Saturday, January 8, 2011

A few of my .....

Favorite things are...
1. kids
2. parties
3. weekly dates
4. running
5. yoga
6. art
7. travel
8. road trips
9. baking
10. cooking!!!!

I am trying to enjoy cooking even more...and less baking!
Which is easy...because I truly LOVE LOVE LOVE to cook!
I would attempt healthier baking...but I grew up in a super healthy house, (Love the example), but cookies tasted like biscuits.
I would come home from a date, and my dad would offer my friend a "cookie", the look at the first bite will stick with me forever! I would quickly let them know....they have NO sugar...sweetened with maybe honey, usually dates, and raisins, fresh ground wheat, and applesauce as oil. (Which now has been replaced with coconut oil...much better! =)

Growing up I did not mind at all. My taste buds were trained. Which is a gift!
But my husband grew up in a home with amazing bakers.
Everyone of his aunts is award winning!
It is his favorite memory.
Going to Grandma's and sitting at the table to a cold glass of milk, and a frozen cookie!

He has never been fond of the healthy version!
Me...being a people please-er...especially a husband please-er...set out to learn to make cookies as good as any he had ever had!
I will have to say...I have mastered his favorite...peanut butter, and snicker doodle!

With that mastery went my healthy taste buds...and my thin waste line!
I believe you can have a few yummy goodies.
I just have to get my metabolism moving again!
So for now I am going to stay away...mostly...from my sweets.
If I want something I will buy it...instead of making a batch....or double batch...and then eating the whole thing!

The other thing I love about cooking is change!
Cookbooks are a favorite around here!
I enjoy making something new almost every night!
With that comes some nights that are awesome...and some that are not so great!
At the end of the night, I always ask...."Is it a keeper?"
They all laugh and give me a "yes, or No".
For a long time I did not understand why they laugh!
Until, Brooke, said, "Why do you ask us if we want you to make it again...if you never do?"

With that said...
here is one I made twice!

Asain Lettuce Wraps


All this delicious fresh ingredients.
I LOVE fresh ginger, cilantro....but I now cook with already minced garlic.
I can never get the garlic off my hands...never!


Delicious!




I serve them wrapped in lettuce with a toothpick, so that they are easy to pick up, and dip in the awesome sauce!


Asian Lettuce Wrap

Heat 2 tsp. of olive oil on med high
Cook about 1-2 tsp of grated ginger and 4 cloves or 3tsp. of minced garlic.
cook for 1 min.

Add 1 1/2 lbs. of ground turkey, 1c. minced mushrooms, 1/4tsp. salt....Cook until meat is done!

Add can of chestnuts (finely chopped), and 1/2 cup of minced green onions.
Cook for a few minutes

Add 1/4 c. soy sauce, 2 tsp. sesame oil , zest from 1 lemon, 1 tsp. hot sauce.
Cook through
Remove from heat...Add 1/3 c. chopped cilantro.

Wash seperated lettuce leaves, wrap in paper towels and put in frig, so they will be cold and crisp.

Dipping Sauce

1/4 c. soy sauce
1/8 rice vinegar
1 TBS. fresh minced garlic
2 TBS chopped green onion

7 comments:

  1. What a great recipe. Guess what I am going to be making on Monday (need to get some groceries first).

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  2. YUM!!! I would so eat these, in fact I needed to find a recipe to make them, bravo!!

    btw, thank you for stopping by! I've been so busy since I wrote that I haven't had a chance to update, hopefully today!!

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  3. I love cooking this! =) Healthy and yummy!

    Thanks for passing by my blog and for the comment.

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  4. Those look delish! I'd open a bakery and bake myself silly but I'd eat everything in sight and not fit out the door.
    How great you came from a healthy household!

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