Posts tagged ‘Bananas’

Jan 22

Super Foods Power Smoothie

2012 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

This is my daily breakfast. It’s very filling and so healthy. I like this smoothie so much that I used it to kick my morning caffeine habit. I used to look forward to coffee. Now I crave my smoothie.

May I talk about flax seed for a moment? One of the most common nutrition complaints I hear from people is that they don’t get enough fiber in their diet. Indeed, it can be quite difficult to get the recommended 20-35 grams per day, especially if you don’t eat a lot of fruits and veggies. 1 1/2 tablespoons of flax seed has 4 grams of fiber! That’s the same as eating a cup of brussels sprouts. In addition to containing fiber, flax seed has omega-3 essential fatty acids and lignans, which have antioxidant properties. There’s evidence that flax seed may help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Adding flax seeds to a smoothie is a perfect way to incorporate natural, healthy fiber into your diet. I recently discovered roasted flaxand prefer the flavor and texture over standard flax seed. But either will work fine.

This recipe is totally customizable. I like using almond milk and butter because almonds are another super food. But feel free to swap out the almond milk for soy or coconut (coconut milk tastes amazing with the other ingredients and is a healthy fat). Use any nut butter you prefer. You can also add more nut butter for decadence. I know a lot of people are squeamish about green smoothies, but I promise you won’t notice the kale. It’s so good for you and this is any easy way to fill your tummy and add nutrition. I freeze individual servings of banana and kale so I simply drop them into the blender. The kale chops up better when frozen. Read more

Apr 12

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Phase II Begins (Bananas Flambe’)

2011 © copyright Savory Simple, all rights reserved

Hello world! It feels as though I haven’t written a proper update in forever. Phase II has been a whirlwind of activity and excitement, with several changes to our routine. First, and probably best, is that school begins an hour later. While I did enjoy getting home earlier, it is so wonderful to be able to sleep in a bit and stay up past 10pm. Previously I would arrive at school around 6:15 am. Now I arrive at the luxurious hour of 7:15 am. It’s not quite the 9-5 routine I had in my previous life, but every hour makes a difference.

The second big change is in production. In Phase I, we watched a demo in the morning and then hit the kitchen to make a three-course meal. We still have our morning demo, but now we cook to order. We take orders from staff members, do as much prep as possible and then fire on command. We cannot plate the entree until the appetizer is gone. The same goes for dessert. Once we’ve finished service, we’re allowed to eat the leftovers. It’s intense!

I miss my old chefs, but the new team is full of knowledge and experience. They’re teaching us some serious refinement. Phase I was technique. We’re still learning technique, but now we’re also focusing on beautiful plating and perfect execution. Chef examines our food before it leaves the kitchen and if he isn’t satisfied, we fix it. The soup must be hot, the meat must be cooked perfectly to order.

I’ve also begun the process of finding my externship restaurant. I’ve met with the school adviser and have several places in mind. Now I just have to start making phone calls. I’m really hoping to find a restaurant that teaches me a new cuisine. I’ve also become completely enamored with the pastry side of culinary school. I would love to explore this further. I’m even contemplating moving on to the Pastry Arts Program after graduation!

Speaking of desserts, we’ve been making some delicious and simple treats in Phase II. This has been one of my favorites so far: