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Indian Feast & Product Reivews!

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

Indian food is one of my favorite cuisines. The only time I ever get to have it is if I go out to an Indian restaurant or get take out. Lately, I have had an enourmous craving for it, but not a craving to go anywhere and order food! I decided I would try out some boxed Indian meals… my hope is to find some time to actually prepare an Indian dish from scratch. But for now, boxed it is.

I started with these:

Tasty Bite Bombay Potatoes:

Ingredients: Water, Potatoes, Chickpeas, Tomatoes, Onions, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Ginger, Garlic, Corn Starch, Coriander, Chilies, Cumin, Spices.
(VEGAN, KOSHER, GLUTEN-FREE, MSG-FREE & NO PRESERVATIVES!!!)
Nutrition per half box: 100 calories, fat 4g, carbohydrates 13g, fiber 3g, protein 5g

I was actually quite impressed with the nutrition! An entire box provides 10 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber! Pretty awesome! I was lazy and just microwaved the the contents of the package for 3 minutes. It was kind of a watery dish, so I used it as a sauce for some veggies, as you will see below!

Step 1: Saute lots of beautiful delicious veggies with spices! (ginger powder, garlic powder, coriander, chili powder, cumin, onion powder)

veggies include carrot, celery, mushroom, onion, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes

Step 2: Spiralize zucchini

Step 3: Pan-fry spiralized zucchini

Let me tell you, this was the best idea I ever had! TRY IT!!

Step 4: Microwave Tasty Bite contents and combine veggies and zuke spiralz in a bowl and top with heated the, in this case, bombay potatoes!
(this was only my FIRST bowl of goodness!)

Indian Life Samosas: Mixed Vegetable

I LOVE samosas! And these truly did not dissapoint for being frozen. They are a great snack for whenever, but I figured if I was going to have an Indian boxed/frozen feast I might as well go all out!

Ingredients: Peas, potatoes, carrots, corn, enriched flour, filtered water, onions, salt, ginger, green chilies, lemon juice, cilantro, canola oil, herbs and spices and citric acid.
VEGAN
Nutrition per Samosa w/ Tamarind sauce: calories 130, fat 6g, carbs 17g, fiber 1g, protein 2g

I was not exactly impressed with this nutrition info… but it is a yummy snack wrapped in a pastry shell! A good way to get in some fat at least! But at least I can feel good because of this from their website…”Majority of our products are 100% NATURAL with newer ORGANIC ingredients with NO PRESERVATIVES to minimum. Most of our extensive line of products have NO Added Flavor, NO Color, NO Eggs, NO MSG, NO Lard or NO Hydrogenated oils (Trans).” Not bad!

Directions: dipped warm and soft naan in bombay potato contents while consuming! Dip samosa in TAMARIND sauce

Indian Life Garlic Naan:

Ingredients: Organic Unbleached Enriched Flour, water, garlic, canola oil, salt, sugar, yeast, baking powder, vinegar and calcium propionate

Nutrition per half Naan: 150 calories, fat 4g, carbs 24g, fiber 2g, protein 4g

This Naan is unbelievably good for buying it prepackaged. All you do is wrap it in foil and put in the oven for a few minutes!

Of course, enjoy any type of cuisine with a side of Kabocha with ketchup and tobasco
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Overall, I was extremly happy with my Indian feast! The veggies with pan fried zukes + the bombay potatoes was absolutly delicious! With the addition of the soft doughy warm naan and crispy samaosa, I was in boxed meal Indian heaven. I could not have been happier…

note: if you try the Tasty Bite bombay potatoes, I highly suggest serving them with veggies as the base. It makes for a delicious, yet hearty (from the taters and chickpeas) sauce for the veggies.

Posted in Dinner, Product Review, Uncategorized | 8 Responses »
Tags: indian food, kabocha squash, Product Review, stir fry, veggies, zucchini

Warm up with Miso

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

With rapidly approaching low temperatures outside, I am preparing to warm up inside. I have already begun to feel the onset of the chilly weather via the common cold. Every year when the tempertures drop, I get the “common cold,” as do most it seems. It is hard to walk into any public setting (school, restaurant, drug store) and not hear multiple people sniffing, coughing, sneezing ect.

Appetizing, no? Well, No is correct. But the recipe I am so enthused to share with you all…? Well, yes, in fact, it is

Forget over-the-counter medications that are hard on your body and merely cover up your sneezing and coughing for 4-6 hours (if they even do!) and try a more preventative and healing approach with my latest recipe.

Without further ado, I give to you…
MyVerFirstKitchen’s Warming and Healing Macrobiotic Miso Soup
serves 1 big bowl, or 4 small ones

The ingredients for this soup are available at most health food stores, Asian markets/grocery stores or Whole Foods. I have also added them to MyVeryFirstKitchen’s Amazon Store so you can at least know what to look for in the store. Not familiar with sea veggies, macrobiotics and healing??

Check out my page dedicated to Macrobiotics, Macrobiotics: Eat to Heal

Before I delve into this glorious recipe, can I just mention that this was by far the best Miso soup I have ever consumed. Yes, not only the best I have ever created, but the best I have ever tasted. I attribute it’s complex, intoxicating and delicate flavor to the Kombu, which I used to flavored the broth.

So, what do you need to make this amazing soup?

Ingredients
-Kombu: one 4×4 inch piece

-Wakame: 1/2 teaspoon

-Dried Mushrooms (I used a medley I bought from TJ’s and used about 1/3-1/2 of the package. Dried shiitakes work amazingly)

-Nama Shoyu: 2 Tablespoons (I was all out and substituted Tamari)

-Miso paste: 4 teaspoons (preferably mellow white, and Westbrae Natural is a great brand to purchase)

*optional additions include:(for a heartier miso soup)

-tofu, sliced into small cubes (about 3/4 inch)

-veggies such as carrot pieces, onion, scallions, sliced mushrooms

Instructions:
-Soak rinsed mushrooms in one cup of hot water for 10 minutes

(tip: boil one cup of water in a tea kettle or on the stove and then pour it into a heat safe bowl and add the shrooms)

-Rinse, pat dry and then soak the Kombu in 3 cups of water for 10 minutes

-After 10 minutes, add the kombu and its soaking water to the soaking mushrooms for an additional 5 minutes

-Remove mushrooms, slice off and discard stems and thinly slice caps and return to water

-Bring the water to a simmer, making sure to keep just below a boil, and cook for 15 minutes

-In the mean time, prepare wakame by soaking it in 1/2 cup of just boiled water. The wakame will expand by 20 times in size!

*(this is also a good time to prep any tofu and lightly steam your carrots and onions, if using. The veggies should be sliced thin or diced as small as the tofu)

-After 15 mintues, remove and discard kombu and mushrooms from the simmering water with a slotted spoon and then add the shoyu or tamari, and the miso. Stir until the miso is well incorporated (about one minute) and then add the wakame, tofu and any veggies.

-Remove from heat, pour into bowl, and serve! (if using scallions, sprinkle them on top right before serving)

kombu and mushrooms soaking:

simmering the broth (kombu + mushrooms):

“just poured into bowl” miso soup:

Directions: Consume for a happy body:)

Posted in Dinner, Ethnic, Health Tips, Recipes, Uncategorized, Vegan, snacks | 2 Responses »
Tags: kombu, macrobiotic recipe, miso, sea veggies, soup, wakame

Weekend Snacks
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

First thing, I would like to thank all of my readers and to those of you who comment on my Blog!! It is so awesome and truly means more than you know to me! Food is my passion, and I am so happy to be part of a blog atmosphere of passionate foodies:) Okay…on to the food.

The beauty of weekends seems to be the lack of structure. Structure guides our lives monday through friday (or at least my life!), and I do enjoy it from a productive stand point. The weekends, however, provide a nice change of pace. Rather than having to eat what I find time to pack in the morning for my busy days, I have the luxury of eating the food I crave WHEN I crave it. There is also more time for food presentation fun:)

“didn’t your mother ever tell you not to play with your food…?” ummmm…yeah.

Kabocha Squash Fries (yes, I eat ALOT of kabocha!) w/ Ketchup + Tobasco dip

I sliced the leftovers from a whole roasted kabocha squash into “fries” and roasted them at 350 while broiling until crispy (20 min?)

Roasted brussel sprouts + tofu (400 for 20 minutes) seasoned w/ginger powder, garlic powder, tamari, chili powder, onion powder and soy

of course ketchup + tobasco dip

Ak-maks + parm slices

Protein power snack: Sun Warrior Protein Powder + PB + almond milk and water, all topped with dark choc chips (looks like a cookie!)

Plus a plain greek yogurt and dark chocolate chips

Plus pumpkin puree

All eaten together and used as a dip for a Honey Crisp apple

Next up: MORE kabocha fries! + raw broccoli, cauliflower, a carrot, celery, cherry toms, and nori

Dipping sauces= peanut butter sauce + pumpkin butter + pumpkin and of course ketchup + tobasco for the fries

Apple + carrot + celery dipped in almond butter + PB2 (yes dark chocolate chips managed to make their way into this snack)

Another delish veggie snack plate

Dipping sauces= pumpkin butter + peanut butter

How do you eat on the weekends? Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner, or all day grazing….

If I had my choice, I would opt for snacking consistently throughout the day as opposed to meals everyday. For me, large meals (especially during the day) weight me down, make me sleepy, and lower my level of productivity. I tend to eat my largest meal at dinner time for this reason.

I hope you enjoyed this snacky-post!! What is your “go-to” or favorite snack??

Posted in Uncategorized, snacks | 3 Responses »
Tags: apples, greek yogurt, healthy, kabocha squash, leftovers, pumpkin, seaweed, snacks, tofu, veggies

My Very First Protein Bar (high raw, vegan, gluten free)
Sunday, November 15th, 2009

My favorite food bars are those which contain healthy vegan, soy-free protein and a short ingredient list. I realize that food bars are not the healthiest way to get one’s nutrients, but there are times in which my schedule leaves me no choice! When I am running late in the morning and don’t have time to pack a “well rounded” meal, I grab a protein bar and greek yogurt to go. They are also awesome for traveling. Well, they are also quite pricey! (meaning wayyyy overpriced for what you get!)

Well, my recent obsession with Nugo Bars and Rebars inspired me to create my own version… this was a completly random and on the spot creation, no pre-meditation!

Ingredients:
-Peanut Butter/Almond Butter or PB2, 1/4 cup
-Agave, 1 tablespoon
-Coconut Milk, 2 cups (I use So Delicious Unsweetened)
-Cornstartch, 2 tablespoons
-Vanilla Extract, 1 tsp
-Stevia (optional), 4 drops
-Rolled Oats, 1/4 cup
-Chia Seeds, 2 tablespoons (optional)
-Brown Rice Puffs, 5 cups + 1 cup
-Protein Powder, 6 scoops (I use Sun Warrior)

1. Toast oats in oven at 350 for about 5 minutes
2. Dissolve cornstartch in 1/4 cup of cold coconut milk
3. In a large bowl, mix together 5 cups of the rice puffs and the 5 scoops of protein powder
4. Bring remaining coconut milk to a boil, once boiling remove from heat and immediatly add peanut butter, agave and stevia and stir until beginning to thicken
5. Add cornstartch mixture and continue to stir (note: my mix above did not thicken as I wanted it to, so I added cornstartch)
6. Once it has slighly thickened, add rolled oats and chia seeds (optional, will make batter “gummy”)
7. Gradually add the rice puff-protein mixture to the peanut butter mixture until combined
8. If mixing is difficult (as it was for me) transfer to a food processor and lighly pulse just until combined
9. My mixture was paste like, so I folded in 1 cup of the rice puffs at this point
10. Roll mixture out onto parchment paper, using extra protein powder as “flour”
11. Press in extra rice puffs during the process if needed to make rolling easier
12. Dehydrate for at least 30 minutes @ 118 degrees, or use your oven on the lowest setting with oven door ajar
13. Remove from dehydrator or oven and slice into even “bars” (I made about 16)
14. Make ganche!

rolled out dough with puffs “pressed” in for ease…

Chocolate Ganche
1/4 cup non dairy milk
4 oz of semi sweet chocolate chips (or about 7.5 tablespoons)
Pure Maple Syrup

1. Bring milk to a boil
2. Immediatly remove from heat and add chocolate and maple syrup and stir until smooth and creamy
3. Dip the smooth side of your bars into ganche and return to wax paper.
4. Refridgerate until dry

If anyone attempts making these, please tell me if you do anything different! I am going to be creating another version of these as my goal was to make them more crispy. I am thinking of doing a “rice crispy treat” inspired protein bar next time to acheive the lightness I want.

Nevertheless, these are very tasty and boost 12 grams of protein/bar

Posted in Raw, Recipes, Uncategorized, Vegan, snacks | 7 Responses »
Tags: gluten free, healthy, protein bar, Raw, snacks, Vegan

Product Review: Jamfrakas Bar by Larabar
Monday, November 2nd, 2009

We all love our LARABARS, but I was super excited to find these Jamfraka bars for kids at the store! They are about half the size of a normal Larabar and thus contain about half of the nutrition. Larabar is a company I will always trust, so the more products by them, the better!

From their website:
Our company name comes from an ancient belief that food falls into two categories:
BECKONING FOODS, which beckon consumption again and again, sapping the body of energy without any real health benefits, Today, they’re called “junk foods.”
HUMM FOODS on the other hand, resonate with energy in a whole, natural state. When consumed, they cause you to feel vibrant and alive.
You can expect an unmistakable urge to humm after every LÄRABAR bar you eat.

Pros:

-smaller size for when you want a less filling bar
-soy free, dairy free, gluten free
-USDA organic
-CRUNCHY/CRISPY!
-contain fruits + nuts + honey + whole grains
-contain about 10 vital minerals and vitamins in each bar
-and of course, trans fat and high fructose corn syrup free!
-fun flavors: Apple Crispalicious, Chocolate Chip Cosmocrisp, Banana Chocolate Blastocrisp, Strawberry Crispiscrumptious, Peanut Butter Blisscrips

Cons:

-not raw or vegan
-less flavor options
-flavor less pronounced
-higher in sodium per gram
-longer and less attractive list of ingredients

Jamfraka Review: Peanut Butter Blisscrisp

INGREDIENTS: Organic Peanuts, Organic Dates, Organic Rice Crisps (Organic Brown Rice Flour, Organic Honey, Organic Raisin Juice Concentrate, Sea Salt), Organic Honey, Sea Salt

NUTRITION PROFILE per bar:
calories: 120
Fat: 5g
Carbohydrates: 15g
Fiber: 2g
Protein: 3g

Texture: Slight crisp/crunch. In comparison to the Peanut Butter Cookie Larabar, the Peanut Butter Blisscup is much less chewy. The flavor has a interesting aftertaste to it that I can not figure out. It is not bad, I just couldn’t find a word to describe it! I actually prefer it to the Larabar Peanut Butter Cookie bar.

Lastly, I found this bar less filling obviously than a Larabar, however it did hold me over longer than anticipated during class. I have yet to try the other flavors, but look forward to doing so!!

Overall, I would recommend you give these a try, kid or not! Although I also eat kids gummy vitamins… so what can I say!

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Responses »
Tags: gluten free, healthy, Jamfraka, Larabar, nutrition bar, Product Review, snacks

School Snacks
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

I am still fine tuning my school snacks to figure out what works best for me. School snacks AND work snacks I should say! Here are some of today’s.

These are my absolute favorite raw food bars! (This flavor too!) …product review soon!

Sorry for the terrible photo! I was running late this morning for school. My snacks include an Oikos yogurt + My Moja Mix + Grapes + 1 orange bell pepper (which I ate like an apple at work, I didn’t have slicing time this morning!) The Oikos + granola filled me up SO well! Must be the carb/protein mix!

One of my classes moved buildings today, and now I have to walk CLEAR across campus (about a mile) with my super heavy backpack! It was TERRIBLE! The new building we are in is awesome, but my car is so so so far away:( I wouldn’t mind if my backpack didnt hurt me:( So I am doing Pilates tomorrow morning before school in the hopes of stretching out my back and shoulders.

Dinner tonight included leftover Kabocha squash + leftover tortilla pizza from dinner Sunday + a HUGE salad!

My salad started with a layer of spinach, then a layer of mushrooms, tomatoes from our garden, 1/4 of an avocado, raw broccoli, DULSE per VeggieGirl’s suggestion! + flax oil and lemon. It twas refreshing!

Look what I found on one of my Dulse pieces!!

See the little shell guy?? It was STUCK on there! I use to call them sombrero’s or something as a kid when I found them on the beach:)

VeggieGirl, have you ever tried the little sweet/salty seaweed snacks that come in those small little packages??

After dinner palate cleanser included an not-pictured small shard of Theo 70% dark chocolate and then this:

Traditional Healing Peppermint Tea + 1 Lucy’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Thin! (Product Review on these manana)

I never showed you all my eats from dinner at my parents Sunday (which is where my leftover tortilla pizza came from). My mom made corned beef which I passed on. I have not been consuming red meat for a few months so I avoid it most of the time because I know that it will upset my stomach. And why would I want to feel sick when socializing with the fam! My mom DID make a TWO BEAUTIFUL veggie plates!! Yes, I attacked them!

Dipped them into the yogurt/dill dip she made!

The boyfriend made a smoked salmon spread:

Here is my veggie pizza with lots of veggies and 1/4 cup of cheese:

My dinner plate: sweet potato, Caesar salad, cabbage, tortilla pizza!

Hasta Manana Bloggies!!

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Responses »
Tags: dulse, granola, kabocha squash, leftovers, oikos, pizza, salad, snacks, tortilla, veggies

Sweet Potato Superfood
Thursday, October 1st, 2009

They are a superfood, right!? Fried or not…?! Sweet Potato fries, oh how I love thee

I am EXHAUSTED! Finally home and ready for bed! My first day of school was fun though! Campus is soo beautiful! I also love the feeling of being engulfed in a place where everyone is expanding their minds:) And red square was full of different companies giving out free food/drink products!!

After work I was so exhausted that we decided to grab some food at our fav bar and grill down the road. I got a large house salad with the dressing and cheese on the side, as well as an order of sweet potato fries!

ps: both of these bowl/plates were alot bigger and deeper than they look! I was stuffed! I even got a bite of the boys apple pie:)

Free Drinks!!!

Good night bloggies! Sorry for the quickie post, but a girls got to get her sleep for anoother day of school!!

xo,
D

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Response »

Pilates
Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Sorry I didn’t post last night! I had dinner and then started BAKING and realized I HAD to get to bed I have class at 10:30am and always need extra time in the morning of my first day of the quarter to find my parking space and classes!! Work last night was awesome by the way! (4-8pm).

During one of the hours the studio was empty, except a mat class in the back room. One of the women that works the front desk Saturday came in to workout so I joined her and did the entire intermediate reformer series plus a couple of advanced exercises!! I hadn’t worked out in SO long (since last week!) I started doubting myself on the order of things when I know that I know it!! Anyway, being able to do Pilates ALWAYS uplifts me, and there is some sort of amazing euphoric feeling that comes with doing the reformer without an instructor. However, not having worked out with an instructor in a while has been frustrating. Working at the studio, we get free Pilates with the apprentices who are being trained at the studio to become teachers themselves. My most recent instructor already graduated the program and became certified!!! However, that left me with no teacher because all of the NEW apprentices can only teach Beginning workouts right now. I have worked out alone a couple of times, but having somebody there adjusting and pushing you the whole time makes for such a different type of workout! Also, the only things I can do alone are the Reformer and Mat because I still don’t have a very comprehensive understanding of how the Wunda Chair and Wall Unit work. I will take pictures at work of the equipment to show you guys! (if I am allowed to)

OOOkay on to last nights eats. I came home and was pretty hungry so I grabbed a carrot to snack on while I figured out what to eat! (the boy calls me a bunny) On nights when I get home from work late, my boyfriend and I just kind of go with the flow of our hunger. He gets hungry before I get off work, and while I use to come home and make dinner for us at 8:30pm, we have both learned that it takes to long and is just too stressful that late at night! I started by putting a leftover tortilla pizza-quarter (from my grandma’s earlier) in the oven at 350, and I used the new rack my mom gave me and it came out SUPER crispy!!

I made a collard wrap! I added this amazing tahini sauce I made to dip raw falafel into, but it is good on anything! I will have to share my rendition of the recipe!!

To my wrap and pizza I added a sweet potato with ketchup + Tabasco and a yellow bell pepper and cherry tomatoes!!

This was fun to eat! Little yummy tastes of everything!! Well it’s 8:15am now, (I woke up early for all my sweet readers! Thank you, it means SOO much to me!) and I have to get ready for school!! Today is going to be a LONG day! I should be able to blog a little bit between classes! And I have some very fun posts coming up for you guys!!

Here is a preview of my baking adventures: (recipes to come!!)

Oh and I almost forgot, here are my packed snacks for school/work! I will not be home until after work tonight!!

half of a yellow bell pepper, 1/2 cup of cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup of grapes, and a huuuuge green apple!! Plus one of my all time favorites:

have a wonderful day everyone!!!!!

xo,
D

Posted in Uncategorized | No Responses »

Grandma + Mom = Stocked Fridge
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Helping my grandma today was super fun, and I even got to stop by my parents on the way home! I snacked on these all morning:

And we still have MORE apples!

My mom wasn’t home but my Dad was:) I took my grandma to the grocery store (only one of my FAV activities!) I grabbed a couple of things I was going to buy while at the store, and she was so sweet that she bought them for me! She also gave me a bunch of food AND some pie plates. She lives alone so she can NEVER get through her food before it goes bad so always tells me to take whatever! Grandma’s are awesome:) I made her a quesadilla with some new tortillas I got! They are La Tortilla Factory, multigrain, made with EVOO and HUGE! And just so you know, she is not at all a fan of fresh fruits and veggies! Rasberries and bananas are the only thing she “forces” herself to eat!

I made myself a tortilla-pizza with one whole red bell pepper and a 1/4 cup parm + mexican cheese blend mix. She has a toaster oven that makes the tortilla so crispy!!

Does it look like a sun or a person’s head and hair?! I thought it was cute

Here is what my sweet grandma bought me/gave me + the baking sheet and cooling rack from my mom that she had left for me!

Like my Halloween muffins liners?! I feel baking in my future! Plus my girlfriend at work has already requested something!

After helping my grandma, I went to my parents house. My Dad and I caught up for a while, I haven’t seen my parents for a couple weeks! There fridge was totally stocked, and my mom is always so sweet to let me take some fruit/veggies home when I come over. Even though she wasn’t there! (sorry mom, but thanks!) Moms are the best! Here is what I figured was okay to take because there were surplus’s

My mom made those pickles! She does it every year and they are the BEST pickles ever!! Marinated with bell peppers, onion, jalepenos and more! My boyfriend and I have been waiting because the cucumbers have to “pickle” forever! They will be ready on the 4th! yay! Also included are some mushrooms, bell pepper, lemons, walnuts, cherry tomatoes, on the vine tomatoes, shredded cheese, swiss cheese squares, an avocado, little baby plums (?), carrots, grapes, broccoli and vegetarian baked beans! I am SOOO excited!! Yummy food!

When I left my parents I went straight to the parking permit place for school (I went in the morning and the line was out the door!). I was able to get one, thank goodness, as school starts manana! I am excited yet overwhelmed at the same time. I have school from 10:30-11:20am and then 1:30-3:20pm and THEN I have work from 4-8pm! (everyday except friday and the weekends.) I plan on staying on campus between classes to get homework/blogging done! I am actually really frustrated though because I am not going to have time to do any Pilates during the day:( Or go running! This summer I was running 3-5 times per week and doing Pilates 3 times per week! It felt SO good to move my body so much! This is going to be/already is a huge change for me! My appetite will not be nearly as much fun to blog about:( Hopefully on the weekends I will have time to prepare some yummy extravagant meals again! My eats might be boring during the week, sorry!

Enjoy the rest of your day and I will see you tonight for dinner/snacks!! I have to go to work now!

xo,
Dara

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Responses »

Freezer Burn
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Finally home! After work (I work from 4-8pm and get home around 8:30 usually) I truly wasn’t hungry, but figured I should make something because, well, because! I still haven’t gone to the store to restock my veggie/FOOD supply so it was time to brainstorm, yet again.

I knew I had some beautiful pesticide free grown apples from my and the boyfriend’s adventure this weekend! ( I am saving the adventure for a separate post!) So I washed and chopped some of those up!

Do those look amazing or what?! I grabbed the rest of my zucchini + onion from earlier (last one!) and then found some broccoli in my freezer… well it was completely freezer burned and my mom always tells me that that ruins the flavor however I HATE wasting food! I decided a broccoli stir fry was in order, to this I also added some collard leaves for wilting.

I sautéed a tsp of sesame oil with the onions + zucchini + freezer-burned broccoli + collards. At the end I threw in a couple tablespoons Newman’s Own Lighten Up Sesame Ginger Marinade.

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I had a bad “mom is always right” feeling about the broccoli (which was making crazy mushroom type noises!) so I made a “back up” plate which consisted of: Kale Chips + Seaweed Salad (from the weekend adventure!) + the apple! And Hot Apple Mustard Sauce for dipping (tastes like spicy apple sauce! soooo GOOD) Doesn’t it kind of looks like Peanut Butter??

Oh and a glass of pinot noir of course!

The boyfriend thought the stir fry was “bomb,” but after a few bites it started to become wierd to me! I blame the freezer burned broccoli! It was for sure a texture/flavor thing that got me. I ended up not eating too much stir fry. I knew the time had come to say goodbye my freezer-burned broccoli (I had a HUGE bag), but no worries, I compost everything!!! ps: that is where the rest of the stir fry went too

Does anyone have any tips on how to prevent freezer burn to your precious veggies???

OH, and after I did have my last two gluten-free cinnamon thins! I will be reviewing these later!

Bed-time! I have to get up early and clean up around the house and tomorrow I am taking my grandma to do some shopping/errands!! (she is 87!! and of course does NOT drive!!) should be a fun adventure! I will post what we decide to eat together!

xo,
MVFK aka Dara (pronounced like Sarah with a D!)

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Responses »
Tags: apples, compost, freezer burn, kale chips, seaweed, stir fry

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