Rustic Cooking Obsession

By on March 1, 2013 in { food & drink }

Rustic Chickpea Soup5

I am obsessed with rustic Italian cooking right now.

I found David Rocco on the Cooking Channel, and his show Dolce Vita.  In the newer episodes of his shows, he and his wife, along with their twin baby girls, live in a 500 year-old Tuscan farmhouse. David often cooks outside with twins in tow, and shows how simple and delicious rustic cooking can be.

This recipe was the first of David’s I tried, and is now one of my favorite go to comfort foods, and so I had to share it.

So easy, so amazingly flavorful, healthy, and just plain yummy.

 

Rustic Chickpea Soup Recipe

Start out with these simple ingredients…

  • 1 can of chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans)
  • A couple springs of fresh rosemary
  • 1 medium onion
  • Good olive oil
  • Salt & fresh ground pepper
  • About 2 cups of water

 

Rustic Chickpea Soup

Chop the onions, and pull off the thistles from the rosemary.  Heat about 1/4 cup of olive oil in medium sauce pan, and add onion and rosemary.

 

Rustic Chickpea Soup1

As the onion and rosemary are crisping up, add salt and pepper.  Continue cooking until the edges of the onion begin to get a light crispy brown.

 

Rustic Chickpea Soup2

Drain and rinse the can of chickpeas.  Pour them in with the onion and rosemary.  Then using a fork, mash about a third of the chickpeas.

 

Rustic Chickpea Soup3

Add about 2 cups of water, and stir.

 

Rustic Chickpea Soup4

Bring to boil, and then turn down to simmer for about 15-20 minutes.  You may drizzle with a little olive oil, or add grated parmesan cheese when you serve.  But I like it just as is, and the flavor gets even better if you can find yourself able to save any for later.  Very hard for me to do.

 

Cooking is truly one of life’s pleasures.  

You don’t have to be a chef, but making delicious food sure makes you feel like one.

 

 

Comments { 3 }

Gung Hay Fat Choy…Year of the Snake

By on February 14, 2013 in { food & drink }, { health & beauty }

San Francisco Chinatown - Version 2

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

This week brought in the Chinese New Year 2013.  The Year of the Snake, specifically the water snake.  Which according to predictions is a year of making all things possible.  

But, the predictions also tell to be cautious.  Delusion and deception are common in the year of the water snake.  Make the most of this year, by using your talents wisely and put saving money and being frugal at the top of your priorities during the reign of the water snake.

A personal journey for me into 2013 has been to live healthier and feel stronger.  So along with dining on our traditional Chinese New Year Long Life Noodles (click here for my recipe), I have added another recipe.  This one was found on the Cooking Channel, Ching-He Huang’s healthy and delicious recipe, Lucky Life Stir Fry.

 

LUCKY LIFE STIR FRY

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Recipe Courtesy Ching-He Huang

12 servings to share

Ingredients

  • SAUCE:
  • 1 cup cold vegetable stock
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons oyster sauce or mushroom sauce
  • 1 heaping tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon clear rice vinegar or cider vinegar
  • Pinch salt
  • Pinch sugar
  • STIR-FRY:
  • 1 tablespoon peanut oil
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium red Fresno Chile, seeded and finely chopped
  • 2 small carrots, cut into a 2-inch julienne
  • 1 red pepper, seeded and cut into a julienne
  • 1 yellow pepper, seeded and cut into a julienne
  • 1 large handful snow peas
  • 2 cups thinly shredded red cabbage
  • 1 small handful shredded kale
  • 3 large fresh shitake mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 large ripe beef tomato, sliced into wedges or sliced tinned water chestnuts
  • 1 large handful bean sprouts
  • 1 scallion, finely sliced on the angle

Directions

Before cooking, make sure that all vegetables are prepped and ready to go.

For the sauce: In a small jug add the stock, oyster sauce, cornstarch, soy sauce, vinegar, salt and sugar. Mix well.

For the stir-fry: Heat a wok over high heat and as the wok starts to smoke, add the oil. Add the ginger, garlic and chilies, and stir for a second. Add the carrots, peppers and snow peas, then stir-fry for a minute. Toss in the cabbage, kale, mushrooms and tomatoes. Stir-fry for 2 minutes more, adding a splash of water to help the vegetables cook.

Pour the sauce over vegetables in the wok and toss just until the sauce begins to thicken and bubble and becomes glossy. Remove from the heat and toss in the bean sprouts and garnish with scallions. Mix well and serve immediately.

(Lucky Life Stir Fry photo and recipe courtesy of the Cooking Channel and Ching-He Huang)

 

Wishing you luck in this Year of the Snake…

And may your year be filled with happiness, prosperity, and longevity!

 

 

Comments { 1 }

Off to a Healthy Start

By on January 28, 2013 in { health & beauty }

Balance

2013 is off to a healthy start.  By executing a nice balance of planning, healthy eating, and fitness.

First, planning.  This coming May, my two sisters and I have made plans to embark on our two-day Grand Canyon hike.  Together we have committed to hiking down to the bottom of the canyon one day, and up the to the top of the canyon the next.  Our upcoming trip has given me great motivation to be fit enough to handle the strenuous hike, and enjoy my sister time as well.

 

jensfav

(Photo from SimpleGreenSmoothies.com)

Second, Michael, Max and I took on Simple Green Smoothies 30 Day Challenge, which began January 2nd, and now is a part of our everyday lives. (They have a new one starting on April 1st, check it out by clicking here).  All three of us now start every morning with a fresh green smoothie. It gives me amazing energy and is the way I get Sneaky Greens into my picky eating boys too.

 

Gabby Reece Fitness

(Photo from GabbyandLaird.com)

Lastly, I have been attending Gabby Reece’s circuit workouts three times a week, and try to go on one hike, with plenty of incline, each week.  I absolutely love Gabby’s classes, and find her generous spirit of sharing her love for health and fitness with Kauai’s locals admirable to say the least.  (Check out Gabby and her husband, Laird Hamilton’s fitness and nutrition site by clicking here.)

I’m excited about how strong I feel, and how my confidence is building daily.  It makes me believe that taking on the Grand Canyon with my sisters is going to be a powerful experience, and an incredible accomplishment to have in my “I did it” jar.

 

Lift your green smoothie each day…

And say cheers to balance and health!

 

Comments { 1 }
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