Food News!

I’ve been asked by a local nonprofit (fine, I volunteered) to create some basic foods recipes & some great how-to’s like how to cook real rice, not that instant stuff, beans from scratch & some basic spices that can encourage healthier eating!
I’m excited to help & I’m asking for your thoughts! If you’ve been strapped for cash before, what’s an easy, filling, affordable recipe that you have used?

One I’ll be including is my chili cornbread casserole; that recipe has fed & kept me full in-between servings & its cheap.

Please share your favorite spice, recipe or affordable & healthy foods. Thanks!

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Subbing

Calorie counting? Watching your figure (what’s it doing)? Here’s a few substitutes for a nutrient boost without giving up the item completely.

Bread: Everyone’s favorite Carb. But easy to sub out healthier options.
Whole Grains, bibb lettuce, Ezekiel bread(sprouted), pita, or lower Carb tortillas.

Ice Cream: tasty, creamy goodness with fat that you can live without. New options are available.
Portion controlled skinny cow or ice cream bars, low fat dreyers/breyers, frozen yogurt, rice/almond milk ice cream, or no sugar added ice cream.

Pasta: regular pasta is carby & super starchy with no redeeming nutritional value. The options have just exploded.
Gnocchi, frozen Japanese noodles, spaghetti squash, gluten free,  whole grain or whole wheat pastas.

Just 3 favorites that can be changed easily & tastefully. If you’re hesitant to take the full plunge, start mixing half & step slowly into the tasty but healthier ocean of food.

Pasta Tuesday

A simple yet filling pasta dish that allows for additions or substitions. Those will be listed with (optional) next to the ingredient.

Olive oil
Grape tomatoes
5 strips sun dried tomatoes julienne
1 Tbsp minced garlic
Parmesan cheese coarsely grated
Bacon precooked crumbles (optional)
Fresh basil (optional) diced
Fresh baby spinach (optional)
Diced precooked chicken (optional)
White wine (optional)
Pesto (optional)
Cooked pasta your choice, but shaped pasta holds the topping better.

With a small saucepan (1 egg pan), pour enough oil to lightly coat the bottom.
Slice tomatoes in half width-wise. Place cut ends into oiled pan. Fill bottom of pan with tomato halves.
Dice sun dried tomato strips add to pan as well as minced garlic (jarred is fine). Add bacon, chicken & basil if warranted. Place over med-low burner for 1 to 2 minutes. Cover for 2 minutes & let steam. If adding spinach, do so now.
If with spinach, cook until slightly wilted. Otherwise uncover on med another few minutes. If low on liquid add a shot of wine or pesto. Stir throughly & let simmer until warmed.
Serve toassed with pasta in a family style bowl for table feeding.