I call them Italian Nachos

Hi kids! I'm Josh and I'm going to be sharing some of my kitchen antics with you on a semi-regular basis since, as Michelle mentioned in an earlier post, I'll probably be doing the lion's share of the cooking for the two of us!

So while we've been waiting to be turned loose upon that snazzy kitchen in the new place, I've been putting together some light dishes that are quick and easy and don't require any fancy equipment. The other night I decided to go Italian and make a simple variation of Bruschetta.

Quick and Easy Light Meal

Light lunch or dinner?  Here's a light delicious treat you can have.  ^.^

Cucumber Sandwiches

Things you need:

• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes
• Cream Cheese
• Spices: Oregano, Salt, and Pepper
• Sliced Bread (French is good ^.^) 

Spread Cream Cheese on each slice of bread.  Peel and slice a cucumber.  Slice a tomato.  Sprinkle your spices on the cream cheese and lay slices of tomato and cucumber on the cream cheese..  top with second slice. NOM!

Moving... the kitchen sold us.

I'm in the process of moving to Corona, CA.  When looking for living arrangements, one element has always seemed to take precedence: the kitchen.  Can I see myself cooking in here?  What type of counter space does it have?  Electric or Gas Range? Electric or Gas Oven?  Single or Double Oven?  How big is the fridge?  WHat is the layout of the kitchen, is it conducive to entertaining?  Fridge?  Pantry?  What type of sink?

Goodness!  We were in luck!  Check this little gourmet kitchen out.  While smaller than say, my parent's kitchen, it's simply a smaller version.  There is an island with tons of space for baking and food prep.  A Gas Stove/Oven combination.  (Even a griddle in the center of the stove.) And your Microwave, double door fridge (unseen), Double sink...  It's beautiful!  And it's our new territory.

Gas or Electric... Gas offers better control over your cooking temperatures.  This was somewhat of a deal breaker for my Significant Other (my future Chef Genius who's on the path of culinary studies.)  Electric has a tendency to heat unevenly.  It's not terribly bad, but we were happy to see a Gas stove just waiting to be used!


More luck!  We're right across the street from a Trader Joe's, there is a Fresh and Easy up the way, and the Corona Certified Famer's Market is in Down Town Corona on Sat mornings!  As I'm working, Josh (My SO) will be doing the shopping.  You may see a post from him soon ^.^

Cooking, get to the food already!  Hit the jump my friends...

The biggest problem..

The biggest problem people have with eating healthy is lack of planning.  When we don't plan, we tend to want to just pick up some food.  That forces you to make choices at your local fast food restaurant.  You can just drive through, order from a dollar menu..  seems cheap and easy?  Sure, it's cheap for that one day in time.  But the risk you are taking by putting that food into your body is going to come back at you in the form of medical bills and heart ache.

Eating out isn't a bad thing when the food is freshly prepared by people who are trained to handle, prepare, and cook it.  I've worked fast food like every other teenager in America and the horrors are boundless.  From food being picked up off the floor and served to a customer (a complete direct violation of the OSHA regulations) to expired foods being used.  You are bound to get sick faster, compromise your immune system, and intake a high caloric but low nutritious food causing weight gain.  Weight Gain leads to diabetes, heart conditions, broken bones and strained muscles!

Mmm Breakfast!

So, I was out of potatoes.  Why was this important?  Hashbrowns.  The good news was I had some frozen fries left over from before I went completely fresh.  I know it's not ideal, but it had to do.  >.<  Spinach and Mushroom Omelette, toast, and some Morningstar Veggie-Sausage.

There are tons of new meat substitutes out there.  They're usually made out of vegetable proteins, soy, eggs, and cheese.  There are Vegan ones which are made from legumes and vegetables.  Soon, I've decided to make some from scratch.  When I do, I'll post the recipe.  My roommate has a great book with some vegetarian recipes to make a foundation from.

Some brands you may want to try:

• Morningstar Farms - http://www.morningstarfarms.com/ I love their Veggie Chik'in.  Half the time I wonder if it's actually a conspiracy.  We'll tell them it's vegetarian, but it's really chicken.  o.O  It's that good.  They also carry meatless patties, meatless sausages, veggie bacon, and a variety of frozen food dinners.  Another thing, which I enjoy, is the "crumbles."  This is like a ground beef substitute which you can use for tacos, soups, pastas.  If you like Hamburger Helper, try subbing this soy based crumble in your mix.  It's not the same as ground beef, but it's not bad!  

• Boca Foods - http://www.bocaburger.com/  I like Boca for burgers.  They have a good variety of different tasting ones.  The great thing about Boca is how wide spread they are in the nation.  You can go to a Dennys and substitute out any hamburger for a boca patty.  I love getting them with some mushrooms and swiss cheese. Fantastic!  You can even cook them up and chop them up for any meatless veggie sauces.  Like when you're making Spaghetti and you want that meatsauce feel without the meat!

• Garden Burger - http://www.gardenburger.com/Burgers.aspx
• Cedar Lane Foods - http://www.cedarlanefoods.com/Dr.SearsZone/index.htm 

Fish!

Fish is a great source of nutrients and there are many different types you can partake in. The most commonly consumed is Tuna, but I personally love Salmon. Fish is a good source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are also essential for brain and eye development. The American Heart Association suggests that we each eat at least two servings of oily fish each week to help keep our hearts healthy.

But wait, I thought you went vegetarian? Ah-ha! There are different types of Vegetarians. I guess I'd fit under the category of a Semi-Lacto-Ovo-pescatarian. This means I eat eggs and fish, but I'm obtaining from red meat, pork, chicken, and while I eat cheese I do not drink Milk. Seems complicated, but I've found it hard not to include low-fat cheeses into my diet as a small source of Calcium. (I take Calcium Supplements as well as Vitamin D - and on that note, I'm actually vitamin D deficient at the moment. As with any diet, you should always consult a doctor to ensure you are getting all the vitamins you need to be healthy.) I've not drank milk for years now to avoid mucus build up (singer) and a minor intolerance.

So fish is a great addition to anyone's diet - but keep in mind that there are good fish and bad fish out there. This is due to concern of Mercury levels found in many fish.

Fruit!

Fruit! Apples, Oranges, Grapes, Strawberries, Mango, Banana, Grapefruit, Tangerines, Clementines, Papaya, Raspberries.. on and on and on and on! So many fruits to choose from! So many fruits to cook with ^.^

Fruits are the natural sweeteners in life. http://www.mypyramid.gov says you should have 2 cups of fruit a day.. this is average, but it also depends on your age. 2-4 servings to make up 25% of your 9 servings of Fruits and Veggies a day. The nice thing about eating fresh is that you know exactly what you are putting into your body.

I'm a big fan of finding fruits and veggies from your local area as previously mentioned. You'll be able to find fresh fruits and veggies from your local farmer's markets. Not sure where to look? http://www.localharvest.org/ will get you to the right place. Just enter your zipcode and you'll find markets and farmer's markets where you can get fresh and inexpensive produce. I used to shop at the Brea's Farmer's Market. I could spend 10.00 for a week's worth of produce. At home, my parents have a few fruit trees and a small crop garden. I'll likely provide some tips later on how to grow your own produce provided you have space.

Back to the fruit! Here's some easy quick recipes you can use.

In the begining...

The answer to this varies but more often then not it's "I don't know yet!" I've decided to share a few cooking recipes that I've come to cherish over the years and through my experimentation in the kitchen.

Makin' me a Sammich!

So, here's the first installment! I'll be talking about produce, food selections, balanced diets, and of course some easy home cooking from scratch. Please feel welcome to also share your recipes or if you try mine, let me know how you liked them. Questions will be answered if you have any. <3

I've been taking a lot of food to work for lunches. Not only is it cheaper than going out to get food from various establishments, but it's healthier. The key to this is planning. Making a list of groceries prior to going to the store is always a smart idea. I usually do this for the basics. Don't get defeated when you variate from the list while shopping because you are bound to find something you might want to try using! Personally, I've cut out most meat from my diet. This is a personal choice based on health reasons. I've also cut out most dairy for the time being. If you do want to add meats to your dishes, try poultry or fish. Substituting ground turkey for ground beef is a healthier choice. Skip the butter and use something like Smart Balance.. for sautes and breads, try olive oil. And always use fresh produce! (no frozen or canned fruits or veggies.

So about produce.. so many veggies to choose from! Choose a veggie a week to learn about it. Learn how to prepare it or cook it- only takes 5 mins to google a veggie and read. Same goes for fruits. While frozen or canned may feel like it's more convenient, it doesn't take that much longer to wash, cut, and prepare fresh veggies! Fresh tastes better too ^.^ Check out the food Pyramid of today:

Food Pyramid (most recent change since 2005)

See how small the section for meats and beans are? Sometimes I think the grains should be smaller as well.. try to choose whole grains.. but veggies and fruits.. should be the staple of a diet. (and of course you need your dairy.. I use calcium supplements due to lactose intolerance.)

But produce is expensive.. -.- If you're shopping at your local grocers, (Vons, Albertsons, Ralphs, Stater Bros...) you might find the prices and the selection of produce to be.. expensive and crap. Who the hell wants to buy oranges imported from Australia when you live in Southern California. That is just stupid. Find your local farmer's markets. You can find good deals on local produce! I shop at Value +, the produce department is HUGE! and for prices.. this past week 6lbs of oranges for $0.99. Yeah, seriously! Be picky! Find a place that suits your wallet and support your local farmers.

Enough with the lectures... onto the recipes!