Cookin by the book...

...or by the magazine actually! This week I was looking for a little guidance when planning our meals so I decided to pull out an old edition of Clean Eating Magazine (May/June 2010) and check out their budget recipes sections. This section provide five meals with recipes and even a shopping list!

First up this week was Chicken Pomodoro...


It actually came out pretty good. I made a few adjustments to the recipe, but overall it came out the same. I also went with whole wheat fettucini noodles that we had on hand. Most of the recipes in Cleaning Eating's budget plans are set for four or more serving so that means it ends up being lunch the next day- BONUS!!!

Last night I cooked up a little bit of New Orleans in the kitchen with Creole Dirty Rice.

I even used dried kidney beans this time. I have a tendency to lean towards the canned version of beans because it is just more convenient, but since I really wanted to follow the recipe I did it as instructed and it wasn't too bad it just required some overnight soaking.

Personally I thought it could have used a bit more of a kick, so I topped it with some hot sauce. I actually doubled this recipe so we had lunch today, and we still have plenty leftover for another meal.

Tonight was a night off from cooking to enjoy dinner with the girls. We try to find at least one day a month to get together, dine, and catch up. Tonight was sushi! I'm not up to eating the raw fish just yet, but I've moved from shrimp up to crab as of tonight.


It was a great night, but I'm still exhausted from the time zone change and I guess you could say it is my own fault since I refuse to slow down. Oh, and maybe because there is so much to catch up on both at home and at work!

Anyone make any good recipes lately? Please post a link.

Twig beans...

Lately I'm really into edamame, or when translated from Japanese "twig beans". It's a young soybean that is harvested in it's pod before it is fully ripened.


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Soybeans are full of great nutrition. They are rich in protein, dietary fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and micro nutrients. To prepare you just steam or boil them, it is really that easy. You're most likely to see them served at a Japanese restaurant or for sale by the sushi. I always head to the natural/organic section of my grocery store where the frozen packages are cheaper than the fresh.

To eat you basically just pull the soybeans from the pod using your teeth, it's one time where playing with your food is allowed. I was introduce to them a few years ago by my friends Sabrina, and once you try them I don’t think you’ll be able to deny they’re good!

Do you like edamame? Would you ever try them?

And some fun lyrics for the weekend...

Waking up too early
Maybe we can sleep in
I'll make you banana pancakes
Pretend like it's the weekend now
-Banana Pancakes, Jack Johnson

Matt+Jen+Recipes=Success

Here's a look at what we've been making over the last two days....


First creation was brownies, but these aren't your typical out of the box type. The recipe calls them Black Bean Fudge Cakes- yes black beans! The recipe was created to be gluten free and satisfy a chocolate craving. I can tell you that these brownies are very good, and you can't even taste the black beans. My friends and family will be seeing this dessert at gatherings, but I don't think they'll know about the black beans.




Next up was Sprouted Brown Bread. This is a raw recipe suggested by Grandma Langton. Matt soaked wheat berries until they sprouted a half inch, put the sprouted grain in the food processor until it looked like bread dough, then placed it in Pyrex dish in the slow cooker overnight (8 hours). Matt was pleased with the results- the bread had a hard crust, but the inside was soft with a slightly sweet taste (possibly attributed the natural sugars). Will we try this again? Yes, definitely.

Sprouted Wheat Berries...


A close-up...


Becoming bread...


The finished product...


Last was the traditional Chocolate Chip Cookie. If you know me, you've probably had one of these yummy treats. Let me tell you it is hard to sit here and not eat them, they smell so good! They are for the guys at the VW dealership- yes I make my car people cookies. It sounds crazy but they appreciate it and they definitely know who I am!




Stay tuned for some dehydrator experiments in the next week or so. It hasn't arrived yet, but should be here soon. We're super excited!

Clean Eating: What is it?

A few months ago I came across the concept of 'clean eating.' I did some research and found Tosca Reno's series of books the detail clean eating and living techniques. I even found a magazine devoted to the concept- Clean Eating Magazine. needless to say I was hooked and began trying to take it all in.

So what is you ask? It's not a diet, but a lifestyle (though the word diet does appear on the book). In adapting to this lifestyle, the choice is made to have knowledge of what is in your food. Two basic questions are: Does my food have a mother? Does my food come from the earth? At first, it may seem like this lifestyle would be difficult to adapt to, but it really isn't. You'll be especially happy to know food tastes really good without all the chemicals in it.

If you look in Tosca Reno's books you will see pictures of each recipe, so you'll easily be able to see the food looks just like what you've been eating anyways. Still not convinced? What if I said you're expected to eat six times a day!?! I'm not talking about a buffet at every meal, but you certainly won't go hungry especially if you follow the concept and combine proteins with healthy carbs. Yes I said it- CARBS! Even further proof that this lifestyle isn't a fad, it actually encourages consumption of a carb with your protein. Not all carbs are bad for you.

So check out Tosca Reno's 'Eat-Clean Diet' first to get a handle on the basics of the lifestyle concept. The book even includes meal plan suggestion so you don't have to work too hard. Then you an pick up her cookbooks too! You can also make you own combinations, but it will help to have a guide the first few times. Once you get the hang of it you'll find ways to create your favorite food in a cleaner, healthier way.

Keep posted hear as I cook Tosca's recipes and invent my own clean versions of our favorite foods. Enjoy! Feel free to let me know your favorite recipe from Tosca!