SORRY FOR THE DELAY!
Edamame…

The perfect treat to stash in your freezer at home and the office! In the perfect world we have fruits and vegetables at every single meal to get the recommended nine servings daily. Everyday, about 3pm I need an afternoon snack and I always try and have some carrots on hand, a snack pack of almonds, a piece of fruit! I can always count on that frozen bag of edameme I keep stashed! You can take out a 1/2 a cup and just let it defrost at your desk for a few minutes! Pop the seeds out of the pods and you have a tasty, healthy protein energy boost! I also use edamame in a lot of my dishes, sprinkled over a salad, added in any vegetable dish and I sometimes will substitute edamame for peas!

Edamame Nutrition Information:
The beans are rich in dietary fiber and protein. They contain the full profile of amino acids to be considered a complete protein. Soy has long been a mainstay in vegetarian diets. A serving provides daily requirement for folate. The seeds also contain phytoestrogens.
Serving Size 1/2 cup
Amount per serving
Calories 100 Calories from Fat 25
Hide Daily Values % Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 5%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 260mg 11%
Total Carbohydrates 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 4g
Sugars 1g
Protein 8g
Vitamin A 9% Vitamin C 9%
Calcium 5% Iron 9%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

OOPS! I forgot our other Memorial Day, summertime treat…

What would summer be without grilling some corn on the cob!  I don’t eat it that often but it is another dish that signifies summer!  Guess what – it tastes great without the butter!!!!  Bob and I used to clarify butter and BRUSH it on so every morsel of corn would be saturated!  Now, just grilled to perfection with maybe some cracked pepper, I am good to go!

Corn is nutritious and healthy. It also has Vitamins A, C, E and K. That's an impressive list of nutrients.

It's rich in folate, which lowers the levels of homocysteine, an amino acid. Homocysteine is an intermediate product in a metabolic process known as the methylation cycle. Homocysteine can damage blood vessels which can lead to heart disease.

It's rich in beta-cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid found in the highest quantities in corn, papaya, tangerines, red bell peppers, oranges, pumpkins, and peaches. The carotenoid may notably lower the risk of lung cancer.

1 ear of this veggie supplies fifteen percent of the daily value of pantothenic acid. Pantothenic acid is used by mitochondria to change complex carbs into glucose which supplies energy. The beta-carotene contained in this veggie boost supplies of hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen to your cells and helps prevent fatigue.

Nutritional Benefits of Corn:
Corn (sweet, yellow, raw), 1 medium ear Calories: 77
Protein: 2.9g
Carbohydrate: 17g
Total Fat: 1g
Fiber: 2.4g
Sugars: 3g

Until Monday – keep thinking veggies and protein!

Stuffed Poblano Chile Peppers or a Labor of Love…

Years ago Bob perfected one of my favorite dishes – the Chiles Rellenos!  Oh, the dinner parties we used to have!  We brainstormed and came up with a much healthier version and OMG they were divine!  It truly was a labor of love!  THANK YOU MY MASTER CHEF BOB!

Bob soaked a mixture of dry beans overnight; pinto, black , garbanzo, red kidney beans and pigeon peas.  Then he cooked them in water with dried guajillo chile peppers, (or a commercially available chile powder), onions, and garlic and chipotle pepper powder.

Then he made his secret homemade chile sauce, all from scratch and I can’t even begin to tell you how he does it!  All I know is that it starts with a variety of dried chiles!

The stuffing was sautéed onion, garlic (with EVOO spray) and serrano peppers.  2 cups of cooked red quinoa, 2 shredded poached chicken breasts, mashed up a cup of the cooked beans and mixed it all together with the chile sauce.

Now for the peppers!  Roast the poblanos until the skin blisters, rest, then peel the skin, split them and take out the seeds, leaving the stem in place.

Stuff the peppers and place them in a baking dish, spoon over some of the extra chile sauce over the peppers, sprinkle just a hint queso cotija cheese and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes covered and then another 15 minutes uncovered.

All ready to serve.  I love Bob’s homemade tomatilla sauce on the side.  That again is a whole other recipe!  This has now satisfied my cravings for the chiles rellenos!  No more deep-frying and no more cheese fillings!

Bon Apetite!

DO YOU REALLY NEED TO JOIN A GYM…

Yes, if that’s what it takes to get you off your butt!!!

OK, I am spoiled! I have Chicago’s beautiful Lakefront right outside my door!  In the spring, summer and fall, as long as it is light outside in the morning I can run, walk and bike.  Years ago we did make the investment of a treadmill and a stationary bike!  There is nothing like waking up in the winter, or a rainy day when I really need to work out, and am able to just roll out of bed and basically workout in my PJ’s!  I got my weights, balance ball and I am ready for my strength training!  What else do I need!  OOPS!  Still waiting for my buso ball!

All I can say is, just get in a routine, make a commitment and stick to it as much as possible!  Results will start showing in no time and you will start too just feel great and look great!

Memorial Day…

Maybe not the very healthiest of choices, but so perfect for a holiday weekend!  OK, ribs aren’t the leanest meat, but here is our version:
Bob dry rubbed the ribs with his magical sense of spices and let them marinade overnight! I smoked them in our Cameron’s stovetop smoker with mesquite wood chips and Bob finished them off by slow cooking them on the grill! 

We had broccoli slaw as our side dish.  How easy to get a bag of Trader Joe’s broccoli slaw, add some carrots, green onions, jalapenos, a squeeze of lime, rice wine vinegar, salt and pepper to taste and to add some pizzazz, get out some wasabi (you can find it in a tube)!

A nice bottle of red wine and what a great BBQ! 

Memorial day signifies the start of summer to me even though the official date isn’t until June!  There is no city like Chicago in the summer!!!