Salmon and Spinach Stuffed Portabellas

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Did you know…………………..portabella mushrooms are simply fully mature crimini or cremini mushrooms?  Yep.  They’re the cremini mushroom’s 5-7 day older brothers/sisters/cousins?

Portobello, Portabella, Portabello are all acceptable versions of spelling the name of these large fungi, proving that if you cannot spell something correctly, just keep doing it that way and eventually it’ll be accepted and added to the dictionary.

As well as making tagging a post triply difficult.

Judging from the fact that crimini and portabella can be spelled multiple ways, feel free to come up with your own version since apparently it really doesn’t matter to fungi what you call them.

Or you can call them champignon de Paris if it makes you feel smarter.  You can woo people to your house with the French.

However the Mushroom Council (explain that career path) maintains that Portabella is the official name of the mushroom.  Never one to defy authority, I have thusly titled this post with the double “A” version.

Ingredients:

1 large can of Alaskan wild salmon

1 bag of frozen spinach

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large tomato diced

1 chili pepper (green) minced

2 teaspoons of garlic salt

1 tablespoon garlic (minced)

2 portabella caps

salt and pepper to taste

some grated parmesan cheese

Remove the stems from the mushroom caps and discard.  Brush the caps with olive oil and set to the side.

Add the rest of the olive oil to a large pan and saute the spinach until limp.  Add garlic, tomatoes and chili peppers and saute for a few moments more and then stir in the salmon (water removed).

Put the caps in a small pan and load them with the sauteed vegetables and salmon mixture and top with the parmesan cheese.

Cook in a 400 degree oven for approximately then minutes, until cheese is thoroughly melted.

Eat

Enter…………..the Thief

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Sometimes it takes only seconds for a day to go a direction other than what you’d planned.

Today was a much-anticipated day by my daughters.  All week we had been planning to stop by and visit with a local animal foundation, who was having an event at one of the local stores here.    If there is a way to a child’s heart is through puppies and kittens.  Nothing so grabs their attention as wagging tails and purring furballs.  I was looking forward to it too.  Meeting the folks involved with the process was rewarding, though I don’t think they’ll be upset when I say they were upstaged by the litters of puppies crawling all over themselves in a desperate bid for attention from all the fawning shoppers.

I went with no intentions whatsoever other than meeting the people who were putting on the event as I had promised earlier in the week, and get to see how the operation worked.

It all went awry after about thirty seconds in the door.  One of the nice ladies grabbed me and said, “Did you see the Golden?”

“No I didn’t,” I replied.  Somehow he had passed me going out the door on a bathroom break as I was coming in.  We missed each other.

The conversation continued until, some minutes later, came this gorgeous (there is no other way to describe it) Golden Retriever, led by a kind gentleman who introduced himself (I think) as I was struck by what was later described as ‘that look a little boy gets when he finds his first bike under the Christmas tree.’  Truthfully, I don’t really remember what happened.  All I know is that in short order, paper work was filled out, a leash was handed over, and a new member of our family was being driven home.

Let me be clear.  I made no plans.  And I had resolved myself to going and being a part of it, and enjoying myself, and meeting people.  And of not, NOT, bringing another animal home.

I had no intention of having my heart stolen by a dog.  But it was.  And so today my family welcomes a homeless boy into their home.  A three-year old beautiful Golden who has made himself at home already and, apparently, abducting the hearts of everyone else around too.

Except for Cheyenne who is having none of it.

As I mentioned in a couple of my previous posts it has been years since I had a dog that I was personally attached to.  After the deaths of the previous ones I kept putting it off. I kept denying it to myself as I knew that I’d inevitably get too attached to them as I always do.   I remember that hurt all too well, the loss I felt losing two of my best friends.  How it ripped my heart out as I stood there, shovel in hand, burying them as everyone stood at a distance and either wept with me or unable to figure out how to console the usually stoic and unemotional man they knew that was turned into a sobbing mess.

I had neglected to consider that it wasn’t always a choice.  Sometimes a twist of fate or timing puts something in your way and it just happens.  And so it did.  Maybe it was timing.  I don’t know. I knew in the instant I saw him though that he was coming home with us.  All those reservations were swept aside the first time he nudged my hand.

So I am sitting here watching as that wagging tail and those imploring eyes work their magic on my daughters.  As they fawn and swoon and play and frolic with him.  I watch as a simple little creature woos two innocent children into falling for him. How without them knowing he is working his way into their hearts and lives.

Then I smile.  Because I know the feeling. And I am glad it is back.

Welcome home boy.  Welcome home.

Omelette Muffins

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This recipe you can find all over the place, but I think it bears another post because of the simplicity and the multitude of ways that you could alter this one.  Plus they can be made and then refrigerated for later.

Grab one out of the fridge and warm it up. Instant breakfast.  Or snack.

Kind of like I just did.

Ingredients:

8 eggs

1 cup of diced tomatoes

1 cup chopped mushrooms

1 cup of diced ham

1 cup diced red pepper

1 cup diced green pepper

1 cup chopped onion

4 strips bacon, crumbled

salt and pepper to taste

parmesan cheese

 

Beat the eggs in a large bowl and then stir in the ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Fill the cups of a muffin pan almost full.

 

And then bake for 30 or so minutes at 350 degrees until they’re ready to go.

 

 

 

 

Got Time For a Quickie?

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Sure you do. And you know you’d enjoy it. If you could just find a few minutes during the day every day to do it you’d find yourself more relaxed. More focused. More energized and ready to take on the world. If only the day would allow that 45 minutes or so a day where we could all fit one in we’d be better off. We’d live longer, be less stressed, and enjoy going to work far more than we do now. I mean, who couldn’t use one now and then?

I could use one now, which explains this post.

Please do go away!

I am talking about naps. Please.

I used to nap a lot. A habit of being in the military and sleep being at a premium, I am able to sit down most anywhere and doze off at a moments notice. Even now, when I can, I will find a quiet spot, even on the road, and pull the truck under some shade and take a quick one if I can get a few minutes of sleep in. I always feel more refreshed, more energized and more alert after a quick thirty minute nap. Stigma aside, napping seems to me to be a healthy activity. It’s often associated with laziness, but what do those people know, they’re just tired and grumpy.

And studies have shown that napping has some definite positive effects.  Keep this article to show to your boss when he gets angry.

As part of my new found healthier lifestyle I am reintroducing the power nap.  An old friend that has been gone far, far too long.

As I said, napping has some definite physical benefits. Studies done on military pilots and astronauts have shown marked improvement in alertness and overall performance when they were able to take short ‘power naps’. Studies in Greece have shown that people who napped suffered 37% fewer heart attacks. And almost counterintuitively, a nap during the day allows you to sleep better at night. Some stunts even hint at napping leading to a longer life span.

There are also some psychological impacts as well according to the National Sleep Foundation (BEST……………JOB…………EVER). Napping reduces stress. I’ve found that if I am in the middle of something particularly stressful or up against a problem I cannot solve, taking a short nap relaxes me enough to where I can focus on the task at hand. Sometimes I’ll even arrive at the answer while I am settling down and the peace and quiet of the nap itself wipes the clutter from my mind and allows me to focus. And studies do show that napping increases cognitive function and creativity. Napping increases memory function and learning ability.

As opposed to passing out which only increases bail amount and spousal irritation

Ideally, a nap should last between ten and forty-five minutes. Longer than that leads to fogginess and interrupting your sleep patterns. So, as with everything else, the key is moderation. Naps are, in no way, a substitute for getting sleep, but they do allow us the time to recharge our batteries and give us a temporary boost.

Speaking of naps, it’s about time for one.

Have a great weekend folks.

Sources:

National Institute of Mental Health

NASA

National Sleep Foundation

Vidalia Onion Bruschetta (Paleo/Primal/Gluten Free)

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This turned out exquisitely delicious.

First, Vidalia Onions.  If you’ve never had one you’ve been robbed of one of life’s pleasures.  The only grow in Georgia and are a sweet onion, owing to the unique soil qualities here in South Georgia.  They are, perhaps, the most delicious onions you can find.  Of course, I am biased.

I love all things Georgian.

And especially this, since I believe I have created something totally unique.  Which I have tried to do since I started this paleo journey.

Yes, it is a keeper

Anyway…………to the recipe.

Take one large Vidalia Onion, and slice it.  1/4″ slices work well.  Then bake the onion.  If I am baking a Vidalia all I use is a little butter, some salt and pepper and, behold, you’ve got deliciousness already.

But hold on!

Then, in a large bowl, mix 6 plum tomatoes diced, one diced red onion, a large handful of parmesan cheese, some fresh basil (6-8 leaves), chopped.  Stir in a half tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and a half tablespoon of olive oil.  Put it in the fridge to chill while the onion bakes (approximately thirty minutes).

Remove the onions and place them on a plate and top them with some of the now chilled and mixed (bruschetta?), sprinkle with a little more basil and a bit of parmesan cheese and you’ve got something awesome.

I ate 4 myself.   None left.  Go get your own.

Roasted Fruit (Paleo/Gluten Free)

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Paleo snack food is one of those things that I’ve overlooked.  I had to give up the other snack foods I loved (so long tater chips) so I am trying out some new stuff I found and doing a little twist here and there to see what I liked.

One of those I tried today was chocolate covered bacon.  It sounded interesting, but I think I must’ve messed it up quite badly since mine wasn’t all that good.  I had to have messed it up because it was, well, BACON.  And bacon always tastes good.  So I am calling that one my fault since the recipe I linked to above sounded quite delicious, and it is worth a try.  If you make it and like it let me know.  Love some of the ideas on this guys page anyway, so check him out.

 

I also got another idea from him.  Roasted fruit, which I had never had, or even heard of.  So I rushed to the store and grabbed the following (brace yourself this is going to get scientific):

4 nectarines sliced

4 peaches sliced

Blueberries (big handful)

Blackberries (big handful)

Strawberries (two big handfuls) sliced

and then added a little white wine (about a 1/4 cup and baked it at 400 degrees for about thirty minutes, topped it with some paleo whipped cream, and ate.

 

Six Paleo Perks

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6) VARIETY-

No, I don’t have a lot of experience with any kind of ‘diet’.  And at first I was a bit put off by the fact that I’d have to restrict myself.  I think anyone is a bit reticent and hesitant when they first consider having to restrict their diet.  But what I’ve found is that I am actually eating a wider variety of foods.  And I am eating them in a more ways than I used to.  Looking back I realize now that I was eating very restrictively and repetitively.  Paleo has forced me into a trying new things.  I’ve rediscovered the taste of food.  The nuance of spices and flavors and the way they are enhanced with different cooking methods.  Paleo has made me branch out.  So what had initially been considered a restrictive diet has, indeed, become more of a relaxing of rules that I had unconsciously enforced.  I’m off the hamburger/junk food/fast food/ treadmill and I am discovering food.  Real food.

5) MORE ENERGY-

The first thing I noticed going primal/paleo was the amount of energy I had.  I need less sleep than I used to, I wake up faster and I am ready to go when I do wake up.  I don’t have that dragging feeling I used to have in the mornings.  Some people I’ve read about don’t experience this, but I can say I can tell a massive difference.  I don’t get that mid-afternoon dip in energy I used to get.  I don’t get sleepy during the day.  And I  have plenty of energy to make it through the day.

4) NO HUNGER-

I used to notice that if I skipped meals, or was late I would get this gnawing hunger, and have to stop and get something to eat.  That has disappeared.  I can go longer between meals.  I don’t get those peaks and valleys.  The high after the meal then the inevitable crash as my body compensates for the massive intake of crap that I used to eat.   I can eat a little and be sated for a while, or I can eat a lot.  My meals don’t have to be as large, but if they are it doesn’t matter because:

3) NO MORE BLOATED FEELING!-

I don’t get that bloated after meal feeling.  That alone is worth it to me.  That ugh! feeling after you’ve eaten is gone.  You know what I am talking about.  That uncomfortable fullness that you get after you’ve over eaten a little bit.   Even if I have a large steak and some vegetables I feel like I could  go right outside and play football.  Which is aggravating to everyone else, I admit.  Since I jump up from the table and I am ready for anything.  Let’s go!

Yeah, you go ahead Joe, we will catch up.

2) EXPLAINING PALEO-

Every day you encounter someone that is beginning a new diet or wants to talk food and inevitably it will get around to me admitting I eat primally and discussing the above facts along with the resultant weight loss, the energy, and some other things.  Those that know me and see me often have noticed that, and the gain in muscle mass, and that what I had is more clearly defined.  But there is nothing I enjoy more than the confusion of some as I explain the concept of paleo.  It does, in ways, fly in the face of conventional wisdom as far as dieting and weight loss goes.

Wait, you get to eat what? (stockfree)

1) STEAK!  SEAFOOD!  -

Yeah,maybe it is a repeat of number 6.  But it deserves two places.  There isn’t much fault to be found with being able to eat the finer things in life.  It’s almost sinfully wonderful to sit across from someone munching on a salad and struggling (I’m sorry, I am evil I admit) while I eating a 16 ounce ribeye and explaining the above points.  Especially the weight loss part, while they stare forlornly at the huge slab of deliciousness sitting on my plate.  So what are you having for dinner?

Hmmm. Yeah, sorry about that.