what crackin'

I'm always looking to minimize the amount of packaged food I eat. Mostly I've replaced foods that aren't fresh produce or meat with homemade versions (Reese's Cups, Trader Joe's Spinach Dip, hummus). One of the things I always find hard to resist is crackers though - Wheat Thins, Ritz, Triscuits. None of the store-bought crackers are too terrible for you to begin with, but depending on the flavor, they may be highly processed, the ingredients may include additives, or they might try and fool you with the nutrition label with a serving size of 5 crackers (how many of us would actually stop after only 5?). So when I found this recipe on Pinterest, I was eager to try it out.

I'm currently in the middle of taking midterms at school though, so I've been putting everything else on hold. It's almost a running joke at this point that whenever anyone has asked me to do something or tried to make plans with me, I've said "Sure... after midterms." I'm just trying to finish out this first semester as best I can.

I had been studying all weekend though (on Saturday I somehow managed to survive rereading and relearning 11 chapters of my AP bio textbook), so for the Super Bowl I decided to give myself a little break. I'm not a football fan by any means, but I do like to be in the know about the commercials, the score, and important plays and such. I timed it out so that I would workout during the pre-show and make myself something to eat during kickoff, so then I could go study a little more until halftime and make these crackers at that point.

Well, my plan changed a little when I found out about today's snow day. Usually, I'm one of few that hates snow days, but today many were on my side. I think at this point everyone just wants to get their exams over with.

Shoveling snow is also never fun. I wish I knew about the snow before I did my workout yesterday, which was predominantly lifting and working out my arms. Now my arms are sore and there is endless snow to be shoveled now, and in a few hours, and tonight, and tomorrow.

Back to blogging though, I'm really happy with how these whole wheat homemade crackers came out. My toughest critic (my dad) even said that they were awesome, as did two of my friends that stopped by last night! I always find that the true test of how "normal" my recipes come out is by anyone but my mom and me.

It's a plus to know exactly what goes into what you eat (that's the beauty of homemade!) Using whole wheat flour instead of processed white flour also adds more fiber to the crackers, and the best part is being able to top the crackers with so many different things!! (Don't worry, I'll get into that.)

Here's what you'll need:
yields 60 crackers
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp paprika
4 tbsp Smart Balance (or any solid butter substitute)
1/2 cup water
1/4 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, paprika, and salt.

I promise I was watching the game!

3. With a pastry blender (or a fork), cut in the Smart Balance until crumbly. It may take a few minutes.

4. Mix together the water and vanilla and then pour it into the flour mixture. Stir this mixture until it comes together (I used a hands to form the dough ball). If it appears too dry, add a little bit more water, but you don't want it to get sticky.

5. On a floured surface, roll out the dough very thin (1/16th inch). Cut into whatever shape you want for your crackers, and place on the baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with salt or sesame seeds to top your crackers. Bake for 8-15 minutes (depending on how thin your crackers are) - until you see your crackers start to brown on the sides.

6. Now for the best part! These crackers are very basic, so they pair well with almost anything! A few ideas:

Peanut butter and banana: For added protein from the peanut butter and potassium from the banana, this is a perfect snack or breakfast on the go.

Feta cheese and cucumber: Cucumbers have virtually no nutrients, save a small amount of vitamin A and iodine. But they are super high in water content and low in calories for a guilt-free snack. Feta cheese gives a great texture and serves as a good source of protein and vitamin B2.

Salsa!: One of the other processed foods that I've found difficult to avoid are tortilla chips. Packed with sodium, trans fat, and artificial flavorings and colors but with little nutritional value, chips aren't the best snack to pick up. They are also one of those that trick you with the serving size, and they are addicting! I'm a huge fan of salsa, though, so with the right brand of salsa, these crackers are a great substitute for chips!

Cheese and fruit: A very simple treat; choose your favorite cheese and top with fresh berries!

Mozzarella, tomatoes, avocado: Another simple combination, cherry tomatoes are a good source of carbohydrates and protein with minimal calories, avocados are a great source of monounsaturated fat, which has been shown to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase HDL. The mozzarella is a great source of protein (which is important for energy and muscle maintenance), calcium (to maintain bone structure and protect tooth enamel), and vitamins B6, A, D, and E. It helps maintain healthy skin and vision and the formation of red blood cells. Keep servings of most cheese at a minimum though because many are sources of saturated fats. 

healthy oppor-tuna-ties

A lot of the time when I have a recipe in mind to make, or I know I want to make something with a certain food, I plan ahead and make sure to have all the ingredients I need. Sometimes, though, I don't plan anything in particular and I just get to use what I have in the house to concoct something to eat.

Opportunities like that yield some of the best new recipes, because I don't feel obligated to make anything any certain way besides how I am in the mood to eat. Yesterday for lunch I figured I would eat a yogurt with flax seed and berries (as I do everyday), but then I decided to do what I could with a can of tuna fish I saw in my cabinet.

Tuna is a good source of omega-3s (which are essential to healthy cell function), vitamin D, protein,selenium,and calcium. Tuna is also abundant in the toxin mercury, and therefore should not be eaten too often, especially for kids.

Making honey lime tuna wraps with lettuce instead of a tortilla wrap minimizes carbohydrates and calories in the lunch, and adds to the fresh and light meal. A serving of tuna is pretty small, so packing the wrap with other foods will fill up the lettuce leaf and keep you feeling full for the afternoon. Feel free to add / take away any ingredients you want for a great and healthy meal!

Here's what you'll need:
yields 2 servings
1 can albacore tuna
1 tbsp Craisins
1 tbsp sunflower seeds
1 stalk celery
1/3 cucumber
juice from 1 lime
1 tbsp honey
2 large leaves iceberg lettuce

1. Drain tuna from the can and mix with Craisins and sunflower seeds in a medium mixing bowl.

2. Chop up celery stalk and cucumber into small centimeter-sized cubes. Add to tuna.

3. Juice a lime and add honey.

This juicer is awesome; if you don't already have a juicer you should totally get one!

4. Wash lettuce leaves and wrap tuna inside.

5. Enjoy!

Resources: http://www.livestrong.com/article/542202-nutritional-value-of-canned-albacore-tuna/

2-carrot gold salad

Whether you're hosting a dinner party or just want a delicious side, this broccoli and carrot salad is a perfect dish to complement any meal. Very flavorful and very nutritious, the broccoli is a great source of fiber and carrots are a great source of Vitamins A, K, and C. Maple syrup is a great natural sweetener and apple cider vinegar can help relieve nausea and can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. 

Here's what you need:
yields 4 servings
3 cups broccoli florets
2 shredded carrots
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
1/3 cup tahini
1/3 cup apple juice
2 tbsp stone ground mustard
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp sea salt 

1. Chop up broccoli into small florets. Blanch for about 5 minutes. 

2. Mix tahini, apple juice, stone ground mustard, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and sea salt.

3. In a large bowl, toss broccoli, carrots, cranberries, and seeds.

4. Pour dressing over vegetables and stir to coat.

5. Enjoy!!!

pesto change-o

I went to the library yesterday to return a workout DVD I borrowed and ended up spending half an hour in the Health section, sitting on the floor and sifting through books. Call me a book worm, but I came home with 5 books all about food, some more information based (like "In Defense of Food" by Michael Pollan - with the motto on the cover "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.") and some are more recipe based, like "Cook This Not That!". From the same writers of "Eat This Not That!", these recipe books alter restaurant favorites, changing up the recipes with substitutions and healthy alternatives.

While I was flipping through "Cook This Not That!", I saw a recipe for pesto sauce that inspired me to try my own tonight. My dad, who is not a fan of pesto, wasn't home for dinner, so me and my mom decided to try out making our own pesto sauce and paninis. I've made a panini before (see this blog post) and although I don't have a panini press, just heating up the sandwich on a pan and pushing down with another pan suffices.

Other alternatives to this recipe could be substituting the Mozzarella cheese for grilled chicken or putting all the ingredients over pasta instead of into a sandwich!

The mozzarella is a great source of protein (which is important for energy and muscle maintenance), calcium (to maintain bone structure and protect tooth enamel), and vitamins B6, A, D, and E. It helps maintain healthy skin and vision and the formation of red blood cells. Keep servings of most cheese at a minimum though because many are sources of saturated fats. Spinach is low in calories and high in vitamins, and improves cardiovascular health, has cancer-fighting antioxidants, and improves brain function. Basil is virtually calorie free and a great source of Vitamins A and K, and nutrients Lutein and Zeaxanthin, both which help in eye health by lowering the risk of macular degeneration. Walnuts are a good source of protein, omega-3s, and monounsaturated fats and out of all nuts have the second highest amount of antioxidants per serving (after pecans). 

Here's what you'll need:
yeilds 2 servings
2 Pepperidge Farm Deli Flats sandwich bread
1/2 - 1 avocado 
8 cherry tomatoes
4 slices Mozzarella cheese
1 small clove of garlic (or less if you want a subtle garlic taste only)
2 tbsp walnuts
1/3 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup fresh spinach
1 tsp grated Parmasean
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup olive oil

1. Cut up avocado, cherry tomatoes, and Mozzarella cheese.

2. Chop up basil, spinach, walnuts, and garlic. Grate Parmasean. Add ingredients to food processor. 

3. Gradually add oil and pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped and texture is a paste.

4. Make sandwich. Place on grill pan or frying pan. Press down, then flip and repeat. 

5. Enjoy!!

give it a Thai

A few weeks ago I went out to lunch with a friend to a Thai restaurant in town. Whenever I had gone in the past, I went for dinner and shared a few dishes with whomever I was with. My friend and I decided to each get separate dishes though, and with the lunch special, we each got a soup with it. I ended up getting a perfect portion of food and it was easier to stop eating when only one plate was in front of me, rather than 3 or 4. I was able to gauge how much I had eaten, and it was a guilt-free lunch outing.

I also really liked the dish that I ordered. Every time I had eaten Thai food before, I would order very similar dishes to what I was used to. I decided to try something new, so I got the mango chicken, and it was delicious. I was inspired, so my mom and I mended a recipe we found to our liking, and made our own mango chicken dish. My sisters are home on winter break now and my dad was home for dinner last night, so my mom and I made it for everyone in the family. We got rave reviews for this recipe, and the cool thing is how simple and healthy it is! The mangoes are a good source of fiber and Vitamin A, which helps with bone growth and healthy eyes. Ginger and apple cider vinegar are important during flu season to keep you feeling your best.

Here's what you'll need:
yields 4 servings
SAUCE:                                                            
1 chopped mango (or 1 cup frozen mango)                  
1 tsp Sriracha                                                      
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar                                    
 11/2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce                      
zest of 1 lime                          
juice of 1 lime
1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
3 garlic cloves
2 tbsp water
CHICKEN:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cutlets
1-3 bell peppers, seeded and sliced

1. In a blender or food processor (I used both because my blender wasn't working well halfway through), add sauce ingredients. Blend until smooth. Add a little more water if a more liquid consistency is desired.

2. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Add chicken and coat well.

3. In a wok or large pan, saute peppers in a small amount of olive oil.

4. Remove peppers from wok and heat chicken until cooked through.

5. When the chicken is ready, add peppers back into wok and combine with sauce.

6. Enjoy!!

new year new food

Happy New Year everyone!! I hope everyone's holidays were wonderful and filled with delicious food, family, and friends. And now it's that time of year that resolutions start up again and everyone looks for a new start. New years always bring new excitement; I know for me 2014 will be a very exciting year. In June I'll graduation high school (crazy!), and at the end of August I'll be starting college (even crazier!!). Within the new few months, I'll decide on where I'll go to college, enjoying my last semester in high school, going to prom, graduation.. all really great things ahead!

I hope the new year will bring excitement and happiness to everyone, and very importantly I hope it will bring everyone health. Whether your resolution is to lose weight or get more fit, I hope you stick to it and reach any goals you have. I hope my blog can continue motivating everyone to eat healthy and clean with new recipes and new ideas, and I hope for another great year as a blogger!