Thursday, June 27, 2013

Recipe 3 (Goal #33) - Kebabs and Zucchini Corn Picadillo


So it appears that I am a keener at accomplishing goals that entail eating but I swear I am working on other ones too. I bought tickets to Osheaga (goal #20), I have been doing planks and push ups everyday (up to 20 in a row!) and I am making all sorts weekend plans, the problem is that work, weddings and socializing get in the way (trivia and softball take a lot of my time).

Anyways this recipe is amazing, like honestly its a staple in my kitchen and its so easy that it will be in your weekly menu after the first time you cook it. I was a vegetarian for 5 years and I still don't eat any red meat or pork, however as you may have noticed I now eat poultry and fish and most of my recipes will be limited to these food groups (i love cooking everything so I am going to include some recipes I can't eat).

The kebabs are really easy to make, I usually just include red/green peppers, red onion and chicken breast pieces (you can substitute sirloin if you want red meat). The key is to make the pieces of meat large enough that they will cook evenly in the bbq (you can also make this dish in the oven - 350F for about 40 min). I season my chicken with olive oil, garlic, salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper - leave it overnight or if I am running out of time 30min in the fridge. 

For the Picadillo: Sautée onions (chopped very finely) with olive oil a bit of garlic powder and white wine, add the zucchini (cut in 1inch pieces). Cover when its simmering until the zucchini has softened and its beginning to brown. If you have a bbq roast 2 corns on the cob and shave the kernels into the simmering mix, if you are running low on time or are not barbecuing just use canned corn. Chop a handful of cilantro very finely and mix everything in a bowl. Finish off with a bit of lemon juice and add as much salt as you like. 

This dish only takes about an hour from start to eating, and its one that is delicious and healthy. You can obviously make the kebabs with any salad, and substitute the chicken with meat, lamb, shrimp.. etc the possibilities are endles. 

Love,

Maria 


Recipe 2 (Goal #33) - Cornish Hens


Cornish hens were always a mystery to me, are they chickens? hens? a small duck? I had no idea even after I purchased them. I had always seen them featured in menus at fancy restaurants and since I started shopping at Farm Boy I always saw them in the poultry fridge. One day I was browsing my favourite cooking book - Nigella Express (the best!!) and I came across a deliciously looking dish that called for poussins. Once again I was at a lost, I had never heard of this chicken looking animal, who knew they were so many?! I started doing a bit of research and with the help of Wikipedia I discovered that poussins are cornish hens and that they are a chicken variety bred in the United States. As Frank Costanza from Seinfeld once put it cornish hens are just "little chickens" (see picture below). The advantages of cornish hens are: 1) They are super cute 2) It sounds fancier than roast chicken 3) Most of them are not factory farmed raised since their production is small 4) They are as easy to cook as regular sized chickens. 

I prepared mine as I usually make my sunday roast chicken, rubbed down with olive oil garlic powder, Kosher salt, paprika and peach jam. As a side I roasted potatoes, carrots and yams and since I had it handy I also baked a couple of plantains. I usually roast the veggies separately and when the bird is about to be done I transfer them to the same dish so they get a bit of the juices and flavour.

This was a dish that looked and tasted amazing and super easy to make just stuck everything in the oven for 40 min at 420F and served with a nice glass of Riesling.  

Love,

Maria

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Day 1 and Giveaway Winner!


Today is the first day of the challenge and I am super excited to begin this journey and have the support of family and friends. I already started working on many of my goals (running, cooking and planning trips). 

The winner of the 18 month Moleskine day-planner is Jessica Rosenbaum! Thank you everyone that participated it, it really meant a lot for me and I hope that putting your goals in writing helps you find focus to accomplish all your beautiful dreams :)

Love,

Maria 

Lava Cake






First Goal Accomplished! Goal # 27! This lava cake was the "sweetest" way to kick off the challenge! It was so so easy to make , just melt chocolate and 1/2 a cup of butter, 2 eggs and 2 yolks, 6 spoons of flour and a cup of sugar blend it all in a mixer and bake it in separate ramekins at 425F for 13 min. I added my homemade berry jam (see goal #15) and it paired magically! 
This recipe will definitely be part of my recipe book (see goal #33) and one that I look forward to making at many future dinner parties. 

If you want the full recipe click here

Friday, June 14, 2013

Countdown Start Day Giveaway!



It has been so wonderful to receive support from so many friends around the world! I am SO excited for the start date and I have already made some progress with some of my goals so I can have a few post ready for the grand day!

As a sign of appreciation I wanted to officially launch the blog with a prize giveaway. The winner will receive a Moleskine 18-Month Pocket Diary Planner! 

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Grades - do they make it in the list?


Today was a very anticipated day for me and all my classmates, we finally received grades for our 1st year law classes. Like everyone else I was anxious because everyone knows (and tells you) how important grades are for starting your career. Now after knowing my grades and after having more than 6 weeks to think about it I can say that grades are important and all but they definitely don't make the cut to be on my "goal list". 

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Why am I doing this?!


Well for many reasons actually:

1) I love making lists, it gives me directions and helps with my tendencies to procrastinate. I make lists daily, for what I am doing that morning, groceries, books.. you name it I have probably made a list.
2) I have this self conscious fear of not accomplishing things, but sometimes that fears is irrational because I am not even sure of what I am suppose to be accomplishing in the first place. With a list I can't feel bad about not doing something that is not on it.
3) I am a firm believer that once you write things down they become more real. That's why I am very careful of what a write and super sloppy with what I say sometimes.
4) I feel life is moving pretty fast for me right now and this list will remind me of the things that are important and I should be doing, no matter how small or insignificant in some way they are goals I have set for myself or dreams I strive to materialize.
5) Because putting it on the Internet allows me to share my journey with the people I love who are near and far, and provides a vehicle for awareness to those who want to join me!
6) Because it will make an awesome journal to look back and see a post or a picture from every goal I scratch of the list. And that alone is enough reason for me and the best 30 year  birthday gift I could ever wish for!

The start time of this exciting adventure is June 23, 2013 - not a particularly important date in my life but its around the time 27 years ago I was conceived (ha!). I chose the age of 30 as my deadline because it's an age by which I will be out of school, working, and transitioning to another set of goals (motherhood, professional achievements, mortgage... etc). I am not implying this is an age by which people in general should accomplish dreams and goals, to be perfectly honest I picked 30 because it gives me enough time to do 1o0 things while still putting some necessary pressure!

Hope to see you again as I accomplish each one of the goals in my list!

Love,

Maria