Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Arborio Brown Rice Risotto





KNOW YOUR RICES!

I think chefs around the world will criticize me for even attempting this. However I don't care. I love risotto and I have to have it one way or another. I think they'd think me crazy because traditionally white Arborio rice is used for risotto as brown Arborio will not hold up well. It is not creamy enough to really reach the right texture. But if your like me and white rice is not on the good food list, then this stuff will taste amazing. I actually prefer it. Brown Arborio Rice is a short, plump grain, which makes it perfect for a side dish, or as a bed for sauces. It retains the bran that surrounds the kernel. This means it will be slighlty chewy, nutty and higher in nutrients than white rice.




Leek and Pancetta Risotto with Fried Egg

Recipe adapted from Cindy Pawlcyn and Darren McRonald, Brassica, St. Helena, CA


Yields 6


INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

2 leeks, cleaned well and finely chopped

1 cup finely chopped pancetta

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

½ cup finely chopped yellow onion

3 cups Arborio rice

⅓ cup dry white wine; at room temperature

5 to 6 cups hot chicken stock

Olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

6 large eggs

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium skillet set over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add the leeks and cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Remove the leeks to a bowl and set aside. In the same pan, add the pancetta and cook until it begins to render its fat and is soft but not dried out or crispy, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the pancetta to the reserved leeks. Set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan set over medium-low heat, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the rice and cook, stirring, until all the butter has been absorbed, about 4 minutes. Add the wine and reduce until dry, about 2 minutes.

3. Add enough stock so that the fluid level rises just above the rice. Continue to simmer, stirring frequently. Continue adding stock as it is absorbed so the stock just covers the top of the rice. Continue cooking until the rice is al dente, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in a bit more stock and the Parmesan. Remove from the heat and set aside to rest while you fry the eggs.

4. In a small skillet set over low heat, melt a tablespoon of butter. Crack the egg into the pan. Fry over low heat until the whites and yolk are set, about 5 minutes. Repeat with the remaining 5 eggs.

5. To serve, stir the reserved leeks and pancetta into the rice, divide the risotto among six bowls and place a fried egg on top of each serving. Serve immediately.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Gluten Free Turkey Day!

Detox Day 20: One more day, I can't believe its almost over. I can't get too down on myself for not having more "SHOCKING" results. But i still think i didn't do badly. Its humbling to know that it may never get easier, that it is a life long commitment. My rashes have stopped and I know for a fact now that its a result of eating wheat. Gwad that sucks, as a baker and pastry lover it really bl...ows. However not suffering is even better. I wanna extend my heart to my two friends who have taken the leap of faith to start detox during this holiday season. It will be the hardest experience of your life esp starting at this time. But its like an addict sobering up, hopefully you'll dust the cobwebs from your eyes and realize how amazing and beautiful you are. Be strong, don't give up and just so you know, I really do care and I really do love you!
Because I care, I'm going to simply direct you to another blog, only because she's done it so well, its a waste of time to try to steal it and make it better, its already great! So enjoy The Gluten Free Godess

Friday, November 18, 2011

Thanksgiving substitute

I am currently on Detox Day 15: Lost 8 lbs or so- I think nothings official till i get on Dr. Nancy's scale. 6 more days to put my all into this fight. lately keeping a good and clean diet is enough of a fight so i'm not going to even stress about working out. you can always work out, that is never a negative, but once you add bad food to your system it causes a domino effect. Therefore if you had to choose, choose to eat right first and everything else is secondary...to partying, drinking, holidays. I would even tell someone if you really care about detox, start the day before thanksgiving...power through and if you can really muster that much courage to resist the temptation, you'll never be more proud of yourself, you will deeply love yourself and it will be the best accomplishment you've ever made for yourself. Don't delay progress, never delay. Food will always be there, your health may not. esteem yourself and start today!

Not all is lost on detox, the revolving question of "what do you want to eat and I'll find you an alternative" is still there. I know mashed potatoes is a guilty pleasure for many. that creamy salty sweet flavor that melts in your mouth, I get it. So I was at wholefoods one day. Staring at the cauliflower I thought hmm they make cream of broccoli...what can i do with this..and when I think of it blended up, it would logically look like mashed potatoes, and voila, I decided that's exactly what I'd do.

The recipe is quite simple. The only difference is rather then mashing, you blend! I discovered later on, Dr. Nancy told me that its an atkins recipe. EVEN BETTER! Because then I can say that I spotted this recipe and I'm making it better!

CAULIFLOWER THANKSGIVING MASH


Ingredients:

Butter 1/4 stick

sea salt

mashed garlic

crushed red pepper

green onions (one bunch)/ or chives

2 heads of cauliflower


Instructions:

1. Cut up cauliflower and put it in a pot to boil.

2. once boiled and soft enough to your liking, drain out the water and throw it into the blender while still nice and hot.

3. blend slowly without any liquids, it might take awhile but it will start to look smooth and creamy.

3. add in the stick of butter to melt while blending

4. add in the red pepper, garlic, and sea salt to taste.

5. instantly serve or store in Tupperware to slowly consume.


Friday, November 11, 2011

Passion Fruit Boba Tea




Had a talk with my brother. He inspires me. He told me how proud he was of my accomplishments with all this wt loss, and what strong will it takes for one to get this far. Sometimes I forget how far I've come and how drastically my life has changed. If you can, today make a short list of hard things you need to do to change your life for the better. Then work harder then ever to do it. Live your dream, even if it nearly kills you.

What is the key to achieving such success? Well, as I mentioned, a strong will, so strong no one can sway you or move you. Like a stone boulder, only you can get up and move yourself. I've had people tell me that I'm crazy, or that its just one bite of cookie. These people are all Jealous or lack understanding. They will casually try to knock you down albeit not on purpose, I've learned that once you make a decision to do something, if your not hearing words of support then they are not worth hearing. Regardless of how crazy your decision is, and how much your loved ones may disagree, they still need to agree to be supportive of "YOUR" decision.

I am inspired today my the late Steve Jobs. He once said, "Find what you love to do, and go out and find a way to make money doing it, and you will be successful." So I am a broke ass photographer trying to make her way. what do I have? Nothing but my iron will, a desire in my heart and love in my soul to carry me through.

I started detox again. This time around my goal is just to "get clean" like an addict whose fallen off the wagon, so do I need to get back on track.

Its good to have love in your life. The kind that makes you want to live longer. This detox has sort of been a lazy one. At most I try to run a few miles a day some days of the week. In the past I'd push my self to the limits physically to try to be hard core. This time around I realized its more important for me to learn how to eat right once again. Eat cleanly and well. It's been pretty easy in a strange way..maybe its because love has carried me through.

This recipe was spotted when my sister-in-law taught my mom how to make passion fruit juice. I decided I'd make this into a pearl tea drink.

Passion Fruit Pearl Tea

(all images on this post are not my photos) This recipe is quite simple but yummy. Will definitely wet your whiskers and put a smile on your lips.

Ingredients:

Passion fruits (4)

Stevia Sugar

Jasmine tea brewed

Boba

Ice

Directions

1. scoop out the insides of the fruit with a spoon over a siv into a glass. you can't really save the meat, you just want the juice.

2. Add the juice to your brewed Jasmine tea. Then add stevia sugar to sweeten. Stevia is a plant sugar derivative. It is much healthier and does not immediately convert to fat like cane refined sugars.


3. Boil some boba tapioca, you have to look for this at the asian market, comes in a bag or box and the dried version looks like

4. Add boba or whatever condiments you wish to your mixture, flavor it as you wish, add crushed ice on top and enjoy!