Ropa Vieja

I got this recipe from a lady at work who brought in some of the best ropa vieja I have ever had. There are no Cuban restaurants anywhere near us in Loma Linda, so I will have to learn how to make it myself. Here is the recipe that I was given, and for the most part followed:

Ropa Vieja
Guy Fieri From Diners, Drive-ins and Dives
El Bohio Restaurant in San Antonio, Texas
Cooking time 5 hours
Servings: 20

Cook for 4 hours, cool and shred:
Get brisket, cut in large pieces ¼ - place in boiling water with salt, pepper, vinegar and 5
garlic cloves

Take cooked shredded meat and add:
Crisp the meat
Sazon (Goya Seasoning)
Tri-colored bell peppers – red, green, yellow (diced)
Onion
Green olives diced (I didn't use green olives)
Pimentos
Salt to taste
Pepper
Adobo seasoning – garlic and onion salt?
Cilantro

Cook down 30-40 minutes, add broth to keep it moist

Serve with
White rice with Black Beans
Shredded lettuce with tomato wedges
Tostones
Plantanes

I did avoid adding a lot of onion and peppers, but it still tasted amazing and if anyone knows a good recipe for Vaca Frita please let me know!!

Ninjas

This past week I was finally able to use our new blender that we got for our wedding, the Ninja!

I was motivated to get it out of storage after watching the documentary Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. The film followed a man as he did a 60 day cleansing juice fast as he traveled across America with amazing results. There are three things that make a juice fast work:

 1. Cleansing and Detoxing

Prior to beginning a health regimen we must first clean our bodies. A few good cleansing ways to prepare our bodies for the next step, is by learning about the lemonda diet and the salt water flush which are parts of the master cleanse. Some nutritionists recommend detoxing two times a year.

2. Nourishing the system

After a good cleanse, it is time to nourish the system by eliminating toxins from processed foods such as artificial sweeteners, refined sugars and empty calories which do not provide our bodies the nutrition it needs. Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables is a great way to start adding nutrition to your body. (although it is really hard to not go right for chocolate or taco bell)

3. Exercise and Fitness

Our bodies are designed for motion. So we must eliminate the couch potato in each one of us and while we keep nourishing the system a daily exercise routine aids in keeping the stress level down as well keeping us upbeat.(yeah that’s hard to do)

Here are a few of the recipes that I used from Juice Recipes Now:

Apple and Pear
2 apples
2 pears

No need to peel the apples and pears, this will add some fiber to the juice.

Lemon Juice
2 lemons
water to dilute

Only juice the flesh of the lemons. Add water to your taste. This is a great juice to take on an empty stomach before breakfast. It has a great flushing effect, and is actually very beneficial for the kidneys and liver. The hotter the juice, the more the nutrients are destroyed.

Super Dose Antioxidants
2 kiwi
2 cups of blackberries
2 cup of blueberries

This combo is a great source of vitamins A,C and E.

And of course a lot of smoothies with strawberries and bananas!

Chicken Satay with Peanut-Chutney Sauce

I found this dish on marthastewart.com and have been wanting to try it out, so Friday we will see how it goes! If you want to try it here is the recipe:

Ingredients--Serves 4.

• 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter, preferably natural
• 3 tablespoons mango chutney
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut across the grain into 1/4-inch-wide strips
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Fresh cilantro, for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Make sauce: In a blender, combine peanut butter, chutney, lime juice, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, garlic, pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 cup water; blend until smooth. Set aside.
2. Thread each chicken piece onto a skewer (fold the pieces slightly as you work so the skewers go in and out of the meat). Place skewered chicken in a shallow dish; season with salt and pepper. Drizzle oil and remaining tablespoon soy sauce over chicken; turn to coat.
3. Heat grill to high; lightly oil grates. Grill chicken until cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a platter; garnish with cilantro, if desired. Serve with chutney sauce.

 

Stuck in a rut...

So lately all of my meals have had no imagination (unless we order takeout). I am stuck in a rut that includes cereal, sandwiches, and the occasional pasta dish. I have narrowed the reason for my lack of diversity down to this simple fact...I need ideas.  Friends and family, this is where I need your help. As often as I can I will either post a new recipe that I have found and tried, or leave room for YOU to post recipes for me to try. Here’s to a new year full of new food experiences!