Monday, February 28, 2011

LOVE NOTE #105: Bonkers for Baked Tofu!

Perhaps my favorite meatless dish! Easy, healthy, and protein-packed! It's a light meal or snack option and very vegetarian!


Ingredients:

  • 1 carton of extra firm tofu (I like Organic Nasoya Tofu Plus!)
  • salt and pepper
  • olive oil or Olivio buttery spray
Directions:

  • preheat oven to 375 degrees
  • rinse and drain the tofu; pat it with a paper towel to remove moisture
  • cut into small evenly sized cubes (about 0.5 in. x 0.5 in.)
  • place onto baking sheet and brush with olive oil on each side or use Olivio buttery spray
  • sprinkle salt and pepper
  • insert into oven for 45-50 minutes or until golden in color; make sure to flip the tofu during the halftime mark

Dipping Sauce Suggestions:

Coconut-peanut sauce (pictured), light soysauce, barbeque sauce

Serve this over white rice and some vegetables (pictured with frozen peas and carrots) and you have a complete meal! I love this recipe because it's satisfying and I know I'm eating healthy. These look and taste fried, but the are baked! Totally awesome! Woot! Woot!

Well, my studies for my licensing exams beckon my attention now... until the next LOVE NOTE... Good Bye!


Love,

Marikym

LOVE NOTE #104: A Quickie - Beef and Rice with Asparagus

An easy satisfying dish that can be cooked up and served in no time! Although ground beef was used, try substituting this with ground turkey or ground chicken for a healthier version!

Ingredients (rice & beef):

  • 2.5 cups cooked white/brown rice
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • salt
  • pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon Smart Beat Oil (blend of soybean, olive, and canola oils)
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 red wine (optional)
Directions:

  • pre-heat a skillet with the 1 T of Smart Beat Oil on medium heat
  • mince the garlic and add to the skillet - stir until golden
  • add the ground beef to the skillet and add the red wine; cook until the red wine is absorbed/reduced
  • season to taste with salt and pepper
  • add rice and combine with the ground beef until mixed
Asparagus Side:

  • 10 stalks of aspargus
  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • 1/8 cup of water or 1/8 cup white wine (everything in wine is divine! Yummy!)
  • salt & pepper
  • 1 clove minced garlic
Directions:

  • Cut the asparagus stalks into 1/3's
  • in a separate pre-heated pan put the 1 teaspoon butter and garlic - cook until golden
  • add the white wine or water then add the asparagus
  • cook on medium for 5 minutes with the pan covered with a lid
  • season with salt and pepper to taste
To lower the fat content, substitute butter dishes with olive oil or just steam the asparagus! I much prefer that hint of butter because it just tastes sooooo delicious! However, I do like to steam these and just spray it with Olivio on the asparagus as well. Either way, it's a great way to keep your meal balanced and keep your dish from looking like it's all in one color family;)

Until the next LOVE NOTE...

Love,

Marikym

Sunday, February 27, 2011

LOVE NOTE #103: Lovers Loaf - Light Chocolate Chip Breakfast Bread;)






Waking up together just got so much sweeter! This unbelievable chocolate chip breakfast bread has been updated to a more health-conscious status but still tastes as good as it looks! With the addition of 100% pure pumpkin and applesauce, your cravings for something sinful can actually be good for you! Caution: Just don't eat the whole loaf;) It's nice to know what you're putting into your bread and your body - eating fresh just got really easy too! The mix of sugar and Splenda has decreased the caloric content of this breakfast bread as well! Yay!

I've experimented a lot with this recipe, from the full-fat version, to one that had no oil or sugar, and I find that this recipe, that is somewhere in between the extremes, satisfies taste but doesn't punish your thighs;) Maybe giving up that morning donut or muffin won't be that hard to do afterall! Even one said food-fussy fiance approved of this version, so all systems are go!

Let me know what you think... your home will smell incredible too! Have fun testing out this recipe!!!!!


Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 12 packets of Splenda
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 cup of Smart Beat oil blend (contains soy, olive, and canola oils)
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened, all-natural applesauce
  • 1/2 cup 100% pure pumpkin (canned is great! Make sure to NOT get the pie mix version but the pure pumpkin!)
  • 1 medium egg
  • 3 & 1/2 tablespoons of water
  • 1/3 cup of semi-sweet/milk chocolate chips (whichever you prefer!)
Instructions:

  • Pre-heat oven the 350 degrees
  • grease and flour a 9 in. x 3 in. (or a variation close to this size) loaf pan
  • Combine the white sugar, apple sauce, oil, pumpkin, water, egg. Beat with a mixer until thoroughly mixed
  • Add flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, Splenda, to the mixture. Use mixer on low speed for one minute or until there are no remaining lumps
  • Reserve about 24 chocolate chips and fold the remaining chips into the mixture.
  • Transfer this mixture into the loaf pan
  • Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top of the mixture.
  • Bake for 50-55 minutes

How easy is this?! The ingredients are available at any supermarket and you're baking fresh. If you are familiar with the Weight Watchers Points Plus System, I have basically cut the points per serving in half from the full-fat version! From 8 points+ per slice to 4 points+! Make sure to divide the loaf into 9 slices. Portion control is key as we all know, so being cognizant will help you obtain/maintain your ideal weight:) Next time I will attempt to substitute stevia for the Splenda and report back to share how it turned out! Like I said, if my food-fussy fiance enjoys this bread as much as the original, why bother going back to the high calorie, high fat version again?! The applesauce and pumpkin help keep the texture moist. My fiance is not a fan of pumpkin... but yet he raves about this bread and often times wants seconds! The pumpkin also gives the bread such a lovely coloring!

Thanks for reading... and until the next LOVE NOTE:)

Friday, February 25, 2011

LOVE NOTE #102: Sexy Steak

This quick and easy filet mignon was basted in a red wine reduction! Creamy garlic mashed potatoes and baby asparagus as worthy accompaniments...A Valentine dinner any day of the year!

LOVE NOTE #101: Please Her, Please Him Pot Roast & Potatoes!



This slow-cooker recipe makes a busy girl appear to be one domestic diva!

Things you will need for the slow cooker:
  • 2 & 1/2 pounds pot roast (pork was used in this ... because the beef wasn't on sale this week!)
  • 1/2 cup white wine (I pretty much cook everything with wine - but completely optional!) or you can substitute this with water too*
  • 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 package of dry onion soup mix
  • 1 teaspoon pepper*
  • 2 clove minced garlic (optional)*
  • 4 large potatoes
Instructions:
  • Cut the potatoes into wedges leaving the skin on and place into the slow cooker
  • Place the meat into the slow cooker
  • In a bowl, combine the wine, mushroom soup, onion soup, pepper, and garlic until thoroughly mixed.
  • Pour the mixture into the slow cooker over the potatoes and meat.
  • Set the slow cooker on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.
Cost:

Potatoes: $1.00
meat: $6.73 ($2.69/lb.)
cream of mushroom soup: $1.00/10 oz. can
dry onion soup package: $.0.45 (sold in a package of two for $0.89)

Total: $10.18 - or a little over $2.50 per serving - how fabulous! This meal serves four but our household is only two - so I always cook enough to have leftovers for the next day!

*I did not include the ingredients that most people have around the house!


Suggested Sides:

Peas and carrots (frozen is great and only comes in at $1.25 per bag for the store brand! For two, only half the bag is used!) So easy to prepare, just add some water and microwave! Flavor with butter and salt/pepper or I use the buttery spray, Olivio, to help keep my saturated fats in check;)

Mashed Sweet Potatoes - I used three medium potatoes which came out to 1.89 (1.29/lb)

This will take more effort to prepare, but oh-sooooo worth it!

Instructions:

1 .Wash and dry the sweet potatoes. Peel the skin.
2. Cube the sweet potatoes so they are all the same size
3. Add this to boiling water - and cook until they are tender - 20-25 minutes (or until they can break apart with a fork!)
4. Drain the potatoes, then place in a bowl and with and electric mixer, mix until smooth.
5. In the pan that was cooking the potatoes, add 1 tbsp. of butter, 1/4 cup of coconut milk/milk/cream, 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 3 tablespoons of stevia/sugar/Splenda. Cook until butter is melted and ingredients are combined.
6. Add this to the whipped potatoes!

So for less than $3.50** per person, serving up a well balanced, easy to prepare meal, you can express your love one dish at a time! Oh and that extra cash you save, can go to your Gucci fund... ;)

**These are estimates that include the cost of the additional seasonings. Market prices as you know vary by region. I live in a suburb about 12 miles outside of Boston. I typically shop at my local market - Shaws - which has very reasonable prices and I usually pick up the generic labels - it's usually the same difference, and those pennies you save really add up! Every week I look at the circular, and see what's on special too!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

LOVE NOTE #100: First Hellos



I love cooking! I guess that's how I came up with the name of this blog... that and the fact that my kitchen is pink and white - it reminds me of Valentine's Day...well every single day! The previous owner of our 1929 Cape Cod loved her pink kitchen, and after our P & S, I understand why!!! We are definitely kindred spirits and although there has been some work done, and some more that needs to be done...I knew walking in, that this was it... our starter home on a busy street ... made me feel like it was a little bit of Big City with all the perks of a small New England town... what's not to fall in love with, right?! However, my fiance has made remarks of turning my little kitchen into something neutral and updated... I love the look of Shabby Chic with a touch of Country French... but he is more the traditional and conservative type ... some of the pink tile he has already tried to remove too... so far the vintage wallpaper hasn't been touched (phew!)...so much charm in this little kitchen... I must find a way to convince him otherwise...I cried when the little retro chandelier was removed too (no worries, as I will replace it...tee-hee!)... I apologize as I am digressing...anyways...

So I wanted to create this blog that shares easy recipes with ingredients that can be found at the local supermarket, that are budget friendly, with a healthy approach, without losing the flavor factor! I've cooked with traditional recipes, then I've reworked them to the point of eliminating all sugar and oil - of which the first made me feel constantly guilty and my jeans a bit too snug, and the latter, the taste was lacking...and more times than not, one said not so subtle food-fussy fiance would suggest us spend the night on the town and find a nice restaurant to sample. So what is a girl left to do? Find middle ground! With many things in life, a lot is about balance... and in the kitchen, same rules can apply as well:)

I'm pretty much the typical, modern, everyday girl. I'm working on my career ambitions - a full-time 3rd year medical student/MBA student. My dream is to be able to do work with Operation Smile someday:) So yes, a lot on my plate too... So I totally get it - the whole I'm busy spiel... but so nice to indulge in the romance of cooking in the evening, even if it's just once in awhile. It's definitely my way to relax and unwind... creating dishes that are easy to prepare, skinny-jeans approved, and very budget-friendly. It's my place to find some me time, some peace, my personal oasis (okay, I usually have some Lady Gaga in the background...love her!) It's nice to be able to create something ...edible art I guess you can call it... that I can share with my fiance. These are my love notes to him... and each dish is designated as such:) It's a way to reconnect with each other after a busy day... without saying a word... and sometimes drizzled with chocolate or basted in a red wine reduction... all the ingredients add up to a recipe for romance!

So check out these recipe posts when you're in the mood ... and I hope you get inspired too! I wasn't always like this... not even close! I use to order out at least three times a week, have enough left overs for three days, or made sure to have peanut butter and bread on hand... and the last day was date night of course! My pocketbook and my midriff weren't exactly thrilled by my eating habits... neither was my PCP! And slowly I have adjusted my lifestyle to include healthier choices... and cooking meals at home is definitely one way to monitor what I put into the bod.

These recipes can be modified easily, so these are not rules, but just guidelines on creating a delightful meal that is sure to impress your date - whether you've known your love interest for a day or a few decades, show your affection one bite at a time:)

So I hope you have fun with my recipes and food photographs! Love comes in many forms they say... and here's to another one... from my kitchen to yours!


Love,

Marikym