Every Meal is a Workout

Another reason to buy from a farmers market

2012-01-25T15:38:00.000-08:00

It doesn't come as a newsflash that mistreated food industry workers, really poor people who have to come to work sick, are highly correlated with outbreaks of food-borne illness.

Beef brisket

2011-12-29T17:00:00.000-08:00

I always wanted to make a brisket, so I read 10 recipes and winged it. The meat came out delicious and tender. I used grass fed beef from Whole Foods.

First I studded it with garlic, added salt and pepper, then seared each large surface.

I used white onions, fresh rosemary and thyme, and vegetable broth and cooked on low in a 250 oven for about eight hours. The meat came out so soft that it didn't need slicing. I used some of the broth to braise red cabbage.

Hot sauce with cranberries

2011-11-23T14:30:00.000-08:00

That's not cranberry sauce, that's hot sauce. Originally I wanted to try something like this recipe, only without canola oil and sugar.

I roasted jalapenos and garlic and boiled my cranberries with tangerine segments, then blended the peppers and garlic and added it to the cranberries.

Fresh Oregano

2011-11-22T13:46:00.000-08:00

Herbs and spices are my favorite ways to give oomph to healthy food. A bunch of oregano was $1, and has lovely health benefits, including anti-inflammatory action.

Fresh melt-in-your-mouth black cod from Santa Monica seafood with fresh oregano

Roasted eggplant, onions and garlic with fresh oregano

Salsa verde my way

2011-11-09T12:50:00.000-08:00

Roasted tomatillos, white onion, green pepper, jalapeno, and garlic with cumin and black pepper. Blended on high for a creamier salsa.

Shown on my breakfast of eggs and greens.

Bear (and beef) burgers

2011-09-18T15:56:00.001-07:00

I used olive oil, finely chopped white onion, and dentes de perro peppers (below) given to me by an incomprehensible but sweet fellow at the French Market in New Orleans, and garlic. I chopped and smashed the peppers with the oil, cumin and paprika. I used an egg to bind the burger and I grilled them on my stovetop cast iron piece.

The beef is 15% fat (left). I estimate the bear at 45-55% fat. What a find. This was the most delicious burger I ever ate.

HCFS - if it isn't so bad, why are you trying to change the name?

2011-09-16T14:04:00.000-07:00

And why are you doing that without FDA approval?

Sometimes they get it right

2011-09-12T15:54:00.000-07:00

The USDA has passed new regulations making several strains of E. coli illegal in our meat. Thank you!

New Orleans Eating

2011-09-03T11:06:00.000-07:00

My biggest obstacle to eating healthy while visiting New Orleans is the salt. I try to drink two gallons of water every day I'm there. Maybe that means the biggest obstacle is the price of bottled water or the state of the bathrooms...

Lucy's on Tchoupitoulas and Girod: Gulf shrimp on blue corn chips with guacamole. I didn't eat the chips or the dipping sauce, which my companion didn't like either. The shrimp were delicious as usual.

I also had a salad with salmon and a ton of bleu cheese. The greens were fresh and the salmon was tender and cooked just like I asked.

For dinner that night at Desire on Bourbon, I had a dozen oysters and Creole shrimp (pictured). The tomato sauce had a kick that snuck up on me. My companion's dinner was too salty to finish.

Lunch the next day was at Sake Cafe II at 2830 Magazine, which is inside a converted church. The sushi was good and I had an unusual warm mushroom salad, drenched in butter. The mushrooms were fresh and tasty.

Dinner at the Red Fish Grill at 115 Bourbon was mixed. I asked for no carrots but they came anyway. I had lamb loin stuffed with lump crab, absolutely fabulous.

My friend had the signature dish, grilled red fish with lump crab meat and she loved it.

Deconstructed eggplant and beef lasagna

2011-08-22T17:18:00.001-07:00

Salt, rinse and drain eggplant slices.

Roast them in a 350 oven for about 30 minutes with olive oil and pepper. Then put cheese mixture (whole milk ricotta, grated or finely chopped real mozzarella, Italian seasonings, fresh parsley if you have it) right on top of rounds and heat until cheese is melted.

A veggie mixture of your choice, grass fed grass finished beef with plenty of garlic and white onion and a homemade tomato sauce (tomatoes, garlic, butter, water) topped it off. The veggie mixture shown included Chinese broccoli and red pepper.

Eat food, not supplements

2011-08-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

Nutrition science is such a complicated, ever-changing subject. Despite the billions North Americans have spent on antioxidants, there is little evidence they work. What's your best approach for health and longevity? As always, eat several servings of leafy greens (the most ancient "human food") every single day.

Leg of lamb steak with coconut butter

2011-07-17T11:59:00.001-07:00

Broiled New Zealand leg of lamb steak with Spicely Mexican seasoning and plenty of coconut oil, then topped with coconut butter

Very fresh orange roughy

2011-07-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

from Santa Monica Seafood. Pasture butter, garlic, mustard, cumin, black pepper, lime and herb salad.

Lamb lion chops with chimichurri coconut butter

2011-06-26T17:09:00.001-07:00

I warmed up the coconut butter and added yellow onion, garlic, and chimichurri. Then I seared one side of the chops, flipped and added the butter mixture to the top.

The End of Overeating by David A. Kessler, MD

2011-06-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of books about emotional eating out there, but I particularly enjoyed this one for the rigorous scientific explanations of brain functions. That kind of narrative can be hard to follow for those of us who aren't neurosurgeons, but Dr. Kessler managed to make the most complex living organism, the human brain, accessible. He also takes the food industry to task for its manipulation of these brain functions to make products more and more difficult for many people to resist. If you are an emotional eater and feel you might relate to a science-based program to control your addiction, you want to pick up this book.

Stuffed cabbage with lamb and beef

2011-05-30T10:26:00.000-07:00

There weren't enough large leaves to wrap two of the meatballs. I sliced some onions, garlic, and cabbage into the broth of water and canned chopped tomato. After bringing the sauce to a boil, simmer on low for about 45 minutes, basting about three times.

I had a hard time removing whole leaves from the cabbage after cutting off the base, so I'm going to try another method next time. I've read that you can freeze the head of cabbage or core and then immerse the entire head in boiling water to make it easier. I boiled the leaves for 5 minutes in salted water, then rinsed with cool water.

One pound of fatty grass fed grass finished beef plus one pound of lamb equals six meals for me. I seasoned with pepper, paprika and oregano, plenty of garlic and white onion.

Zucchini boats with ground beef

2011-05-15T16:06:00.001-07:00

1 lb grass fed grass finished 15% fat ground beef
3 large zucchini
onions
garlic
coconut oil
2 eggs
ground hemp
oregano
thyme
pepper
paprika

These huge cheap zucchini were smiling at me at the Farmers Market. I eat about 1/3 lb of meat per meal, so three large zucchini boats makes for perfect portioning.

Carefully use a knife and spoon to scoop out the zucchini halves. I saved the flesh to cook up in my eggs tomorrow morning.

Cook the onions and garlic in the coconut oil until soft, then add the meat until just brown. Season this mixture heavily with oregano, thyme, pepper and paprika because the zucchini are not seasoned.

Remove this mixture from heat and let it cool off completely before adding two eggs and some ground hemp. Gently mix and spoon into your zucchini. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

GMO foods are not the way to feed the world

2011-05-12T13:16:00.000-07:00

This article links to several studies, some brand new, shooting down the notion that factory farms are the only way to feed the exploding population. GMO foods and crowded inhumane farms are not the only way.

Sockeye salmon with Meyer lemon and fried bay leaves and garlic

2011-05-02T06:19:00.000-07:00

Snipped the bay leaves into tiny pieces so they'd get crunchy along with the fried garlic, sliced Meyer lemon thin.

Chemicals in our Food

2011-04-29T10:56:00.000-07:00

Short article that sums up the lamentable current state of the relationship between the FDA and the food industry when it comes to regulating chemical additives and preservatives in our food. There is literally no way to evaluate the various combinations of these concoctions that we put in our bodies and allow to be put in the bodies of our children. The voluntary "Generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) program is a joke, as you might expect.

Cuban-inspired lamb stew

2011-04-25T06:22:00.000-07:00

My trainer Troy Alvarado is writing a cookbook. A recipe for ropa vieja, a Cuban beef and tomato stew, will be included. It inspired me to make this lamb stew with a leg of lamb steak that I cut up. First I browned the meat and removed it from my stew pot, as with any stew, to get those intense flavors. I added onions and garlic to the oil and sauteed them until soft, then the peppers, tomato paste, tomatoes, along with salt, pepper, cumin and a bay leaf. I much prefer fresh tomatoes but they are expensive right now.

Beef stew with u choi

2011-04-16T20:10:00.000-07:00

I feel comfortable leaving a pot in the oven on low during my training up the street. Browned grass fed stew pieces in grapeseed oil, removed from heat, cooked onions and garlic. Varied textures from long cooked u choi and Southern greens in butter cooked fresh while the soup heated. Vary your veggies too.

Still Skeptical of High Fat Diets?

2011-04-16T19:29:00.000-07:00

No less than the nationally respected dietician Susan Kleiner has developed a high fat diet (46% of calories from fat in this case) for the new Abs special issue from Oxygen magazine. She's still a little too scared of saturated fats in my opinion, and uses canola oil, which I totally avoid. It was based on Jeff Volek's research, which I've alerted you to before.

Top Sirloin with Red Cabbage and Chinese Broccoli

2011-04-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

I bought a large top sirloin steak from Rocky Valley (the "farmer to you beef" people at the Santa Monica Farmers' Market). I've never been quite this successful with top sirloin before - look at all that juice! All I did was throw it in a hot stainless steel pan until it charred up, sprinkled on some chimichurri. I had it with buttery red cabbage and Chinese broccoli.

Tequila Turkey and Fun with Veggies

2011-04-03T16:14:00.000-07:00

Stumbled on the evidence that cooking a turkey breast with tequila keeps the meat moist. This one also has Meyer lemon juice and paprika.

I have liked cooked celery in soups and stir fries, so I tried it with roasted cauliflower, cumin and turmeric. It came out soft and sweet. I had it for lunch with ahi and fried garlic.

Baby purple broccoli is pretty.

Dare I Say "DUH?"

2011-03-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

I honestly don't understand why we need studies to tell us that changing our food changes our brains. It seems so obvious that your thoughts and your actions are precipitated by your brain, which runs on the food you eat.

Long story short: heal yourself with food.

Indonesian Meatballs

2011-03-27T14:21:00.000-07:00

I had another go at Charmaine Solomon's Rempah-Rempah (Indonesian meatballs), leaving out the coconut this time. I fried them in grapeseed oil and they came out subtle and tender.

3 parts ground beef
2 parts ground lamb
2 eggs
yellow onion
garlic
fresh grated ginger
black pepper
turmeric
cumin
ras el hanout

I beat the spices in with the eggs before mixing with the meat.

Since I had a lot to do this weekend, I tried not to spend too much time on my chicken. Sliced red onion and a fresh squeezed orange with some pepper made a lot of lovely juice, which I enjoy because I microwave the food with veggies for lunch at work.

Shot of beautiful flowering broccoli from the West LA farmers market. I'm eating even more vegetables than usual because I've gone completely off dairy.

Cavewoman Style and "Walk Away" Chicken

2011-03-13T15:28:00.000-07:00

If you get the chance to prepare some bison, remember that it is a lean meat, so if you don't like medium rare or rawer meat, it might not be best for you because it will get tough if you overcook. Ease into it by trying a moist dish with ground bison, such as a lasagna, and break the meat up when browning.
I made a .68 lb ribeye, considered a fattier cut, by burning it in a hot skillet for four minutes on each side and then letting it rest for about 10 minutes longer. The only seasoning was salt and pepper, and I ate it with broccoli.

"Walk away" chicken is the easiest thing to do when I have lots to do on the weekend, need lunches for the week. I simply brown with olive oil for lots of deeper flavor, add chopped onions and garlic, dump on the Italian seasoning and some paprika or chili powder, and walk away.

Cumin Chicken with Red Peppers

2011-03-06T15:55:00.000-08:00

I wanted to make stuffed peppers with these gorgeous peppers but my beef was bad. Instead I sliced them up with onions, garlic, pepper and cumin. Squeezed an orange over the top.

You can make this even if you think you can't cook! All the veggies and the citrus marinade keep the meat nice and moist even when I reheat in the microwave for lunch at work.

I also took advantage of some time on this chilly Sunday to prep fresh veggies and hard boiled eggs for my week.

Wild Food Industry Hijinks - Wood in Your Food

2011-03-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

I think most people have heard by now about the FDA's limits on rodent parts, feces and hairs in processed foods, but this one is new to me. Did you know that many common products use cellulose, or wood fibers, to stretch more expensive ingredients? Wow.

Making it Happen - Turkey Thighs

2011-02-26T17:50:00.000-08:00

We all have to find that time to prepare the proper food to keep us on the healthy track. I threw these turkey thighs in the oven just before I went to kettlebell class and came home to an apartment that smelled wonderful. I squeezed pink grapefruit over my thighs after seasoning both sides with pepper and Italian seasoning blend. I chopped up some garlic too. Today I had it with broccoli rabe.

Easy Soup - Fennel Beef with Yellow Squash

2011-02-23T19:44:00.000-08:00

Brown your meat in hot olive oil with a little butter, season it up, pull it out. Grass fed grass finished beef.

Scraping up bits, sautee your onions garlic fennel bulb, cored and sliced, and celery.

Add the rest of your vegetables, go nuts here, tomato, broth, water, bring to a boil and simmer for about an hour. Gets better the next day.

F is for Fennel and Foraging

2011-01-23T14:51:00.000-08:00

I got some free pomelos and a $2 fennel bulb to liven up my basics this week. I made my regular winter chopped salad of celery, red cabbage and daikon, this time with pomelo slices and pomelo dressing.

My turkey breast was juicy with pomelo, garlic and white onion, and sliced fennel bulb.

My mahi was delectable with fennel and garlic, cooked in olive oil.

Inexpensive Ways to Make Healthy Food Exciting - Mint and Parsley

2011-01-09T15:16:00.000-08:00

Making the same foods helps you stay on track and can get boring. I started with mint and parsley - $2 at the Santa Monica Farmers Market.

First I put it fresh cut parsley on top of eggs, collards, onions and goat cheese for breakfast.

Then I made two salads, one with mint, grapefruit juice and olive oil dressing, red cabbage, celery and daikon. The other with broccoli slaw, red cabbage and creme fraiche yogurt dressing.

Last but not least was my super herb chicken. I used a combination of dried poultry seasoning with garlic, white onions, grapefruit juice and plenty of parsley and mint. I marinated the chicken in the juice for a while. Keep the top on throughout cooking to prevent scorching of the fresh herbs.

Sunday Meal Prep

2011-01-02T18:31:00.000-08:00

I made apple cider vinegar chicken with lots of cumin, onions and garlic, and I made a red cabbage and celery chopped salad with fresh squeezed orange juice dressing.
You're seeing my egg salad with chopped celery and tops, plus chopped broccoli slaw from the pre-made bags at Trader Joe's. For dinner I had swordfish with plenty of garlic, rosemary and a sprinkle of paprika.

Sugar and Refined Grains Aren't Good for Babies Either

2010-12-31T09:15:00.001-08:00

My heart aches for the babies. This article scares me.

Easy Soup - with Mahi

2010-12-19T11:03:00.000-08:00

First I chopped my onions, garlic, daikon strips and celery.

Then I added my zucchini and sliced mahi.

This took me less than 10 minutes.

Eat Your Colors

2010-12-12T12:44:00.001-08:00

Check out the color saturation in the purple kale. Kale is cheap and available everywhere.

The slaw has red cabbage, apple, celery, red pepper and orange juice dressing.

Do a Little Something for Yourself and Your Family

2010-12-05T13:46:00.000-08:00

Cook fresh food. Check out what I got this week. You don't have to shop and prep on Sundays, but be sure to find some time about every 3-4 days to get fresh produce into your home and get it ready to eat. Taking easy steps like this aids in weight loss, health, protects your heart health and keeps you happy.

Don't Do Drugs When You Want to Lose Weight

2010-12-03T13:37:00.000-08:00

More scary information about weight loss drugs going through the FDA process. Be healthy and happy by eating more greens, not more pills. And it isn't even considered "effective" !

Rosemary Garlic Turkey Thighs with Oro Blanco Grapefruit Juice

2010-11-25T06:22:00.001-08:00

The title says it all. Happy Thanksgiving!

Jerk Turkey Thighs with Brussels Sprouts and Yellow Onion

2010-11-20T13:54:00.001-08:00

Turkey thighs, pasture butter, apple cider vinegar, yellow onions, brussels sprouts, pepper, jerk seasoning and a tiny bit of chili powder. I took the top off at the end of cooking to get the skin crispy.

Food for a Good Memory

2010-11-20T06:06:00.000-08:00

Not much of this comes as a surprise. As always, leafy greens are included on any list of foods that are great for everything. Pic is yellowfin with maiche (lambs lettuce).

Fall Meal Prep

2010-11-07T15:39:00.001-08:00

I had fun making delectable paprikash chicken and roasted zucchini. Choose an easy one pot meal and relax while it roasts or simmers.

Cranberry Sauce with Super Garlic Cumin Chicken

2010-10-31T17:17:00.000-07:00

Cranberries are here, cooked up with half a pink grapefruit. Served with super garlic cumin chicken with white onions and black pepper.

HCFS is Worse than They Thought

2010-10-28T12:05:00.001-07:00

It has more fructose than the industry has been claiming. Fructose is really really bad for you.

Dill Cabbage Slaw

2010-10-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

Dill on sale at Von's (with card), cabbage, pepper, whole milk yogurt, raw apple cider vinegar, shown with canned salmon and pickling cucumbers, my favorite.

Zucchini "Pasta"

2010-10-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Everyone's talking about it, so I tried using a potato peeler to make pasta out of my yellow zucchini squash. Next time I will add a little salt to the water. Although my chunky sauce of white onions, grass fed beef, and fresh tomatoes was well-seasoned, the dish overall was a little bland. When I warmed up my sauce, I added plenty of fresh spinach.

More on Dangers of Supplements

2010-10-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

I am continually amazed at the backwardness of our FDA and USDA. Today I learn that Hong Kong researchers have discovered all kinds of drugs, some illegal, in fat burning supplements, "herbal" weight loss pills, etc.

Be careful out there. If you want to lose weight, you're going to have to eat your green vegetables, drop the packaged and processed foods, and lift weights. Have fun.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Grass Fed Beef

2010-10-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

The Dr. Weston Price website is a fascinating treasure trove of information about healthy fats. This article explained a lot about grass fed beef, why it is different, and how to age it and cook it yourself.

News to me: the omega-3 fatty acid content often trumpeted by grass fed champions is not very much higher than grain fed beef, and both are very low. Message: eat a varied diet including grass fed beef and cold water fish.

Grass Fed Ground Beef and Weekend Grill

2010-09-26T12:16:00.001-07:00

The raw milk people had some beef on sale this past Wednesday. I decided to break out my cast iron grill because my roommate was out of town and would not be there to witness the massive amounts of oil spattered all over the room. I use grapeseed oil to grill, and I love burnt cabbage and broccoli. The beef tasted very nice especially at the great price.

How I Do It - Curry Mahi and Zucchini

2010-09-19T17:33:00.001-07:00

Less than 10 minutes: mahi, zucchini olive oil and Thai curry powder.

Heirloom Zucchini

2010-09-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

I didn't know that zucchini is one of the most genetically modified foods until recently, so when I saw organic heirloom zucchini at the Farmers Market, I decided to try it since it was the same price as the rest. It was green and white with thick skin and a coating of soft reddish spines that rubbed off when I washed it. The taste was, of course, very similar to normal zucchini, but stronger. I had it with spinach and sole.

Labor Day Splurge - Bison Ribeye with Brie

2010-09-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

Brie sliced thin and placed on steak once I turned it. Used hot heavy bottom skillet with no oil, then covered for a few minutes to rest and melt the cheese.

Is Organic Better for You?

2010-09-03T15:19:00.001-07:00

Finally a very comprehensive, carefully designed study saying YES.

Rosemary Chicken with Red Onion

2010-08-29T10:50:00.001-07:00

Red onions turn sweet in the oven with rosemary and garlic chicken. Easy peasy.

Get Your Veggies In

2010-08-27T15:51:00.000-07:00

Sale at Vons organic spinach and broccoli slaw. No need to go organic on the broccoli crowns or red cabbage. This salad has a dressing of yogurt and ACV with caraway seeds.

Sprouted Kamut

2010-08-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

Tried foods I don't normally buy this week: sprouted kamut, yellow bell pepper and heirloom zucchini. The kamut went in a daikon salad with lemon and oil, chili powder and parsley. The delicious flavorful zucchini at the same price as the other squash went in an egg bake with the rest of the huge pepper and some broccoli.

The Basics of Carbohydrates

2010-08-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

I thought this article was short and yet very informative, with lots of new information about carbohydrates.

Purple Basil

2010-08-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

I think another name for purple basil is Vietnamese basil. It is a lot like green basil but when I smelled it, there was a pleasant but unfamiliar deep element to it that I could only smell at the very end of the scent. I used it in a squash, pepper and tomato veggie "sauce" with pepper and Italian seasonings.

Avoid These Ingredients in Supplements

2010-08-03T08:36:00.001-07:00

Oh yes we love our supplements, but please be careful.

Experiments with Raw and Cooked Celery

2010-08-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

$2.00 for a bunch of organic celery at Santa Monica Farmers Market, intense celery taste. Raw with leaves with sliced daikon, tart lemon juice, olive oil, caraway seeds, pepper, Greek seasoning from Spicely. Used the leaves as delicate aromatic herb for sole filet with olive oil, pepper, Greek, mustard powder. Like butter.

Dover Sole and a Light Hand

2010-07-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

Jamaican jerk seasoning can be overwhelming: sometimes I want that and sometimes I don't. This time, using a light hand on a mild white fish was just the right choice.

Nutrition News

2010-07-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

Why traditional diet advice is no longer applicable.

Panch Phoron Cumin Garlic Chicken

2010-07-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

I toasted the panch phoron mixture in olive oil before smearing it all over the chicken, added cumin, pepper and garlic. Toasting the panch phoron made the flavors more mellow and rich.

Mahi Mahi White Sesame and Coconut

2010-07-10T14:08:00.000-07:00

Sesame seeds to liven up my basic red cabbage with lemon olive oil dressing really came to life when fried up with some coconut crust on mahi.

Let's Stop Wasting Food

2010-07-08T09:28:00.001-07:00

Sure I want you to go shopping and eat fresh food, but does that mean you're always having groceries go bad? That's bad for your planet and your pocketbook. Article from Slate on 10 ways to curb waste.

Thyme Chicken

2010-07-03T19:31:00.000-07:00

Organic air chilled chicken with fresh thyme, black pepper, lemon juice and olive oil, chili powder, peeled garlic cloves.

Avocado Madness

2010-06-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

Sunday lunch of avocado, red cabbage, salad greens, and sole from the Santa Monica Farmers Market, cooked it with garlic and Italian seasoning from Spicely.
Second pic - avocado mess with lemon juice and Penzey's Northwest seasoning, which is tasty but a little too salty for me after all.

Ahi with Basil

2010-06-23T06:03:00.000-07:00

Fish on the weekday equals fast, satisfying and staying lean.

Tomatoes Basil and Bison NY Strip

2010-06-20T12:12:00.000-07:00

Where can you go wrong? Large beefsteak tomato with Japanese basil, lemon juice, olive oil and a sprinkling of Tony Chachere's Cajun Seasoning, black pepper. Lindner bison NY strip, decided to try it still cold inside. It almost tasted like fish, not too much of a surprise since grass fed bison is high in omega-3 fatty acids.

Japanese Eggplant with Basil and Spinach

2010-06-16T20:18:00.000-07:00

Sweet long skinny Japanese eggplant sauteed with plenty of olive oil, Italian seasonings, pepper, then added spinach and basil and wilted.

Horrifying Food Ingredients

2010-06-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

OK I'm not a huge fan of this author, but I have to admire his willingness to take on huge food companies by disseminating this information in a widely-read public forum.

Sole and Vegetables

2010-06-13T12:12:00.000-07:00

I got two beautiful large sole filets from the Santa Monica Farmers Market for $7, spinach is on sale at Vons, and I added some squash and red chard - all for my post-workout meal on Sunday.

Paprika Chicken a New Way

2010-06-10T05:43:00.000-07:00

I marinated my chicken pieces in a mixture of yogurt, lemon juice and plenty of Hungarian paprika, then sprinkled it with black pepper. I baked it with the lid on first, then took it off to let the juices concentrate. The chicken came out flavorful and moist and stayed that way through three days of leftovers. Score!

Weekly Prep - Zucchini Frittata

2010-06-06T15:46:00.001-07:00

Got 20 minutes? Then you have breakfast for four days. I made a frittata by sauteeing onions, baby broccoli and a ton of sweet tender baby zucchini, then adding my lightly beaten eggs, topped with raw baby Swiss cheese. This frittata is seasoned mainly with Spice World's Mexican Seasoning, plus a bit of chili powder and black pepper. I simply cooked this one covered on the stovetop.

More on Dangers of Supplements

2010-06-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

Eat your good food and get your exercise. Even more evidence of supplement contamination and lax oversight.

Roasted Veggies with Rosemary

2010-05-27T05:40:00.000-07:00

I made a mix of zucchini, brussels sprouts and beets and added a ton of fresh rosemary. I used olive oil and black pepper, then roasted until soft. Note: seek out smaller beets. If not, peel the big ones. The peels on the small ones are tender and yummy to me, but the bigger beets' peels are thick and fibrous.

Dangerous Supplements

2010-05-27T05:37:00.000-07:00

Be careful and check your supplements at one of the many websites that test them.

Rosemary Garlic Chicken with Grapefruit

2010-05-24T05:52:00.001-07:00

Marinated drums in grapefruit juice, tons of fresh rosemary, a few pieces of chopped white onion and garlic. Later, sprinkled with pepper and paprika. I removed the lid halfway through baking to concentrate the sauce and brown the meat.

Mahi Mahi with Asparagus

2010-05-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

Trader Joe's frozen mahi mahi comes out nice, good texture and mild flavor. I made it with asparagus sauteed in some pasture butter.

Stay Away from Processed Meats

2010-05-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

Article about heart healthiness of processed meats versus red meat.

Jerk Bison Ribeye

2010-05-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

While trying to think of ways to use jerk seasoning, I grabbed a Lindner bison ribeye. I grilled it on my stovetop grill after sprinkling it with jerk and some extra black pepper. As you can see, I like my bison still mooing.

Fresh Halibut

2010-05-13T06:13:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you can find good deals at ethnic markets. This fresh wild halibut was $6.99 a pound at Nijiya. I made it with Spicely Shrimp and Crab Broil. The first four ingredients are paprika onions garlic and mustard.

Chicken Curry Cauliflower in One Pot

2010-05-08T13:18:00.000-07:00

Throw your chicken, washed and cut cauliflower in a big oven-safe pan and add pepper and the curry of your choice. I used extra turmeric. It made more than three complete meals with minimal effort.

Creole Yellowtail

2010-05-02T13:26:00.000-07:00

Our New Orleans friends recommended Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning. I used it to do up a piece of my overfished (crap!) yellowfin from Trader Joe's. I'm always instructing others to READ INGREDIENTS. Turns out this seasoning is composed mostly of salt, so it is meant to be used sparingly. My fish was pretty but tooth-numbing.

Look for low- or no-sodium versions or make your own with red pepper and garlic.

Do You Buy Organic? The New Dirty Dozen

2010-04-29T15:17:00.000-07:00

They're saying the list of the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables has changed.

Daikon Cabbage Slaw with Black Caraway Seeds

2010-04-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

Did very well with the cabbage last week (reduced appetite and an extra bit of fat loss), so I made a new one today. This was very heavy on daikon, a cheap Japanese radish. It is a cruciferous veggie, of the cabbage family, and a family you should sample every day (Brussels, kale, radish). I used regular cabbage this time.

I picked up black caraway seeds when there were no brown for my sauerkraut. I do not like the black seeds in the kraut. In the raw slaw they are fantastic.

The dressing was again based on Horizon sour cream and Bragg apple cider vinegar, this time with chili powder and fresh cracked long pepper.

I had it for lunch with a coconut crusted piece of yellowfin. Don't forget to season coconut heavily if you're using it as crust.

Jerk Salmon with Spinach

2010-04-24T07:27:00.001-07:00

Tried the Spice World Jamaican Jerk Seasoning on some Copper River sockeye from Nijiya market. Delicious. The first three ingredients are ginger, brown mustard seed and allspice.

Red Cabbage Slaw

2010-04-20T05:56:00.000-07:00

How about some veggies? I grated a big daikon, tried to grate some red cabbage but feared for the integrity of my fingers, so ended up chopping most of it. I made the dressing out of Horizon brand sour cream (no corn starch) and apple cider vinegar with lots and lots of pepper and the Greek blend from Spicely.

Fridge Shot

2010-04-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

Get your green veggies into your precious body. You'll feel better AND look better. I have arugula, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, maiche, Chinese broccoli and chard this week. What are your favorites?

Avoid These Ingredients in Processed Foods

2010-04-18T07:12:00.000-07:00

Short primer on some of the worst offenders on the ingredient lists in processed foods.

How I Tried to Eat Clean in New Orleans - Part III

2010-04-16T06:32:00.000-07:00

This was one of my favorite meals - Bourbon House Creole shrimp. It was rich and spicy. I'm going to make this tomato sauce with onions and peppers and put it on everything. Our curly haired waiter wasn't bad either.

Fun Healthy Recipes that Cut Disease Risk

2010-04-15T13:39:00.000-07:00

The Mediterranean diet is healthy and delicious. Have fun.

Fat is Not the Enemy, My Friends

2010-04-14T11:49:00.001-07:00

More research, a biggie this time.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

2010-04-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

Marinated drumsticks in what I thought was a Meyer lemon, but turned out to be an orange, and apple cider vinegar. Second step was just sprinkling the meat with Spice World's salt free Jamaican Jerk Blend and baking. The chicken came out tender and delicious.

Weekly Prep

2010-04-12T06:04:00.000-07:00

I filled my refrigerator with hard boiled eggs, washed and cut celery and radishes, bags and bags of arugula, spinach, and maiche greens. I stocked up on chard, Chinese broccoli, cabbage, broccoli, onions and garlic, Greek yogurt, raw Swiss cheese, and I made salmon salad. I also made Jamaican jerk chicken (see next post).

How I Tried to Eat Clean in New Orleans - Part II

2010-04-11T07:20:00.000-07:00

The Louisiana oysters were tasty, large and mild. They were also quite reasonably priced (about $13 per dozen), especially compared to what I've seen in LA, but I suppose that's to be expected. We got these at Desire, a seafood restaurant on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. The service was excellent there. The oyster shucker was friendly and many people went up to check out what he was doing.
My entree was grilled snapper with green beans and red pepper, all topped with lump crabmeat. I thought that sounded safe and healthy-ish. I should have been thinking more clearly, as each element was literally doused in butter. I believe in butter but this was overkill. But I won't lie to you. It was fantastically yummy and I ate every single melt-in-your-mouth bite. I had to roll myself out of the chair and take a walk down Bourbon to recover.
My companion had shrimp and grits etouffee (sp?), which was also quite rich. I tasted it and it was thick with flour and rather buttery. She couldn't finish it.

How I Tried to Eat Clean in New Orleans

2010-04-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

Here are two pictures of shrimp salads I enjoyed in New Orleans. The fresh Louisiana shrimp are tasty and a little smaller, quite different from the shrimp we get here in CA. For lack of a better way to describe it, their flavor is very "shrimpy." What I mean is that each bite is packed with rich shrimp flavor, no wateriness or muddiness.

To be honest, I overdid it on shrimp while in New Orleans! Bubba Gump's on Decatur in the French Quarter, supposed to be a shrimp lovers' paradise, was disappointing. Their shrimp were not cleaned very well at all (gross) and weren't as tasty. Were they not using real Louisiana shrimp?

The bottom pic is a shrimp Caesar salad from Lucy's Retired Surfers' place on Tchoupitoulas and Girod in the Arts District. There was plenty of dressing but it wasn't super salty, and the shrimp was seasoned quite well in the Creole style. Their service wasn't really up to what I would consider Southern standards, but it was basically a sports bar. Other places in New Orleans ended up having wonderful service and I will write about them too. I will try to "recreate" this dish with some Tony's Creole seasoning I bought there, maybe using a recipe for creamy dressing from the current issue of Clean Eating magazine.

The top picture is a shrimp wedge salad from the Green Goddess in the Exchange Alley in the French Quarter. It had hearts of palm, radishes, and cucumber slices as well as romaine lettuce and a milder dressing. The food there was fabulous but it took them three hours to get us our food, a mistake that our hosts assured us was rare.

Oven Fried Chicken

2010-04-02T05:49:00.000-07:00

I heavily seasoned some ground golden flaxseed with chimichurri and chili powder. My egg wash was just two whole eggs, lightly beaten. First I dipped the drumsticks in the egg, then the seasoning. I baked it at nearly 500 at first to make sure the coating got crispy, then turned it down to 350. I turned the drumsticks once. They didn't come out picture perfect but they sure were crispy and tasty.

Next time, I think I will oil the pan and marinate the chicken pieces in milk. Oh yes there will be a next time.