Fork you!

Kitchen utensil's. Probably the single most important thing(s) in your kitchen. How do you expect to cook without the proper utensil's? You can't. It's impossible. I've tried, and failed. There are many things that one needs when cooking in the kitchen. Some people have loads of tools that they use, or may just sit there. In my kitchen at home, we have lots of good tools...most of which we do actually use. Some things tend to sit around and collect dust, but those are usually things that you might only use on a special occasion or a holiday. Like aspic salad jello molds. Thanks Julia Child.

Anyways, theres more than one utensil I believe should be a staple in your kitchen. You don't need a thousand things--if you have almost if not all of these things, you should be good with almost anything you cook. If your starting out with a new kitchen, pick up these things for starters.


A set of wooden spoons. One with a straight edge for getting in the corners of sauce pans, and a classic wooden spoon for everything else.
A metal spatula. For burgers, pancakes, cookies, and grilled cheese!
A large slotted spoon. To scoop food out of boiling water, and for serving.
A large standard spoon. For sauces, and serving.
Large tongs. For tossing salads, turning chops, plucking vegetables from the steamer. The locking kind store more easily.
A silicone spatula. For mixing ingredients, and getting the last bits of batter from the bowl.
A mini offset spatula. It frees fritatta's, lasagna's, brownies, etc from the pan. Also a great cupcake froster.
A wire wisk. Get's air into eggs and batter, to make them light and fluffy.
A fish spatula. Thin, flexible, and perfect for fragile foods from flounder to fried eggs.
A ladle. For soups, stews, and sauces.
A potato masher. Also works great for mashed cauliflower, or breaking up canned whole tomatoes.
A "Y" shaped peeler. It has more control than the standard variety.
A palm sized vegetable scrubber. Quickly cleans up potatoes or root veggies.
A low-tech can opener. Most of these are great bottle opener's too.
Stainless steel measuring spoons. They last longer than plastic ones.
Nesting measuring cups. They conserve space.
A large microplane grater. For cheese, citrus zests, ginger, chocolate, garlic, etc.
An instant-read thermometer. Takes the guesswork out of steaks, chops, and roasts.
A natural bristle basting brush. It holds more liquid than silicone versions.
A good kitchen knife. For cutting, chopping, scooping, etc.

If you have most of these things in your kitchen, great. If not, no worries. There's obviously a ton more little gadgets to play around with. They make things for everything now! Crate & Barrel have amazing toys. To be honest, lots of stores have a kitchen section. Target has a great one! Cheap, essential things you can grab for your kitchen. When I finally have the luxury of my own kitchen, it's going to be spoiled. Spoiled with gadgets, accessories, cute things to prepare and serve with.

Obviously there's a lot more things that you will probably need to cook in your kitchen. These are the basics. Hope it helps!

The 25 healthiest foods for your body!

Let's face it. Not everything we put in our body is good for our body. I'm a culprit of that. Sometimes you just get cravings for things...like Mcdonalds (my weakness, yes it is) or a greasy steak and cheese (YUM!). But, there are certain foods that are healthy for your body and you don't even know it. I adopted these foods from a few different places, but I think they are the 25 healthiest foods you can eat. Some of them aren't so common but if your looking to change up your diet, give them a shot.

Here goes.

1. Skim milk. I grew up on it, so I don't mind it. It offers 9 essential nutrients-calcium, B vitamins, and vitamin D which is a potential cancer fighter.
2. Mushrooms. Never used to be a fan, but lately I've been embracing them. Substitue them for meat and slash up to 400 calories from a meal.
3. Whole grain pasta. Try to avoid "multi grain", it may be made with a number of grains, but they aren't necessarily whole ones.
4. Walnuts! A great source of omega-3 fatty acids.
5. Peanut butter, and almond butter (the natural kind, like the Teddy brand) They containt heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and are loaded with protein.
6. Oatmeal. Keeps your cholesterol down, helps fight against heart disease, and keeps you full until lunch!
7. Almonds. Also packed with monounsaturated fatty acids.
8. Eggs. One of my favorite foods, the whites offer protein, minimal calories, zero fat and cholesterol while the yolks are full of vitamin B12 and vitamin A.
9. Nonfat greek yogurt. Loaded with probiotics, greek yogurt can contain 8 more grams of protein (maybe even more) per serving than regular yogurt.
10. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts. A staple in every household! A lean protein.
11. Wild Salmon. Omega-3 fatty acids and will keep your skin glowing! Wild is exposed to fewer toxins than the farmed atlantic variety, so stick with wild if you can.
12. Kale. A leafy green with loads of vitamin C, beta karotene, calcium, and antioxidants.
13. Kiwi. One ounce has twice the amount of vitamin C than an orange and almost as must potassium as a banana.
14. Blueberries. Packed with fiber and antioxidants!
15. Broccoli (one of my favs!) Vitamin C gold mine.
16. Avocado. 20% of your daily dose of fiber in one 1/2 cup serving.
17. Black beans. Another favorite, packed with antioxidants and magnesium which helps maintain nerve muscle function.
18. Sweet potatoes. Full of antioxidant beta-carotene.
19. Extra virgin olive oil. I couldn't live without it! Used in moderation, its an outstanding source of monounsaturated fats, and fights against heart disease.
20. Edamame! Baby soy beans that pack more fiber than shredded wheat cereal and have the same amount of protein as roast turkey.
21. Oranges. Vitamin C and can help the body burn more fat.
22. Spinach. Loaded with iron (for healthy hair) and folate.
23. Pumpkin. The antioxidants in this winter squash keeps skin healthy and can lower blood pressure.
24. Kidney beans. A chili essential, one of the most antioxidant rich foods in a USDA study.
25. Cheese. Ok, so its not the healthiest food for your body. But how can you live without it?! I can't. It's got tons of calcium and is one of the best tasting foods on the planet.

25 heathiest foods for you. You can create tons of healthy happy dishes with these ingredients! Just something new for you to add to your day, or your diet. :)

Weekend Woes

Happy Friday everybody...it's been a long, tiresome, stressful week...but its finally over.

I typically stay on track with my diet and exercise routine during the week. Then the weekend comes...and you're like "I can cheat. It's all good." I say that to myself every weekend. Then I step on the scale on Monday and I usually get disapointed. I found a couple of awesome (on the healthier side) recipes that are great whether it be for a cozy friday night in with your other half, a chilly saturday afternoon, or game day sundays.

Some weekends its nice to do nothing. After a hard work week, theres nothing more I like to do then spend the weekend relaxing with my guy. Even better, it gives me more time to experiment and try new recipes out. I enjoy spending time in the kitchen, and I look forward to that on the weekends. It's always nice to relax and cook for not only yourself but your family and friends.

Here are a few recipes I want to try, I might try the wings this weekend.

Honey Dijon Chicken Drummettes

• 1 1/3 pounds chicken drummettes (about 10)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
• Salt and pepper

The original recipe I found says to fry the chicken wings in oil. But I think baked are just as good, and a lot more healthy. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Pat wings dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle chicken wings with baking powder, salt and pepper to coat evenly. Refrigerate wings, uncovered, for no less than 8 hours.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bake wings for 20 minutes, flip them over, cook for another 20-25 mintues until crispy and brown. While the wings are in the oven, heat the butter in a small saucepan. Add the honey and both mustards until heated through, and the honey is runny and melted.

Toss wings in large bowl with honey mustard sauce. Serve immediately. They sound really delicious.

The other recipe I found that looked really good, was a creamy broccoli soup. I found it in Real Simple Magazine, which is one of my favorite magazines. It would be perfect for a cold winter day.

Creamy Broccoli Soup

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 2 cups of low sodium vegetable broth
• 1 bunch of broccoli, florets roughly chopped and stems peeled and sliced (about 7 cups)
• 1 large russet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 2 ounces sharp white cheddar, grated
• Bagel chips, for serving

Heat oil in large saucepan. Add onion and red pepper if using and cook, until onion is soft about 4-6 mins. Add the broth, broccoli, potato, 2 cups of water, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper to saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until vegetables are very tender, 18 to 20 minutes. In a blender puree the soup until smooth. You can also use an immersion blender right in the saucepan until desired consistency is achieved. Top with cheddar cheese and bagel chips before serving.

Just a few recipes to try out if your going to be home this weekend and are looking for something new. I hope everyone has a great weekend.

The Brown Bag

Bringing your lunch vs. buying your lunch during the week. It seems like such a small issue...but I have strong feelings about it, and here's why.

I feel like the main reason why people buy lunch everyday is for one simple reason: it's easy. It's so easy to call somewhere, order something, and have it delivered. Instant gratification, which is what people crave more and more these days. People don't have time to prepare lunches at home the night before, and you can forget about trying to make something in the morning. And yet people wonder why their wallets are empty.

Lets take myself, for example. First off, I happen to be almost broke. People spend a ton of money on lunch during the week. I can tell you people at my office spend up to 10 dollars a day on lunch. Your paying for the food, plus the delivery charge, plus tip! Do you realize thats $50 bucks a week!? Thats $200 a month your spending on your LUNCH. Believe me, it's ALWAYS nice to order out. If you have the money and prefer to, I'm not stopping ya. I absolutely order out maybe once or twice a month for a treat, but for the most part I bring my lunch and save my money! If your someone that order's out a lot, you should try bringing your lunch for a week or two and see the money that you save.

Secondly, I enjoy making my lunch. If you're making your lunch at home, you know whats in it. You also know, that you made it. Not some greasy kid in a sub shop. A lot of people grab a quick salad. Smart choice, but if you get a greek salad (which is one of my favorites, that I always tend to order when I do), they load on the feta! Feta is delicious and one of my favorite cheeses, but too much of it is no good. A good option is to just get it on the side. Even still, I get skeeved with ordering anything out because I am not a huge fan of other people touching my food. Who would be? And that goes for eating out in general for me. I can handle it a few times a month, just not not everyday.

Lastly, I am trying to stay healthy. If I bring a healthy lunch I'm not tempted to order out. I love Arnold's rounds (which I have mentioned before) with cow cheese, thin sliced ham or turkey, loaded with veggies and dijon mustard. I feel so much better eating that than an italian sub or steak and cheese. I don't understand how people can order greasy food day after day after day. I certainly do not want to offend anybody, but I'm not sure I'll ever understand. Maybe its because I enjoy healthier foods and just feel better all around when I eat smarter. Don't get me wrong I love me some Lynwood pizza or Bejing House chinese...but I just can't eat it everyday!

It's also smart to make lunch for your kiddies if you have them, and they're in school. Of course kids want to buy lunch...but what really is in the cafeteria food? I can tell you from my experience in public school it was nothing healthy! I think they probably have better choices these days but I would much rather send my kid with something I made from home.

Some easy lunch ideas:

• Sandwiches. Whole wheat or multigrain breads, lean deli meats, dijon mustard, veggies, laughing cow. Simple but so delicious.
• Leftovers from dinner the night before. Put them into a tuperware as your cleaning up. Easy!
• Frozen meals like Smart Ones or Lean Cuisines. At least you know the nutrition information, and they're super easy if your in a rush or trying watch your calorie count. 
• Salads--make them the night before with lots of chopped veggies and a light dressing. Yummmmmmmy.
• Fruits and veggies. I like grapes or sliced pepper or cucumber with hummus. Grab an apple or an orange and throw it in your lunch bag.
• 100 calorie snacks--whatever kind you want!
• Yogurt.
• Flavored seltzer water. My favorite! Healthy and always quenches my thirst.

This is just MY opinion. That's what blogs are for, right? ;)

Avocado: It's the Good Fat!

Avocado's. Lets talk about them. Some people love them, some people just aren't a fan. I happen to be overly obsessed.

It wasn't until about a year ago I really started to get into the odd shaped green skinned fruit. Yes, thats right. They're a fruit! They grow on trees and at first glance, look pretty yucky. But once you cut into their delicious bright green flesh its a different story. They have such a smooth and creamy texture and are one of the most versatile products out there! I happen to eat them out of the rind with a little bit of salt..I like them cold. Mexico produces over 80% of the avocado's supplied to the U.S., California grows them too.

One of my all time favorite lunches is a 100 Calorie Arnold Round, with a few slices of rosemary ham from Trader Joes, a Laughing Cow light swiss wedge, and a few slices of avocado. Talk about YUMMY. They are great in salads, on sandwiches, on burgers (I happen to love turkey burgers or morning star veggie burgers), on chicken, pastas, toast, sushi, or one of my favorites..guacamole! Trader Joes has an absolutley delcious pre-packaged guac, and Wholly Guacamole which you've probably seen in the store is just as good. I on the other hand like to make my own. I do it two different ways. McCormack has a great quick guacamole seasoning packet in the spices isle, that you add to two big fat avocados and mash well. Refrigerate for a an hour or two and you have a delcicious guac! If I have a little bit more time, I like to mash up a few avocados, add garlic, chopped tomatoes, crushed red pepper flakes, maybe even some chopped red pepper. A lot of people like cilantro but I'm not really a huge fan. You can really add anything you want to avocado to make a good guacamole. Some people prefer Haas avocados over any other kind, but I happen to think any old avocado is delicious.

The down side to avocado--its loaded with fat. BUT, its the GOOD fat! You need fat in your diet. I try to stick to about a quarter or so of an avocado when I put it in (or on) my food. One avocado has around 15 grams of fat. I figure a quarter of that isn't so bad. On the up side, they have 60% more potassium than bananas, and are rich in vitamins B and E. They also have been shown to lower cholesterol levels. Another tip for you avocado lovers...if you keep the pit inside the avocado (if you have half left over, etc) it helps it from browning and will keep it green a little longer. My mom taught me that one! Lemon or lime juice will also do the trick.

I think its becoming more and more popular now that more people are trying to stick with a healthy/fit lifestyle, and spice up their diet.

Dinner tonight:
4 oz seasoned grilled chicken with sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, and a sprinkle of feta cheese on top of Shirataki Tofu spaghetti. A drizzle of olive oil and I have a delicious dinner to devour!  

Hungry Girl

Happy MLK day everyone...I am jealous of those that have the day off! However, today is rather slow here...which gives me some time to blog.

I will start off with the loss of the Pats game yesterday. I hate seeing people upset and am truly sorry for all you die hard fans out there...they were not themselves last night. However...nothing a little COD and baked ziti couldn't cure for my David...a full belly and some xbox agression and he felt a little better. :)

Did anyone else watch the Golden Globes last night? I typically don't make it all the way through award shows, however I managed to watch the whole thing last night! It was pretty funny actually, and I was glad that The Fighter took away two awards, it truly was a great movie. The Social Network did work! I havent seen it yet but plan to watch it soon. It really must be that good!

Anyways, I had a great weekend. It was definitely a "cheat weekend", and not my typical "cheat DAY"....sometimes you have to say eff it. We spent Friday night at BJ's. Seriously, its like the best place on earth. They have everything and when it comes to food you CAN'T go wrong. I think I got 5 pounds of Perdue thinly sliced chicken breast for something like $13 dollars. It could be more I just can't remember. 12 pack of Chobani yogurt for $12. Greek yogurt is my favorite, and its also so versatile when your making things like dips--use plain lowfat greek yogurt instead of sour cream! We definitely spent a small fortune there but it will last for at least a month and probably more--you just need a freezer big enough to hold everything...

Saturday was a typical day for us...I made the baked eggs that I had mentioned in my previous blog for breakfast. Absolutley delicious! I highly reccomend the recipe. We went over to Legacy Place in Dedham, which I love...just had to return a few things (and buy a few things) of course. We ended up at Chili's for dinner...one of my favorite chain restaurants. I typically am not a huge fan of chains..but Chili's is probably one of the best! They are constantly changing their menu (which is what you should look for in a good chain) and have a great atmosphere--and there food is always great! I am going to do a separate blog about chain restaurants...so check back for that. We had the nachos, I had the grilled chicken tacos and David had the cajun chicken pasta. And I had a mango margarita. Obviously.

Saturday night we went over to Keith's to play the Xbox Kinnect Dance game (SO FUN!) However I will say I think that it was all about the food that night! We walked in to a million different kinds of chicken wings, buffalo chicken dip, an array of appetizers, chips, crackers, cookies, etc...everything was so good, we couldn't stop...Not to mention jello shots, wine, beer, etc...It was a great night.

My friend Lucy gave me some GREAT healthful tips while we were there. One being House Foods Tofu Shirataki noodles. Basically, its tofu in the form of sphagetti. But its gluten free, and 20 calories a serving and tastes just like you were eating pasta. I am SO excited about these I bought two packs yesterday. You can find them in the refrigerated tofu section near the produce. Any of you looking for a pasta substitute, this is it! She also told me about HungryGirl.com, which I have been looking at all morning. What an amazing website!!! Tons of tips and subsitute recipes for things you love and crave. Check it out! She also told me about an iphone application (there are a ton out there) that helps you count calories and calculate your intake everyday. I'm going to check it out and you should too if your looking to keep track of your diet. Here's a pic of my baked eggs from Saturday!

Healthy weeknight dinners...Easier than you think!

The dreaded question I ask myself everyday, while at work during the week: What in the heck am I going to make for dinner? 5 o'clock hits and you still have no idea. It's so easy to stop and grab something on the way home, or throw a frozen pizza in the oven. Fear not health geeks! There's so many quick, healthy dinners you can whip up in no time when you get home, whether your cooking for just you or your whole family.

It's a little easier for me because I cook for myself during the week. I work until 5 o'clock, then I head to the gym for an hour and a half or so. By the time I get home its around 7, so the last thing I want to do is have to cook a meal thats involved and going to take an hour. Here's a couple of tips and quick recipes I've seen to be more than helpful when I have a hard time with dinner. I always have a pack of chicken in the fridge or the freezer. (BJ's is the best!) Sometimes I make one or two breasts at a time, sometimes I make the whole pack. If I make the whole pack, I always find a way to use it that week so it doesn't go to waste, whether it be for lunch or dinner. If you don't make the whole pack just freeze the rest! The freezer is one of my best friends in the kitchen. I love grilled chicken on salads, in wraps, or even a grilled chicken sandwich piled up with veggies and a little dijon or light blue cheese dressing hits the spot. Grilled chicken is a staple in my home. I always have rice, pasta, and potatoes in my cabinet also. Baked potatoes (or any potato for that matter) are my favorite! David's too. 1/2 a cup of wheat or whole grain pasta with a little olive oil mixed with fresh veggies and a piece of chicken is also a delicious, easy meal. The other thing I love to do is use my crockpot! You can put almost anything in the crockpot--let it cook all day--and come home to a yummy meal without having to cook! I like to do soups in mine. You can't go wrong with a home made soup, or turkey chilli and side salad on a chilly winter night.

My other favorite easy weeknight meal- breakfast for dinner! Your probably thinking, "what is she nuts? breakfast is one of the fattiest meals of the day!" Wrong. Whats better than a few slices of whole grain or wheat french toast? Even cinnamon raisin. Or pancakes for that matter? Make them small so your not taking in a million calories. Eat the suggested portion. Don't overeat! Thats where people get into trouble. Portion control is a huge part of staying healthy. It allows you to eat what you want but still control your diet. A drizzle of real maple syrup along with some turkey bacon or a side of fruit or cottage cheese and your good to go. Use cooking spray instead of butter. Oatmeal is a great meal too. Topped with fruit or a few chocolate chips is delicious. And good for you!

I saw this amazing recipe on the foodnetwork last night. It's called Baked Eggs. I can't wait to make it. You could make this for dinner or breakfast, its super easy and you can put almost anything into it to make it your own. It was made on tv with pork sausage, however I will most likely use turkey or chicken sausage because its leaner. Crisp it up (the crumbly kind, not the links. You could use patties, but just break them up with a wooden spoon) in a hot skillet with a little bit of oil. Use a garlic and herb infused sausage, if your using turkey or chicken you can season it however you like. You could also swap the sausage for bacon or turkey bacon. Add some baby portabello mushrooms sliced thinly to the pan and cook until golden brown. Add some fresh herbs like thyme (which goes great with sausage). You could also add some hasbrowns or small cut cooked homefries to this mixture. Spoon mixture into 4-6 individual sized ramiken's. If you don't have ramiken's, you could use a casserole dish. I like the idea of the ramiken's though, because your eating one portion, and not going back for more. Top mixture with one egg. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 8 minutes. Remove ramiken's and top with shredded cheese. The recipe calls for Gruyere which is a type of swiss, but you can always use a reduced fat mozzarella, or any type of cheese you like. Put back in the oven for another 6 minutes to melt the cheese. The egg comes out runny, so if you like an over hard egg just bake for an additional 3-5 minutes. If you don't want the egg yolk because of the extra calories and the cholesterol, just use the white. It would be just as good.

Panini's are also a great easy meal you can make. I love to use wraps with mine. I love veggie panini's with rosemary ham (Trader Joes) and a wedge of Laughing Cow cheese. I sometimes will even cut up peppers, avocado, cucumber, tomato, black olives, whatever else I have in my fridge and throw it together with a light dressing. Coming home to a nice glass of wine or cocktail after a stressful day is also hard to resist. I find that going to the gym relives that urge to drink, so if your able to exercise or take a walk try that instead of consuming the empty calories. You will feel SO much better mentally and physically. It really helps.  

Hopefully I've given you some ideas and tips to help with dinner during the week. Meals on the weekend can be just as easy, but sometimes its nice to cook a big meal with your loved ones that takes the whole afternoon or a few hours, where you don't have that kind of time during the week.