Living, Learning, Eating: Recipe

Showing posts with label Recipe. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Recipe. Show all posts

Jul 11, 2018

Recipe: Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pancakes)

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 7:00 AM

Okonomiyaki - fun word to say, isn't it? It's also a fun dish to make (and eat).

Okonomiyaki Recipe

The savory Japanese pancake is made with cabbage, tenkasu (crunchy tempura bits), and bacon, fried up in a skillet, and then topped with green onions, nori flakes, sesame seeds, and okonomi sauce (think Japanese version of ketchup. Enjoy!

Okonomiyaki

1 big pancake (serves 2)

* 2 cups green cabbage, chopped into very thin strips (the thinner, the better for getting the pancake to keep its form well)

* 0.667 c. water

* 0.333 tsp. dashi stock powder

* 0.5 c. all-purpose flour

* 1 egg
* 3 Tbsp. tenkasu (tempura bits)

* 0.333 c. chopped green onions

* 4 strips bacon, cut into ~2" pieces

* Okonomi sauce
* Sesame Seeds
* Flaked nori (I tore up a few regular nori sheets, but you can also buy aonori)

1. Whisk the dashi stock powder into the water in a large bowl until dissolved.

2. Add the flour, egg, and tenkasu. Whisk well, to form an even batter.

3. Add the cabbage and most of the chopped green onions (reserve a bit of the onions for topping).

Homemade okonomiyaki recipe

4. Heat some oil in a large skillet pan.

5. Once the oil is hot, spoon the cabbage batter into the pan and smooth into an even layer, about 0.5" thick throughout. Sprinkle the chopped bacon on top.

How to make okonomiyaki

6. Cook the pancake for 4 minutes, then flip. Cook for an additional 5 minutes with the bacon side down, or until the bacon is crispy.

7. Flip the pancake again, so now the bacon side is up, and cook for an additional 4 minutes.

8. Transfer the pancake to a plate. Drizzle the okonomi sauce over it and then sprinkle the remaining green onions, as well as the nori flakes and sesame seeds, over the pancake.

Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pancake) recipe

Looks delicious, doesn't it? Food with toppings is so much more fun - acai bowls, frozen yogurt, and now okonomiyaki!

Have you tried okonomiyaki? How about other savory pancakes?

Jul 2, 2018

Recipe: The Best Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 8:00 AM

Cauliflower is one of those foods that can be anything from a duty food, the kind you have to force yourself to eat, to the most delicious thing on the table. This recipe is definitely the latter!

The Best Whole Roasted Cauliflower

My taste testers said it was the best cauliflower they've ever eaten in their lives and, all humility aside, I must agree. It's crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and sooo flavorful throughout. Here's the recipe!

Jun 25, 2018

Recipe: African Peanut Stew with Quinoa

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 8:00 AM

Sometimes it's fun to take a little culinary adventure to some far-flung end of the globe. A flight to Africa easily takes a solid 24 hours, but this delicious stew takes less than 1 from start to finish - it's also a lot cheaper!

I'm not saying this stew is a good substitute for traveling to Africa and experiencing some of what is a very beautiful continent with very many very rich cultures in person, but that's not always an option. Experiencing a little of the food culture in the comfort of your own kitchen is a good way to dip your toes into a little cross-cultural exploration!

African Peanut Stew Recipe

Plus, it's delicious.

African Peanut Stew with Quinoa

Serves 6

Jun 18, 2018

Recipe: Thai Asparagus Soup

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 8:00 AM

While winter is when you crave stews and soups, a light green soup can also make a lovely dinner on a brisk summer night. Here's a flavorful thai asparagus soup that's delicious, healthy, and easy to whip up. It beats the canned stuff any day!

Easy Thai Asparagus Soup Recipe

Thai Asparagus Soup

Serves 6

* 1 large onion, chopped

* 3 Tbsp. canola oil

* 3 Tbsp. minced lemongrass

* 3 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger

* 3 pounds asparagus, trimmed (take about one inch off the bottom of the stalks)

* 0.5 tsp. black pepper

* salt, to taste

* 1.5 c. canned coconut milk

* 5 c. canned vegetable broth

* 0.5 tsp. fresh lemon juice

Jun 6, 2018

Recipe: Avocado Cornbread

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 8:00 AM

As longer-term blog readers know, I've recently shifted away from being 97% food, 3% lifestyle to being mostly life focused and blogging about everything from modeling to startup life to staying sane post surgery.

But, guys, I love baking (cooking, too, but to a lesser degree), so we're not getting rid of recipes entirely. Especially when my late night kitchenventures result in something as ~~millennial~~ brilliant as avocado cornbread.

Avocado Cornbread Recipe

Avocado. Cornbread. It's sweet, savory, carby, and full of smooth, creamy pockets of avocado - like (healthier) butter already chillin' in your cornbread, just waiting to create a flavor explosion in your mouth. Mmmmmmm yeah.

You're welcome.

Avocado Cornbread

A 9" round cornbread

* 1 c. stone ground cornmeal

* 0.5 c. all purpose flour

* 1.5 tsp. baking soda

* 0.5 tsp. sea salt

* 1 tsp. cayenne pepper

* 2 tsp. cumin

* 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter

* 2 Tbsp. honey

* 2 small ears of corn (cut the corn off the husk, throw out the husks - should be ~2 c. of corn kernels)

* 1 large avocado, cut into small cubes (~1.5 c.)

* Juice from a small lime (~2 tsp.)

* 1 c. buttermilk

* 1 large egg

Dec 14, 2017

Recipe: Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Spelt Cookies

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 9:40 AM

Who doesn’t love cookies? Especially when they’re lightly crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and full of melty pockets of dark chocolate.

Recipe for Whole Grain Cookies

Most of us eat a lot of sweet treats during the holidays and, as much as our tastebuds might enjoy it, our bodies and faces don’t. These peanut butter chocolate chips use whole spelt flour instead of processed white flour to help keep you off of that skin-unfriendly blood sugar rollercoaster. Sweetened with honey and bound with chia and flax seeds, they’re full of heart healthy fats! If you’d like a vegan cookie, just sub the honey for an equal amount of maple syrup. Enjoy!

Aug 5, 2017

Recipe: Flour-less Whole Grain Seedy Bread

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 12:00 PM

There's this general misconception out there, probably thanks to the carb-phobic diet industry, that bread is unhealthy. False! Bread can be unhealthy, just like anything else, but it isn't inherently unhealthy. There are all sorts of healthy bread out there and the best way to make sure that the bread in your sandwich/on your plate/drowning under your peanut butter is healthy is to make it yourself!

Healthy Bread recipe

If you want to keep the carbs down and the healthy fats and proteins and fiber up, this bread is for you. It's wheat-free and, if you use gluten-free oats, is also gluten-free. It's chock-full of heart-healthy nuts and seeds, plus enough fiber to pep up your digestive system *cough, cough* from the chia seeds and whole psyllium seed husks. If you want to make it sugar-free, you can sub stevia for the maple syrup - but honestly, I don't see the point. It's a very modest amount of maple syrup, adds a little nice something, and a teeny-tiny bit of sugar won't kill you. But it's up to you!

Enough blathering on and on from me, here's the recipe. Happy baking!

Jul 17, 2017

Recipe: 100% Whole Grain Dark Chocolate Coconut Quinoa Cookies

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 12:00 PM

Who doesn't love cookies? Especially when they're packed with coconut and dark chocolate? Unfortunately, most cookies can be nutritional black holes - fine for now and then, but not the best as a regular snack.

These cookies have all the chewy, sweet, chocolatey deliciousness of decadent cookies, but are packed with fiber and protein (they're 100% whole grain and feature protein-rich quinoa), and are pretty low sugar for cookies.

How to Bake Healthy Cookies

I'll stop blathering on about them, because the best way to convince you will be if you try them yourselves. They're pretty quick and easy to make, so give the recipe a try!

Jul 10, 2017

Recipe: Whole Wheat Honey Oat Bread

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 9:59 AM

Who doesn't like bread? I spent my summers in Germany growing up, so I've been completely spoiled as far as good bread goes and snub most store-bought loaves over here in the US.

So that I don't have to wait for my next trip to Germany to enjoy bread, and because baking a loaf of homemade bread from scratch is so satisfying, I like to make my own bread when I have someone to share it with, a picnic to bring it to, or just a bit of spare time and some yeast in the pantry.

How to bake whole wheat bread

This honey oat bread is a dense, but soft, loaf that's chewy, nutty, and 75% whole wheat. You won't get as crusty a crust as with breads that have a higher percentage of white flour, because of differences in how whole grains and refined grains bake, but it still has a good crust. Read on for the recipe!

Jun 19, 2017

Recipe: Whole Grain Dark Chocolate Walnut Zucchini Bread

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 12:00 PM

I was trying to come up with something the other day that would be a great food gift to bring along to pick someone up from the airport. It didn't need to be easily eaten on the go, but it would be something that didn't require any extra steps, didn't assume that the person had anything at all at home to go with it (like cream or jam) since he was returning from a longish trip and likely had an understocked fridge, would be delicious at any time of the day/night (jetlag!), and still wholesome enough to provide some nutritional value after a long trip (and since it probably wouldn't be paired with anything else.)

This bread is what I came up with and it went over very well!

The whole wheat and ~2 medium sized zucchinis that went into the loaf make it virtuous enough to eat on its own/for breakfast, but it's also extremely chocolatey, moist, and has a flavor depth from the zucchini, Dutch processed cocoa (do not substitute!), and toasted walnuts that makes it a joy to eat.

Read on for the recipe!

May 28, 2017

Recipe: Chinese-Style Chicken with Black Pepper Sauce

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 10:00 AM

I'm not even going to pretend that this is an authentic Chinese recipe. No, this is 100% Americanized Chinese-inspired food prepared by someone who has absolutely 0 qualification to make Chinese food.

...but if you like Americanized Chinese food and you want a simple weeknight dinner recipe that's healthier than takeout, but still a crowd-pleaser, it's a hit!

Chinese Food Copycat Recipes

Just get some rice boiling before you start cooking the chicken and the whole meal will come together in less than thirty minutes! So that reading this recipe post doesn't take longer than actually making the recipe, I'm going to jump right in.

May 20, 2017

Recipe: Crispy Coconut Kale

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 1:21 PM

Kale can be very hit or miss and it's one of the most controversial vegetables out there. On the one hand, you have Those People who buy $7 bags of kale chips (with only two servings per bag) and wear Yale-inspired 'KALE' sweaters. On the other hand, you have the people who make taunting faces at bags of kale in the grocery store.

Yes, this is a thing that I have seen. Welcome to New York, city of characters.

Anyway, even for the most kale-adverse person out there, here's a surefire way to make the curly green enjoyable! It's crispy, it's spicy, it's flavorful, it's green and coconutty:

Quick and easy kale

It's hipster crack.

How to cook kale

Another photo, because yum.

It's also super easy to make! I served it with coconut jasmine rice, roasted salmon, and roasted okinawan sweet potatoes for my first hosted dinner in my new (awesome) Upper West Side apartment. I must get around to writing up those recipes, as well, because the meal was a hit, but this crispy coconut kale was so good that I simply must share it NOW. Without further ado, here's the recipe.

Jan 16, 2017

Recipe: Torsk

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 9:30 AM

Remember that time, a few days ago, when I shared a recipe for chipotle creamed corn with you and promised I'd share a recipe for the Torsk (Norwegian broiled cod) I photographed it with?

Healthy fish dinner

The day has come, my friends.

Read on for the recipe for torsk - it's fast, easy, and features relatively few, relatively simple ingredients!

Jan 14, 2017

Recipe: Chipotle Creamed Corn

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 9:30 AM

Corn is one of America's favorite vegetables!

...even if there's some argument around whether it should be counted as a vegetable or a grain. Still, most of us love it!

Creamed corn is a classic American comfort food side dish. I'm all for the classics, but mixing it up is fun.

How to eat healthy on a budget

Especially if you're pairing creamed corn with a milder main dish, like the Norwegian broiled cod pictured above (called Torsk, recipe coming soon), mixing it up with something a little spicier can be fun.

Ta-da! Chipotle creamed corn brings a spicy twist to traditional creamed corn. It's a great way to change things up and the recipe, below, is easy to follow and quick enough for a weeknight dinner!

Dec 10, 2016

Recipe: Soft Snickerdoodle Cookies

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 9:00 AM

It's Christmastime! AKA baking season. AKA my favorite time of the year.

If you've had enough of chocolate chip cookies (whaaat), run out of peanut butter (the horror!), and one of your little cookie monsters balks at oatmeal, here's the perfect solution:

Buttery Snickerdoodle Cookies

Melt in your mouth, pillowy soft snickerdoodle cookies that delight your tongue with buttery, cinnamon-sugary goodness. These cookies bake soft, stay soft, and are the kind of cookies that disappear at the party in the first ten minutes.

They're also super easy and pretty quick to make! Without further ado, here's the recipe.

Dec 4, 2016

Recipe: Lemon Ricotta Bars

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 9:00 AM

The holiday baking season has officially begun! I love baking at any time of the year, but especially at Christmastime. It's so fun to make something from scratch, fill it with love, and share it with people I care about!

Lemon-Ricotta Bars (recipe below!)

The holiday season is not only a time to make friends and loved ones smile, but also to try to be a bit kinder to everyone. I think that spirit of goodwill should include other animals, too! That's why I like to bake with free range eggs.

I used Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs for these lemon ricotta bars and they make it a more humane dessert! Pete and Gerry's source their eggs sustainably from small family farms and all of their eggs are certified humane free range eggs.

Pete and Gerry's Organic Eggs free of antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, and GMOs. Their hens live safe, comfortable lives with ready access to grass, dirt, and space to engage in natural behaviors like roosting, dust bathing, scratching, and other social interactions. Follow @PeteandGerrys on Facebook and Twitter for more information!

Anyway, back to the lemon ricotta bars.

Read on for the recipe!

Oct 19, 2016

Recipe: Eggplant Parmesan

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 9:30 AM

Do you know what's an easy, flavorful weeknight dinner that's a crowd-pleaser and a family-pleaser?

Eggplant parmesan with angel hair pasta!

Eggplant Parmesan Recipe

Some like a little extra spaghetti sauce with their pasta, so make a little extra and save it to serve on the side. Other than that, it's straightforward and simple and makes great leftovers! Read on for the recipe.

Sep 18, 2016

Review: Hak's Paks

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 11:00 AM

When you're working full-time and juggling some pretty time-consuming side things, having time to cook healthy meals can be a challenge!

Luckily, Haks' One Pot Cooking Sauces make it easier to juggle busy weekday schedules with cooking healthy meals at home. Eating out every night isn't cost-effective at all!

I tried Hak's Paks in three flavors: Chipotle Bourbon, Caribbean Jerk, and Korean BBQ.

I like that the ingredients lists are pretty short and natural. No crazy chemicals or unnecessary artificial colors or flavors. All Hak's Paks are all-natural with no-GMOs, no preservatives, and no gluten.

Cooking Fast, Easy, and Healthy:

Hak's Paks make cooking really easy. Just boil a pound of veggies, meat, fish, tofu, etc. and pour the contents of the Hak's Pak evenly over the boiled base.

Cooking fast and healthy

Sep 2, 2016

Recipe: Shakshuka (Israelian Poached Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas and Feta)

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 6:00 AM

September is National Breakfast Month!

This is clearly my month to shine, because I make breakfast for dinner far more often than is likely acceptable for a twenty-something-year-old. What can I say? Breakfast foods are the best foods and I'm okay with never being a proper grown up if that would mean I can only have breakfast once a day!

Shakshuka Recipe

This dish, an Israelian favorite for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, straddles the line between breakfast for dinner and a sensible grown up's meal. That's a compromise I can live with!

Even better: it's simple to make, full of healthy plantbased nutrition from chickpeas and tomatoes, a cheap meal that beats ramen by a mile (feta is the most expensive ingredient, but the core ingredients are canned chickpeas, canned tomatoes, and eggs), and you can eat out of a cast iron pan like a farmer!

I used Nellie's Free Range Eggs to make this a meal that's healthy, humane, and free of residual antibiotics or other icky things from the chicken's diet. I chose Nellie's Free Range Eggs because they're easy to find (I got mine from Whole Foods) and always free range, and free of hormones or antibiotics, and kosher certified. They're also great quality, delicious eggs!

Read on for the recipe. It's a 35 minute dinner!

Aug 17, 2016

Blue Cheese Crusted Filet Mignon with Cabernet Reduction

Posted by Living, Learning, Eating at 6:00 AM

Whether it's a dinner party, date night, a birthday, or just a wear-high-heels-and-have-perfect-posture Tuesday, sometimes breakfast for dinner or a simple pasta dish doesn't cut it.

This blue cheese crusted filet mignon with cabernet reduction is loved by all of my taste testers, spanning three generations and many different food preferences, and it's a pretty dish perfect for any fancy evening in!

I'm not going to pretend that this is 'quick and easy' as you should definitely give yourself a solid hour to prepare this dish along with the sides (I recommend mashed potatoes and garlic spinach), but the big smiles and rave reviews are well worth the effort. Read on for how to make a restaurant-quality steak dinner at home!

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