Oh Eggplant!

I've been watching you grow in the garden - first, from the tiny shrub that was mostly all leaves, to a small bush that sprouted purple flowers.

From the flower erupted a small purple fruit the size of an acorn, to a baseball that grew longer and wider and more purple with each passing day.
I couldn't wait, so when a few of your kind went on sale at the grocery store, I decided to practice one of my all-time favorite dishes: Eggplant Parmesan.

Peeled, sliced and fried in olive oil, you are layered with tomato sauce and provolone, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, then baked to golden brown and bubbly perfection.

Eggplant Parmigan:
2 medium sized eggplants, peeled and sliced 1/2 inch thick
 2 cups of mozzarella
1 cup of the parmesan
8 oz  of provolone slices

Soak eggplant slices in salt water for at least 30 minutes and rinse well (optional to soak if using fresh).
Pat dry, dip in an egg wash, then rolled and crushed Saltines. Fry slices in olive oil til golden, about two minutes per side if using medium high heat. Let sit on paper towels to soak up oil.
Layer a 9x13 pan with your favorite tomato sauce, slices and the mixture of parmesan, mozzarella and provolone  cheeses, ending with Parmesan cheese on top.


Or, try the eggplant just fried, with a salad:

Oh eggplant - you're a meal that can't be beat.

Healthier Choices like Beetilicious Juice

I've been conducting a little experiment: Is it possible to eat just healthy food? I question even considering the concept, because I love my green chile casserole, my French Silk pie, and my cheeseburgers. I love preparing it, serving it to friends and family, and eating it. But, even though I made it with wholesome ingredients, which, in moderation, is just fine; it's still far from the list of foods my nutritional consultant/college buddy, Kelly Greenway, said I should partake in if I wanted to give my body - and liver - a break. Like many Americans, I was looking to get healthier and slim down. My research - and Kelly - noted that if your liver is stressed from processing too much sugar, white flour, alcohol and, well, the endless processed foods found in fast food joints, grocery stores, lunch rooms, restaurants and vending machines, then the weight isn't going to come off. Weight loss is a nice side effect of detoxing, she assured me. At first I pleaded with her to at least keep my carbs. "What about spelt or sprouted breads?" I whined, as I slathered my morning whole grain toast with organic butter - actually something Kelly said was ok once in awhile IF you weren't trying to shed the pounds. "If you must have bread, at least let it be more of a transporter of good fat," she said. Good fats being organic butter, cold-pressed olive and sesame oils, organic virgin coconut oil and a daily dose of cod liver oil (at least 3 grams) that contained both EPA and DHA. But in order to lose weight, Kelly remained firm on the no-bread aspect. "How bad do you want to lose it?" she summed up.

So I did. For about two weeks. I dropped 11 pounds in that first week. I ate nitrate-free sausage for breakfast, without the usual accompaniment of eggs. I don't care for eggs unless they're in egg salad sandwiches or baked in cakes.

For lunches I had salads. A lot. Craving Mexican? 

Taco salad! 

 

Wishing for pizza?  

Fresh mozarella and basil, tomato salad! 

When you are severely limiting what you can put in your mouth - things that you used to put in it without a second glance - you come up with some interesting substitutes. And strange meals that simply satisfy the taste buds. Like a rolled up slice of Boar's Head turkey was a favorite for breakfast. And I can't tell you how many cans of green beans I opened that first week to go with whatever side of pork, beef or chicken I had for dinner. But quickly I found that vegetables and fresh herbs began to play a key role in my daily meals. Since I wasn't allowing myself any form of sugar - even milk - suddenly blueberries were a delicious treat in smoothies. I began to look forward to creating different ways to incorporate coconut milk, which was allowed, into my chicken. I experimented with a balsamic vinegar basted pork loin and a smoked salmon bisque and was transported to Blissville. Even salads morphed into mini appetizers, like the  

Artichoke heart, bacon and feta salad. 

 

Yep, those two weeks, I surprised myself with some lovely dishes, which I will add to this blog and eventually get going in a cookbook, for Kelly's clients and whoever else is making healthier choices with no sugar, no milk, no wine, no bread, no pasta or even rice. When you follow though with that choice, you are forced to read labels. You begin to notice things you didn't before, like that sugar is in almost all processed foods, even the "healthy" canned soups. And, as Kelly said, even the healthy processed foods are still processed, so avoid them.I stuck to eating lots of vegetables and proteins as I craved them. 

One week it was all about  

Chicken.

I didn't want it for the next few weeks after that, opting for more cod and salmon - or my good old reliable standby, beef. But I began to allow occasional bread, like to make a healthy version of 

Fish sandwich. 

Ok, I also had some wine. And guess what? I still kept losing two to three pounds a week - except for that one week I was a chili cookoff judge, had slices at a local pizza joint in Durango, Homeslice, so I could write a food review, and visited Zia Tacqueria to enjoy a freshly prepared baby burrito with a shredded chicken, chorizo filling and guacamole.  I also enjoyed a healthier falafel I made at home with Greek yogurt cucumber sauce with lemon and cumin in a naturally made low-carb pita from Soloman Bakery in Denver.

I didn't lose any weight that week, but the daily 30-60 minutes walks kept me mindful enough to climb back on the wagon of fresh foods. It's been a journey, and I'm discovering new ways to prepare fresh, healthy NON-processed foods everyday, and it's exciting. I have a new appreciation for fresh, organic vegetables, meats and dairy products. I found some great low-carb bread from a bakery in Denver, Julian Bakery, that uses healthy, natural ingredients NOT packed with chemicals typically found in the low-carb products in the grocery aisles. Those products are NOT viable in the no-bread adventure. As Kelly pointed out, your liver has to process all those chemicals too! Just eat a piece of homeade bread. Yes, simplicity is more my style now - and fresh ingredients. Which brings me to my latest craze -  

Vegetable smoothies. 

I saw the movie, "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" and was reminded of the many health benefits of juicing veggies. Kelly had been on me to eat the beets and bitter greens daily, to cleanse the colon and liver. As she said, "Beets are good for the colon because when the gallbladder is stimulated, bile flow is flowing….and that makes you poop. And that is good." When I asked her about taking well-known herbal liver cleansers like dandelion root or milk thistle, she replied "When you cleanse the liver in any way, you have to make sure that the detox pathways are open, the colon and the gallbladder. Otherwise it just gathers all of the toxins up as it removes them from the liver and they redistribute in a worst way. Beets…Beets...Beets..." She also recommended an adrenal supplement for me, for a couple months. "It doesn’t do much for the gallbladder and the colon except maybe help even out your stress response, and balancing out your sympathetic/parasympathetic response which would help your colon in a round about sort of way." 

I was taking the adrenal supplement, but not getting enough greens. After watching the movie, I remembered a woman telling me a decade ago how juicing had cured her sickness and how it changed her life - her whole outlook and attitude. 

It was like a bell went off. So, I found a juicer for $8 at the thrift store and found a recipe from "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead," changing it to include a beet and carrots. What resulted was a pint-sized glass of heaven. I was practically buzzing with energy after drinking it, so you may want to enjoy it in the morning.

Also, if you want to enlist the help of a professional, Kelly's information is below. I know she sure helped me see the light, and begin making those healthier choices.

Kelly Greenway NTP

Pend Oreille Chiropractic

www.healthysandpoint.com

Beetilicious Juice

1 beet 

1/2 lemon

3 stalks of kale

2 inches ginger root

1 granny smith apple

1/2 cucumber

2 carrots 

Juice in a vegetable juicer (even the lemon should be chopped in half, with the skin left on - though never leave the skin on oranges or grapefruits if you choose them). Drink right away.

 

Empanadas!




Oh empanadas! How I love your pocketfull of goodness...Every culture has a version of you - rolled out dough folded over a sweet or savory filling. Peas and potatoes go into samosas, cherry pie filling go into American turnovers and beef, preserves or fruit pie filling go into empanadas...from Mexico down to Chile. I was craving pumpkin empanadas, so I whipped these up using whole wheat, soy and white flours. They turned out just as flaky and tasty as using all white flour, not to mention a bit more nutritious.

I also used part agave nectar, molasses and local honey instead of all brown sugar for the pumpkin filling. Scrumptious.

You need a rolling pin and some time to roll out the two dozen mini pie crusts. Also use two different kinds of filling - the pumpkin filling I used for this recipe is enough for one dozen. Grab a can of pie filling or homemade preserves for the other dozen and a little variety. If you don't eat them all up that day, stick them in the oven heated to 350 degrees for 8 minutes to crisp them up again. Great with coffee, milk or tea...

Some people may be a bit put off by the rolling out by hand part, but that's the most difficult aspect of this super easy recipe - and after the first couple tries, you'll get the hang of it...

Spice the pumpkin filling recipe or down depending on how you like your filling - I used lots of fresh grated nutmeg, cardomom and cinnamon for this...and it gave the pumpkin flavor a nice pop.

Pumpkin Empanadas

3 cups flour (I used 2 cups regular and 3/4 c whole wheat, 1/4 c soy flour)

2 t baking powder

1/2 t salt

2 T sugar

Mix the dry ingredients and cut in, with fingers,

1/2 c shortening

When it resembles cornmeal, add in with a fork

2 eggs

1/2 c milk

When the dough pulls together, take it in your hands and form into a ball, split into two, wrap in plastic and refridgerate for at least 20 minutes.

Make pumpkin filling - mix and simmer 10 minutes - but let cool before filling empanadas:

1/3 c brown sugar

1/4 c agave nectar

1 T honey

1 T molasses

1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 t cardomom

1/8 t nutmeg

1/8 t cloves

Let cool and drop in 2 or 3 T dollops onto rolled out empanada dough - 12 six to eight inch circles about as thin as a pie crust.



Like I said, experiment with the fillings to make them your own...Brush with egg whites, sprinkle with sugar and give each empanada a small slit a knife to allow steam to escape while baking. Bake in a 350 degree oven 20 minutes or until golden brown and filling bubbly.

Enjoy!





Chicken n Shrooms

When something savory is needed for dinner, I always like the combination of chicken and mushrooms for both flavor and nutrients...Served up with a green salad, it can't be beat.

I'm not a big fan of handling the whole bird I must admit. I'll do it if I have to, but less is more in that department, which is why I like chicken tenders - already sliced up and ready to throw in the frying pan.

They take mere minutes to cook and are healthy to boot, especially the organic, free-range variety. This dinner takes a few minutes and is delicious. I got the idea from grandma, who used to make these lightly fried chicken tenders for grandpa (and me if I was lucky enough to be hanging around). I added the mushrooms, wine and cream. For a lower fat version, don't add the whipping cream and use chicken broth. But if you can, try it with the cream - it's soooo yummy and gives it the decadence factor.

Chicken with creamy mushroom wine sauce

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup corn flour or masa

1 t salt

1/2 t pepper

1/4 t smoked paprika

Mix together and dredge chicken tenders - about a pound - before adding to oil over medium high heat.

After chicken is cooked through, deglaze the pan with wine - either white or red for more color. Add the whole mushrooms.

Add to pan:

3/4 c wine

1 to 2 cups of whole mushrooms

1/2 c whipping cream

1 minced garlic clove

Let simmer till mushrooms are soft and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Add cream and simmer til a thick, creamy sauce emerges. Salt and pepper to taste. 

Pour sauce and mushrooms over chicken and serve. Mmmm...

French Silk Pie

An all-time fav, this is best eaten the day of, slightly chilled. It is oh so yummy in a creamy chocolatey kind of way...close your eyes and enjoy a blissful moment of heavenly chocolate.

French Silk Pie is a dream come true for chocolate lovers...and yet it's so easy to make. The secret is using the freshest ingredients - eggs, butter and heavy whipping cream - as well as quality chocolate, instant espresso powder and vanilla. Whip it up with a little love and you can't go wrong...

Quality ingredients include:

Chocolate - unsweetened...melted in the microwave.

Eggs - farm fresh if you gottem.

Butter and sugar

Espresso powder, or instant coffee works in a pinch.

Whip the butter and sugar well, with love...

Add eggs, one at a time, whipping a minute or two after each addition, and pour into your favorite crust - here I used a store bought chocolate cookie crumb crust for an extra chocolate boost, but I prefer grandma's pie crust - the tender flaky crust balances the blast of chocolate and vanilla cream nicely.

Whip the cream as soon to serving as you can, and top with chocolate curls, chips or nothing at all...

French Silk Pie:

Baked pie shell, 9 inch

1 c sugar

3/4 c butter, softened (be SURE it is at ROOM TEMP)

3 squares of unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled - I heat in microwave in 30 sec, then 10 seconds, stirring with fork till smooth

1 1/2 t instant espresso powder

1/4 t cream of tartar

1 1/2 t vanilla

3 eggs (Some people boil them a few seconds to prevent any random diseases, but I don't if they are fresh - and I've never been sick yet. I also use a raw egg when I make a Caesar salad - it's all about where you get your eggs from and noticing when you crack them - if they look strange, or rotten. In that case, even if they were "sterilized" they would still taste like crap.)

For topping:

1 cup chilled whipping cream

1 T vanilla syrup if you have it (the kind you use for coffee) or 1 T powdered sugar and 1/2 t vanilla.

Beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Stir in melted, cooled chocolate, espresso powder, cream of tartar and vanilla. Beat in three eggs one at a time til mixture is light and fluffly. Pour into baked pie shell. Refridgerate three to four hous. Beat whipping cream, sugar, etc. til stiff. Top with pie with whipped cream and using a veggie peeler and chocolate bar, warmed...chocolate curls. Wha la!

Cafe Borgia Scones

One thing I love are scones.

I have been making different variations of this recipe for years and I love love love it because the end result is the way a scone should be - light, flaky and buttery on the inside and crispy on the outside. The buttermilk gives a slight tang, but if you don't have it onhand then mix a teaspoon of vinegar with milk for the same effect. Make sure you cook these long enough - they should be golden brown and are best eaten while warm, with coffee or tea - or milk. Use your imagination to create the scone of your dreams - lemon with almonds, blueberry with vanilla, or the following recipe, Cafe Borgia, chocolate and orange.
Cafe Borgia Scones:
Preheat Oven to 400 degrees
Mix together:
2 cups flour
1/4 c sugar
1/2 T baking powder
1/4 t salt
zest of one orange
Cut in, using hands until it resembles cornmeal with small chunks of butter:
1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)
Stir until you can shape with hands:
2/3 to 3/4 cup buttermilk
3 squres of semi sweet chocolate, chopped, or 1/2 c chocolate chips
2 T fresh orange juice
Flatten from ball into circle on floured board, about 10 inches across and 1 inch thick.
Cut into six wedges with pizza cutter and transfer to ungreased cookie sheet.
Spread melted butter, about 2 T, covering each scone and dust with raw sugar if you have it - if not, regular works fine.
After they cool on a wire rack, enjoy! Freeze if you don't plan to eat them with the next couple days, as they turn doughy the longer they sit. Make sure you allow them to cool entirely before wrapping.
Get ready for ecstacy...these are the best scones ever. You can substitute a teaspoon of vanilla or almond for the orange juice and the half cup of chips for anything you like - dried cherries, nuts, raisons, blueberries, raspberries...the possibilities are endless...
Bake 20 minutes or until golden

Slammin sandwiches

Veggie Pesto

Some of my favorite meals are sandwiches. Depending on my mood and the ingredients lying around, I like to dress them up. For example, many people already know the trick of putting potato chips in Turkey sandwiches to give them a salty crunch. But a lesser known dynamo is pesto. There is something about the fresh aroma of basil, garlic and pine nuts in pesto that transforms and elevates the sandwich to Mmmville.
Pesto can and should be slathered on the bread of a Veggie sandwich atop creamy mayo; unless you're a mayonnaise hater, then you should go for cream cheese. Coincidentally, the combination of pesto and cream cheese is also excellent on toasted bagels in the morning, but I digress. For a slammin veggie sandwich, I like to add avocado, tomato and fresh mozzarella on whole wheat or french bread. Simply stated, it slams your taste buds and delights the mouth with soft and supple textures.
Another delectably satisfying sandwich involves turkey and cream cheese - and can be created by spreading one side of your bread of choice with cream cheese and the other with sliced canned cranberry - add lettuce and you're off!
But back to pesto, for a turkey sandwich with a Mediterranean flair, substitute the fresh tomato for minced sundried tomatoes and any mozarella cheese as they all go great with turkey. I like to top it with a big, crunchy lettuce leaf and some freshly torn basil or cilantro leave, which gives the sandwich an unexpected zing and enhances the overall flavor.
Finally, an old standby that is always well received and just plain easy is an Egg Salad sandwich. Boil at least a half dozen eggs, peel and mash while warm with a fork and enough mayo to make it creamy. Season with powdered mustard, salt and pepper to taste. My favorite version is on whole wheat with lettuce and tomato.
These are just a few of my favs...Bon Appetit!