Monday, March 25, 2013

It's that time of year again where bread is history for a week. Us Jews may not necessarily be thrilled with giving up the delicious carbs, but there are creative alternatives we can come up with. Yesterday we traveled to New Jersey to celebrate Passover. I was in charge of the brisket. Here is my recipe:


lipton soup mix
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoonsmcCormicks Steak grill seasoning
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic and herb seasoning
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 cup ketchup
brisket
The problem with my cooking is that I throw everythig together and I don't really measure.
I mix the soup mix, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, seasoned salt and garlic and herb seasoning together and place it in a plate, and then cover it onto the brisket. I place the brisket in the crockpot. I cut up some vegetables (onions, mushrooms, carrots, celery) and throw them in there as well. I then pour some ketchup on top, (around half cup) and some water. I set it for low for 8 hours.
If you don't have a crockpot, 
set the oven to 350 and cook the brisket for an hour, covered. Take the tin foil off and add the vegetables. Cook for two and a half more hours. When it is finished, let it cool for an hour before you slice it.
 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Disregard the quality of the photo. This is what not to do when roasting tomatoes #fail

Monday, March 18, 2013

It is quite frustrating when you have a cold and unable to taste anything. For the last four days all I have eaten is soup, half a wrap, and some brown rice. As I am sitting here chewing on tasteless gum (peppermint), I'm thinking about the salad I will be eating for lunch that I also won't be able to taste.

Thursday, March 14, 2013

In honor of Pi day, we enjoyed a deliciously baked pie from Pie Face. I opted for the apple crumb pie--delicious! The top was full of sweet, sugary, cinnamon flavor while the inside was very creamy.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

These are not the healthiest.. but they are the yummiest. I had these about three months ago at California Pizza Kitchen. They are fried macaroni and cheese bites.. AMAZING. They are creamy, cheesy, golden and full of flavor. It is made with rotini pasta for a great texture.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

I don't know how Guy Fieri does it, but after each episode of Triple D I walk away mesmerized. Last nights episodes’ were no exception. Here are some of the restaurants that were featured:
 
http://thelakeviewrestaurant.ca/
http://www.sterlescountryhouse.com/
http://beerbellyla.com/

Sunday, March 10, 2013

I didn't blog yesterday and I don't have much time today. Instead, I am going to leave you with links to some of my favorite restaurants in town. Obviously it was necessary to include the diner and bagel place.

http://www.lapiazzaonline.com/
http://www.coliseumkitchen.com/coliseumkitcheneatery.html
http://www.allmenus.com/ny/plainview/28481-the-mixed-grill/menu/
http://plainviewdiner.com/
http://goldandmeyers.com/

Friday, March 8, 2013

I'm amazed at how much snow there has been, and yet I haven't played in it once. No snowman or snow angels, and no sledding for that matter. I did lounge around my house again today and watch Pawn Stars (a new favorite of mine).
When it came time for lunch, I started rummaging through the freezer. It wasn't gourmet, but it did hit the spot. I had an Indian spiced veggie burger from Trader Joes, and a side of corn.
I love veggie burgers opposed to regular ones due to the fact they aren't dry.Vegetables are a favorite of mine so any excuse to eat them in a creative way and i'm there.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Last night was one for the record books..not really. I did come up with something to make for dinner, but the outcome wasn't as good as expected. The creativity was there, the flavor was not. I would definitely want to cook it up again, just figure out how to improve the recipe. I'm going to share it with you guys, who knows. you may just like it!

Ingredients:

one tablespoon olive oil

one tablespoon unsalted butter

3 cloves garlic-grated

box of frozen spinach-squeezed dry

1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 cup reduced-fat mozzarella

1 Boboli Pizza Crust

1 cup reduced-fat ricotta cheese

17 slices turkey pepperoni

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Heat olive oil and butter in a pan

Sautee up garlic for 3 minutes.

Add spinach and grated nutmeg.

cook for additional 2 minutes.

Spoon out 1 cup of ricotta cheese, and follow up with the black pepper and Italian seasoning.

When finished cooking spread onto pizza.

Top with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni.

Put into oven for ten minutes

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Last Saturday I had the highly anticipated, long awaited trip to the Palisades Mall. The last time I went was just a dinner run at Stir Crazy. I blogged about my last encounter but it was so good I am going to write about it again.

This time we went in for lunch, where the crowd wasn't as overwhelming. Here is how it goes; you pick a meat, either noodle or rice, and fill the bowl with whichever vegetables you would like.

I chose tofu and flat rice noodles since I feel they hold the sauce well. I put in a handful of spinach, baby corn, water chestnuts for added crunch, pineapple for a little sweetness and bok choy for some extra nutrition.

I decided on Thai curry instead of the peanut sauce I opted for last summer. After they finished cooking it up in front of me, I was excited to begin my meal. The curry flavor was very mild, as I am used to it being a bit more overpowering. With that being said, I enjoyed it a great deal.

After we finished our meal, we went on shopping. The mall is a bit overwhelming given it's amplitude, but it was a great day if do say so myself.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Back on February 8th, I mentioned how I made homemade tea. As I was looking through my pictures, I found the one from that night.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Whether we admit it or not, free samples are the best part of food shopping (if they are offered). Yesterday, I was lucky enough to browse through Stew Leonards and see everything they sold When I spotted them sampling the brussel sprouts, I knew I had to try them. The lady was kind enough to tell us how she cooked them up!
I kick myself everytime I attempt to make brussel sprouts. They always come out too mushy and I prefer them caralmalized on the outside. After trying the sample, I knew I had to make them at home.

 
2 cups of shaved brussel sprouts
3 cloves of garlic-chopped
 
two tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
1/4 cup of french's fried onions
splash of low-sodium chicken broth.

Heat the olive oil in a pan.
Add the garlic and sautee for five minutes.
Throw in the shaved brussel sprouts and cook for 15 minutes.
When they are tender, add in the onions.
Cook for 5 minutes and proceed to add the splash of chicken broth.

This is the chicken broth I prefer. Only 80mg of sodium!

Keep in pan for additional seven minutes.
Your side dish/snack is ready to be served!

Saturday, March 2, 2013

For those who love pretzels and peanut butter, you're in luck! I always thought this was a great invention. Although there is no chocolate, it is a healthier alternative to Reese's. The saltiness from the pretzel and the nuttiness from the peanut butter are beautifully paired together. Not to mention peanut butter is heart healthy and high in potassium.

Friday, March 1, 2013

I am always looking for healthier options when it comes to cooking and eating. As I was searching the internet this morning, I stumbled upon this. It seems like a fantastic site with 100% organic products. Check it out!
http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/