World Travelers: Easy Meal

Wisdom for travelers or people who like to be gluten-free

A few bowls, plates, cups, chop sticks, 2 forks, 1 sauce pan and wok fill our cupboards. It’s a challenge making meals when there isn’t much in your kitchen. I say a challenge but that is only going to grow me in the kitchen. Having now been married for two years and learning how to cook to bless my husband and myself with healthy food I have discovered the love for cooking creations. It’s hard for me to just cook for necessity, I want to create a work of healthy art that I can enjoy the fruit of my labor.

My hubby and I are trying to not collect “things” this one year we’re living in China. As a world traveler I’m learning how to make dishes with very little. It’s a workout for my two legs and upper body strength to grocery shop.

Battles I need to grow in:

• learn how to cook Chinese foods while avoiding expensive American dishes, gluten and dairy
• cooking with minimal kitchen appliances

We are still settling in to our apartment. It’s incredible what few dishes you can’t make without seasoning or certain utensils so I have been trying to figure out easy, simple, and quick meals.

This first picture is a gluten-free alternative. I got the idea off of Pinterest but it’s a simple easy snack one foreigner can enjoy in China. Ham and cucumbers can easily be found. The cheese might be a little harder. Note to foreigners traveling in China, cheese is a treat.

 

If you have read previous post my hubby and I have been eating a lot of omelets. The dish below was a new creation that shook up our routine eggs. Who knew raw cucumbers and red onion made a dish explode with deliciousness in your mouth?

Gallo-scrambled ingrediants:

• eggs
• potatoes chopped
• raw cucumbers chopped
• raw red onion chopped
• a hand full of cherry tomatoes

If you know of a website that meets our criteria of being easy, simple, Chinese, gluten and dairy free please leave the information in the comment box below. Thanks for stopping by.

Read Full Post »

Veggie Chorizo Bowl

This simple meal is basically chorizo, eggs and lots of fresh veggies in a bowl. GLUTEN-FREE! I was surfing the net and couldn’t find any chorizo primal recipes so I made up my own.

Ingredients:
– about 1 lb of chorizo meat
– 6 eggs
– almond milk ( for cooking eggs)
– 2 tomatoes
– 2 springs of green onion
-1 green pepper
– 1 yellow onion
– 3 carrots
– 1 zucchini
– carton of mushrooms

Directions:
1) cook meat
2) cut mushrooms, yellow onion and zucchini up, sauté
3) cut up the rest of the vegetables ( shred carrots) DO NOT COOK
4) cook eggs ( chicken broth is optional)
5) mix it all together ( look at top picture for guidance) [sprinkle green onion for a pro-cook look 🙂 ]

This recipe was a Maura original.

Readers: Do you have other primal chorizo recipes?

Read Full Post »

Mexican Zucchini Chocolate Cookies

Mexican Zucchini Chocolate Cookies

I was inspired by a Martha Stewart recipe and was determined to make it as healthy as possible. I made these awesome exotic cookies with a friend. The cookies created a sweet opportunity for my friend and I to catch up.

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups almond flour or gluten free ( I used pancake/ waffle gluten free flour)
2 zucchini’s grated
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup honey or maple
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature ( or olive oil)
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon chile powder (optional but I dare you)

Directions:
1) preheat oven to 400 degrees F
2) grate zucchini, mix all ingredients
3) bake for about 10 minutes

I originally was going to do regular gluten-free flour but my cheap voice screamed through me and I instead saved $2 by buying waffle/ pancake gluten-free flour. Because I saved $2 my husband commented the dessert tasted like

muffin tops

but still good. I imagine if you do regular gluten-free flour you will get a more “cookie” texture.

health benefits of zucchini:
1) lowers cholesterol
2) cancer prevention
3) reduces symptoms of prostrate health
4) anti- inflammatory ( great for muscle aches)
5) prevents heart attacks and strokes
6) lowers blood pressure
7) high in manganese
For more details: http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/8-health-benefits-of-zucchini.html

Recipe adapted from http://www.marthastewart.com/336516/mexican-hot-chocolate-cookies

Readers: What other healthy substitutions do you know of in baking? Have you baked a healthy dessert recently? Please share.

Read Full Post »

Supreme Cauliflower Crust Pizza

How to make a Primal Supreme Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Preparing food is bonding! My husband, grandma, dad and I prepared this meal! We will hold this baking experience in our pockets of memory! Grab a friend or family member and have a couple hours of good conversation over healthy pizza making!

Ingredients

The CRUST
2 cups gluten free flour
1 cauliflower head, grated
¼ cup flaxseed meal ( leave out if you want thin crust)
¼ cup lemon juice
2 ¼ cups water (use 2 cups if you omit the hempseed)
1/4 red onion
½ tsp grated lemon zest
1/4 oregano, parsley, salt, basil (each)
1 Tbsp oil, for your pan

The TOPPINGS
1 orange or red pepper
2 Roma tomatoes
A handful of green or black olives
2 branches of basil
2 ounces of sausage
2 ounces of pepperoni
3-4 ounces of goat cheese
1 jar of marinara

Easy steps to a Healthy gluten free pizza!
Step 1: Preheat oven 425F.
Step 2: Mix crust ingredients. Oil pan, level dough in pan!
Step 3: Bake crust for 35 minutes. ( we did the dough for 25 minutes and it was still doughy)
Step 4: During baking cut up toppings!
Step 5: Lather crust with marinara and sprinkle toppings. Bake for 10 minutes.
Step 6: Cool pizza for about 10 minutes.

Some of the ingredients

Basil fresh from the garden

My husband grating the cauliflower

The cauliflower crust mix

Bake crust for 35 minutes ( test with fork)

Toppings cut up

Our time of love baking

Our healthy creation and our experienced captured on film! It was agreed to be very delicious!

Readers: Please share a healthy vegetable recipe? Or a vegetable that surprises you with awesome components like cauliflower!

Read Full Post »

Easy 鸡肉花椰菜 (Chicken and Broccoli)

This picture was taken in China. The Chinese have caged chickens on their balconies or streets. Fresh Chicken!!!! YUM!

Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
If you want an easy primal dinner or ethnic night under red lanterns, grab an easy seasoning packet from the store. In the Chinese section of the grocery stores they have these easy cheat packets. The meal still requires cutting but these packets eliminate buying several seasoning and save you a few minutes. The seasoning is darn close to the restaurant dishes.

Ingredients:
– 1 pound of chicken
– 1 yellow onion sauté
– 1 head of broccoli steamed
– (optional) 1 carrot cut up and sauté
– seasoning packet

The following pictures below were taken on my Ipad.

Directions:
1) cut the onion strips long and set on a sauté simmer, cook till caramelized
2) boil water, place steamer in pot and cut up broccoli

3) cut strips of chicken
4) put olive oil in the pan and cook the chicken till dove white
5) add water and the seasoning

Your body will thank you for opting for the healthier dish tonight. Enjoy. Let me know what you think.

Side mark: Have you found season packets for Indian dishes?

Broccoli Facts:

-more vitamin C than an orange

-almost as much calcium as milk

-boost the immune system

-full of antioxidants

-boost of enzymes

-originated from Italy

-keep in the crisper drawer in the refrigerator

-recommended to have 3 times a week (dips and salads are easy ways to do this)

Read Full Post »

Juice, the cure for headaches

“Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food.” (~Hippocrates)

Do you ever get headaches? Most Americans get them but it depends on how regularly. I was reminded today that the natural resources we have on earth can cure this common issue. Below are two easy natural migraine solutions:

1) Pineapple spinach smoothie
Ingredients: frozen pineapple, lots of spinach (optional, pineapple juice) and some water. Blend, eat and then lay down.

2) Veggie Juice
Ingredients:4-5 carrots, 4-5 celery stalks, 1 garlic clove, A handful of parsley, 1 cup of water
(Note: if you can afford it try to get organic produce, more nutrients)

Typically people use a juicer. My husband and I have a juicer but it’s in storage and I was too lazy to go get it so I used a blendtex blender and milk bag cloth to make my juice. The final product was delicious; it tasted like an Italian juice. I didn’t have the juice while I had a migraine but the juice sure made my body feel great. Please let me know if any of these recipes help you.

Today the Italian juicer!

Read Full Post »

Cheesy French Date

Historically and a sometimes practice today in France is to enjoy a warm meal for lunch and a cold meal in the evening. A common delicious cold combo meal is cheese and wine.

Did you have a stressful week? Do you want to catch up with your best friend ( aka lover)? The best way is to enjoy one another with no distractions is to enjoy some good conversation over food. What better way to do this then sparking romance by replicating a French date? Love was nurtured in my very backyard with a combination of conversation, cheese and wine!

My husband and I went to Whole Foods for the intention of buying hamburgers to grill ( because there was a special on quality hamburgers). We got there and minds were changed. I had tossed the idea before of having a picnic of cheese and wine at the park. My husband remembered and suggested we do this very idea.

Tonights data menu:
– cheddar cheese ( good quality on sale)
– quality salami
– sour dough crackers
– wine from Red Bud, IL local winery

Warning for lactose people. This is a great date concept. I am lactose but a small amount of good quality cheese doesn’t bother me. I am still experimenting “with caution” what cheeses my body can tolerate. If you are lactose do you have cheese recommendations?

We got home with the intention of getting the wine and wine opener. With miscommunication we ended up dining in. We were going to do the sophisticated date on the local Tempe Town Lake but things change. I would recommend enjoying the French date in nature: a park, lake, in the mountains, fields, a garden or your own backyard.

Our dining in went well. My husband and I recently bought a house so quality time, with no distractions we were able to appreciate our new home in peace.

My husband and I enjoyed one another over a simple meal of cheese, salami, crackers and red wine.

Do you have any suggestions on global cruisine date ideas? Ideas are appreciated!

Read Full Post »

Date Night: 2 Chefs in the Kitchen

An

ideal

date night. Making food together is seriously a bonding experience. The shopping for the food together, the cutting, the cooking….it’s a project made together through team work.

My husband and I went to Whole Foods. We browsed the meat department and found their sausages were on sale.

Buy a meat that is on sale, it’s a surprise and a deal what it might be. This week the meat sale at Whole Foods is “Buck-A-Burger One-Day sale” May 18th only! ( regional)

No antibiotics, ever.
No added hormones.
No artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors.

We made a recipe my Aunt created: Greek Orzo!

The ingredients are as followed:
– box of Orzo
– can of black olives
– 1/4 cup of capers
– can of diced tomatoes
– one yellow onion
– one cup of fresh cut parsley
– half a lemon
– 2 tablespoons of cooking wine

Directions:
1) cook Orzo
2) cut vegetables
3) pour in the rest of ingredients and simmer for 7 minutes

We also bought some wine and enjoyed one another in the comforts of our home!

The night consisted of shopping for food, preparing food, drinking wine, good conversation ( distraction free), tip free by candlelight. Following the romantic evening was an art project we did together.

Read Full Post »

Sea Cuisine: Spicy Fish Wrap

Spicy Fish Wraps- A Five Star Meal

If your in the mood for a sea cuisine or want to wow your family, then try this amazing recipe. My husband rated it a five star meal! This will be a meal we will repeat!

Ingredients and Directions:

1) In a bowl mix the following and then let it chill in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes.
The Spicy Sauce
2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
2 teaspoons ground cumin
3 tablespoons chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons Greek yogurt
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 bell pepper, cut into thin strips
1 cup shredded carrot
1/3 cup minced red onion
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro (optional)

2) Sprinkle olive oil, chili powder and salt on the fish. Grill the fish.
( We grilled our fish but you can also bake it.)
2 pounds tilapia or snapper fillets, rinsed and patted dry

3) More ingredients:
6 extra-large, whole-grain flour tortillas ( When the recipe calls for Extra Large tortillas they mean extra large. Our international student broke his because it was packed to the gill!!!)
5 cups shredded Napa or savoy cabbage
2 avocados, mash with a fork in a bowl

4) How to build your wrap:
A. Spread the Spicy Sauce over the tortilla
B. Spear some of the avocado over the sauce
C. Cut the fish up and sprinkle over tortilla
D. Throw some shredded cabbage over it
E. Wrap and smell the ocean!!!!

I modified the above recipe but was inspired by the following link:
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/spiced-fish-wraps-with-chile-lime-slaw-10000001598609/

Read Full Post »

Slop me up with some Joe

For nannying I made minestrone and for supper, for my husband and I, homemade sloppy joes. I made two dinners worth of it for putting in all the effort.

Italian aroma (internet picture)

I must be into cooking because today all I can think about is what I cooked. Cooking new dishes is another form of me painting a masterpiece that happens to be edible. Maybe these dishes are simple to you or maybe your a mastery chef, but these dishes are new to me. Growing up I was accustomed to many take outs, box foods or frozen meals. Making dishes from fresh produce or flesh (aka, meat) is new to me. [ Believe it…at the end of the year2011 it was my first time cooking real bacon on the stove. ]
While nannying for lunch I made homemade cut up veggi minestrone. I was a natural Italian in the kitchen but the dish was a little heavy for the kids on the red pepper flakes. Darn. Is that true for all kids not liking spicy food?

From the movie "It takes Two" (internet picture)

Nightfall in my house, Sloppy Joes. Every time I say the word “sloppy joe” I get a snapshot in my mind of a child with smeared red sauce painting their face with a moon silver grin ear-to-ear. I am jubilated to see my future children’s faces with this dish. If you want to get the smeared effect without grains you can use cabbage as the buns.

The ingredients, minus the meat

In the evening the Denny and April family went bunless. For dinner I made homemade sloppy joes minus the carbs.
2 medium onion, chopped, 2 medium green pepper, chopped, 4 cloves of garlic, 2Tbsp Chili powder, 1tsp ground cumin, 2 lb ground beef, get lean, 2 (15 oz) can tomato sauce

The recipe was from this site: http://www.paleoplan.com/2009/12-03/sloppy-joes/

The finale that was soon gobbled into my hungry stomach.Arty Food.

Read Full Post »