(Paleo) Rich ‘n Creamy Hot Chocolate

Is it too early for hot chocolate?

The answer is who cares, hot chocolate is forever.

OK, OK, OK...I know it's still summer. Hot, humid, sweaty, smelly, glorious summer — with temperatures sitting firmly planted near the triple digits.
But I woke up last Saturday morning and needed hot chocolate.
If I crave something, I make it, and eat it (or drink it in this case). It.Just.Has.To.Happen.

My Top 10 Favorite Kitchen Tools

To be honest, I’m not really a “Buy this gadget!” kind of guy.
Sure, I’ve told you a couple of times to get a spiralizer or a pre-seasoned cast iron skillet; but I’m a firm believer that if you really want to make something, you can make it happen. No.Matter.What. There’s always a way to MacGyver together a solution to the problem of not-the-right-gear.
That being said, I’m a big fan of the right tool for the right job — especially when it makes my life in the kitchen easier and more efficient.
So I’ve put together a list of my Top 10 Favorite Kitchen Tools.

Tools that I use every day, that are exceptionally good at performing their given task, yet are rarely, if ever, found in a “regular” kitchen (every time I go cook at a friend's house, I'm always disappointed to discover very lousy cookware.)
Chances are, you already have a couple of these: maybe you have a cast iron skillet that was your grandmother’s, a Crock-pot you got for your wedding, a very old vegetable peeler you bought ages ago but rarely use.
But you might not have all of these. If you like cooking though, they are all worth having.

Skillet Paprika Potatoes

While tomatoes are getting most of the glamour these days, we mustn’t forget that this is also the height of the new potato season.
I want more people to realize how special new potatoes are — they’re one of the least celebrated foods, even in this positive era of seasonal, local produce.
There’s something amazing in enjoying a bowl of just-cooked new potatoes. And I feel you should know that.

Easy Baked Garlic Mushrooms

Let’s start with what matters most: this is absolutely my favorite quick and delicious way to prepare ‘shrooms.
It’s an incredible, quick, easy side dish that’s ready in less than 30 minutes and that it’s so delicious it will outshine the main dish — unless the main dish is Spicy Basil Lemon Chicken, then we might call it a draw.
These Easy Baked Butter Garlic Mushrooms will make you drool in a way that only butter and garlic can, well that and sweet potato fries, chocolate chunk cookies, pulled pork, and quesadillas. Just to name a few.
It’s seriously the one side side I keep making again and again.

Cauliflower Noodle Spinach Lasagna

This, this is my culinary Himalaya.
This fifteen-layer striation of cauliflower noodles, tomato, spinach, ricotta, and mozzarella cheese, repeated three times, is so delish you won’t even believe it.
Saturday night my friends L+L couldn’t believe how delicious it was, you probably wouldn’t either.
You must though, because this Cauliflower Noodle Spinach Lasagna is homey, comforting, and a total winner.

Green Goddess Turkey Burgers

I’ll say it before you do. Turkey burgers can be pretty blah.
Sure, they’re lower in fat and calories compared to the traditional ground beef burger; but it takes just one bite of a lifeless and dry turkey burger to make you miss the beef counterpart so very much.
I’ve been there many times — more than I’d like to admit.
But when turkey burgers are spiced excellently and tender and juicy, they’re awesome in their own right.
Add zucchini or apple to ground turkey and you’ve got something really good going on. So good you ever wondered why you doubted turkey burgers in the first place.

Bloody Mary Meatballs

I was situating myself with my Kindle in seat 32C (classic “easy out” aisle seat) on my recent trip to Berlin, when the flight assistant unveiled behind the curtains the path-to-the-bathroom-blocking drink cart.
As I was spying from behind my ebook, I couldn’t help but notice that a lot of people ordered tomato juice/Bloody Mary (including myself).
The old lady seated in front of me, a mom and her teenage daughter, even the hipster dude with handlebar moustache sitting next to me.
I never drink tomato juice/Bloody Mary at home, restaurants or bars. But when the flight assistant asks “What would you like to drink?”, rest assured there’s tomato juice to be had.

Creamy Tomato Soup + Cauliflower Crust Grilled Cheese

Eating soup in the summer is an act of defiance — especially during a heatwave.
I’m not talking about eating cold soups such as gazpacho or vichyssoise. I’ve never been a fan of gazpacho. It makes me wish I had tortilla chips while at the same wondering why I am eating salsa with a spoon.
I’m talking about hot soups what warm you from the inside out. Soups you crave when the wind is howling outside, snow is falling, and all you want to do is curl up on the couch with a blanket and a warming bowl of homemade soup.
But when outside it’s 95º and humid, with not even a hint of breeze, and clouds of mosquitoes hum looking for breakfast, eating hot soup means disobedience.
That’s the kind of rebel I am.

Wandering in Berlin

There are a lot of reasons why I fell in love with Berlin.
It’s a vibrant city, with an eclectic mix of culture, urban life and history, a legendary nightlife, a culinary scene that rivals NYC, and always something new interesting happening.
Berlin literally has it all: vibe, art, music, food, fun, endless possibilities.

Sesame-Soy Salmon with Ginger Honey Glaze

Today we have a new entry in the much-overlooked seafood category on this blog.
I know this didn’t get past most of you: That I personally don’t love fish (I mean, I’ve confessed it here and here). Still I won’t consider myself a fish-averse person, but normally I would never choose fish over steak. Never.
Sure, I’ve come around shrimp, tuna (but almost only canned, please; I have limitations) and I’ve been known to make some limited advances in the areas of sea bass, sole, and octopus.
But for the most part, my fish appreciation remains modest.
I’m not proud of it. Actually, it feels more like a failure. It irks me to not be able to rave about sushi like the rest of the world does. I fight it. I often succumb.

(Paleo) Very Berry Ice Cream

I wrote the last post while sitting in a café in Berlin, this time around I’m in the lounge in Munich airport waiting to board.
Like many, I have a love/hate relationship with airports. Now, I know many people have a hate/hate relationship, but I definitely can see more the benefits.
Take Munich airport for instance. It’s gorgeous. Most glass and an open design, there are stores and restaurants a plenty. There’s free unlimited Wi-Fi with a powerful signal (JFK when will you ever learn?) It also offers travellers armrest-free seating and quiet rest areas with reclining seats. Super comfy. What possibly could you want more?

Soy-Lime Chicken Bowls with Cilantro Lime Dressing

I’m typing this post while sitting in a café in Berlin.
It’s sunny outside and there’s even a light breeze. Though it's supposed to get very warm today (temperatures will rise to near 100 degrees), I'm enjoying the cool morning.
There are so many things I want to tell you about this wonderful city but I feel like it’s too early.
I’ll have a post dedicated to this vibrant city next week. Be patient.

Homemade (Paleo) Enchilada Sauce

Every time I make my primal enchilada casserole, I’m always amazed by how delish the sauce is.
Actually, it’s not really clear to me whether I make enchiladas only as an excuse to make the sauce (and eat it by the spoonful) or because I do enjoy enchiladas.
Which I do, I’m not denying that. But now that I’m thinking about it, what I really dig about enchiladas is the sauce.

Summer In Books

I like to read year round but quieter summer days mean I have few more spare moments to catch on my reading.
You can usually find me reading novels, but every now and again I try to spice in a little non fiction. I've noticed that when I do it's usually food related. Shocking right?
Anyways, I thought it might be fun to share a few books I've read recently, all of which will keep you happy and none of which will embarrass you if someone asks, “What’re you reading?”
All are available for Kindle, tablet, and should be out in paperback by now. They are in no particular order beyond the way I found them on my Kindle.

Raspberry Cocoa Smoothie

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that people have strong opinions about the combination of fruit and chocolate.
I don’t judge, I mean, I have strong opinions about pretty much everything, such as the combination of chocolate and cayenne pepper (sometimes), whitefish salad sandwich (no thanks), pillow fight in Union Square (once is more than enough), and how many rounds of Candy Crush it is acceptable to play back-to-back (non-stop, what kind of question is that?)
What I’m saying here, is that pretty much the only thing I don’t have uncompromising views on is the combo of fruit and chocolate.

Cranberry Pistachio Light Chicken Salad

One of the many things that make my life worthwhile is shelling pistachios.
Seriously. It’s totally therapeutic for me.
Especially when I encounter one of those pesky ones that have only opened a tiny bit.
It’s like a challenge for me: ‘Stubborn pistachio’ v ‘Mike’.

Raspberry Almond Thumbprint Cookies with Lemon Glaze

As I told you yesterday, I’m pretty pumped to visit the great city of Berlin.
What I’m not excited about, is packing.
I’m actually really bad at packing. I'm not a light packer to begin with; on top of that I bring things I don’t need, and I forget things I do need.
The one mistake I often make is bringing too many tees, shirts, and sweaters and not enough socks and boxers.
And I always forget about outerwear. As a result I have a humongous collection of fleece jackets and umbrellas I bought around the world.
For some reason, I’m persuaded that while I’m on holidays it won’t rain — not even when I went to India during the Monsoon. My mind is weird, I know.

I'm Going To Berlin!

Aw, man, I'm so pumped about this!

In seven days I'll be landing in Berlin.
I’ve never been to Berlin before but I’ve heard nothing but good things about this city. I’m very very VERY excited to go and explore for myself.
Couz Dan moved there two years ago, and I’ll be staying at his place (thanks dude for the hospitality and for the picture!) He lives in Friedrichshain, a supposedly very trendy neighborhood I’m so stoked to explore.

Grilled Soy-Lime Chicken Breasts

What are your favorite workout songs that you secretly jam to?
You know, those songs that you get super pumped to, but that if by accident someone hears what you’re listening to, you have a backup line ready to justify why you’re listening to it.
Something like “I usually don’t listen to this crap but this is my roommate’s iPod. I picked it up by mistake this morning!"
Personally speaking, I have quite a few songs on my iPod I know for a fact I would get laughed at by my friends.
I call them my “power songs” (I know, I’m such a nerd!)
When I’m running and need that extra push, I crank ‘em up and BAM I immediately feel like Road Runner going “Meep meep!”
Well, I’ve grown sick and tired of hiding my shame playlists (or shamelists if you will) in the shadows. I want to come out into the light and share the music that I so secretly love.

Rosemary-Peach Iced Tea

I’m going to state the obvious: there is nothing more refreshing than a tall glass of iced tea on a hot summer day.
I know it, you know it, even my 6-year old niece knows it.
Iced tea quenches your thirst and satisfies your desire for flavor. It’s one of those delicious flavors that just makes the summertime seem worth while. That and BBQs, doing things outdoors, Central Park Summer Stage, MoMA PS1, Water Fight NYC, and long walks on the beach. Just to name a few.

Zoodles Cacio e Pepe

I like to think of myself as a smart person, but I guess we all make bonehead errors from time to time.
Yesterday despite a heat advisory, I went for a run.
We were well into the red zone where heat exhaustion and heat stroke could occur.
You know, one of those summer days when the thermometer reads 92º, but it feels like standing in the pits of hell — thanks a lot humidity!
The news advised people to stay indoors and avoid strenuous activities, warning that “if you have to be outside, be sure to schedule frequent rest breaks in an air conditioned or shaded place!”

Ginger and Vanilla Bean Apricot Compote

Do you know the difference between jams, jellies, preserves, conserves, marmalades, fruit butter, and compotes?
If you don’t, let me walk you through it.
Let’s start from jams.
Jams are made from fruit that is chopped or crushed and cooked with sugar until the pieces of fruit are soft and lose their shape.
Jellies instead are made from juice, or better yet fruits are crushed and cooked to extract their juice. The mixture is strained through a fine mesh fabric to remove fruit solids. As a result jellies have a bright, crystal-clear consistency.

Moroccan Potato Salad

I always thought most people do like potato salad to a degree, but is rarely somebody’s favorite thing.
More just something you accept.
“Oh, potato salad’s here. Guess I’ll have some before those ribs to get cooked!”
This past weekend I was proven wrong.
I showed up to a BBQ with a big bowl of potato salad and not only was I welcomed, but adored too.

Summer Tomato Frittata

I love frittatas.
I love frittatas probably more than you do.
I know, I know, it’s a bold statement to make, but I really love frittatas.

Avocado Caprese Salad with Balsamic Reduction

It’s easy to overeat during lunch time. You’ve been up since 6am, work is stressful, you’ve already eaten your daily intake of healthy snacks but you’re still starving.
And you know what? Everyone makes bad decisions when they’re starving.
Your mouth is watering, the stomach aches with hunger.
You walk into the Deli.
The options are endless.
Everything looks good.
Even things you normally don’t eat look good. Like Fried Chicken Sandwich or the Italian Meatball Sub with Double Provolone Cheese — you know, just to throw some examples out there.

Caffe' Shakerato

First things first, let’s do the pronunciation thing.
Caffe’ shakerato is pronounced as you might expect, sort of “shake-er-AH-toe”.
I know it sounds funny but that’s the way it is.

Turkey Pesto Meatballs

I worked at a pizza place in Ocean City (MD) during the summer right before I started college.
It was called "Circus Pizza" and it was owned by an Italian guy and his Russian wife. 
They ran the place like it was their own home. They offered honest Italian dishes and a really good thin-crust pizza. They were both adorable and arguably the best employers I've worked for.
One night after service was over and everyone had gone home, I started making tomato sauce for the next day in one of those huge commercial mixers. Brilliant me decides that if the sauce takes 10 minutes to mix on speed 1, it should only take 1 minute to mix on speed 10.
I patted myself on the back for coming up with such a smart idea and happily turned the dial to 10. Only for a second.

Classic Basil Pesto

I'm a real snob when it comes to pesto — only fresh homemade, thank you very much and a strict no to anything coming from a jar.
Oddly enough, I haven’t posted my recipe for Classic Basil Pesto on TIY yet.
I wonder why.
I made Kale Pesto, Avocado Pesto, Avocado-Spinach Pesto, Radicchio Pesto but not Basil Pesto.
Weird things happen on this blog.

Honey Roasted Plums with Thyme and Olive Oil

The heatwaves are coming and we all know it.
When it gets hot outside the last thing I want to do is turn on the oven.
My apartment is always hot during summer months and turning on the oven would make it the hottest place on the planet.
Not really, obviously, but that’s what it feels like when it’s 100 degrees outside and the oven is cranking at 400 degrees for half an hour.
I have A/C (not central, just a window units) so I can cool the apartment down, but I feel it’s a total waste of money — I don’t know about yours, but my electric bill is bad enough already.
That being said, I don’t completely avoid the oven during the summer, but I try not to use it as much.

It's Friday, Laugh A Little!

Hello friends.
Today I have no recipe for you.
Today it’s Friday — the day we’ve been waiting for all week — so I’m doing something a little different.
Today, I’m celebrating Friday.

Zoodles Aglio Olio e Peperoncino

Spaghetti aglio, olio, e peperoncino is an awesome Italian dish — spaghetti made with garlic, olive oil, and hot chili pepper. Served with chopped parsley and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.
It’s well loved because it’s so easy and inexpensive to make, and it’s a perfect solution when you’re in a crunch.
For instance, when you’re starving after a night out and you’ve got nothing in your fridge or you don’t feel like getting greasy food from the nearby Deli, making this spaghetti is a cinch.
Even when it’s 3am and you’ve had a few too many.
You know, just to throw a random example out there.
And just for the record, making spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino late at night is pretty common in in Italy — according to my friend Francesco.

Eggplant Rollatini

I have the distinct feeling my Macbook Pro is going to die soon.
I purchased it in September 2008. So I know it is old, but everything works perfectly fine — except for the battery which died after two years and that was about it.
However, two months ago I started getting tons of freezing.
It happens sporadically and it doesn’t seem to be a direct result of me doing anything in particular. The screen will just suddenly spaz out and then the whole Macbook will freeze up.
Every time that happens, I freak out.
I religiously back-up to an external drive with Time Machine every week, so I felt pretty good about not losing any data. Still, I freak out as it feels like the laptop is going to explode or something.
Other than the freezing, the Macbook works perfectly. It is not slow, but the fan starts to run continually, about 1 minute after start-up, and very loudly too.
It feels like the laptop is about to take-off or that it’s hyperventilating.

Chopped BLT Salad

Knowing that you should avoid certain food is different from not wanting a certain food.
For instance, I don’t want escargots because I don’t really like escargots.
But I avoid eating at fast food restaurants, not because I don’t want to, but because I want to be healthy.
Makes sense?

Easy Baked Parmesan Zucchini

My mobile phone fell in the toilet Friday morning.
To be precise, I accidentally dropped my phone down the toilet.
It was 7am, I was ridiculously grumpy, and I was checking my emails. There were so many annoying ones I got upset and I accidentally dropped the phone (read this as throw it..ugh!)
I immediately retrieved it, wiped it off, and powered it down.
I ran to the get the hair-dryer and I blow-dried it for a couple minutes (I didn't realize that the heat is more damaging than helpful — so if it ever happens to you, don't do it!)
Nothing happened.
I was so shocked, I wasn't sure which emotion I was feeling. I wanted to be angry, but I couldn’t. It was so surreal, I was laughing hysterically.
You hear about people dropping their phones in the toilet, sink, pool, sea, lake, cup of coffee, bowl of soup, but you never think you’re going to be one of them.

Watermelon-Lime Agua Fresca

Every time I buy watermelon I face the same dilemma: spending less money to buy too much watermelon (a huge seeded one), or spending more money to buy less watermelon (a small seedless one, or cut up in chunks).
But I always end up buying too much watermelon - I could never say to  good bargain.
Since I never want it to go to waste, I make lots of Watermelon-Lime Agua fresca.

12 Avocado Recipes

If you know anything about me, then you are aware of my love affair with avocado.
I eat that stuff with a spoon, plain, or coated in coconut and baked into fries, or stuffed into meatballs, or scrambled with eggs.
And why not a smoothie, ice-cream or a pudding? It adds a filling, creamy texture that just cannot be beat. Plus, it ups the good fats as well as adding a small protein boost.
Not to mention brownies. Avocado boosts the fudgy factor, the healthiest, fattiest kind.
I also make extra-creamy, extra-rich, extra-awesome pesto with it.
The possibilities are endless with this magic fruit.
So without further ado, here are 12 of my fave recipes with avocado!

Easy Chili Lime Chicken

Would you believe me if I tell you that I have found a recipe for ice cubes?
Probably not.
Which — among other things — shows how little faith you have in me.
Well, I have found it.
In an awesome recipe posted to Food.com a frustrated cook offers a recipe for ice cubes, explaining that “I'm publishing this recipe because I'm sure that there are other families who have members, who don't know how or have forgotten how to make ice when the ice tray is empty.”
The rundown proceeds as expected — water, ice cubes freezer — and it’s hysterical on his own.

Blueberry Avocado and Spinach Power Smoothie

Hi, my name is Mike and I’m an addict.
No, this post is not about chocolate or cauliflower as you might assume, it’s about avocado.
What is it about this green fruit that makes me go crazy?
From salads, to hummus, pesto, brownies, mayo, scrambled eggs, ice-cream, pudding, fries, even cream sauce. I put avocado in and on everything.
Actually, I love avocado so much I might write a song about it (if I only knew how to write music). It’s a love affair that runs deep.

15-Minute Chinese Eggplant with Spicy Garlic Sauce

I was in line at a major retail the other day and there was this woman in a courtesy scooter with a basket full of groceries.
The clerk picked up the groceries and started scanning them, entering the code for the veggies that had no barcode to scan.
When he reached the eggplant, he put it on the scale and entered the code.
The eggplant was big, at $3.49 per pound it cost almost $6.
As the clerk put in the bag, the woman became livid.
She started arguing (more like screaming really) that eggplants are not sold by the pound, but by the piece. She threatened to take her complaints to the store manager.
The poor clerk - a young college kid - didn’t know what to say and was clearly shaken.
I tried to calm her down explaining that he had no control over pricing and that he just rang up the items.
But she was so mad, she left swearing she would never come back and shop only where the price was “fair” (her words).

Easy Paleo Strawberry Crisp

Ever seen those runners during a race who so effortlessly can drink water out of those tiny paper cups without spilling a drop?
I'm not one of them.
I can’t even count how many races I’ve completed in my life: Ironman, Triathlons, marathons, half-marathons, 10Ks, 5Ks, etc.
Not a single time I managed to drink from those paper cups.

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes with Salted Chocolate Ganache

Sometimes a guy just needs a cupcake.
I don’t care if cupcakes are considered the height of femininity. If they are manly as a bag full of rainbows. With all their beautiful decorations, dainty, sparkly, tiny, fierce, and fabulous — hours spent to get each exactly right even knowing that they will be eaten in a couple of bites. I don’t care if cupcakes are “ars gratia artis” [see David? I know my latin!] which can be translated — in the syntax MGM employed — as “art for the sake of art”.
Sometimes a guy needs a cupcake, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Tuna Quinoa Salad

“How much canned tuna can I safely consume a week?”
I get asked this question a lot — particularly at this time of year.
When it’s hot outside and we don’t feel like cooking, nothing is easier than opening a tuna can and chopping some veggies to make a great salad.
Not to mention that tuna is pretty cheap and a good source of protein and omega-3s too.

Super Simple Smoked Paprika Chicken

Yoga is a very humbling activity. At least to me it is.
After 5 years of practice, it still feels like learning a foreign language as an adult: suddenly I’m unable to communicate in even the most basic terms.
And you know what? It sucks. It royally sucks.
I've always excelled in sports. I was convinced that somehow I was naturally born that way — but yoga has taught me a different lesson.
Suddenly I’m the slow kid in the class, and that’s a first for me.