Sicily- Recommended Literature & Film

February 7th, 2010

Along with its rich history, fertile soil and magnificent Sicilian cuisine, many great writers and poets have roots to this breathtaking island. The contribution to the arts has been overwhelming and the films bore from this region have gone on to win countless awards. Below you will find a few classics, ideal to provide you with inspiration and insight into the beautiful island of Sicily.

Literature:

The Godfather- Mario Puzo

Bagheria- Dacia Mariani

The Council of Egypt- Leonardo Sciascia

The Leopard, The Siren- Guiseppe di Lampedusa

Films:

The Godfather

The Big Blue

The Leopard

Il Postino

Cinema Paradiso

Divorce, Italian Style

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MOULES MARINIERE by The Single Gourmet Online

January 16th, 2010
Inspired by our upcoming Escape To Napa Valley, California, The Single Gourmet Online once again provides us with a simple, delicious and healthy dish, perfect for one! This classic French dish is full of flavor, especially when you use some of the best California ingredients- a good Napa Valley white wine and some delicious San Francisco sourdough bread for dipping!
Ingredients (serves 1):
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 shallot, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, sliced
3/4 pound mussels, well-rinsed & beards removed
1/2 cup white wine
Juice of 1 lemon
1-2 sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt- to taste
Freshly ground black pepper – to taste
1 tablespoon flat-leaf parsley
Sourdough bread for serving
Directions:
- In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallots & cook for 4-5 minutes or until translucent. Add garlic & cook for another 1-2 minutes.
- Add mussels & increase heat to high.
- When mussels start to open, add wine, lemon juice, thyme & bay leaf. Season with salt & pepper & bring to a boil.
- Cover & cook until all muscles open up, about 7-10 minutes.
- Take mussels off heat & discard and unopened ones. Remove stems from thyme & stir in fresh parsley.
- Serve warm with crusty sourdough bread for dipping.
- Enjoy!

Photo by: James Padilla

Extra Virgin Bloody Mary by Culinary Artist & Raw Food Enthusiast, Diana Stobo

January 10th, 2010

We are thrilled that culinary artist and raw food enthusiast Diana Stobo is joining us for our first ever weekend InnerReward’s ESCAPE to Napa Valley January 29-31, 2010. Diana is living proof that her Naked Nourishment lifestyle works- she eats for health, vibrance & beauty- and it pays off, inside & out!

Reminiscent of the classic Bloody Mary, Diana has provided this simple and delicious recipe, which is a wonderful cleansing treat for your palate and for your body. For more nutrition tips & recipes visit Diana’s site (www.dianastobo.com) or ESCAPE with us to Napa Valley, where Diana will be providing us with easy to follow, delicious & healthy raw food recipes along with nutritional tips!

Directions:

2 large tomatoes
1/2 cucumber
1 stalk of celery
1/2 cup spinach
1/4 cup parsley
2 tablespoons yellow onion, diced
2 T lemon juice, freshly squeezed juice of one lemon
pinch cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or salt to taste
1 cup purified water

Directions:

Place all ingredients in high speed blender and blend until smooth. If you like it smoother strain through a nut milk bag or strainer. Yummy!

bloodymary.jpg picture by tgraggrealestate

Carrot Ginger Soup

January 5th, 2010

This is another quick, easy & healthy favorite from Cartagena, although we do serve a carrot and rose petal version of this delicious soup in Marrakech. Noted for its unique flavor and antioxidant properties, the ginger in this recipe meshes well with the sweetness of the carrots and ads flavorful kick!

You can prepare a large batch of this soup – freeze & reheat on the stove top when ready to eat!

Ingredients:

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 pounds carrots, peeled and sliced

½ large onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 small ginger root, peeled and minced

2 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth

2 tbsp. of brown sugar

Toasted pumpkin seeds for garnish

Directions:

1. Steam the carrots in a large pot until tender for 25 to 30 minutes.

2. Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes.

3. While the carrots cook, heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic and ginger, stirring frequently for 6 to 8 minutes, or until everything is soft but not browned.

4. Transfer the carrots to a food processor or blender and add the garlic-ginger mixture. Blend for two to three minutes until smooth.

5. Return to the large saucepan and add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar to sweeten to taste.

6. Top with toasted pumpkin seeds.

7. Serve immediately & Enjoy!

Ceviche de Pescado- Another Cartagena Favorite

January 5th, 2010

Ceviche is a staple in the Colombian coastal towns and villages, thanks to the abundant supply of fresh fish and shrimp. This ceviche is quick, low calorie, very healthy and easy to prepare-the secret is fresh fish and lime- plus plenty of time to let all the ingredients ‘cook’ in the lime juice. Coconut milk is often added to Colombian ceviches as well, which makes for a heavier dish.

Ingredients (Serves 4):

250 g fresh fish – white fish such as sea bass or red snapper

Enough fresh lime to completely cover the fish with lime juice

3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

1 ½ cups chopped onion

1 1/2 cups fresh corn

Jalapeno or habanero to taste

Salt, pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cut fresh fish into small bite sized pieces and place into  large bowl

2. Squeeze fresh lime over the fish until the fish is completely covered in lime juice.

3. Add salt and jalapeno/habanero to the lime and fish and let soak in the lime juice for 24 hours (in the refrigerator)

4. After 24 hours the fish will have ‘cooked’ in the lime juice. Add cilantro, onion and corn to the bowl, mix.

5. Add additional salt and jalapeno/habanero to taste. Pepper can be added as well if you would like.

Enjoy!

Quote of the Day

January 4th, 2010

Love never fails; Character never quits; and with patience and persistence; Dreams do come true.

Pete Maravich

Healthy Pumpkin Pie- From Thanksgiving with Escape To Shape in Cartagena

December 24th, 2009

This healthy twist on an American classic was the hit of our healthy Thanksgiving dinner in Cartagena, Colombia. Not only is it delicious, but it is also incredibly easy. Impress your family & friends with the fantastic flavor- they wont miss the fat!

Pumpkin isn’t just tasty, it also provides a number of health benefits. Pumpkin contains dietary fiber, antioxidants, lots of vitamins- including C and A, Omega-3 fatty acids, folate, potassium, and manganese, all at just 79 calories per cup. As such, pumpkin is a great choice for healthy cooking and baking.

Preperation time:5-10 minutes

Cooking time: 60-75 minutes

Makes: two 9-inch pumpkin pies

Ingredients:

  • 2 9-inch unbaked pie shells (we made our own
  • 2 standard (398 ml) cans pumpkin
  • 6 large eggs (equivalent to 7 medium eggs or 8 small)
  • 1 cup skim milk
  • 1 cup raw organic cane sugar
  • 4 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 425 Fahrenheit
  • If pie shells have just come out of the freezer, warm them in the oven for a couple of minutes, just until warm to the touch.*
  • Beat eggs lightly with a whisk.
  • Add all other ingredients and beat until smooth.
  • Pour into pie shells.
  • Bake 15 minutes and then reduce temperature to 350 Fahrenheit and bake for another 45-60 minutes.
  • Test for doneness with toothpick starting at approximately 45 minutes after lowering the oven temperature, and every 5 minutes thereafter. The toothpick should come out clean or nearly clean when the pies are done.
  • Enjoy!

* We prepared our own healthy pie shells with water, wheat flour & salt. They are not that flavorful, but are perfect for letting the pumpkin & seasonings shine! You can also purchase pre-made shells at your local store.

St. Petersburg, Russia- Recommended Literature & Film

December 12th, 2009

St. Petersburg, Russia
St. Petersburg, Russia is is gem of a city, rich in history. From Tolstoy to Dostoyevsky the contributions the great      Russian writers have made to literature are second to  none. The city shaped each of them as writers and St. Petersburg’s  magical appeal is evident throughout many of the classic’s pages. Below are a few recommended classics  inspired by St.  Petersburg or written by authors born in St. Petersburg.

Literature

Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky

The Brothers Karamazov- Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Anna Kerenina- Leo Tolstoy

The Man from St. Petersburg- Ken Follett

Eugene Onegin- Alexander Pushkin

The Fountainhead- Ayn Rand

Speak, Memory- Vladimir Nabokov

Films

Irony of Fate

White Nights

GoldenEye

Brother

Onegin

Please let us know if you have any to add to the list!

PINEAPPLE BATIDO

December 11th, 2009

The Single Gourmet Online has provided us with a simple, tasty & refreshing treat- Pineapple Batito! A batido is a traditional Latin American blended drink made with fresh fruit, milk and ice. If desired, yogurt can be substituted for the milk for a thicker consistency. If you are lactose intolerant, try rice, soy or almond milk instead for a satisfying yet healthy treat! Batito’s can be prepared using any fresh fruit- and as always, the more local the fruit, the better for the environment!

INGREDIENTS (one serving):

1 cup fresh pineapple, cut into chunks
1 cup ice
1/2 cup low-fat milk
1 teaspoon honey, agave or sugar- optional as the pineapple is a sweet source in and of itself!

DIRECTIONS:

In a blender, combine pineapple and ice.
Add milk (and honey, agave or sugar if using) and purée until smooth.
Serve immediately.
Enjoy!


Marrakech, Morocco- Recommended Books & Films

December 7th, 2009

Below is a list of some classsics that will help get you acquainted with the exotic culture surrounding Marrakech. The following novels and movies serve as an excellent guide to the area and will provide you with a glimpse of life in and around Marrakech.

LITERATURE

The Drifter’s- James Michener

Hideous Kinky- Esther Freud

The Sheltering Sky-Paul Bowles

Lulu in Marrakech-Diane Johnson

FILMS

The Man who Knew Too Much

The Sheltering Sky

Babel

Casablanca

Marrakech Express