Recipes - Measuring Cups, Optional

Skinny Banana Bread

categories: 500 Calories or Less, Breads, Posts, Recipes

It’s been more than four months since my last blog post. Well, my blog has really been put on the back burner because I’ve been juggling work, travel and trying to drop a few pounds (26 pounds to be exact). And with losing weight for me, comes a disinterest in food overall. Imagine! As much as I enjoy cooking for those I love, they’ve been starving while I’ve been keeping my calorie intake to a minimum. I can’t give cutting back on eating all the credit. Believe it or not, I started running — yes on a treadmill, and yes at a pace faster than speed #3. The treadmill terrified me until I got to know a spunky girl with a big heart and a whole lot of attitude that made running on the treadmill look like fun. For those who know me personally, I would have never have used the words “treadmill” and “fun” in the same sentence. That combined with her constant pushing me to go to the gym after work really paid off. Just because I’ve lost a few pounds, doesn’t mean I won’t be enjoying my fries and sweets. I’ll just have to get smart about consumption and quantity. (more…)

Skillet Almond Cake

categories: Desserts, Posts, Recipes

In general, I’m much better at making savory foods than I am sweets. But I occasionally get a wild hair and decide to try my luck at making sweets.

Cakes aren’t really my thing. Last year, I tried to bake a birthday cake and all went well until I started frosting it and started completely falling apart. Needless to say, it was a major fail and I ended up buying a cake and sticking a candle in it. But this Almond cake is fool-proof. (more…)

Kubbeh Bel Sineyeh

categories: Arabic Food Made Easy, Beef, Posts, Recipes

Arabic food is tough. It may partially be because I psych myself out before cooking. I know there’s rarely such thing as a 30-minute meal and so I reserve cooking it to the weekends – if that.

My parents have instituted a once a week rule. That is, I’m required to contribute to the weekly cooking at least once a week. In theory, it’s a brilliant idea! In practice, it’s a bit more tricky. Especially since the days I pick, usually don’t work for the family. This last weekend, I decided to reserve Sunday lunch. I refused to discuss the menu with my mom ahead of time so that I could surprise her with my Arabic cooking abilities. (more…)

Caprese Salad

categories: 500 Calories or Less, Posts, Recipes, Salads

The Italians know what they’re doing when it comes to food. For them, it isn’t about throwing together tons of ingredients. It’s about simplicity and flavor. That’s why I love Caprese Salad. It has the simplest ingredients and yet is packed with so much flavor. Be sure to choose only the freshest ingredients – I go for organic or veggies from Whole Foods. For Italians it’s also all about presentation. I’m all about presentation of food. It makes it so much more appetizing. (more…)

Mom’s Fruit Salad

categories: 500 Calories or Less, Desserts, Posts, Recipes, Salads

My mom makes an amazing fruit salad, and that’s because of her secret ingredients (namely the sauce). I’ve only made her fruit salad on two occasions. It’s not complicated but it packs in a lot more calories than you’d suspect. So don’t be fooled by the word “fruit.” Although I’ve measured out the amount of condensed milk and orange juice, you may have to adjust to your taste. I will warn you, however that you don’t need to add more than 1/2 tsp of orange blossom water. Too much will be flavor overload on your senses. (more…)

Bacon-Wrapped Sea Scallops

categories: 500 Calories or Less, Posts, Recipes, Seafood

Weeknight meals can get extremely boring, especially when you’re trying to whip things up really fast and trying not to eliminate your hunger by snacking during meal prep. That’s why I love these bacon wrapped scallops. They take way less time than 30 minutes, they’re packed with flavor, and super filling. (more…)