My Final Post

I want to thank everyone who visited my blog during this project. I will keep it up until January 6th. I wish the blog had been more successful in creating more of a dialogue. I learned that this takes time and more attention to spreading the word. I want to end my blog by commenting on an article written by Stanley Crouch on December 26th's edition of the New York Daily News. The article is titled "Soul food is killing black America". The article is about a documentary being fillmed by Byron Hurt on not only soul food but the impact of ethnic food on minorities and their health. Mr. Hurt needs further funding for this project. Through kickstarter.com, we can learn more about this project and contribute where we can to this important project. This message needs to be heard. I end this post by quoting Mr. Crouch's article.

"There is no joke in the film about the frightening degrees of black illness from consuming too much ethnic food dripping in grease and containing too much fat, sugar and butter. Worst of all, people consume too many ethnic imitations in fast food places that are so prevalent in black and Latin neighborhoods.
Thus, minorities contract diabetes and suffer from heart diseases in disproportionate numbers. That alone costs the American economy enough to be concerned about what people eat and why."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/soul-food-killing-black-america-article-1.996302#ixzz1hkdn1Bsi

 

Thank you everyone. Happy Healthy New Year.

Every Christmas Needs Some Coquito

It would not be Christmas without a nice glass of coquito - the traditional Puerto Rican egg nog. Here is a recipe I found for a lighter version from Coqui the Chef. Enjoy!

Coquito Lite
from Coqui The Chef

Serves 10

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup of Fresh Coconut Milk
1 13 oz can of coconut cream (Coco Lopez)
1 12 oz can of 2% low fat evaporated milk
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 cup of organic heavy cream
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla flavor
Bacardi Rum (optional)

Procedure:
Put the eggs and yolks in a blender jar. Blend at high speed until the eggs are pale yellow and light. Stop the blender, add the coconut milk, cream of coconut and evaporated milk on at a time. Blend for a minute then add the heavy cream, blend again for one minute. Serve Chilled.
Note: for rum pour desired amount...suggestion: taste, pour, then taste.

My own enchilada recipe.

It may be a shock to many but now and then I cook. I have a simple, quick enchilada recipe that is both tasty and healthy.

Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
2 jars of mild or medium salsa (depends on your taste)
6 whole wheat flour tortillas
1 16oz. bag of Mexican blend reduced fat shredded cheese

Brown the ground beef. Remove the fat. In pan, pour one jar of salsa over ground beef and mix well. Simmer in low/medium heat for about 10 minutes. Add 1/3 bag of cheese on ground beef mixture and blend until cheese melts. Take 6 tortillas and put a paper towel on top and one on the bottom. Microwave for 20 seconds. Take a cookie sheet and cover it with non-stick foil. On top of the foil, spread a thin layer of salsa. Take a tortilla and put 2-3 tablespoons of meat on it. Fold one edge over, then the other one, then turn the whole thing over, folded side down, in baking dish.
Repeat for each tortilla. Sprinkle leftover salsa. Place in oven at 350 degrees for about 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and cover with rest of cheese. Return to oven until cheese melts.

This is a very filling meal. I sometimes add a small pot of Goya Mexican Rice to make it a bigger meal for more people. Hope you enjoy it.

Politician Eating Healthy Ethnic Food, Too.

Senator Rivera Celebrates Puerto Rican Heritage Week

Hosts Class Called: Can I be Puerto Rican and Still Eat Healthy?

Bronx, NY – State Senator Gustavo Rivera (D,WF-Bronx) celebrated Puerto Rican Heritage Week on Thursday, November 17 at MARC Academy with parents in the Northwest Bronx, by participating in a food demonstration and class on how to make healthier versions of Puerto Rican dishes. MARC Academy & Family Center Inc., South Bronx Job Corps Culinary Program and Senator Rivera spoke about the importance of making healthier choices, without losing the flavors of Puerto Rican and Latino food.

“During the last few months, as I have been losing weight and speaking to Bronxites about the Bronx CAN Health Initiative, I have gotten the same question over and over again: How can I eat healthier if I’m Puerto Rican/Dominican/Latino and love pernil, arroz con gandules, etc.?” said Senator Rivera. “That’s why today’s lunch and program was so important. Thanks to the chefs at the Bronx Job Corps Culinary Program and MARC Academy for being wonderful hosts and for being leaders in the Bronx on issues of nutrition and health. With their help, we were able to demonstrate to Bronx families that we make healthier choices but still keep the flavor of our foods and our cultural traditions alive.”

“The South Bronx Job Corps Academy trainees were privileged and loved preparing and serving healthy alternatives to traditional Latino cuisine,” said Shakeba Williams, Business Community Liaison for the South Bronx Job Corps Academy. “Our young adults jump at the opportunity to share their talent and education to the community to which they belong! Education, training, community service and citizenship are the cornerstones of Job Corps!”

"Today's event with Senator Rivera allowed us to educate our parents on taking a traditional Puerto Rican meal and making it healthier,” said Anna York, Executive Director of MARC Academy. “If anyone asks can we be Puerto Rican and still eat healthy, the answer would be resounding Yes! Senator Rivera was here as a proud Puerto Rican, letting others know that they can keep their cultural traditions, but that small changes will help them lead a healthier life, while still keeping the flavor in their everyday meals."

This celebration is part of Senator Rivera’s Bronx CAN Health Initiative, during which Senator Rivera lost twenty pounds and has been promoting small changes to diet as an important way to lead a healthier life. Senator Rivera is Puerto Rican and has spoken about the importance of keeping cultural traditions alive, while also learning how to make them work for a healthy lifestyle through cutting fat, sugar, salt and through smaller portions.

Puerto Rican Fish Stew (Bacalao)

So, this has been a good eating weekend. Leftovers should be about finished so let's make a lighter, healthier dish. I found this on for Sopa de Bacalao. If you try it, give us some feedback. Thank you to eatingwell.com.

Puerto Rican Fish Stew (Bacalao)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!!

Arroz con Gandules

My manager started dieting and exercising earlier this year and has lost 70 lbs. He made adjustments to his portions and how he cooks certain foods. One of the dishes he mentioned was cooking arroz con gandules with brown rice. I wondered how that would taste. I found this recipe on a blog called A Healthy Dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ cup red onions (diced)
• 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1/3 cup sofrito
• Vegetarian bacon bits or 1/3-cup “bacon” tempeh (Optional. Traditionally ham or cooked pork pieces are used)
• 2 cups brown medium grain or white rice
• 4 cups water
• A pinch of saffron instead of the traditional packet of Sazón—I don’t like MSG.
• 12 ounces of fresh Pigeon Peas also known as Gandules; or one (1) 15-ounce can pigeon peas  (drained and rinsed)
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Instructions:

1. In a 6-quart pot, heat olive oil. Sauté the onions, garlic.
2. Sauté vegetarian “bacon” tempeh and set aside to add to rice at end.
3. Add the rice, water, sazón substitute, sofrito and gandules.
4. Bring to a boil for a few minutes.
5. Stir once. Cover lid and never open lid while cooking. Reduce heat to medium low. It cooks in 30 to 40 minutes.
6. When done, add vegetarian “bacon” (optional). Stir the rice to make it fluffy and serve.
Serves: 4 to 6 people.

Forgot the Latin Cuisine!

I forgot to find some info on healthier Latin recipes. So I found a nice article on medicinenet.com.

Here is the URL (http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=76870).

Keep me posted.

THANKSGIVING IS COMING!!

Thanksgiving is almost upon us. Everyone is planning either to cook or eat what someone else cooked.

If I had Thanksgiving at home, I would have Roast Pork (Pernil), Turkey (Pavo), Rice and Pigeon Peas (Arroz con Gandules), Potato Salad (Ensalada de Papa), and so on. I will be at my in-laws' house, though. They will cook delicious soul food. There will be Turkey, Roast Beef, Ham, Collard Greens, String Beans, Rice and Peas, Potato Salad, Macaroni and Tuna Salad, Corn Bread, and so on. And don't get me started on desserts!

I started thinking that there should be healthier recipes for these traditional ethnic meals just so we don't have to feel so guilty afterwards. Because, we are going to eat. You can't not eat on Thanksgiving. It's unAmerican!

Here is a link to one site that offered (9) healthy soul food recipes (http://www.delish.com/print-this/healthy-soul-food-opr0910?page=all). I think I will try one or two next time I decide to cook a grand meal. If you find one  you like, please send me your feedback.

It is my responsibility.

I am a Puerto Rican and my husband is African American. We have two wonderful children – a 17 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. By definition (with the exception of my daughter), we are obese.

We have all at one time or another been forced to question our health. That moment was at a recent pediatrician appointment. When I heard how much my son weighed and that my daughter had gained some weight, I was upset at what I had done. Maintaining a family’s health ends up, like it or not, being mom’s responsibility. A mother can make or break her family.

For Puerto Ricans and anyone, for that matter, with rich traditional ethnic foods, facing a health crisis can be challenging, confusing, and downright painful. How do I keep our traditional meals while maintaining optimum health?

Through this blog, I will open discussions, add recipes, articles, other websites and blogs that can be useful to those facing my dilemma. Extreme dieting is not the answer but slowly changing your lifestyle should be less shocking and more successful in the long run.

I welcome your suggestions and comments (and delicious meal ideas).