Slim Down Vegetable Soup

Happy Sunday, friends! I hope you're well :) So one week ago today, I decided to go sugar-free for the next 28 days. After I got sick a couple of years ago, I cut down my sugar intake considerably, but I never completely cut it out of my diet (partially because I bake so much!).

The truth is, though I DO love sugar, I love healthy food too! If you were to have come to my house last weekend, before I threw out the processed stuff, you'dve seen a counter and fridge full of fruits and vegetables! ...however, if this was a panoramic view of the kitchen, you'd also have seen some iced lemon cookies and some apricot-raspberry thumbprint cookies. Soo.... yeah. Haha! What can I say? I like balance.

Shredded Pork Sliders with Fresh Mango Slaw

As I mentioned in my last post, I had a recent kitchen victory! Let me tell you the background story. In the past, I've attempted to make pork carnitas in my slow cooker, with ZERO success. Ugh. When I've tried, I always follow the directions EXACTLY, and it would smell so wonderful after eight hours in the crock pot. I'd rush into the kitchen and grab my forks, ready to shred some tender, juicy pork, and.....it was never what the recipe promised. Though always tasty, it would be chewy and sometimes tough...always disappointing.

 I have no idea what went wrong each time--whether I didn't get the right cut of meat, whether I didn't trim enough fat or didn't add enough liquid for the meat to soak up...in any case, my pork attempts always left me with dashed hopes and feeling like a kitchen failure, ha! I took it really personally, but I learned something new each time.

Sweet and Spicy Asian Salmon with Strawberry-Pineapple Salsa

As promised, I'm back again with the second recipe of the day! I couldn't be happier :) I really love salmon, guys. I find it flavorful, tasty, and it contains all those wonderful, heart-loving omega-3s!

I also love pairing salmon with fruit; particularly a bright, cheery salsa like the one I made today! It has fresh strawberries, fresh pineapple, a little bell pepper, and some cilantro. YUM. While we're on the topic of pineapple, it occurs to me that I rarely purchase fresh pineapple, and there's not really a good reason for it. I LOVE pineapple! I hereby resolve to make it a more permanent part of my kitchen staples :)

Smashed Avocado Toast with Sauteed Bell Pepper, Asparagus, Mushrooms, and Fried Eggs

Guys! These ice days have been absolutely brilliant because they've allowed me to get back into the kitchen, cook, and photograph food in actual daylight!! Goodness. I didn't realize how much I've missed being in the kitchen, buzzing around chopping and prepping and tasting! Expect at least one more post (maybe even later today) before the weekend is over. I'm so excited that I've been able to blog!

Quinoa Veggie "Fried Rice"

Hi, friends! Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you are well, happy, and loved, wherever you are. It's great to take some time to appreciate those who love you--and if you don't have a Valentine this year, it's also a perfect time to enjoy the friends, family, and the other amazing things in your life that have nothing to do with romantic love, like your HEALTH! :)

Tilapia Tacos with Peach, Bell Pepper, and Grape Tomato Salsa

I think I've created a peach-loving monster...I made the peach cobbler and now I'm hooked! I enjoyed a girl's night with two good girlfriends over the weekend and made a mini cobbler for dessert. I had one large peach remaining, and it ripened quickly over the week, so I used it tonight!

Sausage Breakfast Strata

It's "Icepocalypse 2013" here in North Texas--or "Icemaggedon", as others are calling it. On Thursday, the 5th, an "Arctic Cold Front" blew into our region, causing cold, windy, damp weather to become icy rain and snow, which has frozen several inches thick and has completely covered every surface of the DFW area, rendering everyone housebound and mostly useless. There have, sadly, been multiple fatalities and some unthinkable traffic troubles (there were some people stuck on the highway for more than twelve hours one night!)

During this unexpected mini vacation, I'm here in the apartment by myself, and I'm loving every minute of it! I really enjoy my time alone, though (fully embracing my status as an introvert), so I don't really experience cabin fever or stir-craziness, (I've been fortunate); however, my Facebook news feed bears witness to the distaste people have for being restrained to the indoors for longer than several hours at a time.

Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage & Peppers

It's a damp, gray night here in north Texas, with  a 70% chance of rain tomorrow (you're welcome for the forecast. I bet you didn't know I'm also a meteorologist in my spare time. HA!). Weather like this always makes me want to eat comfort food, take a nap, or watch a movie in my sweats and socks.

Turkey Chili Taco Soup...and More Real Life

Hi, friends. I hope you're well! So...since the last time I posted, there have been some substantial changes in my life, which mean I'll be making some subsequent changes here at Foodie & Fabulous.

Shrimp and Broccoli Stir-fry

I love quick food. I especially love quick, healthy, delicious food! Stir-fry is quick. Stir-fry is also quick, healthy, and delicious! If we were doing one of those "process of elimination" or "deduction" exercises, one might ultimately deduce from my statement that I love stir-fry...and one would be correct!

If you have leftover rice or quick-cooking minute rice, you can have this entire meal ready in less than 30 minutes. QUICK! Stir-fry is a wonderful way to get lots of veggies, fiber, flavor, and healthy protein into your diet. To this stir-fry, I added shrimp, broccoli, bell pepper, and carrots, and served it over some unsalted brown rice (the stir-fry had plenty of flavor on its own!)

Shrimp, Black Bean, and Bell Pepper Tostadas

Today has been a very relaxed, "do as little as possible" kind of day. I love that about Sundays :) I extended my "do as little as possible" to my lunch plans as well--I wanted something easy, quick, healthy, and tasty.

As such, I am very thankful for foods like pre-cooked shrimp, canned black beans, and corn tortillas--they made my life so much easier today! This tostada topping would also make a wonderful filling for tacos, so keep that in mind if searching for variations.

Honey Ham, Mushroom, and Pepper Jack Omelet

It's been a lazy Saturday here at casa de Esther. Thank God, because it's been such a hectic week--it's nice to have some time to do a little bit of nothing :) I think eggs are the perfect breakfast food for lazy people, as they come pre-wrapped in their own little package (perfect for portion control) and they can stand on their own or blend in with everything else.

This morning, omelets were the order of the day, both because I don't have lots of groceries at the new place yet and also because the few things I do have lend themselves beautifully to omelets! The beauty of this dish is that anything goes. You can stuff nearly anything into an omelet and it will be delicious! It's a great way to get a healthy serving of veggies and protein at the same time.

Healthy Red Bean & Avocado Tostadas with Creamy Cilantro Sauce

So I've been making a lot of delicious sweet treats lately, and I really felt the need for a change of pace toward a healthier dish. These tostadas fit the bill perfectly! Everything in them contains heart-healthy whole grains, filling protein, and good-for-you flavors!