Good news and good food
Posted by Mike Farley (05/10/2013 @ 8:08 pm)
Sometimes life allows for overindulgence.
I love to eat, and I love to especially eat carbs–in particular foods like pizza, fresh bread, pretzels, and jelly beans. But it’s hard not to overeat when you are eating things you really love. And so I, like many Americans, have a bit of a weight problem.
I saw my doctor yesterday for a physical, and while my cholesterol and blood pressure numbers are pretty good, I’m about 40 pounds above what’s considered a good weight for my height. I’m only 10 pounds above what is considered borderline overweight, and so I really don’t have TOO far to go.
But the best part? My doctor said he does not believe in diets. He says I should not deprive myself of any food item because then I will resent him and resent myself and be miserable in general. Everything in moderation, fair amount of exercise, and all should be well–as long as I drop a pound a month or so. Totally doable, right?
So the numbers were mostly good news, but the food news was even better. Because it’s coming into summertime, and there are so many summer foods I love–ice cream, burgers, corn, tomatoes, melon. Ah yes. But there is a small catch–I can’t let myself get out of control, because freedom to eat is not an absolute. In other words–moderation.
Which also means that, fear not, Mikey’s Kitchen readers, I’m going to write about all of the great summer foods that lie ahead. Let’s get to it!
Posted in: Healthy, Your Kitchen
Tags: blood pressure, bread, burgers, cholesterol, corn, doctor, food, healthy eating, height, ice cream, jelly beans, melon, pizza, pretzels, tomatoes, weight
Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival–fun and flavor for all
Posted by Mike Farley (08/28/2012 @ 4:16 pm)
 Thanks for the fine folks at Grassland Butter, I took my wife and 5-year old son to the Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival two weekends ago. We moved to Wisconsin two years ago and this was the first time we went to the fest. It also certainly won’t be the last time. The food was great, the rides were great for our thrill-loving boy, and the weather was perfect as well (75 and sunny).
 Grassland was an official sponsor of the event, which meant their butter was the perfect companion to the sweet corn. We were amazed at the production line for the corn–as we waited with our tote, we watched the corn come out of the steamer in husks, after which we had to peel (ouch!) ourselves. Then we brought the corn to the butter table, where the fine folks rolled our corn in a gigantic block of Grassland butter, and then we made our way to the hanging salt shakers before gorging ourselves with the corn. Of course, it was peak season and the corn was delicious, but the Grassland butter really did take it to another level. My only regret was that I totally forgot about the grilled cheese sandwiches, which are also slathered with the butter and supposedly a fair favorite. Next year though!
 Before we ate, our son dragged us to pretty much every ride there was, and every weird haunted house “ride.” My wife had the pleasure of going on just about everything, while I skated by only going on the flying swings with him once. He had the best time, and that is always the most important thing.
 So, is it next August yet?
Posted in: fairs and festivals, Grocery stores, Ingredients, Product Reviews
Tags: amusement park rides, butter, corn, corn fest, corn on cob, delicious Grassland butter, fair, Grassland butter, Grassland Dairy, grilled cheese, rides, salt, steamed corn, Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival, sweet corn
Healthy breakfast bowl
Posted by Mike Farley (09/13/2011 @ 9:03 pm)
Last week I posted something on easy breakfast tacos, but it doesn’t always have to be about tacos or burritos when you are making a quick and healthy breakfast. What follows is my take on the breakfast bowl, something that has become more prominent in fast food chains as carbs have fallen out of favor the last few years.
So here we go…..
Chop some tomatoes, shred some cheddar cheese and open a can of pinto beans.
Prepare some quick brown rice (I like the Trader Joe’s kind in the freezer section, that you nuke in three minutes) and put about 1/2 cup of the cooked rice in a bowl. Set the rest aside (or multiply this recipe out for more servings).
Cook 2 eggs in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until the whites are just set (don’t overcook–you want a runny yolk). Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Put the beans and tomato in the bowl with the rice, top with the cooked eggs and shredded cheese. (Other options and add-ins are green pepper, jalapenos, cooked corn off the cob, or diced avocado.)
Top with salsa or hot sauce and serve.
Posted in: Healthy, Ingredients, Recipes, Your Kitchen
Tags: avocado, beans, breakfast bowl, breakfast food, corn, easy breakfast, easy breakfast food, easy breakfast recipe, egg and cheese, eggs, food for dudes, Grub For Guys, guilty pleasures, hangover food, healthy breakfast, healthy breakfast recipe, hot sauce, midnight snacks, pinto beans, salsa, tomatoes
Easy summer pasta with corn and tomatoes
Posted by Mike Farley (08/25/2011 @ 10:02 pm)
I submitted a recipe last year for the Dane County Farmer’s Market newsletter using fresh, locally grown produce as well as ravioli from RP’s here in Madison. So here is an adaptation of that recipe, since summer is winding down and you’re looking for ways to stretch the last of the sweet corn as well as your tomatoes and zucchini that are very much in season right now.
Ingredients
1 lb. dry or fresh pasta
2 ears corn on the cob
¼ cup olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large tomato, chopped
½ cup diced zucchini
¼ cup minced basil leaves
1/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Cook the pasta according to package directions, and drain, reserving about ¼ cup of the cooking liquid. Cook corn in salted boiling water for about 6 minutes. Drain and cool, then cut off kernels and set aside. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat, and add the garlic, fry for 15-20 seconds. Add tomato, corn and zucchini and cook for 3-4 minutes. (Yes, it’s a lot of oil, but it will be absorbed by the pasta and cheese, and olive oil is supposedly good for your arteries.) Add the basil leaves, then the pasta, cooking water, and finally the cheese. Heat for a minute or two or until warmed through, add the salt and pepper to taste, and serve. Serves 3-4
Posted in: Food on a Budget, Green Living, Healthy, Ingredients, Recipes, Your Kitchen
Tags: corn, easy summer pasta, pasta, pasta with summer vegetables, recipes for summer, summer pasta, summer pasta recipe, summer vegetable pasta, tomatoes, zucchini
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