Monday, May 31, 2010

Anchovy Spaghetti

You heard me, have you ever had one?  These salty little fish add big flavor to this dish!

Anchovy Spaghetti (2 servings)
1 Can anchovies
1 Spaghetti squash
8-12 oz Shrimp cooked
2-3 Cloves of garlic chopped
Olive Oil

Preheat oven oven to 425 degrees F. Slice spaghetti squash in half  (length or width) and remove seeds with a spoon.  Coat inside of squash with olive oil, and half of your chopped garlic, and lightly sprinkle with salt and place cut side of squash down, shell side out on a baking sheet.  Place in heated oven.  Cook squash until done, about 45min.  The shell will dent to the touch when done.  Remove from oven and flip squash open so it can cool.  While squash is cooling, open the can of anchovies and place in frying pan on low to med-low heat.  Careful of oil splattering with heat. Add the rest of chopped garlic.  As garlic and anchovies cook; use a spatula to separate anchovies into small bits. If dry add small amounts of olive oil. When anchovies are separated and garlic softened, add shrimp and turn heat to very low.  If dry add small amounts of olive oil.  After squash is cooled enough to handle with your hands, scrape squash out of its shell onto baking sheet (it collects any leftover olive oil, garlic and salt).  Turn heat to medium low on the anchovy shrimp pan.  Add spaghetti squash to  pan stirring frequently. Add all of the squash, continually stirring so that anchovies and shrimp are distributed throughout  squash.  Continue to cook if needed to burn off excess water from squash.  Otherwise dish up and enjoy! This will make about 2  servings depending on squash size.  If this is your main course make sure there is enough shrimp to be an ample protein.  You may also serve with no shrimp and with a side of
grilled chicken or pork chop. The next time I make this I want to try in more of a stir fry style.  Adding broccoli, carrots, and water chest nuts, and possibly and egg or chicken breast.  Another idea would be to add spinach along when adding the shrimp in the original recipe.  If anyone else tries these let me know how they turn out.


*Watch your anchovy ingredients
*You may use fresh or frozen shrimp just make sure its cooked!
*I like garlic!  The more the merrier!
*This doesn't win the award for most attractive dish, but it does taste pretty good and it easy to make.
*I tried it as a stir fry....oh yeah! Recipe to come!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Garlic and Thyme Burgers, Salsa Salad, and Homemade Mayo

My thought growing up was all a burger needed was some cheese and its good to go, why mess with perfection?  Well perfection got old, at least as far as my burger was concerned.  And my taste has matured since then (but only a little).  Since Memorial Day is around the corner and so is the outdoor BBQ season I thought we could celebrate summer with this burger and salsa salad! 

Garlic & Thyme Burger
1lb Ground hamburger
2 Tablespoons fresh thyme chopped
2-3 Garlic cloves minced
Sea Salt and pepper to taste
1 Large ripe tomato
Romaine Lettuce
Other Favorite toppings
Onion, avocado, bacon etc.

Light the grill!  Thoroughly mix all ingredients together.  Once blended divide into 4-6 portions and form patties. If you are using a leaner meat and having problems getting meat to stick together, add an egg to the mixture.  Place on grill and cook until desired temperature. A very pale pink center with 5 patties took about 4-5 min each side with the grill at medium heat. After placing burgers on the grill, I sliced my tomato into 3-5 thick slabs, and covered them lightly in olive oil, salt and pepper (could use garlic salt too!).  When it was time to flip the burgers I added the tomatoes to the grill. 

While waiting for the burgers and tomatoes to cook, start the mayo. 

Mayo
1 egg
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon paprika
1 table spoon lemon juice
1 1/2-2 Cup LIGHT TASTING olive oil (EVOO is okay but can have funny aftertaste)

Place the first 4 ingredients into food processor and pulse 3 times.  Have your olive oil measured and in an easy to pour dish.  Turn your food processor on and slowly add your olive oil in a slow, steady stream.  At first it will be runny but will slowly start to whip and become rich and creamy.  Set aside in cool place and/or dish until ready to serve.  

When it is time to collect the burgers, flip the tomatoes and let them cook just another minute or two.  You want to soften the tomatoes not completely cook them.  If they over cook they will be difficult to remove from the grill, as they will become soggy and collapse.  Remove tomatoes from grill onto separate plate. 

Now start building!  Lettuce, burger, mayo, tomato and what every else you like!   

Salsa Salad
2 Large cucumbers seeded
1 medium avocado (ripe but not too soft)
1/2 C Grape tomatoes (sliced/halved)
Fresh Cilantro
2 T lime juice
Sea salt and pepper to taste

Slice, pour, mix, and enjoy!  Easy easy!


Tips and tricks to make it your own:
*If you don't like Romaine use iceberg, or on a bed of mixed greens.  Use the romaine leaves to make a 'sandwich' out of your burger! 
*I wanted my mayo to have some zing so I added more mustard, salt and paprika.  Find which combos you like and rock them! 
*To seed your cucumbers: peel and cut in half width wise then quarter each half.  Run knife down seeded inside to remove seeds. You don't have to do this, but it keeps the salsa from getting too watered down and runny. 
*Shout out to Cooking Lite magazine for both the recipes, I really didn't change them to make them diet friendly!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Pizza!

That's right, PIZZA!  And no weird tasting or textured crust!  This is a great for when you got gotta have that pizza fix.  This recipe has a lot of play when it comes to toppings, so there will be no exact measurements.  Remember to eat good quality foods, and pick your battles.  When choosing toppings read labels and be as picky you want/need to be!  This is a good one for families with kids as they can pick their toppings and so can you! 

Ingredients:
1 medium chicken breast/person (crust)
Any or all your favorite pizza toppings!
     pepperoni
     sausage*
     burger
     mushrooms*
     black olives*
     broccoli (use small florets)*
     marinara/ or canned diced tomatoes*
     onions*
     jalapeno*
     bacon
     prosciutto
     Canadian bacon
     pineapple
     steak
     salt and pepper*
     oregano*
     basil*
     crushed red pepper
     WHATEVER YOU WANT :)*
     
Other Supplies
     cutting board or hard surface to pound on
     plastic wrap
     meat tenderizer/mallet preferably with smooth edge (small frying pans work too :) )
    

1.  Slice open chicken breast to increase surface area, but make sure to not slice completely in half.  Stop so that one edge is still attached, but breast opens up.  Here is how I did it.  Since I am right handed I pointed the thickest part of the the breast down and to my right, this is the corner I will start slicing.  
Start slicing from right to left, stopping before cutting the breast in half.  As you slice open the breast up, it will look look like an upside down heart when finished.
If you haven't already, place the chicken on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap.  Take frying pan or whatever meat smoosher you got and whack away! Try to evenly thin out the breast, like you would roll out pizza dough.  A perfect 'round' pizza shape is not necessary, nor worth the effort.  Pound as thin as possible without completely obliterating the unity of the crust, flip breast to other side and pound if needed. 
The chicken will plump and shrink some when cooking (if too thick it won't hold all your yummy toppings as well!).  The plastic wrap will keep pieces of mangled meat from spraying you in the face, clothing and counter tops. I learned that the hard way.
Lightly coat baking sheet with olive oil to keep chicken from sticking and place chicken in baking sheet.  If you have holes in your crust push together, and add your crust seasonings.  Bake (broil or grill) chicken until done (meat is all white and juice is clear).

This will take about 12-15 min at 400 degrees depending on thickness.  Try not to over cook or it gets really dry and chewy. 

2.  While chicken is cooking prepare other toppings.  Brown the sausage, fry bacon, saute onions and mushrooms, etc. (I sauteed my jalapeno, mushrooms, red onion, and broccoli all together in olive oil)

3.  When chicken crust is done add your favorite toppings! And place back in oven for a light toasting (low broil for a few min).  I like to get my broccoli just slightly browned.  If you are a dairy eater add your toppings and your cheese, and lightly broil until cheese melts/bubbles.    

4.  Remove from oven divide as necessary (if you used large chicken breasts it may be big enough for 2 servings).  Actual pizza slices are not necessary, or again worth the effort. 

5.  For all you Montanans, North Dakotans, and non-strict paleo people; ranch dressing makes a yummy dipping sauce.  So does marinara.


All ingredients can be found at any grocery store.  Side dish ideas could be any left over sauteed veggies, or serve with a side salad.  If you made a mostly veggie topped pizza you may not want (or have room!) for a side.   


*notes the toppings I used and are seen in the pictures.  I did use mild Italian sausage from Heebs grocery store.  As the exact ingredients are unknown, I chose it because it is delicious and it is made fresh at Heebs.   I also did put cheese on this, which isn't strict paleo.  It is up to you and your goals whether or not you chose to add dairy.  It is still delicious without cheese.   
**Heck yeah, I drink wine with my pizza usually its in a Mason jar!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Seared Salmon with Jalapeno Ponzu


If you're like me you have all the free time in the world to research recipes, grocery shop, prepare extravagant meals with and exotic pallet! HA! Yeah right!  We all know there is often not enough time to the day to get everything done.  This is why I like fast, easy, and delicious recipes!  If I have to read or repeat the recipe more than twice to get it right, its not worth doing a third time!

I did not with this recipe, (I don't even know how to say ponzu!) I do try to find ways to make them my own.  Probably because when it comes to cooking I have hard time following directions! I'm just crazy like that!  If you have an an idea how to improve or diversify the recipe let me know.  I'll give the basic recipe and maybe my two cents at the end on how to try the recipe with a spin!

This first recipe I chose for a few reasons:
1. The picture looked really good 
2.  It was really easy to make and...
3.  I am not the biggest fish fan (especially salmon) mostly because I don't know how to prepare it if its not battered and fried! Here was my chance to breakout of the burger box. 

Seared Salmon with Jalapeno Ponzu

1/4 C fish sauce* (originally soy)
2 TBSP fresh orange juice
2 TBSP Mirin** (sweet rice wine)
1 TBSP fresh lemon juice
1 TBSP sesame oil
4 (6oz) salmon fillets
1 Large jalapeno, thinly cut crosswise into rings

1.  Mix together first 4 ingredients in a small bowl and mix them together well.

2.  Heat oil in a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat.  Place salon skin side down and cook for 4 min.  Flip and cook another 4 min or until fish flakes easily with a  fork. 

3.  Place salmon fillet on plate and top with a few jalapeno slices and about 2 TBSP sauce, let stand about 10 min before eating to let sauce set in.  Enjoy!

You can find most of the ingredients at your local grocery store.  Town and Country, Albertsons, and Rosauers all had everything needed.  The next time I try this I am going to try it as a marinade on some pork.  I think it would a bit much to soak the salmon.  I'll let you know how it goes. Serve with a side of steamed vegetables like broccoli or asparagus. 

*Instead of fish sauce there are gluten free soy sauces
**Mirin is made from rice which is technically not "Paleo" but is gluten free.  My thoughts on substituting would be to try apple cider vinegar (probably 1/2 to 3/4 the suggest mirin amount) and a teaspoon of honey to sweeten it up.  Make sure to get your honey warm and  you will need to stir well.  Add small amounts until you find a combo that you like.
Also I recommend not sampling a spoonful of the mirin alone, unless you are out of ipecac. 

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Welcome!

Hello and welcome!  This page was started to share ways to get good food (nutritious and delicious) to our mouths!  Inspired by blogs like Every Day Paleo and Sweet Cheeks we hope to inspire you to eat look, feel and perform better!

We will be updating weekly with different and realistic recipes for the Bridger CrossFit athlete or anyone else who is curious in a gluten and grain free diet! Our recipes will cater mostly to the Paleo enthusiast, and there may be options/tips to add some dairy for those that can tolerate it.  Will we try to note when things may not be on the strict paleo person's diet, but all ingredients will be remain gluten free.  We are not encouraging "cheating" or loop holes, but we are all big boys and girls and we are responsible for what we want to put into our bodies.  You can be as strict or as relaxed as you need to be. 

In this blog 'diet' is not a four letter word!  It is a lifestyle, not a temporary way to lose weight. We eat to eat to fuel our bodies for the unknown and unknowable.  We are not doctors, vegans, or vegetarians.  We believe you should eat as fresh, local, and as natural as your lifestyle will allow you to.

If you would like to share a recipe please send it to info@bridgercrossfit.com, with 'In the Kitchen with Bridger CrossFit' in the title line.  Thanks for stopping by!

Look for the first recipe on Tuesday, May 11th. 

Monday, May 3, 2010

Coming Soon!

Weekly posts starting soon!