Tag: Cooking
So Weight Watchers 24/7 Chat has been helpful with suggestions for healthier snacking options when I’ve got the craving for chips. Remember how coaches Donna and Rosie chatted with me and helped out with some tips for eating out and snacking at night?
I’ve been using the Weight Watchers site to get inspiration for meals, too. I’ve been in a bit of a rut lately where I’m not in the mood for,well, anything, it seems when it comes to food. Just nothing that comes to mind that’s appealing that I want to cook, maybe it’s the transition of seasons? This happens a few times a year, and I always find myself poring through cookbooks and websites looking for flavours that are different than what I usually have. I’m also always looking for new ways to eat more veggies (and most veggies are 0 points on the Weight Watchers system) so the site’s provided healthy inspiration for that, too.
One of my favourite recipes I’ve found on the Weight Watchers site is this Malaysian shrimp salad recipe. It’s just a bowl full of bright and happy freshness. The zing of the lime and the tropical mango will make you feel like you’re eating this vibrant salad on a gorgeous beach. Bonus: this salad comes together super quickly and easily.
I substituted a jalapeno for the hot green chili pepper and left the shrimp whole (I just prefer them that way). Want to try this recipe (which is 5 points, btw)? You can get the Weight Watchers Malaysian shrimp salad recipe here.
Bon appetit!
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May 13, 2015
Alright, if you’re like me you’ve just about had it with this winter. It’s been a tough one. One saving grace is that grapefruit is at its best right now. And although I’ve been enjoying sweeties, I’ve always got grapefruits in my fridge in the winter. How can you not love that juicy sweet tartness and the incredible hue of its flesh? And let’s not forget about its health benefits: half of a Florida grapefruit provides at least 100 percent of your RDA of vitamin C (so important for a healthy immune system) and it also boasts vitamin A, potassium and fibre.
I usually enjoy my grapefruit plain, but last week at a lunch with Florida Grapefruit, I was treated to delicious recipes developed by the lovely chef Lynn Crawford that incorporated this citrus fruit (which we enjoyed in the lovely upstairs space at Lynn’s restaurant Ruby Watchco). They were all delicious but my favourite by far was the appetizer: Calypso Shrimp with Florida Grapefruit and Avocado Salad. I’ll definitely be making this soon (recipe is below!). I also got tips on how to shop for a grapefruit, here are some pointers:
- The grapefruit should feel heavy (this means it’s full of juice!)
- It should feel firm and be round or slightly flat on the top and bottom.
- Don’t be put off by a less than pretty exterior; when grapefruit grows in subtropical climates such as Florida, this means that wind, rain and humidity can blemish it on the outside, but inside it’s juicy and delicious.
Craving a grapefruit right now? Me, too! Here’s that salad recipe (I”ll be sure to Instagram it once I make it on my own at home). It’s so refreshing and the grapefruit gives it a tropical taste that’ll have you dreaming you’re eating it with your toes in the sand and with a view of the ocean, which plenty of us living through -40 Celsius temperatures could really use right about now.
Calypso Shrimp with Florida Grapefruit and Avocado Salad
INGREDIENTS
- 1 tsp grapefruit zest
- 3 Tbsp grapefruit juice
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tbsp lime juice
- salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
- 2 Florida Ruby Red grapefruits, segmented
- 1 ripe avocado, diced
- 3 cups fresh watercress, tough stems removed
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
- 2 Tbsp chopped roasted cashews
Calypso Shrimp
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1 habanero pepper, seeded
- 1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 2 tsp grapefruit zest
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp each brown sugar and ground allspice
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp fresh ground pepper
- 2 Tbsp vegetable oil (approx)
- 1 lb raw jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
METHOD
Calypso Shrimp: Pulse together onions, habenero, thyme, grapefruit zest, salt, sugar, allspice, cumin and pepper in small food processor. Drizzle in enough oil to form a paste. Coat shrimp with paste and let marinate for 20 minutes.
Grill shrimp over medium-high grill, turning once until cooked through, about 5 minutes; keep warm.
Whisk together grapefruit zest and juice, oil, lime juice and season with salt and pepper. Toss grapefruit and avocado with 1 Tbsp of the dressing.
Toss remaining dressing with watercress, cilantro, mint and cashews.
Divide shrimp among 4 plates. Spoon grapefruit mixture over top and place watercress mixture on top to serve.
Makes 4 servings.
February 24, 2015
Last week, I got to test out the new recipe and ingredients delivery service Mealspirations.
The way it works is Mealspirations chefs create a weekly menu, you choose a meal package (which starts at $12/meal) and then the ingredients and recipes (all designed to be ready in 40 minutes or less) are delivered to you on Sunday. You’ll need a few staple ingredients on hand, which they outline for you (items such as olive oil and honey, for example). The meals are seasonal and ring in at 800 calories or less.
Overall, I enjoyed the service–the meals were simple but tasty, and indeed ready in 40 minutes or less. (Plus, it gave me a little break from my all-cheese, all-the-time meals — you know I’m a cheese ambassador, right?). I find I can get into phases when I feel lazy and don’t want to look for recipes to my meals for the week. So this just made it a no-brainer. My favourite meal of the three I tried was the risotto with roasted vegetables.
On the downside? It’d be incredible if I didn’t have to do some of the prep work (for example, I find chopping veggies takes a lot of time) but I understand that veggies wouldn’t stay as fresh when chopped in advance. And while I could definitely see this service as a great way to not come home to an empty fridge after traveling and having zero idea of what to have for dinner when I’ve gotten off a flight (welcome to my life lately…), Mealspirations (which is available in most of the GTA) only delivers on Sundays, which is not so helpful if I’m arriving home any other day of the week.
Verdict: I cook often (and love food, haha — you may know this if you follow me on Instagram), so for the most part, I’m happy to find recipes and whip up dinner. But I do see it as a great way to get people who may not ordinarily cook from scratch to do so even on a busy weeknight.
April 2, 2014
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