Eating Clean: Kale Chips

I’ve noticed a trend lately, and you may have too. The chip isle is always changing and new products are entering the market each month.  A lot of wacky flavors like garlic cheese bread, chicken and waffles, and even Sriracha have made their way to our local gas stations and big grocery stores too.

I’ve also noticed that companies are using other types of root veggies instead of typical Idaho russet as well. Yukon gold potato chips are out there now along with exotic blends of root veggies too (like sweet potato, yuca, taro root, and parsnip).

Since the beginning of this year, I’ve tried my best to eat clean, workout hard,and frequently make better choices for a healthier lifestyle. 

Eating clean to me has a lot of definitions. It means that I will choose brown rice over white rice.  I will choose water over pop (or soda, SAME THING). It means eating more veggies, eating more fruit and watching how much creamer I put into my coffee. This forces me to go beyond my comfort zone and beyond my normal eating habits.

So with this new trend happening now, it seems to be ever in my favor when it comes to snack time right? For the most part, yes. Although those chips all natural chips maybe only 100 calories a serving, they do break the bank when compared to their not-so-waist-friendly counterparts. 

I didn’t know that it was possible, but did you know that Kale, that leafy green you don’t really know about, makes wonderful chips? Did you also know that they are extremely easy to make too? Let me enlighten you my friend.

Kale Chips

Makes about 6 servings

• 1 bunch, kale
• olive oil
• salt and pepper

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment paper
2. Start by trimming off the leaves from the thicker part of the stems with kitchen scissors (easiest way) or a knife. I just cut them into a colander in the sink so I could rinse it off once I was done.
3. Rinse off the leaves and toss them into a salad spinner to get them dry
4. Place leaves into a bowl and drizzle a olive oil all over them and season with salt and pepper.  Lay them on a single layer on the sheet pan and bake for 10-15 minutes.
5. Pull them out of the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Enjoy!

Super easy, super low calorie (58 calories a serving!) and very tasty, these “chips” are great.  They taste just like regular potato chip,with a spinach-like after taste. Light, crispy, and full of flavor, this is what you would expect out of a chip.

Although I am hesitant to try anything healthy, these were a great way to break norm of what I enjoy eating and cooking.

Have you tried anything that was out of your comfort zone? Did it surprise you or where you disappointed?

As always friends, Happy Feasting!

F’Real!? McDonald’s Fish McBites

After being marked with an ash cross on your forehead, you are to give up something for forty days. Whether it’s coffee, alcohol, sweets, or smoking, people have lots of things they give up for Lent.

Red meat is usually given up by Catholics on Fridays to honor Christ for sacrificing his own flesh on Good Friday. By giving up that particular protein, people will turn to other sources such as chicken, turkey, pork or fish. Fast food establishments are aware of this trend each year, so they kick out new products and usually cut deals like “two for the price of one”.

Which brings me to this:

Although I rarely ever go to McDonald’s, this creation immediately caught my attention.  I mean, chicken nuggets are one thing, but fish McBites?

At first glance, they look like they would be flavorful. A nugget-like breadcrumb on the outside and flaky Alaskan Pollock on the inside, this would seem to be a nice combination of two of McDonald’s favorites right?

Not really. As a kid, I remember ordering the McNuggets and destroying them in a matter of minutes because they were so delicious to my adolescent palate.  Now I’m not holding these fish nuggets to any sort of high standards here, but they can’t compare to what I remembered loving as a kid.

The outer coating is just a tad too salty (and that’s coming from a Chef).  The seasonings are exactly of those of the nuggets and the texture is exactly the same.  I found that the only way to get through these nuggets of the sea were to bathe them in the tartar sauce that was  given as a condiment. The fish on the inside, albeit flaky, didn’t really do much for the overall experience.

Needless to say, these balls-o-fish were a good attempt to bring in those who are giving up red meat for Lent, but it misses it’s target by a long shot.

Would I recommend this if  you were to head through the Mickey D’s drive thru? Not a chance.  You are better off getting their Filet-O-Fish instead of these portable-poppers.

*Note: I am not paid nor am influenced in anyway in my opinion on the things I eat.  I am merely doing this for my own amusement and to help you, the reader, choose things that are worth your while at fast food establishments.

Skip Fast Food! Make One Meal, Eat It All Week.

At the beginning of each new year, it’s the same thing over and over again; “I want to be healthier. I want to start eating better. I need to have a more active and healthy lifestyle.” You’ve seen it all over your Facebook, your Twitter, and you may find yourself saying it too.

Time and time again, people believe that the only thing that’s a considerably healthy lunch time meal would be a salad.  For the most part, you could be right, but what about all of that creamy, delicious ranch you love (admit it, the Fat Free stuff doesn’t compare).  You’ll end up drowning your salad in dressing and people will just look at you with shame, knowing you ruined something potentially healthy, turning it into just a sea of unhealthy fats and unwanted calories.  Smooth.

I understand people are stressed for time. I understand that it’s easier to jump in the car during break time and head over to your local drive thru.

Just like a lot of people in the workforce, I am working two jobs.  One full time and the other part-time at night.  It’s easy for me to control what I eat at my first job as a banquet chef (considering that my meals are free and there are lots of healthier options) but not when it comes to job number two.  When your smashing burgers all day and smelling bacon cooking on the flat-top grill, it’s incredibly hard to resist making one for  yourself and over-dressing it with condiments and toppings.

Since I am one of those people that did say at the beginning of this year that I will have a healthier lifestyle, I made it a point to bring something to work that’s easy to reheat, and that is something that I’ll want to eat repeatedly for two to three days (Or maybe five for everyone else).

Here are the steps to cook one meal and eat it all week:

Step 1:

With that in mind, I thought of making a meal that was full of complex carbs (to fill me up) and with protein. I decided brown rice and chicken would be my best friends. If your not like me, pick something that you love to eat. Whether it’s just homemade mac and cheese, homemade beef stew, whatever it maybe, choose something you won’t dread eating 5 days in a row. Unless  you’re really ambitious, choose two meals.

Step 2:

Cook.  This is a no-brainer.  You’ll know what is going into each meal, you’ll be able to portion each item and you’ll feel better knowing you didn’t break the bank or your caloric intake for the day too.  Then pick a day, for instance I chose Sundays, to make these meals. 

Step 3:

Portion it out.  Here’s what I mean:

Take a measuring cup, for example, and portion out your meals. One serving of rice = 1 cup, cooked. For the chicken, about 6 oz. or about 3/4 cup.  Decide what a good portion is for you of each dish you make, and start placing them into microwave safe, BPA free Tupperware. 

The finished products should look like this. Once they cool slightly, put the lids on and stash them in the fridge.  Just remember to bring them to work with you in the morning.

To sum it all up, to save yourself some money and calories, make your own lunches.  Don’t be lazy this year. If now is not the time to finally change your eating habits, then when?

I’ve done this for about three weeks now and it’s prevented me from eating badly during my work week and it also has kept me from digging into my wallet to pay for fast food too. It’s helped me lose three pounds in the first week of doing this!

So friends, hopefully this was helpful, if not, an obvious way to help you reach your goals this year.

As always, Happy Feasting!

2013, Are YOU Ready?

At the beginning of last year, I didn’t have any particular goals or resolutions that I made for myself. I actually made a list of things I wanted myself to accomplish like lose weight, eat healthier, and keep up with my blog.

I won’t even lie to you, last year was, to say the least, not a very productive year for me. I struggled with weight-loss. I had the hardest time sticking to a diet and resisting things I should be eating and eating the things I love in moderation. 

And my beloved blog…

It was hard for me to keep a schedule of the things I wanted to talk about or even the things I wanted to do, I had no time for because my schedule at work was so erratic (who am I kidding, it still is!).  It was hard to find time to lay down some thoughts, do some real cooking (not that meal for two garbage), and talk about things I love. 

So with the start of this new year I set goals for myself that I will achieve.  It’s way too easy for people to make a large list of resolutions and not even stick to them, but not this guy; I will do as I say and kick this year’s ass.

Goal #1:

Be More Productive:  This means not sitting on my ass for hours on end watching YouTube wasting my day off.  This means setting boundaries for where I bring certain items (i.e. laptop into the kitchen) and leaving them where they belong (the office, bedroom etc.) This means blogging more and consistently. This also means less gaming. 

WHAT?!

For real, less gaming.  I am a gamer at heart, but sometimes it’s nice to put the thumb sticks down and pick up a book (which is apart of being productive) or even learning something new (like learning to play the guitar I received over Christmas). There is a lot of knowledge I want to acquire and a lot of skills I’d like to learn to challenge myself this year, mentally and physically.

To help keep me stay on the productive track is something called “Sticky-Note-Planner-Board” that Sarah found on YouTube:

Each column has a name (like Blog ideas, bills to pay, etc.)  Then, we write on a sticky note an idea or project that we’d like to have accomplished (and by when if you’d like).  Once the said item is finished we moved it down towards the bottom in the “completed” section.  By physically seeing all of the tasks at hand that need to be done, this allows us to prioritize items and focus on the ones that are really important and/or matter to us. Freaking. Genius.

Goal #2:

Finally get into a healthy lifestyle:  This can mean a number of things, for instance:

• Getting the right amount of sleep each night
• Getting the daily water requirements
• Going the gym consistently
• Eating a healthier diet
• Being aware of what I’m eating and making the right choices

The list can go on and on, but I think you get the picture.  This year is about personal growth physically and mentally.

I may have not set many goals this year but the goals I’ve chosen for myself are filled with lots of things to work on.  It will be a challenging journey, but by the end of the year, I’ll feel better about myself and accomplished.  Who doesn’t like that feeling?

What are your goals for this year? How do you plan to stay on track?

So here’s to the new year, to new goals, and to new accomplishments.

As always friends, Happy Feasting!

Recapturing the Moment: A Look back at 2012

Damn you 2012. What’s there to say? You came by and hung out a little bit. Now you are about to leave without saying goodbye? I thought we were bros?!

Sigh…

As I sit here and click-clak away at this keyboard, I am having a hard time gathering my thoughts.  So much has happened this year that I never want to remember again, but there were a lot of times where I never wanted the day to end either. 

Let’s focus on the positives:

(Here comes the random thoughts train…)

1. One of the biggest highlights was Sarah and I celebrating our first year married.  We knew even before we were getting married that nothing was going to dramatically change except for Sarah’s last name and a crazy amount of paper work to follow. We both feel that we’ve matured a lot as a couple and we’ve only been married for one year. One trick that has helped us? Talking about EVERYTHING and coffee. Lots of it.
2. Oh yeah, did I mention that I got a promotion? Last June I was given the title of Lead Banquet Chef (as I call it).  It took me a lot of hard work and dedication to be given this title. This new position keeps me motivated to learn new skills, to uphold high standards in and outside of work, and helps push me to become a better chef.
3. Sarah and I FINALLY joined a gym.  It was tough to join a club at our old place because we wanted to move.  So when we settled into our new apartment and got acquainted with our new digs, we found a gym to join.  Since I work the oddest hours, I made it a point to get up at 4 AM, four times a  week and get my ass going.  It was hard at first to commit to that kind of workout regime, but after a few weeks, my body became acclimated to the punishment it was taking in the morning. I have come a long way and I have big health goals for next year.
4. Oh yeah, did I mention that I got a second job too? Why, you might ask? Simply put: We have lots of student loan debt and we plan to pay it ALL off within the next 2 years.

There you have it folks.  A simple, yet eventful year. I can honestly say that this year has really tested my patience, but it also has helped me mature as an adult too.

There is no growth without struggle.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Here’s to a new year and new beginnings. 

As always friends, Happy Feasting!

Easy Chicken Mac & Cheese

If there is something I refuse to eat, regardless of how inexpensive it may be, it would have to be…

Boxed. Mac. And. Cheese.

There is nothing comforting or rewarding about opening a cardboard box, boiling noodles, and pouring in a powder so artificial, so unrealistically orange, it makes my skin tingle thinking about it.…EHH.

Sarah, who grew up on this American cupboard staple, often suggests this as meal when we are stumped on what we want to indulge in for the evening.  Without saying a word, I look over at her with a look of disgust on my face.

She already knows my answer.

So with some left over ingredients from other dishes we made earlier in the week, we whipped up a cheesy, creamy, and actually tasty mac and cheese.

Take a stand against nuclear orange pasta and make this mac and cheese!

Easy Chicken Mac & Cheese

Serves 2

• 1 1/2 cups, elbow mac
• 8 oz. cubed  chicken breast
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 cups, whole milk
• 4 oz. cream cheese
• 3/4 cup shredded mild cheddar (or whatever kind of cheese you prefer)
• 1/4 tsp. paprika
• 1/4 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
• Salt and pepper, to taste

1. Boil the pasta according to the directions on the box.  Just al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Strain and toss in little oil to keep from sticking.
2. While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or large sauté pan to medium high. Add the chicken and garlic and cook until the chicken is fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Once the chicken is fully cooked, add the milk, paprika, onion powder and mustard. Stir to incorporate spices and bring to a quick boil.
4. Once the milk is boiling, add the cream cheese and shredded cheese then turn down the head down to medium.  Gently stir in the cheese until fully incorporated.
5. Add the noodles and stir that bad boy up.  Add a pinch each of salt and pepper and taste. Add more seasonings and cheese to your liking.

Simply put, this is going to be how we make our mac and cheese from now on. Sarah said it was “A hearty party in my belly”.  That’s her way of saying it gets her stamp of approval.  Sounds legit to me!

So before you reach for that box of noodles and orange powder, think twice and make this instead. It’s the right thing to do.

As always friends, Happy Feasting!

For The Cook/Foodie That Has Everything

Is it actually possible to have too many kitchen appliances? Quite frankly, yes.  Depending on your living situation (i.e., living in an apartment with a small kitchen, or even living in a small house with little storage and counter space), having too many gadgets and do-dads can be a bit of a hassle. Us cooks love being able to have this or that tool/appliance that will enable us to do everything we can dream up to cook, but sometimes too much is literally too much. 

So when it comes to gift giving during the holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries, cooks with everything in their cooking arsenal could be the hardest people to shop for my friends. Could be just me, but I am picky as they come when it comes to what brand of knives, cutting boards and even appliances I use.

So, now it’s time to think outside of the box. Go beyond getting a knife set that they’ll refuse to use and return anyway. Go beyond getting a gift card to a favorite restaurant of theirs. Don’t take a guess and buy them a cook book you “think” they will like (although cooking reference books are great to have, in my opinion). 

Gift Idea #1:

Food Phone Cases: Look all over the web and it won’t be hard to find a website that has a million different phone cases. Since the craze of the iPhone began, companies pump out insanely large amounts of customizable and fun phone cases. Honestly, who doesn’t have one these days? Zazzle.com and Etsy.com provide a ton of hand made and even customizable options.

Retro Hot Dog iPhone Case

Sriracha iPhone case

Gift Idea #2:

Food T-shirts/Clothes: For the bacon-lover to the Sriracha-obsessed-hot-sauce-fiend, there is a shirt out there for everyone.   Remember, just because you fit a large all the time doesn’t mean your buddy will either, just be kind and ask what size they wear and save yourself from picking up the bill next time for inadvertently calling them fat.

Sriracha Hug T-Shirt

Burger, Fries & A Shake T-Shirt

Choose Your Weapon T-Shirt

Gift Idea #3:

Vintage Food Art:  Food prints and art can always be a fun conversation starter, or even just something to remind you of your favorite treat, candy, soda, etc. It’ll also make your kitchen feel more like a place to gather and chill rather than a place to just eat.

Heinz Magazine Advertisement

Hurra! Bier! Poster

Hot Buttered Popcorn Poster

Gift Idea #4:

Customizable (Blank): From aprons, to beer mugs, to BBQ steak branders, there are just too many things you can customize. Try to figure out what item could be used most frequently by the individual and go from there.  Is it just me, or do people like seeing their name on things so they know for 100% it’s theirs?

Customizable Aprons

Customizable Mugs

Customizable Monogrammed Forged Steak Brand

Gift Idea #5:

Magazine Subscriptions:  I don’t know how many times I’ve contemplated on getting a subscription to Food Network’s magazine, let alone the number of times I’ve scoured the pages of Taste of Home for I-HAVE-TO-HAVE-THIS-IN-MY-MOUTH recipes.  Usually around this time, they’ll throw in a free subscription or gift for yourself or another person too, so your definitely getting a bang for your buck.

Food Network Magazine

Taste Of Home Magazine

 

There you have it folks. This list could continue on and on, but these are some ideas that will help you get started for finding gifts for the cook with everything. Although if you must buy a gadget or small cooking appliance for them, please ask them if they have it and if not, what brand/type/style they’d like of said appliance.  Don’t just wing it. 

Big Tip: If you plan on ordering this online, do it early to ensure that you get it before Christmas. Save yourself the stress!

Until next time, Happy shopping and Happy Feasting!