Microwave eggs are the easiest thing since cereal and toast. Yes, I did just say the word “microwave” eggs. This may be a little frightening to imagine for some, but for those of you who are curious, you may just find yourself enjoying one of the most easy and deliciously fluffy 2 minute personal size omelet/egg casseroles you’ve ever had. If you are looking for a healthy or creative quick breakfast than your everyday toast or cereal this is perfect! And it only takes about 5 minutes from start to finish! I’ve never actually seen a recipe for one of these in a cookbook or on a cooking show, my mother used to make these as quick after school snacks or for breakfast when we were kids. I loved them then, and I am so glad I remembered them so I can love them now!

Ingredients:
1-2 eggs (may use 2 egg whites per egg for an egg white only microwave egg)
salt and pepper
1/4 c. cheese (Colby jack, cheddar, mozzarella, American, etc.)
2 mushrooms, sliced
Serrano pepper, sliced (about 5-8 slices)

The wonderful thing about microwave eggs is there is an unlimited amount of ways to be creative with the ingredients. I tend to use whatever I have in the fridge that seems to pair well together, usually a cheese, vegetable, and meat. All these ingredients of course are optional. Some of my favorite combinations include: sausage/cheese/jalapeno, bacon/cheese, zuchini/mushroom/onion/cheese, Ham/cheese/vegetable. For today, I decided on a cheese, mushroom, and Serrano microwave egg.

Step 1: Heat a small drizzle of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat.

Step 2: Slice 2-3 small mushrooms.

Step 3: Saute mushrooms for about 2 minutes in the skillet just until tender with a teeny pinch of sea salt and black pepper to season.

Step 4: Crack an egg or two into a microwave safe bowl (if using egg whites only, separate egg whites and yolks then add egg whites to a microwave safe bowl; about 2 egg whites per 1 egg).

Step 5: Lightly, whip the egg with a whisk or fork.

Step 6: Remove mushrooms from the skillet. Cut a Serrano pepper into thin slices (you will probably need about 5 -8 slices of Serrano pepper). Add the mushrooms and Serrano slices to the egg.

Step 7: Grate 1/4 c. of cheese (I used colby jack for this recipe). Sprinkle cheese over top of vegetables in the egg. Pop the bowl into the microwave and cook on HIGH for 1 minute and 30 seconds, or until the egg mixture in the center is not runny.

Waala! You now have a beautifully fluffy and cheesy personal microwave egg. Top it off with some fresh salsa and dig in! You will be so glad you did! Enjoy!

Chicken Pad Thai

I am sitting here writing this post while actually eating some of the left over Chicken Pad Thai I made last night. I have to say, it’s still good the second time around! This was my first attempt at making Chicken Pad Thai. I often order it at Thai restaurants, but I wanted to be able to replicate something just as tasty at home. Plus it was a bonus that Pad Thai noodles are made out of rice, which means it was another gluten free recipe I could add to our list. My sister and husband loved it, and so did I. I even saw everyone go for seconds, including me! This was fast and easy and required a lot of simple ingredients. I definitely recommend using the Annie Chun’s brand of Pad Thai rice noodles, but if you don’t have that brand available at your grocery store, any Pad Thai rice noodles will do just fine.

Ingredients
Olive oil
2 -3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 onion, chopped finely
2-3 small chicken breasts trimmed, and cut into tiny 1/2 inch – 1 inch cubes
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 package of Annie Chun’s Pad Thai Rice noodles cooked according to package directions
1 cup fresh bean sprouts
1 cup of snow peas
Garnish: lime wedges, cilantro leaves, chopped green onions, and roasted peanuts

For Sauce:
2-3 Tbsp. lime juice
3 Tbps. fish sauce, plus another teaspoon if desired.
2 1/2 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 Tbsp. peanut butter
1 1/2 Tbsp. Rice vinegar

Measure out peanut butter first, and melt in microwave for 20 – 30 seconds until just melted. Add in all other ingredients and whisk with a wire whisk in a glass bowl or measuring cup. Set aside.

Directions for Pad Thai:
Heat a medium to large pot with water until boiling. Cook noodles according to package directions, then set the noodles aside in a colander. Heat a wok or large skillet over medium heat with 2 Tbsp. of olive oil. Add onion, chicken, and crushed garlic. Cook until chicken is no longer pink and the onions have slightly browned and softened, set aside the chicken mixture in a bowl. Add another 2 Tbsp. of olive oil to the skillet. Add the lightly beaten eggs and let it set slightly, then scramble the egg until little pieces form (you don’t want huge chunks of eggs, so you may need to break up the scramble enough so that the egg pieces are to how you like it). Reduce the heat to low, then add the sauce stirring with a whisk and add in the noodles. Coat the noodles with the sauce, then add in the chicken mixture, snow peas, and bean sprouts. Cover with a lid to slightly steam the snow peas and bean sprouts for about 3 minutes. Keep tossing the noodles so the sauce coats everything. Serve onto plates and garnish with squeezed lime wedges, cilantro, peanuts, and green onions. Enjoy!

French Apple Pie with Creme Anglaise Sauce

umm… I can smell the wafting scents of cinnamon and vanilla coming out of this photo as I remember back to baking this little beauty of a pie.  This pie has always been a favorite of mine growing up and now that I’m on my own I’ve always wanted to learn how to make this pie.  It always seemed out of reach or too difficult because there were a few more steps than a regular old fashioned apple pie, so I never ventured down that road… until now.  Surprisingly, it wasn’t that hard to make… and I enjoyed it.  It will be sure to please any crowd this Thanksgiving or even for Sunday dinner’s dessert!  I hope it warms your soul and your tummy as much as it did mine!

French Apple Pie

For Pie Filling you will need:
1 top and bottom prepared or store bought pie crust
About 8 apples peeled, cored, and sliced into thin wedges (use a variety of apples such as Jonagold, Grannysmith, Macintosh, Braeburn, Winesap, etc.)
1/4 c. sugar
3 Tbsp. butter
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg

For custard you will need:
1/3 c. softened butter
1/3 c. sugar
1-2 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 eggs, slightly beaten

For creme anglaise sauce you will need:
1 c. whipping cream
2 egg yolks
1/3 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
dash of cinnamon
dash of nutmeg

Directions:
Once apples are sliced, combine all the filling ingredients with the sliced apples. Add apple filling to a large skillet over medium-low heat and saute for a few minutes until just softened and the sugar melts and forms a glaze. Set filling aside.

Using a hand mixer, cream together butter, sugar, and 2 Tbps. of flour. Add spices and mix until well combined. Lastly, add in beaten eggs an mix until it forms a pasty mixture.

Prepare the bottom pie crust in bottom of pie plate. Add in the apple filling and top with custard mixture. Spread custard mixture all throughout the apple filling until it is all throughout the mixture evenly.

Place top pie crust over filling and crimp the edges together. Cut 2 – 4 slits in the top pie crust to form steam vents. Dab top pie crust with milk and sprinkle sugar over the top.

Bake pie for 15 minutes at 425 degrees. Then turn the temperature down to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 30 minutes or until the pie filling is bubbly and the crust is browned.

For Creme Anglaise Sauce you can prepare ahead of time and store in the fridge overnight or you can prepare the sauce just before serving.

For sauce:
In medium sauce pan bring whipping cream to a just almost boiling. Turn down heat to low. In a small bowl combine 2 egg yolks and sugar. Pour some of the hot cream into the bowl with the egg mixture and blend. Then pour the bowl with the egg mixture into the sauce pan of hot cream and blend together with a whisk. Cook and continually stir creme sauce over low heat until thickened for about 10 minutes. Add in vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Drizzle spoonfuls over a slice of pie just before serving.

Last weekend around 5:00 pm I found myself headed toward a South American paradise hidden behind mounds of concrete in downtown Tucson, AZ.  This little gem of a place was so simple and secluded that a passerby without knowing what was hidden inside would simply walk past the secret.  Luckily, my husband and I had some insiders who have been there before.  Our friends invited us to dinner at Cafe Poca Cosa last Saturday and asked us what we were in the mood for, so we said something ‘authentic’.  They immediately came up with the idea of taking us here… and I am SO glad we went!  I was very impressed with the food, presentation, and atmosphere I simply had to share it with you all on my blog.

The restaurant was decorated in darker, richer tones such as deep reds, grays, blacks, and dark browns.  It was dimly lit with mostly natural light coming through the shaded windows.  Each table had a glowing warm candle that made it inviting.  The overall look of the restaurant was simple lines, classic style, modern, and all open space.  There were no large thick walls or partitions that separated one part of the restaurant from the other. I loved the open modern feel and look the restaurant gave.  Nothing flashy or over decorated.  It was simple, but still elegant and tasteful.  I loved that big pot of those thick curvy tree branches in the picture above.  The restaurant also offered a comfortable dining patio outside for anyone who likes dining outdoors.  Simple artwork, and several plaques of awards and restaurant reviews in top magazines decorated the hallway behind the bar area near the restaurant kitchen, which gave you a really good idea of the quality of food and how the restaurant was started.  I also found out that there is another cafe by the same owner that is sort of a miniature Cafe Poca Cosa right down the street that is open for breakfast and lunch everyday.  Someday I hope to go back and try it out!

Immediately after drinks are ordered you are served complimentary homemade tortilla chips that are warm to the touch and lightly salted (excellent flavor!) with some of the best salsa I’ve ever tasted.  It is not to be compared with what most of us would think of as “Mexican Salsa”.  This South American salsa is more on the sweet side with a tomato base.  It had such an explosion of flavor!  The more you ate this, the better it kept getting… so basically you couldn’t stop eating them unless someone pulled the chips and salsa away from you!  But, we really wanted to save room for the entrees, so we did sadly defer.

Next came deciding what to order….

Here is a good idea of the types of dishes they served as well as the range of prices.  There was so many incredible things to choose from!  Their menu also changes every day!  They had dishes ranging from chicken, to beef, to pork, to vegetarian… and many different marinades and sauces including, moles, tomatillo sauces, and creams.  There was such a range of fantastic ideas that we decided to order what they refer to as the “Plato Poca Cosa”, which is basically a chef’s plate consisting of a samples of 3 random entrees on the menu that evening.  All four of us ordered the chef’s plate so we could try a variation of as many entrees as possible.  I definitely recommend doing this the first time you visit Cafe Poca Cosa, so you can try a variety of their dishes and get a taste for what you like there.

Each entree was presented with decorated vegetables and a nice size portion of each sample entree. The entree also included a salad with a light Chile and wine vinaigrette. My favorites ended up being the vegetarian tortilla dish with the asparagus sauce, the habanero chicken mole, the carne asada in a tomato serrano sauce, and the pork in the tomatillo sauce. I would recommend any of the wonderful entrees on the menu.

Luke's Chef Plate

Kenny's Chef Plate

Tina's Chef Plate

And last, but not least… dessert was ordered to top it all off. You MUST try the chocolate mousse… it was so divine!  It was a rich chocolate fluffy texture with a hint of cinnamon. I can’t wait until we can go back again to Cafe Poca Cosa.  Next time you are in Tucson don’t miss out on this amazing restaurant!

Chocolate Mousse

If you are interested in trying out a cleanse diet, but you aren’t sure if you can make it a whole 2 weeks just drinking those nasty liquid concoctions… this quick cleanse kit is for you!  I wanted to do a cleanse, but I could not for the life of me find one that was suitable for my husband’s routine or mine… and on top of that… I really hated the idea of giving up food completely… I was less likely to stick with the cleanse the entire 2 weeks if all I did was drink lemon water.  Since I have never done a cleanse before I wanted to find something more simple.  I found just that when I came across this quick cleanse kit by ZAND.  It is a quick 7 day cleanse that doesn’t require you to give up food!  A week was the perfect amount of time for a beginner.

This kit included 3 different pills ( Milk Thistle to detox the liver, Fiber Cleanse to clean out the colon, and a laxative for.. well you know what).  Inside the box you will find a small pamphlet that gives you basic information on the health benefits of cleansing, a pill schedule, and nutritional information on the kinds of foods to eat while on the 7 day cleanse.  I was surprised the food list was so long… yes there was no junk food, sugar, or white starches listed, but the foods that were an option were reasonable.  You were encouraged to eat lean meats and skip out on red meat for a week.  This seemed hard when reading the pamphlet, but it wasn’t that bad once you got started.  You could eat eggs, fish, chicken, turkey, vegetables, fruits, yogurt, whole grains, whole wheat pasta, red spaghetti sauce, nutrition bars, and many more products that made the diet enjoyable.  My favorite snack on this cleanse was a homemade blender fruit smoothie (recipe follows).

Overall, the cleanse definitely had its full effect.  I lost an additional 2 lbs after using XPel before starting the cleanse diet.  It was a good way to gently cleanse your liver and colon and you felt the effects of eating right in addition to cleansing your body.  It wasn’t a drastic cleanse, but all the effects were there.   Water and eating regular meals every few hours was the key to keeping the cleanse working properly.  If you didn’t eat enough, your body wouldn’t have enough to ‘cleanse’ or remove from your colon.  If you follow the pill schedule, drink plenty of water, and eat  healthy and satisfying meals throughout the day you should see your body relieving itself regularly and the bloating will decrease in your stomach and lower abdomen.  Those were the most noticeable results on the cleanse.  I now plan on doing a quick cleanse at least twice a year because of this fabulous product.  You can purchase this product for around $24 – $26 at your local Sprouts Farmer’s Market in their vitamin section.

Rachel’s Fruit Smoothie Recipe:

2/3 c. organic nonfat plain yogurt
2 Kiwis, peeled and cut in half
1/4 c. blueberries
1/4 c. strawberries
1/2 mango, skin peeled and fruit removed in chunks
1 banana, peeled
1/3 c. 100% orange juice
Handful of ice cubes

Directions:
In a blender add the yogurt, blueberries, strawberries, kiwis, banana, and mango. Add the 1/3 c. orange juice and a handful of ice. Blend on “ice crush” mode for 1-2 minutes until all the ice chunks have blended into the mixture. Switch the blending mode to “blend” for 1 minute… then use the “pulse” button to make sure all the fruit is well blended and mixed in. Remove from blender and pour into a glass and drink immediately.

Xpel…sounds like a very intense product, but it isn’t as scary as it sounds.  The sale’s associate at High Health suggested using the XPel formula for about two days to remove some of the excess water weight in my system before starting a diet.   I found it to be an extremely useful way to jump start some weight loss.  I was able to remove about 3 lbs. of water weight in the two days I consumed this formula.  In a way it acted like a natural cleanser, but much more rapid.  I was not stuck in my restroom all day… so don’t get the wrong impression.  In fact, I was able to still go out and meet friends or run errands.  I recommend staying at home as much as possible only because it is a more relaxed environment and you are able to have access to water 24/7.  Drinking lots and lots of water is the key to make XPel work.  The more you drink.. the more you purge.  I felt it did a great job at removing excess water weight.  One of the benefits from the pill was that it contained a good amount of vitamin B, which noticeably boosted my mood and my energy levels…almost like taking caffeine, but no jitters.   I consider my trial with XPel a success and plan on continuously using this every couple of months to remove excess water weight if need be or before starting a cleanse or diet.  If you are interested in purchasing XPel, I recommend using comparison shopping online or heading to your local High Health or Vitamin Shop.  Don’t use the product for more than about 2-3 days and remember to drink LOTS of water!

XPel Diuretic and Muscle Defining Formula

Yes… this doesn’t necessarily have to do with food and recipes, but sometimes I like to talk about nutrition, health, or diet subjects.  This is an experiment for me this week.  Like a lot of people, I have an excess amount of water weight and I don’t know how to get rid of it.  A good friend of mine advised me to try a diuretic to get rid of some of the water weight.  So I visited a Hi Health and talked to the employee there to see which brand he recommended… he highly recommended XPel.  XPel is an herbal diuretic designed to help the body eliminate excess water weight from beneath the skin surface.  This is a botanical formula that supplies the proper balance of vital electrolytes, which help maintain muscle performance and muscle fullness.

Today I took my first 4 pills and have already felt the effects of it.  You are to take 4 pills with 16 oz. of water in the morning and in the afternoon, plus drink at least 6-8 glasses of water a day.  This may seem like a lot of water for those who do not tend to drink water as their main daily beverage, but I have found no problem in drinking the recommended amount.  Rather than drinking the entire 16 oz at once after I have swallowed 4 pills, I recommend drinking about 4 oz. and taking a pill after each 4 oz. you drink to make it go faster.

Besides noticing that it is doing a good job cleaning  me out ( I have gone the restroom about every 15 min), I also noticed a slight increase in mood due to the amount of added Vitamin B to the supplement.  It is recommended only to be on these pills for about two days at a time.  So tomorrow I will update you on the effects and if I see any difference in weight or the way my body feels.

Cheers!