Berry Breakfast Bowl...

Good Morning All,

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  Monday is here and there's nothing more you can do than dive right in.  Start your day off right by having a hearty breakfast. This morning I had Greek yogurt with frozen blackberries and almond butter mixed in.  I stirred this all up and I had a nice frozen treat for breakfast.

How did you start your day?

Chicken Kebabs: Bihari Style

So, here's what was going down in Kanwal's Kitchen over the weekend. Actually, this happened to go down in Mama Ullah's kitchen :-)

I went home yesterday and since the weather was so great, Mama Ullah decided to make me some chicken kebabs out on the grill. In no time my mom had chicken breasts cut up and marinating in the proper bihari kebab spice marinade of: yogurt, ginger paste, garlic paste, coriander, chili's, onion and cumin!  A couple of hours later I helped her skewer these babies up and start the grilling!

End result:  Perfectly moist, and flavored chicken kebabs

These kebabs were enjoyed with a sided of sauteed okra and some rice...go Ma!

Simple lunch: Brown Rice Pasta with Broccoli Florets

On a cold and rainy day like today, I crave warm, simple dishes. I also try to keep it healthy when I can :-) Today, I decided to make a simple brown rice pasta and steamed broccoli bowl. I also wanted to keep my sauce simple so I only used extra virgin olive oil and shredded cheese with black pepper and dried basil mixed in. Let's take a look at the ingredients:


Brown rice pasta Steamed broccoli florets EVOO Shredded cheese Black pepper and basil for seasoning Preparation: Cook the pasta as instructed. Place cooked pasta in a bowl with the steamed broccoli florets. Make sauce by mixing a tablespoon of EVOO with a tablespoon of shredded cheese. Add desired amount of black pepper and basil. Toss pasta and broccoli with sauce. Enjoy!


Here's how this meal shapes up: Whole grain: brown rice pasta Produce: broccoli florets Protein: shredded cheese Plant fat: EVOO Sass: black pepper, basil Question of the day: what is your favorite comfort food?

Decadent Breakfast....

 

So, what did you guys have for breakfast this morning?  I had a deliciously decadent breakfast (please look left) of Greek yogurt, dark chocolate chips and sliced banana.  Not only was this delish breakfast decadent, but it's actually pretty nutritious.  Protein from the Greek yogurt, fiber from the banana, and antioxidants from the dark chocolate chips.  I used 60% cacao chocolate chips.  Delish!  Jealous?  You too can make this great creation with the help of the three ingredients. This makes me think...can I make a healthy cannoli cream filling for breakfast?

Ah, I love experimenting! 

Be happy, it's Friday!

The Black Bean Burger Mystery Recipe: Homemade Black Bean Burger

Whew....glad to hear The Black Bean Burger Mystery is solved!  Last thing we want on lunch plates is unhealthy meals going out to the great citizens of lunch times.

Now that this mystery is solved, I think it's a great time to share the nutritiously delicious home made recipe for the black bean burger.

Ingredients:
One 15oz. can of reduced sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup of thinly sliced scallions
1/2 bell pepper diced
1tsp. of garlic powder
1/4 cup of cilantro, very finely chopped
1tsp. of onion powder

Preparation:
In a puree the beans in a blender or food processor.  Mix the remainder of the ingredients in the puree. Combine well.  Refrigerate for at least an hour before forming patties and serving on a whole wheat bun.

Servings:  3

The Black Bean Burger Mystery: The Suspects...

Now that you all know the background to this mystery, lets have a looksie at our suspects....

Suspect: 

Homemade black bean burger.  Suspect has proteins and carbs, yet claims to be filled with fiber.

Accomplice 1:  Side Salad
The side salad, although little effort was put in, the side salad made a big impact to the fulfillment of the meal.  Are cucumbers and tomatoes really to blame for the full flavor of the meal.

Accomplice 2:  Arnolds Sandwich Thin
Claims to fill the place of a regular bun with half the calories and twice the fiber.  It's a thin line to break a bad habit of over indulgence.

Accomplice 3:  Newman's Own Light Balsamic
Is this really Light or do I sense a back stab of full fat flavored dressing?

Could this homemade black bean burger really create a filling lunch?  What exactly is this made of?  How did the suspect taste?  These and many other questions hope to be answered soon....



caugh in the act!



My column on TheAjnabee.com....

Hello All,

Please hop on over to TheAjnabee.com  and check out my recipe for NO SUGAR ADDED peanut butter muffins!  This is great for breakfast or a snack!  As usual, healthy, nutritious and delicious!