Dinner: Lazy, lazy, super lazy dinner

Because I should also post the food I cook that does not look pretty

I came back from a killer cardio-kickboxing class and I was too hungry and too tired to put effort into my meal. But I knew that I needed to eat some sort of protein after my workout, so here is dinner: leftover quinoa with "tortilla de huevo" (the Latin version of the omelette) and a salad of whatever veggies I had in the fridge (tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber). I was so tired and hungry I didn't even try to set it up in a pleasing way.

Was it any good? I don't really know, I inhaled the whole thing in 10 minutes.

Dinner: Roasted mahi mahi and quinoa salad

* Should have paired it with white wine, but I have to finish an open bottle of malbec*

Very yummy quinoa

I was watching the food network (as I religiously do), and one of the cooking shows had this great quinoa salad recipe that I paired with grilled mahi mahi. The salad was absolutely delicious! It contains quinoa, cucumbers, scallions, raisings and orange zest in an orange-based dressing. The orange zest is what made this recipe really special.

Quinoa is a grain that was domesticated by the ancient communities of the Andes and was considered a sacred grain by the Incan empire. Its still part of the basic diet of the people in the Andes, especially in the regions that used to be part of the Incan empire (Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador). I grew up eating Quinoa and I love it, although I do remember they used to make the worst quinoa soup at my house.

Quinoa is nowadays considered a "super food". It has a very high protein content and contains all essential aminoacids, making it a complete protein. While I appreciate all the amazing qualities of quinoa, in reality I eat it just because its yummy.

Dinner: Arroz con Pollo

Craving some home cooking

I have been craving Latin food lately, so today I made arroz con pollo. Although its not exactly the same as the one I used to eat in my house in Ecuador, its close enough to do the trick!

*I sort of overdid it with the green peas. But I love them so it is ok*

Fresh Berries

Simply wonderful

So the summer has officially started and one of my favorite things about the summer is that berries are now affordable! During the year I usually make a mix of dried blueberries and cranberries to make sure I get my antioxidants every day (also, because they are delicious), but during the summer I can have fresh berries for breakfast almost every day!

*Today's Breakfast: Cottage cheese drizzled with honey on whole-wheat toast with blueberries and raspberries (~210 calories)*

I usually drink coffee with breakfast, but today I didn't want the taste of coffee overpowering the delicate taste of the berries, so I had some of my favorite Fortnum and Mason tea instead.

Detox Week: Monday and Tuesday

I really need it
So after the partying and eating in West Palm Beach and in preparation to the 10k race I am running this weekend, I feel the need for some serious detox. Not the "I will only drink liquids" type of detox (I don't think I could ever put myselft throught that), I mean cooking my meals with good, healthy and nutritious ingredients, minimizing the amount of fat used in my cooking and staying off the alcohol for a week. Anyway, here is the food I prepared on Monday and Tuesday. I have been eating the leftovers at lunchtime and have been snaking on heatly fruits like kiwi and tangerines.

Monday: Pasta putanesca made with whole-wheat spaggetti, my own marinara sause, olives, capers and tuna.

Tuesday: I am still missing the delicious latin flavors from West Palm so I decided to cook latin food. Baked tilapia in citrus marinade, arroz amarilo (latin saffron rice) and a mango, onion and cherry tomato salad.

Is this a really good start? I hope so. I am starting to feel light again and have plenty of energy. Going back to the gym has helped tons too! I only wish there was better lighting in my apartment at night so the pics would come out better. I absolutely refuse to use flash!

Breakfast: Apples & Oatmeal

Great way to start the day

I accidentally ordered more apples from FreshDirect that I usually do, so I have been trying to incorporate apples in my meals to make sure I finish them all. I found this recipe on the Foodnetwork website while browsing recipes that involved apples (by the way, the Foodnetwork is one of my favorite channels).

I absolutely love this recipe! It's delicious, very healthy, gives me lots of energy and keeps me full for a good three hours! I also estimate that its about 320 calories per serving, which is great!

Recipe: Apples Cinnamon Oatmeal
Adapted from: Food Network Kitchens - Microwave Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Ingredients
1 apple, cored and coarsely chopped (I use Fuji, but they suggest McIntosh)
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1 small cinnamon stick (can also be a pinch of ground cinnamon)
Pinch kosher salt
2 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup (this is key, none of that fake "syrup" in here. Honey is a great substitute if you do not have maple syrup)
1 cup of milk (optional)

Method
In a small pot combine apples, oatmeal, cinnamon, salt and water and turn on low/medium heat. Cook accoding to the oatmeal instructions (usually about 4-5 minutes) but add an additional 3 more minutes of cooking so the apples can soften and caramelize. Stir the oatmeal regularly to prevent it from sticking to the pot.

Once cooked, split the oatmeal into two bowls, add1/2 cup of milk and pour 1 tablespoon of maple syrup into each bowl. Serve hot and enjoy!

Comfort Food: Canned Tuna with Rice

Brings me home every time

Last night I made my favorite comfort food: canned tuna with tomatoes and onions, dressed with lemon juice, olive oil and salt. We use a lot of lemons and limes in Ecuadorian coastal cooking, so this is how I grew up eating tuna (which people here in the U.S. find interesting). I love this dish but due to the high mercury levels in tuna I make aconcious effort of only eating it once a week. I ate it with brown rice and a carrot and broccoli salad.