Power smoothies!

More than a year ago, I started drinking power smoothies (green & superfood smoothies) everyday. I feel "clean" and everything in my body works perfectly. It improves your immunity, mood, skin, hair, etc! It's a good way to get vitamins. I also stopped drinking cow's milk (it was not making me feel good at all and I'm not lactose intolerant). I make smoothies with almond milk and coconut water.

I have a Vitamix blender which is AMAZING. I highly recommend it! It's pricey but completely worth it. Smoothies come out super smooth and silky. You can make juice in it too (it's that powerful) by putting whole oranges or whole apples. Invest in one and you'll be thankful.

Some of my favorite smoothie recipes here:

Green smoothie

- 1 bunch spinach

- 1 leaf kale

- a few basil leaves

- 1 orange

- 1 banana (if you don't like banana: mangoes or papaya work well)

- 1 lime or lemon

- coconut water

- chia seeds (a teaspoon) or hemp seeds

- 4-5 ice cubes

**blend all of the ingredients and enjoy**

Variations: add berries or pineapple or maca powder too

Power berry smoothie

- frozen or fresh blueberries, raspberries or strawberries (or all three)

- almond milk (about 1/2 cup or 1 cup)

- 1 banana

- ice cubes

**blend all of the ingredients and enjoy**

Vega-smoothie

- 1 scoop Vega One energizing smoothie blend or nutritional shake powder (chocolate or vanilla flavor)

- 1 banana

- 1 shot espresso 

- ice cubes

**blend all of the ingredients and enjoy**

Morning oatmeal smoothie  (this will fill you up for a few hours its amazing)

- 1/4 cup raw rolled oats

- 1-2 tbsp peanut butter

- 1 banana

- agave syrup or honey (2 tsp)

- 1/2 cup to 1 cup almond milk (eyeball it)

- 4-5 ice cubes

Options: add raisins and cinnamon to make oatmeal-raising cookie smoothie

**blend all of the ingredients and enjoy**

Maca green smoothie

- almond milk or coconut water 

- 1 bunch spinach

- 1 tablespoon maca powder 

- 1 tablespoon flax seed meal (ground flax seeds)

- 1 mango or banana (frozen or fresh)

- any combination of berries

- 4-5 cups ice

**blend all of the ingredients and enjoy**

Pam & Oscar

How to make quinoa

Quinoa is an amazing grain and superfood. It's originally from Peru/Andes Mountains where it's called "the gold of the Incas."

In the past few years, the demand for quinoa has increased in the US and around the world because of its benefits. Here are some:

1. It's gluten-free (good for celiac disease or your body doesn't digest gluten very well).
2. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
3. Good source of magnesium.
4. Great source of manganese (45% DV)
5. Good source of protein.
6. Good source of fiber.
7. Contains iron.
8. ETC...

So, quinoa is one of the best grains out there. Use it instead of rice or couscous! Research has shown that quinoa might be an anti-cancer food because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. 

Finally, it's really easy to make!

You'll need:

- 1 or 2 cups of white, red or black quinoa.

- Water

- Salt to taste 

How to make it:

- Rinse the quinoa (this will remove the bitter tasting coating it sometimes has).

- For every 1 cup of quinoa, use 2 cups of water. 

- Bring water and quinoa to a boil and then lower heat to medium/low for about 10-15 minutes. 

- Quinoa will be ready when you see a "curly" tail (germ) separating from the seed. It will be fluffy.

1 cup of uncooked quinoa = about 3 cups of cooked quinoa!

Oscar waiting for some quinoa to fall on the floor

Pam & Oscar

Moroccan Chicken and Couscous with Currants

I love olives, spices and lemons. That combination makes for an amazing chicken recipe. I actually looked for various Moroccan chicken recipes and was inspired by Emeril Lagasse's recipe

I made it back in San Francisco for my friends Theresa & Claudia (yay!) They loved it too.

Oscar with dinner in SF

I mentioned previously that I've been cooking a lot of vegetarian recipes lately and clearly this is not vegetarian but I did use the best possible chicken I could find in Whole Foods. I care about the ingredients a lot and cook with the best (you get more flavor out of them).

I used a Le Creuset Braiser for the recipe. Its amazing! It distributes heat very well and keeps the dish warm for a while. You could probably use a big pot or pan for this but it's sort of slowly cooked and braisers are amazing for that. 



You'll need:

for the chicken:

• 5-6 chicken thighs (or leg & thighs work too)
• 1 clove minced garlic (or garlic powder)
• 1 chopped onion or 3 shallots
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp coriander
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp ground ginger or minced fresh ginger
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
• 2 small preserved lemons  (which I made myself or you can buy from the grocery store) Sliced
• 1/2 cup of green olives (sliced)
• chopped parsley (2 tsp)

for the couscous:

• 1 box of israeli couscous or 2 cups of regular couscous
• 1/2 cup of currants (or probably chopped raisins or dates could do the trick here)
• slivered almonds
• olive oil

How to make the chicken:

1. Heat braiser or big skillet and coat with olive oil.
2. Salt & pepper the chicken thighs and brown them in the brasier about 4 mins on each side.
3. Remove chicken thighs and put in a separate plate. In the same oil sauté the onion and garlic. Add fresh ginger if using.
3. Add the spices: cinnamon, coriander, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cayenne pepper. 
4. Add the chicken and stock. Let it simmer on low heat for 30-35 mins.
5. Add the olives and preserved lemons (sliced) and simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes. 
6. When ready to serve, sprinkle some chopped parsley on top.

How to make couscous:

1. Toast the slivered almonds in a pan and set aside.

2. Make the couscous according to package directions (add olive oil and salt). It's better to make the couscous with stock instead of water to add more flavor.

3. When the couscous is ready, add the currants and slivered almonds.

4. Serve with parsley or cilantro on top.

The end product

Rebooting Green Juice

About a year ago, I watched an amazing documentary called "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead" on Netflix (http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com) that inspired my husband and I to start juicing. Joe Cross, the producer and main character, started a 30 day juice fast to loose weight and become healthier. The results were amazing and very inspiring.

It's important to include as much vegetables as possible. If you juice mostly fruit then you're essentially getting a lot of sugar without the fiber (juicing removes fiber).

Benefits of Juicing

- minerals, vitamins, enzymes and micro nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream immediately
- you can get your daily vitamins in a juice
- greens oxygenate the body
- greens detoxify the whole body (skin, digestive system, liver, etc).


Basic Green Juice

So try this recipe and drink a green juice every other day or every day and see the benefits!

Ingredients (enough for 2 people)

• 5 celery stalks
• 1 kale bunch
• 1 cucumber
• 2 cups spinach leaves
• 1 apple or pear
• 1 or 2 limes
• OPTIONAL: a little piece of ginger (great benefits and a little bit goes a long way)

Just put everything into the juicer and enjoy :)

Pam & Oscar

Hello!

Hi everyone!


I started this blog because I love to cook and usually get requests for recipes and ideas.

I have a Brittany Spaniel named Oscar. He is usually in or around the kitchen and sometimes gets to taste the food :)

I'm originally from Peru, where I met my husband, and went to college in Utah. Then, we moved to San Francisco for work and law school (myself) and now we're in Houston. 

Lately, I've been cooking a lot of vegetarian and vegan meals. I love smoothies and juices too. I don't label myself a vegan or vegetarian but am inspired by the health benefits a plant-based diet has. Nevertheless, I do enjoy some good quality meat or fish once in a while.
I hope to share some recipes here with you  :)

Pam & Oscar