Pad Cashew Nut

20130514-070944.jpg For some reason I thought I would have all the free time in the world when I finished my spring semester classes last week. I had pictured myself lounging around on the couch, reading magazines, catching up on movies and TV shows I’ve missed, and cooking non-stop. What the heck was I thinking?! Instead, I’ve been so busy that I’ve hardly had time to make up snacks to grab on the go. My kitchen and my hubby are beginning to feel very neglected.

With a hectic schedule, I find that smoothies and quick meals that can be made in massive quantities and eaten as leftovers have suddenly become my best friends. This Pad Cashew Nut is the perfect example of the latter. In fact, the most difficult part of this dish is waiting for the rice to cook and chopping up the veggies. Aren’t fresh veggies beautiful?:
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Mexican Ensalada Pizzas & Cinco de Mayo Recipe Roundup

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Happy Cinco de Mayo!!

When I was in college, I ate Taco Bell all the time. I mean all the time. Back then, I was poor, lazy, and didn’t think much about my health. Now, well, I’m still poor and I still have a tendency to be lazy, but I’m much more concerned about my health. And let’s face it, while Taco Bell is cheap and easy, the greasy, high-fat foods they offer are not the best if you’re watching your waistline or your cholesterol level.

Since today is a special day–Cinco de Mayo–I thought I would come up with a tasty, Taco-Bell-inspired lunch that is made from healthy ingredients, easy to prepare, won’t break the bank: Mexican Ensalada Pizzas. But first, I thought I would share some of my other favorite Mexican dishes:

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Almond-Macadamia-Flax Butter

20130419-091416.jpg TGIFriday! I don’t know about you, but I’m so thankful that it’s the weekend! I had two extremely important exams this week–one on Wednesday and one on Thursday–and I’m looking forward to having some time over the weekend to just relax and take my mind off of everything work- and school-related.

This past week though (really, the past few weeks), I’ve thought about nothing but those exams. I don’t know about you, but I’m a terrible test-taker, especially when the exams are timed. My anxiety always gets the better of me and I tend to get distracted easily and completely lose my concentration. The last long, timed test I took, I started to get hungry halfway through and I couldn’t think of anything but the crazy rumbling noises coming from my belly. Because I didn’t want to go through that again, I vowed to come up with a plan. I did a little research to find out what foods would give me enough energy to stay alert for up to 5 hours (the length of each exam) and power my brain! As it turns out, the body uses proteins to manufacture amino acids, which contribute to mental acuity and motivation. There are also studies that show that omega-3 fatty acids increase memory and reduce the rate of brain aging. With that in mind, I decided to make a big batch of Almond-Macadamia-Flax Butter.
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Fruit Pizza with a Maple Quinoa Crust

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You know those grand moments when an idea comes to you like a flash of lightning–an idea so exciting that you can hardly control yourself! I don’t have those moments very often, but I’ve learned to act quickly whenever I do before the idea has a chance to disappear forever.

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Roasted Kabocha Squash with Quinoa, Pico de Gallo, and Avocado

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I don’t know how I went so long in life without trying kabocha squash. I suppose I always thought it looked a bit knobby and unattractive sitting next to its fellow smooth-skinned squash brothers. Not to mention, the unknown can be daunting. Why would I try the funny-looking squash when there are so many other beautiful varieties that I already know are delicious? (Honestly, I should know better than to judge a book by its cover.) I’ll tell you why…

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