GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER?

     A couple years ago, my sister was the victim of a corporate re-organization.  In other words, her employer had to cut costs and determined that eliminating an entire department was the best way to do that.  Since then, it has been a struggle for her to land back on her feet and find a job that matched the position and salary she once had.  During this season of soul searching and re-evaluating her future, my sister developed a desire to be a business owner.    Having a background in business, I decided to have an informal meeting with my sister and her business partner, Naomi, to review their business plan.  Everyone knows, the best business decisions are made either on the golf course or at the dinner table.  Considering I have never played golf, I decided to invite them to dinner. 

     I quickly started to plan the dinner and theme.  I came up with a rich meal and decadent dessert and spirited cocktails:  Metropolitan Chic.  Then, my sister called; her friend was bringing her two teen boys to entertain my nephew.  There goes my metro dinner.  With a few changes, I came up with a hearty Italian entrée with a fun classic dessert:  Buon Appetito!  Before I could complete my shopping list, the phone rang again. “Oh, I forgot to mention, Naomi is diabetic.”  WHAT?  Now I was stumped.  I had to prepare a family style menu that was diabetic friendly as well as teen friendly.  Oh dear…

Diabetes is a disease in which the body produces too much insulin causing high levels of glucose in the blood.  The foods a diabetic should stay away from are starchy carbohydrates like pasta, potatoes and white rice.  Because of the sugar content, most desserts are also on the forbidden list of foods to eat.   I wanted to create a healthy and tasty dish that was also lighthearted and fun.  The winning theme: Soul Food.    

·         Oven-Fried Chicken-

o   Fried chicken is always a favorite but not always the best thing for you.  This recipe for oven fried chicken maintains the flavor and crispiness of fried chicken, but healthier.  

·         Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

o   Instead of mashed potatoes, this recipe uses cauliflower in a way that you would think you were eating potatoes.  Cauliflower is a staple in the diabetic menus.  It is a great alternative to potatoes. 

·         Healthy Collard Greens

o   Leafy vegetables in general are very nutritious but collard greens have are known to help prevent and possibly reverse diabetes.  Full of vitamins A, C and K, collard greens help in lowering cholesterol, boosting the immune system, and maintaining healthy bones.

·         No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

o   This recipe for cheesecake uses very little added sugar and relies on the natural sweetness of the ingredients.  Combined all together, you get a delicious dessert that fits within the restrictions. 

I have a feeling there will be very little business talk happening when this dinner comes together later this week.   Try one or all of these recipes and let me know how it turns out! 

Mending Maria

Oven Fried Chicken

Ingredients

1 1/3 cups rice-corn crispy cereal, (recommended: Crispex)
2 1/4 cups broken bagel chips or melba toast
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup light mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
4 bone-in, skinless chicken pieces (about 6 ounces each)

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Set a rack on a foil lined baking sheet. Spray the rack generously with cooking spray.  

Finely grind the cereal and toasts together in a food processor. Transfer crumbs to a large gallon size plastic bag. Add the oil, salt, cayenne, paprika, and ground pepper and toss to mix thoroughly. Whisk the light mayonnaise and Dijon mustard together in a medium shallow bowl. Add chicken to mayonnaise and turn to coat all the pieces evenly. Drop the chicken into the plastic bag, seal and shake until each piece is evenly coated. Place coated pieces on the prepared rack. Spray the chicken pieces evenly with cooking spray, and bake until the coating crisps and browns and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the pieces registers 160 degrees F, 35 to 40 minutes.  Transfer to a platter and serve hot or at room temperature.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/oven-fried-chicken-recipe.html

Roasted Garlic Mashed Cauliflower

Ingredients

1 large head cauliflower

2 bulbs roasted garlic

olive oil

1/3 cup Silk unsweetened almond milk

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions

Slice off top of garlic bulb so that the inner cloves are exposed.  Drizzle with olive oil.  Wrap in foil and roast at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes; set aside to cool.

Wash and cut cauliflower into medium chunks, removing all leaves and green parts.

Place cauliflower in large saucepan; cover with water and bring to a boil. Place lid on saucepan and boil for 8 minutes.  Drain Cauliflower and pat dry with paper towel.

Place cauliflower, Silk almond milk, salt, and pepper in bowl of large food processor.

Add roasted garlic. Process until cauliflower is a smooth puree, close to the texture of mashed potatoes. Serve immediately or place in refrigerator to serve later.

To reheat, bake in oven at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

 http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2013/11/13/roasted-garlic-mashed-cauliflower/#UoBCWeGVfhogLYzg.32

Healthy Collard Greens

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 large white onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 smoked turkey wings or legs or 1 tablespoon liquid smoke (vegetarian/vegan option) or 2 whole

dried chipotle chiles or ancho chiles (and omit the chili flakes or cayenne later)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 cups chicken stock or vegetable stock, low sodium preferred

1 tablespoon cider vinegar (optional)

2 bunches (about 2 pounds) fresh collard greens

Directions

Prepare the collard greens by first removing the stems. Pull them off by hand or cut them out with a knife.  Wash the leaves in a very large bowl of water or clean sink filled with water, allowing the soot from the greens to sink to the bottom of the container. Repeat by cleaning the container, and re-submerging in clean water. To test a leaf for no grit, simply bite into one. Never dump the leaves into a strainer with the water, or the leaves will get dirty.

Stack the leaves and cut across into about 1- inch sized ribbons. In a large pot over medium high heat, add oil and onions. Saute onions for 5 minutes over medium high heat until softened and translucent. Add the garlic and saute quickly for an additional 30 seconds or so,

just until golden and fragrant. Add the turkey wings, the stock, the greens, and the salt and pepper and bring just to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low. Cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, until the greens are tender.

Remove the smoked turkey wings(if used) from the liquid. Remove the skin and bones from the turkey wing and tear the meat into bite-sized pieces. Remove the chilies and discard. Add the turkey meat back to the liquid. Stir the vinegar into the greens, if using, just prior to serving or serve on the side, to be sprinkled in as a condiment.

http://skinnyms.com/healthy-collard-greens/

No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients

1 recipe Graham Cracker Crust (see recipe below)

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

1/4 cup water

1 1/2 8 - ounce tub light cream cheese

1 15 - ounce can pumpkin

2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute* equivalent to 2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 of an 8-ounce container frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed

Frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed (optional)

Ground cinnamon, chopped pecans, and/or pomegranate seeds** (optional)

Directions

Prepare Graham Cracker Crust; set aside. In a small saucepan, stir together gelatin and the water; let stand for 5 minutes to soften. Cook and stir over low heat until gelatin dissolves; set aside to cool slightly.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add pumpkin, sugar, the 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and the gelatin mixture; beat until well mixed. Fold in the three-quarters container of dessert topping. Spread mixture into crust in springform pan. Cover and refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours or until set.

Using a thin metal spatula or table knife, loosen the cheesecake from the side of the springform pan. If desired, use a wide spatula to remove cheesecake from bottom of pan and place on a serving plate. Cut into wedges to serve. If desired, top with additional whipped topping. If desired, garnish with additional cinnamon, chopped pecans, and/or pomegranate seeds.

Graham Cracker Crust  

Ingredients

3/4 cup finely crushed graham crackers

3 tablespoons canola oil 

2 tablespoons sugar or sugar substitute equivalent to 2 tablespoons sugar.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, combine crushed graham crackers, canola oil, and sugar. Mix well. Spread evenly in bottom of an 8- or 9-inch springform pan; press firmly onto bottom. Bake for 5 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.

http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/recipe/cheesecake/no-bake-pumpkin-cheesecake/

WHERE IS THE LOVE?

Crisis in the Middle East.  Domestic violence.  Racial tension.  These are just a few of the headlines that maximize the news media these days.  So much negativity around the world  that the mere thought of it all brings about a heaviness that is depressing.   I notice more people on edge and angry.  More people are more anxious and depressed.  This can't be life as we know it, can it?  

Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world".  This quote resonates with me.  I may not be able to solve the world's problems single-handedly, but I can be the person to show love and do my part to make a difference in someone's life.  Suddenly, the idea of random acts of kindness came to me.  A random act of kindness is defined as a selfless act performed by a person wishing to assist or cheer up another person.  Imagine if everyone was intentional about being kind and showing some love?  

For the month of October, Mending Maria is hosting a challenge: 31 Days of R.A.K.  Every day in October, make an effort to perform one random act of kindness to at least one person.  To make this more fun and engage more people, I have decided to add a giveaway!  You can earn a chance to win a $25 Starbucks gift card every time you tweet your daily RAK. Use the hashtag #31daysofRAK and you will earn one entry to the giveaway. You can also earn a chance when you follow @MendingMaria on Twitter and subscribe to the Mending Maria Mondays blog.  

My goal for the month of October is to purposely seek out ways to make someone smile.  Despite all of the negativity on the news and the life challenges we face daily, we can still be a light in a dark place and share the love.  My teen nephew gave me his Top 10 list of what we can do during 31 Days of R.A.K.

1. Pay for someone's gas 
2. Let someone go in front of you in line 
3. Give away your parking spot
4. Mow your neighbor's lawn
5. Pay the toll for the person behind you
6. Buy a homeless person a meal
7. Help change a tire
8. Donate books to the library
9. Write someone a thank you note
10. Volunteer at a charity

There are thousands of other random acts of kindness you can perform.  Take these few days before October to come up with your list of how you can brighten someone's day.  Every day I will tweet a different R.A.K  to give you more ideas of what you can do.  Together we can be the change we want to see in this world.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Mending Maria

SHAKE YOUR TAIL FEATHERS

Animals fascinate me.  Although they don’t speak or have intelligence like humans, they are very interesting in their own way.  They just fascinate me!  For example, did you know that when an ant crosses paths with another ant, they bow their heads to greet each other?  Or that unborn chicks communicate with each other in the shell before they hatch?  Did you know that when a male Gentoo penguin finds their mate, he proposes by bringing her a pebble?  How cute is that?  I love reading these interesting facts about animals and their social behavior.  So, it wasn't a surprise, when I came across a National Geographic special about peacocks I had to watch it.

In my opinion, peacocks are one of the most beautiful animals.  Their colors are so rich and vivid, you can’t help but stare.  I remember the first time I saw a peacock with its feathers on display; I was amazed at her beauty.  CORRECTION: his beauty.  I always thought the peacocks with the full feathers were the females, but in fact they are the males!  What amazed me even more was that the male peacocks would fan their feathers and shake them to get the females attention and impress them.  What a concept:  a man impressing a woman.  Somewhere, somehow, women got it all wrong.

It is predicted that by the year 2017, the global beauty market will be a 265 billion dollar industry primarily because of women.  Between enhancing their features with cosmetics and highlighting their coif with hair dyes or extensions, women are always transforming their look.  Why?  To impress.   I admit it; I am one of those women.  When I watched this documentary on peacocks, I thought, that’s me there!   When I think about what I, and millions of women around the world go through, it’s quite comical.

Imagine this:  It’s 4pm and I have to get ready for a social event starting at 7pm.  I have to:

•          Shower with body scrubs and shower gels that make your skin soft
•          Wash, blow dry, and flat iron my hair
•          Touch up my nails with a mini manicure and pedicure
•          Apply moisturizing lotion on my body to keep that smooth
•          Give myself a mini facial with my skincare line that I ordered from my pink Caddy driving consultant (love her!).
•          Apply my make up (foundation, powder, highlight/contour, mascara, eye shadow, eye liner, lip liner, and lipstick. 
•          Put on my stunning outfit that I most likely need to wear Spanks underneath to hide the “imperfections”
•          Put on my ridiculously expensive shoes with the high heel that after 15 minutes feel like torture (but they’re so fabulous!)
•          And dab of parfum for that feminine scent in a bottle by a designer with a European name I can barely pronounce.

By the time I am finished with everything, I barely have time to make it before the first course begins.   Men on the other hand are ready within 15 minutes and make it to the event before the appetizers are served.

Now, I’m not saying that men have to take more time in preparing themselves to impress women.  On the contrary, women should do a little less on the surface to impress men.  Although I feel that I am comfortable in my own skin, I can’t help but wonder why statistics show that only 4% of women around the world consider themselves beautiful.  Hmmm…

I think the male peacocks have the right idea.  They utilize their natural beauty and charm to dazzle the female until she shows interest. Maybe women should give men a chance to do the same.  Maybe we shouldn’t put so much effort in to “enhancing” ourselves and let the man impress us with who he is naturally. 

What do you think?    

Mending Maria

The Anchor

A friend of mine told me about a story he saw on a sports news show the other day.  It was an update on a tragic event that happened to four athletes years ago in Florida.  As he told me about the story I kept thinking he was describing a blockbuster movie.  Surely this couldn't have happened in real life.  
In 2009 four men set out on a fishing trip in Tampa, Florida.  After a couple of hours at sea, they encountered a problem with the anchor on the fishing boat.  A couple of weeks before the trip, the owner of the boat had the same problem with the anchor and he cut the rope and purchased another $200 anchor.  This time, the owner decided he didn't want to cut the rope and lose another anchor.  In an effort to fix the anchor, the boat flipped over. Within a span of 43 hours, three of the men died leaving one for the rescuers to find.  One of the reporters said what was on my mind from the beginning:

Why didn't they just cut the rope from the anchor?

This question started a deep discussion between my friend and I.  How could something that, on a larger scale, seem so insignificant, yet be important enough to lose a life?  Three lives?  

In hindsight, haven’t we all had something in our lives that we weren't willing to let go that later proved to be deadly?  If we take a deeper look in to our lives, we may find situations where the only way to survive is to cut the rope.  Which one of these anchors do you identify with?

• A toxic relationship that you have become so comfortable with, you can’t seem to end it
• Staying at a dead end job instead of exploring opportunities to utilize your true talents
• Holding on to un-forgiveness for that person that hurt you years ago.
• A negative habit that you would rather continue, than stop to improve your quality of life.
• Fear that keeps you from going after your dreams

    

      These are just a few examples of circumstances that have a negative effect in our lives when we hold on to them.  What constantly gets overlooked is that our decisions not only affect us, but they affect those around us.  In the situation with men on the boat, three out of the four lost their lives, but they left behind mothers, wives, sons, daughters, and friends.  Not only did they have to live with the consequences of their decisions, but so do their loved ones. 

    

      I know a woman that worked her government job for many years with empty promises of a promotion.  Although over the years her growing experience and education made her overqualified for the position she held, she never advanced.  She was uncomfortably comfortable in her situation, but too afraid to seek better employment.  Eventually, after budget cuts and a decade of service, she was laid off.  The anchors she held on to cost her a career, caused her financial instability, and lead her down a road of self-esteem.  

      

     What are the anchors you hold on to?  In the bigger picture, is it really worth losing a piece of yourself over?  Sometimes you have to just cut the rope and sail on.  

   Mending Maria


  

Happy Labor Day!

Several years ago, I was invited to a house warming party in the suburbs.  The couple had the party catered by a company that specialized in Southern cooking and the food was delicious!  Ever since that party I have tried to duplicate the bbq ribs that were served at the party to satisfy my longing taste buds.  Finally, I found a recipe that not only reminded me of those flavors, but tastes even better!

This Labor Day, as we unofficially close out the summer, I am making the Neely's Sweet Cola Barbecue Ribs!  This recipe is reminiscent of Carolina style ribs.  The secret to the fall off the bone ribs is removing the membrane before seasoning.  Of course the spotlight goes to the sweet cola sauce.  As my nephew says, it's all about the sauce! 

Hopefully you'll enjoy this recipe as much as I do.  Thanks Neelys!

   

Ingredients:

Sweet Cola Barbecue Sauce:

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

2 cups ketchup

1 can cola

½ cup apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp brown sugar

½ tbsp fresh ground black pepper

½ tbsp onion powder

½ tbsp ground mustard

½ tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Dry Rub:

2 tbsp salt

2 tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp onion powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp black pepper

2 racks pork spare ribs (about 3 lbs each)

Directions

For the dry rub:

Whisk all dry ingredients together in a small bowl.  This can be stored up to 6 months in an airtight container.

For the ribs:

Rinse and dry ribs.  Place on a clean cutting board, pull off the membrane and trim the ribs of excess fat.  Liberally season both sides of the ribs with rub.  Wrap ribs with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4-12 hours so flavors can permeate.

Preheat grill to 250 degrees F. using hickory and charcoal.  Set up your grill for indirect heat.  Place ribs, meatier side down, on the grill away from the coals.  Close grill cover.  Cook the pork ribs for 1 hour 15 minutes; flipping several times for even cook.   *Coat ribs with Sweet Cola Barbecue Sauce and cook for another 20 minutes.

*Reserve some of the sauce for dipping when the ribs are served. 

Read more at:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/patrick-and-gina-neely/sweet-cola-ribs-recipe.html#lightbox-recipe-video