Perfect Granola

I LOVE love love granola. Specially on top of some plain yogurt, fruit and honey. But every time I think about buying one at the store I just can't get over the amount of sugar and crazy calories that they usually have. So I've been making my own for a while. I remember my mom making it at home growing up and just loving the smell of it in the oven. I finally found a recipe that I totally love and always comes out perfect. Its a mix of ingredients I like, and this Honey Almond Granola recipe. 

Ingredients::

_ 4 cups rolled oats

_ 3/4 cup of almonds (I like buying them whole and chopping them myself, but you can just get the silvered ones)

_ 1/4 cup sunflower seeds

_ 1/4 cup chopped cashews

_ 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut 

_ 1/2 light brown sugar

_ 1/2 tsp salt

_ 1 tsp cinnamon
_ 1/2 cup of honey 

_ 1/3 cup vegetable oil

_ 1 tbs vanilla extract

Directions::
_ Preheat oven to 325º
_ In a large bowl, mix all dry ingredients.

_ In a small bowl, mix all wet ingredients. Pour it on top of the nuts and mix well.

_ Spread into 2 baking sheets, it's better to separate the mix in 2 so the granola cooks evenly and gets crunchy, not soggy. 

_ Bake for about 10 min, mix, then cook for another 5. Keep an eye on it, you don't want it to burn!

_ Let cool completely, then transfer to a tupperware and keep covered. I've read it keeps well for 2 weeks only, but I keep mine for about 4 weeks. Just cover it well.

You can also add dry cranberries, raisins or even chocolate chips. Also, if you don't have all the ingredients i have in here don't worry — use what you have, just make sure you have about 5 1/2 cups total of nuts/oats so the balance is right with the wet ingredients. Enjoy!

Go fish

My hubby and I love fish, but with salmon and tuna being so pricey lately (specially at our local New Season's Market) we've been having mostly Tilapia. We usually prepare it the same way every time because it's SO good and it always comes out delicious. I really recommend buying it fresh and preparing it the same day, it really makes a difference in flavor. This time I served it with grilled zucchini and onions, super healthy!

INGREDIENTS::

_ 1 lemon

_ 2 tilapia filets

_ spices: Chili powder, Cayenne pepper, ground garlic, salt & pepper 

  (you can also use your favorite spicy/bbq mix even if it's for meat)

_ 2 zucchinis, sliced longwise

_ 1/2 onion, sliced

DIRECTIONS::

_FISH:  

_Squeeze half the lemon all over the fish (both sides) and sprinkle with all your spices. I usually add a lot more on my hubbys than mine because he likes it really spicy.

_Heat up just enough olive oil to cover a non stick pan (medium heat) and add your fish. Cook for about 3 minutes, flip and cook for another 3 minutes (or until nice and brown). Then, I like to squeeze the other half of the lemon in the pan and cover it for another minute or to until its done. How do you know it's done? it should be easy to cut with a fork and should be nice and white on the inside. Be delicate when taking it out of the pan!

_VEGGIES:

_Just sprayed them with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. Grilled them on our indoor flat grill.

I bet you'll love this and it'll become a staple at your house!

Wrap it up!

After our holiday road trip I've been trying to make healthy dishes for dinner and trying not to eat too many carbs at night, so last week I made one of our favorites: Lettuce wraps!

These are super easy and delicious. Here is my super simple recipe:

INGREDIENTS::

_ 3 chicken breasts

_ soy sauce

_ lemon juice

_ 4 garlic cloves

_ 1/2 chopped yellow onion

_ 1/2 chopped red pepper

_ 1/2 chopped green pepper

_ fresh ginger

_ 1/2 cup of sliced carrots (i used mini carrot sticks)

_ salt, pepper, chili powder, chili flakes (plus anything you like!)

_ lettuce (i like boston lettuce because it can hold the chicken nicely)

_ extras: cilantro, green onions, cashews

DIRECTIONS::

_ Cut up the chicken breast in small pieces and if you have time, marinate it in some soy sauce, lemon juice, salt & pepper

_ Saute chopped garlic, peppers and onions until tender. Add the chicken and let it brown

_ Add the ginger, the spices and the carrots (i like to add them last to keep them crunchy)

_ At this point I usually add a little bit of water or chicken stock if I have. Just enough so it all comes together and you get a nice little extra juice.

_ Cut the head of lettuce in half, then in half again and put some leafs in a plate (be delicate so they don't break)

_Extras: I like to cut up some scallions, cilantro and crush a few cashews.

I like bringing all the things to the table, that way everybody can make their own. Make sure you have some good hot sauce too to give it a little kick. Feel free to add more veggies or any spices you like. You can totally make this whole think mexican style and add some black beans. Be creative!