Smoked Salmon Rollups Recipe
Want some new appetizer or cocktail recipe which is easy and palate friendly? This smoked salmon tortilla rollups is a crowd pleaser, perfect for gatherings with guests or for pot lucks. The best part is they look fancy and guests will think you got them from a specialty deli or restaurant although it is so easy that even someone who is a complete kitchen neophyte can do it.
What You Will Need:
- 12 inch flour tortilla (we are using whole wheat flour tortillas in this recipe)
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- Toothpicks or cocktail skewers
- 3 ounces of smoked salmon, sliced thinly
- A few leaves of lettuce (either ice berg or romaine)
- 3 slices of mild cheese (the one used for sandwiches)
Time to Roll up Some Appetizers!
1. Get all of your ingredients ready.
2. Spread the mayonnaise and the mustard over a rectangular area of the flour tortilla.
3. Add in the lettuce.
4. Add a layer of smoked salmon.
5. Then a layer of cheese. Arranging them this way will create a nice color contrast when you cut the roll up into slices.
6. Roll the tortilla tightly, secure with toothpicks/cocktail skewers about an inch apart. Use this as a cutting/slicing guide. Cut the rolled up tortilla using a very sharp knife.
7. This recipe is for a single roll which makes 10-12 slices.
Pasta Arabiata (Filipino Style) Recipe
This may be an Italian classic but this time we will be using locally grown ingredients. It’s very easy to do and something that I turn to when I am craving for pasta but I don’t have the luxury of time to do it.
What You’ll Need:
- 500 g Spaghetti noodles or Penne Rigatte – Cook pasta per package direction, when briskly boiling put salt and oil before adding the pasta
- 2 cans of good quality chunky tomato
- 120 g of bacon – chopped, any bacon will do but I prefer using honey cured because I like it a bit sweet, Yes, 120 g only because you just want a kick of bacon flavor to your sauce
- 1 teaspoon of brown sugar – yes, Filipinos have a sweet tooth but don’t worry it won’t be overwhelming
- Fresh basil
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 teaspoon chili-flakes – you may adjust it according to preference
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese (optional)
Method:
1. In a large skillet, put a teaspoon of olive oil. The reason why I only use a teaspoon of oil is because the bacon will release its natural fat which will add flavor to the sauce. When the oil is hot enough, add the bacon, cook it for a few minutes under medium heat or until the bacon is slightly golden brown and has released a lot of its own fat or juices. Then add in the garlic.
2. Add a pinch of hot pepper flakes. You can put as much as you want until you get the right kick that suits your taste.
3. Cook it for a minute or so or until the garlic becomes lightly brown.
4. Now, add in the crush tomatoes and sugar. Again, make sure you get yourselves good quality ingredients. When it comes up to a boil, reduce the heat on medium low and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add salt and pepper. Make sure you taste your sauce first before adding in the pasta.
5. Turn off the heat and toss in the pasta. Mix to perfection! Add parmesan cheese should you prefer to.
6. Serve the pasta and enjoy!
Top 5 Healthy Eating Tips for Bergen County Residents
Most healthy eating advice focusses on counting calories and measuring portion sizes and ignores actual health. However, true healthy eating goes far beyond calorie restriction and involves providing your body with the essential nutrients it needs. These essential nutrients boost your energy levels, protect against chronic diseases, help your vital organs function and much more. Today I’m going to be helping you adapt your diet so that it contains fewer calories but is also packed full of health boosting nutrients by providing you with five top healthy eating tips.
Tip 1 – Fill Up On Vegetables
Vegetables are a great healthy eating choice for various reasons. First, they contain large amounts of water and help you stay hydrated. Second, they are packed full of fiber along with plenty of health boosting vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Finally, vegetables generally contain well below 100 calories per serving which makes them an excellent choice if you’re trying to lose weight. So if you want to stay healthy, make sure you’re eating multiple servings of vegetables throughout the day.
Tip 2 – Drink Healthy Hot Drinks
Healthy hot drinks (such as black tea, coffee and green tea) not only protect against dehydration but they’re also loaded with health boosting phytonutrients. These phytonutrients in black tea, coffee and green tea have countless health benefits some of which include protecting against chronic disease, boosting the health of your blood, strengthening your immune system and much more. By drinking healthy hot drinks regularly, you can take full advantage of these phytonutrients and enjoy all their health benefits.
Tip 3 – Enjoy Natural Marinated Meat & Fish
Fresh meat and fish are an excellent source of protein. However, if you’re eating them regularly, they can start to become bland and boring. One great way to get around this is by mixing up a range of healthy and natural marinades, soaking your meat or fish in them for a few hours and then cooking them as normal. Doing this will give the fish and meat you eat a whole new level of flavor and ensure that you have plenty of variety in your diet.
Tip 4 – Snack On Nuts & Seeds
Nuts and seeds are an excellent healthy snack for numerous reasons. They’re packed full of healthy fats which boost your brain, strengthen your heart, enhance your immune system and much more. In addition to this, they contain high levels of protein which helps to build, maintain and repair all your body’s cells. They’re also very filling and sure to keep you satisfied between meals. So if you’re currently snacking on candy, chocolate and chips between meals, swap them for nuts and seeds today and give your health a kick.
Tip 5 – Limit Processed Carbohydrates
Processed carbohydrates are probably the biggest barrier to healthy eating around with foods that contain large amounts of processed carbs being high in calories and low in nutrients. As a result, they do very little for your health but add lots of unnecessary calories to your diet which then get stored as excess body fat. So if you want to ensure that every meal you eat is healthy, think about the amounts of processed carbs it contains and where possible, choose meals that contain little or no processed carbs.
Summary
As you can see, a proper healthy eating strategy will help you lose weight and improve your overall health. So if you’re currently focused just on the quantity of foods that you eat, start making some changes today and use these five tips to improve the quality of the foods you eat as well.
Bergen County NJ Residents Increase Weight Loss by Balancing Their Glands
The answer to burning fat calories lays not so much in the food you eat but in how the body processes it. And the one thing that determines how well the entire metabolism operates isn’t in your stomach, or the intestines, or even in your muscles. It’s located in your throat. It’s a tiny V shaped gland called the thyroid gland. Think of the thyroid as the body’s “thermostat.” The thyroid gland release the hormonesT4 which then converts to the more potent T3, it will constantly attempt to keep the body at a comfortable 98.6 degrees. Elevating body temperature via the thyroid gland is the key to the burning of more body fat. This is accomplished quite well through resistance exercise and can be achieved with certain drugs, which can be a dangerous practice that can cause permanent harm to the thyroid gland if there is no medical necessity. The thyroid is, in a way, the body’s “heating system”; it “burns” food for fuel in order to provide energy. The more it burns, the more effectively it will use fat (both consumed and stored) to continue functioning. If it’s a little slow, its fat burning ability will be hindered and excess calories become stored, as body fat. Although hypothyroidism is usually common to the elderly, a sub par thyroid is very common. And almost everyone can benefit from increasing thyroid output to optimum levels.
Here is a List of nutrients found in Supplement Form that can really help fire up a thyroid Fat assault
- Kelp is rich in iodine
- Mineral Selenium
- Amino Acid L-Tyrosine
- Olive Leaf Extract Herb
- Ashwagandha Herb
- 7-Keto DHEA Hormone Metabolite
Here is a list Foods and herbs that may impair thyroid function. This isn’t exactly a list of things that you MUST NOT eat, but some things that you might choose to steer clear of, or to limit quantities and frequencies of consumption.
ü Peaches, Pairs, and Strawberries There is something else to keep in mind with fruits, and any foods or drinks that have fructose or high fructose corn syrup. The fructose messes up hormone conversion at the cellular level. What this means is that your body has a much tougher time converting the T4 storage hormone to the active hormone, T3.
(Bananas are good for the thyroid)
- Cruciferous vegetables such as Broccoli, Cabbage and Cauliflower They contain a chemical called thiourea which is a goitergen. What that means is, they retard the process of the thyroid from turning iodine into the essential fat burning hormone T3.
- Green Tea contains flouride, a known T3 suppressant.
- Soy Products such as Tofu contain phyto-estrogens that can hinder T3 production.
So there you have it some tips to help keep your thyroid production functioning at optimal levels for optimal fat burning. Any questions or comments please post on the blog or email Brian Hernandez at vipfitnesscenter@gmail.com.