Classic Eggplant Caponata

Caponata is a great Sicilian vegetable dish. You can eat it as a relish or along side chicken, beef, roast pork or fish. This Eggplant based recipe has a wonderful sweet and sour taste, a combination of sugar and vinegar. It's great eaten as an antipasto, spooned over toasted , added to baguette, sandwiches or as I eat it over my grilled chicken. You can serve it hot or cold, or at room temperature. It's an ultimate vegetable dish for everyday.

Ingredients

1/4 Cup of Olive Oil

1 Celery Stalk, chopped

1 Medium Eggplant, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 Medium Onion

a few cloves of Garlic diced

1 (14 1/2 ounce) can Diced tomatoes

1/4 Cup Red Wine Vinegar

1 Tablespoon of Sugar

1 Jar Capers (drained) 3.75 oz

Sliced Green Olives (a few tablespoons)

Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper to taste

Fresh Basil for garnish, Parsley (optional) Toasted Pine Nuts (optional)

In a large heavy skillet heat the oil over a medium flame. Add celery and sauté until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the eggplant and sauté until softens, about 2 minutes. Add the onion and garlic sauté about 3 minutes.

Add diced tomatoes with juice, simmer over medium-low heat until the flavors blend and mixture thickens, stirring often, about 20 minutes. Stir in the vinegar, sugar, capers and salt & pepper. Transfer Caponata to a bowl and garnish with Basil & Parsley, serve and enjoy!

Nothing Can Take the Place of Persistence

Quote from Calvin Coolidge.

“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

Be persistent. If you do not believe in your dreams who will.

Incline Chest Press

Strawberry & Banana Hemp Milk Smoothie

Ready in Blender

Strawberry & Banana Hemp Milk Smoothie

~Ingredients~

1 Cup of Organic Hemp Milk (chilled)

1 Scoop of Vanilla Protein Powder

1/2 Banana Sliced

5 Strawberries Sliced

Blend on high and enjoy!

This is such a great shake.  You can use Skim milk, Almond milk or even Water.  I used Organic Hemp Milk to change things up a bit, it was delicious! It was thick and creamy and full of Omegas!

Organic Hemp Milk gives a really creamy base and tasted great with the Vanilla Protein Powder.  

 Organic Hemp Milk is made from hemp seeds  Hemp seeds are a natural source of Omega-3 ALA-a good-for-you Essential Fatty Acid.  This silky smooth beverage is also an excellent source of Calcium and a good source of Vitamin D, making it a great choice for those looking for a dairy alternative.  You can use it just like dairy milk in cereals and recipes and drink by the glassful.  I also use Hemp Milk in my Oatmeal from time to time.  Try it out it tastes great!

One 8-Ounce glass contains the following healthy nutrients:

900mg Omega-3 Fatty Acid 2800mg Omega-6 Fatty Acid All 10 Essential Amino Acids 4 grams of Digestible Protein 46% of RDA of Calcium 0% Cholesterol Potassium Phosphorous Riboflavin

Vitamin A Vitamin E Vitamin B12 Folic Acid Vitamin D Magnesium Iron Zinc And more…

Marinated Flank Steak with Frisée Salad

Always Start with Fresh Organic Ingredients

Marinated Grass Fed Flank Steak with Frisée Salad

Steak Salads are nutrition Powerhouses!  This is one of my favorite recipes to make, quick and easy and lots of flavor!  The days of iceberg lettuce are over.  Other more interesting greens are the new salad greens, frisée, arugula, endive, baby spinach just to name a few. The bitter greens in this recipe are a great compliment to the grilled steak.  

A Perfect Power Meal

Grass Fed Flank Steak is a lean, nutritious and flavorful cut of beef.  Marinading flank steak is the way to go!  It definitely tenderizes your steak.  It is best cooked medium rare and thinly sliced on an angle.  Thinly sliced Marinated Flank Steak cooks quickly on your barbeque using high heat and practically melts in your mouth.  This recipe calls for grilling the steak, but if you don't have a grill, you can prepare the steak on a large cast iron frying pan or an indoor grill pan.  Paired with a Frisée Salad it's truly a complete meal.

Nutritional Benefits of this meal ~

Grass Fed Beef is a great source of Protein (helps build a strong muscular body), Zinc (helps create a healthy immune system and heal wounds), Phosphorous (necessary for strong teeth and bones), Iron (helps carry oxygen in the blood to all cells and muscles to prevent fatigue), B-complex Vitamins (Vitamins B12, Niacin, Vitamin B6, and Riboflavin-(helps release energy from food).  Grass Fed Beef has less total fat, Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, and Calories.  It also has more Vitamin E, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin C, and a number of health promoting fats, including Omega -3 Fatty acids and CLA.

Salad Greens~

Frisée is packed with nutrients, an excellent source of folic acid, vitamins A, C, K and Manganese.

Radicchio is a good source of vitamin B & vitamin C, calcium and phosphorus & iron.

Romaine lettuce contains vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin K, folate, chromium, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, beta-carotene, folic acid, and minerals like potassium, molybdenum, iron, phosphorus, and of course fiber elements which keep the digestive system healthy.

Serves 4, Easy & Fast Preparation

Ingredients 

Flank Steak & Marinade

2 lbs Flank Steak - marinade -

1/3 Cup Olive Oil

2 Cloves Garlic Minced

2 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar

2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard

2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice or Lime Juice

1/3 Cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce

1/4 Cup Agave Nectar or Honey

Freshly ground Black Pepper & Sea Salt to taste

*Place above ingredients into shallow dish to marinade. Marinade a few hours turning the meat to coat. Then oil the grill grate and preheat grill to medium high heat.  Place Flank Steak on grill, discard the marinade and grill the steak for 4 or 5 minutes on each side or until desired doneness.  Let rest a few minutes before slicing on an angle. 

Bon Appétit!