Food Fight - Saving Kids From Eating Processed Junk ft. Stic.Man of Dead Prez (Video)

National Fig Week (The 1st week of November)

Vegetarian ROTD: Roasted Cauliflower & Plum Tomatoes

Roasted Cauliflower & Plum Tomatoes

This is the perfect side dish for some Salmon & White Wine. It takes little to no time, which works well since fish usually takes the same or less to cook perfectly.

This works itself out in about a half hour or so.giving you just the right amount of time to sauté up some fish and pour up a few glasses of something for everyone to get the appetites going.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

7 cups small Cauliflower florets

3 medium sized Plum Tomatoes

¼ cup Olive Oil

2 cloves Garlic, minced

1 ½ tsp Cumin Seeds

¼ tsp Tumeric

½ tsp Cayenne pepper

½ tsp Kosher Salt

cracked Black Pepper to taste

½ bunch Cilantro, chopped

juice from 1 Lemon

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°

Toss cauliflower florets and plum tomatoes with olive oil, minced garlic, cumin seeds, turmeric, cayenne, Kosher salt, and pepper to taste on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven, about 25 minutes.

Sprinkle with lemon juice and chopped cilantro.

Serves: 4

ROTD: Steak Taco Salad

Going into the Fall / Winter seasons, after such a long hot & grueling Summer can be tough for many people. After months of starving ourselves to keep those beach and poolside bodies in shape (yeah right like we starve ever over here) it seems like the winter months hit us fast & hard with all of the fattening dishes we just love to eat.

Much like the animals we take care of, most of us start to put on that “Winter Coat” that we always find ourselves trying to frantically lose prior to Summers arrival next year.

This Steak Taco Salad recipe was taught to me (yes taught for I was not into salads at all prior to making a few very special friends) and has been track tested and proven time & time again at our various backyard BBQs & functions.  

Don’t let the list of ingredients scare you, most of these things you will most likely already have in your home. This light & healthy Salad pulls together quicker than you can imagine, once you have your taco bowl shells and grilled the steak, your in the final stretch of the race.

Full of great flavors, invigorating ingredients (nothing that will make you feel sluggish or in need of a nap after eating,) this hearty dish is the prefect way to say farewell to Summer and the ultimate way to welcome Fall.

Enjoy!

(for the entire recipe, click Read More)

Classic Recipe of The Day: Black Bean Hamburgers

Today is national Cheeseburger Day. We know that many people out there are cutting meat, especially red meat out of their diets and we didn’t want anyone to feel left out on such a glorious holiday. All across the Nation, the Hamburger is finding itself as the shining star on the menu once again and not much could please us more than that (ok some Peace on Earth might be nice, but we wont hold our breath.)

This recipe uses black beans instead of the typical beef or turkey and a few dashes of some good ol Tabasco to pull it together. Lately we have been omitting the Tabasco and using a really spicy island blend we found while traveling in St. Maarten so if you would like to really change up the flavors and spice levels of things, try out your favorite sauce and make this recipe your own, no one says these things are written in stone somewhere.

Enjoy National Cheeseburger Day!

Ingredients:

2 (14oz) Cans Black Beans (drained)

3 TBS Mayonnaise

1 tsp Kosher Salt

½ Cup Bread Crumbs (this recipe uses roasted garlic)

2 tsp Ground Cumin

½ tsp Smoked Paprika

1 tsp Cayenne pepper
2 TBS TABASCO, Original Red

¼ cup Finely Chopped Cilantro

3 TBS Vegetable Oil

4 Hamburger Buns (these are great on a toasted onion bun)

Sides usually include: Sour Cream, Salsa, Lettuce, Sliced Tomatoes & mustard

Directions:

Place One can of beans in a food processor with the mayo, bread crumbs, cumin, oregano, cayenne, TABASCO and Kosher salt.

Pulse a few times until a coarse puree forms.

Transfer the puree to a bowl and stir in the Cilantro and remaining can of beans.

Form mixture into 4 patties and place on a plate covered with saran wrap in the fridge for about 1 hour.

Heat vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium / high heat.

Cook the burgers until the outsides are browned, turning once about 5 - 8 mins total.

Garnish with whatever you like even double stack the patties and make it a black bean double double, animal style.

Serve on toasted buns.

As with all of our recipes, cooking times vary from kitchen to kitchen and person to person.
Our cooking time provided is merely a helpful hint.

The Supreme Plate Summertime Smoothie

The Supreme Summertime Smoothie -

Ingredients:

1 cup crushed Pineapple (juice included)

1 cup frozen Mango (if using fresh mango, ad ¼ cup)

1 Peach (washed, peeled, pitted and cut into quarters)

2 heaping scoops of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream (any brand you prefer)

¼ - ½ cup of Club Soda

a few dashes of Honey

1 Cinnamon stick

1 cup of Ice

Directions:

Place all the ingredients into the Vitamix blender, secure the lid and place a hand over the top.

Turn the blender to variable 1 and turn the machine on. Slowly increase the variable to 8, then 10 then high. If the motor sounds as if it stopping or getting caught up by the ice, reduce the speed and let the cubes get broken down or add a bit more Club Soda to smooth out the mixture.

Blend on high for about 45 seconds and pour into chilled Rocks Glasses.

Garnish w/ grated Cinnamon and place the remaining Cinnamon stick in the glass.

If the drink is still too tart for your liking, add a bit more Honey or your favorite sweetener

Enjoy!!!

Nectresse™, the Best Natural Sweetener Hands Down.

This post brought to you by NECTRESSE™Sweetener. All opinions are 100% mine.

This post brought to you by http://app.socialspark.com/disclosure_clicks?oid=8240767"rel="nofollow">NECTRESSE™Sweetener

. All opinions are 100% mine.
 

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Summer is a blessing and a curse for many people. Once the Summer Sun comes out to play, people begin to stress about having that poolside / beach perfect body ready to flaunt in front of their friends. The problem with that is, if Summer is here your already getting too late of a start. More often than not, what kills us is the time spent hibernating in the house or at work, eating and drinking the wrong things and stockpiling sugars and fats in our bodies like a bear awaiting Winter. Enter Nectresse™ Sweetener, an all natural sweetener made from deliciously healthy Monk Fruit extract, which packs Zero calories. Lisa Ling, known around the globe, for keeping people focused on the important issues at hand that plague the World, has even tried Nextresse™ and fell in love with it instantly.   “From the moment I tried http://app.socialspark.com/clicks?lid=22863&oid=8240767" rel="nofollow">NECTRESSE™Sweetener No Calorie Sweetener, I loved it. Not only is it all-natural and calorie free, it was incredibly delicious! Made with deliciously sweet Monk Fruit extract, Nectresse™ Sweetener tastes like sugar and satisfies my sweet tooth in a way that fits my healthy lifestyle and is yummy too. In fact I love it so much that I bring it with everywhere I go. If you look inside my carry-on, you would find packets of Nectresse™ Sweetener.” – Lisa Ling stated in a recent interview about products she enjoys in her private time. Made by the manufacturers of Splenda® Sweeteners, the key ingredient in this delicious alternative to Sugar is Monk Fruit, which has been growing quietly in the remote regions of Asia for hundreds of years. http://app.socialspark.com/clicks?lid=22865&oid=8240767"rel="nofollow">sweetener
The bottom line to it all is this: Nectresse™ Sweeteners (the only 100% Natural Sweetener) deliver a sweet taste, certain products just need to be consumed, without packing in all of the calories.  Growing up in the day and age of obesity & diabetes, many things need to be considered before even making a sweet treat. If you come from a family with a history of Diabetes, simple things many people take for granted are at the forefront of your mind (hopefully) when making your families meals. We do a tremendous amount of cooking for special diet needs clients and elderly couples that can no longer cook for themselves, but are not ready to live the rest of their lives dining on frozen dinners. In some instances these meals need to be prepared carefully in terms of salt, sugar and spice levels. http://app.socialspark.com/clicks?lid=22863&oid=8240767" rel="nofollow">NECTRESSE™Sweetener have enabled us to provide meals that are loaded with delicious natural flavors while being incredibly healthy. For instance, we recently made a few stacks of our Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes and instead of using normal granulated sugar, we used Nectresse™ Sweetener and no one noticed any difference in the resulting product.  Check out the recipe below for our classic Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes (a fan favorite on the site) and try it out using Nectresse™ Sweetener instead. Its good to the last bite and healthy for your insides, what more do you need to be told. Click the link for the entire recipe – The Supreme Plate – Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes. (recipe link will be included as well as photos of the product, here is the recipe for your review formatting and spacing will be corrected when uploaded to site.)
Ingredients
1 ½ cups strawberries, hulled and sliced
2 TBS seedless strawberry jam
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 ¼ cups buttermilk
1 large egg
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup granulated sugar (for a healthier lighter version, use Nectresse& trade; Sweetener)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch of Kosher salt
2 cups chopped frozen cheesecake
Cooking spray
Butter, confectioners' sugar or whipped cream, for topping (optional)


Directions:
Mix the strawberries, jam and 2 tablespoons warm water in a bowl; set aside. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
Pulse the flour, buttermilk, egg, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a blender until smooth.
Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cheesecake pieces, keeping them whole.

Coat a large nonstick skillet or griddle with cooking spray and heat over medium heat.
Working in batches, pour about 1/4 cup batter into the skillet for each pancake. Cook until bubbly on top, about 4 minutes, then flip and cook until the other side is golden brown, about 2 more minutes.

Transfer the finished pancakes to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven. Serve the pancakes topped with the strawberry sauce; top with butter, confectioners' sugar or whipped cream, if desired.

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Check out the video Lisa Ling is sharing with her fans and friends about her newfound love for Nectresse™ as well as check out their website for your own free sample. http://app.socialspark.com/clicks?lid=22867&oid=8240767"
 rel="nofollow">FREE sample of NECTRESSE™SweetenerTrust us when we say, this isn’t some product that hasn’t done its research trying to make a quick buck, they have a quality product that is really healthy, something we could all use in our lives. http://app.socialspark.com/clicks?lid=22863&oid=8240767" rel="nofollow">NECTRESSE™Sweetener  [tag_9835_placeholder]  http://app.socialspark.com/clicks?lid=22863&oid=8240767" rel="nofollow">NECTRESSE™Sweetener

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Recipe Of The Day: Shrimp & Cabbage Stir Fry

The warm weather is returning quickly here in Southern California and with that; pool-side hangouts, lots of libations and fresh seafood being served in abundance. 

For those of you out their in the World though who don’t have time for any of that fun nonsense, take a moment at the very least to treat yourself to a dish that pulls together quickly, tastes better than what you’ll find at the local corner spot and is Really Healthy.

Shrimp & Cabbage Stir Fry, is the type of dish one should master, simply to impress your guests and keep your repertoire up to par.

Enjoy!!!

(click Read More for the entire recipe) 

USDA Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Program

(Click image to enlarge)

	USDA Unveils the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Compass
	New Web Resource Maps USDA Support for Local and Regional Food Projects, Highlights Business Opportunities for Farmers, Ranchers and Growers
	WASHINGTON, Feb. 29, 2012- Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan unveiled the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food (KYF) Compass, an interactive web-based document and map highlighting USDA support for local and regional food projects and successful producer, business and community case studies. While hosting a live webinar to highlight USDA's work over the past three years, the Secretaries emphasized how local and regional food systems across the country create additional economic opportunities for farmers, ranchers and food entrepreneurs, expand healthy food access and meet growing customer demand. "USDA works every day to strengthen American agriculture, drive job growth and support farm-family income," said Vilsack. "The KYF Compass highlights how USDA support for local and regional food systems has brought additional opportunities to our country's farmers, ranchers, processors, distributors and food entrepreneurs. The stories and maps in the Compass underscore how diverse and innovative American agriculture can be." The KYF Compass is a digital guide to USDA resources related to local and regional food systems. The Compass consists of an interactive U.S. map showing local and regional food projects and anaccompanying narrative documenting the results of this work through case studies, photos and video content.

Escarole & Pancetta Salad

We got a few emails today asking for meals that truly took less than 15 minutes to make from start to finish. We understand how frustrating it is to work a long day for someone who we sometimes hate, only to sit in traffic for hours to get home and have to make dinner for either yourself or the family.

Sometimes simplicity is the key to sanity and in this instance, simple reigns Supreme.

This salad is a quick and easy meal that can be eaten by itself or alongside a steak, fish, chicken breast or even some warmed up leftovers from the lunch you couldn’t finish at work today (cause you way too busy slaving right though your lunch break right?)

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 TBS Diced Pancetta

2 TBS Olive Oil

4 Garlic Cloves (Smashed on a cutting board by a skillet)

! Head Chopped Escarole

Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Directions

Cook 3 TBS diced pancetta in a skillet over medium heat until crisp; remove and drain on paper towels.

Add 2 TBS olive oil and 4 smashed garlic cloves to the skillet; cook the garlic for about 1 - 2 minutes.

Add the chopped escarole and cook, tossing, until wilted, about 5 minutes.

Toss back in the Pancetta and season with Black Pepper.

Serve and Enjoy.

Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts w/ Bacon

Brussels Sprouts are something that for the life of me I could not make myself eat until I was a grown up. I could not wrap my head around any sort of fact that they were good for me or even worse, they might actually taste good. Well we all know the age of rule of thumb, if something doesn’t taste right naturally, fry it or Add Bacon. In this case we are going to choose the latter and roll with the punches.

Crispy bacon adds a great flavor as well as texture to Brussels Sprouts.

Serve them alongside a nice steak with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes or alongside some pan seared Halibut. Those of you who do, will thank me later.

Enjoy!

(click read more for the entire recipe)

Pear, Endive & Gorgonzola Salad

Growing up I was one of those kids that didn’t fade salads too much, if ever at all. Luckily I grew up outta that phase and learned that a good salad is the key to much more than staying regular and healthy. A properly put together Salad, creates the perfect balance when eating a meal, allowing the stomach to actually digest all that you are consuming at that moment.

Keeping things different and creative by knowing how to put a little twist on an old favorite allows you to spice up life and avoid falling into a boring routine. This Belgian Endive, Bosc Pear & Gorgonzola Salad is another one of those “must master” recipes that you will want to pull out on friends sometime at a party right before you serve your guests the Bone in Porter House Steaks & Grilled Lobster Tails.

Enjoy!

(click read more for the entire recipe)

Take A Walk On The Wild Side, With Cafe Well

Imagine this – a corporate wellness program called Race to the Moon, that aims to get members more fit and active by walking or running through offering free wireless pedometers, which tracks the steps of the user and rewards them for milestones and total steps. 

Talk about a program that actually would work as evidenced by the 50 Million steps counted by the pedometers in use, in just under 1 month. Here is basically what the participants are saying: “This race has opened my eyes to a second chance at life. This is where we turn things around, this is where we get off the couch and go outside to enjoy what Nature has to show us. In a day and age where every penny needs to be saved, and Gym memberships are quite pricey, I am happy to see something that inspires me to go outside and work out, which costs absolutely nothing at all.” A huge helping factor to the success of the program is that it is hosted by the social network, Café Well and sponsored by HealthAmerica, Race to the Moon represents a new breed of invigorating workout plans that are fun, cost effective, that actually work and most importantly rewarding to the user.

By leveraging the power and support of social networking with incentives and fun, statistics show that people are inclined to get up, go outside and workout. By going to Café Well, you can help promote wellness in not only yourself but your friends and loved ones. Race to the Moon represents a new way of thinking in regards to getting ones life back on track. Something we all could use. Anyone and everyone can join by checking out Café Well, so take the time to go on over to their site and show them some love. 

We even have been kicking the idea around about signing up and hosting our own interoffice walk-off to see who does the most steps in a short period of time. Who knows I may even feel generous and give the winner something fresh from the review vault, full of unseen products and gift certificates. Either which way it works out, walking, working out and eating healthy are 3 keys to a healthy long life. Café Well promotes that and much, much more by giving you advice on how to work out, where to work out and everything else you will need to help you get your body back into the shape you’d prefer it to be. 

Cafe Well

This post brought to you by Cafe Well.  All opinions are 100% mine.

Recipe Of The Day: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Sometimes simplifying things is all it takes to make life that much more enjoyable. A huge dinner consisting of 5 or more courses is a great thing to come home too, but after a long day at work, who has the time or desire to knock all that out on the regular? Think about it like this, after 12 months of eating whatever came your way, now is the perfect time to implement some salads and lighter based meals into your diet to help start off 2012 just right.

To be light on your feet is crucial these days. We are starting to see the effects hard living has had on many of our peers. With friends and loved ones passing away in their 30’s and 40’s from illnesses that are usually only seen in people well above 65, it is now more apparent than ever that we need to change the way we live. Stepping back to Look at how we eat, drink and exercise, this next year is going to be a busy one for The Supreme Plate. Starting with changing the scope of how we view ourselves as well as how we help maintain a positive lifestyle for our viewers is one of the most important goals of this site.

With all of that said, let us hit you with a delicious recipe for a Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad that takes little to no time to put together and is healthier than probably everything you consumed in 2011.

Enjoy!!!

(click "Red More" for the entire article)