The Spice of Life.

Spices aren't just to alter the taste of your food, but also for health & weight loss benefits WOOHOO!!  Anything I come across that adds to health & weight loss, I am all for it!  So here we go, check out what sprinkling these little specks on your food can do for you...

CINNAMON - who doesn't love the amazing taste of cinnamon?  It tastes great on french toast, coffee, sweet rolls, almost anything you can imagine.  It also promotes weight loss by stabilizing the sugar levels in your blood. Sprinkle some on your morning tea or coffee or even in your smoothies (click here for post on smoothie recipes)!  Cinnamon has an amazing anti-fungal property that also fights E Coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices. When mixed with honey it also helps relieve arthritis pain!   However, go easy, too much can definitely cause health problems.

OREGANO - a little dash on your pizza, a shake on top of your salad, make it a teaspoon of this dried spice and you've just added as much vitamin K, fiber and antioxidants as in 3 cups of spinach!  Whoa!!  Not to mention it fights of those nasty stomach bugs.

TURMERIC - the yellow magic found in curry that insanely dyes everything it touches. Curcumin is the name of the active ingredient in turmeric.  It's gained it's popularity from not only Indian cuisine but substantial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which have been shown to relieve arthritis pain and manage diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, cystic fibrosis and a variety of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Oh wait and get this.....studies are being done with turmeric's cancer fighting capabilities! 2 tablespoons = 10% of your daily value of iron (calling all anemics)!

GINGER - most people know the amazing effects of ginger on things like stomach aches and nausea, but did you know it can also curb your sweet cravings??  Yup, put a dash on fresh fruit or stir it into yogurt and watch your sweet craving disappear!  One also may not realize the high levels of antioxidants, as much as a cup of broccoli to be exact.  Since it can be used as a sweet  or a savory spice experiment and boost your antioxidant levels!

CAPSAICIN - the power behind chili peppers, paprika and crushed red pepper!  Contrary to popular belief that this spice can cause stomach ulcers, it has a lot of health benefits.  Behind door #1, boosts immunity, door #2, clear congestion and the best door.......door #3.........BOOSTS YOUR METABOLISM & FAT BURNING ABILITIES!  oh yea baby.  By no means does that mean pour on the heat but it does mean add a sprinkle to spice up your already healthy dishes to double the impact.

**Please use all spices within reason and within health guidelines. 

Smoothest Move

Anyone that knows me knows that I really have a hatred for smoothies, raw juice or any type of Jamba Juice concoction.  However, since really changing my diet and trying to be more aware of what I am putting in my body and the effect it has on my daily energy levels, I've ventured into smoothies.  While still experimenting, I've taken flavors and textures of drinks that I really like and tried to replicate them in healthy ways, i.e. milkshakes, pina coladas, frappacinos, etc.   Below are 3 recipes that I found to be amazing and really taste like you're drinking something bad - isn't it all a mind game anyway?!

Some of the tips I've picked up along the way...

• Adding spinach barely alters the flavor at all and has soooo many health benefits.
• If eating a breakfast smoothie as a meal replacement, adding chia seeds is a great way to boost the healthiness as well as they expand when wet, so they tend to make your smoothie more filling.
• Soft tofu (normally gross) is a similar tasteless substitute to using greek yogurt for smoothies, but without a drop of dairy.  It's protein packed and gives a super smooth texture.
• Coffee has only 5 calories - minus the cream and sugar.  If you love your morning joe, add coffee ice cubes to your morning smoothie.
• Have a "creamy" addiction? Try adding unsweetened almond, or coconut milk to your smoothies.
• Honey or agave are great ways to add sweetness without a lot of calories.
• Cinnamon has AMAZING fat burning qualities (check out my fat burning spices post soon)
• Adding cooked oats (not instant) also will add to the thickness and creaminess.
• Freezing your fruit while it's fresh makes it last for weeks without going rotten.  It also eliminates the need to add additional ice cubes.
• BLEND. BLEND. BLEND.  The worst thing can be an oddly chunky uneven smoothie.

FRAPPACINO BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE

(when following the recipe it makes a little over 17oz)

5 ice cubes of your fave coffee (i used my keurig the night before and froze the cubes)

1 1/2 C. milk (i used unsweetened almond)

1/2 banana (fresh or frozen)

2 tsp nut butter (almond, peanut, sunflower, etc)

1 tsp cinnamon (insert fave flavor here, nutmeg, vanilla extract, cocoa powder) 

1 tsp honey or agave

1 tsp ground flax seed or chia seeds

Blend until smooth

COCONUT SPINACH MADNESS

I invented this so there are no measurements - wing it to taste!

Coconut milk (I prefer GOYA canned than Silk)

Spinach

Honey

Vanilla Extract

1/2 Frozen Banana

2 spoonfuls of cooked Oatmeal

Blend until smooth

VEGAN VANILLA MILKSHAKE SMOOTHIE

1/2C. soft tofu (soft has more protein, not the extra soft)

1C. vanilla soy milk (or almond)

1 whole frozen banana

1/2 tbsp peanut butter

Blend until smooth

Wagyu Beef....It's What's For Dinner

I've come across this interesting meat called Wagyu Beef, so I figured I would share since I'm sure you will soon notice it on many menus as it gains popularity.  I first saw it as a Wagyu rib burger at an amazing restaurant in Harlem, The Cecil -- which I will detail later on this month.  Trust me, that post is not something you want to miss.

Back to the beef...

The word itself, Wagyu, literally translates to 'Japanese Cow'.  It is arguably one of the best types of cattle to receive your cuts of beef.  It's known for it's high marbling of fat, and can be very costly.  Upwards of $100 per pound.  The marbling comes from the muscle being interspersed with the monounsaturated fat that give the "butter-like, melt in your mouth" texture.  Rumor has it that these cows are massaged with sake and even fed beer in order to produce the best beef on the planet.   The most familiar form of this beef in America is the famed, American Style Kobe beef.  The Kobe beef is the product of the Wagyu cattle bred with the All-American Angus cattle.  Next time you see Wagyu on the menu, I urge you to order it.  

 

I've been gone....but now I'm back!

First, I would like to start off by saying I'M SORRY for my lengthy absence.  I've been working so hard on my professional life that I've completely neglected my blog for almost a year.  However, I vow to come back with a vengeance!! I've eaten at so many amazing places and dined on some amazing dishes that I can't wait to share with you.  Not only will I be sharing restaurants, but various foods and recipes that I've found!!

Looking forward to this fulfilling, remaining 2013 and the abundant 2014 to come! xoxo