The Second Hike

It was busy for the past two days. I cooked for only one day. Family and I had din din from outside. It wasn't my first preference, but between cooking and just eating the food in front of me, I choose the latter. The following is for the day that I did cook. (I choose to remain silent about the the day that i gave in.  :P)


BREAKFAST

• Cereal + Skim milk. 
• Vegetable juice (made by my lovely dad  <3)

LUNCH

• Roasted Vegetables

Ingredients:

1. Carrots (2 medium, cut into bite-size)
2. Onion (1/2 medium, cut lengthwise)
3. Tomato  (1 medium tomato)
4. Olive Oil
5. Oregano
6. Garlic Powder
7. Pepper
8. Salt to taste

Method:

Wash and cut all the vegetables.

Mix the ingredients 4-8. I usually mix them first so that there is an even mixture and each vegetable gets all the condiments.

  Mix all the ingredients and place in a baking tray. Bake at 450F for 20mins or more. I usually eyeball it :)

After baking:

• Mutter (green pea) curry

Ingredients:

1.   Peas  (1 cup)
2. Cumin seeds (1/2 tsp)
3. Oil (2 tsp)
4. Garlic (small, 2-3 cloves)
5. Onion (1 medium, ground)
6. Tomato (1 medium, ground
7. Water (~1 cup, or more)
8. Turmeric powder (1/2 tsp)
9. Chili powder (1/2 tsp)
10. Cumin powder (1 tsp)
11. Salt 

Method:

Wash and prepare all the vegetables

Process the tomato and onion separately in a food processor until its fine

Then heat oil. When hot add the cumin seeds and garlic

When the seed start to sputter, add in the processed onion

Cook for some time in medium heat, until the mixture dehydrates and looks something like this:

If things start to burn, just add a little water to retain the moisture and cook in a lower heat setting. Next, add the processed tomato

 Smells amazing! Keep stirring occasionally until the mixture dehydrates.

 Next add half cup of water. After a few minutes add the ingredients (8-11). Cook for 5 mins.

Then add rest of the water and the peas. Bring to a boil and its done.

Packaged and ready to go!

• Basmati Rice

Everything packaged

• Not to forget! For dessert fresh cut apple

Happy stomach = Happy day :)

The beginning

First post for this blog!

 I’m pretty excited to start writing about my adventures (small and big) with food. For now my main aim is to get into a better shape, therefore most of the posts would be yummy home cooked meals.

I live with my parents, but I decided to cook simple food just for myself everyday (well mostly) that will fit best with my diet regimen. 

The recipes come mostly from what I learnt from mom and various recipes that I have come across online.

The following are the goals that I have set for myself:

1. Eat healthy (home cooked) meals and in between snacks
2. Have at least two cups of green tea
3. Have lots of water
4. Weigh myself weekly and document it.
5. Splurge for one day with whatever I like, for every 5Kgs (~11lbs) lost!
6. Work out, take care of body (good manicures/pedicures//etc) and mind (spiritual, intellectual)

So for today the following is what I had:

BREAKFAST

•  Cereal + low fat milk

SNACK

•   Two cups of Jasmine Green Tea  (mmmm  :) )

 LUNCH & DINNER

• Salad

Ingredients:

>lettuce (1cup, diced, bitesize)

>carrots (1/2 cup, cut into desired size)

>cucumber (1/4cup, cut into desired size)

>dressing: crunchy peanut butter (2tbsp), chili-garlic paste (1tbsp), rice wine vinegar (1.5tbsp), soy-sauce(1tbsp), sugar(1tsp)

Method:

Cut the first three ingredients into bite size pieces.

 Mix the dressing ingredients with a whisk. Pour the dressing into a small container

(please excuse my foot underneath the table...lol...I'm still getting used to taking pictures of food)

 

Pack the salad and the dressing together.

 

•  Rice (1/2 cup, cooked)

•  Tofu with carrots and onions

Ingredients:

1.       Tofu (~1/2 cup, cut bite size)

2.       Onion (~1/2 cup, cut longitudinally)

3.       Carrots (1/4 cup, sliced as desired)

4.       Soy sauce (2tbsp)

5.       Hoisin sauce (1tbsp)

6.       Honey (1tbsp)

7.       Rice vinegar (1tbsp)

8.       Sesame oil (1tsp)

9.       Cayenne pepper (1/2 tsp)

Method:

Mix ingredients 4-9 together, then combine with the rest of the ingredients

On a pan, heat some oil. 

Add in the mixture. Cook until the carrots are soft. If you like your tofu to be more firm and crispy, fry the tofu separate from the vegetables. And then mix both after they are cooked.

And after cooking for 15-20 minutes on medium-high heat:

Im pretty excited the for first day. I cooked and  bogged yay!

I decided to start with simple recipes so that it is not too tiring and dont cause me to run away from the resolution. For a college student with a part time job, i think this is a pretty good start. Hopefully later my food journey goes on to a more adventuorous side.

Also I will document the count down to my weight loss this week on.

Week 1 weight loss: 0 kgs (0 lbs)