Busy, Busy Day!!!

When I was a kid I had been a picky eater. It was only when I started going to culinary school that I started eating different vegetables, meat, sweets, etc. And now, I’m a full-blown foodie, and a snob at that. LOL The past years working in the kitchen, seeing different food and ingredients, I realized that I actually liked the stuff that I thought I didn’t like as a kid. Examples are: scallops, brussels sprouts, sea bass, beans, red beets, proscuitto, etc. Depending on the preparation, of course. There are some foods that I still did not like, like mushrooms (except the special ones — HAHA), mussels, oysters, etc. But I will try almost everything once.

Due to some recent family situations I began rethinking my lifestyle. The way I eat and the way I abuse my body. The past year I have been really good to myself. I even lost weight and kept it off. I have been eating healthier — with some days where I ate what I liked mostly indulging my sweet tooth, but still in moderation. I exercised, I hiked, I do yoga to relax. But I still want to be better. So I have decided to adopt a mainly vegetarian diet. Cutting down on red meat, except when I’m traveling abroad, eventually become dairy free too.

The past few weeks, I have been on a quinoa and hummus binge. I usually bought them at the neighbourhood deli/bakery called Rocket. And today, I decided to make them myself. They are fairly easy to make. I have just been extremely lazy. HAHA

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 can (540 ml) black beans
• 1 can (340 ml) corn kernel
• 1 cup red onion, small dice
• 1 cup green bell pepper, small dice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• cumin, to taste
• salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Simmer quinoa in water until cooked and tender. Cool.

In a bowl, mix all ingredients together. Adjust seasoning if necessary.

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 2 cups water
• 1 medium english cucumber, small dice
• 1 large tomato, seeded and small dice
• 1 cup red onion, small dice
• 1 cup green bell pepper, small dice
• 1/4 cup Italian parsley, finely chopped
• 1/2 tbsp garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Simmer quinoa in water until cooked and tender. Cool.

In a bowl, mix all ingredients together. Adjust seasoning if necessary.

Ingredients

• 2 cups quinoa
• 2 cups shredded coconut
• 2 tbsp chia seeds
• 2/3 cup flax seed
• 2 cups almonds, sliced
• 1 cup cashews
• 1 tbsp cinnamon, powder
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees celsius.

In a bowl, mix all ingredients together. Spread evenly on a sheet tray lined with parchment. Bake for 20-30 minutes until brown and toasted. Mixing every 10 minutes. Granola will be crunchy as it cools. Serve with almond milk, soy milk or regular milk. 🙂

*You can add dried fruits like cherries, raisins, cranberries, etc to the granola after it’s cooled down. I just didn’t want to add any more sugar to it. LOL

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1 cup soy or almond milk
• 1 cup water
• 2 medium kiwi, diced
• 1 cup strawberries, diced
• 1 cup blueberry almond yogurt
• milk and sugar to taste

Directions

Simmer quinoa in water milk mixture until cooked and tender. Cool.

In a bowl, mix all ingredients together. I decided to adjust the liquid content before I eat it, adding yogurt or milk before serving. I also decided to add sugar before eating. So milk and sugar to taste.

*You can add dried fruits like cherries, raisins, cranberries, etc to the muesli. Soak them with the quinoa. I just didn’t want to add any more sugar to it. LOL

🙂 🙂 🙂

While grocery shopping I also spied some flounder! It’s rare to see other kinds of fish in this part of the world, aside from cod and salmon! I knew I had to buy! So I did, and it was supper! 🙂

I never really understood why my colleagues down in Florida, called it devil fish. I loved skinning this little sucker! But tonight not so much! I forgot to ask the fish lady to take the guts out! That was not fun. But doable. LOL

My dad will not be happy with how much meat was still on that fish. Tsk Tsk

My lovely fillets! Salt and pepper, dredge in flour. Pan fry in some butter or in my case, I used margarine (I can’t believe it’s not butter!!!).

AND VOILA!!!