Saturday, March 16, 2013

Vitamix is the bomb.com

Wow. Just wow. It is kitchen appliance extraordinaire. It's not just a blender, it actually helps me live a healthier life. Is the cost justified? Absolutely, hands down. I am pretty cheap and even I was ready to spend $500 after doing research and talking to friends who own a vitamix. Luckily I was able to get one for $380 at costco. Regardless, It's worth every cent. I use my vitamix throughout the day.

I make green smoothies with kale, chard, beet greens, etc. on a daily basis. The greens are pulverized and my smoothie is silky smooth. No chunks or pieces of leaves! Silky smooth -- it's unbelievable. This means that even with the craziness of three kids I still get to have a delicious glass or two of a nutritiously dense smoothie. I'm talking 2 to 3 cups of kale or other green leafy vegetable in a smoothie.



Basic green smoothie:
1 small apple
1 lemon (I like to take the skin off, remove seeds and put into vitamix; or you could just squeeze the juice)
Ginger (I use an inch)
2 handfuls of kale (removing stems is ideal)
Turmeric or cayenne pepper
Water
(JalapeƱo because I like mine spicy)

I even made ice cream today that my kids went bananas over. The vitamix pulverizes ice and frozen fruits! The consistency was that of frozen yogurt (not the soft serve variety). Very much reminded me of turkey hill frozen yogurt.


Strawberry ice cream:
1 frozen banana (slice before freezing ripe bananas)
handful frozen strawberries
splash or two of cashew milk

I just mentioned cashew milk in the recipe above. I never really understood the nut milk hype. It tasted pretty bland at the grocery store. The homemade stuff is completely different. Creamy. Decadent. Sweet. Satisfying. The recipe for cashew milk is insanely easy.


Cashew milk:
1 cup cashews
3 cups milk

I enjoyed a delicious cashew milk green smoothie today. The cashew milk provided all the sweet I needed. Toddlers and baby approved.


Breakfast smoothie:
1 cup cashew milk
Water as needed
Handful frozen strawberries
2-3 cups spinach
1/4 cup oats

Next week I will be doing spring juice detox with my vitamix. Buying juices for a cleanse in LA, if you actually pick up the juices, costs a minimum of $75 based on my research. No thanks!!

My vitamix has paid for itself. I'm completely obsessed.

p.s.  Vitamix makes awesome margaritas!!!


Strawberry margarita:
1 bag of frozen organic strawberries
4 limes (remove skin)
6 shots of tequila
3-4 tablespoons agave
2 glasses ice
(3 servings)

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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Fish curry with rapini & sweet potatoes

I loosely used this recipe for inspiration.  I had mahi mahi on hand.  I subbed the cocunut milk for cocunut butter (not the same as as coconut oil). 

Sauteed onion in coconut oil.  Added panch poran (bengali 5 seeds). Added garlic.  When everything got aromatic I added curry powder (sorry mom!).  Once I could smell the curry, I added 2 tablespoons of coconut butter.  Then I followed the recipe.  Salt & pepper to taste. 

V, my husband who is american born indian, walked in and exclaimed, "oh gawd, why does it smell like curry??"  He has lost all indian rights.

I would absolutely make this again.  Easy and quite flavorful.

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Sundays at the hollywood farmers market

I adore going to the farmers market with all 3 kids in tow. 

Great find:  saint benoit yogurt (its made from sweet Jersey whole milk and the lemon meyer is out of control).  I'm in love!!!  They sell their products in returnable clay and glass jars.  Heavenly!!!

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Thursday, August 16, 2007

Cafe Talesai: Green Papaya Salad


Cafe Talesai** is a crazy good Thai restaurant. Hubby is in love with their pad thai. I have fallen hard for the papaya salad.

Papaya Salad: Shredded green papaya, tomato, green beans, cashew nuts, in a chili-lime & garlic dressing.
Divine. I don't even like papaya regardless whether it's ripe or unripe. I was blown away by my intense love for this salad. Tart, crisp, harmonious papaya dancing in my mouth with this tangy, spicy and fresh dressing. I could eat this everyday.

I never understood how salads were meals. I've had salads at some awesome places on the East Coast. I'd almost always prefer something else than salad as a meal. But then I discovered salad in Los Angeles. It's a meal. Nothing plain or boring. The vegetables are so fresh and bursting with flavor. Salad everyday would be no more problem for me.

**I've only been to the Beverly Hills location. The other location does not have the papaya salad either.

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Sunday, May 20, 2007

Hollywood Farmer's Market = Food Heaven

I woke up at 7:30 AM on Sunday morning and hopped out of bed. I was full of such excitement. Open door glorious farmer's market. I grabbed my canvas bag and zipped on over to find farm fresh free range eggs, vibrant produce and even sinfully delicious gluten free chocolate chip cookies. I went crazy, like a kid in a toy store, and carried as many bags full of produce as I could carry. Everything was super affordable. I'm not joking when I say, if you fill your kitchen with such delicious food, there is ZERO craving for over processed crap food. One of the many reasons I am in love with California: fresh organic delicious affordable produce all fucking year round baby!!!

These cherries are orgasmic. Better than candy. Sweet. Rich. Sinfully decadent.

I don't even like strawberries but fell in love with these organic beauties. Fresh. Fragrant. For dessert I munched on the strawberries and bit of dark cholate. Can we say heaven?

Green goodness. Sugar snap peas. No need to cook. I ate them as is. So crunchy. Forget potato chips or any over processed junk-- I would eat sugar snap peas any day as a tasty snack.

I packed my lunches for the week. A salad bowl and a fruit bowl (cherries/strawberries/rasberries)

The best thing is I feel so healthy without even trying. I'm not giving up flavor. I am excited about going to work tomorrow just so I can eat my lunch -- and that's say a lot if you know me. The beauty of food gets me a bit choked up.

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Monday, April 30, 2007

Magic Noodles



Why do I call them magic noodles? Uhm.. what else do you call 2 serving of noodles for 40 calories? The magic noodles are actually Shiratki noodles made from tofu but don't taste like tofu or anything really. The noodles are great for a guilt-free pad thai or stir fry. A thank you to the low-carb gods.

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Monday, April 2, 2007

Sprinkles Rookie Mistake


I arrived in front of Sprinkles Bakery at 2 PM and found a long line. I was shocked. How good can a cupcake be? I waited 30 minutes in line for the flourless cupcake. People were buying cupcakes like they were going out of style. I clucked my tongue at them, the Sprinkles box has become the Tiffany's powder blue box for baked goods in Los Angeles. I bought 2 cupcakes, one flourless cupcake for me and a vanilla with milk chocolate cupcake for hubby. The cupcakes were $3.25 each. I was craving a sweet treat so I paid the exorbitant price.

I am a FOOL. Hands down, the best cupcake I have ever had. Hell it's better than what I remember a cupcake to be from the days I used to eat wheat. I may go as far as saying that it was one of the best baked goods I have ever tasted. How do I describe the taste of this velvety, fluffy, pillow-like, chocolate, creamy goodness? Each bite melted in my mouth. The cupcake was not too sweet, just enough chocolate, delicate and decadent without being heavy. The frosting exploded in fresh vanilla taste.

Sprinkles makes me feel like I am not missing out on anything being allergic to wheat. Yes, the cupcake was that orgasmically good. The bakery closes at 7 PM and the cupcakes are a holiday special, only being sold until April 10th. I'm going to the Bay this weekend for Easter. Luckily, Monday is my new day off, and you can be sure I'm buying a dozen cupcakes on Easter Monday. How am I going to wait an entire week???

How does a flourless cupcake taste better than a for real flour cupcake? MAGIC.

I'm going to go lick the crumbs off my plate.
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Sunday, April 1, 2007

Sprinkles Bakery


Sprinkles is a famous bakery in Beverly Hills that is supposed to make one bad ass cupcake. Apparently comfort foods have become the chic food in the past few years. I've never tried Sprinkles because of my dreaded wheat allergy. However, they have a flourless chocolate cupcake with a vanilla glaze for Passover for a limited time (4/2 - 4/10). I will be there bright and early tomorrow morning.

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Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Tex-Mex


I haven't found authentic Mexican food in San Antonio, however, there is plenty of Tex-Mex. Mexican food in L.A. is fresh, full of flavor and naturally delicious. Tex-Mex is greasy, salty and fried, albeit tasty but not everyday. I've been eating a lot of Tex-Mex (San Antonio lacks international cuisine) and now my diet is deficient from the lack of vegetables. I am tired of the damn Tex-Mex. I never ever grew sick of Mexican food in L.A. This confirms it, I am ready to go home.

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Monday, March 12, 2007

Food Diary


Some days taking the time to cook food or even order take out can be arduous. Today was one of those days. At least I was able to keep my energy up while shopping.

Drink:
1 Iced Green Tea

Food Consumed:
2 Mangoes
2 Guavas
1/2 of a Papaya
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