these)

This is what the outcome should be after the food processor!

Finally form dough into 8 Patties! And Bake!!!

Angela suggested serving them on top a salad, or in a pita.  Well my parents did not have any pita, and we did not have the fixings for a salad so I was in a bit of a pickle.  So what did I serve with these wonderful patties I had made?  Well traditionally you serve tzatziki with falafel I had everything I needed to make a tzatziki but we needed something a bit more substantial to eat with our patties.  Light bulb on, and I thought up Tzatziki CousCous Salad! Don't think I have gone completely bonkers since moving back to Minnesota the salad was actually really good, and not overpowering in runny dressing!  Just the way I like a salad to be!  Are you ready to learn how to make this wonderful dish I am raving about?  Alright here it goes!

What you will need:

The Salad Makes 4-Cups (4 Servings)

3/4 Cup Dry CousCous

2 Small Cucumbers Chopped

1/4 Cup 0% Fage Greek Yogurt (or any greek yogurt of your choice!)

1/4 Cup Chopped Red Onion

Lemon Pepper 1 Teaspoon 

Garlic 1 Teaspoon 

Dill 1 Teaspoon

*Note You may need to add more seasoning throughout I however started with a teaspoon.

Here is what you do:

I made the couscous on the stove as the box directed.  While the couscous was sitting I got to work on the rest of the salad.  Side note the thing I love best about couscous, you add dry couscous to boiling water cover it and let the couscous sit for 7 minutes till the couscous is done!  Honestly couscous is one of the easiest things you can make.  Alright enough rambling about couscous!

I then chopped up both cucumbers, 

seasoned my cucumbers, 

added my greek yogurt, 

and stirred together!

Once the cucumbers, onion, spices, and yogurt were combined I dumped my nicely prepared couscous into the mix!  Stirred everything together and stuck that sucker in the fridge to cool and mingle!  

The results

AMAZING!!!  Like I said above this salad did not have a lot of runny dressing!  If you like your salads with a little more dressing just add some more yogurt!  This salad was fresh and I loved the lemon pepper which I threw into the mix last minute.  The hint of lemon really brightened up the salad.  In my eyes this is a perfect quick summer salad.  One I will be preparing more in the future, and couscous is great in hot weather because you do not have to stand over a hot stove!  See I told you couscous was great!

You cannot tell me dinner doesn't look good!

I thought it did! 

Anyways I am headed off to bed!  I am officially joining my gym tomorrow, and well of course applying for jobs!  See you all tomorrow!  And remember to live Happily Ever Healthy!

Sprinkles!

Cupcake siting!

We found Sprinkles! A cupcake place in downtown Chicago! I saw it as we were heading to Rob's apartment! Mark and I enjoyed a nice walk around downtown Chicago an two cupcakes as a snack! Mark had milk chocolate and I had peanut butter chocolate! I will post more later with pictures and more about the Sprinkles store!

We are off to get ready for the wedding shower! Remember to live Happily Ever Healthy!