Food shenanigans

I have tried differ ways to increase my daily fiber intake. Oats, metamucil, wheat in the form of bread, pasta, cereal and snacks, vegetables and supplements. This was aimed at improving both my digestive system and metabolism while reducing my intake of processed carbohydrates. Still, I did not find that perfect tasting fiber meal. I complained about this to a friend of mine (shout out to Bomzybee) who suggested bulgur. Yes, she had to spell it out because I had never heard of it. Thanks to google and the nutritional experts, I found this to be high in both fiber and protein. JACKPOT!!!!! I love the taste and it is gradually replacing the processed carbohydrates in my pantry. Bulgur is wicked easy to make and goes with anything. Infact, you can substitute rice in any recipe for bulgur. So far, I have made bulgur in two different ways and I have not been disappointed. Ingredients Bulgur Carrots, green beans, peas and sweet corn (or mixed vegetables) Chicken or beef broth Scallions seas...

It is 80 degrees outside and the flowers are looking beautiful. What a perfect day to make some spaghetti squash. Its vibrant color, taste and low calorie content makes it a great summer dish alongside a chocolate sundae (YUM!). Ingredients Spaghetti squash Olive oil Salt  Black pepper (seasonings of choice) Any side of choice (Green beans and plantain) Any sauce of choice (Minced meat sauce) Method Cut the squash into two along the longitudinal side. Scrape out the seeds. Season as you wish and place in an oven pre-heated to 400 degrees for about 30 minutes. The size of the squash will determine how long it stays in the oven. After 30mins, occasionally taste and check for the desired texture. Use a fork to pull apart and scrape the spaghetti out of the skin. Serve hot with any side or sauce of choice. I served mine with minced meat sauce, some oven baked green beans and fried plantains.     Final outcome Spaghetti squash served with minced meat sauce, green beans and fri...

Two things you can tell from reading my blog are that I love pasta and I keep looking for alternatives. So, I decided to try a low-calorie alternative in the form of eggplant lasagna. Thank God I did a thorough research on this if not, I would have ended up with eggplant soup. Flash back to a previous write-up on my "epic fail" story,  I still had some of the filling so, I thought to use it in this recipe.   (Read here:  https://myfoodshenanigans.blogspot.com/2020/05/epic-fail.html ) ,  Heart racing, I say to myself, you better come out edible. #grabsapron Alexa, play some Colbie Caillat Ingredients Eggplant Ragu sauce (or whatever sauce you like) Shredded cheese (or alternative if dairy sensitive) Minced meat sauce Method Wash and cut off the longitudinal ends of the eggplant. Thinly and evenly slice the eggplant along the longitudinal side so that it cooks evenly. Dehydrate the eggplant by baking in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes. You can also use sal...

Pasta was once my go-to carb. At a point my my life, I could not go through a day without a pasta based dish. It was my addiction. Someone who knew about this decided to gift me a black squid ink pasta. Oh boy! My love for pasta could not surmount the look and high-end value of the black squid ink pasta. Isn't it amazing how psychology works? How appearance can change your perception and value of something? Imagine my reaction, walking down the aisle at the grocery store and stumbling on the black bean pasta which, just like the name, is also black in color. Of course, I eat black beans so, I grabbed it alongside the edamame based pasta. Good thing about both pasta is that they are high in protein and fiber but low in carbohydrates. However, their calorie per serving is similar to some flour based pasta. If you are active or wanting to build muscles, you may consider this as as alternative to your protein shake. Both pasta are easy to cook as you just boil it for about 10 minutes. ...

Before I started to read food labels, I initially thought potatoes were unhealthy so, I avoided them. Fortunately for me, I taught an undergraduate class in experimental biology where we performed chemical assays on macromolecules and the various classes of food. In short, we cooked potatoes, onions and cereal in the lab for experimental reasons. Although the lab smelled like a 5 star michelin restaurant, we did not eat the cooked food. My love for potatoes got restored (honestly, it never left. I just found a reason to indulge in it). Not only are they high in potassium which is good for contractility of the heart but they have a high water content and a low calorie index provided they are not in the form of bagged chips. Out goes the chips, in comes the fresh potatoes. My go to are the golden yukon for mashed potatoes, fingerlings for roasted potatoes and sweet potatoes for fries either as oven baked or airfried. Ingredients Potatoes (Golden yukon, Fingerlings) Garlic Butter Cheese /...

About 3 weeks ago, I had an "EPIC fail" moment with making beef pastry / meatpie.  ( https://myfoodshenanigans.blogspot.com/2020/05/epic-fail.html) A dear friend of mine (Tayo) immediately uplifted my spirits by sharing an easy and simple recipe with me. I purchased all ingredients in the recipe but left them in my refrigerator for over 2 weeks. Everytime I saw them sitting in the cold, they smiled back at me in excitement (Yeah, I may communicate with ingredients). My response to them was to check the expiration date and console myself that I had more time to procrastinate. I normally do not procrastinate, so, you can imagine the sleepless nights I had knowing I had an upcoming battle. The fear of not wanting another epic fail was real. Fast forward to 2 weeks later....... Okie dokie! I need to get this over with and deal with the outcome. Alexa, play "Battlefield" by Jordin Sparks! Ingredients Almond flour (2 cups) Mozzarella  cheese (200G) Cream cheese (100G) Sal...

Thank God for diversity and that we all don't belong to just one culture. That will be so boring. Imagine the monotony of eating the same type of food over and over (YUCK).  My love for culture has led my wandering feet to multiple restaurants and social gatherings where I have had Nigerian, American, Mexican, Chinese, South Korean, Italian, Polish, Greek, Egyptian, Kenyan, Brazilian, Indian and Hawaiian cuisines.  While eating, I would dissect the meal, have conversations about the ingredients and ponder on how to replicate them. Once it starts getting complicated, I drown my thoughts because I know my only option is to re-visit the restaurant.  Chinese stir fry on the other hand is versatile, easy to make, the ingredients are readily available and all you need is a wok.  See why I invested in a wok (#winks!). I make my simple version of the stir fry and omit certain ingredients like brown sugar / honey and corn starch. Ingredients Broccoli Carrots Mixed bell pepper...

From experience, I know that a healthy lifestyle and dieting should not be boring. One way to infuse vegetables into a finger-licking meal is by making tacos. #salivating Arrrgghhhhhhhh.... I have to make two of each because my judge is lactose sensitive and I like my real cheese. Looking at the time, 1 hour should be enough. Alexa, play some big daddy weave! Ingredients Taco shells (soft or hard) Cole slaw mix Shrimps Chicken (left overs will cut your time by half) Bbq sauce Cheese (cheese alternative) Bell peppers Avocado oil mayonnaise (any mayonnaise will suffice) Spicy shredded peppers (or sriracha) Guacamole (optional. My calorie intake dictates the inclusion of guac) Method Clean, marinate and bake shrimp at 350 degrees till cooked (usually about 6 minutes). Dice the cooked shrimp and set aside. Marinate, cook or grill chicken as you like. Shred the cooked chicken and simmer in bbq sauce-sriracha mix till it is reduced and set aside. Hard taco shells In a clean bowl, add cole sl...

Yes, you heard right. After my epic fail with the beef patty, I knew I could not give up on baking. I decided to look for the easiest bake recipe with the goal of boosting my bakonfidence (baking-confidence). Even if Merriam Webster considers making this an official word in the dictionary, I doubt I can ever play this as a scrabble word. ....Back to my baking journey...... Everyone talks about banana bread and how easy it is to make. As I do my research, I realize that not only do I have to clean just a bowl and spatula, I also have all the ingredients. I like the coconut flour because of its high fiber content. I also do not include coconut oil to cut down on the calories and it still comes out moist. Alexa, play some Sara Evans to brighten my mood! Ingredients 3 medium ripe bananas (Large bananas may make it dry) 2 eggs Almond butter Vanilla extract Powdered cinnamon Baking soda Cooking spray Coconut flour Sugar (This is optional as I only used this once when my bananas were not very...

Why is it so hard to drink water? Why do I need a type of flavor in my liquid? Soda is a NO. Squeezing fresh fruits into water does not satisfy that thirst. Artificial favors mess with the digestive system. Sparkling water leaves me bloated. Milk surprisingly quenches all forms of thirst.  Yaayyyyyy. Solution found!!  Errrrrr,.......maybe not. I celebrated too early because lactose sensitivity just knocked me down. As I roam around the dairy aisle in grocery store, I see so many dairy-free alternatives - soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, flax seed milk. Geez, these are premium products (you have to remember that I am a student living off freebies). #thinking. I can divert some of my savings on gas to my quench my thirst. I pick up one of each and grudgingly paid. As I sit at the kitchen island, I take a sip from all and boy do I love the taste.  #satisfaction. In my ever curious state, I read up on all the ingredients and search on YouTube for the easiest DIY videos. Makin...

I accept every out door bbq and burger invite. The sight and smell of that grill.............drools......... Okay! Reality check! I don't have a grill and neither am I a fan of being smoked. I really crave a burger right now and with the COVID-19 restrictions, my invite to summer socialization is in the negatives. Time to improvise. Grabbing mask, grocery store runs. As I jaywalk along the aisle, I think to myself, do I really want to make the patty myself or simply get a pre-packed patty? Turns on the phone and consults my to-do list. Exercise is dusted, house squeaky clean. All left to do today is visit the driving range. Grabs 93% lean meat. There is nothing wrong in building some muscles while marinating and making the patty. I just have to silence the scream for joy from my stomach and endure some patience. Ingredients Minced meat (I like the highest percentage of lean meat I find which is usually 93%. if you want a juicier patty, go for a lesser percentage of lean meat.) Scal...

Today is a normal day where my energy is at a basal level. By basal, I mean 80% hyperactivity. I try to practice moderation in every aspect of my daily life so, no coffee today for the extra 20% boost. I perform well at this level as I have already edited half of my dissertation without having breakfast. Ding, Dang, Dong! The bell chimes. You know what that means? Lunch time!!! Fridge, here I come. Marching like a disciplined soldier, I rummage through an almost empty fridge. It is high time I paid a visit to the grocery store. ah well,...... not today. What can I whisk up with almost nothing? #Grabs ingredients Gluten free chicken wrap. In less than 30 minutes, I should be done.  #Dancing #smiling Ingredient Diced chicken breasts Bbq sauce Gluten free wraps Onions Olive oil Mayonnaise Coleslaw mix Cheese Cooking spay   Method Heat some olive oil in a sauce pan, add chopped onions and stir till translucent. Add the diced chicken and stir fry to cook. While stir frying, add spi...