February 04, 2014

Roasted Veggie Mash Up & Whole Grain Mustard Sauce

February 04, 2014/ sherri d'alessandro

I haven't posted a recipe in a while - weird! Anyway, I think I'm officially on a mustard kick. I've been making all different kinds of mustard sauces - mustard is just so versatile and has such a sharp flavor it can handle many other opposing ingredients... honey, garlic, etc.

So... it's one of those weeks where I have a hodge podge of vegetables in my fridge from different meals I've made over the last couple weeks. After chatting with Mandy over the weekend about her new go-to side dish... take a guess... roasted vegetables! I decided to throw everything in the pan... add some chopped onions and sliced grapes and be done with it. (Side note: it was so great catching up with Mandy this weekend... we haven't seen each other since last Spring. It's amazing how so much time can go by so quickly, but, when you get together it's like no time has passed. We caught up at my place and then headed to Stephi's for dinner - espresso martinis for the win!)

Back to the meal. Caramelized onions and grapes add a nice sweetness to a savory meal that isn't too intense. For this mash-up, I used brussel sprouts (which I only started liking last week), potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and turnips.

Chop up the vegetables... all about the same size. Drizzle with a little extra virgin, salt, pepper. Throw in the oven at 415 degrees for 15 minutes. During this time, marinate chicken or any other protein with whatever you want. Tonight I used extra virgin, lemon juice, salt, crushed red pepper, thyme, and bay leaves.

Toss it on a grill pan on medium heat and cook through. While that's happening... mix the following ingredients to make the whole grain mustard sauce:

- whole grain mustard

- honey mustard

- organic mayo

- salt

-extra virgin olive oil

- maple syrup

You know I don't measure so I tried to show you how to eye ball it in the below photo. Mix it up and then set it aside.

Once the 15 mins is up on the roasted vegetables - toss them around and put them in for another 12-15 mins. Grill the chicken and then plate everything once it's all done.

Lotsss of health benefits to talk about here!

Parsnips: Folate, Potassium, Vitamins C & E,
Carrots: A, K, & Fiber
Organic Chicken: Protein, B3, B6, Selenium
Turnips: Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium
Brussell Sprouts: (pretty much high in everything good) buttt especially K, C, A, folate, manganese
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Monounsaturated fats, Vitamin E

Plus, lots of anti-inflammatory & anti-oxidant benefits from the grapes & onion!

That's all I got for tonight - does anyone have a go-to mustard sauce recipe?? Hope you all have a great week despite the snowstorms in the midwest/east.

January 31, 2014

Friday Favs_1.30.14

January 31, 2014/ sherri d'alessandro

The best day of the week is finally upon us! I'm looking forward to a much needed, extremely relaxing weekend. I thought things were supposed to slow down after Christmas? They did not. Friday night, we will be getting takeout and watching movies. Saturday, Mandy is coming to visit for a full-on girls night (wooot). Then, it's Superbowl time. Bummed the Pats aren't in it, but, it's still a good excuse to cook and eat comfort food and park my bootie on the couch. Can you tell I need some r&r?

How are you all spending the weekend?

Time for the favs:

1. Thursday night, we went to Gather for Janet's birthday. Oh em gee. I was so impressed. We started out with the most perfect little deviled eggs, delicious oysters, and homemade chips with french onion dip (yummm). For dinner, broiled salmon with whole grain mustard sauce, brussel sprouts, and peruvian potatoes (I remade the meal last night). Dessert... bread pudding. One of the best meals I've had at a while. 100% satisfied with everything. And, it's located right across from the ICA... I didn't even know it was there... it's in a building IN the parking lot. The building offers up office space and meeting rooms for entrepreneurs, consultants, small biz owners, etc to have meetings and such. Cool place fo sheezy.

2. This article that my friend Jim posted on my fb wall... is EXACTLY what I'm preachin' about people! Eat real food. Fat is good for you. Stop eating processed shit.

3. I am loving the Anti-Diet project series. Kelsey is learning how to be healthy in all the right ways. Eating what she craves, making time for exercise, and knowing it's OK to have a bagel every once in a while. Guys, she's got it all right.

4. I FREAKED OUT yesterday when I realized it was 5:15 and still light out. My mood instantly lifted... like physically felt myself get excited as if I was going downtown to meet my girlfriends for margaritas on the Met patio. Fleeting thought, but, the days are getting longer and we are a few steps closer to summer! The sunrises and sunsets have also been pretty cool.

5. This image of the lovelock bridge in Paris (just in time for Valentine's Day) makes me want to drop everything and drive to Logan... immediately.

Have an awesome weekend... enjoy every minute. xo

January 28, 2014

Motivational Tuesday

January 28, 2014/ sherri d'alessandro

Whew... it's one of those weeks... is it Tuesday already? Exhaustion is looming, but, I wanted to get out some motivation for the week. I know it can be really difficult to stay motivated during the winter months... especially this year. If you live in the Midwest or East Coast, the polar vortex is taking over and she's not so funny anymore.

Waking up to go to the gym is brutal. Eating anything but warm food feels 'cold'. Going outside for a walk or run? Forget about it. Taking all of that into consideration... you have to just deal with it, people. Myself included. Get up, get dressed (warm clothes only) and in the words of Nike... just do it.

What do you do if you're a runner? Take a class! Try something new. Hot yoga? Your body will thank you!

Craving warm food? Type "healthy soup" into Pinterest and you'll find dinner for every day over the course of the next year. Hearty soups with roasted vegetables, beans, and a lean protein are healthy and loaded with vitamins.

Don't feel like moving?... MOVING your body will get your warm... get going.

If all else fails... pin one of these quotes on your mirror: