What's Cooking?

Photo via How Stuff Works

What's cooking? If you think you're too busy to cook, you might need to be a little more strategic in the that meals you choose. For example, it can be helpful to make a big batch of something yummy that can be easily re-served as a convenient lunch or fast dinner all week long. Bonus points for making a multi-tasking meal that uses up extra bits of this and that you have lurking in the fridge. Case in point: Homemade Soup.

I made a big stock pot full of soup tonight using this Ellie Krieger recipe which made a delicious dinner served with garlic bread. The soup was fast and easy to make, low in calories, brimming with nutrients, and could easily accommodate a few substitutions depending on what produce you need to use up. Better yet, what didn't get eaten tonight can be reheated alongside a salad or sandwich for lunch tomorrow or even used to fill up a store-bought bakery roll like a bread-bowl for dinner on Friday.

Soups, especially homemade soups that are lower in sodium than their canned counterparts, are a great way to fit more veggies into your diet too - especially as the weather cools and salads start to lose their luster. So go ahead and make a pot-full this weekend, and you'll have a healthy and quick option for even your busiest of days.

Miso Madness

Image via Ecosalon

Recently I have been craving all things miso; my consumption of the delicious Japanese paste coming mainly in the form of miso dressing and miso soup. This tasty culinary seasoning is actually a concoction of fermented ingredients, often including soy, barley, or rice. The result is many different varieties of a salty, savory, distinct paste used extensively in Japanese cuisine. The most common varieties can be found in your local natural grocer's refrigerator case. The different colors of miso, such as brown, red and white, indicate the unique ingredient combination and flavor result.

But the benefits of miso are recognized by more than your taste buds, and many a holistic health buff will regale you with the superpowers of miso. Some of the health advantages of regular miso consumption may include defending against certain types of cancer, strengthening the immune system, preventing the signs of aging (due to the high antioxidant content), and encouraging healthy and beautiful skin. Of course, it is never wise to overdue it on any one type of food. Miso is high in sodium, so a little goes a long way with this Asian wonder. 

Pasta Fresca Salad

My newest culinary creation has quickly become one of my favorites - I'm calling it Pasta Fresca Salad.  It's super easy to make whether you're preparing it for yourself or a whole group - and from start to finish it takes less than fifteen minutes!  I made mine with whole wheat pasta, slices of yellow bell peppers, Greek olives, baby greens, and slices of fig, all drizzled with extra virgin olive oil.  It has a great combination of flavors and packs a ton of antioxidants onto one plate.  It's also perfect for experimenting with seasonal fruits and veggies as they come into their prime and a good way to get some greens into your diet if you're not a fan of plain green salads.  It'd make a great side dish, but I've been devouring a whole plate for lunch and it's just right for getting me through four hours of class in the afternoon!