Almond bread

Hey there,

I know, I know. I've been gone for a very long time. There has been some personal family matters that have kept me busy. Not only that but the tendonitis on my right hand has been stopping me from lifting weights and doing other exercise movements. It has also kept me away from the keyboard and mouse.

Just how do you fight depression? Do you think food plays a part on how you feel emotionally? I believe so. Exercise and clean eating keeps me fueled with good energy and keeps me mentally stable. "Endorphins make you happy, happy people just don't shoot their husbands." ~ Elle Woods~ sounds familiar? From the movie Legally Blonde with Reese Whitherspoon. I know, I'm a dork and a sucker for chic flicks.

I have been less active, bored, depressed, and I want to eat junk food, etc. You know how that goes. I have been fighting to not give in to junk food, so I began by cleaning out my pantries from the food I eat when I feel depressed. My demons are: sweet or salty breads, and chips. Damn you carbs! No, I won't stop eating foods I like. I just need to replace the bad ingredients for the good ones.

I finally made peace with the fact that I can't exercise the way that I was used to. Most importantly I decided not to fuel my body with the wrong foods. One bad choice always leads to a worst one, so my venture to a happy tummy, and happy me continues.

I googled almond bread recipes and tada! Jorge appeared into my life. LOL A video popped up so I checked him out. I was thrilled because I had all the ingredients and it was as easy as 1,2,3.

Here's a picture of the bread when I took it out of the oven.

 I poured the mixture onto a 9x13 baking dish because I wanted a flat type of bread.

Yeah, instead of the traditional Naan for my Chicken Curry I had Almond bread instead ;)

Here are the Ingredients:

3 1/2 cup of almond flour
3 eggs
1/4 cup of melted butter
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup of Greek yogurt (FAGE Total)
1/4 tsp of salt

I will let Jorge explain the instructions:

Happy tummy = Happy heart. What's your secret?

Until next time. With love,

Tamara

Easy Shrimp Ceviche recipe.

Summer is just around the corner and one of my favorite cold dishes to enjoy during this hot season is Shrimp Ceviche. It's so easy and refreshing.
There are numerous recipes out there. Mine is simple and super easy. Of course you can always add/omit any ingredients you want according to your taste.

El verano esta a la vuelta de la esquína y uno de mis platos favoritos para disfrutar en ese calorcito es un rico ceviche de camarones. Es super fácil y refrescante.

Ingredients: 
Ingredientes:

4 pounds of raw shrimp (4 libras de camarones)                   
6 roma tomatoes  (6 tomates roma)
1 medium white onion (1 cebolla blanca mediana)
6 lemons (6 limones)
Cilantro 
Oregano
Salt (sal)
Pepper (pimienta)

Directions:

Direcciones:

  Boiling salted water. 

Poner agua con sal a hervir.

Add shrimp until they turn pink for about 5 minutes.

Agregar los camarones por 5 minutos hasta que cambien a color rosa.

 Drain the shrimp.

Escurrir los camarones en un colador.

Remove shell and tail. Cut shrimp into bite pieces.

Remover el cascarón y la vena negra. Cortar en trozos pequeños.

 In a bowl add diced tomatoes.

En un recipiente agregar tomates en trozos.

 Add diced onion.

Agregar cebolla picada.

Add the juice of 6 lemons.

Añadir el jugo de 6 limones.

Add shrimp, salt, pepper, oregano and cilantro. Stir all ingredients.

Agregar los camarones, sal, pimienta, oregano y cilantro. Mezclar todos los ingredientes.

Cover with plastic wrap and let sit in the refrigerator for about an hour. 

Cubrir con plastico y refrigerar por 1 hora.

When ready to serve you can add avocado, cucumber, and or celery. Jalapeños are also optional.

You can enjoy this with tortilla chips, celery, plantain or yucca homemade chips.

Cuando vayas a servir puedes añadir aguacate, pepino, apio y/o chile jalapeño.

Puedes acompañar este platillo con tostadas, apio, chips de plátano o yucca hecha en casa.

Remember the tip I gave you on my previous cooking post? You can check it out here Baked taquitos A.K.A fried taquitos

 Recuerdan el consejo que les di en mi post de cocina anterior? lo puedes ver aquí Baked taquitos A.K.A fried taquitos

It works as long as you leave it inside the refrigerator =)

Funciona siempre y cuando lo dejes adentro del refrigerador =)

Until next time,

With <3

Tamara

Baked Taquitos (A.K.A Fried Taquitos)

I'm in the kitchen! I spend most of my day in the kitchen. Breakfast, lunch and of course dinner.

Today was special. My Mexican friend likes my cooking and wanted to eat taquitos (fried taquitos).  I am not Mexican, but I love Mexican food. I'm always trying to come up with good recipes. I didn't want fried taquitos. I follow the blog 100 Days Of Real Food, and I saw the post on "How to Bake Taquitos." Since my friend was craving fried taquitos, I decided to try this new recipe.

This is how it went down.

The following pics came straight out of my camera =)

 Step 1. Wear your apron ($3 at the 3Coin store)

Ingredients for Piña colada 

Blend with ice

YUM!

 A trick I found on Pinterest. It claims to keep your Cilantro, Parsley, etc. fresh for up to 2 weeks. 

I'll let you know if it works.

Some of the ingredients.

I boiled the chicken, and out of the chicken stock I made veggie soup, then I shredded the chicken.

I also used some of the chicken stock to make rice.

 My daughter took this pic of me rolling the taquitos.

Here is the trick. Instead of frying the taquitos in oil you spray some canola oil over the taquitos and bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 425 degrees.

Guacamole: avocado, onion, tomatoes, salt and of course lemon juice.

 Queso fresco (Part skim milk cheese), diced red radishes, diced tomatoes, lettuce, and mild salsa.

 Final product.

 Veggie soup.

 Delicious baked taquitos (my friend said she didn't notice the difference between fried or baked). 

Don't forget to enjoy with some tasty Piña Colada or your favorite drink of choice ;)

Did you like this post? Are you interested in more cooking posts?

Until next time.

With <3

Tamara