Coconut Chicken n Shrimp Cappelini

Between the frigid weather and my comprised health, this week has not been the best.  Today is the first time I have moved about freely with minimal effort.  My hubster is stuck in another state due to adverse weather conditions.  The condition that I speak of is snow.  This snow that has decided to grace us with its presence late in winter and is hitting a lot of the southern states.   So now I'm  hungry and a tad bit irritable, because I don't want to go out in the cold to grab some fast food.  After rummaging through my deep freezer, I found  a few boneless chicken breast and a bag of shrimp, I recently purchased from Trader Joe's.  My next stop is the refrigerator to see what I have on hand to make a complete meal.

Ok the bell peppers, onion and tomatoes will work.  The crushed garlic, coconut water and heavy cream will help me put a sauce together.

l always like to dice everything up before I start cooking.  I do need some better knives these are getting dull and that's not safe.

 

A quick sauté of the chicken and believe it or not the meal is near completion.  While the chicken cooks boil water for the Cappelini pasta.

 

Remove the chicken from the pan and let rest.  The blurry picture below shows a quick sauté of the onions, garlic, bell pepper and tomatoes.  Cube the chicken and return to pan.  Boil pasta for 2 min. Yep, you read that right you only need 2 minutes!  Drain the pasta promptly.

Add the shrimp and cook quickly and they should look like the letter C.  Add tumeric, ginger, salt and pepper to taste taste.  Add coconut water I used about 6 ounces and I used 1/4 cup of heavy cream to taste.  

Toss in the pasta and Voilà you have and island inspired pasta dish!  A Mama Lee's original recipe.  If you try the recipe let me know how it turned out.                                         

Here's a quick photo of the finished dish, and I made a sparkling ginger beer cocktail to round out my meal.  A home cooked meal beats fast food any day. 

Enjoy your Saturday Loves!

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Low carb cabbage and Italian sausage

Hey loves, this is a really late post but...this new workout schedule has me exhausted at the end of the day. But I won't complain I'm happy.  I have amped up my exercises and increased my time in the gym, so I'm pretty pleased with that part of my routine.  My meal preps have been ho hum and I cannot bare to look at another salad or chicken breast. My solution...cabbage and turkey.  From the kitchen of yours truly, Sautéed Italian sausage and cabbage. This dish is so simple, I sautéed some cabbage, carrots,  pearl onions with a mix of Italian turkey sausage and ground turkey.  My favorite seasonings competed this meal and it was delicious.  I'm already planning to eat some for leftovers tomorrow and freeze the rest in single serving size containers. The best part of this meal is its low carb! Whoot whoot! This low carb diet is a struggle for a rice and pasta loving girl but, I will continue to create more recipes that have fewer carbs.  If any of you have some great low carb recipes, help a sister out!

Enjoy your night, I know I will. Until next time!

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Mmm...Mmm...Monday!

I have been making a lot of meatless meals this last year and this soup made its way on my menu. It is so filling and delicious and feels you up and you don't miss the meat. You know there is a heaviness associated with a piece of meat in a meal. But by adding beans it gave it texture and the vegetable broth provided another level of flavor.

  

The best part of this soup is I used all the veggies I already had on hand. 

I didn't use a recipe I just threw everything in a pot and it all work.

The yucca was a good substitute for potatoes and the fresh parsley on top married all the ingredients together.  Try your hand at making more meat free meals at home, your family may give you some resistance but after they see how flavorful they are they will become a welcome menu option.

Until next time Loves!

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Sunday Dinner

This Sunday I made a coffee rubbed roast with grilled zucchini fresh from my garden topped with feta cheese, some coleslaw and borracho beans rounded out the meal.  I made enough for leftovers and maybe to freeze!  If you all are interested in this menu or any other recipe send me an email!

Until next time, enjoy your Sunday!

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The Help?

I have been busy cooking all weekend since my hubby is making it home only once a week.  I made Shrimp n Grits for brunch, and a grilled drum and Brussel sprouts!  They both were de-lishes!!! Inbox me if you need the recipe.

Until next time!

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Island Stew

Fall is my favorite time of the year, I love the colors and flavors of the season and I have decided to combine them in a dish, I created and named "Island Stew". It was a feast for the eyes and wallet!

A crusty baguette and a glass of Cabernet completed this hearty meal.  

Until next time!

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Cafe Pita

Enjoying a delicious lunch with my honey at Cafe Pita in Houston.  Cafe Pita was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri and I made a mental note to check them out on my next visit to Houston, I can honestly say they did not disappoint!  The fried sardines were divine and my honey splashed them with lemon which reminded me of the times when my Dad would prepare smelts the same way.  My honey had the Hadzijski Cevap and I had the Cevap they both were incredibly tender and flavorful.  The chef Omer was kind of enough to take a picture with me and it's on Instagram so check us out!  Our waiter Milan was very attentive and we never had to wait or want for anything! We will indeed be returning here!

Instead of eating the same ole lunch time fare at a fast food joint, go visit a small bistro, cafe or diner the meals are fantastic but the customer service is what's to die for!

Until next time Loves!

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"On Top of Spaghetti"

My Love has been working hard all week and recently stated that he would love some homemade meatballs. I haven't made meatballs in quite a while so, I decided to surprise him with some.  I made them big like my grandma used to do but updated them using ground turkey instead of beef and added ground Italian turkey sausage and panko bread crumbs.  They were so incredibly delicious, moist and flavorful, I cannot figure out why they fell off my monthly menu.

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Fresh thyme and parsley also made their way into the meatballs and you can really taste the difference between dry and fresh herbs!  The other plus side to fresh herbs is its visually appealing to look at, they say you eat with your eye's first!

These really need to be sold somewhere!  

Until next time!

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Mmm...Mmm...Monday!

KOOL AID PICKLES

I made some Kool Aid pickles a couple of weeks ago and we finally ate some this weekend.  The taste is strange and somewhat unique, if I had to describe it I would say its briny and sweet.  This Mississippi delicacy crossed my path last year when I went to the market in Dallas and a vendor was selling all varieties of Kool Aid pickles and I tried one and was hooked!  They taste best with brisket or a burger hot off the grill!  Or you could try dicing them and putting them on top of a deviled egg!  If you are looking for a different condiment to sample at your next cookout, give these pickles a try you will be glad you did!

Until next time Loves!

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Garden Song

I am beyond pleased with the progress of my little garden.  I can actually see the money I normally spend on tomatoes cut in half!  The biggest benefit is I am not worried about pesticides or any other contaminant on my produce.  I just need a better plan next year for when to start planting the different vegetables. The tomatoes and peppers (jalapeno and serrano) have been growing continuously.  I had so many jalapenos at one time that I had to freeze them.  Some of my tomatoes were split on the vine, so if any of you all know how to solve that problem, please let me know!  It took awhile for the zucchini to grow and the size of them have been inconsistent.  I will have a really large one and some tiny ones in the same batch.  I am still waiting on the squash and okra to grow, but we did experience a really hot spell these last couple of weeks in Texas, so that may have effected my garden.   The herbs took the biggest hit with the heat.  The squash in the last picture is from the grocery store and not from my garden, who knows maybe next year I can grow one!  I will definitely expand my garden next year, I'm already looking at adding cucumber, eggplant and onions.  Some of these veggies will meet the grill tonight so I will post those items on instagram!

Until next time Loves!

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25 ways to use coconut oil

1. Mix with a tablespoon of chia seeds for an energy boost.
2. Add a tablespoon to smoothie to boost brain function.
3. Ingesting a teaspoon daily can help alleviate some symptoms of seasonal allergies.
4. Massage into joints to relieve arthritic pain or ingest a teaspoon daily to reduce inflammation.
5. A tablespoon taken before meals can aid in digestion.
6. Rub inside nostril to help with a dry nose.
7. Help heal a sunburn by rubbing into affected areas, after initial sting is gone.
8. Melt a tablespoon into your favorite tea to soothe a sore throat.
9. Clear up cold sores by applying to infected area.
10. Remove eye makeup.
11. Use sparingly at night as a reconstructive moisturizer.
12. Rub into neck and decolletage to reduce wrinkling.
13. Rub on chapped lips.
14. Mix with sugar and use as a body scrub.
15. Mix coconut oil with jojoba oil for a luxurious body balm.
16. Smooth on hands to relieve age spots and wrinkles.
17. Rub into cuticles.
18. Mix coconut oil with sea salt and rub on feet to smooth dry skin and cracked heels.
19. Slather on legs and shave and reapply to soothe after shaving.
20. Rub coconut oil into any dry patch on skin to soothe and soften.
21. Whiten teeth when used with baking soda.  (see oil pulling post)
22. Use as a replacement for any recipes calling for vegetable oil.
23. Rub a small amount into cast iron pan to season.
24. Use as a deep fry oil.
25. Can help speed up weight loss when taken daily.

Unrefined virgin coconut oil is the best when you are going to ingest the product.  Sam's club has the best deal on unrefined virgin coconut oil, I suggest going there if you use it regularly.  What I use for my face, body and hair is a brand that I picked up at Whole Foods, I will post a picture of that on Instagram.  I hope this post was informative and I would love to hear how you all use coconut oil so leave me a comment!

Until next time Loves!

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MIA! / HOW DOES MY GARDEN GROW? (Mega Post)

Sorry Loves, I know I have been MIA but my life was a little crazy the last couple of weeks.  I bought a vehicle to help with my growing business, talk about a tiresome endeavor but I refuse to purchase something I didn't want and go over my set budget!  I will fill you all in with the details later on in the week. Unfortunately,  a family member died last week so we are all coping with the loss.  So you all will still see my posts this week, I just wanted to explain my inconsistency for the last couple of weeks.

HOW DOES MY GARDEN GROW?

I just wanted to post an update showing how I filled all the pots I purchased.  I have been so pleased with the look of my flower bed, garden and patio.  The best part of the whole project is the price!  I purchased about 85% of my flowers from Lowe's and they were on the quick sale rack.  What makes the deal even sweeter was I led there by a wonderful sales associate who I asked for help in purchasing flowers that can withstand this Texas sun.  She recommended several flowers and gave me insight into how they grow.  I planted them and lo and behold it rained over several days!!!  Everything is growing and lush and we have had some wonderful tomatoes to eat.  I am looking forward to planting some kale and arugula to assist me in my juicing efforts and I recently spotted some blueberries in the nursery that I want to try and grow.  Who knew I'm a country girl at heart!

My patio is still my favorite place to be.  I work out there on my laptop in the mornings before it gets too hot and I recently added a solar chandelier and more string lights under the pergola.  It is such a romantic sight at night I just wish it was a tad bit cooler.

My garden is still doing extremely well and right now I am just trying to keep up with the food that is ready to be picked and use it, freeze it or give it away.  I just can not for the life of me, throw food away!

Between my staging jobs, blog and projects around the house I am always busy, but for the first time ever in my adult life I can say I am happy, passionate and content with what I do!  There is no better feeling than truly loving what you do.  Until next time Loves!

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Mmm...Mmm...Monday!

Cinco de Mayo

Hey Loves, I know I am posting extremely late this evening but I have been enjoying Cinco de Mayo today! So while I kick back with my meal and the smooth sounds of Celia' Cruz in my ears,  go ahead and have a shot of tequila on me!

Until next time!

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Seafood Italian with Roasted Garlic Couscous

I just wanted to share a picture of the meal I threw together tonight.  Oh Wee!  This was absolutely delicious and I am really proud at how well this turned out.  I have really been consuming a lot of seafood and am constantly trying to explore ways to prepare it so I wont become bored.  This was meal was indeed a  winner!

Seafood Italiano with Roasted Garlic Couscous

Have a great night Loves!  Until next time!

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Sweets to the Sweet

I know, I know...I did name the title of this post after a "Candyman" movie quote!  But I guarantee the recipe for these Dark Chocolate Quinoa Truffles will not scare you at all!.  I am a such a huge lover of dark chocolate!  You will usually find me with a small bag of Brookside's Dark Chocolate Goji in the house and I will nibble a few of them throughout the week.  I came across this incredible treat after doing some online searches for quinoa recipes.  The Queen of Quinoa website has a long list of amazing recipes using quinoa in some unusual ways.  I just had to try this dish out when I discovered it paired my favorite candy, sweet dark chocolate with my favorite grain, quinoa.  Now if you all are unfamiliar with quinoa, this super grain is high in protein and fiber and oh so versatile.  But I never imagined using it in a candy dish.  The recipe was super easy to follow and the truffles came out candy store perfect!  Would you like this recipe or more quinoa recipes?   Head on over to the Queen of Quinoa  www.queenofquinoa.me and while you do that I will enjoy me a nibble!

Until next time Sweeties!

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I Never Promised You a Herb Garden

Being a born and bred city girl I have never attempted to garden.  Our family had no grass at all, just a small concrete yard so growing up I never had the urge to plant a garden.  Now after many years of being a "suburbanite I'm itching to grow something.  I'm not one to focus on my short comings so I will tell you what I can do!  I do know how to plant my feet inside a kitchen and that's just what I did! I looked inside my cabinets and refrigerator at all of the things I eat and cook with the most and decided to try my hand at growing a portion of my own food.  The thought of starting a full garden immediately intimidated me so, I will go a lot smaller with a herb and tomato container garden.   I went to my local nursery and purchased some organic herbs and the rest were a toss up between Home Depot and Lowes.  I made sure to use regular soil no Miracle Grow or any other pretreated soil.  I did this based on the recommendations from seasoned gardeners.  All plants were thoroughly soaked before being planted.  Before I forget, the herbs I chose were Thyme, Rosemary, Dill, Parsley and Basil.  I cant remember the different variety of tomatoes I selected but, I do know that I planted Heirloom which is my favorite.  I will let you all see the progress as my garden grows and hopefully I can put a minor dent in our rising grocery bill.

 

 

Hey Loves, watch my garden grow!  Until next time!

 

 

 

 

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Lily's Cakes

Every now and then I come across a gem in my city that I just have to share with everyone.  Last year I had a craving for something sweet to eat but I wasn't sure what I wanted.   As I was driving to my grocer's bakery I saw the sign for Lily"s Cakes on the way and decided to give them a try.  Well I am happy to say we have had a long standing relationship ever since.  If you are a cupcake, cake pop, cake or baklava lover this is the place for you.  I have sampled many of the cupcakes and they have every flavor imaginable from Italian cream, Nutella, Coconut Cream, Red Velvet and my personal favorite Salted Caramel.  I know I'm leaving out more flavors but this is a place you have to visit for yourself.  The cakes are truly works of art, they look beautiful and taste delicious!  After my umpteenth(I know this isn't a real word but I had to use it!) visit last week I wondered who was the person behind Lily's Cake?  Well I had the pleasure of meeting the owner Lilian Halabi and she is one hardworking lady. This family owned business located in Harker Heights, TX opened in October 2012 and has already amassed a hefty following of cake lovers myself included. When I asked her permission to take pictures for my blog she was unsure at first, but when I let her see what my blog is about she said she really liked it and graciously allowed me to take photos.  She even showed me photos of some of her other creations as well on Facebook.  If you are in the mood for a little sweet treat or you want to purchase a cake for any occasion that is beautifully designed and delicious head over to Lily's Cakes and tell them Really Darn Lovely sent you!

Until next time!

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