Category: FUN

Anything to do with fun & enjoyment

FUN

Grill Talk: FISH in the PAN

It’s officially summer!

getting started
getting started

You want to keep things easy, breezy but still want to impress your guests? With this non-recipe recipe you can feel like you’re dining in a little village somewhere in France or Italy. I’m talking a delicious “one-pan” dinner using any meaty white fleshed fish.   Here’s what you do:

Place the *fish (already sprinkled with salt, pepper and any other spices you want) atop cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced onion, artichoke hearts, pitted Kalamata olives, caper berries, and lemon slices in a pan.

Pour in some white wine and olive oil.  Put the pan on grill, cover the grill, and cook just until the juices bubble and the fish is cooked through (roughly ten minutes or so).

end result
end result

Serve it from the pan – with lots of crusty bread to sop up the sauce.

*For the fish I prefer halibut but you can use monkfish or cod. I used sole fillets once & it worked out fine.

Thank me later!

 

 

FUN

Health MATTERS:  Shelf Life – keep or toss?

shelflife1

Do you ever throw food away prematurely?  The packaging tells you it’s time to chuck it, but it still seems okay.

Confusion over food dating has led 91 percent of us to throw food away too soon according to a 2013 report from Harvard Law School and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Some foods can stay fresh well past their “expiration” dates. Here, SIX ITEMS YOU SHOULD NOT BE SO QUICK TO TOSS.

shelflife2

Eggs:  Pay no attention to the SELL BY date on your carton – it’s meant to help retailers manage turnover and is not a measure of freshness.  Eggs should keep for three to five weeks in the refrigerator.

Cereal/Granola: Boxes typically come printed with a BEST BEFORE shelflife3date, but it’s a conservative estimate set by manufacturers for peak quality.  Those Cheerios can stay fresh for up to three months if you refold the inner bag tightly.  I make my own granola and it keeps (if I don’t eat it beforehand) placed in a glass container in the fridge for a few months without compromising the quality or taste.

Apples: Store your favorite reds in the fridge (place them in a plastic bag; poke a few holes to allow air to circulate), and they’ll still be good to eat three weeks later.

Deli Meat: you can keep unopened packages of sandwich meat in your fridge for two weeks – even if the SELL BY date has come and gone.

Bread: ignore the BEST by or SELL BY date.  Placing your loaf in the fridge can extend freshness by two weeks.  I end up freezing mine and taking out what I need which can extend the life for a few months.

Milk/Cream – if you buy it in a glass bottle instead of a carton the life can be extended for at least one more week.

Also, a good way not to waste food is to not buy too much at once….but we already know that.

 

 

 

FUN

Beauty biz – Simple. Natural. Effective.


Marilou Bio is a French manufacturer of certified organic and natural cosmetics.bio1

I was given some with Argan oil to try.  Sometimes your skin is extra sensitive or needs a break in between using other products.  I had these sitting on my shelf for weeks before giving them a try.  20140616_150054They have a lovely smell, the packaging is cute and the prices affordable. They soak into the skin very nicely, are neither too rich nor too light so I would recommend them even though they are not easily available here in Canada.

Product Features : 

For anyone who thought argan oil was strictly for moisturizing, think again. Its antioxidants help to restore skin that’s seen better days, improving elasticity, firmness and complexion through intense hydration.  Known by the Moroccan Berber community as the “Tree of Life“, the Argan tree has supported the people of these arid regions and their livestock for centuries.

 Ingredients: Argan oil (rich in fatty acids, vitamin E, squalene, sterols and polyphenols), Shea butter, and Beech extract.

Organic Argan Oil: Contains anti-aging properties; firming and regenerating effects thanks to the moisturizing powers. This product will help provide a more youthful look and more intensely radiant looking skin.

In Canada you can find it at Neolistic Trade: http://www.neolistictrade.com

 Based in Magog, Quebec – Neolistic Trade is an ecological and organic certified products importer – distributor & exporting agency with a great reputation for providing premium quality products and exceptional customer service.

Neolistic is devoted to holistic, non-toxic, and natural alternatives to human health.

by now you should be familiar with this product
by now you should be familiar with these luxury hair care products by Moroccanoil

 
FUN

simply satisfying: the FOOD truck

Restaurant on Wheels 

Food trucks are becoming increasingly trendy on the streets of Vancouver.  This was evident last Sunday (for Father’s Day) when 20 blocks were closed to traffic on Main street  for Car Free Day.

Storefront Window of "FRONT" - a store.
Store “FRONT” window

I couldn’t believe the amount of trucks with their ethnic diversity on every block considering how many varieties of restaurants there already are on Main.20140615_175345

What would a street festival be like without Cotton Candy?
What would a street festival be like without Cotton Candy? Soooo cute!

And, like many other cities right now we’re not talking hotdog & philly cheesesteak Okay, maybe a grilled cheese but most of these provide culinary quality and some of their prices match that of going to an actual restaurant.  Here are some of my photos of the ROW’s.

 

Vij's Indian
Vij’s Indian
French Food
Ze French Food
Have you ever tried Korean tacos?
Have you ever tried Korean tacos?

 

Lebanese

Lebanese
Lebanese

 

No shortage of food

Asian
Asian
West Coast
West Coast

20140615_172641

…restaurants, street vendors and food trucks (even some of the restaurants have their own food trucks).  

 Do you have a favourite?

FUN

Health MATTERS:  a better way to get your C

  “Satisfaction of one’s curiosity is one of the greatest sources of happiness in life” – Dr. Linus Pauling

20140612_162844Funny the way life works sometimes.  I was reading W. Gifford-Jones MD “a collection of columns” from his book “What I Learned as a Medical Journalist which I find fascinating by the way….when I realized I was out of Vitamin C.  I was also feeling under the weather and it was suggested to me that I try out a brand new product – a powder with a high concentration of Vitamin C and L-Lysine called Medi-C Plus.  It sounded pretty good so I’m trying it out when I then realize that the Harvard Medical graduate’s name is on the bottle.  So now I’m even more curious to know more about this product.In a revolutionary finding, based on scientific fact that should have hit the headlines of every newspaper in the world, he says this powder can both prevent and reverse atherosclerosis in coronary and other arteries to prevent heart attack – a number one killer.

I just needed Vitamin C but while we’re at it…..

“If I had the power to improve the nation’s health I’d prohibit daily TV commercials that tell us that something is wrong with us.  I’d do this because Madison Avenue advertising is triggering false hopes and injuring health.  We’ve reached a point where a well person is someone who hasn’t been seen by enough doctors, or had a battery of tests done.  Then we could dump half of the pills in the trash.” – W. Gifford-Jones, MD (with a twist).

20140612_163547A condensed EXCERPT from the book: How Vitamin C and Lysine Powder can help prevent Heart Attack.

Many years ago, Dr. Linus Pauling, two-time Noble Prize winner, is ignored for reporting that large amounts of Vitamin C and Lysine are needed to prevent coronary attacks.  Twenty-five years ago, Pauling reported that animals make Vitamin C while humans do not.  That’s why sailors died of scurvy during long sea voyages, but the ship’s cat survived.

Vitamin C is required to manufacture healthy collagen, the glue that holds coronary cells together, just like mortar is needed for bricks.  Lysine, like steel rods in concrete, makes collagen stronger.  Pauling claimed that it takes a mere 10 milligrams to prevent scurvy, but several thousand to prevent heart attack.

But to take large doses of Vitamin C and Lysine requires swallowing many pills daily.  It’s a tall order for those who dislike swallowing even one pill.  So for several years, Gifford-Jones had been trying to find a company that would manufacture a combination of Vitamin C and Lysine powder.  Now Medi-C Plus is available at health food stores.

It’s easy because the dosage for the Medi-C Plus combination is easy – one flat scoop with breakfast and the evening meal, with either water or orange juice. The only thing you can’t take it with is *Grapefruit juice.

The berry flavour doesn’t taste bad at all.  I read labels – it is naturally sweetened with berry and stevia.  The scoop inside is not so large that you feel you won’t go through it so quickly which is another plus factor. Helps in collagen formation, developing & maintaining bones and for teeth and gums.  Nothing not to like – I’M IN!  This may be my new “for life” product.

 

*Grapefruit juice and fresh grapefruit can interfere with the action of some prescription drugs, as well as a few non-prescription drugs.  Grapefruit most commonly interacts with drugs taken for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, anxiety, allergies, HIV, impotence, and seizures. If you’re taking medication for any of these conditions, avoid grapefruit as a snack or juice. To be on the safe side, also stay away from tangelos, which are a hybrid of tangerine and grapefruit.

**Don’t miss listening to “Transforming Health” with host Brad Kingfor the most evocative and informative up-to-the-minute interviews with leading health professionals – Live every Wednesday @ 12PM-PST/3PM-EST on VoiceAmerica.com – #1 internet radio station in North America.  Here’s the link: http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1686/transforming-health

 

 

 

 

 

 
FUN

Simply Satisfying – Summer Salads

I’m enjoying experimenting with different kinds of salads.  While I always love a classic green or Cobb salad, these two are a fresh and tasty change.

salad1

If you’re looking for a cool and refreshing salad recipe for this summer, look no further.
This salad is light and sweet, with a perfect balance between fruit and vegetables. Not only is it delicious, but it also features two extremely hydrating foods – watermelon and cucumber, making it perfect for the summer. Serve it up at barbecues or throw it together at lunchtime. Either way it’s a winner.

As far as the herbs, freshness is key. If you don’t have mint on hand, you can easily substitute basil, for a dish that will be just as delicious.

Ingredients

1/4 watermelon, diced into bite-sized chunks
1/2 cucumber, diced into bite-sized chunks
2 ounces feta, crumbled
1 lime
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
4-5 fresh mint leaves, chiffonnade (cut into thin strips)
freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Toss the watermelon and cucumber together in a large bowl. Sprinkle the cheese on top and season with olive oil, lime juice and black pepper. Sprinkle the chiffonnade of mint leaves over the top of the salad as a garnish.

The colors of the salad look best before tossing, so if you’re making this for company, I recommend serving like this and tossing at the table. Alternatively, you can toss the watermelon and cucumber with the oil, lime juice, salt and pepper and then add the cheese and mint at the end. Or, you can slice larger pieces of watermelon and place large thin slices of feta over top which gives this an elegant look.

beet, feta, proscuitto, artichoke hearts, sweet onionFor this one you must love cooked beats (not pickled), artichoke hearts, sweet onion & prosciutto (Italian word for ham that is cured & very thinly sliced). 

 Ingredients:

Sliced cooked beets

Sliced Artichoke Hearts

Thinly sliced sweet onion

Good Quality Feta Cheese (I always ask for the “Barrel” sheep Feta from Minerva’s Greek)

Top with torn crisp Prosciutto.  (Cook in frypan on medium-high heat (turn once) until done – should only take a couple of minutes).

Just arrange on the plate to your liking and drizzle with organic olive oil, a splash of lemon juice & balsamic vinegar (I used one with fig & dates).  Simply delicious!

My FOOD Board on Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/intrigueimports/foodsavour-taste-flavor-relish-palate-enjoyment/

Most of all, enjoy your SUMMER