i am going shopping this weekend. in chicago! woo hoo! i am excited! jason’s parents have lived there for almost a year now, and while we have done some fun stuff in the city, we have either never had/made time to shop or i have been b-to the-roke. a couple of months ago, we made a solid plan to shop mother’s day weekend. so i’ve been saving my pennies, and i am ready. i tell you what, if i ever have a daughter, i hope she marries a millionaire because she is going to inherit one hell of a shopping gene. between my mom and jason’s mom, all i can say is - danger!
i have a few things on my list of possibilities. i could use some new summer shoes, i need cute tops for work, and, as much as i don’t want to try one on - a new bathing suit. of course, i am bargain shopping. of course. i don’t think i will be stepping foot into chanel or burberry, ferragamo or louis vuitton, harry winston or cartier. unless it is just to drool, and wonder who in the world makes this kind of money and what in the world did i do wrong?
the only place i want to make sure and go this weekend is whole foods. or some place like that, where i can find unique ingredients that i can’t get here in corn-diana. when i was in berkley with my brother, we were in somewhat of a hurry. that, and i was with my brother. he of little patience. i wanted to stop in every aisle and read the labels on everything, but i could tell that was getting old for him after about two minutes. to his credit, we *were* starving! not always the best time to grocery shop, in my experience.
what i would really love from you all today are some ideas on what kinds of stuff i should have in my cupboard. i’m talking healthy ingredients and ethnic ingredients that aren’t going to spoil. for instance, this week on amazon.com, i purchased some quinoa, steel cut oats, bulgur wheat, arborio rice, purple sticky rice, and some different kids of peppercorns. with my brother, i purchased some tahini, and i also just picked up curry paste and asian black bean garlic sauce.
the idea is to get a good core group of ingredients, since i have never really cooked “healthy” or even very ethnic, for that matter. but i had tandoori chicken for the first time out in dc, and it was awesome! i am very interested to try out more indian, vietnamese, greek and middle eastern recipes.
of course, i turned to my favorite book, the 150 healthiest foods on earth by jonny bowden, for some ideas. i obviously can’t buy *all* of this, but am curious to know what you can’t live without. please note that each of these items has at least a page, most of the time more, dedicated to why they made the list, and i am taking out tiny bits and pieces, not doing the author or the foods much justice:
adzuki beans - 17g fiber per serving, plus protein, vitamins, and they help lower cholesterol
lentils - one cup has 18g protein, 16g fiber, and, my fav, they don’t have suphur, so no gas like beans!
pappadams (crisp indian crackers made with lentil flour)
goji berries - antioxidant, boosts immune system, amino acids, minerals, vitamin c and fiber
tempeh - helps protect against cancer, including colon
miso - contains soy protein, potassium, phosphorus, fiber and more
natto - they call it “nature’s cheese” that’s all i need to know! helps clotting and circulation, good for skin.
bee pollen, propolis - way too much good stuff about it to list. packed with nutrients, fights infection, improves recovery.
whey protein powder - another, too much good. boosts metabolism, helps weight loss, fights cancer.
coconut oil - supports immune system, contains good fats, antibiotic, antioxidant
flaxseed oil - omega 3’s, protects against disease, lignans, which fight cancer, promotes healthy skin
hemp seed oil - omega 6’s and 3’s (good fats), lowers bad cholesterol and blood pressure
macadamia nut oil, red palm oil, sesame oil, each have their own excellent qualities, but a lot of the same as the above oils also.
whew! jason is going to freak out when he sees my shopping list! i kid, i’m definitely not buying all of this stuff. recommendations? other ideas?
i would like to say happy mother’s day to all you moms out there! baby mamas, godmamas, grandmamas, plant and pet mamas, every single one of you!
today’s recipe is for green beans that everyone loves whenever i make them!
a twist on green beans almondine
serves two.
- 2 handfuls whole frozen grean beans
- 1 medium sweet onion
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
heat olive oil and butter over medium heat in a saute pan that has a lid available. (i use both because the butter adds a ton of flavor. only real butter though. if you must skip it, just use all olive oil.)
slice onion and brown with garlic and almonds. i like it to be pretty much carmelized, and the almonds and garlic will brown up also. about ten minutes, i would say. just monitor it, don’t let it burn, but it’s ok if the almonds get nice and toasted.
place frozen green beans into pan, mix, and cover for about five minutes. (so they thaw out) once the beans have thawed, remove the lid and turn the heat to high. (you may need to add a touch more olive oil if it seems dry.) stirring occasionally, allow the beans to get browned in some parts. just a few minutes, until desired level of browning. sounds weird, tastes great!
