Pan-seared fish and garlic brussels sprouts

Sprouts, garlic, and fish all offer an abundance of nutrients to the body, and when cooked with the right amount of complimentary seasonings, can be quite tasty.

As a lover of Italian food, I decided to cook the way that I learned during my time spent in Sicily. Garlic, oil, tomatoes, lemon juice, and basil are frequently used in Sicilian cooking, so I tossed in generous portions of each with today's main infredients. I also rubbed paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder onto the fish for extra flavor, threw in a few extra veggies for variation in texture, a splash of cider vinegar to cut the oil, and the result is wonderful. This could be served after a small pasta course, as Sicilians would do, or on its own or with rice.

Buon appetito!

Dijon stir-fry

Dijon is a fantastic way to pack in loads of flavor to a dish with very few calories! It's great on any kind of poultry, so today I put it in with my chicken and veggies along with coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, and fresh lemon juice, then served it with couscous.

In order for the coconut oil to liquify, as it is solid below 76 degrees Farnheit, I just plopped a heaping tablespoon of it into the skillet as it warmed up over medium-high heat. I poured in my veggies and then placed chicken tenderloins in the pan next to them. I used salt, pepper, crushed red peppers, minced garlic, and paprika as seasoning. After about two minutes, I smothered the chicken with dijon mustard and poured a little apple cider vinegar and lemon juice over everything. Once that was started, I boiled water and seasoning for couscous and prepared it as directed on the box. (I use Near East brand, pictured below.)

Within 15 minutes from start to finish, I served it all up on a pink plate to enjoy!

Blackberry Chocolate Shake

The middle of the day in between lunch and dinner always renders me hungry and in need of an energy boost. My new favorite midday pick-me-up: This rich, sweet shake is packed with protein, antioxidents, and healthy fat, which makes it extremely satisfying!

All you need is some unsweetened coconut milk, chocolate protein powder, frozen blackberries, and a blender. I love my single-serving blender because I can unscrew the blade, pop on a drinking lid, and enjoy it right away. 

Time for lunch!

Today I cooked with coconut oil for the first time and fell in love with it! I used a heaping tablespoon in a skillet to fry up a mixture of veggies and fish with lots of spicy seasonings and the result was very tasty. Here are the ingredients:

• Frozen cauliflower 
• Frozen mixed veggies (green beans, limas, corn, and carrots) 
• Frozen whiting fish
• Coconut oil
• Spices including a generous amount of chili powder, some crushed red peppers, black pepper, and paprika, and a pinch of thyme

All I had to do was defrost the frozen items in a bowl of water and then stir fry everything together for 15 minutes. As a drink, I made some chamomile tea with honey and lemon, served iced.

Pretty in Pink

A pale pink and black bakery in Paris inspired me to use shades of my favorite color in my kitchen. My mother told me that I'd never find a man who'd tolerate it, but that didn't stop her from scouring stores for items in the perfect shade to give to me as gifts.

It has now been six years since I first entered that bakery and I have mostly pink items everywhere in my kitchen, which my long-term boyfriend finds charming. Even though I adore the look of my favorite room in the house, what comes out of it is more important than that. I struggle and strive to create yummy and nourishing food. Since people need to eat in order to survive, there's no reason not to enjoy it!