Recipe review: Zucchini couscous

      Recently for a party I decided to bring my favorite recipe of my creation. I used a recipe for Italian Zucchini as a starting point and then I added other savory ingredients until I created my Zucchini Couscous. It makes a delicious main dish or side dish, and the left overs are great. Since I started with a recipe and added my own ingredients I've never written down any sort of instructions. So here goes!

1 cup diced onion
2 zucchinis sliced and quartered
1 cup vegetable broth (you can use any meaty variation if you'd like)
1 8.5 oz box of dry seasoned couscous (I prefer parmesan herb)
1/2 cup feta cheese

Heat olive oil over medium heat and lightly brown the onion. Add zucchini and cook until tender (about 10 minutes). Add broth and cook to a boil and then simmer for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, cook couscous per directions on the box. Combine zucchini mix and couscous. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Mix in feta cheese while zucchini couscous is still warm.

Recipe review: Greek tuna burgers

     For my Greek Tuna Burgers I made significant changes to an old favorite recipe. I wanted to shake things up a bit, so I took an old recipe for Tuna Ranch Burgers and made them into a cultured treat. The original recipe is as follows:

Ingredients

2 pouches (2.6 oz) StarKist Tuna Creations®
½ cup bread crumbs, divided in half
½ cup finely shredded Cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp. non-fat ranch salad dressing
2 Tbsp. egg
2 – 3 green onions, sliced

Directions

- Mix tuna, ¼ cup bread crumbs, cheese, dressing, egg, and onion in medium bowl. 

- Form into two large patties and coat each side of patties with remaining crumbs.

- Heat oil in non-stick skillet over medium heat. Cook patties 3 to 5 minutes on each side until golden brown.

Variations

I used my own tzatziki sauce (recipe follows) instead of ranch dressing and I used feta cheese instead of cheddar cheese. This added a bold, unique flavor to the tuna burgers. I paired the Greek Burgers with my Zucchini Couscous recipe. This flavor combination was a great hit and I was told that I must recreate this masterpiece in the future. 

One note, using a George Foreman type grill to cook the patties is not a preferred method. My stove top burners were occupied (in the dishwasher), so I hauled out my grill, but I was not able to cook the burgers to a golden color and they fell apart upon taking them off. 

Tzatziki Recipe

1 (8 oz) container plain yogurt

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

1 Tbs olive oil

1/4 lemon, juiced

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 Tbs chopped fresh dill

2 cloves garlic, peeled

In a food processor or blender, combine yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, dill and garlic. Process until well-combined. Transfer to a separate dish, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour for best flavor.

This will make more than enough tzatziki sauce for this recipe, so load up on the veggies and use the rest for a dip!

A letter to my large neighbor

BTW, this letter was never sent. I am not mean. Some of my writing is just a means of venting.

Dear tenant in 3C,

I’m not sure if you’re aware, but every time you move the floor creeks and I fear you will fall through my ceiling into my apartment. I know this apartment building is old and floors will make settling noises, however the noises I hear coming from above are not settling noises. They are the noises of a support beam being tested in a very severe fashion.

Seriously, what do you do up there? I’m guessing you are not a slight flower, and then likely not exercising. You do dart around pretty quickly. Do you make those fast, heavy movements when you need another sugary beverage? Perhaps it is when you need to go to the bathroom because you've had too many sugary beverages. Nonetheless, your footsteps are very heavy. You’re likely not doing it on purpose (I’m not sure I could make that much noise walking around even if I tried) so I can’t just get a broom and start banging on my ceiling for you to stop. Although I have never met you, you are quite possibly obese. I can’t ask you to stop moving. I’m not going to request you become lazier and continue to sit around accumulating inches around your waistline.

You must be enjoying a few days off from work because I now hear you more frequently. Usually, you only bother me in the early morning when I’m trying to sleep or late at night when I’m trying to get some shut-eye. Your timing is poor and I take that to mean you are a very busy person who works long hours. I say work, but that is an assumption. It could be that you’re just gone from your apartment for a long time, or that the times we’re home do not typically match up.

In summation, you bother me. I fear for the structural integrity of our building. I wonder if you can hear yourself. Are you bothered by the impact of your size? Or have you become so used to your girth that you do not notice? You make me wonder if the person below my apartment can hear me as well. However, I find it hard to believe that I would not be able to hear the noises my feet would make, just as you can hear the sound of your feet impacting the floor. Please request to be moved to a first floor unit where you won’t bother and scare other residents.

Sincerely,

Your neighbor

Recipe review: Turkey meatloaf Florentine

This recipe is a nice variation on the traditional meatloaf. It is healthier too with turkey and spinach instead of ground beef. It uses Italian sauce instead of ketchup for an added flavorful kick. This dish from the Campbell's Kitchen was an immediate hit, so keep them coming please!

Ingredients

1 1/4 lbs ground turkey
1 cup Italian sauce
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1 medium onion, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)
2 eggs, beaten
2 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese 
1/2 teaspoon fennel seed
1 pkg (10 oz) frozen chopped spinach, thawedandwell drained
3/4 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese

Directions

- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease 8-inch loaf pan

- Thoroughly mix the turkey, 1/4 cup sauce, bread crumbs, onion, eggs, Parmesan cheese and fennel in a large bowl.

- Press half the turkey mix into the pan. Press a 1-inch indentation down the center of the mixture.

- Stir the spinach and mozzarella cheese in a medium bowl. Spoon the spinach mixture over the filling, pressing the edges to seal.

-  Bake for 45 minutes. Spoon the remaining sauce over the meatloaf.

- Bake for 15 minutes or until the meatloaf is cooked through. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.

Modifications and notes

I have a weird thing with cooked spinach, so I threw the spinach mixture into a food processor to grind it up well. I also threw in some leftover red pepper so I could get it out of my fridge. 

I will have to come up with a better way to get the loaf out of the pan because it split mid removal. It looked a little messy, but the end result was delicious!

Movie review: Now You See Me

Directed by: Louis Leterrier

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Isla Fisher


Rating: B-

This movie is filled with excitement, slight of hand, and mind tricks. It is engaging and compelling as the viewer follows along a mysterious plot. The main characters are supposedly the bad guys. The good guys are the police who are trying to track them down. Then, of course, there's the antagonist who is played by a third type of character, Morgan Freeman. Freeman's character is seen as something of an expert with inside information on what's happening, what will happen, and what should happen. These categories all shift by the time the movie is over.

There were some interesting reviews of this movie. The most notable critique was that the storyline fell apart in the end. To that complaint I want to point out that a movie isn't sub-par and doesn't fall apart just because you don't like how it ends. Admittedly, the movie has a twist at the end that may seem a bit jarring because it is so unexpected. The twist even breaks the momentum of the storyline, but something has to, right? For a movie to end there needs to be a climax and a resolution. This twist may shatter a magical fantasy by some viewers that there is some greater hand involved in the actions of the Four Horsemen. However, sometimes things that are larger than comprehension begin as small ideas by normal, small people.

Movie review: World War Z

Directed by: Marc Foster

Starring: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos

Rating: A-

This movie is worthy of being placed in the summer blockbuster category. It has everything one could want in an action film without sacrificing quality or subjecting the audience to gore. The move is incredibly suspenseful, smart, and mostly logical. There are clumsy characters that do the unthinkable, make a noise that attracts the zombies. As a viewer, you just want to slap your forehead, we can all relate. There is action, sentiment, and a call to duty. The main character manages to string together many ideas and facts to formulate a hypothesis on how to stop the zombies from attacking healthy humans. By the middle of the movie, we are not just rooting for him, but for his cause because he is the last hope. In the end, he is our humble hero, who just wants to make it back to his family and to make the world safe so no one else ever has to lose a loved one. In hindsight, there are some scenes that seem implausible. However, a willing suspension of disbelief during the film is stronger, as this is a highly entertaining movie.

I often wonder during movies like this how much I would be able to run, fight, and struggle during a zombie invasion. I am not necessarily equipped to be an action hero, although I do play one in my dreams. I may get tired out from the effort and just play opossum, hoping I am just passed over by the undead. Or even better, I may just stick around an area crowded with humans and act like a zombie. Being in close proximity with other breathing entities would lead the zombies to confuse my fresh blood smell with that of the others around me. Whatever the case, I think some trickery on my part is in order. I will continue to formulate a plan because as we all know, a zombie apocalypse is highly likely!

Recipe review: Apple chips

I have dreadful food issues that prevent me from eating some very tasty dishes. One such issue is my apple allergy, but I generally don't let it keep me from the sweet, juicy goodness. I have tried many different ways to eat apples so my lips won't itch and swell. In a time pinch I just slice them and try to keep the membrane from my lips. When I have a little more time and planning done I make apple chips. Baked apples do not trigger my allergies!

 You'll just need apples and cinnamon. I like to bake mine on an ovenproof wire rack, so I don't need to worry about flipping all of the slices half way through.

Here's what you do:
- Preheat the oven to 275 degrees
- Remove the apple core and slice the apples as thin as you desire (thinner slices are more crisp)
- Place the slices on the rack or on your parchment paper lined cookie sheet
- Sprinkle with cinnamon
- Bake for two hours

This is a great nutritious snack that is easily portable. I just stick them in a baggie or tupperware and go. They're delicious!

What's left in sports?

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All interesting professional sporting events are coming to a close for the season. What’s left? The Heat won the NBA playoffs. Chicago and Boston are duking it out in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and their series will wrap up soon. I find myself wishing it were football season already. Seriously, there will be a two-month lull. Sure, there’s baseball, and I will pay attention to the Major Leagues when October rolls around. Until that time there are just too many games to care about. I do like to attend games, but aside from those few opportunities, baseball is a wash for the summer. There’s the WNBA, which is interesting to watch but not necessarily follow with any sort of rabid fandom. I can take in a game or two, but that’s it (better and most tolerable if in person). Luckily, I won’t have long to wait for my favorite sporting season. Game action begins in late August. I am already delighted by the thought of tailgates, beer, crisp fall air, and touchdowns!

Recipe review: Baked rigatoni in a bechemel sauce

This is a delicious recipe I have made often. I get requests to make this dish usually around Christmas time; my family loves it! I made it this year for Valentines Day and was greeted with the same warm reviews.

Ingredients:

1 stick unsalted butter (4 ounces)
1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 quart whole milk, at room temperature
Pinch fresh nutmeg
Sea salt and white pepper
1 cup grated fontina
1/2 pound thinly sliced prosciutto, julienned
1 pound dry rigatoni
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

• In a 2 quart saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Always stirring, gradually add the milk and continue to whisk until the sauce is smooth and creamy. Simmer until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. This will take approximately 10 minutes. 

• Remove from heat and stir in nutmeg, 1/2 cup fontina, prosciutto and season with salt and white pepper. Set aside.

• In a large pot, bring to a boil 6 quarts of salted water and cook pasta. Time may vary, but the inside of the noodle should be slightly hard when done because it will get softer when baking.

• Return pasta to the pot and pour in bechamel sauce. Using a wooden spoon, mix well until all the pasta is coated with the sauce.

• Pour into a greased 13 by 9-inch baking dish and sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/2 cup fontina. Dot the top with diced butter.

• Bake in oven for 25 minutes or until bubbling and the top is golden brown.

Modifications: I got very excited while picking up the items for this dish at the super market. I wasn't able to immediately locate the rigatoni, but instead I found vegetable fortified pasta. So, I took a gamble on the bow ties with an orange hue. I also cut the recipe in half and there was enough food for two with some leftovers. Cutting the recipe down also made finding the correct size baking dish easier.

Celebrating the beginning of summer

The beginning of summer is a monumentous occasion that should be celebrated. I actually celebrate the beginning of winter as well, as I feel like the solstices are important milestones and even turning points in the year. So, today arrived and I decided I needed to start a new tradition, so I went to the pool. Actually, I had been planning to go to the pool and just worked it into the new celebration plan. The new plan will be to do something indulgent and relaxing every year for the beginning of summer. I laid in the sun for a bit this year. Maybe next year I’ll get a massage or a pedi. Only time will tell.

A drawback to Greek yogurt

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There’s always a food craze and lately, the kick has been Greek yogurt. It is touted for its increased protein and rich and creamy texture, but there is apparently a downside to the dairy product. Luckily, this doesn’t have to do with your health. It is about the environment, so if you don’t care about the earth you live on and whether it will be around for generations to come, then you can stop reading. However, if you have a caring heart and are conscientious about what goes on around you, then read on.

According to the Yahoo! Shine article (yes, I get inspiration from a great number of stories on this site) “The Dark Side of Greek Yogurt,” the acid whey that is strained out of regular yogurt to produce the Greek version is harmful and no one knows quite what to do with it. Producers can’t just simply dump it because it acid would pollute the waterways and harm soil. The temporary solution is to pay farmers to take it and feed it to their cows, which can actually harm their digestive systems if consumed in large quantities. They also sell it to body builders in large tubs.

The good news, like I previously stated, this so-called dark side of Greek yogurt does not have to do with your health. You can continue to eat the stuff. I have tried Greek yogurt and I was pleased. As a vegetarian, I am always looking for ways to get more protein in my diet. I like yogurt, so eating Greek yogurt is a great option for me, although, I generally opt for the larger tubs of regular yogurt when at the store. It is less expensive and contains less packaging.

She's wearing what on her hairy legs?

Talk about unattractive leg wear! A Chinese company is manufacturing hairy leg tights that are meant to deter would-be attackers. These grotesque looking stockings purportedly send electric shocks to the attacker and a GPS locator sends coordinates to the woman's family and friends. The hosiery does something else too, it makes the woman less of a target because of the not so stubbly fur. What person would want to attack a woman wearing them? Either way, the hairy leggings are making quite a few people turn their heads. It will be interesting to see if this product becomes a trend.

 http://www.theindychannel.com/news/daily-extras/hairy-stockings-aim-to-keep-women-safe-from-would-be-attackers

www.SinaWeibo.com 

Chosing the right sunscreen

Summer is heating up and in an effort to make sure skin does swelter and burn, many people are heading to the store for sunscreen. There are a multitude of different products on the market, and finding the right protection can be difficult. The Environmental Working Group recently released their 2013 guide to sunscreens, and their research findings showed that although new labeling guidelines went into effect in 2012 we’re still dealing with the same old sunscreens. The new rules did not work to make sunscreens better or more effective.

The best sunscreen is a broad spectrum, which protects against UVA and UVB rays. According to the Yahoo! Shine article “Sunscreen Ratings: The Best and Worst for Beach Season 2013,” in addition to looking at that protection, the EWG report also gathered information on sunscreens with low-risk chemical ingredients. It found only 25 percent of the products on the market offer both.

Here’s a look at some of the best sunscreens, with average prices.

- Coppertone Kids Pure & Simple Sunscreen Lotion, SPF 50 ($10)

- CVS Baby Sun Lotion Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, SPF 50 ($8)

- Sunbow Dora the Explorer Sunscreen, SPF 30 ($10)

- Alba Botanica Natural Very Emollient Mineral Sunscreen, Fragrance Free, SPF 30 ($12)

- Coral Safe Broad Spectrum Face Stick, SPF 30 ($8)

- Jason Pure Natural Sun Mineral Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30 ($12)

- Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen, Sensitive, SPF 30+ ($20)

- Tropical Sands Sunscreen, SPF 50 ($16)

- Absolutely Natural Sunscreen, SPF 30 ($24)

- Aubrey Organics Natural Sun Sunscreen, Green Tea, SPF 30+ ($11)

 

And here’s the list that no one wants to be on, the worst sunscreens.

- Banana Boat Kids Max Protect & Play Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 110

- Banana Boat Ultra Defense Max Skin Protect Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 110

- CVS Clear Spray Sunscreen, SPF 100

- CVS Kids Wet & Dry Sunscreen Spray, SPF 70

- Neutrogena Wet Skin Spray Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, SPF 85+

- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Body Mist Broad Spectrum Sunscreen, SPF 100+

- Rite Aid Renewal Extreme Sport Continuous Spray Sunscreen, SPF 70

- Rite Aid Renewal Kids Wet Skin Continuous Spray Sunscreen SPF 70

 

The EWG report also weighs in on the age-old controversy, whether it is better to slather on a sunscreen with a very high SPF, like a 50+. It says not necessarily. SPF refers only to protection against UVB rays, not the potentially cancerous UVA rays. The high SPF does not provide increased protection against both rays, and therefore isn’t necessarily better and doesn’t mean one can or should stay out in the sun longer because the product was used.

You paid how much for parking?

This morning as I was circling around a parking lot for a spot I recalled the story of a parking spot in San Francisco selling for $82,000. That seems very unreasonable to me, but the San Fran real estate market is hot and this spot is in one of the hipper areas of town, the South Beech neighborhood. Still, that amount of money seems like quite the chunk of change for such a small bit of property. It's not like you can brag to your out of state friends in any meaningful way about owning that expensive parking space. Imagine the conversation, "Yes mom and dad, I bought an $82,000 parking spot and it is worth every penny. Gorgeous, breathtaking views and very spacious." I think if I would rather explain reasoning for getting rid of my car at that point. Actually, if I lived in San Fran I wouldn't have a car. You don't need one! So, then I ask is the market for parking spots a fool's market? And what about those who buy the spots?

Halting my pollen allergy experiement

Some times experiments work and some times they have to be put on hold to be completed at another time. This is the case with my pollen eating, allergy trials. I had my good days and my bad days with the pollen, and I think ultimately the method of allergy relief would work for me. There are some barriers I am experiencing right now that make it difficult for me to keep going.

1.) I am not on all of my allergy meds and do not have the ability to go back to full strength right now. I had to stop getting my Nasonex refilled at the pharmacy because I can't afford the drug. That is a big component of the allergy relief plan developed by my doctor. Adding additional pollens and triggers to my system when I am not fully medicated is a recipe for disaster.

2.) I began this regimen during the worst possible time of the year, mid spring. All the flowers and grasses were really starting to bloom, and I was left defenseless.

3.) I probably should have started at a lower dose and when I do attempt my experiment again in the fall I will remember this. I'll start at an even lower dose and very gradually raise it. This way I am poisoning myself with pollen during the more dormant months and my system will have a change to build up a stronger immunity.

4.) I love apples. For all the previously mentioned reasons I was having stronger reactions to this favorite fruit. I know I'm allergic to them, but I generally just medicate and continue munching. Every once in a while I will experience itchy, burning lips. Well, I had one bad day while on the pollen that consisted of itchy, burning, swollen lips combined with a very warm face and neck and itchy arms and fingers. This is the worst reaction I've had yet. So, in addition to stopping the pollen I sadly had to decide to stop eating apples.

Now that I'm off the pollen my life has returned to what has become the norm for me. I'm not 100% allergy free, but I am very functional and I mostly do not have problems. No itchy knuckles, no flaky eye lids, etc.