Do You Smell Tuna?

Tuna is known for it's relatively high levels of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. However, because of the risks of mercury in some types of tuna, it is advised to limit our consumption. Helpful information can also be found at Seafood Watch

Tuna is also a great food to boost your energy. My hubbie is off to Yosemite to scale the Half Domethis weekend so I decided to give him some healthier alternative for tonight's meal before he heads off.




















Tuna Melt (New Jersey Diner Style)

I found this recipe off of allrecipes.com.
I improvised some of the ingredients and added some of my own (with the advice of the hubster)

ingredients
(Serves 4)

2 6 oz. cans solid white tuna in water, drained
1/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup finely chopped celery
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
3/4 teaspoon red wine vinegar (or balsamic vinegar)
1 pinch salt
1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
4 slices (or more) seedless rye bread
8 slices (or more) ripe tomato
8 slices Swiss cheese
paprika (for garnish) we used a slice of avocado on top instead

makin' it

1. Preheat the oven broiler
2. Mix tuna, mayo, celery, onion, parsley, and vinegar. Season with salt/pepper.
3. Place the rye bread slices on a baking sheet, and broil about 1 min. in the oven until lightly toasted. Remove from the heat and spread with the prepared tuna on each piece of bread, Place 1 cheese slice over the tuna salad on each piece of bread, layer with a tomato slice, and top with remaining cheese
4. Return layered bread to the oven and broil 3 to 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

It was delicious!! The hubster loved it!!

Veggie Tale Recipe

"Mommy says to eat your veggies". "Veggies are good for you!" Our little one is already gotten used to eating the green stuff, even when it doesn't look too appealing, especially when it's made into that light to dark green Gerber puree mush. yuck. But I remember when I was still pregnant with him, I loved eating my veggies, so much that I ate double the portions I usually eat. So perhaps that's why he loves his veggies.

Recently, I tried 2 different recipes...both with asparagus. Asparagus is very low in calories but high in folic acid, potassium, and fiber. It also produces a characteristic smell/odor in the urine 20-30 min. after ingestion due to a metabolic process of sulfuric product of some sort. But what's interesting is that only 40% of the population can actually smell it. For some reason, when I think of asparagus, besides thinking of the rancid odor it brings to my urine (not a pretty thought), I thought of Veggie Tales!! Our little one is not old enough to understand the adventures of the Veggie tales just yet but soon! In fact, we have some dvds sitting in our living room waiting to be opened.


Asparagus/Zuchinni Salad

1. Boil water

2. when water boils, put in cut A&Z until water boils again. (dont want to over cook them so that they will remain crispy)

3 Drain A&Z into a salad bowl

4. Stir fry cut tofu (small pieces)

5. Mix A&Z, cilantro and garlic with Italian dressings to taste

6. Add in tofu and serve.

This can be chilled in the refrigerator for a fresh, crispy taste.

Asparagus/Salmon Quiche

Ingredients:

- one 9 in frozen pie crust,
- some fresh asparagus cut into little pieces,
- half a can of wild alaskan salmon,
- 5 eggs,
- 1 and a half cup of milk,
- Half tsp grated lemon peel (may skip),
- One and a half cups shredded swiss cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste.

makin' it:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
2. Cook cut asparagus in boiling water until just tender (3 to 5 mins). Drain well.
3. Place cooked asparagus at bottom of pie crust.
4. In medium bowl, beat eggs, milk and lemon peel.
5. Stir in shredded cheese.
6. Add salt, pepper, and garlic power. Pour into crust. Stir gently to distribute asparagus.
7. Bake until knife inserted off-center comes out clean, about 35 to 40 mins.
8. Let stand 5 to 10 mins before serving.

Eating In

There's nothing better than eating in. Eating in once in awhile can save money, increase health (less oil, less preservatives), and increase the quality of taste. Home-cooking is typically the best cure against potential food poisoning and noisy crowds. We have been eating in for the most part of our days since we have a kiddo now. It's just so much trouble packing everything (all the baby stuff, food, portable high chair, and yes, the baby himself) just to dine out. So here's what we've been cookin' at home!

Saturday Mornings Breakfast

Bob discovered a yummy recipe for home-cooked waffles. The taste is far better than those frozen waffles or waffles from those prepared mixes (w/ added preservatives, artificial ingredients).
It takes less than 20 minutes to whip up the batter and if you have a good waffle-maker close by, it makes all the difference...

ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbs. sugar
1 Tb. baking powder
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup cooking oil or butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla

waffle-it!

1. Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, make a well in center of flour mixture and set aside.

2. In another bowl, beat eggs slightly, stir in milk, butter, and vanilla. Add egg mix all at once to the flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be slightly lumpy).

3. Pour 1 to 1 1/4 cups of batter onto grids preheated, lightly greased waffle baker. Close lid until indicator (beeps) signal ready.

Tofu'ed Out!

There's just so many different ways you can cook tofu and make yummy dishes! Tofu is low in calories, but high in nutritional value, containing iron, calcium, and protein. This is why I also started sneakin' in tofu 9since it's pretty much tasteless w/o any sauce) in the baby cereal for our son. There are different textures of tofu: soft, regular, firm, or dried. It is made from soybeans. Here are some of our tried and true recipes.


simple tofu

Tofu is already cooked so some people like to eat it without heating it again. Silken tofu tastes really good by itself with these added ingredients if you don't have time to cook.

ingredients

block of silken tofu uncut
soy sauce paste (thicker than regular soy sauce)
preserved duck eggs (pay dan--what Chinese sometimes add to their porridge)
green onions, chives
Bonito flakes (can be bought at chinese/japanese supermarket )
sesame oil

Place block of tofu on plate. Pour all wet ingredients over tofu and sprinkle dry ingredients on top. Crack the duck egg and cut up in bit-sized pieces and place on top of tofu before the green onions and bonito flakes.

stir-fry tofu

ingredients

regular or firm tofu
soy sauce
cornstarch
salt
green onions
ground pork/beef (optional) seasoned (soy sauce, oyster sauce, wine)
shitake mushroom (optional)
cookin' it:

1. Cut up tofu block into little cubes
2. Heat oil in skillet/pan
3. Place tofu cubes in pan and pour soy sauce on top (to desired taste). If cooking with mushroom, cook mushroom first with a little oyster sauce for taste. If cooking with meat, stir -fry the meat first since the tofu is basically cooked already, then add tofu)
4. Sprinkle some salt and green onions.
5. Mix a Tbs. or more of cornstarch in cold water and pour when done cooking to thicken the sauce.

Chicken dishes

Chicken is also another healthy food (when eaten in moderation) high in protein and calcium. It can be stir-fried on its own or with mushroom. It can be baked as well. Here are some more recipes we've tried which may take a little more time so plan well!!

Honey-mustard Chicken

ingredients:

1/3 cup Dijon mustard
1/3 cup honey
2 Tbs. chopped fresh dill or 1 Tbs. dried dill
1 tsp. freshly grated orange peel (or splash of OJ)
1 (2 1/2 lb. chicken) quartered (You can use chicken thigh or drumlets too).

(Serves 4)

cook it!

1. Preheat oven to 400 F
2. Combine mustard and honey in small bowl, Stir in dill and orange peel.
3. Line baking sheeet with foil.
4. Place chicken skin -side down, Brush sauce on top of chicken and coat well.
5. Turn chicken over and gently pull back skin and brush meat with sauce. Pull skin back over.
6. Brush skin with remaining sauce.
7. Bake until juices run clear about 30 min.

Sassy Chicken salad

ingredients

1 10 oz. diced tomatoes (canned) and drained green chilies.
1/2 cup mayo
1 Tbs. honey
1 12.5 oz. can of Kirkland Premium chunk chicken breast (or any other canned chicken breast)
1 cup celery thinly sliced
1 cup grapes (red or green) halved
1/2 cup toasted pecans (optional)

Makin' it:

1. Combine tomatoes, mayo, and honey.

2. Stir in chicken, celery, and grapes.

3. Cover and chill.

Can be served in hollowed out melons, avocadoes, or papayas...

Honey-Lime Chicken Wings

We tried this recipe 2X already and it takes awhile. The 2nd time I cooked this with our guests and it was a good conversation starter in the kitchen since you have to wait for the chicken to get crispy in the oil and you can't leave the kitchen. =P

ingredients:

12 whole chicken wings
2 Tbs. and 2 tsp. honey
1 1/2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
2 tsps. grated lime zest
2 1/3 clove garlic, minced
1/8 tsp. salt (or to desired taste)
1/8 tsp. ground pepper
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
5 1/3 cups vegetable oil for frying.

deep fryin' time!!

1. In large bowl, mix together honey, lime juice, lime peel, garlic, salt, pepper. Set aside.

2. Place flour in plastic bag and shake chicken wings in flour to coat.

3. In large skillet or fryer, fry chicken wings in 1 inch deep oil until cooked through.

4. Place cooked wings in honey/lime mixture and coat well

5. Serve hot.