Five Spice Pork and Papaya

This meal is so simple and yummy, I had to share.

Five Spice Pork and Papaya over couscous

adapted from Clean Eating Magazine

1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil

2 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce

1 TB. fresh ginger

3 cloves garlic grated

1/2 lb. pork tenderloin, sliced into 1/2-inch to 2-inch strips

1 TB Chinese Five Spice

Juice of 1 lime

1/4 c. minced cilantro

1 large papaya, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch –save the seeds they are edible and add an interesting flavor to the meal.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil on medium for 1 minutes. Add ginger and garlic, sauté for 2 minutes.

Then add pork and soy sauce and cook for 3-4 minutes, occasionally turning pork until meat is almost cooked through.

Add the five spice powder and cook for another minute or so until pork is done.

Remove from heat and stir in lime juice and cilantro.

Serve over couscous with papaya and seeds if using.

Adventures in Molasses

I am always looking for a good substitue for sugar in cooking. I was making some zucchini bread one afternoon and realized I was out of brown sugar, so I substituted molasses instead with great results. I don't think it would work well in every recipe requiring a sweetner, but for this one it is golden. It actually accentuates the texture and flavor. Not only that but there are definite nutritional benefits vs. sugar.

Adding tangy yogurt is nice on the side and my family gobbles it up!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

2/3 cup organic blackstrap molasses

3 tablespoons oil

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup apple sauce

1 ripe banana mushed up

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 ¼ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon salt

2 cups shredded zucchini

½ cup (heaping) chocolate chunks

Directions:Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place first 4 ingredients in a large bowl and mix at low speed until well blended. Then mix in the applesauce and banana.

Next, combine flour and following 3 ingredients and mix together with a whisk. Add flour mixture to the wet mix, beating until moist.

Lastly, stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips.

Spoon batter into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 for about 55 minutes. Check by inserting a wooden toothpick in the center.

Heirloom Carrot Sandwich & The Oakhurst Market

Okay. First off, I am so darn excited about the Oakhurst Market opening right around the corner! I have visions of walking (WALKING!) to the market every few days to pick up FRESH local produce and meat for our meals. I even go so far to envision myself in a big straw hat with a floppy straw bag at my side.

The market is really a quality mini grocery with wine, beer, fresh bread, fresh baked goods (peanut butter cookies stuffed with peanut butter cream), ice cream, a candy shop, and will eventually have growlers and sandwiches available. I keep pinching myself to make certain I am not dreaming,

Anyway, today I picked up some wonderful local heirloom carrots which were used in this sandwich, a family favorite on a hot day. The heirlooms definitely added a more flavorful twist. Yum.

Heirloom Carrot Sandwich
· Shredded carrot
· Sliced pickles (I had some cucumbers that I quick pickled)
· Swiss cheese
· Mayo
Put it all together on some good bread and eat. Works best if you apply the carrot directly to the mayo.

Time & Space Camp Bento Day 4

left: baby lettuce leaves with golden raisins, shredded carrot, croutons, and goat gouda (balsamic dressing not shown).

right: red grapes, uncured ham wraps with peach chutney, cheddar bunnies, and chocolate zucchini bread.

 
Egg had much the same, sans the salad.

Coconut Carrot Ginger Soup with Cashew Bento

The kids are both in camp this week. The Monkey is saving the world from an evil villain and traveling into time and space, EGG is cooking and painting! They are both really enjoying their camps, and I am feeling some renewed energy.

 

left: pretzel crisps, goat gouda cheese, uncured ham

right: chocolate zucchini bread (recipe on this site), strawberry, blueberries

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This soup is one of the Monkey's absolute favorite soups ever. He asks for it all the time and is learning to make it on his own now. I use the less fat coconut milk and make it creamier with rice.

 

 

Coconut Carrot Ginger Soup with Cashew:

 

1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated

4 cloves minced garlic

3 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt broth
7 med carrots, peeled, chopped
1 tomato chopped

salt to taste
1/4 cup toasted and chopped cashews
1/2 cup low fat coconut milk

1 cup cooked brown rice

 

Saute onion in olive oil and butter mixture until slightly brown,  add paprika and turmeric for 30 seconds.  Then add ginger and garlic for another minute.  Add stock along with carrots and tomato.  Add salt to taste.  Bring to boil, then let simmer until carrots are tender.  Add coconut milk, cashews, and rice-stir.  Puree and enjoy! 

 

Note: You can play with the rice/coconut/or add water ratio to make it as thick or thin as you like.

 

Chef Monkey's Fish Burittos

Okay, so I have been hesitant to post this entry because it uses (egad) frozen fish and pre-bagged coleslaw. It is one of those meals that I have on hand if I need to throw something together in minutes. This meal is one of the Monkey's favorites (along with Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi's and Pesto Salmon Salad Nicoise) and he can make the recipe on his own with very little supervision. The recipe is simple and yummy.

Crunchy Fish Burritos with Citrus Slaw served with spiced black beans and sliced avocado on the side

Ingredients:

• breaded frozen fish (I get mine at Whole Foods, $7.99 for a 12 oz box that feeds our family of 4)
• pre-chopped cabbage or coleslaw mix
• 2 oranges or some pineapple or both
• 1/4 cup of orange/mango juice
• 1TB lowfat mayo (if desired- adds a touch of creaminess)
• tartar sauce
• multigrain tortillas

getting fish ready for oven

Making the Citrus Slaw:

slice the oranges

add orange to cabbage mixture

add 1/4 cup of orange/mango juice and mayo if using

mix everything together

put cabbage mixture in center of tortilla (we toast ours)

add fish

2 fish per taco

add a little tartar sauce

fold tortilla and cut down the middle

eat it up!

The Whole Fish

Monkey received this and this in his stocking on Christmas morning and since then he has become a cooking machine!  The first meal he made was a Creamy Carrot and Coconut Milk Soup similar to one he tried at a local restaurant.  The recipe was super easy for him to follow and the soup turned out great.  He was so excited that he brought some to his friends to try.  We agreed that he would cook one meal a week for the family.

A few days later the conversation went like this:


Monkey: Do people eat fish heads?
Me: Ummm, yeah, some cultures do.
Monkey: The head AND tail?
Me: Sure. In fact, sometimes people cook and eat the whole fish.
Monkey: How come we have never eaten a whole fish?
Me: We could. Do you want to cook one?
Monkey. Yeah. But it has to have teeth.


Thus started our quest for a whole fish recipe.

Finding the right fish.

Making the sauce.

EGG helps stir the soup.

 


Prepping the fish (Flounder in this case...sorry Ariel).

 

  

Teeth.

  

Whole flounder with Thai 3 flavor sauce.



 

Sweet Potato Apple Soup with candied walnuts, brown rice, fish, and cucumber.  Bon Appetit!



Rock Climbing

The Wall Crawler Rock Club indoor gym is right up the road from us. I have been considering over the past few months taking Monkey to try a class, but we had him in a dual sports during the Fall and I did not want to overwhelm him.  We finally made it there this week and both kids had a blast.  We are planning to make this part of our weekly schedule.



Setting goals.







EGG had a go as well.

Back to School Bento

top: mango and blueberries, corn on the cob, cookies, goat gouda, rabbit pretzel

bottom: 4 mini chicken apple hotdogs (found at Whole Foods, no nitrates) buns made with toasted bread cut into rounds, ketchup in container, green beans, and mini lemon blueberry scone.