Monday, August 8, 2011

Clean Eating- Thai Style Pork with Papaya

I absolutely adore Clean Eating Magazine. We started this blog with the wide eyed dreams of a young girl moving to the big city and learned the big city was much harder to survive in than her cozy hometown. Same difference with this blog. Managing so many other blogs plus this one requires a lot of committment and I am a cheater. I am unfaithful. I have not been eating clean! LOL. Ha! However, I come back! Triumphant! Ok, sorta. My sister and I are still misbehaving but we still have intentions to do better so I made this meal! I didn't have couscous and honestly, couscous with this just didn't sound appetizing. Not that I don't like Couscous, just with this... uh meh. However, this was AMAZING. It's definitely in the rotation. It was simple and extremely quick to make. I made jasmine rice and put it in a rice cooker while getting the rest ready and BAM! The meal is a HIT! I still can't get over how good it is!




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INGREDIENTS
7.6 oz. whole-wheat couscous (I used Jasmine rice)
1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 tsp. low-sodium soy sauce (I was a bad girl and used Tamari Soy Sauce)
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
3 cloves garlic
1/2 lb. pork tenderloin, sliced into 1/2-inch to 2-inch strips
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 c. minced cilantro
1 lb. Hawaiian papaya, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (I think you can easily use pineapple, mango, or papaya and have a hit!)

DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil. Stir in couscous, cover tightly and remove from heat. Let sit for 5 minutes, then uncover and fluff with a fork. Set aside.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil on medium for 1 minutes. Add soy sauce, ginger, garlic and pork and cook for 3-4 minutes, occasionally flipping pork strips with a spatula until meat is cooked through. Remove skillet from heat and stir in lime juice and cilantro.

Place 1 cup couscous onto each of 4 plates. Top each with 2 oz. pork mixture, 1/2 cup papaya, and 1 Tbsp. skillet juices. Garnish with reserved papaya seeds if desired.


Nutritional Info
Servings Per Recipe: 4
Calories: 224.6
Total Fat: 6 g
Cholesterol: 44.8 mg
Sodium: 132.1 mg
Total Carbs: 20.7 g
Dietary Fiber: 2.6 g
Protein: 19.5 g

Thank you Clean Eating Magazine for another HIT recipe!

Jaime

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Eating Clean

One of the resolutions my sister, Thereasa and I have made is eat clean. That's just one of the goals we hope to achieve while achieving our ultimate goal: health. No. This isn't about getting thin. This is about being healthy in more than one way.

1. Eat Clean by utilizing Clean Eating's magazine and cookbook. While eating clean, also utilizing local produce from farmer's markets, utilizing a CSA or a produce co-op. Eating at local mom and pop restaurants/cafes/coffee shops and the trickles down to local economic health.

2. Exercising more. A healthy body also manifests a healthier mind.

3. Healthier interpersonal relationships. This is mine (Jaime). I have been horrible about maintaining my friendships, communicating with my family members, being a better parent... where do I hide? Behind my computer and text messages. My daughter needs me to be a better mom. I am tired and lack energy (see goals #1 and #2) and she needs me to be me.

That's all I am listing for now! Hahahahaha. However, I want to kick off this post with a delightful photo:

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This is so delicious!

Recipe courtesy of the Best of Clean Eating:

Instructions

INGREDIENTS:
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 lb extra-lean ground turkey
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh oregano
1/2 cup whole-grain bread crumbs
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1 egg
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
8oz whole-wheat spaghetti
4 cups baby spinach
3/4 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
juice and zest of 1 lemon

INSTRUCTIONS:
one: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until soft but not browned, three to five minutes.

Two: In a large bowl, place turkey, onion-garlic mixture,basil, oregano,breadcrumbs, tomato paste, egg, salt and pepper. Using your hands or a large spoon, gently mix together until combined.

Three: Using a small ice cream scoop or a tablespoon, portion out turkey mixture in golf ball sized increments. Use clean hands to roll mixture into 20 meatballs and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake until lightly browned and cooked through, about 20 minutes.

Four: Meanwhile, cook spaghetti according to package directions, until al dente reserving 1/2 cup pasta water

Five: In a large serving bowl, add speghetti, spinach, cheese,lemon zest and juice, and quarter-cup reserved pasta water. Gently toss to combine, allowing heat of spaghetti to wllt spinach and cooking water to melt ricotta to a creamy sauce. Add more reserved water if necessary.to reach desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasoning if desired. Add meatballs and serve immediately..

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year!!!

Welcome 2011.  I am excited about the new healthy lifestyle.  I have perused my "Clean Eating" cookbook and haven't quite determined my modus operandi.  I will likely start on page 1 and go from there.

I am very excited on this...the absolute coldest Jan 1st in Phx history. brrrrrrr

~Thereasa
(I need a cool signature)