Veggie Grill...Chayote Squash

I tried something new the other day. I like to do that, especially when I dine.
So there I was, honoring my Friday lunchtime tradition and having a fine dining experience at the hot buffet in Whole Foods when I spotted the sign. It read: Grilled Chayote Squash.

Hmm. I'd seen these things in the farmers market before, but knew so little about them that I never bought one. This was a great way to find out what they are all about, and boy did I found out.

They are delightful! 

 

 

 

And cute in that funny looking kind of way. The end looks like a toothless mouth, right?

 

The point is... I liked them so much I bought some, sliced them up, sprinkled them with a little salt and pepper and cooked them in my grill pan. They were light, crispy and bright with a hint of smoked flavor from the grill.

 

Thanks, Della!

Some weekends are better than others. I wish I could have extended mine just a little bit longer, but alas, I could not.

So here I am facing another Monday. 

I guess I'll just have to relive a bit of the weekend right here. Let's see....

I'll start with Saturday. I spent the morning at the Riverside Farmer's Market, where I made some new friends and learned some new things and tried some new recipes. All good things, of course.

Della of Della's Garden blessed me with some Rutabaga greens. These leafy greens had quite a debut in my Sunday dinner. They're sturdy like collards and a little sweeter than turnips, very hearty and worthy of another sampling. Thank you, Della for the greens and the cooking tips.

Keep reading to see the full recipe.

Going Green (Part 3)

Whew! The veggie dishes have me feeling brand new. I'm still eating meat and otherness, but the extra green is doing a lot for my energy. I don't feel as bloated after I eat AND I even dropped a few pounds.

I think it's even making me a better person.

Anyway, this post will be brief (I gotta go study! I'm in personal chef training this week).

Delight your eyes with this Warm Spinach Salad, topped with cranberries, goat cheese and pecans.

Going Green (Part 2)

This is okra.

It's got a reputation for being slimy.

You've seen it fried, or hanging out in gumbos and soups.

If you ask me, it's been getting a bad rap.

There's another side to this veggie.

But most people won't give it the time of day. 

If only they'd slice it into quarter-inch pieces and sautee on high heat in a skillet, they'd see the slime disappears. Yielding firm and flavorful bits of fiber. I tossed almonds, bacon and onions in the pan too. =)

Going Green (Part 1)

When the New Year began, I decided to start a food journal. I hear it's an effective way to manage your weight.

My weight needs to be managed.

As I "mature" in years, it's becoming apparent that I can't get away with the snackalicious diet I'm accustomed to.

There are consequences for eating ice cream in the middle of the night, potato chips whenever I pass the pantry and drinking Starbucks just because.

Man! I never thought this would ever happen to me.

I used to scoff when I heard women say:

"I can't eat that donut," or "Oooh I'm gonna pass on dessert, it goes straight to my hips!"

I thought, seriously? What harm can one donut do?

Now I know. A LOT!

It's the habit of snacking that creates unwanted curves. Writing down everything I eat has knocked the blinders off. It's ever so clear. I've been working hard to keep this full figure. Although, I eat balanced, healthy meals, I tend to sabotage the effects by consuming an abundance of junk in between them.

As a result, I'm making a conscious effort to replace the sweet and salty snacks with real food, i.e. nuts, fruits, salads. This creamy spinach is a quick and healthy snack. Who needs potato chips?