Bacon on my mind

It's Baconfest week!  If you live in Des Moines you have probably heard of baconfest.  If not, it's basically a huge festival wrapped all in bacon.  It started about 8 years ago as a couple guys that loved bacon and started as a fun little get together, under a 100 tickets were sold.  They had some local vendors come in and give out samples of their best bacony creations.  It has gotten bigger and bigger each year and this year it will be 4 floors of bacon madness, with around 17,000 tickets being sold and 50 vendors selling bacony creations.  Since last year Hy-Vee has been involved with baconfest and we have been preparing for the festival this week.  My week started with bacon wrapping bacon spam!  

This is why  I have bacon on mind!

The great thing is Super Bowl is on Sunday as well, so what goes better with football than bacon? Even if you don't watch football, I'm sure you will catch the game or commercials.  If you have a party to go to then here is an easy fast and tasty treat for everyone.

It call it a loaded cheeseball because it's everything you want in a loaded baked potatoe but without the potato, unless you dip potato chips in it! Which it amazing!

So this is all you need, looks easy enough, right? Ranch, cheese, bacon?  Where could you go wrong with this picture?

So first you just need to put the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, ranch mix packet, green onion, and half the bacon into a stand mixer with the paddle attachment.  

Yes you can set the cream cheese out for it to softened and mix it all by hand, but whoever remembers to do that?   The mixer is fast and easy.

Now you just have to mix it, mix it real good!  Do do do do do do do dodododo do! Mix it real good!

Look it only took about 2-3 minutes.  Now just let it sit for a second and go to the next step. 

Put the pecans in the a small food processors and grind them. 

You want them into small pieces but not into a paste.

Mix the pecans with the rest of the package of bacon and set aside.

Now take the loaded cheeseball mixture out of the mixture and roll it into a big ball.  It is pretty big so it's good to take to a party because it is also very addicting that you could eat the whole thing without even trying.  

** COOL TIP: spray your hands with canola oil or cookbg spray before rolling the mixture into a ball, so it doesn't stick to your hands!**

Now when it a beautiful round ball, roll it in the pecan and bacon mixture, and put in a plate to serve.  

Look at the pretty deliciousness that is just waiting to be devoured!

Loaded Cheeseball

2 (8 oz.) pkg cream cheese

2 c. Shredded cheddar cheese

1 (1oz.) pkg. dry ranch dressing mix

1 thinly sliced green onion

1 c. Real bacon bits

1 c. Chopped pecans

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, mix together the cream cheese, cheese, ranch mix, green onion, and 1/2 cup of bacon bits and mix until all incorporated.  Mix the rest of the bacon bits and pecans together on a plate or small bowl and set aside.  Form cheeseball mixture into a large ball and roll in the pecan and bacon mixture.  Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.  

-Cool 

Do Not Ditch Dairy!

Ok what fad diet have you been following since January 1?  I went into a book store this weekend and I cannot believe the shelves and shelves of fad diets out there. I decided to skim through a few and there is one common theme in all of them:  they eliminate a good group. 

When you remove a food group out of your eating life, it makes it that much more difficult to stick with the plan. One food group getting the boot right now in these fad diets is dairy. 

There is nothing as refreshing as an ice cold glass of milk. Milk and dairy foods have always been a very important part of my healthy eating plan. I know, there is a lot of talk about dairy, but I believe it fits into every healthy lifestyle (yes, even if you're lactose intolerant! But that's for another blog post and a great reason to talk with your dietitian!) 

Why choose dairy foods?  Dairy is full of so many wonderful nutrients. Not a lot of foods can carry such a vast nutritional profile.  Where can you get calcium, protein, phosphorus and Vitamin D in a convenient little package? What I love about Greek yogurt and milk is that it is a perfect balance of carbohydrate and protein. This is important for all healthy individuals wanting to maintain a healthy weight because it helps your satiety and keeps blood sugars more stable. Low-fat or fat-free Chocolate milk is the perfect recovery drink for all ages who perform physical activity and does a better job for keeping your body healthy than sport drinks. You can also find dairy good products at convenience stores and gas stations when you are on the go, which makes them a much healthier choice than many items in these stores. Many fast food joints are also removing soda off their kid menus and offering low-fat milk options a standard. 

What dairy products should you choose? I always recommend low-fat (1%) or fat-free (skim) milk, 1-2% fat on cheese items (including ricotta, cottage and cream cheese) and choosing fat-free Greek yogurt for the extra protein. You will still get all the fantastic nutrients and flavor (and cheesy, melty goodness), without the extra fat. 

How much should you have?  I recommend consuming up to 3 servings a day (8 ounces of fluid milk or 1 cup, 5-6 ounces of yogurt or one small container and 1 ounce of cheese or the equivalent of a piece of string cheese) are serving sizes. 

And don't be scared to use these amazing foods as healthier substitutions in recipes. Fat-free plain Greek yogurt does a fantastic job filling in for sour cream and have you had homemade hot chocolate with fat-free milk?  Talk about dreamy!!! 

This is my all-time favorite dairy recipe that you have got to try! I add 3 scoops of whey protein powder to boost my protein and freeze the other 2 servings to have later. I take it out of the freeze before my workout and it's ready to drink when I get home! 

The recipe is courtesy of dairymakessense.com: 

Banana-Caramel Smoothie

     

• Servings: 3
• Prep time: 5 mins
• Total time: 5 mins
• Created by: Midwest Dairy Association

Ingredients

• 2 medium bananas, peeled, sliced and frozen*
• 2 cups fat-free milk
• ¼ cup purchased caramel sauce
• *Note: Use frozen banana slices to chill and thicken your smoothie. Just peel and slice each banana and freeze in a separate zip-top plastic bag. This is a great way to use ripe bananas and have them ready for your next smoothie.

Preparation

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender; blend until smooth. Serve in tall glasses or on-the-go drink containers.

Cheers! (wearing a milk mustache with pride!)  ~Crazy

      

What Oat Floats Your Boat?

 

 

It is National Oatmeal Month, if you didn't already know, I think it is very important to remind you. Oatmeal is making a comeback in my book. It truly is a superfood that has so many wonderful nutritional qualities. Oatmeal is a whole grain (This definition means that 100% of the original kernel – all of the bran, germ, and endosperm – must be present to qualify as a whole grain, according to the Whole Grain Council) that provides fiber, energy boosting B vitamins to get your day going and Magnesium to help you rest more soundly. You can easily mix in dried fruit, chia seeds, nuts/seeds, cacao and other mix-ins to boost its health factor.

 

What I think is so great about oatmeal is that it "sticks with you" and keeps your hunger in check. This time of year, warm food and high fiber foods, will keep your appetite from getting away with you and keep your blood sugars more stable. When you add in some protein (nuts/seeds, peanut butter, whey protein powder), it last even longer.  There are not many foods that can do this or are as versatile at oats. One of the major questions I get as a dietitian is what type of oats is the healthiest option. My response:  any type of oat is the healthiest if you EAT IT!  The Whole Grains Council has this nifty little breakdown for you.

 

 

Types of Oats

Raw Oats, newly harvested

This is what oats look like before the kernels (groats) are separated from the hulls and stalks. Admittedly, you won't see them this way in stores, but we thought you'd like to see what they look like fresh from the fields.

 

 Whole Oat Groats

A groat is another name for a grain kernel. Whole oat groats are the result of simply harvesting oats, cleaning them, and removing their inedible hulls. You can most often find these in health food stores. They take the longest to cook.

 

Steel Cut Oats

If you cut groats into two or three pieces with a sharp metal blade, you get steel cut oats. They cook quicker than oat groats, because water can more easily penetrate the smaller pieces. Steel cut oats are also sometimes called Irish oatmeal.
 

Scottish Oatmeal

Instead of cutting oats with a steel blade, the Scots traditionally stone-grind them, creating broken bits of varying sizes, which some say results in a creamier porridge than steel-cutting.

 

Rolled Oats – regular (old fashioned)

Rolled oats (sometimes called old fashioned oats) are created when oat groats are steamed and then rolled into flakes. This process stabilizes the healthy oils in the oats, so they stay fresh longer, and helps the oats cook faster, by creating a greater surface area.
 

Rolled Oats – quick or instant

If you roll the oat flakes thinner, and/or steam them longer, you create quick oats and ultimately instant oats. The nutrition stays the same (these are all whole grains) but the texture changes – a plus for some people and a drawback for others. The good thing about having so many choices is that everyone can get exactly the taste they like best!
 

Oat Flours

Oat flour is a whole grain flour that can be used in baking, or for thickening soups and stews. 

 

Having  a few times of week will help you feel healthier, decrease your hunger, give you amazing lasting energy throughout the day and believe it or not, help you sleep more soundly at night.

 

If you haven't had them in long time, give them a second chance. Find one that tickles your fancy above and if you still need some recipe inspiration, you know where you can find me!!!

 

~Crazy

 

 

 

Love Your Food Friday!!!

          

I love food. And I mean all kinds of food. I love healthy food, not-so-healthy food, my mom's food, my dad's food, my elementary school lunch, Cool's food. Just love it all. 

So my question to you today is:  Do you love the food you eat? 

If you cannot sincerely answer yes, then there is where the struggle begins. With the start of 2015, I bet one of your resolutions involve food. Whether it is to eat healthier, plan meals or having dinner with your family, something is on your list. 

I am a firm believer that you can taste the love in food. If it is made with love or you are surrounded by love when you eat it, it's taste better and really fulfills you. These are 2 very important things about eating. 

So why am I talking about loving food so much?  When you really enjoy and love the food you are eating, it builds a good relationship with you and what you eat, resulting in feeling healthier and happier. For example:  pizza is my favorite food. If I decide to have pizza, I am going to pick my favorite restaurant or I want my parents to make their homemade. If I bought a frozen pizza that is just so-so in my eyes it leads me to overeat and not feel satisfied. I don't feel the love. 

Once I figured this easy simple secret, I don't have out of control cravings, I don't overeat and I don't struggle with my weight as much. All very healthy bonuses. 

So to start the new year, before you take a bite of the food you eat, ask yourself "Do I love this?" If the answer is no, put it down, walk away and find the love. 

~Crazy

     

Start your year out right with Greek Salmon

Did you decide to make a New Year resolution?  Is it along the lines of lose weight, eat better, or try new foods?  Well you're in luck if it was because I have an easy weeknight meal but nice enough for a cook at home date night meal.  Plus, it tastes like a gyro without the bread!  I wrote last week that one of my resolutions was to start phasing out foods that might be causing my stomach some havoc so that is why I went for no bread, but doesn't it look so pretty?

Alright so the recipe is fairly simple.  We first start out making the sauce and cutting the cucumber and peeling the skin off of it.  You can keep it on if you don't mind it, or even buy an English cucumber, but I went for the cost effective one and put a little more prep time into it.  

Again it's your recipe, and I don't need the cucumber to be peeled perfectly so now we slice it down the middle, lengthwise.

Take a spoon and remove the seeds. The seeds give off a lot of moisture and I don't want that in my sauce so I remove them. 

Now we only need about 1/2 of the cucumber so I just cut it into long thin strips and then crosswise to give it a small dice.  You want to have the crunch throughout each bit of the sauce. 

Now throw in the Greek yogurt to a small mixing bowl.

Add in the cucumber, dill weed, minced garlic, celery salt, and black pepper to the yogurt and stir until all combined.  Set aside.

Now I have to admit that I started with one idea for the recipe and presentation for the salmon but then midway cooking and picture taking, I went another direction.  For that I will give you a little cooking tip:  When cooking salmon you can remove the skin before cooking of remove after cooking.  Once the skin is cooked the skin is very easy to remove.  

I had originally planned to do a salmon gyro so I was going to flake the salmon when cooking so I removed the skin before.  As soon as I took the skin off I had another idea and nixed the bread portion of the recipe.  

So here is a helpful picture if you want to remove the skin before cooking.  You make a little slit between the fish and the skin so that you can get your knife in there.  As you are carefully running your knife along the edge in the skin, pointing the knife away from you, pull the salmon skin that has been separated from the meat towards you to create tension and to help you knife guide along the skin.  

This is what the skin of the salmon will look like.  No meat on it.  Now throw the skin away.

In a hot skillet add in the salmon, skin side down or "use to be" skin side down, and cook for about 4 minutes.

Get your spatula, and carefully flip over the salmon.

Look at that pretty crust!  Now cook for another 3 to 5 minutes depending on the size of your salmon steaks. 

The salmon will be done when it is opaque and is flaky.  As you can see it flakes very easily.  

Now put the salmon on the plate, top with the yogurt sauce, kalamata olives, tomatoes, and feta cheese. 

Greek Salmon

Serves 4

1/2 c. Cucumber, peeled, diced small

1 c. Greek yogurt, plain, non-fat

1 Tbsp. dill weed

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp. celery salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 lb. salmon

1/2 c. Kalamata olives, pitted, halved

1/2 c. grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 c. Feta cheese, crumbled

 To prepare the sauce, in a medium bowl add the Greek yogurt, cucumber, dill weed, garlic, celery salt and pepper and stir until all combined. Set aside. In a medium skillet over medium high heat, add in the olive oil and salmon and cook skin side up for about 4 minutes.  Turn the fish over with a spatula, and cook another 3 to 5 minutes until the salmon is opaque and flaky.  Transfer salmon to plate and top with cucumber yogurt sauce, olives, tomatoes, and feta cheese. 

-Cool

Bring your son's stuffed animal to work day!

I know some people say "any monkey could do my job!"  Little did I know this morning that I was going to be tested by a monkey at work.

This morning my son, Cyril, decided that he was smarter than me and tried to take his stuffed animal to daycare, even though they are not supposed to.  I have to hand it to him, he had some pretty good sneaky tricks that will keep me on my toes later on in life.  But for right now, I still am one step ahead of him.  As I was leaving daycare, he asked "mommy, will you please take him to work with you?"  

So I put Cyril's stuffed monkey in my pocket and told him I would take care of him for the day.  Little did Cyril know what fun "Monkey" was going to have today.

Look how cute he is, time to have some tea and check some emails.

I guess I was a little boring so monkey went and helped Crazy with her work.

After making some chili, salsa, and snack mix, monkey supervised me packaging some food up for sale.

I guess monkey couldn't handle all the work, because he had nap time and then snack time.  How does a chef and monkey do snack time?  Candied bacon and Oreos!

Thanks Jason for helping with snack time!

"Whew, making food all day is tough!  When is it time to play?"

You put in a long day monkey, time to go home! 

What a great day monkey, thanks for coming to work with me, but nothing compares to seeing joy in a child's eyes!

Happy Friday all!!

-cool