Summer Eats - Cajun Chicken Salad

Photo by Simply Recipes

The transition to cooking food for summer takes a few weeks for me. I poured through cook books and magazines and then went to my trusted resource, Simply Recipes to find this delicious recipe for Cajun Chicken Salad! I added more lime juice and opted for red and orange bellpeppers over green. My hot sauce of choice was Crystal. This was absolutely delicious, my husband loved it and so did I! Full recipe at Simply Recipes...

Simply Recipes Eggs Nested in Sauteed Chard & Mushrooms

Simply Recipes posted a meal idea after my own heart. I have every one of these ingredients most of the time and LOVE this combination of flavors. Eggs Nested in Sauteed Chard and Mushrooms

photo by Simply Recipes

Asparagus and Poached Eggs - friends forever :)

Photo from Martha Stewart

 Oh how I love ASPARAGUS and POACHED EGGS!



Whatever the season, time of day or mood I'm in -  I never grow tired of asparagus and perfectly poached eggs.

Here's a tasty recipe from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food for Asparagus with Poached Eggs and Parmesan! I like to add a squeeze of lemon or heck, why not hollandaise sauce.

Photo from Joyful Abode

My favorite easy hollindaise recipe comes from Ina Garten aka the Barefoot Contessa :)
 
I found this beautiful photo from another Paleo friendly blog - Joyful Abode!

Creamy Curry Zucchini Pasta

Photo from Peas and Crayons

Peas and Crayons: Creamy Curry Zucchini Pasta sounds delicious and makes me think of summer!

A few blog posts I've been enjoying...

Photo by Larry Miller aka my dad!

Winter weather means lot's of indoor reading and after eating BBQ Pork last night I really enjoyed this post about Healthy Pork Lard from blogger Memphis Que this morning.

My new Paleo pal Kristy DeVaney of CakeGrrl.com has been tempting the Facebook group Sacramento: Beyond the Paleo with photos of delicious delights such as Deviled Avocado Eggs with cumin and curry and Roasted Tomatoes with oregano, garlic, basil and olive oil!

I'll be trying this recipe for Macadamia Oil Mayo from the Food Blog who posted it to Jimmy Moore's Facebook wall..... yummy!

I'm just running out of my store bought mayo and salad dressings and will be whipping up my own recipes this week so I'll let you know how it goes!

Where have you been finding inspiration and recipes? Leave a comment and let me know :)

15 uses for coconut oil besides cooking - via Apartment Therapy

A handy dandy list by Apartment Therapy on 15 non edible uses for coconut oil. I already use it as a skin moisturizer and aftershave....it melts right into the skin. They list rust removal and leather cleaning among other ideas that got my attention. How do you use coconut oil? Have you tried any of the 15 ideas listed?

Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic

If you want salty, crunchy, naturally sweet and fork tender yumminess, try my recipe for Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Balsamic!

I adapted this from a side dish a friend brought over. The key is to let the oven pre-heat and then get those Brussels BROWN with crispy leaves. Also, don't be afraid of using a LOT of FAT!

Chicken Paprikash from Simply Recipes

photo from Simply Recipes

Tonight's dinner in foggy Oakland is Chicken Paprikash from Simply Recipes! I added crimini mushrooms because I just LOVE mushrooms....it's simmering on the stove right now. I might add red bell-peppers next time too. I washed and dried my hands many times - but still managed to drop my knife and make a nice slice across my toes! Luckily it was shallow and even luckier - my husband is fastidious about providing a first aid kit in both  cars and the kitchen! A sprinkle of blood coagulant and I was back in action.

Delicious Dinner this weekend...

On Saturday we celebrated our friend Damon's Birthday at an awesome Korean Restaurant called Jong Ga House in Oakland. I was excited to find this delicious dish on the menu - steak tartar with sesame oil, raw sliced garlic and a raw egg yolk. I drizzled a touch of the mustard sauce on it, broke the yolk and savored the tender chopped beef.

What are the Best Cooking Oils from Real Food University and several other folk...

photo from RealFoodDigest.com

I've been having a whole lot of fun experimenting with different cooking oils and fats. My favorite right now is ghee and bacon grease (which I always have on hand.) Coconut oil has so far been a snack.... I just scoop a spoon of it, put that spoon in my mouth and savor the sweet flavor.

I found a couple of great posts around the net that give the health and cooking whys and hows of different fats so I thought I'd include them all in one post.

Real Food University gives a short video on the best cooking oils.

Mark's Daily Apple combines two great tastes that taste great together - Ghee & Coconut Oil

and

Real Food Digest gives the what/how and why in their Complete Guide to Fats and Oils

So, tomorrow morning I am totally trying that ghee/coconut combo..... what do you like to cook with?

Baked Fennel at Martha Stewart Everyday Food

Photo from MarthaStewart.com

I was visiting my mom on Wednesday and enjoyed going through her Martha Stewart Everyday Food booklets. So  many lovely photos, great ideas and this recipe caught my eye... Baked Fennel with Parmesan and Thyme .

Lemon Chicken at Simply Recipes

Photo from Simply Recipes

I haven't tried this one yet but it looks delicious....

Lemon Chicken

over at one of my favorite recipe websites...

Simply Recipes!

Let me know if you try this one out. I see it in my kitchen in the near future :)

Easy Italian Wedding Soup

My go - to soup for a chilly night! 
Even BETTER the next day :)

Ingredients:
1 - 1lb Roll New York Style Brand hot Italian sausage
(or your favorite Italian style sausage)
2 boxes Kitchen Basics Original Chicken Stock
(my favorite stock with no weird ingredients)
2 cups shredded Parmesan cheese
2  large organic eggs and 1 t-spoon oregano
1 head cabbage or bunch kale
1 yellow onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 bunch celery
1 bunch flat leaf Italian parsley

Cauliflower-Goat Cheese Gratin on the Food Network

Photo from Food Network

Here's a favorite recipe for cold weather comfort

Cauliflower-Goat Cheese Gratin! 

I doubled the cauliflower and halved the cream.

I also added some chopped, sauteed onion and chopped flat leaf parsley. It was delicious!

Next time I think I'll crumble some crispy bacon and throw it on top! - Heidi

Happy New Year - 2012

Greetings ol' pals!


I usually write something around this time reflecting on the year 
and posting some goals for the next.

It's gonna be shorter and sweeter this time around!

My friend Jennifer Serr interviewed me recently. 

Read her interview at - Bonjour Teaspoon 

I've had a wonderful year and am feeling fit, fine and fabulous!


2011 in a few words:
Comedy pod-casts, periodic ear pain, By Nieves Handmade Natural Body-care, a new knowledge of bay-area traffic navigation, road trip to see Paul F. Tompkins, thrilling news of my brother's engagement, high and lonesome singing, total immersion / fascination / author crush of/on Why We Get Fat by Gary Taubes, delightful anniversary trip to Carmel with lot's of Poki-by-the-sea sandy pawed frolicking, Brian's awesome birthday cocktail flight school at St. George Spirits, Cory and Khrys bought a house in Santa Cruz, bonding and beyond with the Lucky Ladies & my Women's Initiative leap group, mentored by talented musicians and lot's of good times with family and friends!


2012 Goal - Continued Happiness!

Christmas Poki!

Fourth of July with the Bennetts in Chico!

Brian and Heidi Married, August, 4th, 2007

Cary and Jenny - engaged!

Poki and I in Carmel

Sexy, Sexy, Science!

In January 2011 I wrote how I would stop dieting and only eat what I crave. But what nagged at me was that I felt that I didn't understand how my body worked, why I was still fat after eating all the "right" stuff, exercising a lot and my Dr's check-ups proved I was perfectly healthy!

Gary Taubes

I am so happy to have read Gary Taubes' book Why We Get Fat and watched Tom Naughton's movie Fat Head.

I learned how and why my body has been acting the way it has, why I've been told the wrong information my whole life (except when I was on Atkins in the '90s) and how to eat for my optimal health!

I can't say what is right for anyone else but if you like reading and thinking I recommend Gary's book and if you're more of a visual person give Tom's movie a whirl on Netflix streaming.

Tom Naughton