Browsing Tag

RECIPES

RECIPES

Cosmo: 13 Healthy Foods That Can Make You Fat

Making Sushi at Home by Merlijn Hoek From Flickr

I’m a strong believer that when it comes to healthy eating, knowledge is power!  Today my inbox presented me with a Cosmopolitan.com slideshow of the ’13 Healthy Foods That Can Make You Fat,’ and it’s very compelling. I already knew that spicy-mayo and tempura sushi rolls have a higher calorie count than the grilled or steamed veggie variety. I also loathe that my beloved granola will cling to my waistline more than should be allowed for something that’s so yummy. That doesn’t mean that I don’t savor them from time to time, but I appreciate knowing what I’m getting myself into.

What I found interesting were the comments about sandwich wraps and foods with high levels of sodium. Wraps seem more innocent than their sandwich counterparts, plus they’re a standby at work lunches. And, I’ll admit to purchasing the occasional low calorie frozen entree when they’re on sale. It’s sad to think that fat, calories, fiber and protein often catch my eye before sodium levels.

Care to see for yourself? Please click here to view the full slideshow. You can thank me later. Talk about food for thought (yes, I did just drop that line).

BOSTON, NIGHTLIFE, RECIPES

Guilty Pleasure: Free Late-Night Hot Dogs/Hamburgers at The Pour House

Hot Dog! by dadadreams from Flickr

My friend is going to kill me for sharing her best-kept Boston secret – free late-night food at the Pour House!  At 1:00 a.m. on Saturday nights, the Pour House in Boston’s Back Bay gives away free hot dogs or hamburgers to hungry patrons.  This is an insider tip, because more often than not you have to go to the top floor bar near the kitchen area and ask for them.

Be sure to check your expectations at the door – the dogs and burgers are basic and far from gourmet.  They are, however, free!

The Pour House is located at 907 Boylston Street between Gloucester & Hereford.  For more information about the Pour House, please visit: http://www.pourhouseboston.com/

RECIPES

Anyone Else Disappointed By Top Chef's Vegetarian Episode?

Sometimes you just have to call it like you see it.  Although I found this week’s  Top Chef vegetarian episode entertaining, I am giving it a thumbs down for menu creativity.  For those who didn’t tune in, this week’s episode took the chefs to Tom Colicchio’s restaurant Craftsteak in Las Vegas.  Upon arrival, the chefs begin to drool over Craftsteak’s meat selection, only to learn that they had to prepare a vegetarian feast for actress Natalie Portman.  Comical, right?

Beet, Feta, Green Bean, Chickpea Spinach Salad by Jessica Gioglio

While the storyline was amusing, the final product from the chefs left me unsatisfied and uninspired.  What wasn’t represented well during this episode is that there are so many ways to create a healthy and filling meatless meal that also incorporates plenty of protein.  I understand that they were at the mercy of Craftsteak’s produce pantry, but I still expect to see unique dishes on Top Chef.  Because the other dishes were a bit boring, Michael’s banana polenta stole the show.

Overall, using colorful, yet flavorful vegetables would have made my mouth water — like sweet potatoes, purple potatoes, bell peppers, carrots, or corn.  Seeing a savory-sweet dish incorporating fruit would have been interesting as well.  Drawing from different types of cuisine would have been excellent, because many places in the world rely on vegetables and different types of spices to produce incredibly delicious dishes.

Although I’m not a vegetarian, I know firsthand that meatless dishes can be full of flavor.  One excellent – mostly vegetarian – blog worth reading for its delicious and sophisticated (yet easy!) recipes is The 30 Minute Dinner Party.  Warning , it may even inspire you to entertain more!  http://30minutedinnerparty.wordpress.com/

NIGHTLIFE, RECIPES

A sweet take on happy hour at Kickass Cupcakes

Photo Credit: Nikki Eads kickasscupcakes.com

On August 31, Kickass Cupcakes in Somerville is whipping up a sweet take on happy hour by offering free tastings from 5-7pm of mini cupcakes with cocktail inspired flavors, including lemon drop, mud slide, and peach daiquiri.

To view the rest of my Examiner.com post, please visit:

http://www.examiner.com/x-21772-Boston-Nightlife-Events-Examiner~y2009m8d28-A-Sweet-Take-on-Happy-Hour-at-Kickass-Cupcakes

RECIPES

Love at First Bite: Pumpkin Oatmeal

Punkin’ Oatmeal by by aJ GAZMEN ツ GucciBeaR from Flickr

Lately I have developed an obsession with all things that involve canned pumpkin.  I love canned pumpkin in brownies/quick bread instead of eggs and oil.  I’ve also found that canned pumpkin and old fashioned oatmeal make for a tasty, high fiber breakfast.  If you’re not used to this much fiber at breakfast, I’d start with a smaller amount of pumpkin.

Pumpkin Oatmeal:

Quick, pumpkin-tastic, hearty and healthy breakfast.  Serves one.  Cooking time, 5 minutes:

  • 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin (I like Libby’s)
  • 1 cup 1% milk
  • Cinnamon and nutmeg to taste (optional)
  • 1 splenda packet (optional)
  • Combine first 3 ingredients in a bowl and microwave for 5 minutes at 50% power.  Add in optional spices and splenda. Stir again and enjoy!

For more of my recipes, click here.