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? 😄

[lyravega]

Yes. After some kraut sauteing ( braising? frying? I'm really not familiar with all the cooking wording in English. ) with spices, garlic, onion... on the stove, you roast them together. No need to season these ribs, they are dried, and smoked, they already have very distinctive flavor/taste. Kraut is what needs to be seasoned. I don't know about using roasted pork loin pieces. That would be a totally different dish, as for this one you need smoked and dried meats. But, you can try it. It should still be good. I'll go through process of frying the kraut in my head, and I'll try to put it down. In English. ( LOL! And - hisssss! ) And, I'll PM it to you later. If that's ok with you?

[lylysa]

Oooooo that's good that no additional seasoning is needed for the ribs. I bet the roasting of the kraut and smoked ribs together adds that much more to the flavor!

PM away! I'll be looking forward to it!

[lyravega]

Oh, yeah! Those ribs are excellent "seasoning" themselves. They give fantastic flavor to this dish.

[blackkitty2014]

I second DiWA. I love sauerkraut. There is a polish dish that I'd been copied for sometimes but don't quite get it right and my Polish friends somehow always made it better. I think it has kraut and sausage. I need to copy this. This looks simple enough that I can do. Am I wrong? 🙂

[lyravega]

Technically, it is simple. The "trick" is good kraut ( fully fermented! You can make that yourself, it is simple. It just takes some time fermenting. ), and good, "trustworthy" dried, smoked meat. If those two factors are not there, the whole dish is off. The taste is different. It is just not it.

Also, you need authentic seasoning ( and meats ). And, usually you have to look for those in special ( ethnic ) kind of stores, where they sell this kind of stuff. So, if you're making that Polish dish, ask your friends what kind of seasoning ( and sausages ) they use, and where can you get some. ( Improvisation doesn't really work, as the dish will be totally off. )

I should probably stop posting these ethnic dishes, simply for the reason I use a lot of stuff that most people can't, or don't know where to find. And, if you don't have those specific things, the dish is not it. It is something entirely else. 

[blackkitty2014]

I second lylysa. Please don't stop posting. This is a wonderful thread and I learn so much from everybody though I'm still a C-student in cooking department but I love to eat 🙂

[lylysa]

No no no, don't stop posting! I think it really encourages folks to break free from typical spices or seasoning methods we're more used to from chain grocery stores!

My friend does a lot of her own pickling/fermenting so I'll have to check in with her. I missed out on partaking in her last batch of kraut. My bf is a big fan of it and though I'm not I'm sure he'd love this recipe. She made her own kim chi and I got a jar to have him test it out and he loved it.

[DiVWA]

I love kraut! Do you make your own?

[lyravega]

I'm crazy about kraut! In any and every form. 🙂

Yes, I usually make my own, but this one is from my brother-in-law. He also makes his own. So, when I'm all out of mine... I borrow some of his. 😄

[lyravega]

Chicken fettuccine zukes. If somebody told me ( not even that long ago ) that I'm gonna be eating zucchinis, and actually LOVE them, too... I'd tell them they're nuts. 😄 But, I do. I love zukes. 🙂 I just wish there's a way to prepare them so they don't release so much water once they're in my plate...

Recipe in the spoiler tag!

Spoiler

Chicken Fettuccine Zukes

2-3 tablespoons butter

10 skinless, boneless chicken thighs - cut into chunks/bite size ( you can use chicken breasts, too. We don't like them, so I always use thighs instead. )

1/4 - 1/2 cup crumbled bacon

24 ounces mushrooms, sliced ( or less. I had one really large packaging of mushrooms, so I put all of it into the dish, because, you know - we love mushrooms! Duh! 🙂 )

6 garlic cloves, minced

salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning

2 cups heavy cream

some chicken broth ( 1/2 - 1 cup )

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

some cherry tomatoes, halved

In a medium size pot, brown chicken and mushrooms in butter until chicken is cooked through. Add garlic, bacon, and spices. Add heavy cream and chicken broth, and cook until thick, stirring constantly. Sometime during this process, I added some cherry tomatoes because I like the flavor they bring into this meal. Add Parmesan cheese when at desired consistency. Serve over zoodles, and enjoy! 😉

[knuevekm]

I need this recipe! pretty pleaseeeee

[lyravega]

I'll include it in the post later. 😉

[DiVWA]

maybe try halving the zucchini first (lengthwise) and salt them. Let them sit on paper towel for about half an hour. Then make your zoodles and cook.

This works for eggplant in removing excess moisture. Not sure if it would work for zucchini but it may be worth a try.

[lyravega]

Thanks, Diva. I tried that. Many other "tricks", too. But, nothing seems to really work... 

[DiVWA]

well now I know not to try it...

[lyravega]

Drunken pork chops ( sauce contains beer ) and cauliflower fried rice tonight.

Recipe for Drunken Pork Chops in the spoiler tag!

( If someone needs cauliflower fried rice recipe, let me know. )

Spoiler

Drunken Pork Chops

Ingredients:

•1 pound pork chops
•8 ounces dark beer ( or more )
•0.125 teaspoons salt
•0.125 teaspoons pepper
•0.5 cup brown sugar
•0.33 cup ketchup

some garlic and onion powder, dash of smoked paprika, 1 - 2 tablespoons bbq sauce 

Directions:

Combine all ingredients. Place pork chops in skillet and cover with sauce. ( My chops were very thick. I seared them first on some ( very little ) lard. Both sides. Fried them for a bit, then covered with the sauce. ) Simmer for 25-30 minutes or until pork chops are brown and sauce has thickened.

[lylysa]

Pretty please on sharing the drunken recipe?

[lyravega]

Done!

[RandeeBT]

How was the cauliflower fried rice, lyravega? I keep seeing recipes for the cauliflower fried rice floating around pinterest and it looks good! 

[lyravega]

Randee, it was very good. And that's coming from someone who doesn't even like cauliflower. 🙂 But, I have to say, I like it riced. And, in many different recipes, too.

[blackkitty2014]

Omg my mouth is watering! I have to start learning from all of you here. Yum!