15-Minute Chicken And Pea Sauce

This recipe is delicious, nutritionally balanced and can be whipped up quickly. It’s perfect for busy people who want to eat healthy food but, at the same time, are eager to please the whole household.
I like to called it sauce because it is in fact a proper meat sauce that can be served over brown rice, whole grains, whole wheat pasta or if you’re on a paleo diet (or just want to cut on carbs) over cauliflower couscous (which is what I did here).
Truth is, sometimes I just it eat on its own. It’s that good and I can’t help myself.
To make it happen, all you need is some ground chicken and some of the most common veggies: onions, carrots, celery and peas. A glass of white wine or vegetable broth and in 15 minutes you’re good to go.

Vegan Chocolate Cake

There are times when you just want a slice of chocolate cake. Often those times are a Monday night, after a long day at work (and an exhausting but well worth workout), and rightfully deserve a simple recipe. One that can accommodate everybody: vegans and non-vegans.
That’s when this chocolate cake comes into play. You’ll throw it together in a matter of minutes. It's less trouble to make than it is to go out, find a vegan bakery and buy something.
A small slice goes the distance. It's intense, hardcore chocolatey with a mild (but rich) coconut aftertaste.
You know Mounds candy bar? The one with the coconut based center enrobed with dark chocolate? This cake reminds a bit that. Just better. A total crowd-pleaser.

Vegan Russian Salad

A Russian salad is not that different from a good old American potato salad. It’s made with potatoes, carrots and green peas dressed with mayo.
Similarly to potato salad, there are thousands different recipes for Russian salad (which, by the way, goes also by the name of Olivier salad).
I interviewed some of my Russian/Eastern European friends and every single one had his/her secret family recipe. The differences can be quite dramatic. Which is very confusing.
The main variations include pickles, beets, turnip or apples. The dressing can also change. Some replace mayo with sour cream or yogurt or a combination of the two.
In this Russian salad “mayhem”, I decided to create my own version. So I went vegan. Just to try to stand out from the crowd.

The 2013 Ranking Of Best Diets

We love rankings in the U.S., don’t we? It’s not only about music charts, box office or sports. We also like to rank universities, hospitals, restaurants, bars, law firms, etc.

We always want to know who’s the best at doing something. It has something to do with our inner competitive nature but also with some sort of latent insecurity we have. A ranking brings order to chaos. It makes us feel safe.
So it was only a matter of time before somebody would put their hands in the “diet world” and provide us with an official ranking.
Needless to say it, the almighty experts at U.S. News “took the bullet” and delivered a comprehensive evaluation of 29 different diet plans for 2013.

Brown Rice Artichoke Risotto With Berbere

I recently discovered berbere, an Ethiopian spice blend. It’s made of chili peppers, garlic, ginger, dried basil, korarima, rue, white and black pepper and fenugreek.
Berbere has a deep red color, a fragrant aroma and tastes so (so) [so] {so} ⁅so⁆ ❲so❳ good.
Plus, it’s not that hard to find: Whole Foods carries it and I’m sure any spice/specialty store sell it as well. If you’re looking to add new flavors to your meals you should definitely give it a try.

Tea: OverSteep To Increase Health Benefits

This is not a post explaining how to prepare tea properly. It’s not my job, I’m not qualified to do it, and if I’ll do it, I’ll probably end up giving the worst advice possible.
However, if you’re an avid tea drinker (like myself) who enjoys this beverage daily - with no respect whatsoever for the legit ways to brew it - you might want to hear me out.

Top Four Reasons Why Diets Fail

Losing weight is one of the top resolutions made every year, yet few achieve successful weight-loss and maintenance. Why almost all get sidetracked? According to researchers at Loyola University dieting is a skill that requires practice and good instruction. Chances are that you’re going to fall over and feel frustrated, but if you stick to the original plan you’ll eventually succeed; and the more you do it, the easier it will get.

Researchers have also identified what they believe are the top four reasons why dieters fail.

Vegan Pistachio Almond Thins

I have this thing for pistachios. I don’t even know how to define it. Love? No, it’s more than just love. Obsession? Kind of, not exactly on point though.
Let’s put it this way: if pistachios were a girl I would probably become a crazy stalker. Watching through binoculars, stealing mail, sending notes, following everywhere, calling work and making trouble, etc. You know, all those creepy things stalkers do.
Luckily (for my own sake) pistachios are "just" a nut that can be bought almost in every shop. No stalking necessary.

Let's Talk About New Year's Resolutions...

2013 is about to begin, it's time to set goals for the coming year.

Light Turkey Meatballs With Spicy Tomato Sauce

I like to label some foods “Once I start, I can’t stop”. Since I was a kid, orange flavored Tic Tac make it to the top of this list. One mint after the other, until I completely empty the transparent box. It takes me about as much time as walking two NYC’s blocks to get that job done. That’s why I seldom buy them.Oh, while we’re at it. Do you know that Tic Tac box lids have a crevice made to catch exactly one mint? A friend of mine told that yesterday.
Not that I care. Personally, I like to shake the box until either 1 mint or better 10 come out. That’s just the type of life I’ve led up until now, and no amount of common sense will persuade me otherwise.