healthy chimichangas!

Mexican food always get the bad rap of being unhealthy -- it's too oily, high in cholesterol, etc, etc. But I love Mexican cuisine and I just couldn't bear not eating my favorite empanadas, tortillas, chimichangas and burritos for "health" reasons! Thank god I stumbled on a copycat recipe of Chi−Chi’s famous healthy Baked Chicken Chimichangas. Nomnomnom! =) You can use ground pork or beef for this recipe but that would defeat the purpose of eating healthy so try to use chicken or turkey or any white meat. Me, I use leftover chicken -- no skin of course!

photo credit: Janet is Hungry

Baked Chicken Chimichangas

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups chicken, cooked, shredded
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
16 ounces salsa
1/2 teaspoon cumin
pinch of salt
6 − 10 inch flour tortillas
1 cup refried beans
Olive oil (for basting)
Sour Cream
Guacamole

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
2. In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Stir in chili powder, salsa, and cumin. Stir in shredded chicken. Let cool.
3. Grease rimmed 15 x 10 x 1 baking pan.
4. Working with one tortilla at a time, spoon a heaping tablespoon of beans down center of each tortilla. Top with a scant 1/2 cup of the chicken mixture.
5. Fold up the bottom, top and sides of tortilla; secure with wooden toothpicks if necessary.
6. Place chimichangas in greased baking pan, seam side down. Brush all sides with the oil.
7. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and crisp, turning every 5 minutes.
8. Serve with sour cream and guacamole. This recipe has 8-10 servings.

it's officially summer! ^_^

And to welcome the hottest season of the globe, here's a "Jamba Juice Banana Berry Smoothie" recipe for you! Perfect to cool you and your homies after some fun under the sun ^_^ The smoothie is very easy to make (it only has one step, LOL) and will definitely quench anybody's thirst! And it's very healthy too so go and make some!

Ingredients:

1 scoop fat-free vanilla frozen yogurt

1 scoop of raspberry sherbet

3/4 cup strawberry nectar

1 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup apple juice

1 cup of ice

1 banana

Method:

Combine all ingredients in a blend and blend until smooth. Makes 1 24-ounce smoothie. EASY!

Source: The Secret Recipe Forum

eat vegetables! some are aphrodisiacs ;-)

I know Valentines Say is over and there's no use for aphrodisiacs anymore. But hey, who said you can't be libidinous on other days? LOL! And eating healthy veggies at that! So, without further ado, here are the surprising vegetables "slash" aphrodisiacs:

Asparagus boosts histamine production, helping both sexes to achieve orgasm. The spears are also rich in folic acid and vitamin B6, which can boost arousal and orgasm.

Celery contains the male hormone androsterone that stimulates sexual arousal. The Romans were hip to celery’s sensual side: They dedicated it to Pluto, the god of sex.

Chilies contain capsaicin, a chemical that can induce the release of endorphins to create a temporary euphoria. Capsaicin also increases circulation and sensation in the genital area.

Licorice is potent in taste and smell. Black licorice was also shown to increase blood flow to the genitals, leading to improved erection in men. 

Tex Mex Salmon!

Love Mexican food but is now trying to eat healthy? Good news! Today we have a recipe guaranteed to squash your Mexican food cravings but won't make your cholesterol and fat blood levels soar ;-) Presenting to you -- Tex Mex Salmon! Yup, salmon as in fish. That's what make this "Mexican" recipe healthy. Plus the fact we won't be frying anything in oil or lard. But, don't push it and eat as much as you can -- that's still unhealthy! :p Anyway, happy cooking and always, always eat moderately!

Ingredients (6 servings)

1 7 oz. package of Ortega taco chips/shells

2 lbs. salmon fillets in pieces (you can actually use any fish you want)

1/2 cup olive oil (or any healthy oil you want)

Taco sauce (optional)

Instructions

Heat taco shells/chips according to package directions.

In food processor or blender, finely crush shells. Blend in Taco seasoning.

Dip fish in olive oil. Coat with crumbs.

Arrange in shallow baking dish.

Bake in preheated 425 degrees F oven for half hour or until fish flakes easily when macerated with a fork.

Serve with Taco sauce (optional).

eat healthy - GRILL FOOD!

And the best food to grill? Vegetables! Now that's doubly healthy eh? =) A word of warning though, GRILL LIGHTLY -- don't char the food being grilled. If ever charred, remove the blackened portion (don't eat!) coz that's carcinogenic =( Also, use OLIVE OIL and other healthy oils to toss your veggies. Anyway here are tips for grilling vegetables. Stay healthy and always, always eat moderately!

GREEN BEANS OR HARICOTS VERTS

Trim the ends and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over direct high heat 3 to 5 minutes.

SWEET POTATOES

Peel and slice into 1/2" thick wedges before tossing with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over direct medium heat, turning often 15 to 20 minutes.

SUMMER SQUASH

Bias slice into 1/2" thick planks, then toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over direct high heat 5 to 7 minutes.

WHOLE BABY ZUCCHINI

Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper then grill over direct high heat 7 to 10 minutes.

ASPARAGUS

Trim off woody ends then toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over direct high heat 3 to 5 minutes.

CORN ON THE COB

Shuck ears, trim ends and halve crosswise. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over direst high heat 10 to 15 minutes turning often.

GRILLED BAKED POTATOES

Wash and dry russet potatoes (8-10 oz. each) then rub with olive oil, salt and pepper. Grill over indirect heat for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Aphrodisiacs for Valentines Day ;-)

Valentines Day is fast approaching and if you haven't had any plans yet, why not have an aphrodisiac picnic somewhere dark? Hehe! Here's some yummy foods that will put love and romance in the air.. ;-)

Avocado: The Aztecs called the avocado tree Ahuacuatl, which translated means "testicle tree." The ancients thought the fruit hanging in pairs on the tree resembled the male's testicles. This is a delicious fruit with a sensuous texture.

Chocolate: "Love," someone said, "is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time." The Aztecs referred to chocolate "nourishment of the gods." Chocolate contains chemicals thought to effect neurotransmitters in the brain and a related substance to caffeine called theobromine. It was actually banned from some monasteries centuries ago.

Honey: Many medicines in Egyptian times were based on honey including cures for sterility and impotence. Medieval seducers plied their partners with Mead, a fermented drink made from honey. Lovers on their "honeymoon" drank mead and it was thought to "sweeten" the marriage.

 

Durian: It smells like hell but tastes like heaven. In Indonesia, the Javanese impose a strict set of rules on what may or may not be consumed with it or shortly thereafter. A saying "Durian jatuh sarung naik" ("The durians fall and the sarungs come up) refers to this belief. The warnings against the supposed lecherous quality of this fruit soon spread to the West, the Swedenborgian philosopher Herman Vetterling commented on so-called "erotic properties" of the durian in the early 20th century.

Garlic: The "heat" in garlic is said to stir sexual desires. Make sure you and your partner share it together. Garlic has been used for centuries to cure everything from the common cold to heart ailments. This is a good time for moderation.

Oyster: Oysters were documented as an aphrodisiac food by the Romans in the second century A.D as mentioned in a satire by Juvenal. He described the wanton ways of women after ingesting wine and eating "giant oysters." An additional theory is that the oyster resembles the "female" genitals. In reality, oysters are a very nutritious and high in protein. Raw oysters are very high in zinc which raises sperm and testosterone production.

More of the aphrodisiacs HERE --> it's my source article actually. Hehe! What I listed above are just my fave aphrodisiacs =) For Valentines gift ideas and gift tips, click HERE. Good luck! =)

are fastfood chicken sandwich safe?

Watch the video and find out! If you can't think of any fastfood chicken sandwich, think of KFC's yummy chicken burgers.. Mmmm good! *drooling saliva*

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It's a brand-new year and I bet most of you want to have a happier life this 2008! My suggestion? Focus on “body mind spirit” – be healthy, be smart, be in touch with your soul! And within the first quarter of the year, I bet you'll be as a bunny hopping on the field =) Be healthy is easier said than done since you have to undo all the unhealthy habits you’ve been practicing for years. So let’s just start with the mind-be smart thing! After graduating from college, most of us didn’t go for higher education anymore (masteral, short-course diplomas, etc). Often, we just deal with work stuff and sometimes, with repetition, our mind stagnates.

For 2008, why not try to join programs aimed for self improvement or personal development? Who knows, you might gain a new talent and look at yourself with a new perspective. At the very least, your brain will be happy with the stimuli you gave it. Ergo, you’d be a happier person! =) As for the spirit, it doesn’t have to be religious. Do what your soul tells you to do. For me, meditation just right after waking up and going to sleep does it best =) And my last words? THROW OUT YOUR JUNKFOOD and start bingeing on fruits and vegetables. And if you can forego meat too, that'd be the best thing you can do to make your body happy. Ergo, you'll be happier! But then, these are all just suggestions. No violent reactions please ;-p

October is...

...Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So, to all bloggers out there, THINK PINK! =) Our family is lucky coz we have no history of breast cancer (so far). We have breast lumps but histopath results have all revealed benign changes. Other wives, mothers and sisters are not so lucky. The sad thing is that Breast Cancer is preventable and it is curable if caught early. So guys, let's amplify the awareness campaign! Who knows, the life (and breasts) you save might be your own. Here's a yummy food photo to inspire all of you! =)

credits: Eleni's Breast Cancer Awareness Cookies

P.S. I'm not still through transferring my blog. So much stuff is going on in my offline life, lol!

i'm going on a diet! lol

My lifestyle recently underwent a very drastic change. For the past two years, I have been going on 24-hour hospital duties that are sometimes so hectic and busy. Often, I’m unable to eat on time and I lack sleep. Coupled with a very active lifestyle, my weight just hovers the below normal range. I may look thin to some but my body mass index or bmi is still within normal limits. If you wanna check your own bmi, here’s a free bmi calculator for you.

Anyway, last June I decided to go on hiatus from the medical field. So now, for the past two months, I’ve been a bum at home. No more 24-hour duties, no more running around the hospital hallways, no more missed meals and sleep deprivation. My life has become sedentary, save for gardening activities and doing household chores. I just bet my basal metabolic rate or bmr has decreased, which is the starting point in gaining weight. Wahh, that’d be nightmare!!! If you’re as health conscious as me, you can check your bmr with this free bmr calculator. Hope your bmr is way better than mine, hehe! :p

Aside from my life going sedentary, yummy food is available to me 24/7! Goodness! My low bmr and increased food intake will definitely equal to weight gain, huhu! =( I don’t wanna gain weight coz it won’t match my petite figure. Thus, starting today, I promise to watch what I eat and count the calories. And of course, I promise to be active again. No more sitting in front the pc for hours. Gotta move baby! =) The pics above show my lunch for today -- spiced ham sandwich with lettuce. HEALTHY!!!

healthy FOODbits

I am an avid reader of everything! From classic obscure stuff (mimsy were the borgroves!) to popular fiction (Harry Potter!!!), from medical books to cookbooks and architecture manuals, from sexy Cosmolitan and FHM to mainstream Reader’s Digest and Time Magazine. Comics, food labels, graphic novels-- name it and I most likely have read it; barring perhaps old poems that are not about love, hehe! Seriously, since the start of the year, I have read across a lot of stuff which have influenced my life for the past 6 months. Medical updates and healthy living tidbits are the most common ones I applied on my life. Others are about love and how to deal effectively with other people. In this, the 10-year anniv mag of Cosmo is a must-have!!! I have learned so much from their thickest issue ever! =) Anyway since this is a food blog, what I’d share is of course related to food. Most of these were new to me so I’d guess they might be new to you too. Read on and be enlightened!

We have been taught from the beginning that canned goods are bad for us due to a lot of preservatives. But did you know that canned stuff can be good for you? According to the British Nutrition Foundation, the following canned goods can boost your diet with essential nutrients--

1. Canned apricots and gooseberries provide more vitamin C than their fresh counterparts.
2. Tinned and canned tomatoes are composed of tomatoes that have been cooked in small amounts of oil and fat, and our body absorbs the lycopene better this way. Lycopene is an antioxidant found in tomatoes.
3. Canned chickpeas in water – just 5 tablespoons of this will provide 6 grams of your recommended daily fibre intake of 18 grams. That’s already 1/3! Nice! However I haven’t found this in the supermarkets here in Davao. Tsk! The pix at right shows canned chickpeas. Make sure you wash the peas thoroughly before eating or cooking.

Filipinos are fond of eating rice and it is rare to see bread in the dining table except during breakfast (which is incomplete without pandesal!). But more and more Filipinos are shifting to bread thinking it is healthier. But not all bread is created equal. If you are seeking for a healthy loaf, check the label of the bread for: (Source: British Dietetic Association)

1. The word “whole” before the first mention of grain of flour in the ingredient list. Our family usually buys the “whole wheat” variety which adds a lot of fiber to our diet and texture for cooking purposes. Click the pix for more info.
2. Two grams of fiber per slice – fiber is the magic word if you wanna go healthy.
3. Added seeds and nuts – even though the fat and calorie content will increase, seeds and nuts provide phytochemicals (and proteins to keep you fuller!) which help fight disease.

Our grandmothers are known to use “vetsin” in most of their dishes. They swear it makes the food tastier, and this is backed by a Japansese claim that the vetsin taste is the 5th basic one and is called “umame”. But then it is the Japanese company Ajinomoto that made vetsin use ubiquitious so I can’t really trust the Japanese on the umame claim, can I? Hehe! Vetsin is more popularly known as MSG (monosodium glutamate) to the younger generations who grew up influenced by media that MSG = cancer. They seem loathe to use vetsin in cooking but you see them happily munching on junkfoods which is full of MSG and other preservatives. Others proudly claim they only buy food labeled “no MSG”. Unfortunately for them, foods stating “no MSG” may contain another flavour enhancer known as the “new MSG” – disodium 5’-ribonucleotides 635. When I first read about this, I was shocked as I’m one of the people who avoid MSG as much as I can. I’m not eating the old-MSG but was I was pigging out on the new-MSG?? Oh God, the thought of it! Ignorance is truly a bliss! Now I’m wondering what could this new-MSG cause in the long-term. Cancer?? Spare me! As a consequence, I’m reading food labels a lot more closely than ever before. No MSG? Still not safe! READ MORE CLOSELY. And google stuff you find suspicious. Let the new era of food-enhancer paranoia begin!