Food bites

Baby octopus recipe

This baby octopus recipe includes snow peas and red bell pepper. A seafood and vegetable lover's dream. See easy print recipe at the end of this post. At home, we usually cook the baby octopus whole, only removing the head from the legs for easier cooking. If you would like to properly clean the baby octopus for this recipe (by removing the eyes and the gut), follow the tips on this video. The two best methods for cooking octopus are 1) using high temperature, for a very short time (2-3 minutes) or 2) using low temperature for a very…

Cilantro beef stir fry with vegetables

Cilantro can be used as a garnish, but is also a great way to add delicious flavor to your meats. Try this simple cilantro beef stir fry recipe with a trio of vegetables. See printable recipe below the pictures. Prep all your ingredients before beginning. Once you start stir frying, you won't have time to chop. If needed, check out these links ahead of time to learn how to Julienne a bell pepper and how to prepare snow peas for cooking. Tip for crisp vegetables: Once you are done, do not cover your stir fry while it is hot. This…

Shrimp sandwich at Watsons Bay

A delicious shrimp sandwich from a wharf-side restaurant in Watsons Bay, Australia has gotten me thinking about my own shrimp sandwich ideas. Last year, our family spent some time Down Under. After nearly a month, we had visited the expected beach spots around Sydney (Manly, Bondi and Coogee) and a few others off the beaten path (Shelly, Delwood & Fairlight). Watsons Bay was not in the itinerary. Lucky for us, that changed. A random encounter with a fellow Dominican in Sydney pointed us to the dreamy bay on a sunny week day. The ferry ride from Circular Quay near Downtown…

Cooking with bija – using annatto seeds

Using annatto seeds for cooking is easy and effective, helping you achieve vibrant food colors the all natural way. Bija, also known as annatto seeds or achiote, is an all natural food colorant commonly used in Central America and the Caribbean. Native inhabitants of the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americans used the pigment in bija seeds for body art, as well as cooking. This was the case for the Taino indians of Quisqueya (the island currently shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, also known as Hispaniola). Bija is a traditional spice of Dominican cuisine that has slowly…

Tri-color vegetable stir fry

Mixing colors is a great way to make your vegetables more appetizing, and reap the health benefits of eating colorful food. Here is a simple tricolor vegetable stir fry recipe that is a winner for looks and flavor. Tri-color vegetable stir fry 1 medium to large red bell pepper2 cups of soy bean sprouts (about 1 lb.)2 cups of cleaned (uncut green beans)4 garlic cloves1 table-spoon of cooking oil1 teaspoon of sesame oil (I like to use Kadoya Pure Sesame Oil, but you can find many other good brands)1/2 teaspoon of salt1/2 cup of water Clean all the vegetables and…

Ripe papaya (lechoza madura)

Lechoza madura (para comer o hacer batida). República Dominicana. Ripe papaya. Dominican Republic. Papaya is a tropical fruit abundant in the Dominican Republic. It is eaten ripe, as in the photo, cut in cubes or made into smoothies with milk, water and cane sugar. A popular papaya smoothie recipe includes Carnation (evaporated milk). Blend all these ingredients together with ice and enjoy!

Why high fructose corn syrup is bad for you

Ever wonder why high fructose corn syrup is bad for you? I just stumbled upon this video, in which Robert H. Lustig, MD, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology of California State University in San Francisco explains how fructose consumption has affected America's weight gain overtime and how it affects overall health. The video makes for an educated, well researched companion to my post The No Nonsense Diet: Watch What you Eat, written from the perspective of a lay person trying my best to stay healthy. The video explains why America is becoming obese and points to a…

Mapo Tofu Rainbow

If you like mapo tofu, but wish you didn't have to cook an additional dish to get your vegetables, here's my original recipe for mapo tofu raimbow. Eat up! Mapo Tofu Raimbow 1 lb ground pork1 pack silken (soft tofu, cut into 1/2 inch squares)1 bunch garlic shoots (approximately 20)4 medium tomatoes cut into 1 inch squares1 tablespoon Minced fresh ginger1 tea-spoon minced fresh garlic1 medium jalapeno or other small hot pepper (cut into rings)1 tablespoon light soy sauce1 tea-spoon corn starch1 tea-spoon sesame oil1 tea-spoon brown sugar (1/2 tea-spoon if using refined sugar)1/2 tea-spoon salt2 tablespoons cooking oil In…