Grego's Salsa Salad:

When I make this salsa it is only wise to make it in an ridiculously large batch or else I might have to make it every day.

Although to any other person this is simply 'fresh salsa' to Gregory this is salad to be eaten by heaping tablespoons with breakfast meals and just anything else he can think of.

When we first became sweethearts I use to make this salsa for him.  Every morning we would have it with poached eggs.  No word of a lie it may have been how I won his heart.  Yup its that good!

Fresh not Frozen blueberries are the only way to go...but you can try mango or pineapple too.  The Chipotle peppers can be found in a little tin in the Mexican section at most grocery marts.
Be careful with this ingredient!  Just 1 pepper can go a long way in a large batch of salsa.

I fork one of these lil babies out and cut it up into tiny pieces with a fork and a sharp knife then add it to the mix without ever touching it.  Guaranteed I rub my eyes after toughing these hot things ..learn from my mistakes my friends !

The tomatillo are a type of green tomato that come covered by a papery husk.  These simply cannot be skipped.  Also a word to the wise ...memorising the grocery code for these will get you through the checkout line faster since they seem a little uncommon.

So this is what we like to put in our Fresh Salsa ...ehhhemmm Salad :)

• Onion 
• Red pepper 
• Juice of 1 lime (more if you like)
• vine ripened tomatoes 
• tomatillo's 1 or two is great
• chipotle pepper (I use 1 ...If you like it hot go for more)

Chop it up and enjoy ....I really like cilantro but find not everyone is a fan.  So most often I wont add this but I think it makes it extra yummy :)

Sweet Things & Green Things ...Green is GREat!

Today was one of those days that seemed like it would be a flop
 but I actually got a lot done :)
 After a sleepless night ...I managed to power through the day like a champ ....if I don't say so myself :)
...with some great kitchen activities ...a great back workout WITH cardio
 even a trip to the Dentist with my short stinky side kick
the day felt like a marathon ...but I feel happy about it ...just wish sunshine was a part of it
but I guess you can't have everything
Now I relax...just thought I would share some food pics of some yummy stuff I made today ...more mini Quiches ...lots of Spinach this time...blackberry muffins for my kiddo and an amazing Green monster Smoothy ...I am certain it is the Green that got me through this day
Thanks Green
Your Great

Chick Chicken:

Ingredients:

• Shiro Miso Paste                     1 TBSP
• Coconut Milk                          3/4 Cup
• Olive Oil Cooking Spray 
• 3 Chicken Breast                     1 Inch Cubed 
• Red Pepper (lrg Diced)           1 Cup
• Onion          (lrg diced)            1 Cup
• Garlic          (minced)              1 Tbsp
• Curry Powder                         1 TbSP
• Cumin                                      1/2 tsp
• Peach           (sml diced)          1 Cup
• Broccoli Florets (small)           1 Cup
• Asparagus (cut into 1") pieces 1 Cup
• Aged White Cheddar (grated)  1 Cup

Method:

Preheat the Oven to 400.

Whisk Miso & Coconut milk together until miso is completely dissolved.  Preheat a non stick frying pan on medium heat and lightly coat with spray.  Add the chicken (in batches if necessary) and saute until lighly browned on both sides.  Transfer to a large casserole dish.  Return pan to medium heat  re spray if needed.  Add pepper, onion, garlic, curry powder and cumin.  Saute for 1 minute.  Add peaches Broccoli and asparagus Mix all these goodies!

Transfer to casserole dish.  Pour liquid mixture over ingredients and evenly top with Cheeseeeee.

Place in oven and bake for 25 mins or until cheese is lightly browned.  

Breakfast Quiches!

These are so easy to make, great snacks and good food TO GO my kiddo even likes them!  I make batches of them and freeze.  Pull out what I need for my lunch snack the night before :)

Ingredients:

• Spinach 2 Cups
• Red Pepper (rough chopped) 1/4 Cup
• Onion (rough chopped) 1/4 Cup
• Egg Whites 1 Cup
• whole Omega Egg 2
• Low fat swiss cheese grated 1/4 cup
• low fat turkey deli meat 5 oz
• cinnamon 1/4 tsp

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400.  Add all ingredients to a blender.  Blend well on low.  lightly coat a non stick muffin tray with spray (I have rubber like reusable muffin cups that work great!)  Evenly distribute mixture into 12 muffins.  Bake for about 20 mins.  To check if quiches are done gently press the center of one, of no liquid comes out they should be ready!

Nutritional Info: 

Calories:  284 for 6 Mini's 

Fat:             7

Carbs:        16

fiber:            4

Protein:      36

Me + Messy Kitchen = Fun Food =Body Rocker!!!

Protein Sushi:

Sushi is a wonderful low fat meal option.  Sushi Rice is virtually fat-free and if prepared without frying or adding mayo, is naturally a low calorie choice. Another plus is the way that the rice is served wrapped in nori and chopped into individual pieces ...this aids in portion control which can help in avoiding over eating.
Ok so now some Cons...both white and brown sushi rice are considerably high in carbohydrate.  White sushi rice in particular is a high starch refined carb ....these are the carbs that have less fiber and are considered less healthy for you.

Now the GREAT News...you can have high protein Sushi with NO rice and I will bet you wont even miss it .  My sushi is made with Egg whites.  I have posted this meal before but I love it so I don't feel a bit bad for rerun blogging.

Simply scramble eggs and allow them to cool.
Lay your Nori, add Lettuce or Spinach, veggies, avocado, seafood, or whatever you love in your sushi.  Roll it up.  slice into bite size pieces and Enjoy.
One thing to note here is you WILL need a sharp serrated knife to slice this sushi
Another option is to forgo the slicing all together and eat them as protein sushi burrito YUM!

Lemon Lentil Soup

I Love Love LOVE a good soup.  A homemade soup in your fridge makes life good ...nuff said.
I doubled the recipe for this soup knowing I wanted to give half to my parents so they could have the good life too.  When it had finished bubbling on my stove I put half into a large jar and scooted over to their house with a baguette ...I think it was well received :)
I had never made this soup before but since it was a recipe out of the Hollyhock CookBook I knew I couldnt go wrong.  It had what I needed.... Lentils for Protein, Veggies, and a lemon Dill twist that sounded like spring ...perfect.

Ingredients:

• 3 TBSP    Sunflower or Safflower oil
• 2 Cups      Diced Onions
• 2 TBsp      Crushed Garlic
• 11/2 Cup   Finely Diced Carrots
• 1 Cup        Diced Potato if Desired 
• 2                Bay Leaves
• 1 Cup        Diced Celery 
• 1 Cup        Red Lentils
• 5 Cups       Water Or Stock
• 1/3 Cup      Squeezed Lemon Juice
• 2 TBsp       Chopped Fresh Dill
• 4 Cups        Chopped Fresh Greens such as Kale, Chard, Spinach, mustard or Sorel
• Salt & Pepper to taste

1. In a soup pot, saute the onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, and bay leaves in the oil just until the potatoes begin to soften, about 15 mins.
2. Rinse and check lentils for stones.
3. Add celery and the lentils to the soup pot and continue to saute for 5 mins.  Add the water or stock and reduce heat to medium.  Cover and simmer until the lentils and the vegetables are tender, approximately 15 minutes.
4. Just before serving, remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice, chopped sill and greens.  Stir Until the Greens have wilted.  Season with Salt and Pepper to taste.  Serve immediately :)

Enjoy :)

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Grandmother Margie...she is 91 years young today.  Speaking to her on the phone this morning she sounded so wonderful...I caught her just as she was heading out the door awaiting her taxi to the Royal York Hotel in Ontario for her special birthday lunch.  I wish I could be with her...I hope she orders soup :)