bbq sauce

RECIPE: SWEET AND SIMPLE BBQ SAUCE

August 13, 2015

Ever want something to spice up your bbq? I recently did, and I did exactly that. However, I didn't quite SPICE it up, it was more of a sweet upgrade than anything. I love mixing different flavors to see how they react to each other in my cooking. I also love reducing flavors in heat and seeing how they react. These two tricks played out in this BBQ sauce upgrade between the cumin and the cinnamon.


Cumin is native to the Mediterranean near India. Coming from seeds originally, it has a robust flavor that can be described as bitter. It has a strong, warm aroma. Cinnamon, has an equally as strong aroma, however the word to use with cinnamon is obviously sweet. I expected these two to mellow each other out, and the steak rub to add that extra kick. I also love when sweet flavors carmelize out in cooking.


The olive oil made the mixture more fluid so it would be easier to spread, and it would melt into the chicken easier.

We put the BBQ sauce on the chicken for the last ten minutes of cooking time so that it doesn't burn off. We also drizzled some EVOO right before they went on the grill to help the cooking process.



SWEET AND SIMPLE BBQ SAUCE

INGREDIENTS: All ingredients can be your brand of choice. Recipe good for 4 breasts.
  • Bbq sauce, 3 tbsp
  • 1 tbsp of cumin
  • 1 tbsp of cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp of steak rub
  • 2 tbsp EVOO 
DIRECTIONS
  1. Combine BBQ sauce, cumin, cinnamon, and rub in a bowl.
  2. Whisk the EVOO in until it is a smooth texture
  3. Drizzle the chicken breasts with EVOO 
  4. Place them on the hot grill and cook them for 10 minutes, flip a few times
  5. Spread the BBQ sauce mixture over the chicken 
  6. Cook for another 10 minutes, flip a few more times
  7. Make sure it is cooked all the way through
  8. Enjoy!







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cafe

REVIEW: LIFE ALIVE

June 23, 2015

I'm going to lightly call this a review, because I know it's all going to be good stuff. I can't believe I haven't done this yet! 



"Life Alive" is  a vegan-friendly, hip, clean, and most importantly zen fast-casual restaurant in Massachusetts. There are three locations: Lowell, Cambridge, and Salem. Luckily enough, there is a life alive in where I live at school (Salem), and where I live at home (Lowell). I'm not sure about the other locations, but the location in Lowell has the whole Merrimack Valley area abuzz, and has for a while. I've been regularly eating there for about four years now, and I wasn't even an innovator.

People I know from my area talk about this deliciously nutrient-rich food just as endearingly as they do about a Doritos Locos Taco or a Whopper. They crave it. What do they put in their flaxseed sprinkles? Crack?

What's great about this establishment is that they promote a healthy, green, zen lifestyle in a warm, welcoming way. Free water in mason jars, herbal supplements for sale, and a bathroom that could be confused for a mediation garden are just a few examples. It's all about the decor. They also have a community bulletin board to ensure a sense of community. They also have live, local music as well.



So, what are some examples of the delicious, nutrient-dense food they serve? They serve filling bowls, wraps, salads, smoothies, coffee, tea, and more. Bowls are based on brown rice or udon noodles and are filled with veggies, nuts, cheese, and more and can be topped with add-ons such as hummus, avocado, flax oil, goji berries, granola, etc.


The Goddess Bowl

I usually get "the innocent", that is brown rice, corn, carrots, broccoli, and  tamari almonds, quinoa topped with a Ginger Nama Shoyu sauce. I get it alongside the "Elvis Alive" smoothie that includes peanut butter, raw cacao, banana, coconut-based ice cream, and rice milk.

I always go to Life Alive if I want an easy to love healthful meal, and don't feel like making one. Chain restaurants make eating healthy so hard, but Life Alive makes it so easy. It's also just a great place to sit and do some work. Good vibes all around.

Have you ever eaten at a Life Alive?
What's your favorite vegan restaurant or dish?




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cooking

Oh So Simple DIY: Peanut Butter Banana Granola Bars!

January 14, 2013



Do you ever get a snack attack at the worst time? Does this snack attack make you gravitate towards the candy bar aisle stocked with evil little snacks wrapped in colorful wrappers and laced with unhealthy high fructose corn syrup? Have no fear snack-speare! These delectable protein-packed granola bars will make the answer to snack or not to snack easier than ever!

Making your own granola bars may sound like a daunting task, however don't just push it aside and leave it to the professionals at Kashi or Special-K just yet. You can harbor the culinary expertise to craft your own healthy and delicious treats! Stocking up on the ingredients to make these yourself is cheaper and healthier! This way - you now exactly what you're eating, because you made it yourself, not some factory worker god knows where.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
  • 1 cup of water
  • 2 cups of Sunbelt low fat granola cereal (with cinnamon, almonds, and raisins already included)
  • 1/4 of a cup of Trader Joe's "Better'n Peanut Butter" spread
  • One banana
  • 1 cup of splenda/light brown sugar mixed
  • 1 tablespoon of dry roasted peanuts
Big picture: Sunbelt lowfat granola cereal. Top: Trader Joe's "Better'n Peanut Butter. Middle: Splenda. Bottom: Domino Light Brown Sugar


Procedure:

First things first, Preheat your oven to 350.

1.  Most granola bar recipes call for honey, however I found my house to be honey-less. So, I improvised and made a light brown sugar simple syrup. The thicket simple syrups are made with equal parts water and sugar. In a medium saucepan, simmer 1 cup water and 1 cup of combined splenda and light brown sugar. Mix for two minutes. 
2. Stir in 1/4 of a cup of Trader Joe's "Better'n Peanut Butter spread. I use this because it's 85% less fat than peanut butter (peanut butter can get fatty), 40% less calories (100 calories for 2 tablespoons), it's all natural, trans fat and saturated fat free, gluten free, you get the point. Anyway, stir this in for two minutes or until it is totally melted and mixed with the simple syup and it's all one solution.
3. Pour this solution into a bowl.
4. In a seperate bowl, mix two cups of Sunbelt low fat granola cereal, one banana, and 1 tablespoon of dry roasted peanuts.
5. Like any other good baking recipe, combine your wet and dry ingredients by pouring the simple syrup over the granola. Mix until it's all combined, wait a little for the oats to absorb the simple syrup completely.
6.  Pour into a tin-foil lined baking sheet and spread evenly. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until it begins to dry.
7. Take out and chill in the refrigerator until they are however you want them.
8. Cut up, serve, and enjoy!

Exactly how many calories is each satisfying and savory bar? Let's do the math!
2 cups granola: 600 calories
2 tbsp better'n peanut butter: 100 calories
1 banana: 80 calories
handful of dry roasted peanuts - 83 calories
I made 8 bars, so divide 863/8 and you get... only 109 calories per bar! A delicious snack only for about 100 calories!

Left, the mix right after adding the simple syrup. Drain at this point if you want. Right, the mixture spread on a tin foiled lined baking pan.

Ta-da! The finished product. Share these with friends or hog them all for yourself - either way healthy snacking is happy living!

Listen:
Melrose Diner - The Wonder Years
Don't You Worry Child - Swedish House Mafia
Better Than You (feat. Rita Ora)  - Conor Maynard