What's on your plate?

[lylysa]

Hello there, ladies and gents!

Keeping in line with all the fun and interactive threads asking about your most recent halls, items you have your eyes on, what you're currently wearing, what's your hair routine, and more, I've decide to branch out and ask:

"What's on your plate?"

The beauty world doesn't just stop at skin care and cosmetics, it also goes hand in hand with your overall health and well-being, so with that, I'm curious to see what we're all chowing down and snacking on be it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or inbetween!

For those with apps that help count calories or to those who just want to keep a log, here's a place to share, possibly find and share some recipes, and even tips on maintaining a balanced diet.

Don't just share food items, but even drinks! I'm a huge fan of tea and at least have a cup of green tea a day (anti-oxidants) and drink plenty of water.

For lunch today, I had:

-Brown rice

-Steamed egg

-Steamed red snapper with green onion, sesame oil, and black pepper

-Gai lan (it's a type of Chinese vegetable/greens)

Now, tell me, Beauty Talk world, what do you have? 😄

[lylysa]

Can I just sop that up with a roll? 😛

[jisub89]

Every winter, I always indulge is as much squash as I can for the season, usually in the form of a decadent, creamy blended soup. I've been trying something new though and I love the recipe! Basically, I would roast (pan or oven) the butternut squash or kabocha squash with olive oil, cumin, ground coriander, ground pepper, sea salt, paprika, and a dash of cayenne. When it's done, I top it off with fresh parsley leaves, which really add to the flavor profile. 

It's a very quick and effortless dish too if you guys can get the butternut squash prewashed & precut (I know it's available in my local Wegmans). If you want to be extra health-concious though, I say go for the kabocha and leave the skin on to roast.

* from Joy the Baker. I don't have a picture myself but I felt obliged to include one to make the post complete lol. Can't remember the blog I got the recipe from but if you google "roasted squash with cumin, coriander," many similar recipes pop up.

I have a quick question: how many of you guys try to stick with organic meat and wild-caught seafood? I've been making a habit to buy those options when I can, but I was slightly shocked when the wild-caught salmon fillet I purchased today at Wegmans came out to ~$45 today ($32.99 a pound). Ugh, so expensive compared to the $5.99/lb farm-raised salmon -- I'd probably only buy again on special days. 

[Anonymous]

Oh no, you're paying double per pound what you can get from Whole Foods frozen (wild caught sockeye - 2x 6oz fillets $13.99). Unless this is sushi grade salmon? I'm not going to lie and say that what I get isn't a bit fatty bit it beats the simply brand at Target that is MOSTLY fat and finger bones.

I have a feeling you were bitten by "holiday" prices on your salmon. It usually creeps up this time of year along with turkey, chicken, and ham.

We've been avoiding case meat the past year+ because of specific store issues, but yeah we used to have a couple meals a week of doing wild salmon or organic raised pork/NZ-Lamb/Bison. I prefer grassfed, but sometimes all you can get is grain fattened. 😕

[jisub89]

I typically buy wild sockeye too and the price at Wegmans is similar to that of Whole Foods. I had to resort to wild Alaskan King salmon today since there was no sockeye -- maybe this particular variety is extra sumptuous? I'll have to try it and google later if the Alaskan is worth twice the price of sockeye lol.

Speaking of sushi, I'm wondering what type of raw tuna, salmon, etc they use in buffets. Sushi buffets can be extremely cheap in NYC (as low as $12-16; the better ones are $30+) and I can't imagine them using the better ingredients if they were to make any profits.

And I can't agree with you more on grass-fed beef. After eating a grass-fed burger at a local diner's named Stellas, I don't think I can ever eat a regular burger again (unless I'm voraciously hungry; at that point, almost anything tastes good). Luckily, all the organic beef in Wegmans are also grass-fed and the price is reasonable (~$10-20/lb depending on the cut).

[Anonymous]

I do know the King salmon does command a higher price, we never invested in one since our stores would only have a few. Any plans on how you plan to roast it? I've always been a fan of using orange sections on a fresh fillet. 🙂

[jisub89]

I prepared part of the salmon already by searing and then broiling with a miso maple glaze made of equal parts of yellow miso paste, rice vinegar, and maple syrup (a really good one that my roomate got from Canada). I think I might prepare the rest as you suggested with orange slices since I'm a fan of citrus flavors with fish as well! 🙂

Spoiler

Spoiler

probably going to try this recipe from pinterest but in the oven 🙂

[lylysa]

I loooove doing miso honey salmon! ^_^

[jisub89]

It really is amazing! 

[Anonymous]

I'm honest to goodness drooling, may your glaze caramelize and not burn. If there are any leftovers, you can always make salmon cakes with breadcrumb tomorrow.

[vegchililover78]

I had this for dinner tonight! It's from my favorite local Vietnamese place. Number V4!

[jisub89]

That looks interesting! I always go with the boring choice of pho with spring rolls or pork chops when I visit any Viet restaurant but I really should venture more in my food choices.

[lylysa]

Same, I'm always guilty of spring/egg rolls and a basic bowl of pho with lean beef or sometimes some brisket and call it a day. It's tough to break from a GREAT go-to.

[vegchililover78]

So the menu picture is kind of small even though I chose the largest setting. It's Mixed Vegetable & Tofu Sate with rice noodles. Delicious!

[EvangelineDamon]

I hearted this despite the tofu!

It looks great.

Is this pho?

[vegchililover78]

It was delicious! The Vietnamese name is Pho-Mi Hutieu. The one I got is a little different because it's vegetarian and made with vegetable broth. Both of us had big soup bellies last night! lol

[Anonymous]

Yes! And fried tofu is amazing, I don't really like soft tofu that much since its a very unique texture.

[DiVWA]

Butternut "polenta." It's a bit more orange than traditional polenta (which is made with cornmeal). My "polenta" is gluten-free and corn-free. The squash taste sweetens in this dish so that the end result tastes rich and not really like a squash. It can accommodate any gravy or sauce. The edges turn a crispy brown. The texture is very similar to real polenta.

Steps:

Use one butternut squash -- get one that's longer in the tubular area instead of a bulbous one. Need two pounds (weigh before peeling and dicing).

Steam the cubed squash - I use two steamers so is quicker. Steam until very soft--about 20 minutes. You can also bake the squash whole and then scoop out about 2 pounds.

While squash is steaming (or baking), measure the other ingredients (3 slightly-beaten eggs, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (the kind in the green sprinkle container is okay to use), 1 cup blanched almond flour). Put parchment onto 9x13 pan.

Let cooked squash cool in a large glass bowl.

Mash the cooked squash. Then add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well.

Consistency will be like mashed potatoes. Spread around into the parchment-lined pan.

Bake at 320 degrees F for 1 hour. Remove from oven. Let sit in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer the whole thing (including the parchment paper) to a cutting board. Cut into squares--I do 6 per recipe but you can do 8 too.

[lylysa]

Thanks for the detailed recipe and photos!

[jisub89]

Yes, I'm excited to try as I've been obsessed with butternut squash lately! Thanks for posting the recipe, DiVWA! 🙂

[knuevekm]

Thank you for the awesome step by step photos!

[EvangelineDamon]

I wish I could heart this 20 times. 

Thank you so much for the recipe (again) and the terrific pictures.

How long does a butternut squash last if you keep it intact?