Monday, September 22, 2014

I'm back......

 Wow I can't believe how long its been since I last wrote in my blog.  Its been awhile since I have posted anything but I started cooking again!  And shockingly I have yet to kill anyone with my food!  I did notice that my last blog was before I got married. So almost 3 years have pasted and I am now a wife, a mother to my son Nicholas who is almost 14 months, and a stay at home mom.

So in the past 3 years I have traded in my glamorous life of great trendy haircuts, 4 1/2 inch Louboutins, and countless "Jamie Spa Days"  for pony tails ( I rarely have time to shower on a daily basis) single pair of Nike Sneakers, and do it yourself pedicures with home wax kits (absolutely not the same).  But I wouldn't change it for the world.

So while I was pregnant I gained weight.  Not the normal weight which most women gain.  I am talking 65 pounds of pure happiness.  That happiness which was pasta, bagels, nutella and peanut butter sandwiches, and watermelon.  I was hungry from the moment I woke up in the morning until the second I went to bed.  And when I got up a hundred times a night to pee I felt like 2 bowls of cereal at 3 am was absolutely a necessity.  It got to the point that I my OB told me that maybe not eating carbs might be in my best interest.  He is an idiot.  Note to any man out there who may read this - Don't ever tell a pregnant woman what she can and can not eat.


So here I am 14 months after giving birth to my son Nicholas and weight gone!  Thank god but I owe it to a low calorie meal plan and a walking / running.  So on my 32 birthday I thought I would start back up again with my blogging once Nicholas goes to sleep.  But this time I am going to add my recipes!  Lucky you kid!

Most of my meals that I am making are weight watchers but full of flavor!  I give them my own name and I will also give the points plus value.  They are so tasty that George is yet to know that they are low fat! Enjoy! And I promise I will be back soon!  Sooner than 3 years!



Ginger Soy Glazed Pork Chops with a Hawaiian Hash

Ingredients
1.5 Tsp of canola oil
1 pound of lean boneless pork chops,trimmed - 4 4ouce peices
1/4 Tsp of table salt
1/4 Tsp of black pepper
1/8 Tsp of pepper flakes
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium red peppe,r diced
2.5 Tsp of fresh grated raw ginger root
3/4 cup of water
1 large sweet potato, cut into bite sizes peieces
2 cups fresh pineapple, cut into chunks
2 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp of brown sugar 
1/4 cup sliced scallions
2 Tbsp Cilantro (i didn't use this because I think it tastes like soap)
1 lime cut into 4 wedges


Instructions
  1. In a large non stick skillet, heat oil over medium high heat
  2. Sprinkle pork with salt and pepper; cook turning once, until golden and cooked through, about 4 minutes each side.  Remove to a plate: set aside
  3. Add onion, red pepper, ginger, and red pepper flakes to skillet; cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.  Stir in water and scrape the bottom of the pan to loosen bits of food stuck to pan; bring to a simmer
  4. Add sweet potatoes and reduce heat to medium; cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 8-10 minutes
  5. Add pineapple; cover and simmer 1 minute for flavors to blend
  6. Stir in soy sauce and brown sugar
  7. Add pork back into skillet and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes; stir in scallions and cilantro.  Drizzle with lime juice and serve
  8. Yields 1 pork chop and 1 cup of hash per serving for 8 points






Sunday, January 15, 2012

There is poop in Shrimp?

I love Shrimp.  You put shrimp in front of me and I will eat it all day every day.  Its the perfect appetizer at any party.  And not to mention how easy shrimp cocktail is either, buy it, put it on a plate with a little lemon zest and cocktail sauce.  BAM your Martha fricken Stewart!   So it only makes sense that since I'm cooking now (in true Greek style, this is a Greek girl in the kitchen) that I am  going towards anything with shrimp in it.  Because shrimp is easy.  I'm making a CIOPINNO!  For those of you who are not familiar with this most amazing dish it is a fish stew.

I find my recipe, make a list and head down to Hannafords.  As I am gathering all my ingredients I find the only thing left is the fish.  Since I am now what I like to call a chef - the fish guy remembers me from my fish taco experiment.  I'm calling just that.  An experiment because yeah it was that bad.  So Ken my fish guys yells at me for the other side of the counter - "Hey Mama whatcha maken for suppa tonight?"  Huh?  Really?  Does he really get to say that to me because I bought red snapper from him last week?  I smile and tell him what I'm making a ciopinno. "I need a pound of cod, little necks, scallops", and as I'm looking in the case I look up and say " and shrimp.  But not those ones, those ones are gray.  I need pink shrimp.  You know what I am talking about?"   He starts laughing and goes "hunny these become pink once you cook them."  NEWSFLASH - totally thought shrimp cocktail was raw shrimp.   "Oh right I know that" Grab my shrimp and run to the check out leaving behind sheer dumbness at the fish counter.  Note to self please start shopping at Market Basket.

I'm home in the kitchen I start preparing my ciopinno.  Cutting up the veggies, cleaning the little necks and cutting the cod.  I continue reading my recipe and to my surprise I have to clean the shrimp.  Hmmm...clean it?  I have to remove the poop line?  Shrimp have poop in them?  I am not okay with this.  Bracing myself for the worst, I go in the closet and grab a pair of plastic gloves that I use to color hair and  I begin to clean the shrimp.  Removing the shell then inspecting closely with my eyes & I look close and yup there it is!  The poop!!  As gross as I thought it was going to be it really not as bad as I thought.   I run a little cold water under the shrimp and remove it.  I will though say I will never do it with out gloves.  Cleanliness people, come on your touching poop!!  And I continue to cook.....and cook....and cook!  A hour and half later I made the most amazing meal of my life!  No joke George was licking the bowl!

So in conclusion clean a little poop -
xoxo
Jamie

Monday, January 9, 2012

What do you mean you don't eat no meat? That's okay, I make lamb!

Growing up I always told everyone I was Greek.  I was Greek and nothing else.  I know that I am a little Irish, I think that there is also a little English in me as well, but I never told anyone.  It was like telling people that I was Greek was like telling the world, "I am part of the royal family!"  (we won't get into my obsession with the royal the family, we can save that for another day)  But no really, I'm not joking when I say I truly thought it was the coolest thing ever because I am about 1/8 Greek.  This all holds true until I met George.

I met George at a Greek Restaurant for "Greek Night."  So the first thing we start chatting about is the fact that oh my god I'm Greek and he is Greek and this is just a match made in Athens!  Well cut to a few months later and George brings me home to meet his mother and father.  His parents that he has been talking to in Greek who live in Greece!  (i think my little white lie about my greekness is about to kick me in my irish butt) I realize that I am really not that Greek  and I have been not only lying to every Nick, Peter, and Kosta that  I came across but also George!  Shoot!

Well like any good Greek household the smell of lamb is the most fantastic smells ever.  The smells of lemon and garlic cooking in the oven takes over the house for hours. I dream of it.  Though I have never made this amazing piece of meat.  The only meat I cook is the pepperoni on the pizza of weight watchers meals.  But its a new year.  Its a new me and while at Hannafords the other day I picked up a package of lamb.  I was going to cook it.  I had no idea how but I could so do this.  I have seen George's mother prepare this dish several times.  How on earth could I mess this up.  This is all I keep telling George.  Have you ever looked a Greek man in the eyes and said this?  Its not good!  But he had faith in me.  I put on my apron and went in full force!

Not really knowing where to start I open up a freezer bag and add the lamb, the juice of 2 lemons, an obscene amount of garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, and greek olive oil.   And then since I don't have a frying pan I walk downstairs and borrow one from my mother in law - Dena if you are reading this, THANKS your pots and pans have been my to my savior!  Turns out it came out great! A little well done but I was to afraid of not cooking it enough that I over cooked it.  But all in all my Greek loved it!

xoxo
Jamie

Sunday, January 8, 2012

New Years Resolutions

I'm not big on new years resolutions.  I've never been.  Its always the same for me every year.  Loose weight, go the gym, and eat healthy.  Which always starts off great  at full speed and then right around January 15th I loose all control and eat the cookies, cake, ice cream, really anything sweet.  Then I proceed to take a long hard look at myself and say "oh screw this diet, I am so starting fresh on Monday."  This usually happens on a Wednesday.  I needed something good.  Something that wouldn't seem like a chore. 

Back in November I moved in with my fiance.  For the first time I would be living with a boy.  Which is really worth its own blog.  But now for the first time ever he is going to realize that all I know how to cook and I use this word lightly is chips and salsa, lean cuisines, and a bowl of cereal.  I'm not sure is George and my mother were in cahoots with each other but for Christmas I received not 1 but 2 cook books.    I'm 29, its time.  I need to start cooking!  George is beginning to wither away!  So here is my resolution for 2012, I'm going to start cooking.  Nothing crazy .  Just twice a week.  Also since we are getting married in June I thought it would be a great way to have fun with each other in the kitchen!!

I hope you enjoy

xoxo
Jamie