Picture this.  You have about 15 minutes to get dressed, 17 minutes if you put your lip gloss on in the car.  You’re standing in front of your closet, and everything you see looks like the leftovers you have from dinner three night’s ago.  The vapid articles of clothing hanging before you will do, but they’re nothing for which you’re going to do the happy dance.   You moan, “I have nothing to wearrrrrrr…” just one more time before you give up on your search.  So, you throw on the first thing you can grab (and that’s clean) and head out the door.  You’re dressed, but certainly not impressed.  Sound familiar?

Image Credit – myescapehatch.blogspot.com

Well, I’ve definitely been in that situation more than a few hundred times, and more recently, this has carried over to my choices in healthy snacking.  While my fridge has the usual suspects of apples, oranges, Greek yogurt, some carrot and celery sticks, and my cupboards are stocked with raw almonds, dried cranberries and rice crackers, I can’t help but want to utter, “I have nothing to eattttttt…!”  Enter Megafruit™.

Just when I was about to reluctantly eat yet another baby carrot, the samples from Megafruit™ arrived at my door.  They came in an unassuming little brown cardboard box, but when I opened it, I was pleasantly surprised.  My samples not only came in this vibrant and adorable packaging, but they were  safely nestled in a Megafruit™-branded wooden crate.  I’m a sucker for presentation and first impressions; this knocked my socks off!  Similar to how one would bring home fresh produce from a farm or farmers market, my Megafruit™ arrived as if it were handpicked.  Plus, I can only imagine the ways I can reuse my nifty new crate (Healthy Chow’s gotta lotta schiz that needs to be organized, if you know what I mean!).

Just a plain lil’ box…

Bam!  So surprisingly cute!

According to their website, “Megafruit™ is the next generation of Superfruits; products that have exceptional nutrient and antioxidant qualities whose benefits are not yet widely known.”  My samples of Megafruit™ came in 3 different flavors (the company’s initial product offering): mangosteen, baby pineapple and lychee.  While I’ve heard of these fruits, I must admit that I had no idea about their nutritional benefits.  Here are some of my favorite facts on each fruit:

Ever seen a mangosteen?

Mangosteen

• Called the queen of fruits
• Has been called the most delicious fruit in the world
• High level of Xanthones – considered to be the most powerful of all antioxidants

Oooh, baby!

Baby Pineapple

• Contains a myriad of beneficial minerals including:
  • Micronutrients may protect against cancer and break up blood clots
  • Bromelins that may block reduces swelling related to arthritis, sore throat, sinusitis
  • Manganese, aiding the healthy growth of tissue and bones
  • Fiber that will help in digestion and stimulate kidneys and aid in flushing toxins from the body

Lovely lychee

Lychee

• Has been claimed to be the fruit the Tang Dynasty Emperor used to woo his loved one, making it a fruit synonymous with love and romance
• Just 9 lychees or a handful of the fruit meets an adult’s recommended daily requirement of Vitamin C (contains 72mg per 100 grams)
• Contains flavonoids which have proven to be effective against the growth of cancer cells

Now that’s some fruit with some mega power!  And guess what?  The taste isn’t what I would call weak either.  Even though Megafruit™ doesn’t contain any sugar, preservatives or additives, it doesn’t mean this dried fruit is lacking in flavor.  In fact, they are delicious!  I’ve never tried a mangosteen before, so I had no idea what to expect.  The mangosteen was the first fruit I tried, and while the flavor is subtle, it is unique and has an indescribable exotic taste (sweet, yet a tad sour at the same time) that had me almost inhaling the entire bag in one sitting.  The baby pineapple is naturally sweet, not artificial tasting like some dried pineapple can taste.  Because the baby pineapple comes in large pieces, they were fun to chew and had a great texture.  This is Patrick’s favorite.  My favorite, hands down, is the lychee.  If you’ve never had lychee, please do yourself a favor and try this, NOW!  My grandmother used to serve us lychee after dinner over a bowl of ice water.  She would peel the fruit and stick toothpicks in them and I swear, I would eat at least 20 at a time.  I haven’t had lychee in years, so for both nostalgic and taste reasons, the lychee is number one for me.  A fresh lychee is crunchy like a grape, but has a much more fragrant and sweet taste.  Megafruit™’s version magically captured a fresh lychee’s essence.

If you can’t already tell, I’m a mega fan of Megafruit™.  For me, there is nothing like a piece of fresh fruit.  However, fresh fruit such as bananas, pears, grapes, etc., can get a bit mundane.  But what do you do when the not-so-common fruit that you do crave, and that tickles your palate is no where to be found?  The answer is in these little goodies that graced my taste buds the other day.  Not only are the flavors of Megafruit™ probably like nothing you’ve ever tasted, but they can provide you with health benefits like nothing you’ve ever known.  Similar to the dried fruit snack I reviewed in this post, Megafruit™ is a wholesome snack that is just the fruit in its most natural form.  There aren’t any fake colors or enhanced flavorings added to the dried fruit to make it appear more appealing.  The Megafruit™ pieces are rustic in appearance, and simply delectable.

The Terrific Trio…

If you’re looking for a quick snack that’s easily portable, healthy and unique, I highly recommend Megafruit™ (available soon on Amazon).  Reach for it the next time you’re in need of a nutritious boost, whether it be sitting at your desk at the office, after a good butt-kicking workout or when you’re on your 5th hour of running errands.  Or, maybe you can snack on a handful as you’re unenthusiastically trying to pick out Monday morning’s outfit.

Some creations I made with my Megafruit™:

Piña Colada Oatmeal – Megafruit™ baby pineapple, dried coconut and nonfat ricotta cheese

Tropical Lychee Orange Delight – Megafruit™ lychee, orange sherbet, Kashi Go Lean cereal and dark chocolate cocoa roast almonds

***If you’d like to win some of your own Megafruit™, not to mention a $100 gift card to Lululemon, check out the fantastic giveaway that Megafruit™ is having here!***

If you had to pick one, what would it be – fruits or vegetables?  What do you do to get out of a ‘wardrobe rut’? How about a ‘food rut’?

Namasté,
Nicole

I know I’m an avid yogi.  I talk about how it’s best to take your time, that we must have patience and how often times, we can learn from finding comfort in our own discomfort.  And while I still believe all those things are true, and certainly worth practicing in life, sometimes I just don’t want to wait.

Image Credit – icanhascheezburger.com

For example, I’m ready for spring.  I’m done with wearing my winter coat.  I’m sick of all this cold and dreary rain.  And I’m all set with craving things like inhaling a big bowl of steaming cheesy chili, being buried under a sea of blankets, and sipping mugs of hot tea.  But you can’t hurry the weather along (although the forecast says it’s going to be in the upper 70’s by this weekend) and you can’t help what you crave.  So what do you do when it’s not exactly warm enough for frozen mudslides, and you have a cupboard filled with hot chocolate?

Make chocolate cake!

Instant Hot Cocoa Raspberry Coconut Cake
Serves 1

• 1 packet of diet hot cocoa (I used Swiss Miss Sensible Sweets)
• 1/2 TBSP of cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s brand)
• 1/4 cup of oat flour (dry oats ground until they reach a flour-like consistency)
• 1 TBSP of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 TSP of baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 1 TSP of organic dried coconut (I used Woodstock Farms brand)
• 1/4 cup of liquid egg whites
• 1 TSP of vanilla extract
• 2 TBSP of nonfat Greek yogurt (I used Trader Joe’s Greek Style Nonfat Plain Yogurt)
• 1 TBSP of sugar free raspberry preserves
• 2 TBSP of nonfat Greek yogurt (for topping, optional)

1) Lightly coat a shallow microwaveable bowl with cooking spray (I tried using a mug.  It was too deep, and my cake didn’t cook properly).

2) Combine the diet cocoa, cocoa powder, oat flour, flour, baking powder, salt and coconut.  Then, add the egg whites, vanilla extract and Greek yogurt.  Mix everything together until well-blended.

3) Smooth the mixture down into the bottom of the bowl and form the shape of a pancake.

4) Microwave for 45 seconds covered with a paper towel.

5) Carefully remove from microwave and stir in the raspberry preserves.  Smooth the mixture down again and shape into a pancake.  Microwave for another 35 – 45 seconds.

6) Eat straight from the bowl or remove to a plate.  Top with Greek yogurt, ice cream, frozen yogurt, agave nectar, whipped cream, chopped nuts, etc.  Instantly enjoy your hot chocolate-y dessert!

One word.  Sensational.  When I plopped all the above ingredients into a bowl and hit ’start’ on the good ole’ micro, I’ll have to admit that I was a bit leery.  I wanted a warm and sweet baked good, but wasn’t sure how cake-like (and how tasty) this would actually turn out.  I’ve made these microwaveable goodies before like here and here, and while they were quite appetizing, they were definitely more ‘breakfast’ than ‘dessert’.  My latest creation could be eaten at the start of the day, but I think it would be best having it post-dinner.  It’s definitely something with which you want to finish off your night.

The cocoa mix and cocoa powder gave this recipe just the right punch of chocolate and sweetness, while the dried coconut and raspberry preserves added to the layers of flavor.  For me, coconut just gives food an exotic and unique flare, and raspberry with chocolate is always a winning combination in my book.  The next time I make this recipe, I think I’ll add some chocolate chips and/or chocolate chunks at the end of the cooking time to give it a more ooey-gooey, rich chocolate texture.  Plus, I like having something to mop up with my cake.  It gives me something to do, so I can slow down the consumption of my dessert. (Make up your mind, Healthy Chow!  Do you wanna hurry up or slow down?!)

If you’re like me and you have a hard time waiting for things, I highly suggest you give my quick cake recipe a spin.  I guarantee it will put an instant smile on your face, but make your tummy and taste buds singing your praise for some time to come.

How do you practice patience?  Do you have any tips to help yourself slow down?  What’s your favorite quick dessert recipe?

Namasté,
Nicole

“You’re once, twice, three times a layyyydddddddeeeeeeeee….”

Image Credit – east-side-patch.livejournal.com

I love reading blogs, whether they be healthy food, healthy lifestyle, yoga, cooking, baking, shopping or DIY, I love them all.  I enjoy reading how people create things, how they come up with these ideas and what the end result turns out to be.  Essentially, I love learning new things and reading blogs is one of the best ways for me to do so.  For example, I was fascinated by Kath’s Pumpkin Pie Cake (I demonstrated that here) ever since I read about it months and months ago and most recently, I’ve been consumed (some pun fun) by Tina’s 3-Minute Oatmeal Raisin Cookie.  Both of these recipes are so easy and seem so tasty that I had no choice but to give them a try.  Plus, they literally take minutes to assemble.  And the less time I have to wait and the faster I can eat means the sooner I’m a happier Healthy Chow.  That said, I kept these two recipes in the back of my mind (there’s actually an echo back there – hahahahaha!) and started doing some experimenting in the kitchen.

Image Credit – tumblr.com

My first foray into the world of microwaveable healthy sweet treats went pretty well.  I used a 1/2 cup of pumpkin, 1/4 cup of liquid egg whites, 1 TBSP of whole wheat flour, 1/2 TSP of baking powder, 1/2 TSP of cocoa powder, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.  I plopped that all into a bowl I covered with cooking spray, mixed it all up and then microwaved on high for 2 1/2 minutes.  I topped it with some nonfat ricotta cheese and it tasted pretty good.  However, it seemed a bit ‘wet’ and didn’t have the cake-like consistency that I was looking for or for which I was craving.  Not bad, but not perfect either.

The next stab was kinda meh.  I decided I would use the same ingredients as in my first try, but added in some finely ground almonds (I chopped up 10 raw almonds in my food chopper until I got a finely ground consistency).  For whatever reason, the extra kick of almonds made this recipe taste weird.  Plus, it was a bit too pumpkin-y for my taste (le horror!) and still a bit too wet.  If at first you don’t succeed (and at second), try, try again!

Ding!  Ding!  Ding! The third time was a charm (or a lady)!  This time, my results were spot-on.  I achieved the consistency I was striving for, in addition to the flavor I was hoping to create.

Fee-Fi-Faux-Yum! Pumpkin Cake
Serves 1

• 1/4 cup of Libby’s 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1/4 cup of old-fashioned dry oatmeal, finely ground (I measured out a 1/4 cup of dry oats and then ground them in my food chopper – it might be a tad less than a 1/4 cup after it’s been ground )
• 1/4 cup of liquid egg whites
• 1 TBSP of whole wheat flour
• 1/2 TSP of baking powder
• 1/4 TSP of cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s brand)
• a generous sprinkling of cinnamon, plus more for garnish
• a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice
• cooking spray
• agave nectar or maple syrup (optional)

1) Coat the bottom and sides of a shallow bowl with cooking spray.

2) Mix together the pumpkin, the ground oatmeal, the egg whites, the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice in the coated bowl until well-blended.  Spread the mixture down evenly at the bottom of your bowl until you get something that resembles a pancake.

Dry oats

Presto!  Finely ground oats…

In the mix…

Ready for baking (or microwaving…)

3) Microwave on high for 2 1/2 minutes, covered with a paper towel.  Be careful when taking the bowl out of the microwave as it will be extremely hot!

Hot!

4) Allow the cake to cool for about a minute.  Remove to a plate or eat straight from the bowl.  Top with a drizzle of agave nectar or maple syrup.  Sprinkle with a bit of cinnamon and devour!

It’s like magic…!

Incredible!  It’s a good thing I have a bit of stamina or this little diddy may never have come to fruition.  While my first couple of tries at this were less than stellar, the final attempt was a huge success.  This tasted just like a piece of carrot cake, even though there wasn’t a speck of carrot in it.  Plus, the combination of the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and the agave nectar made this healthy treat taste more ‘treat’ than ‘healthy’.  The addition of the ground oatmeal helped to give this dish the much needed fluff factor.  My other attempts fell sort of flat (more pun fun) because there wasn’t enough substance to the recipe.  Plus, I reduced the amount of pumpkin in order to make this more cake-like versus bread pudding-like.  There was just the right amount of sweetness and protein to make this dish both appetizing and filling.  This is definitely going in the rotation for both breakfast and dessert!

Can’t wait to dig in!

What a cake walk!

“Hello?…Is it me you’re looking for?” – yes, my Fe-Fi-Faux-Yum! Pumpkin Cake, you are what I’m looking for!

Is there any music you remember from your childhood that you now love?  My mom used to always play Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Barry White, etc. in the house and they have now become some of my favorites.  What are some of yours?

Namasté,
Nicole

OK, this might be weird, but I’m gonna throw it out there anyway.  Do you ever have the need or craving to eat a piece of fruit (mainly citrus) after a heavy, savory and filling meal?  Even if I am filled to the gills, that taste for something cold and citrus-y makes me feel better (or at least it makes me think I’m going to feel better).  Similar to how Chinese food restaurants will often times serve a plate of sliced oranges or pineapple chunks post-dinner, I look for fruit to help cut down on that greasy taste in my mouth and belly.  For whatever reason, it seems to work (for me at least).  For that reason, when I was perusing the internet for dessert recipes for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, I was looking for something on the ‘lighter’ side and something that involved a fresh fruit taste.  I knew that we’d all be stuffed with heavy foods like lasagna, mashed potatoes, roast beef, roast turkey and stuffing that by the time dessert rolled around, we’d be looking for something to cut that ‘ugh’ feeling one tends to get after a big holiday meal.  I remembered my sister’s boyfriend’s key lime pie that he made for MHC’s birthday dinner and how I kept thinking it was so light and almost seemed to magically get rid of the heaviness in my stomach.  That said, I decided to make a Healthy Chow version of this classic dessert.

So Fly Key Lime Yogurt Pie
From Eat Better America
Serves 8

• 2 TBSP of cold water
• 2 TBSP of fresh lime juice
• 1 1/2 TSP of unflavored gelatin (I used Knox brand)
• 4 oz. (half 8-oz package) fat-free cream cheese, softened
• 3 containers (6 oz each) Yoplait® Light Thick & Creamy Key lime pie yogurt
• 1/2 cup frozen (thawed) reduced-fat whipped topping plus more for garnish (I used Cool Whip Lite)
• 2 TSP of grated lime peel/zest plus more for garnish (you will need about 3 limes, 1 lime doesn’t give much zest)
• 1 reduced-fat graham cracker pie crust (6 oz.) (I used Keebler brand)

1) In small saucepan, mix water and lime juice.  Then, sprinkle the gelatin on the lime juice mixture and let it stand for 1 minute.  It will start looking very gelatinous (like Jello!).

Clearly magical!

2) Heat mixture over low heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin has completely dissolved.  Then, let the gelatin mixture cool slightly for about 2 minutes.

3) In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese.  I used a fork and mashed the cream cheese around until it was well-blended (since it’s already been softened, it doesn’t take much effort).  Add the yogurt and lime juice mixture to the cream cheese and mix again until well-blended.

Just beat it!

Like a light green cloud…

4) Add your whipped topping and lime zest and fold into the cream cheese mixture.

It kinda looks like ranch dressing…

5) Pour the cream cheese mixture into crust.  Make sure it is spread out evenly.  Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.

Ready to chill…

6) Garnish with more lime zest and lime slices and serve with a dollop of whipped topping.  Dig in!

Lotsa lime zest (in a reused margarine container – gotta think green!)

As I mentioned in my previous post, because this was such a breeze to make and I like to make things easy as pie (get it?) for myself, I decided to make a double-batch of this recipe on Christmas Eve morning.  This was a tad risky on my part considering I had no idea how it was going to taste and I was going to bring this dessert to two separate events.  Well, I gambled and I won!  This dessert was a hit both times!  The guests at both parties really seemed to enjoy the tartness of the lime and how ‘light and airy’ this dessert tasted.  In fact, they had a tough time believing that this dessert was low in calories and low in fat.  I had to giggle at times because the main ingredient in this dessert was just key lime pie flavored yogurt and people kept asking how I made this creation.  I wish I could have told them that I slaved over this recipe for hours, but I can’t tell a lie.  Nevertheless, my key lime pie received rave reviews and managed to achieve what I had in mind – make my full belly feel lighter and cut the grease from the heavy foods.  And if lime is not your cup of tea, you can use lemon, vanilla or orange flavored yogurt as a substitute and add in lemon or orange zest/juice or vanilla bean.  Not too shabby, huh?

Image Credit – theproducersperspective.com

So let’s run through this again.  This recipe is easy to make, is a relatively healthy treat, contains inexpensive ingredients, tastes amazing, is versatile and helps in digestion (at least in my mind)…I think it’s time to label this recipe with a gold star and bookmark it in my recipe folder.  It’s definitely a KEY-per!  Hahahahaha!

What’s your favorite kind of pie?  Or, do you prefer a savory pie (meat pies, Shepard’s pie, pizza pie)?

Namasté,
Nicole

I’m not quite sure what happened?  Healthy Chow is a gal who loves her sleep and doesn’t usually have a hard time catching her Z’s.  However, after having a fun-filled Christmas Eve night, I could not fall asleep.  Perhaps it was the excitement of Christmas on the horizon that kept me wide awake?  Or, maybe it was all the sugar and carbs I had that prevented me be able to watch the back of my eyelids? Whichever the case was, I think I slept for about two hours total and was ready to greet the day at 3:30am!  INSANE! I tried to just rest and take some deep breaths in order to calm my mind, but I guess my mind just wasn’t having any of it.  That said, I decided to get out of bed at 6am.  I’m surprised I didn’t see or hear Santa coming down my chimney?  Hehehehehe!

Image Credit – christmas.howstuffworks.com

Much like the day before, I spent the whole day hanging out with my two hot friends – my stove and my oven.  Dang, were they on fie-yah!  Christmas dinner was going to be at MHC’s (Mother Healthy Chow) house and while she and my aunt were going to be cooking the main entrées, a roast beef and a turkey, I was in charge of bringing a hot appetizer, a yummy vegetable dish, a unique lasagna and a fun dessert.  Because Healthy Chow is a girl who likes to makes things as easy as possible for herself, I made a double-batch of the key lime pie I made on Christmas Eve, so that dessert for Christmas Day would be all set.  And I also made the same hot app – it was tasty the day before, so why not recreate the same hit?  For my new dishes, I made 1.5 trays of pumpkin and sausage lasagna and a broccoli casserole.  Hoooo-weeeee!  It’s a good thing I was running on pure adrenaline because much like the day before, I finished up my cooking just in the St. Nick of time!

When my sister and I arrived at MHC and Darrell’s home, we were greeted by the bright view of the ocean, as well as the hosts of the party and the wafting smell of deliciously home-cooked food! Apparently, MHC was on the same schedule as her daughter.  She must have greeted the sun on Christmas morning with the amount of food she had cooked and all the beautiful decorations in their home.  I love the toasty feeling of homes on holidays when they’re filled with family.  They’re so inviting and full of love, a gift that no kind of money can buy.

Uncle Victor, my cousins and Patrick revving up their appetites

My sister, my aunt, MHC and my uncle checking out the view

The not-so-childlike kids’ table

Fresh kielbasa brought by my aunt, a festive bean dip made by Michelle and the remnants of my bite-sized biscuit cups (I guess the hungry mouths were working faster than my picture snapping abilities)

Carve up that bird, Auntie!

Once all of our family members had arrived, it was time to be seated for dinner.  We were all working up such a frenzy in the kitchen (my mother was getting all the last-minute details in order, my aunt was in charge of gravy making and meat carving, Michelle was cooking up her corn bread stuffing and I was heating up my prepared dishes), that it was almost sundown by the time the dinner bell rang.  But that’s perfectly fine, because while I was busy as a bee in the kitchen, I was working up a hunger that could give a mean sting!

A feast for king and queens

Succulent roasted turkey courtesy of my Aunt Joanie

My cheesy broccoli casserole topped with whole wheat panko breadcrumbs

A bowl of delight – mashed potatoes!

My pumpkin and sausage lasagna – more cheesy goodness!

Michelle’s savory herbed cornbread stuffing

MHC’s roast beef – juicy and cooked to perfection!

And I thought there was only going to be a ham on Christmas Eve!

Everyone waiting for the blogger to finish snapping her pictures…

My dinner plate

Garlicky-lemon caesar salad

Much like the previous night, once dinner was over, we slowly migrated to dessert.  And if I thought dinner was already grandiose enough, dessert was definitely fighting for a place in the spotlight.  Darrell’s dad brought over three huge desserts from Montillio’s Bakery: a strawberry shortcake, a chocolate layer cake and a blueberry pie.  There were also my Aunt Mary’s mini pecan tarts, a tiramisu, as well as my key lime pie.  Sah-weet! And to go along with our dessert, MHC played coffee barista again and made us all our very own cappuccinos and mocha lattes.  You can’t beat that!

Berries and cream = heaven!

How festive!

Check out all those blueberries!

The Montillio’s Bakery trio along with my key lime pie and a tiramisu

Hmmm, fantastically frothy!

Can we give you a few Bucks for being our Star?

Too much turkey, Patrick?

And what’s a holiday without a few holiday pictures?  Not a complete one in my book!

MHC and her helpers

Our gracious hosts for the evening

Look, Mom!  I can take a picture of myself!

To conclude the night, we exchanged a few gifts, as well as many smiles.  I was so excited to give my mother and Darrell their gifts, as I knew my selections were spot-on this year.  You know how when you see something, it just feels right and you know it’s the perfect gift? Well, this happened twice for me.  Can you believe?!

What could it be?

Nambé Kissing Salt and Pepper Shakers!

And…

A set of Nambé Twist Coasters!

And finally, Burberry rain boots!  How chic!

Strut your stuff, MHC!

Ah, and that concludes another Christmas.  While I think I worked harder this year than any other year, I couldn’t have been more happy and satisfied.  Being able to provide deliciously home-cooked food for your family on the holidays is truly a feeling of which I hope to have more.  That synergy that exists when family is working together to achieve a common goal is something I want to experience as much as I can.  No matter if it’s Christmas or any other day, it’s a feeling and spirit that can’t be beat or bought.  Thank you again, Mom and Darrell, for a wonderful Christmas!  Love you!

Even though I had my share of Christmas sweets, I didn’t have one Christmas cookie this year.  Can you believe?  Do you have a favorite cookie recipe?  If so, what is it?  I’m participating in a cookie swap and I could use some suggestions.  Thanks!

Namasté,
Nicole

WOW!  Christmas came and went with a bang!  I think I blinked my eyes and it was instantly over.  However, I did have a blast and enjoyed every minute of this glorious holiday.  As I mentioned in my previous post, this year I wanted to really be involved with the cooking and preparation, versus just lounging around as I did in years past.  Thus, for Christmas Eve, after much deliberating and thought, I decided on baking a ham, making a hot appetizer and whipping up a tasty dessert.  That said, I was up at the crack-a-lackin’ of dawn to get a good stretch in at yoga and then it was time to hunker down in the kitchen.  I was cooking up a storm!  Not to pat myself on the back, but everything came out better than I expected.  Also, everything took a bit longer than expected.  Before I knew it, it was time to rush out the door to my brother-in-law and sister-in-law-to-be’s place for Christmas Eve dinner.  We made it just in time! Phew!

When Patrick and I walked in, the festivities had already started.  Patrick’s family was socializing and munching on appetizers as I was getting my goodies settled in the kitchen.  Among the array of finger foods were shrimp cocktail, an antipasto platter, baked brie and fresh fruit.

Hello everyone!

Hmmm, shrimp cocktail!

What a spread!

A little bit of everything…

My hot appetizer: bite-sized biscuit cups with caramelized onion, mushrooms, gorgonzola and bacon

My baked ham with tangy honey citrus glaze.  Check out that garnish; it’s all about the presentation!

A yummy lasagna – courtesy of my mother-in-law, Ellen.  Thanks El! (BTW, it wasn’t 10:57 pm.  The clock was a little wacky!)

My sister-in-law, Carolyn’s, green bean casserole.  So good!

How’s the food, Pat?

Carolyn and Greg

Uncle Norm and Auntie Margo

My dinner plate (or bowl, as we ran out of plates)

After Carolyn and I finished prepping and serving dinner, we cleaned up and got the living room area ready for the activity portion of the night – gift opening! There were some wonderful gifts this year (much like every year) and we were all quite pleased.  While I love the gifts that I received, I also loved watching the excitement and joy on the faces of my family members.  There were so many laughs and good times shared, exactly what the holidays should be about.

I think Ellen really liked her new coat! Priceless!

Uncle and Nephew

My father-in-law, Dan, loving his 2010 calendar of Colby (Carolyn’s dog)

The hosts for the evening: Kevin and Vanja

Which is the better gift, Carolyn?  The handbag or Greg?

Healthy Chow’s best gift ever!

Cheers!

Healthy Chow happily posing with some of her Christmas gifts

Once we finished opening our gifts, we had digested our dinner and made room for our next course – dessert! On the agenda were chocolate and vanilla frosted cupcakes, Carolyn’s homemade apple crisp and my freshly baked (or chilled) key lime pie.  Everything was delicious!  I loved the buttery, yet light taste of the apple crisp with the toasted oatmeal topping.  And my key lime pie was tart and refreshing.  It tasted very tropical! I definitely had a taste (and a little bit more) of everything

I’m glad I saved room for dessert!

Ah, cupcakes!

What a lovely night!  Kevin and Vanja did a fantastic job decorating their home giving it a warm, Christmas feeling and hosted a great party.  We all had a such an amazing time enjoying each other’s company and sharing so many laughs.  Not to mention, the food was delicious! I’m proud to say that my first-ever baked ham came out quite well and was a hit!  It felt great to be able to fully contribute to my family’s dinner and to know that I was able to help in giving them a nice meal on Christmas Eve.  I think all of our bellies were quite full and happy.  What a splendid way to end the day and to prep myself for the next big event…Christmas!

I hope you had a Merry Christmas!

Did you make anything for your holiday meal?  If so, would you make it again?  Do you like cooking on the holidays?

Namasté,
Nicole

***Find out the winner to my jewelry giveaway at the end of this post.  But if you like food, you won’t want to miss out on all my TDay dinner pics!***

Thanksgiving day started off much earlier than usual for me, as I got up before the crack of dawn to squeeze in two hot yoga classes.  I know what you’re thinking. You’re not the only person who thinks I’m crazy.  But if I don’t exercise before I knowingly have a big meal, then I just don’t feel right.  And because I love my aunt’s cooking and usually only get this one day out of the year to have her cooking, I wanted to be able to fully enjoy myself.  Thus, a sweaty workout was on the agenda!  While taking two challenging classes so early on in the day was tough, it was certainly worth it.  My Thanksgiving dinner was out-of-this-world delicious and I savored each and every bite.

When my mother and I (thanks for the ride, MHC!) arrived at my aunt and uncle’s house, we were immediately greeted by my family and the heavenly aroma of turkey and all the scrumptious side dishes whose deliciousness I could only imagine.  In order to hold our growing appetites down, we gladly nibbled on appetizers consisting of a crudité platter with spinach dip, roasted almonds, sushi (brought by MHC) and a traditional fried Chinese dumpling, which I haven’t had the pleasure of eating in several years.  Needless to say, we were all kept quite busy enjoying the appetizers and each other’s company as the main course was getting its final preparation.  My aunt and uncle have a beautiful home with a large open area kitchen and living room.  While the television may have been on in the background, it was certainly no comparison to the entertainment that was being held in the kitchen.  My aunt is a fabulous cook and watching her in her element is not only a treat, but also a terrific learning experience.  My cousin, Brendon, takes after his mother and is also a natural in the kitchen.  I’m glad I was able to capture some of the dinner magic in action!

As a Thanksgiving tradition, my cousins and I always take pictures around the turkey.  This year was no exception.  In fact, this was one of the first time in years that all of the cousins were present (there was always someone away at college).  My cousins are such characters; each one is hilarious and has a great personality.  I really enjoy the time I spend with them and can’t believe they are no longer the little ‘babies’ I used to help watch when I was younger.  In fact, my sister and I are the oldest and yet, we are now the shortest!  Too funny!

After our brief photography sesh, we happily sat down for dinner.  And boy, was it a spread!  While there were 14 guests at the dinner table, we had enough food to feed a small army.  I tried to sample a little bit of everything, but with dessert lurking in the background, I knew I had to pace myself and reserve some of that precious real estate.  Everything, as usual, was wonderful and cooked to perfection.  While the traditional Thanksgiving favorites like roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, puréed butternut squash, stuffing, corn and baked sweet and russet potatoes made appearances at the table, there were also some other delightful sides such as orzo with baby spinach, cremini mushrooms and pancetta, haricots verts with caramelized onions and roasted brussels sprouts with dried cranberries, pecans, chickpeas and got cheese (made by yours truly).  There were even three different kinds of cranberry sauce!  To say the least, our Thanksgiving dinner was like whoa!

My dinner plate (I had another piece of turkey and a scoop of orzo for seconds!)

And not to be out done by dinner, coffee and dessert took center stage just as we had enough time to digest our turkey and the fixings.  It’s safe to say that I didn’t need to eat anymore for the day, but when there’s a fresh apple pie with vanilla ice cream, personal-sized chocolate fallen cakes and apple crisps, double-ginger cupcakes, a custard pie, miniature pecan tarts and an apple-caramel cake, how can you resist?  Well, I certainly could not!  Everything was divine and intermingled quite nicely with the savory foods that were peacefully resting in my belly.

My dessert plate (I had a few bites of chocolate cake as well!)

As with every Thanksgiving, this one was filled with good laughs, fun times and delicious food.  I’m so grateful to have such a wonderful family and to be able to spend the holiday in their presence.  While many in this country have to travel, either by hours in a car, bus, train or plane, my family is local and always willing to host Thanksgiving dinner.  When you have great company and more than enough food, what more could you ask for?  Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for the amazing things for which we are thankful in our lives.  It’s too bad that we only have one day out of the year dedicated to this, when in reality it should be 365 days of the year.  I’m thankful for so much in my life and I’ll admit, sometimes I do forget to express my gratitude.  That said, I want to say to my aunt, uncle and cousin, I appreciate all that you do for our family every year and thanks for giving us a home to celebrate this special holiday.

***And finally, the winner of my earring giveaway is…***

Those are really pretty! So my go to outfit for the holiday season is a brown DVF wrap dress. These would actually look great with it!!

Congratulations Trish!  Please email me at healthychow@gmail.com with your contact information, so I can get your little sparklies to you just in time for your first holiday party!  Thanks to everyone for participating!  And if you didn’t win this time, don’t fret!  I’ll be sure to do another jewelry giveaway soon!

What’s your favorite holiday?  Why?  Are you looking forward to winter?

Namasté,
Nicole

***Have you entered my earring giveaway yet?…***

So if you read yesterday’s post, you’ll know that I was recently given samples of POMx™ Iced Coffee to taste and review.  While I really enjoyed the flavor of the iced coffees, I don’t think I’ll be rushing to replace my morning cup of black coffee with the POMx™ Iced Coffee anytime soon.  Sorry! They’re just a tad too sweet for me to have so early on in the day as my first consumption of caffeine.  Plus, I’m already sweet enough (*sarcasm*)!  So what did I do with the rest of my samples, you ask?  Did I throw them away?  Did I give them to someone else to finish (that would be a bit gross)?  Did I just drink them for the heck of it?  No.  No.  And no!  Since Healthy Chow isn’t one for wasting things, I decided to make good use of my free samples versus just letting them sit and and take up precious space in my fridge.

So, you wanna know what I made…?

Well, if I wasn’t going to be drinking these little ‘wonderfuls’ as part of my breakfast, I figured the next best thing was to cook with them!  Because I love the rich and decadent taste of each of the flavors, I imagined they would be the perfect component in my breakfast foods.  Now, I’m not right a lot of the times, but when I am, I hit the nail exactly on the head (she pats herself on the back)!

Are you ready to find out yet…?

Blueberry Cheesecake Oatmeal POM-erized
Serves 1

• 1/2 cup of dry oats (you can use quick oats or old-fashioned style)
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 TSP of chia seeds (I used Greens Plus brand)
• 2 TBSP of nonfat cottage cheese
• 1 TBSP of POMx™ Vanilla flavored Iced Coffee
• 1/2 TBSP of chopped raw almonds
• small handful of blueberries, fresh or frozen

1) In a small pot, bring water to a rolling boil.  Once boiling, add the oats and chia seeds.  Stir to make sure the chia seeds are well-blended with the oats.  Reduce the heat to medium/medium-low and let cook for another 3 minutes.

2) Add your cottage cheese and iced coffee.  Stir.

3) Remove oatmeal from heat and pour into a bowl.  Top with blueberries and chopped almonds.

4) Eat with a spoon, but you won’t be able to stop thinking that this is a piece of blueberry cheesecake!

Yum-to-the-O!  This was incredible! The cottage cheese made the oatmeal fluffy (and cheesy) while the chia seeds added to the thickness.  The vanilla iced coffee sweetened this whole little number and the chewiness from the almonds made me think I was eating a graham cracker crust.  And of course, the blueberries accentuated the entire recipe.  If this breakfast was a whole cake, there wouldn’t be a slice left!

POM-errific Chocolate Banana French Toast
Serves 1

• 2 or 3 slices of bread (I used Trader Joe’s Sprouted Flourless Whole Wheat Berry Bread – 2 slices and 1 end)
• 1/4 cup of POMx™ Chocolate flavored Iced Coffee
• 1/3 cup of liquid egg whites
• few shakes of pumpkin pie spice
• few shakes of cinnamon
• few shakes of nutmeg
• pinch of brown sugar
• 1/2 of banana, sliced
• sprinkling of organic dried coconut (I used Woodstock Farms brand)
• sprinkling of cocoa powder

1) Mix the iced coffee, egg whites, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar in a shallow bowl.

2) Dip each slice of bread in the iced coffee/egg white mixture.  Let each piece absorb the mixture for about 1 minute.

3) Spray your frying pan or griddler (or in my kitchen, the C.G.) with cooking spray.  Turn your heat to medium.

4) Place your dipped slices of bread on the frying pan/griddler.  Heat each side for about 2-3 minutes or until the edges start turning that nice golden brown color.

5) Flip each piece of bread and cook for another couple of minutes.

6) Serve with sliced bananas, cocoa powder and dried coconut sprinkles.  Devour!

This french toast recipe was so tasty! There was just enough chocolate flavoring from the iced coffee to give this dish a unique flavor without it being overly sweet.  Coupled with the smashed banana slices (the banana was previously frozen) and the dried coconut, this french toast didn’t even need maple syrup.  I wish I had made more than the the 2.5 pieces I inhaled!

Oatmeal POM-tein Pancakes
Serves 1

• 1/3 cup of dry oats (you can use quick oats or old-fashioned style)
• 1/4 cup of POMx™ Vanilla flavored Iced Coffee
• 1/4 cup of liquid egg whites
• 1/2 TSP of baking soda
• few shakes of cinnamon
• few shakes of nutmeg
• 1/2 banana, sliced
• maple syrup or agave nectar

1) In a small bowl, mix together the oats, iced coffee, egg whites, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.

2) Pour the mixture into your blender.  Add your sliced banana.  Blend until you get the consistency of a thin batter.

3) Spray your frying pan or griddler (or C.G) with cooking spray.  Turn your heat to medium/medium-high.

4) Pour your batter onto your pan or griddler.  Let cook for 2-3 minutes.  Once the pancake can be moved without sticking, flip.  Cook the other side for another 2 minutes.

5) Serve with maple syrup or agave nectar.  Enjoy!

Ohemgee!  These protein-packed pancakes tasted more like banana bread than flapjacks.  They were so delicious and aromatic; I couldn’t believe this breakfast was actually healthy! The vanilla iced coffee and banana kept these pancakes moist and more than flavorful.  I’m glad no one was watching me eat these because I seriously was licking the plate clean.

POM-tastic Banana Coffee Soft Serve
Serves 1

• 1 frozen banana
• 2 TBSP of POMx Café au Lait flavored Iced Coffee

1) Place the  frozen banana and the iced coffee in your blender.  Blend until you get the consistency of soft serve.  You might need to stop the blender intermittently to scrape down the sides and then blend again.

2) Pour into a dish and savor your frosty treat!

Not only did I love this but Patrick seemed to be quite fond of it as well.  He kept asking me what was in his soft serve and couldn’t believe that it was just a frozen banana and a couple of splashes of iced coffee.  The coffee flavoring gave this frozen treat a more gourmet taste than the usual banana flavor.  While we ate this for dessert, it could definitely be a fun breakfast.  After all, it is just fruit and coffee!

When I first tried these iced coffee samples, my first reaction was that they were good.  They were a bit sweet for my liking, but they were definitely tasty.  However, after I began cooking with the iced coffees, I really fell in love.  I guess that goes to show that when life (or Blue) gives you slightly over sweet iced coffee, you need to make perfectly sweet breakfast!

Do you prefer cranberry sauce from the can (the kind where you can still see the indentations from the can) or do you prefer the homemade stuff?  Or are you like me and don’t like either?

***Don’t forget!  You still have until Friday, November 27th at 6pm ET to enter my jewelry giveaway.  After all, we could all use some sparkle in our lives…***

Namasté,
Nicole

Back for some more New York City action, huh?  Well, I can’t blame you!  In yesterday’s post, I gave you the lowdown on our first day and night in the big city.  Boy, did we have a great time!  We checked into our lovely and fabulously located hotel, we had a quick and delicious lunch at Cranberry Café, we witnessed the grandeur that Times Square has to offer and we enjoyed a laugh-filled dinner at Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant.  But that was just the tip of the iceberg! Thank goodness, we all got our much needed beauty rest.

After getting a good night’s sleep in preparation for our Sunday celebratory festivities, we were refreshed and had a full tank of gas, just rearing to go.  With our breakfast scheduled at 9:30am, I knew we had to be up by no later than 8am to get our day started.  However, I’m not sure if it was the cool temperature in our hotel room or the fact that I was electrified by the fact that we were in the New York, but I was wide awake at 7am (that’s not a normal thing without an alarm clock for Healthy Chow).  Patrick must have been on the same sleeping pattern as me, because he was also ready to greet the day before the alarm went off.  That said, we jumped into our workout clothes and made good use of the hotel’s fitness center.

The Millennium Broadway Hotel’s fitness center was pretty impressive.  There were two separate areas to work out in: one was for weights and weight training and the other was for cardio.  The gym was clean and had multiple televisions available for use.  Other than two other people, Patrick, David and I were the only ones in the gym.  It was great! No lines and no incessant yapping from other guests.  Plus, I got to stare at the tops of the New York City buildings as I was speedwalking and working up a good lather.  With a few yoga stretches, 25 minutes of speedwalking and regular walking on the treadmill and some cool down stretching, I was completely energized.  While I got a good workout in, I probably could have pushed myself further.  But, I also didn’t want to be tired (or sore) for the rest of the day.  My quick cardio session was just enough to get my blood pumping and to do some much needed detoxification.

Wow, it looks like we both worked up a good sweat!

After quickly showering and getting dressed, we only had a few moments to spare before it was breakfast time.  And this wasn’t just any ordinary breakfast, it was a special breakfast for a special girl.  In addition, breakfast wasn’t going to be served at just any ol’ restaurant, it was being held at a place that is undeniably, a little girl’s fantasy.  For Casey’s 5th birthday party, Lisa and David planned a breakfast at none other than American Girl Place.  I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but when we arrived, I was blown away.  To be able to see all the children so giddy with excitement and joy was truly endearing.  Plus, this place was amazing and huge! There were about four or five floors filled with shopping, activities for girls and their dolls, a restaurant and more shopping.  I could not believe how popular this store was – it was filled to the brim with families and dolls! Crazy!

Our breakfast destination!

Not only did the guest of honor, Casey, have a blast at her birthday party, but we all did as well.  The staff was hospitable, friendly and prompt.  In a large restaurant with so many customers, one usually expects and receives less-than-stellar service and not-so-great food.  This was the complete opposite!  Our main server, Anthony, couldn’t have been more accommodating and polite.  Plus, the menu offered more than ‘kid friendly’ options and everyone seemed quite pleased with their selections and the quality of the food.  The decorum of the dining area was also fantastic.  I felt like a doll living in a dollhouse or at least, a big (but not that big) little girl having her dreams come true.  As the conversation flowed, the coffee flowed and the good times and laughter were continuously being rolled out much like our hot breakfast entrées.  There were even souvenirs (a hair elastic with a hot pink bow) for all the guests and fun little conversational question cards available at the table.  It’s truly a blessing to be able to spend time with your family and to be able to be in the presence of such wonderful company.  I can only imagine the greatness that both Dan and Ellen felt just watching their family interact and have such a joyous time and knowing that this all stemmed from the love they created 40 years ago.

The guest of honor with her dolls

Taylor with her Papa

Taylor with Grammy

Who’s the bigger doll?

Everyone smile for the camera and say, “Healthy Chow!”

How’s that smoothie?

The American Girl Breakfast Menu

My Breakfast: Eggs Benedict Florentine - poached eggs served with wilted spinach and English muffin topped with hollandaise sauce (I had mine on the side) and accompanied by home-style potatoes and fresh fruit

Flower Power Pancakes with Fresh Bananas and Whipped Cream – served with fresh fruit and sausage links (and some Country Breakfast Eggs)

Country Breakfast - scrambled eggs with home-style potatoes, onions, sausage and peppers topped with cheddar cheese and served with a side of avocado, salsa and sour cream

Classic French Toast – topped with warm apples and cinnamon fresh fruit kabob, served with a side of apple wood smoked bacon and maple syrup

Chocolate Mousse Flowerpot with Butterfly Cookie

The whole gang

Question: Who would you want to trade places with for one day?  Why?

Taylor’s Answer: “I pick you, Nicole, because you’re a lot of fun and you look like a teenager.  For real!”

Too much!

Once breakfast was over, the gang broke free to explore the rest of American Girl Place.  While the little ladies got their shopping on, I managed to check things out and get a lay of the land.  Holy moly, words can’t describe the magnitude of this place.  If you have an American Girl doll, this is the place to go for your doll.  There is everything and anything you could possibly want or need here for your American Girl.  I think both Taylor and Casey were more than happy with their purchases.

An hour and a half?!

The Doll Hair Salon

After getting back to the hotel to drop off our purchases, we freshened up and decided to make a trip to the Empire State Building.  While most of the group was in on visiting this tourist attraction, some decided to make good use of the amazing weather and make a visit to Central Park.  Since my MIL and I love shopping and enjoy each other’s company (we share the same sense of humor!), we decided to branch off from the group and have some mother-in-law and daughter-in-law time.  We ventured off and hit some of the nearby shops as the rest of the group made the trip to the top of the Empire State Building.  Patrick was in the Empire State Building group and thus, became the interim photographer for my blog.  He did a pretty fancy job snapping some great pics.  Thanks Patrick!

By the time all of our tours were over, it was late in the afternoon.  But with our dinner reservation at 6:30pm, we had only a few moments to rest and recharge.  But when you’re in New York, who needs to rest, right?  For our final dinner and celebration in the big city, we decided to have dinner at the Italian restaurant, Becco (thanks for the recommendation, Billy!).  Becco was about a ten minute walk from our hotel, which was key since it was about 6:15pm by the time we left.  We made it just in time and with even a few minutes to spare! While we all congregated in front of the restaurant, we decided it was the perfect time to take a group photo. Don’t you love it when you can grab a complete stranger off the street and ask them to take a picture and it actually turns out well?

What a night to remember!

Becco’s menu was incredible! There were so many delectable sounding choices and quite fairly priced for a New York City restaurant.  After much deliberating both to myself and out loud, I finally chose the Pesce Spada (grilled swordfish paired with spaghetti squash, stewed cherry tomatoes, roasted pumpkin seeds & pumpkin seed oil).  It was divine and certainly had its fair portion of both vegetables and fish.  Not to mention the swordfish was grilled to perfection and the stewed cherry tomatoes were deliciously sweet.  While I originally thought I had ordered ‘the best’ entrée on the menu, I soon questioned my belief after sampling some of Patrick’s Sinfonia di Paste (Becco’s renowned unlimited table side service of Becco’s Chef’s Three Daily Pasta Preparations) and David’s Costolette di Maiale alla Maniera dello Chef (brined double cut pork chop grilled, topped with figs poached in Apianae & roasted fingerling potatoes), I soon realized that there was just more than one ‘best’ entrée at Becco.  Actually, everyone was more than thoroughly pleased with both the food and the service at this restaurant.  You really could not go wrong with any item ordered off the Becco menu.  Our waitress, Anne, was a pleasure and was gracious throughout our entire meal.  And while the food was excellent, the restaurant itself was quite charming as well.  It had a rustic feel and almost felt like a North End restaurant with it’s exposed brick and close fitting dining area.

Our coat check tag and table reservation number from breakfast- both were 40, like Dan and Ellen’s anniversary!

Fresh mozzarella with roasted red peppers, toasted pine nuts & golden raisins

Fresh prosciutto

Caesar salad – very tasty but way too much dressing for my liking…

Now that’s a meatball!

Pesce Spada – Grilled swordfish paired with spaghetti squash, stewed cherry tomatoes, roasted pumpkin seeds & pumpkin seed oil

Costolette di Maiale alla Maniera dello Chef - Brined double cut pork chop grilled, topped with figs poached in Apianae & roasted fingerling potatoes

Sinfonia di Paste - Becco’s renowned unlimited table side service of Becco’s Chef’s Three Daily Pasta Preparations

Trancio di Salmone – Pan-seared salmon with braised cauliflower & extra virgin olive oil

Bistecca – Grilled Black Angus rib eye, dry-aged & rubbed with porcini mushrooms
with garlic mashed potatoes & seasonal vegetables

Of course, we had to have dessert!

Happy 40th Anniversary!

Once dinner was over, we made our way through Times Square once again to get one last look at the the city lights.  They were as bright as ever and the city was even more jammed with people than when we last saw it.  I saw a bunch of cameras and even brighter lights at the center of Times Square and people clamoring around as though there was something being filmed.  As we made our way over, I realized that it was Entertainment Tonight’s The Insider being filmed.  With my MIL, Ellen, being a huge fan of The View, as soon as I realized it was Star Jones sitting on stage, I just knew this would be one of the highlights of her trip.  Not only was Ellen excited to see Star, but she was even more thrilled to see that the guest anchor was none other than Levi Johnston! Ellen, I will have to admit, Levi was pretty cute!

Hey there!

Our trip to New York City was certainly a memorable one.  We shared as many laughs and smiles as we did bites of food and dessert.  When you’re in a special city celebrating occasions such as a wedding anniversary and a birthday with your entire family, everyone is lucky enough to receive a gift.  I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and to have been able to be a part of the New York trip.  It is sure to go down as one of my favorite family vacations.  And while we were able to see so many sights and do so many things in the city, there was one common theme that remained throughout and that was love.  Like the lights in Times Square that brighten up the sky morning, noon and night, and guide the city’s people, it is the love of family and the love between an extraordinary couple, like Dan and Ellen, that remains a constant and continues to fuel the fire of life.

What’s your favorite city you’ve ever visited?  Do you wish you could live there or would you rather keep it as a favorite vacation spot?

Namasté,
Nicole

***Thank you so much for your patience.  I’m back and I finally have pictures (and boy, do I have pictures!).  Did you miss me?***

Do you have anyone in your life that is tough to shop for?  Someone who has impeccable taste and great style and has one (or more) of just about everything and anything? A person who is so beautiful that nothing you buy her will compare to her beauty? But this human being is very near and dear to your heart and you love her so much that you want to give her something but you just don’t know what?  Well, ladies and gents, let me introduce you to that person.  That person in my life is Mother Healthy Chow (or MHC for short).

As you might have read from my posts a couple of weeks ago, MHC recently had her birthday.  She turned 39 (*ahem-ahem, cough, cough*) and doesn’t look a day older 25.  Being the good daughters that we are, Michelle and I wanted to get a nice gift for MHC.  But we just didn’t know what?  The woman has too much a lot of clothes, more handbags than she ever can carry, fanciful jewelry, mucho make-up, a collection of shoes that can rival Imelda’s or Mariah’s and two amazing daughters (*pats herself on the back*).  What more could she want or need?

Can’t get enough of this pic!

However, even if a person has just about everything, the person’s gotta eat.  So, instead of taking MHC to the latest and greatest resto in the Boston area, we decided to shake-n-bake things up a bit and do something we haven’t done in awhile and should do more often.  Michelle and I decided to cook MHC a birthday dinner! And because MHC just moved in with her boyfriend, Darrell, we decided to make dinner at their newly renovated home.  There’s nothing like cooking in a brand spankin’ new kitchen!

Because Michelle and I were going to be responsible for cooking the whole dinner and bringing dessert, we had to plan in advance what we were going to make and thus, bring the ingredients.  I’m not quite sure how we decided, but we divvied up the courses as follows: sides, salad and dessert – Healthy Chow and main course and dessert – Michelle.  Yeah, I know dessert is mentioned twice.  That’s no mistake!  We wanted a birthday cake-ish treat for MHC, for candle blowing and wish making, as well as some other goodies, for variety and pigging out’s sake.

Image Credits – fundraw.com

While I was planning the few days prior to the dinner party, I chose to make sides that I felt would go with just about anything.  Because Michelle hadn’t told me what she was making as the main course and I didn’t want to keep annoying asking her, I just went with my gut (lame pun intended)  and selected recipes that were tasty and on the ‘healthier’ side.  Thus, I chose to make two recipes I found from Cooking Light - Creamy Parmesan Orzo and Mustard-Dressed Asparagus.  Both recipes received at least 4 out of 5 stars and very good reviews and comments from readers.  In addition, I had made the orzo recipe a few times before and it was delicious and easy and the asparagus recipe seemed healthy and easy.  Done and done! For the salad, I decided to bring mixed greens (baby spinach, arugula, radicchio and frisée) and the ingredients to make a homemade vinaigrette dressing.  So easy-peasy lemon-squeezy!  And for dessert, I just stopped by the store and grabbed brownie bites and chocolate chip ice cream.  You can’t go wrong with warm, soft chocolate baked goods à la mode, right?

I was so excited for this night!  Not only did I want to show off some of my much improved culinary skills, but I also love spending time with my family and I could not wait to see my mother’s new place.  MHC had just moved into Darrell’s condo, which they recently renovated and enlarged by acquiring the adjacent condo unit.  I’ve always loved seeing the interior of people’s homes, but ever since we gave our place a face-lift, my interest has reached a whole new level of appreciation.

Oh my stars!  I thought the ocean view from the outside of their building was incredible; the interior of their home was absolutely gorgeous! I tried not to have any expectations or visions in my head before arriving in order to be totally surprised and when I walked in, I was blown away.  Not only was their condo ginormous, but every detail was carefully paid attention to and flowed seamlessly to the next.  I felt as if I was flipping through the pages of an interior design magazine.

I lurrrrvvve those bamboo floors!

Absolutely beautiful…

Sparkle, sparkle…

I think the food might taste better coming from this kitchen…

Even the spices are cool, or should I say, ’sah-pie-say’!

Now that’s a closet!

My dream come true!

Even the washer and dryer are stylin’!

Darrell loves his shoes, too…

This closet would suit me just fine

An ocean view…

Simply breathtaking…

After receiving the grand tour and getting my groceries for dinner settled, I nibbled on some shrimp cocktail and chips and salsa.  While we told our mother she didn’t have to do a thing, she naturally put out a spread of appetizers and snacks.  What a good lil’ doobie.

It’s a good thing I had to cook or else I’d be full before dinner…

Snacks and sports…

I was having so much fun chatting it up with the party goers that I almost forgot that we were in charge of preparing dinner.  I could see the hungry looks growing, so I stopped munching (for a few minutes) and got started on cooking.  Since all of my dishes were relatively simple to prepare, I picked the one that would take the longest to make and would be the easiest to reheat.  So, I started on the creamy parmesan orzo.  Having Michelle and MHC (she couldn’t stay out of the kitchen for long, nor did we want her to) by my side in the kitchen was so much fun and so helpful.  While I would read off the instructions, one would hand me the needed ingredient and the coordinating utensil.  It was like having my very own sous chefs!

Stir that orzo, Michelle!

Even the birthday girl isn’t safe from kitchen duty!

Love that green!

Once the orzo was about done, I began on my asparagus dish.  Even though the recipe was for asparagus, I decided to add some zucchini since it would give the dish some variety and because I had some just sitting idle in my fridge.  I know, your girl is so resourceful! The recipe called for the asparagus to be boiled, but because MHC had a crazy-arse steamer built into the stove top, I just had to steam versus boil.  It just seemed so cool and high-tech; I had to give it a whirl.  The vegetables took only minutes to cook and the sauce took an even shorter time to prepare.  The key ingredient to this recipe was no doubt the mustard seeds.  They’re little, but they’re powerful (does that remind you of anyone you know?).

I gotta get me one of these…

The Yellow Wonder…(tee hee)

While I was cooking the vegetables, Michelle and her boyfriend, Jonathan began cooking the main dish – chicken saltimbocca.  Jonathan and Michelle make a great team both in life and in the kitchen.  They love cooking together and testing out new recipes.  I was told by the dynamic duo that the trick to making their recipe was to brine the chicken in salt water the night before.  I guess I’ll take their word for it.  It looked dang good! And just as the chicken was about to be taken out of the oven, I whisked together a simple salad dressing using Trader Joe’s Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar, dijon mustard, olive oil, some chopped shallot and salt and pepper.  As I’ve said before, Trader Joe’s never lets me down and he came through for me again that night.  The Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar was divine! It gave the right amount of citrus and zip to the dressing without making it too sweet or weighing it down.  Another winner from TJ’s!

That’s some kickin’ chicken!

I heart TJ’s

Veggie Might!

Finally, dinner was served! MHC did a fabulous job setting up her dining room table for her first dinner guests and her first dinner guests did a fabulous job of dining.  I couldn’t believe how well everything turned out.  Everything was cooked to perfection and tasted wonderful.  Michelle and Jonathan’s chicken saltimbocca was moist and juicy (must be that brining action) and the prosciutto that enveloped it was flawlessly crisped with just the right amount of fresh sage.  Ah-may-zing! And like the chefs who played off of the synergy that was overwhelming the kitchen, the dishes co-mingled with each other fantastically and complemented each other perfectly.

And while I don’t like to brag much, I just want to say that my dishes came out quite well.  MHC loved the creaminess of the parmesan in the orzo recipe and said that the fresh basil was the perfect complement to the dish.  And everyone seemed to really like the mustard sauce on the vegetables.  They said it gave the vegetables a unique flavor.  As for the salad, everyone wanted to know what I used to make the ‘fruity’ dressing.  They truly seemed to enjoy my new found secret weapon from TJ’s and the fact that the salad was tasty without being too greasy or heavy.  Success!

And what would a birthday dinner party be without birthday cake and dessert?  Not a good one in Healthy Chow’s book! Jonathan made a key lime pie that was so light and refreshing, I thought I was having a cocktail.  There was just enough lime to cleanse my palate and the airiness of the filling coupled with the flaky crust was enough for me to want to have seconds.  However, because there were other desserts to sample, I stayed with having only one small (ish) piece and had a scoop of ice cream along with a mini fall-inspired brownie.  I think MHC honestly loved every bite of her birthday celebration.

While receiving a luxurious cashmere sweater, the latest bottle of perfume, a new pair of fall boots, or some fancy handmade jewelry may be a wonderful birthday gift, it’s no match for the gift of time.  Being able to spend time with my mother and sister in her new kitchen laughing, cooking and simply enjoying each other’s company was my favorite part of the night and by looking at my mother’s face, she felt the same way.

Oh, he’s such an angel! Hahahahaha!

Gotcha!

“Isn’t she lovely? Isn’t she wonderfuuuuullll?“

MHC is always appreciative of any gift she receives, but I could tell that this time this gift meant the world to her.  She was so excited for us to finally see her new home with Darrell and to be able to see how our culinary skills had developed.  I think it’s always a gift for a parent to see how their children have matured and blossomed, but it’s also a gift for the child to see their parent being happy in their new life.  While it may have been MHC’s birthday, I feel as though I was the one who was showered with presents.  It was a spectacular night filled with giggles, good times and great food.  While it might have been easier to go to the mall or hop online to buy our mother a birthday gift, it definitely would not have been as much fun, nor would it have been as special.  Being able to create a memorable night, such as our dinner party, is something that everyone should try – it may require a bit of time and energy, but what you get back is immeasurable and certainly priceless.  For the person who has everything, it’s definitely something of which they could use more.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?  Or, what’s your favorite secret ingredient to use?

Namasté,
Nicole