3 January 2013

New Year Egg Drop Soup with Pork

This is, hands down, my new favorite recipe. I’ve already made it three times and I’m not sick of it. That’s saying a lot because usually I have a hard time eating something more than two or three times in a row.

It’s an easy recipe, but one ingredient you really can’t skimp on is this one:

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Sesame oil makes this recipe, so please don’t try to make it without some!

You’ll need (makes 4-6 servings):

  • 2 boxes chicken broth (organic, free range is best if you can swing it)
  • 4-5 Tbsp sesame oil, divided
  • 5-6 heads baby bok choy
  • 1 cup green onion, diced
  • 1-2 lbs ground pork
  • 2-3 Tbsp coconut aminos (or substitute with soy sauce)
  • 4-5 eggs, whisked together
  • crushed red pepper to taste
  • salt to taste

Make it:

Begin by sauteing the ground pork in 1-2 Tbsp sesame oil in a large soup pot. When the pork is around 75-80% cooked, add the broth, coconut aminos, and crushed red pepper. The pork should look kinda like this before you add the additional ingredients:

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Bring everything to a boil, then add the bok choy and green onion. Cook for about 5-10 minutes, then remove the pot from the heat source. Wait until the soup has cooled just a bit (1-2 minutes). Then, add the eggs by stirring the pot consistently while you slowly pour in the egg mixture. Turn the heat back on to low/simmer, and cook for another 5-10 minutes to help marry all the flavors. Add salt if necessary.

Garnish with more green onion if desired.

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It doesn’t look like much, but it is completely and utterly delicious.

For vegetarians: use diced tofu instead of pork and add rice noddles if desired. You could also add pre-made veggie wontons.

20 November 2012

Obligatory Thanksgiving Post Roundup

I’m taking a little blogging vacay this week, but I wanted to leave you with some resources for having a very tasty and thankful Thanksgiving.

My Dream Thanksgiving Menu

The Thanksgiving Recipe Database You NEED to Have

Stress-Free Thanksgiving Menu

Have a Healthista-Approved Holiday

The dish I’ll be contributing to our Thanksgiving dinner: roasted butternut squash with apples and pecans (no recipe — I’m gonna make it up on the fly! Risky, but I think it’ll be okay).

What are you making for your T-giving dinner?

5 November 2012

Green Soup with Ham (Meatballs)

This recipe will officially help you Fit Yo Pants!

Whoa! I feel like I haven’t been here in a while. How’s are all the Fit Yo Pantsers doing? We have a little less than a month to go, so I hope you’re making some progress and committing to all the things I asked you to.

I’m coming to you with a rich, hearty soup that will fill you up as it helps you fit yo pants!It’s full of green veggies, satisfying pork, and warming broth. Yeah, yeah, there’s no actual ham in it, but I couldn’t resist the title!

You’ll need (makes 6-8 servings):

  • 2 boxes chicken broth or stock (or you can use 1.5 boxes + water to make up the rest of the liquid)
  • 1 bunch kale*, torn into bite-sized pieces
  • 1-2 large leeks*, washed thoroughly and chopped
  • 1-2 lbs green beans*, cut into thirds or fourths
  • 1 lb ground pork
  • salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste
  • 1-2 tbsp olive oil

*You can sub in ANY green veggie if you don’t have these on hand! Broccoli, spinach, zucchini — whatever you got.

Make it:

  • Add the olive oil to a large sauce pan. Start sauteing the leaks over medium heat, then add the green beans.
  • As your veggies cook, roll your pork into bite-sized meatballs and then add to the pot.
  • Cook everything together for 5-10 minutes, being careful not to smush the meatballs.
  • Add the chicken broth and kale, then bring to a simmer.
  • Simmer soup until the kale softens and the meatballs are cooked through.
  • Season with LOTS of salt, pepper, crushed red pepper (for spice), and any other spice that strikes your fancy!

Weird? A little bit. Delicious? You bet.

24 October 2012

Dairy-Free Pesto You Can Eat on ANYTHING

This recipe will officially help you Fit Yo Pants!

My man likes to say that “pesto is fancy-people ranch,” and I think he’s right. Pesto is one of those condiments, like ranch, that tastes good on just about anything. And it makes most things taste a whole lot better.

Since I’m kinda enjoying the dairy free life right now (thanks to the Whole30), I wanted to create a dairy-free pesto that tasted just as amazing as the original version. The secret ingredient? Lemon juice (not pictured!), which adds the same tang that parmesan cheese does in standard recipes. I also bulked up this recipe with fresh baby spinach — basically for volume.

You’ll need (makes 6-8 servings):

  • about 4 cups fresh basil
  • about 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 1/2 cup olive oil. I used a garlic version from Trader Joe’s. If you don’t have garlic olive oil, add a clove or two of garlic to the mix.
  • juice from one lemon
  • 3/4 cup pine nuts (toasted if you like — mine weren’t)
  • lots of salt and pepper

Make it:

  • In your food processor, blend the greens down.
  • Add pine nuts and blend those.
  • Drizzle olive oil through the spout as you continue to blend.
  • Add lots of salt and pepper to taste.

You can eat this stuff on literally ANYTHING. I first tried it on spaghetti squash, but I think it would be amazing on any meat (chicken or steak, especially) and veggies. All the flavor, none of the bad stuff. A total Fit Yo Pants-worthy condiment!

23 October 2012

October-Appropriate Pumpkin Chili

This recipe will officially help you Fit Yo Pants!

I know that when most of you see the word “pumpkin” in a recipe title, you roll your eyes. I get it. Trust me, I do. But sometimes that ubiquitous squash just makes a recipe really special. This is one of those times. And really, we only get to abuse pumpkin for a couple months out of the year, so let’s make the most of it!

The addition of pumpkin in what is otherwise a fairly standard chili recipe adds a warmth and depth of flavor most chilis just can’t accomplish. I also think it makes it a bit more hearty.

You’ll need (makes 4-6 servings):

  • 1 lb ground beef (I used grass-fed 85/15). If you want to keep it vegetarian, you could use beans instead — kidney or black would work best. You could also use beans in addition to the ground beef.
  • 1 15-oz can pumpkin
  • 42 oz diced tomato (fire-roasted works well). I used a 28-oz. can and a 14-oz. can.
  • 1 small white or yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 large green pepper (or 2 small guys), chopped
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp crushed red pepper (if you like spice)
  • 1-2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tspĀ  cayenne
  • 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • salt and pepper to taste

Make it:

  • Saute the beef, onions, and peppers in olive oil over medium heat in a large soup pot until the beef loses most of its pink. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Add tomatoes, pumpkin, and all spices.
  • Simmer for as long as you can, but at least 20 minutes.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary.