Favorite Food Gifts

Every year at Christmas, I look forward to sharing my love for cooking by giving food gifts. There is something special about knowing someone spent time creating a gift just for you! Especially if you are foodie like me, you REALLY appreciate it. I enjoy giving sweet treats around the holidays but I still try to keep things light. Everything I make is tailored to be more healthy. I will splurge occasionally, but I have experimented in the kitchen and have learned how to substitute ingredients. You can always refer to other websites for modified recipes (refer to my Favorite Resources page at the top).

Last year I baked and baked and baked! I gave christmas colored tins full of homemade cookies. The recipes varied from chocolate chip cookies, nutella and almond cookies and cranberry and white chocolate biscotti's (All of the recipes were modified to cut back on the fat and sugar).

This year I wanted to change it up and try something different. This past November I saw an article in Cooking Light magazine featuring pomegranates. The article discussed the health benefits of the pomegranate and included multiple recipes. The recipe that caught my eye was a Pomegranate and Pear Preserve. I had always wanted to make preserves but never had before...so this was the perfect opportunity to learn!

The recipe was slightly complicated the first time because I did not have my ingredients prepped. However, the second time I was prepped and ready and things went pretty smooth. This is a quick process (30 minutes) unless you choose to seal the jars (1 hour). Sealing the jars keeps the preserves from spoiling for up to several months.

Here are some pictures from my Preserves Excursion!

Fresh Pomegranate Seeds

Lemon Zest

Rosemary - The Surprise Ingredient

Pomegranate Juice, Pears, Rose Wine and Sugar boiling away...

Finished Product....wrapped and ready to be given!

I hope that you enjoyed these photos and are brainstorming ways you can share you love of cooking with others this Christmas. Unleash your creativity in the kitchen this year.

Some of my other favorite food gifts include:

- Herb Infused Olive Oil

- Infused Vodka

- Vanilla Extract

- Sweet and Salty Roasted Nuts

- Spice Blends (Jamaican, Barbecue, Jerk)

Happy Cooking and Giving!

~Little Chef-titian

Holiday Highlights Part 1

Part I of Holiday Highlights: Thanksgiving Dinner

This is long overdue but I wanted to highlight some of the thanksgiving dishes that were part of our spread. Keep in mind this is only a few select dishes from the endless menu that was prepared. Most of you know that I am not a "southern" cook, however, I enjoyed learning how to prepare some of these traditional home cooked recipes from Hunter's grandmother. I realize the gift she gave me by teaching and passing down her recipes. These are some of my favorite moments with family, especially when the joy of cooking is shared from generation to generation.

Thanksgiving Dinner 2010:

Oven Roasted Turkey

Baked Sweet Potato Casserole (with extra sugar because it was SWEET!)

Creamy Whipped Potatoes and Seasoned Southern Collards

Oyster Stuffing and Traditional Stuffing

Homemade Corn Bread

Deviled Eggs with Green and Black Olives

Dessert: Pumpkin Spice Cake Sprinkled with Powdered Sugar

I love this picture. It is beautiful to watch the work of her hands.

This is Granny Ruby. She shares a love for cooking and working in the kitchen as I do. We talked about food all day long and discussed various recipes. I particularly was fascinated by her knowledge of growing her own foods. I also learned how to can and freeze summer foods for the winter. I look forward to putting this knowledge into practice.

The food was delicious as always and the family time was memorable. I hope you get to reflect over your time spent with family this holiday season and value the conversations, laughter, and experiences shared.

Watch out for Holiday Highlights Part II: Christmas Dinner...Coming Soon!

Happy Holidays!

Little Chef-titian

Comforting and Delicious!

As the winter months roll in, I enjoy preparing food that is hearty, flavorful and comforting. In contrast with most people's thinking, you do not have to spoil your entire day or week of healthy eating on one comforting meal. Below is an example of comfort food that is still healthy, affordable and quick.

Individual Italian Meatloaf

with Mashed Baby Red Potatoes and Green Peas

I was originally going to make a traditional meatloaf but decided against that option due to the amount of time (1 hour) of cooking time. We had a busy night and needed to get dinner on the table ASAP so I opted to make individual meatloaves using the muffin pan. They cooked in 17 minutes on 350 degrees. They were moist and very flavorful. I was very pleased with the time and the quality of this meal.

Using ground turkey, frozen peas and fresh potatoes this meal remained light. I only added skim milk, fat free sour cream, and less than a 1/4 cup of butter for all 3 pound of mashed potatoes . This allows for a creamy and comfort heaping of mashed potatoes without the calories and fat.

Italian Turkey Meatloaf Recipe:

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001160605&package_id=1169640

A Variety of Meatloaf Recipes:

http://www.cookinglight.com/food/recipe-finder/meat-loaf-00400000001189/

I hope that you try this recipe or will be inspired to try one of the other types of meatloaf's listed above as well as cook comfort food that doesn't break your calorie bank!

Happy Cooking!

Little-Cheftitian

Fun, Fall & Fabulous!

Here are some of the dishes that I have created during this fall season! I hope you enjoy the array of tasty dishes that highlight various seasonal vegetables. Be inspired to cook outside of your normal menu and highlight the seasons best!

Fresh Green Leaf Salad with Craisins, Cucumbers and Walnuts:

It is dressed with a homemade red wine vinaigrette. This is a great salad anytime of the year and pairs well with all of the entree's featured below.

Stuffed Acorn Squash:

This is a roast acorn squash stuffed with black beans, goat cheese, fresh tomatoes and garlic. I loved this dish and would make it again with a variety of "stuffing" combinations. This was my first time cooking/eating acorn squash. It was mild compared to butternut squash but still encompassed a full fall flavor. I was not sure if the skin would be tender enough to eat but it was delicious! This dish provides a healthy dose of vitamin A and fiber.

Herb Roasted Eggplant:

I was inspired by a cooking light article out of the November issue which featured a cooking school in Paris. I have eaten eggplant all sorts of ways, but never considered fanning it out prior to cooking. Fanning it allowed for a neat presentation and quick cooking time. The eggplant is topped with fresh parsley.

The Herb Roasted Eggplant served on top of a Whole Wheat Spaghetti:

It was topped with fresh grated parmesan cheese and marinara sauce. This is alternative recipe for those who adore eggplant parmesan. It was delicious, hearty, and satisfying.

Honey Soy Cod, Sauteed Savoy Cabbage and Baked Sweet Potato

This meal was amazing. The feature was the Honey Soy Cod. I really impressed myself once I tasted the fish. I purchased the Cod fresh from Harris Teeter for only $4 for 8 ounces (which serves 2, 4 oz servings). I made a homemade marinade highlighting soy and honey. This was a beautiful combination and made this delicate fish savory with a hint of sweet! The savoy cabbage was tender and tasty after being sauteed with olive oil and caramelized onions.

Each of these recipes showcases a fall flavor. I hope that you will be inspired to create seasonal dishes that are healthy, creative and delicious!

Happy Cooking!

Little Chef-titian

Let's Move Campaign

I have fallen in love with Michelle Obama's campaign against childhood obesity called Let's Move! The website is full of inspirational stories, resources, and tools to get your community, family and schools healthier. I have been amazed at the depth of this campaign. As a future dietitian, I am thrilled that the First Lady has designated her time and efforts to helping create awareness and ways to fight against the epidemic of childhood obesity. I would encourage you to check out the website and all that it has to offer. Think of ways you can get involved even if it is educating your friends and family on the importance of eating healthy and participating in physical activity daily.

The Hard Truth: Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. One third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives; many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma.

Mission of the campaign: Through theLet’s Move! campaign—a comprehensive, collaborative, and community-oriented initiative that addresses all of the various factors that lead to childhood obesity—we are engaging every sector of society that impacts the health of children to provide schools, families and communities the simple tools they need to help kids be more active, eat better, and get healthy.

Two resources that I came across and loved were:

1: The menu plan and recipes. It provides you with a shopping list, recipe, and planned week for the menu. This is a great resource to help try new foods and get in the habit of cooking.

http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/recipes/plan

2. The Healthy Family Calendar. This helps plan ahead to eat fruits or vegetables and take part in a physical activity. Make this a family event. Allow each family member to plan one or two days of the week (activity and fruit/vegetable consumption). This resource will allow for regular physical activity and making a healthy habit of eating well.

http://www.letsmove.gov/pdf/Family_Calendar.pdf

Why I love this campaign:

It addresses families, schools, moms, communities and chefs.

It targets specific populations where tips are tailored to better educate and help fight against childhood obesity and provides overall healthy lifestyle choices.

I hope that you will at least check out this website and find a way to get involved. Let's take part in creating healthy lifestyles that will be passed down for generations to come!

Happy Health!

~Little Chef-titian

Farmer's Market Savings

Here are some pictures displaying the beautiful vegetables that I purchased at the Farmer's Market. I try to stress how incredible the savings can be and I wanted to prove it with these photos. I purchased all of this produce for 13 dollars. This particular Saturday was in the middle of the summer and produce was at its peak. I have found that up until the end of the season produce is faily inexpensive compared to the grocery store prices. Towards the end of the season the amount and quality of produce starts to decrease. Unfortunately for consumers the prices tend to increase slightly. Despite this price increase, I still support local farmers because the prices at the grocery store are still higher and the quality is compromised due to transportation time.

Pictured below are cucumbers, tomatoes, peaches, eggs, green bell peppers and eggplant!

All for the price of 13 dollars!

Enjoy these photos!

I hope that you were inspired to shop locally in efforts to support local farmers and save money.

Happy Shopping!

~Little Chef-titian

Birthday Cake!

This year I decided it would be fun to make my own birthday cake. I am not really a fan of cake but I love pound cake. With the weather still being warm I decided a lemon pound cake served with fresh strawberries was the perfect birthday dessert for me. The weekend prior I found a swirl bunt cake pan in Williams & Sonoma. This was the inspiration that led me to take the time to enjoy my birthday doing the things I love...like baking!

I used a recipe from cooking light and decided to brighten up the flavors by adding lemon zest. The cooking light recipe had already modified a traditional sour cream pound cake by cutting the calories in half using less fat, sugar, and light sour cream. I was worried the pound cake would be dry but it was delicious! I topped it with powered sugar and served it with strawberries. This turned out to be one of my favorites birthday cakes ever! Enjoy the photos below.

Take the time to enjoy your favorite things on your birthday...these are the best gifts of all. Especially if you get to enjoy and savor them with sweet friends like I did!

Happy Baking!
Little Chef-titian

Summertime Favorites!

Check out these summertime favorites!

Delicious Sweet Potato Fries are a savory side dish which offers a large dose of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and phytochemicals to boost your health. Try these verses store bought french fries.

Slice sweet potatoes, toss in olive oil, salt, pepper, and a dash of cinnamon and back till tender.

Shrimp are high in protein and low in fat. These are a great addition to any diet!

For an easy and healthy dinner, pick up some peeled and devained shrimp from your local grocery and steam in boiling water for a few minutes. Remove from water when shrimp turn pink. Sprinkle Old Bay seasoning and serve with some fresh steamed vegetables.

Happy Cooking!

Little Chef-titian

Smart Solutions for Saving Money

Here are some tips for maximizing your groceries and saving money.

Lettuce ~

Over the last 6 months I have made the switch from packaged lettuce to purchasing a head of lettuce. Since switching, I have realized how much better the head of lettuce taste. It is much crisper and last a lot longer. In the past I bought a box of the organic lettuce and it would last at the most a week. With the unpackaged lettuce, I have found that it last more than a week and sometimes longer. You will loose some of the crunch if you wait too long but it is definitely a smarter purchase.

Box of lettuce: ~ $4

Head of Lettuce: ~ $1.80

Tomatoes ~

Sometimes I am tempted to buy the cheapest tomatoes I find because they can be pricey, but I have found that buying the smaller tomatoes is more cost efficient and practical for my style of cooking. I often use a tomato for a small salad or some sort of topping. Therefore if I purchase a large tomato, only half is used and the other half usually gets thrown away. Tomatoes do not stay fresh long once they are cut.

Depending on your need for tomatoes, it may be more cost efficient to purchase smaller tomatoes that will last longer and not go to waste.

Ground Meats ~

If you are cooking for one or two people, do not be afraid of purchasing a pound of ground meat. I buy ground meat and store it in the freezer until I am ready to cook it. My husband and I do not need to have a whole pound of meat at one meal so my solution to this is simple. Cook the meat in the pan without putting any seasoning on it. Once the meat is cooked use half for one meal and place the other half in a freezer safe container and place back in freezer for a quick fix dinner later. This allows the meat to stay fresh and is already cooked for the next time you need it. This will save on cost because you are making multiple meals out of one package of meat.

Fruits ~

When you see your fruits getting too ripe, do not worry. There are many recipes you can utilize to use your fruits. Use your fruit to make muffins. This is one of my favorite things to do and everyone usually loves a fresh baked muffin. You could also make a fruit crisp for dessert or chop of your fruits and freeze them for smoothies.

These are a few of my food solutions for saving money. Utilize these tips and be amazed at how much you can save.

Happy Saving!

Little Chef-titian

Sweet Treats!

Here are some photos of banana walnut chocolate chip cookies and Vanilla Cupcakes!

These are drop cookies that are amazing. I decided to add banana into this cookie to add a nice flavor and natural sweetness. This may be my new favorite cookie!!

These were delicious and healthy! A good guilt free sweet treat.

I wanted to take some shots of these cupcakes I made for a friends wedding. I piped the icing out and was excited how they turned out. I had to take a few shots of these cute cupcakes.

I hope you enjoyed these photos.

Happy Baking!

Little Chef-titian

Flavor favorites

A flavor combination that I love is chocolate and orange. Yesterday I made some chocolate and orange cookies. They were the perfect summer cookie. Light and flavorful are the perfect words to describe this flavor combination.

Next time your in the kitchen play around with flavors that enhance one another. I hope you enjoy these pictures!

Dark chocolate cocoa mix with orange zest.

Cookies cooling....it's always so hard not to devour one at this point.

Packed up to take to some friends!

Happy Cooking!

Little Chef-titian

Cooking Charleston

Recently I visited one of the infamous cities of the south...Charleston! The historic district was quaint, charming, and inviting. Among the cobblestone streets were beautiful dainty homes, neighborhood coffee shops, and hidden culinary gems! I found this place to be fascinating and cozy at the same time. I had heard from many that the cuisine in Charleston is exquisite so as you can imagine I was thrilled to explore all that it had to offer.

To my delight I enjoyed everything from a thin crusted pizza with fresh vegetables and a red table wine, french cuisine that offered a succulent fish dish that was buttery and delicious, and an organic lunch haven where the mixed greens were "green". Every flavor that you craved was met here and more! All of these were delicious but the dish that represents Charleston was a local favorite, Shrimp and Grits. I enjoyed this dish at 82 Queen. A restaurant that was the epitome of Charleston. From the menu, to the wait staff, and the outdoor garden dining area, the southern charm and elegance dripped from this restaurant.

As I remember this culinary experience, I can only think of the shrimp and grits that stole my heart. In wanting to recreate these flavors for my husband so he can get a taste of Charleston, I made shrimp and grits for dinner.

The flavors are rich from the barbecue shrimp, bacon, and Monterey jack cheese but balanced by the bright green onions and smooth grits. I found that the grits were the canvas for this dish. I didn't feel the need to overpower them with extra butter or salt.

Needless to say, I was pleased with the outcome. My house smelled of Charleston and my husband LOVED this dish!

Hope that you savor your memories from various parts of the country or world. Enjoy them again and again at home by recreating your favorite flavors!

Happy Cooking!

Little Chef-titian

Ending the Week Smart

Quiche of the week: Broccoli, Bell Pepper, Onion, and Paramsian Cheese

Have you found that when you do buy fresh vegetables it is hard to use them all or you have left overs from a previous recipe? Or if you like me when you shop at the Farmers Market you get excited and overstock your fridge. Well no worries, left over veggies can be incorporated into many end of the week meals that can save you money. Instead of going to the store to buy an entire meal, take those left over vegetables from the week and make a Quiche!

A quiche originates from French cuisine and is similar to a custard using eggs, cream or milk baked in a pastry crust. They are known for being high in fat and calories, but its possible to modify a recipe without losing the quality. Quiches are easy and can include anything from ham, sausage,tofu, vegetables, and various types of cheeses. They are a savory dinner that can work for all palates. I enjoy making a crustless quiche because its easy and fast.

This meal offers a mega punch for nutrition. It has lots of vitamins and minerals, protein, calcium, and moderate amounts of fat. You can round out this dinner with a whole grain baguette or piece of toast.

Remeber at the end of the week, most people are tired of cooking and grocery shopping. Take your left over ingredients and customize a quiche with your favorite flavors!

Tips for making a low fat/low calorie Quiche:

- Use lot of veggies.

- Use some egg whites and some whole eggs.

- Use non-fat or low fat milk verse cream.

- Add plain low fat yogurt or cottage cheese to add the creamy factor back

- Go crustless!

Happy Cooking!
Little Chef-titian