Broccoli and Beef Recipe

August 20, 2013 by Christine Skari

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know that I love asian food. Mexican cuisine? Meh. Italian? It’s okay. But, plop anything that involves the fantastic flavors of Thai/Japanese/Korean/Vietnamese/Chinese cuisine in front of me, and I will demolish the entire plate of food.

One thing I’m not a fan of is the overall nutrition of some of the classic take-out items that are readily available. (I’m looking at you, Panda Express. Give me all of your orange chicken).

That’s why I was ecstatic when I made a healthier version of a classic Chinese favorite to be both delicious and good for you! Give a round of applause for (are you clapping yet?) this broccoli and beef recipe! **nutrition posted below**

I won’t lie, I was running around the house is cooking-ecstasy when I first tasted the fruits of my labor. There was some dancing to Taylor Swift and then I proceeded to eat almost all of it before realizing that I had to take a quality picture to share with you guys. I can’t get over how delicious the sweet and salty combination turned out and how quickly dinner came together.

When I usually try a new recipe, it takes me much longer than usual to cook it up since I’m constantly modifying, tasting, and taking my time to make it as perfect as possible. This recipe for broccoli and beef was ready in 30 minutes flat… on the first try!

The broccoli stays nice and crunchy and the florets soak up all of the mouthwatering pan juices! Just include some brown rice, and you got a tasty and healthy meal!

I’m also linking up ti WIAW so I can share this delicious recipe with the blogging world!

Healthy Garlic Lemon Shrimp Orzo

June 28, 2013 by Christine Skari

Hey lovelies! TGIF! Today started off on an active note with a morning hike in the heat and ended with some fantastic food.

Before hitting the hills, Kyle and I got breakfast at Starbucks. I had a regular Americano with a morning bun and banana. The morning bun was delicious! Sweet, but not overly so. I would definitely recommend it! Kyle had a ham and swiss sandwich that exceeded our expectations as well

Since we’re really smart, we thought of turning on our runkeeper apps to see the elevation changes and distance hiked AFTER being halfway done, but we’re guessing that we covered a little over 4 miles. It was a sweaty, sweaty, sweaty one! We started off with shirts on, but as soon as it was time to trek back up hill, we were ready to rip em off and get our tan on. We live in a really unique area with a chaparral environment. It almost a savannah-like feel to it but the ocean is just a half mile away or so. The trails can take you all around the area, even down to the beach, so Kyle and I are planning on spending a half day or so exploring within the next couple of weeks.

Let me tell you, there’s nothing better after a long hike than a glass of ice cold water! Next time we’ll remember to bring some with us, hopefully.

Now, let’s talk FOOD!

I’ve been eating this garlic lemon shrimp orzo for the past two days and am in love with it’s simple yet delicious flavors. The lemon and garlic work together fantastically and the dish comes together quickly- perfect for busy weeknights!

It’s also man approved by Kyle, who says that he could eat this all day long! I love finding recipes that are simple, healthy, and genuinely tasty!

The simple flavors really shine and the garlic mellows out after being cooked. If you’re a big garlic lover like me and aren’t planning on kissing anyone soon, go ahead and add some garlic salt to the mix as well!

Let me know if you try it out! xoxo Christine

Roasted Garlic Baby Dutch Potatoes

May 11, 2013 by Christine Skari

What is it about the simplicity of some dishes that make them more appealing than those of the finest restaurant? Humble ingredients come together in the minimalist of fashions to produce the most delicious of foods.

These potatoes are a testament to the deliciousness of simple recipes that uphold the integrity of their ingredients and let their flavor shine through!

I paired the potatoes with fresh guacamole made with avocados, cilantro, limes, cherry tomatoes, and grilled corn and a spice-rubbed New York Strip steak. Cherry tomatoes on the side for a pop of color and extra flavor. My dad was happy to help wipe this plate clean ;).

Roasted Garlic Baby Dutch Potatoes

Ingredients:

Dutch Potatoes (Other would be fine too, just cut them small)
1 1/2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
Garlic Salt/Minced Garlic
Salt
Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash and cut the potatoes and put them in a large baking pan. Coat evenly with extra virgin olive oil and season with garlic salt, salt, and pepper, using your hand to mix the potatoes together. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the vegetables are thoroughly cooked. Serve hot, and watch them get gobbled up!