Cooking Lessons with the Grill

There are a few kitchen basics that I thought everybody knew, but apparently I was wrong.

I realized this when I left my fiancée strict instructions for dinner, one night when I was working late. Everything was prepared, he just had to put it in the oven. So he reads the directions that says to use an oven safe SKILLET (as pictured above). Instead he used a pyrex, glass casserole dish on the stovetop. Needless to say, I came home and the glass dish had exploded all across the kitchen. This is what leads me to basic cooking rules for those who are just learning how to cook:

1. The only materials that can be used on the stove are metals, cast-iron counts as a metal. Glass and ceramic can never go on the stove top, they may be used in the oven if labled oven safe, but NEVER on the stove top

2. Metal can never be put in the microwave, glass is best for microwave. Metal also includes aluminum foil

Glass - microwave and oven only Metal - Stove top and occasionally oven (if oven safe)

3. Boiling means that the water is so hot that you can visibly see large bubbles

4. Simmering means cooking over low heat and keeping a close eye on whatever the contents are so they don't burn

5. Measuring cups are meant to be used and every kitchen needs a set. They should always be used when baking, even if you are a pro due to the chemical reactions that happen during the baking process, ingredients need to be precise.

For cooking, measuring is not always needed if you can eyeball well; however, if you are just beginning, I recommend using them.

6. Use a cook book and read the instructions FIRST before starting

7. Have fun and when in doubt, look on the internet for answers

Zucchini Bread

This Recipe is for Zucchini bread made even healthier. I used to love when my mom made it for me as a kid.

Ingredients:

2 cups shredded zucchini

1.5 cups All-Purpose Flour

1.5 cups Whole Wheat Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1.4 Cups Sugar

1/3 cup Canola Oil

2/3 cup unsweetened Organic Applesauce

2 Tablespoon Cinnamon

1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract

3 Eggs

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Sift all both types of flour, baking soda, baking Powder, and Cinnamon in a bowl and set aside

3. Beat Eggs, Oil, Applesauce, and sugar in another large bowl until well mixed and creamy

4. Slowly combine dry ingredients into the creamy mixture and beat for another minute or until well mixed

5. Add Zucchini to mixture

6. Pour into a buttered or sprayed loaf pan and bake for 40-50 minutes

I added the whole wheat flour for the health benefits to this recipe; however, if you make it all with whole wheat flour, then the taste isn't as smooth

I also used Canola oil instead of Vegetable Oil since it has far less Saturated fat and I substituted the rest of the oil for the applesauce which cuts both fat and calories.

In addition, I put less sugar in because the applesauce is sweet naturally.

My verdict on this recipe is: Doesn't taste exactly like mom's zucchini bread, but tastes pretty close. I could not tell much of a difference.

Ratatouille

Ok this may not look the most appetizing, but there is something comforting about it and it has wonderful taste with the most simple ingredients. It is also virtually impossible to mess this recipe up.

Ingredients:

1 pound of tomatoes, sliced

1 pound of eggplant, sliced

1 pound of zucchini, sliced

5 Cloves of Garlic, Minced

1 Red Bell Pepper, Diced

1 Onion, Diced

This dish is best made in a Cast-Iron pot such as a Le Creuset Dutch Oven, a Soup Pot will also do if you don't have a Dutch Oven.

Start by layering the Eggplant on the bottom, then the tomatoes, next the Zucchini and then sprinkle the onion, red bell pepper, and garlic on top. Cook over low heat for 1-1.5 hours.

I serve my ratatouille over Quinoa (can be seen in the picture above). It is a great dish to take for lunch or freeze.

A Slice of Heaven - Flourless Chocolate Cake

8 0z. Dark Chocolate Chips

8 oz. Unsalted Butter at room temperature

4 Large Eggs

1 Cup Sugar

2 Tablespoons Vanilla

6 Tablespoons Cornstarch

Before you start you will need two mixing bowls and 1 mold or spring form pan

1. Preheat the oven to 350 Degrees

2. Brush the mold or spring form pan with butter

3. Place chocolate in a bowl that is set above a pot of simmering water - a double boiler will also do. Once chocolate is melted, remove from heat and let cool.

4. In a separate bowl cream butter

5. Pour chocolate into mixing bowl with butter and beat for another 2 minutes

6. In separate bowl beat eggs and start adding sugar, beat at high speed until the eggs are thick (about 6 minutes)

7. Beat chocolate/butter mixture into egg/sugar mixture

8. Add Vanilla and cornstarch to mixture

9. Pour batter into prepared mold and cover chocolate in mold with buttered wax or parchment paper.

10. Put mold in baking dish and fill baking dish with hot water, until the water almost comes up to the top.

11. Place in oven and bake for 45-50 minutes

12. Turn mold over on serving plate and wait 30 minutes until the mold is cooled

I also like to make a raspberry sauce to go on top, I find its the perfect compliment to the rich chocolate. This is how it is made:

1 Cup of Pureed Raspberries

1/2 Cup of Sugar

juice squeezed from 1/2 of a lemon

All contents are placed in a sauced pan and cooked over low heat until contents have been cooked off and reduced. Keep stirring while it is over heat though.

Leek and Potato Soup

Soups are my favorite thing to make. They are virtually impossible to screw up, are usually very healthy, easy to make, cheap, and are great to take for lunch.

One of my favorites is Leek and Potato soup, It is healthy because leeks contain much vitamin K, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Iron and Folate and the potatoes also contain much Vitamin C, B6, Iron, and Potassium. In addition, this soup has a creamy consistency, but has no cream in it.

This is how I make it:

1 Yellow Onion, minced
1-2 tablespoons of Olive Oil
3 cloves of Garlic, minced
1-2 bunches of Leeks, white parts only, chopped
2-4 Potatoes (depending on size and type, I usually use 4 red potatoes), cubed
5 cups of Vegetable Stock or until all veggies are covered in the pot, you can also use Better than Bouillon Vegetable Base and Water (this is my method of choice, its cheaper).

First, saute the onions and leeks in about a tablespoon or two of olive oil. Once they are mostly cooked, add the minced Garlic, and cook for another minute.

Next add the potatoes, and the stock or base and water until the veggies are just covered in liquid. Let boil, then reduce heat to a simmer for about 20 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Next, blend the mixture with either an immersion blender or regular blender, be careful with the hot liquid. The soup should have a creamy consistency then.

Note: you may add whatever other spices you want to this, dried or fresh thyme is good, sometimes I add cheese into it, and sometimes just a little bit of salt and pepper.

Kaeng Raeng Cleanse/Detox: Day 3

YAY!!! This is my last day of this cleanse! I am ready for some bread or pasta tomorrow!

There is nothing new today.

While the smoothies/shakes are good, I am kinda getting tired of them. They seemed more filling today so I only had half a package during each meal. After this cleanse was over, I have 2 packages left.

Kaeng Raeng Cleanse: Day 2

I forgot to pack my lunch smoothing mix to bring to work today, hopefully the day will be ok without it. I did pack plenty of fresh raw veggies and fruit, so I think I will be good.

9:30 am: Luckily my morning smoothie made more than normal, so I think I can get by with drinking half of it, and it is delicious!

11:00 am: So far today, I have some cravings, but they are definitely not as intense as yesterday. I had some celery and carrots as a snack, they are quite flavorful and are filling.

1:00 pm: Was doing so well until now, we have a warm food lunch n' learn in the office and the food smells so good. I haven't given in yet, but the cravings are back.

4:00 pm: Made it through the afternoon while only having one spoonfull of rice, not bad

7:00 pm: Just finished a run and I feel great. For dinner I am having a shake mixed with a little bit of plain Greek Yogurt and a banana. Yum

8:00 pm: I had two mushrooms that Tim didn't eat out of his Chicken Pot Pie. I think this cleanse/detox is working because those mushrooms tasted too salty, I had to drink a whole glass of water afterwards, just to get the overly salty taste out of my mouth.

So far so good!