India Oven: Restaurant Review

For anyone who knows me, they know how I feel about food. I am an adventurous eater and I love many different flavors. One of my new favorite places is India Oven right here in Mesa, just down the street from us. Their address is: 1315 S. Gilbert Rd., Mesa, AZ. I have driven by their place a bazillion times and thought to myself, "I need to try that place." 

Then a few weeks ago, my parents took me to lunch and we all fell in love with the food. Daisy, the owner greeted us at the door. The fun thing about India Oven is that they serve an "All You Can Eat" buffet for both lunch and dinner, so for those unfamiliar with the tastes of India, you can try a little of everything and find your favorites. 

They serve fresh garlic naan bread to go with the meal. Yum.

The food is not overly spicy, has great flavors. The service is great. I read another review of India Oven that made me laugh, 

"Eating here felt so right, yet so wrong. A dinner buffet for only $10?!" 

And if you go for lunch, the price is only $7.95.

My dad gets credit as food stylist on this. My personal favorites are the three on the bottom half of the plate. One of these days I'll learn the names of the dishes. They also have a full menu, which you can see on their website linked above. They also have banquet facilities for 50-250 guests in the same building. If I had 250 friends to have a party with, I would definitely consider India Oven.

In the mean time, lunch anyone?

Dinner.

     This photo has been sitting on my desktop for a while, waiting for me to do something with it. It's been a month since I last posted something, so it was time. I have so many things in my "blog bucket" that I needed to put a little dent in it.

     I enjoyed this dinner so much a while back, I had to take a photo of it. When I feel like I can't ever think of anything to cook, then I can look at this and be reminded that a little effort goes a long way. The Salmon patties are sold at Costco and are so versatile. I use them like I would a Salmon Filet. I've used them in tacos and just had 1/2 of one in a salad today. They do not taste like something processed, but actually satisfy my craving for fish. I made the risotto from leftover brown rice, adding diced yellow peppers, onions, dill, parmesan cheese and chicken broth. It was creamy and lowfat. The salad is also a Costco favorite: The Parisian. Love the dressing. My mom and I once ordered a whole box of the dressing we loved it so much. We had to take a break from it after that, but it's back on our list again. Time to get a little inspired about dinner again and make a little effort. Sometimes it's just going through the motions and other times it's a creative outlet. I'm ready for creative outlet. If you have any quick, easy ideas for dinner, send them my way. Would love to hear what's on your table for dinner. 

Have a great day!

Light Alfredo Sauce: A recipe for a rainy day

What to serve with chicken that I cooked in my crockpot? I found this recipe for a Light Alfredo Sauce yesterday on sparkpeople.com (they include nutritional information, still checking it all out, but it looks interesting), a new website that I happened upon in my search. It got good reviews. It is a little thinner than more caloric recipes, but the flavor was still good. I followed the advice of one review and let it sit for a bit to thicken it up. I added a cup of uncooked spinach as a bed for the whole wheat pasta, chicken, mushrooms and alfredo sauce.

Light Alfredo Sauce 

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups skim milk 1 cup chicken broth 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and saute until golden brown.

In a small saucepan, stir together milk, chicken broth, flour, salt and pepper over low heat until smooth and thick. Stir into garlic. Continue to cook over medium low heat, stirring frequently, until the sauce is thick. Stir in Parmesan cheese.

Number of Servings: 8 - (1/3) cup servings or 6 (1/2) cup servings

And the finished product

This got great reviews from both Ben and Emma, which is saying a lot. Ben wanted seconds and Emma readily ate pasta and told me that she really liked it and that she liked it better than the red sauce. They skipped the spinach and the mushrooms, but either way, it's a winner.

Food, Glorious Food!

I know it's  cliche' to make New Year's resolutions regarding food and exercise, but I don't care.  I welcomed it. I knew I was on a slippery slope and by the time January 1st rolled around I felt like I was so ready for a change. I don't think eating sugary foods for every meal can be a good thing. That was the day I said, "No more!" I had pushed myself to the edge. I had abused my relationship with food. I had cheapened it and lost respect for it. I was eating without thinking of the consequences. So, the first thing that I decided to do was a sugar detox. Nothing too scientific or regimented, just eliminate the desserts and candy...just for a day...and then for another day...and another...it wasn't even that hard to do. It felt great in fact. It boosted my confidence about other changes to come. I decided to get back to my Weight Watcher's way of eating and cooking. I joined Weight Watchers 4 years ago on January 16. I lost 20 lbs. and it felt great. (Yes, past tense...I got distracted by life and some of it came back...but I am still a believer.) I pulled out my WW stuff last week and got back to eating the way that I know is right and I feel more in control. My refrigerator went through a makeover, too. I cleaned it out to give it a fresh start. Food and I are starting to work things out. I feel like we're getting back in the groove and I'm loving it all over again, with greater respect for what kind I choose to associate with and put into my body.

Let me introduce you to some of my new (old) friends...

From top to bottom, L to R: (hiding on the top row) Better Than Bouillon, Trader Joe's Natural Peanut Butter, Light Coconut Milk, brown mushrooms, lemon (love 'em!), ginger, leftover yummies, spinach, leftover Thai  chicken wrap filling**(recipe below), peanut sauce in the back**, chicken apple curry sauce that goes over rice. Some people don't eat leftovers. I am not one of them. I recycle them into something new and improved. Some of my kids see through this attempt at serving the same thing two nights in a row. Too bad. 

Other things I have on hand: the bacon bits in a bag from Costco (so versatile...and a little goes a long way), cheese (I would rather use less real cheese and real butter than fat free or light), tomatoes, cilantro, lime, cucumbers, and beans among other things.

So now when I open my refrigerator, instead of standing there and staring and wondering, "What (yawn...) am I (yaaaawwwwn) going to fix for dinner??" I smile and say,  "Oh, I can't wait to have you for dinner!" Fruits and vegetables have moved back home.  My food world has color once again and I am so dang happy about it.  I want you to feel what I'm feeling so I'm going to give you two recipes that you can get excited about and try. If you're not a big ethnic food person...change...and I mean right now. I'm not kidding. By the way, a taco from Taco Bell is NOT an ethnic food. There are so many good flavors out there just waiting for you to embrace them. 

These recipes both have a Thai theme. Use the leftover peanut sauce on the wraps the next day. We had them both this week. The first one is from the Weight Watchers All-Time Favorites cook book (I saw this book at a garage sale a couple of weeks ago. Would have bought it if I didn't already have it).

Thai Chicken Satay

(serves 6, normal portions)

Chicken marinade:

• 3 T. Asain fish sauce** 
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 T. grated fresh ginger
• 2 tsp. grated lime zest
• 1 T plus 1 tsp. lime juice
• 2 1/2 lbs chicken (cut into strips that you can either broil in oven or BBQ on skewers)

**(now don't you say, "Eww!" to the fish sauce...give it a chance.  It's a seasoning, just like soy sauce)

Directions: Place marinade ingredients in a large zip lock bag, mix, then add chicken and refrigerate from 1-6 hours, turning bag occasionally. If I had skewers I'd BBQ them as my first choice. You can also broil the whole breasts and then cut them up. Cook 6-8 minutes or until they look done, turning once.

Peanut Sauce

(serving size: 2 T)

Whisk together until smooth:

• 3/4 c. light coconut milk
• 6 T. creamy peanut butter
• 2 1/2 T. honey 
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 2 T. fish sauce
• 2 T. lime juice
• 2 tsp. lime zest

(I like to heat the sauce up in the microwave before I serve it)

Serve with rice and asian salad. For salad try Kraft Asian Toasted Sesame dressing on lettuce greens with orange slices, sliced almonds, cucumbers, green onions and tomatoes. So de-lish.

***********************************************

This next one I found on the internet.

Thai Chicken Wrap

recipe courtesy Rachel Ray on FoodNetwork.com

makes 4 BIG wraps

(I used leftover lean pork chops from the night before instead of chicken)

Ingredients:

• 3 (6 ounce) chicken breasts
• 1 T. soy sauce
• 1 T. vegetable oil
• 1 T. grill seasoning (whatever you want)

(I would just throw this in the crock pot in the a.m.)

Salad:

• 1/2 seedless cucumber, halved and sliced thinly
• 2 c. fresh bean sprouts
• 1 c. shredded carrots
• 4 green onions, sliced in thin slices
• 12 fresh basil leaves (This is what go me excited!!)
• 3 T. chopped mint leaves (This just added to it!)
• 1 T. sesame seeds

mix and pour over salad:

• 2 tsp. sugar
• 2 T. rice vinegar or regular white vinegar
• salt

Her spicy peanut sauce(did not try)besides, I love coconut milk instead of the oil:

• 1/4 c. room temp chunky peanut butter
• 2 T. soy sauce
• 1 T. rice wine vinegar or regular vinegar
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 2 T. vegetable oil

Add cut up or pulled apart chicken to salad and divide into 4 servings on 4 (12-inch) tortilla wraps.

Pour 2 T. of leftover peanut sauce from night before on each wrap and then roll it up. 

I used Clay Oven Baked whole wheat Lavash Bread, cut in half instead of the tortillas. I found them at Trader Joe's. They tasted lighter to me than a tortilla.

So, there you have it. These recipes are tried and true. I hope they add a little zip to your dinner menus.

Bon Appetit and Enjoy!

It's not easy being green.

Sometimes I just get a food craving, and absolutely  must satisfy it. I know what you're thinking and most of the time it's not chocolate.This time of year it's often times citrus. But, lately I've also been craving this delicious, but maybe not so beautiful soup that I can quickly whip up in my Vita-Mix™ blender (I love this machine!). I am the only one in my family who will eat this soup(their loss is my gain). The rest of them complain about the foamy-ness.(It does eventually go away) I also don't think they can get past the color. I admit, it is VERY green. But to me it says: LIFE. I like when food is vibrant. It also means that it wasn't sitting on the stove f.o.r.e.v.e.r and looking like you just pureed a can of peas! A mere 3-4 minutes in my blender and that's it. I think you can duplicate this on the stovetop if you put everything in a regular blender or food processor and then heat it on the stove, if needed. I don't know. Try it and let me know. Even though I had some just yesterday, I still want it again to day. Off to make some for lunch.

Cream of Spinach Soup 
(2 servings)

1 cup spinach( I usually pack in more)
1 med tomato

1 thin slice onion or 4 green onions

1 rib celery (o.k. to skip)

1 chicken bouillon (I love Better Than Bouillon™ paste)

1 T. cornstarch

1 cup steaming skim or lowfat milk

1/4 cup swiss or cheddar cheese
**garnish with a little dollop of sour cream

Here's the bonus: 1 cup only has 125 calories.

(note: Costco sells a big jar of Better Than Bouillon™ . 
Once you start using it, you'll need a big jar. It is the best.)


Go Green and try this soup. Hope you like it.

Beautiful Food in Hollywood

Last weekend we had the great opportunity to go to CA with our good friends, Mark and Camille to attend the Gone with the Film Festival. Mark's film, "Baby Boomerang" was entered and won Best Documentary. The film festival was held in the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre atop Olive Hill in Hollywood in the Barnsdall Art Park complex. I'm actually going to post photos from the film festival in another post. I got kind of excited when we arrived because I saw tables set up with beautiful food and thought, "Wow, this food is a bonus to the festival! Classy!" I'm glad I asked around before I helped myself. It was a private birthday party. Sheesh! That could've been very awkward. I couldn't help myself, I had to take a few photos and then the caterer asked if she could have a few, so that opened the door for me to take lots. The caterer's name is Chef Cathy Shambley Baer. Her food was all organic. There was a small band playing music from the early 20th century. The picnic had a Great Gatsby feel with family and friends gathered on mismatched blankets underneath muslin canopies. Music was great. Food was beautiful to look at. I also thought it was the perfect event to showcase new blogger templates that I just got from mcp actions.