Eggplant Parmesan Slices with Marinara from Scratch

Marinara Sauce

3 lbs tomatoes ( combination of roma and vine ripened)

1 tsp salt for water

2 carrots chopped

 1 onion chopped 

3 cloves garlic 

1/2 c chopped red bell pepper 

1 T evoo

2 tsp Italian seasoning 

salt and pepper

1. Boil 6 c water in medium pot. Add salt.
2. Score tomatoes (slice shallow X for easy peeling)
3. Blanch tomatoes (boil 1 minute)
4. Drain, chop tomatoes and reserve for sauce
5. Saute vegetables (except garlic) in evoo 7-9 minutes in Dutch oven
6. Add garlic and saute 2 minutes, dont burn
7. Add tomatoes and seasonings and simmer 20 -30 minutes. Add water if necessary.
8. Cool sauce and Puree mixture with boat motor 

Eggplant Parmesan

1 medium firm eggplant 

1 c panko bread crumbs
1 tsp italian seasoning
1/2 c parmesan cheese
2 eggs
2 T cornstarch
2 T flour
canola oil for frying

1. Peel eggplant and slice 1/4 inch thick. Lay slices, salted on paper towel to drain moisture.
2. Pour oil into fry pan 1/4 inch up pan. Heat oil to 375 before frying
3. Place flour and cornstarch with salt and pepper in 1 bowl
4. Whisk eggs in bowl 2
5. Combine crumbs, cheese and seasoning in bowl 3
6. Dip eggplant into bowls 1-2-3 to create crust on eggplant
7. Fry one side until browned and flip and repeat
8. Drain on drying rack on paper towels and keep warm in 250 degree oven until ready to serve.
9. Freeze leftovers
10. Serve with marinara dip

Crazy Pita Pizza Night

Pita Pizzas
To veer from the traditional I made and used some interesting toppings for this pizza bar. I used leftover items in the fridge that may be wasted and vegetables left from my organic produce box. I prepared and put out all the toppings and pitas so the family could make their own crazy pizzas.
We had a lot of fun!!!
Here are some topping ideas that I prepared ahead or had left over:

• Sauteed garlic and kale
• Carmelized red onions
• Thinly sliced zucchini
• Roasted grapes
• Roasted garlic
• Chicken bits
• Home made marinara sauce
• Roasted and peeled chiles and peppers

 

Some other toppings I put out that required little preparation:

• kalamata olives
• sliced tomatoes
• barbeque sauce
• apricot, peach jam 
• grated mozzarella cheese
• grated cheddar
• feta
• chopped cilantro 
• chopped basil
• chopped ham

Now time to build pizzas

Here are some of the fun pizzas we all came up with, sweet and savory:

• Mediterranean- marinara sauce, kalamatas, red onion, sliced tomatoes, feta and mozzarella
• Southwest- bbq sauce, caramelized onions, chicken, roasted chiles, cheddar cheese, mozzarella
• Super veggie- roasted garlic spread, kale, olives, zucchini, chiles, mozzarella and feta
• Kidza- marinara sauce, zucchini, chicken, ham, cheddar and mozarella
• Sweetie- apricot jam, carmelized onions, roasted grapes, feta and mozzarella
  
  
  
  
   

Bake pizzas at 375 for 10 -12 minutes or cheese is lightly browned. This was a messy but fun dinner with plenty of leftovers

Curryous Butternut Soup

Curryous Pumpkin Soup

1 whole butternut squash or sugar pumpkin
1-2 c chicken broth
2 T extra virgin olive oil
1 onion chopped
2 T fresh ginger
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp fresh chopped sage
Salt and pepper
plain greek yogurt
roasted pumpkin seeds

• Slice each end of squash with large knife. Peel squash down to the bright orange color.
• Set up squash vertically on fattest side and slice in half. Spoon out seeds and inner flesh of each side
• Rub with olive oil , salt and pepper.
• Roast squash on cookie sheet at 400 for 45 min or until tender
• Saute onions until opaque
• puree all ingredients except garnish

Miso Egg Drop Soup

Miso Egg Drop Soup
6 oz snow or snap peas
1 c thinly sliced mushrooms
2 cloves chopped garlic
4 c vegetable broth
2 c water
2 tsp miso paste
3 tsp soy sauce
3 sheets Nori chopped in strips(optional)
2 eggs

1.  Saute first 3 ingredients 3-5 minutes in dutch oven or shallow pot
2. Add next 4 ingredients, bring to boil. Lower heat, simmer 10 minutes. 
3. Add seaweed. Whisk eggs. Raise heat on soup to medium.
4.  Add eggs to soup slowly with fork to make them cook in soup like feathers.

Lemongrass Chicken with Chinese slaw

Lemongrass marinade
1 stalk lemon grass chopped
2 clove garlic chopped
2 T minced ginger
2 T rice wine vinegar
3 T canola oil
3 T ponzu sauce
1/2 lime

Marinate thin chicken breasts 3 hours- overnight. Remove from marinade and grill for 5 minutes each side.

Chinese slaw with Sesame Citrus Dressing
Dressing
1/2 lime juiced
1/2 lemon juiced
1/2 blood orange juiced
2T sesame oil
2 T honey
1 T rice wine vinegar
1 tsp grated ginger
3T canola oil
Whisk ingredients.
Slaw
1/2 head napa cabbage sliced
1/4 purple cabbage sliced
1 red bell pepper sliced
20 snap peas sliced
6 radishes sliced
1/2 bunch chopped mint
3 scallions sliced for garnish
sesame seeds for garnish
Dress salad and marinate overnight.serve with scallions mint and sesame seeds.

Orange Raisin Bran Muffins

Orange Raisin Bran Muffins
1 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c almond flour
1/2 c bran flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 ripe, mashed banana
1/2 c freshly squeezed orange juice
1/4 c canola oil
1/4 c honey
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp orange zest
3 T milk
1/2 c golden raisins

Preheat oven to 350. Grease muffin tins well. Mix dry ingredients in medium bowl. Mix wet ingredients in large bowl. Fold wet into dry without overmixing. Use ice cream scoop to fill muffin cups 3/4 full. bake 18-22 minutes.

A Surf Specific Plank Workout

Killer plank workout to enhance surf performance and core strength
Aside from actually surfing there are many exercises that will compliment and even improve your surfing ability.
 I have designed a 30 minute workout that will increase the strength and endurance of the muscles needed in surfing and other water sports. This is a plank heavy workout so all that is needed for equipment is 2-10 lb dumbell and mat. Primary muscles used are: rectus abdominus, obliques, erector spinae, lattisimus dorsi, gluteals, deltoids and the small muscles of the rotator cuff
5 min- Start with a dynamic warm up and corrective stretching

• walking lunge w/ twist 
• hip swings- front /back
• hip swings- across body/ open
• cobra alternating with downward dog

10 minutes- each Set of 9 plank exercises

• High plank with alternating knee cross- 20 x
• Low plank pike ups -10x
• Side plank wrap around- 10x each- top leg staggered back, cross arm under body then open to perpindicular
• Burpees- standing- 10x- start with arms up, then squat with hands close to floor, jump feet out to high plank, return to squat, then back to standing with arms up
• Low plank- alternating leg out to each side in abduction- 20 x
• Isometric side plank- 20 seconds each side
• Alternating high to low plank- 3 x- hold high plank 10 seconds, change to low plank and hold 10 seconds, repeat 2 more x
• Pop ups to surf stance- 10 x   - bring hands next to chest, arch up, push your body up, bring front leg through and stand up on pretend board or straight line
• Side plank with rotator cuff (use light dumbell)- 10 x each- get light dumbell, push into side plank, with dumbell in top arm externally rotate arm in 90 degree bend with elbow locked in side

10- 15 minutes-  Set 2 Repeat all exercises trying to do a few more repetitions or seconds than the first round 


5 min Cool down with dynamic, static  and corrective stretching. 

• Iron cross
• Scorpion
• Kneeling lunge- each side
• Lying Figure 4- each side