Review of Olivari Olive Oil

One of the first things that you will notice about Olivari Olive Oil is their very clever pop up pourer.  It is such a clever idea that it does make me wonder why others haven't thought of it.  This simple easy to use design definitely sets Olivari apart from other olive oils right off the bat.  It gives me so much more control when I want to drizzle olive oil into a pan or over a salad.  I have always wanted to have a nice glass bottle with a pourer to have my oil in, however in cramped kitchens like my own I have no where to keep it so the olive oil has to be kept in a cupboard.  I love that this gives me the easy to use pourer and can be kept cleanly in my cupboard. 

Homemade frozen pizzas

I am back, after a crazy week of moving things are finally starting to settle back down. Even though I haven't made it to my final moving destination.  I get to have a nice quiet two week period at my parents home, spoiling them with my cooking as I work at getting caught back up on here.  For my first article back I wanted to about convenience foods.  At one time or another we have all used them.  For those crazy days when you just don't have the time to cook something for your family it is so much easier use them.  But if we are truly trying to be economical and health contentious it can be a bit of a pit fall.  So I have worked at trying to find solutions for my life that give me the convenience without making sacrifices in other areas.

So pizza is often a staple in homes and it is the most common dish to be a convenience item.  We either call in a delivery or buy a frozen pizza.  But when it comes to cost and nutrition these are often not the best choices.  That $10 pizza from pizza hut might sounds great but have you ever looked at the nutrition labels of their pizzas?  For me personally I want my family to be able to enjoy things like pizza without feeling like I am giving them something with little to no nutritional value.  Remember a healthy adult that doesn't have issues with bloodpressure or diabeties should only consum around 2,300 mg of sodium a day.  And one slice of Pizza Hut Cheese Pizza contains 520mg of sodium, and who here can honestly say they only eat one slice.  It is important to be aware of what you and your family are eating.  The same goes for those frozen pizzas. So while you might still be templted to buy that delivery pizza on those crazy days you can at least have an alternative option that if you plan ahead on a slow day will give you the same quick convienence options without the added calories concerns.

Pizza might not be the healthiest option for you but it is good to find ways to consum it without it being a nutrition nightmare.  Learn how to incorperate pizza into your diet in a more health consious way at Livestrong.com

Kraft Mac and Cheese was your past, this is your future

Forget that little blue box, this is where it is at.  I will confess I was a child of the blue box, I loved Kraft Mac and Cheese.  Even as an adult my love for mac and cheese continued but these days I look for a much more refined taste in this little delicious side dish.  I have tried a lot of different homemade variations of it but I just couldn't find the perfect one.  After some experimenting I think I have come up with my favorite version yet.  The creaminess of this cheese dish is sure to please not only adults but kids too.  And don't forget to throw in some variety every once in a while, maybe add some meat or spice it up like I did the other day and throw in some hot, sauteed chili peppers.

Mexican Spice Rub

With less then two weeks till I move away from Texas my mind has been drawn more and more to the flavors that I will miss living in the UK.  While the UK has a wide range of food that I will be enjoying it lacks the Mexican influence that I have grown fond of.  So I have worked hard at teaching myself some easy things that I can do at home to get that taste that my husband and I love so much.

This is a recipe that I use to spice up my a lot of my Mexican chicken dishes, it is easy and uses ingredients that many will already have on hand.  I have also used it when cooking up ground beef for tacos.  It is always important to have several foundation spice recipes when you are learning to create dishes on your own, once you have the basics down you can throw in any ingredients and create a new masterpiece of your own.

Celebrating Chinese New Year with Cantonese Style Chow Mein

Even though Chinese New Year has already come and gone it is never too late to celebrate with a good Chinese meal.  Growing up in Hong Kong I enjoyed a lot of authentic Chinese dishes so I am always looking for new recipes to add to my repertoire so that I can enjoy that same taste at home.  One of the things that I love about cooking Chinese food is that with a little practice you will find it really isn't all that hard to do on your own.  I cook a Chinese dish at least once a week, and it is a lot cheaper to do at home then to go out. 

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

For years brussel sprouts have gotten a bad rap as a gross vegetable that people hate.  But I think this is due to the fact that more often then not when they are served they are poorly cooked, resulting in a slimy mush.  That was my first experience with them, a slimy ball of mush with a very bitter flavor.  And I will admit after that first taste I too thought that I had found a vegetable that I would never like.  But when my husband and I got together he informed me that they were one of his favorite vegetables. What was a girl to do but give it one more try.  I had never attempted to cook them myself so I started researching how to prepare them and in my research I found that I wasn't alone in my bad experience with these little balls of cabbage.  But the more I read about how nutritious and according to many blog postings how delicious they were I knew I had to try.  My first attempt wasn't perfect, I tried steaming them and because I was so paranoid about overcooking them they turned out slightly firmer then they should have been.  I served it with a roast beef and mashed potatoes and was delighted when my first bite into the brussel sprouts yielded a pleasant nutty taste that wasn't as overpowering as I remembered as a child.  One of the things that I learned in my research is that if you are always getting an overwhelming pungent odor every time you are steaming them you might be overcooking them.  If you using the steaming method they should only cook for about 5-7 minutes. 

Brussel sprouts, like other vegetables are low in fat and calories, but unlike other vegetables they are high in protein. They are also high in fiber and vitamins.  With all of those positive things I think these little green cabbages deserve a second chance.  For this recipe I used a recipe I found on a blog I follow Madelines Adaptations, roasting them gives them such a wonderful flavor, my husband and I fight to get seconds.

Delicious, Fluffy Lemon-Blueberry Muffins

There is something about the combination of lemon and blueberries that just makes me taste buds explode with pleasure.  I just can't get enough of it, Lemon-Blueberry Pie, Lemon-Blueberry pancakes, there just isn't a form that I don't like.  So for brunch the other day I decided to make some Lemon-Blueberry muffins.  I had been using a recipe that was given to me by someone, I can't remember who, several years ago but it was never as good as I would have liked it to be, so I decided to try a new recipe this time.  This recipe came from a new site I found called Myrecipes.com and it definitely a crowd pleaser. The only thing you will regret is that you don't have more, so can I recommend a double batch.