Recent Creations

While I was in the market the other day I noticed something rather interesting and disheartening at the same time. The majority of people I came across had their carts full of prepared and highly processed foods. I am not saying this is bad but it made me think about how much our food culture has changed so much from when our grand parents were young.

There is nothing wrong with your prepared food you buy. Be informed as to whether or not that food will give you a healthy meal. Try to change your mind set that healthy does not mean bland or gross. Healthy food can be so flavorful while giving your body what it needs to maintain itself.

How do you tackle a new menu for you and your family? Cook with ingredients you feel comfortable with and each time you use them change it up a bit every time. Start off with a main ingredient and build the dish from there. Do not get too creative too fast. This is when you will get that mystery dish comin to the table. Relax, have fun, and try new things.

I will give you some examples of recipes that are easy, yummy, and healthy.

Pita, Tortilla, or Naan pizzas- Take what you love on pizza and put it on the bread. Bake them in a preheated 450F oven until the cheese is melted evenly. You can use any topping and any sauce. When using sauces go light so that the pizza does not get soggy. Use a pizza tray or stone it will crisp the bread up quite nicely. If you do not like to chop and slice your local market will have pre-cut items for you. I guarantee this will be healthier and faster than buying one of those expensive chain pies! Make sure you place these guys on the middle rack in the oven. Serve up with a salad.

Another favorite with the family here is Pot Roast
Now there are tons of different ways to make this dish. The way we prepare it gives you an amazing flavor and very tender meat.

Any beef roast will work. I use tri-tip or other sirloin roasts. Take the roast and score the meat lightly. Cover lightly with sea salt, fresh ground black pepper, and a good quality garlic powder. Heat up a skillet on medium-high, preferably cast iron, and add 1.5 tbsp EVOO. Sear both sides of the roast evenly (about 2 minutes per side). Remove and place in a slow cooker. Take 2-3 cups Merlot red wine and poor over roast (you want about 1-2 inches of wine at the bottom, just enough so that it will not evaporate completely while cooking). Slice up a sweet onion and throw it in. Start cooking before you go to work and set on low, when you get home it will be ready and fall apart tender. Serve up with some potatoes and veggies or any other side dish you like.

Here are some dishes we have created recently. We have been super busy in the kitchen whipping up some new ideas or using old ones and changing them up.