Monday, September 12, 2011
The Health Sleuth: Whole Foods Sells Out to Monsanto
The Health Sleuth: Whole Foods Sells Out to Monsanto: The Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: What Now? By Ronnie Cummins Organic Consumers Association, Jan 27, 2011 "The policy set for GE...
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Hatshuhana Restaurant Review
Wow! I am pretty sure this is the best sushi in lakeview. I had some friends visiting from out of town so I thought I would bring them to the land of sushi-Lakeview and look for an all you can eat. By a stroke of luck and a little help from yelp, we stumbled onto this place. It is small and decor is like any other sushi restaurant within a 5 block radius. FYI, it is hard to find "all you can eat" for lunch so don't even bother....Back to the restaurant.. We went in for a late lunch so we were the only ones in there. The wait staff was really nice and after we ordered brought us complimentary miso soup. The broth was fantastic and the soup was filled with fresh scallions. Yum! But watch your breath. I am a poor poor student so I ordered small simple roles- Shrimp tempura, Asparagus avocado and cucumber, and the spicy california. Each role about $5 a piece so not a bad deal, huh? All very good, I wasn't in the slightest disappointed. All the ingredients were fresh. My friends got the house special role and it was to die for! Both of my friends work in the food industry and were also very impressed by the food. Check it.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant Review
This won't be a crazy detailed review. I have only had Ethiopian twice in my life, but this was the far better place to have it. A friend and I went and ordered the vegetarian tour of Ethiopia. This allowed us to try and share multiple dishes. We also had tea which they served a chai blend that was delicious. Overall, the food was fantastic!! Only one of the six dishes was spicy, so anyone with qualms about ethnic food because of spiciness should try Ethiopian. The proportions were medium sized, but they serve you PLENTY of bread so you won't leave the table with out being stuffed. Prices were very reasonable! I would say the only thing lacking is the atmosphere of the restaurant lacked charm. It was kinda decorated like a cheesy banquet hall. They do serve alcohol for those boozers out there! Overall, recommended!
Perfect Pesto Potato Salad
Sarah Kramer does it again! Wow is this a great dish to eat alone or share with others. It is one of those dishes that tastes great and just happens to be vegan and gluten free. Love that! Be wary of the night shades in this recipe though. Also this recipe is EASY EASY EASY
Salad:
2 lbs of potatoes quartered
1/2 lb of green beans cut into 1 inch pieces
4-6 sun dried tomatoes, chopped. (I added a lot more because I love me some sundried tomatoes)
2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
Pesto Sauce:
1 1/2 cup of fresh basil
1/4 cup of pine nuts
2 garlic cloves
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
1/4 cup of oil
In a large pot of salted water, boil the potatoes until they can be pierced with a fork. Drain, rinse under cold water and set aside. Pesto sauce: In a food processor or blender, combine basil, pine nuts ( I added some to sauce and sprinkled some on potatoes), garlic, salt, and pepper. Slowly add oil while processing. Once potatoes are cooled add to bowl with sun dried tomatoes, vinegar, and pesto sauce. Toss to coat. Serve Chilled.
Basil is really great for stomach distension with gas, some types of headaches and menstrual irregularities such as PMS. Essentially, it helps with irritability too because if you take these above symptoms away you would just be less irritable : ) Potatoes are once again a NATURAL energizer. I assure you take out sugar and add natural energizers of the body and within a week you will feel 75% better!
Salad:
2 lbs of potatoes quartered
1/2 lb of green beans cut into 1 inch pieces
4-6 sun dried tomatoes, chopped. (I added a lot more because I love me some sundried tomatoes)
2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar
Pesto Sauce:
1 1/2 cup of fresh basil
1/4 cup of pine nuts
2 garlic cloves
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
1/4 cup of oil
In a large pot of salted water, boil the potatoes until they can be pierced with a fork. Drain, rinse under cold water and set aside. Pesto sauce: In a food processor or blender, combine basil, pine nuts ( I added some to sauce and sprinkled some on potatoes), garlic, salt, and pepper. Slowly add oil while processing. Once potatoes are cooled add to bowl with sun dried tomatoes, vinegar, and pesto sauce. Toss to coat. Serve Chilled.
Basil is really great for stomach distension with gas, some types of headaches and menstrual irregularities such as PMS. Essentially, it helps with irritability too because if you take these above symptoms away you would just be less irritable : ) Potatoes are once again a NATURAL energizer. I assure you take out sugar and add natural energizers of the body and within a week you will feel 75% better!
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Broccoli and Tofu in Peanut Sauce
I got this recipe from my friend Collin Campbell. He omits the Tofu and pretty much says "fuck you tofu" Personally, I like tofu but find that I don't like to use anything less then extra firm because it just gets to soggy for me. Also, I did add mushrooms to this recipe and take out the cashews and yum. AND while cooking it I tasted the sauce and thought I messed up because it tasted too 'peanutbutter-ey" but once I added it to the veggies. Delicious!
1/4 cup unsalted cashews
3 tablespoons of peanut oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 red or yellow pepper chopped
1-2 garlic cloves and chopped
1/2 teaspoon of dried red pepper flakes
1 pound of firm (extra firm) tofu
3 tablespoons of tamari or soy sauce
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of stock (your choice)
2 teaspoons of rice wine vineager
1 teaspoon of sesame oil
2 cups of broccoli florets
1.) Toast the cashews in a dry heavy skillet (preferably cast iron) over high until they brown in spots. They burn easily so be careful. Set aside.
2.) Heat 2 tablespoons of peanut oil in same skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bells, garlic to taste and pepper flakes. Saute for about 5 minutes, until soft. Set aside.
3.) In same pan, heat remaining tablespoon of peanut oil over medium heat. Add tofu and 1 tablespoon of tamari, saute until there are brown spots. Transfer tofu to onion mixture.
4.) In same pan, mix peanut butter, stock rice vinegar, and remaining 2 tablespoons of tamari. Heat over medium heat, stiring until it becomes a gravy mixture and comes to a boil. Season to taste with soy or tamari.
5.) Steam broccoli for 5 minutes. Transfer to peanut sauce and mix. Then add onion and cashew mixture. Serve over brown or white rice.
This recipe is great for someone suffering from a dry cough that can be acute or chronic. The tofu, peanut butter, and bell peppers move Qi and engender fluids to alleviate cough. This recipe is overall having an action on the lung so anyone with anytype of lung issue may benefit from the recipe. If you tend to cough up copious amounts of phlegm this may aggrivate this symptom, also the lung opens into the nose so sinuses that are hot and dry will find some relief. Also, someone that suffers from chronic indigestion should find this easy on the stomach. The peanut oil and butter will help if broccoli makes you gassy as well. Broccoli brightens the eyes. So chronic red eye suffers should try this out as well.
1/4 cup unsalted cashews
3 tablespoons of peanut oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 red or yellow pepper chopped
1-2 garlic cloves and chopped
1/2 teaspoon of dried red pepper flakes
1 pound of firm (extra firm) tofu
3 tablespoons of tamari or soy sauce
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of stock (your choice)
2 teaspoons of rice wine vineager
1 teaspoon of sesame oil
2 cups of broccoli florets
1.) Toast the cashews in a dry heavy skillet (preferably cast iron) over high until they brown in spots. They burn easily so be careful. Set aside.
2.) Heat 2 tablespoons of peanut oil in same skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bells, garlic to taste and pepper flakes. Saute for about 5 minutes, until soft. Set aside.
3.) In same pan, heat remaining tablespoon of peanut oil over medium heat. Add tofu and 1 tablespoon of tamari, saute until there are brown spots. Transfer tofu to onion mixture.
4.) In same pan, mix peanut butter, stock rice vinegar, and remaining 2 tablespoons of tamari. Heat over medium heat, stiring until it becomes a gravy mixture and comes to a boil. Season to taste with soy or tamari.
5.) Steam broccoli for 5 minutes. Transfer to peanut sauce and mix. Then add onion and cashew mixture. Serve over brown or white rice.
This recipe is great for someone suffering from a dry cough that can be acute or chronic. The tofu, peanut butter, and bell peppers move Qi and engender fluids to alleviate cough. This recipe is overall having an action on the lung so anyone with anytype of lung issue may benefit from the recipe. If you tend to cough up copious amounts of phlegm this may aggrivate this symptom, also the lung opens into the nose so sinuses that are hot and dry will find some relief. Also, someone that suffers from chronic indigestion should find this easy on the stomach. The peanut oil and butter will help if broccoli makes you gassy as well. Broccoli brightens the eyes. So chronic red eye suffers should try this out as well.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Watermelon Gazpacho
I actually got this recipe from a classmate Christina Dwyer and she got this recipe from the Food Network. It is super easy. It is perfect for hot hot days that are 90+ and also days with a killer hangover. I cooked it this week because of the weather, no hangover for me : )
The recipe has a great taste and the ingredients blend well together. I would suggest if you are cooking for yourself to make a small portion. Although it tastes amazing, around the third day of eating this I was soooo sick of it. As a single cooker, I try to make things that I don't get tired of eating. This is not one of those recipes. So impress your friends, make this as an appetizer for a dinner party. They will love it!
Watermelon Gazpacho
Level: Easy
Yields: 4 servings
Cooking Time: 15 min
Source: Food Network
Ingredients:
1 large tomato or 2 small Plum Tomatoes
½ Serrano Chile, finely diced
2 cups cubed fresh watermelon
1 tsp red wine vinegar
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp minced red onion
½ cucumber, seeded and minced
2 tbsp minced fresh dill, plus more for garnish
Kosher/Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Directions:
In a blender/food processor, puree the tomatoes, and ½ of the watermelon. Pour in the red wine vinegar and olive oil. Pulse to mix. Add the onion, cucumber, dill, salt and pepper. Puree until smooth. Pour into chilled bowls, sprinkle with dill, and the remaining watermelon.
Ingredient Analysis:
Tomatoes: Sweet, sour, cold; ST, LI; Promotes Fluids, Clears heat, Promotes urination, supplements the KD
Chile Peppers: Hot, pungent; SP, HT; Warms middle jiao, expels cold, invigorates blood, dispersing esp. for the LU
Watermelon: Sweet, cold; UB, ST, HT; Relieves summerheat, generates fluids and relieves thirst, promotes urination, reduces jaundice, clears heat toxins
Red Wine Vinegar: Warm, sour, bitter; promotes circulation, removes stagnant blood and qi, reduces accumulations in the LV, relieves dampness, stops bleeding, astringent
Olive Oil: Sl. Warm, sweet; moistens dryness, anti-inflammatory
Red Onion: Acrid, Warm; LU, ST, LI; promotes circulation of qi, expels cold, promotes sweating, diuretic
Cucumbers: Cool, sweet; HT, SP, ST, LI, LU; Promotes urination, Clears heat toxins, lifts depression, cleanses the blood, moistens the LU, purifies skin, Treats summerheat
Dill: Digestive aid, eradicates flatulence, detoxifies LV, reduces toxins and carcinogens in the body
Salt: Salty, cold; KD; clears heat and cools blood, eases bowel movement, nourishes KD
Pepper: Warm; Stimulates the flow of qi, esp. warming for the middle jiao, treats diarrhea and watery stool, opens the pores, counteracts food poisoning and indigestion
Overall Recipe Analysis:
Summer Heat/ Damp Heat Disorders
The main bulk of ingredients in this recipe are the watermelon, tomatoes, and cucumbers. These three ingredients are all cold or cooling , so are most likely to be used for conditions that are hot in nature. Watermelon and tomatoes are the predominant ingredients, so they will help clear heat, and resolve dampness by promoting urination.This is why I suggest it for hangovers. It will clear out the toxicity of the alcohol will engendering natural fluids of the body. Watermelon is by far the best summer fruit to clear sweating, ravenous hunger and just that feeling of heat you get on the 90 degrees and up days. If you suffer from loose stools meaning you having any bowel movements that are not formed, watery or you find undigested food or phlegm this recipe is NOT for you. It WILL make these symptoms worse.
The recipe has a great taste and the ingredients blend well together. I would suggest if you are cooking for yourself to make a small portion. Although it tastes amazing, around the third day of eating this I was soooo sick of it. As a single cooker, I try to make things that I don't get tired of eating. This is not one of those recipes. So impress your friends, make this as an appetizer for a dinner party. They will love it!
Watermelon Gazpacho
Level: Easy
Yields: 4 servings
Cooking Time: 15 min
Source: Food Network
Ingredients:
1 large tomato or 2 small Plum Tomatoes
½ Serrano Chile, finely diced
2 cups cubed fresh watermelon
1 tsp red wine vinegar
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp minced red onion
½ cucumber, seeded and minced
2 tbsp minced fresh dill, plus more for garnish
Kosher/Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste
Directions:
In a blender/food processor, puree the tomatoes, and ½ of the watermelon. Pour in the red wine vinegar and olive oil. Pulse to mix. Add the onion, cucumber, dill, salt and pepper. Puree until smooth. Pour into chilled bowls, sprinkle with dill, and the remaining watermelon.
Ingredient Analysis:
Tomatoes: Sweet, sour, cold; ST, LI; Promotes Fluids, Clears heat, Promotes urination, supplements the KD
Chile Peppers: Hot, pungent; SP, HT; Warms middle jiao, expels cold, invigorates blood, dispersing esp. for the LU
Watermelon: Sweet, cold; UB, ST, HT; Relieves summerheat, generates fluids and relieves thirst, promotes urination, reduces jaundice, clears heat toxins
Red Wine Vinegar: Warm, sour, bitter; promotes circulation, removes stagnant blood and qi, reduces accumulations in the LV, relieves dampness, stops bleeding, astringent
Olive Oil: Sl. Warm, sweet; moistens dryness, anti-inflammatory
Red Onion: Acrid, Warm; LU, ST, LI; promotes circulation of qi, expels cold, promotes sweating, diuretic
Cucumbers: Cool, sweet; HT, SP, ST, LI, LU; Promotes urination, Clears heat toxins, lifts depression, cleanses the blood, moistens the LU, purifies skin, Treats summerheat
Dill: Digestive aid, eradicates flatulence, detoxifies LV, reduces toxins and carcinogens in the body
Salt: Salty, cold; KD; clears heat and cools blood, eases bowel movement, nourishes KD
Pepper: Warm; Stimulates the flow of qi, esp. warming for the middle jiao, treats diarrhea and watery stool, opens the pores, counteracts food poisoning and indigestion
Overall Recipe Analysis:
Summer Heat/ Damp Heat Disorders
The main bulk of ingredients in this recipe are the watermelon, tomatoes, and cucumbers. These three ingredients are all cold or cooling , so are most likely to be used for conditions that are hot in nature. Watermelon and tomatoes are the predominant ingredients, so they will help clear heat, and resolve dampness by promoting urination.This is why I suggest it for hangovers. It will clear out the toxicity of the alcohol will engendering natural fluids of the body. Watermelon is by far the best summer fruit to clear sweating, ravenous hunger and just that feeling of heat you get on the 90 degrees and up days. If you suffer from loose stools meaning you having any bowel movements that are not formed, watery or you find undigested food or phlegm this recipe is NOT for you. It WILL make these symptoms worse.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Chizakaya Restaurant Review.
Chicago Restaurant Review
So I went to Chizakaya a Japanese Restaurant and Pub. Chicago doesn't have too many Japanese Restaurants so I was thrilled to check it out. The restaurant had a quick- ass mural on their wall/ceiling, and the overall feel was modern asian but still quaint. There was a back room that seemed to be for larger parties or private parties I wasn't too sure, but was awesome is the back party gets to see the kitchen cook the food from their table.
I went with a friend. We shared Sake, which was overpriced. I can admit I am a little spoiled by the Sushi madness in Lakeview... I wanted to try everything on the menu because they had a lot of crazy things beef tongue, pig ear, black edamame...Oh, and the menu had a little glossary of items from the menu to help you figure out what things were.
We ordered:
Bonito (skipjack tuna) tataki, spicy ponzu-this was my least favorite. The tuna flakes kinda tasted fishey and I don't like fish that is fishy. Hamachi, bone marrow, garlic, ume boshi-this was AMAZING. The roasted garlic was so good. All of the flavors came together quite nicely. This was my friend's least favorite.
Crab crusted salmon, asparagus, tare gelee-this dish was full of flavor. The salmon was too die for but the other two dishes were way more original with different tastes.
Ramen Noodles- yup, you can order noodles and broth. Can't go wrong with Ramen.
Overall, I would recommend the place to check out as an experience BUT I found it to be too pricey. I am student but with these small choices our bill came out to $90! A little too much in my opinion. Service was ok to good, food wait was SLLLLLOOOOOOOWW. BUT it was 8 on a Friday so to be expected. Good thing for the sake!
So I went to Chizakaya a Japanese Restaurant and Pub. Chicago doesn't have too many Japanese Restaurants so I was thrilled to check it out. The restaurant had a quick- ass mural on their wall/ceiling, and the overall feel was modern asian but still quaint. There was a back room that seemed to be for larger parties or private parties I wasn't too sure, but was awesome is the back party gets to see the kitchen cook the food from their table.
I went with a friend. We shared Sake, which was overpriced. I can admit I am a little spoiled by the Sushi madness in Lakeview... I wanted to try everything on the menu because they had a lot of crazy things beef tongue, pig ear, black edamame...Oh, and the menu had a little glossary of items from the menu to help you figure out what things were.
We ordered:
Bonito (skipjack tuna) tataki, spicy ponzu-this was my least favorite. The tuna flakes kinda tasted fishey and I don't like fish that is fishy. Hamachi, bone marrow, garlic, ume boshi-this was AMAZING. The roasted garlic was so good. All of the flavors came together quite nicely. This was my friend's least favorite.
Crab crusted salmon, asparagus, tare gelee-this dish was full of flavor. The salmon was too die for but the other two dishes were way more original with different tastes.
Ramen Noodles- yup, you can order noodles and broth. Can't go wrong with Ramen.
Overall, I would recommend the place to check out as an experience BUT I found it to be too pricey. I am student but with these small choices our bill came out to $90! A little too much in my opinion. Service was ok to good, food wait was SLLLLLOOOOOOOWW. BUT it was 8 on a Friday so to be expected. Good thing for the sake!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)