I love my blog, I really do. I love testing healthy recipes and writing about how they turned out. I also love getting your feedback, and even though this blog is pretty new - I really appreciate the comments and ideas that you've sent. But this post isn't about this blog. This post is a shout-out to the foodie blogs that I love to read. Some are healthy-ish, some aren't. Some have beautiful pictures that make me drool. Some post recipes that read like a good book. All of them help me relax after long days at work, inspire me to create my own dishes and make me want to be a better cook. So, without further adieu, here are some great blogs....and in the words of LeVar Burton...."you don't have to take my word for it": 1. Aggie's Kitchen: Aggie posts the perfect balance of healthy-ish and non healthy-ish recipes. I always turn to her blog when I'm looking for something delicious and healthy - and quick. Her recipes are perfect for the working woman, balancing it all and enjoying good food. 2. Smitten Kitchen: Every time Deb posts a recipe I immediately click over and stare at the beautiful pictures. Deb's an advanced chef, and her recipes are not for the timid. I must credit her for posting the most delicious cookies that I've ever made (crisp salted white chocolate chip cookies, go make them now!). I also love this blog because it encourages you to make food that you love and throw caution (and calories) to the wind. 3. Diet It Up: My cousin Trish was healthy-ish and a blogger before me, and she does it with style. She takes fattening recipes that you love to hate and puts a healthy twist on them. Her husband Joe tastes the food and takes the pictures (and is a great supporter!). If you visit her blog, make sure you email her a recipe and she'll help you 'Diet It Up.' 4. Skinny Taste: Gina started blogging because she couldn't find any good websites with Weight Watchers recipes, and her blog has grown and grown. I love that this is a diet blog that uses real natural ingredients. Visit her if you want to eat food that you love without feeling guilty (plus she calculates weight watchers points, which is a score if you're counting). 5. Foodista NYC: I live in Astoria, Queens and I love trying out the restaurants and local food in my neighborhood. Judith is on the pulse of the food scene in Queens and really, the entire metro-area. She also posts delicious original recipes. If you're coming to NYC - you must check her out, she's the first blogger I turn to when I need a dinner recommendation. What's your favorite blog? Where do you get your recipes and inspiration?
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I can't get enough of spicy foods - seriously, the hotter the better - and as I've mentioned, my love of hot sauce runs deep (have you ever had Chipotle Tabasco? Go buy some and put it on everything). Although I find regular hot sauces (like Frank's...go buy Frank's Red Hot and put that on everything too) to be crazy-delicious, they generally don't have enough heat for me. So when I saw Habanero Tabasco - I was amped, until I tasted it. Habanero Tabasco is not a condiment my friends - it's a screaming ball of fire that needs to be taken seriously.... But to be honest...it burned so good. Now all I needed was a way to use it. So I did what any Internet-loving foodie would do when in need of a recipe - I turned to Facebook. And Facebook delivered - like it always does (thanks Kate!). Last night, I made Caribbean Pork w/ Pineapple (rum-soaked pineapple, my friends). The recipe was an amazing combination of sweet and spicy - the raisins and rum-soaked pineapple offset the salty spicy flavor of the habanero hot sauce and tasted complex enough to keep my tastebuds interested. I know what you are asking yourself - why is this a cautionary tale? Well, to be honest - as I was making this recipe, I thought to myself "3 teaspoons of habanero tabasco isn't enough heat - I need more" so I liberally doused the entire recipe. And then I tasted the sauce - and my head exploded. And then I started coughing, and then my lips started burning. And then....I was filled with regret. (note: Sheila, if you are reading this - believe me when I say, this is the perfect amount of heat for you, the rare exception to this warning) The good news is that after about 20 minutes of cooking and the addition of the pineapples - the heat mellowed enough for me to eat this without fear of destroying my entire palate. And as I said above - if you like hot, this recipe is good. My tip? Follow this recipe, use 3 teaspoons of Habanero sauce. I also advise adding about a teaspoon of salt (it need salt to cut some of the sweet). Serve it over plain brown rice to absorb some of the heat. PS...Pork tenderloin is super healthy, so don't be scared to eat it. It's lean and a nice break from poultry. Caribbean Pork with Pineapple (via Tabasco.com)
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add pork and cook until lightly browned on all sides, about 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer pork to a shallow baking dish. Add onion to skillet with drippings and place over medium heat; cook 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes, broth, raisins, lime rind, and remaining 1 teaspoon TABASCO® Habanero Sauce; cook 5 minutes longer, then pour over pork. Cover pork and bake in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, combine pineapple and rum in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; cook 5 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Spoon pineapple over top of pork and bake, uncovered, 5 minutes longer. Makes 6 servings. an obvious healthy-ish supporter Every year there are countless articles and blog posts that provide tips on how to stay on your diet over the 4th of July weekend. These articles generally tell you to have one beer, eat a hamburger with no bun, stay away from anything that contains mayo, eat fruit salad and bring your own healthy foods with you to the party. Sounds like a really fun bbq, right? And on a personal note - when you are bringing food to someone's party - for the love of god - bring normal food. You are the only one eating your fake cheese, low sodium, fat free everything dip. When I go to a bbq, I want to have fun. And I want you to have fun. Of course I want you to be healthy and not screw up your diet - but in order to do this you need to put the day in perspective. It's not your last meal, but it's also not a normal day. Find balance and you'll find that staying healthy at a bbq is no big deal. Here are some tricks of the trade that I've picked up over the years: 1. Food is great, but there are other reasons why we go to a BBQ. Remind yourself that you are there to spend time with your friends (not hover over the buffet). Try and switch your perspective and remember that the purpose of the bbq isn't JUST to eat - sit in a chair and enjoy being outside, catch-up with your family and friends. Eat when/if you're hungry. 2. Play "Let's Make a Deal". I love salty and savory foods - I like dessert but it's not a deal breaker for me. So that means that I'll make a deal with myself to enjoy a handful of chips and dip and skip dessert. And if dessert comes, and it looks amazing - I have one bite, hey, I made a deal (and at least I got my chips). 3. Know When to Stop. I find them sometimes when I am at a BBQ - I just keep picking at food all day long, even when I'm no longer hungry. Think about it - that's insane. Eat like you would on any normal day - with normal portion sizes. Would you eat 4 hamburgers and a pound of dip after work on a Tuesday? No? Then don't do it at a bbq. 4. Outdoor activities are your friend. Sneak in a little exercise where you can. Are people playing bocce? Play with them. Lawn darts? Just do it. Keep it moving and you're likely to eat less. 5. Stay light when it comes to alcohol. I'm not going to tell you to have one beer and 8 glasses of water. Drink your beer, wine or whatever it is that you drink. Just think about what you are doing. Pick light beer if possible, and if it's margaritas - consider having just one (the sugar and calories in a margarita are just not worth it to me). 6. Have breakfast. Arriving at a bbq ravenously hungry is a bad idea. You know it, and I know it. So eat something. Remember, you aren't going to gain 5 lbs in a day. Take it easy on yourself and have fun - and remember that you can go back to your healthy lifestyle tomorrow. The day after a bbq - wake up, have a big glass of water - and declare the pig-out over. Then stick with it. Have a great 4th of July weekend everyone! If you eat anything awesome that I need to know about - tell me in the comments. |