What's Cookin', Acceptable Lookin?

Here are two of my favorite things to eat these days.  Super Easy and on the healthier side.  (No, I'm not traditionally a health nut... I tend to go through phases.  So right now, I'm in a phase.)

Breakfast:  Greek Yogurt Parfait
I'm a big fan of greek yogurt, because it's creamy and delicious, and pairs well with so many different fruits.  Also, despite the fact that its texture is very rich.... it is completely non-fat, low in calories, and loaded with protein.  (Some brands pack in 22 grams of protein per serving!!)  Here are the most basic ingredients I suggest for this parfait:

1. Non-fat, plain Greek Yogurt.  My recommended brands are Chobani & Fage.  (Fage has a little more bitterness to it... so if you're new to Greek Yogurt, I would start with Chobani.)  Brands to avoid: Dannon & Yoplait.  They are cheap unpleasant knock-offs of more reputable, higher-quality brands.  Dannon especially has a subtle grainy texture that really put a bee in my bonnet.

2. Fresh Fruit.  (Many brands -- including Chobani -- manufacture single serving yogurts with the fruit pre-mixed.  I find the fresh fruit option much more delicious).  Below, you see a bowl full of strawberries... as an ode to the end of strawberry season!  Goodbye until next summer, Strawberries that I love!  Other delicious suggestions: Cantaloupe, blueberries, blackberries, kiwi.... or all of these fruits combined!  Fruit to avoid in this receipe: bananas. The sweeter the fruit, the better the outcome. 

 3. Some people add nuts to amp up the protein, fiber, and flavor... but my next suggestion it for those of you who find Greek Yogurt to be a bit too bitter for your taste.  Pure Clover Honey.... just add a little teaspoon, mix it in, and ta-da.... you've successfully neutralized that "bite" of Greek yogurt that you don't particularly care for!

Just putting these items together is easy!  Simply put the yogurt in a bowl, then line the strawberries up for slaughter....

[Slaughter portion has been censored for our younger readers.]
Then, add them to the yogurt, and top with honey!

Voila!  And you can't make excuses for skipping a healthy part of your breakfast when it's this easy!

Lunch: Cobb Salad with Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
The dressing is the real star of this recipe.  You're all probably familiar with our friend, The Cobb Salad: Romaine lettuce, hard-boiled eggs, turkey bacon or regular bacon, avocado, tomato, onion, and whatever else you like!  Throw it in a bowl and, to quote Emeril Lagasse...Bam!

So let's get to the Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing (from Epicurious.com):
A lot of people eat salads in an effort to be healthy.  But what can make the whole thing a wash?  Really fattening, unhealthy dressing.  If you actually read the label on some of these creamy additives... you'll find hydrogenated oils, loads of preservatives, the ever ubiquitous Xanthum Gum.  They also add artificial coloring!  What color are they adding?  Beige?  So here is a really easy dressing recipe from the people at Epicurious that very easy and quite delicious!

Combine in a bowl:
1/2 cup nonfat Greek Yogurt (really, this stuff is magical.)
1/4 cup lowfat buttermilk
1/4 cup organic reduced-fat mayo (the non-organic kind has the same scary stuff we're trying to avoid.)
4 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese.... (or however much you want, really.)
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar (I recommend upping this amount to 4 for extra flavor.)
1/8 teaspoon salt
And then salt and pepper to taste
You can also add minced onions, chives, or anything else that suits your fancy!   And see, no added color and it's still a very nice-looking dressing.  Put a few spoonfuls of this on your Cobb Salad and enjoy!

Oh, while we're discussing food.... people have been asking about Gordon LaChance.  Where's he been?  Darn good question!  And here's my answer:

Two words: New Girlfriend.  SIGH.  After one successful posting and a very well-run Tinger's Corner Contest, the guy swings by Borders and meets this broad.  I haven't met her yet....he's supposed to bring her over this weekend.... so I'll reserve my judgments. But basically, Gordon has been neglecting his responsibilities at The Nan Stop, or proposing that I post his poorly-written love poems to Ms. Food Face. So basically, the guy is on voluntary leave until our next staff meeting.  

It ain't easy being a Managing Editor of this blog, I tell ya. 

-NL