Quarantine Eats
Thanks to COVID-19, we have been on “lockdown” for a while and it has just started lifting over the past month. Spending lots of time inside, left me plenty of time to cook. So….I want to share some of the recent things I have cooked and eaten!
Step 1…Wash Your Produce
Let’s start with something I have noticed growing in popularity, thanks to our friend COVID-19…washing your groceries. This is a practice I have been engaging in since I was little. I grew up in a household, where washing the greens was a whole hours long process lol. Since COVID, people have been more aware about the germs and dirt that is on their groceries. As most of my food is in the form of raw produce, it is imperative that I wash my food thoroughly. Now that we are in the midst of summer weather, farmers markets are once again popping up. While I encourage you to shop as direct from the farm as possible, I want to also remind you of how important it is to wash your produce. CLICK HERE to watch my quick video showing how I wash my produce and why this practice is so important!
After your food is all washed, you’re ready for prep and cooking. So now, let’s get to the good stuff….
veggie fried rice
Confession, I love rice and especially fried rice dishes. So when I found this frozen veggie fried rice at Trader Joe’s I was pretty excited to try it. It does have egg in it, so it is not vegan! I like to keep a couple bags of this in the freezer because it is so quick to cook and so delicious. If you haven’t given this a try, check the frozen aisles of your local TJ’s.
ramen :)
I’ve been practicing elevating my ramen! The hardest part for me is def the egg. Without meat, it is even more important to make sure that your seasonings are ON POINT! I use soy sauce, veggie broth, sesame oil, ginger garlic & curry powder. I’ve learned a few things: use stock instead of water, sesame is the best oil, add the noodles in last & if you can’t find miso paste - use curry. Veggies used are also a great source of flavor. I go with whatever I have on hand. This time was sundried tomatoes, greens & green onions. Keep in mind the longer the broth cooks, the better the flavor. Ramen is a great way to pack lots of flavors with little effort.
crabless cakes
You read that correctly folks, I tried crabless crab cakes lol. To be honest, they aren’t bad if you season them correctly. With that being said I would suggest seasoning them with like old bay and garlic salt before cooking. I made them crispy by spraying them with cooking spray before I cooked them in my air frier. If you’re looking to try something new, jackfruit crab cakes are a great option.
lemon pepper cauliflower
Roasted cauliflower has become a staple in my kitchen, mostly due to it’s perfect texture and ability to take on the flavor of anything you season it with. In this case, I had been craving lemon pepper wings but didn't really want the fried version. To compromise I made a roasted lemon pepper cauliflower and it was a great decision. I marinated the head with ghee (vegan, clarified butter) and lemon pepper seasoning. Super simple yet incredibly delicious.
Food Tip
One thing that I have found to be extremely helpful during this time has been freezing food in advance. Going to the store is extra annoying, plus being home I get tired of what I cook after about 2x. This is where freezing comes in! It’s really helpful to be able to reach into my freezer and grab ripe produce, instead of having to shop for it. Plus if you pre-season or pre-cook the food, you’re saving yourself even more time in the future. I noticed I was getting tired of my leftovers and starting to waste food. To stop this, I started freezing 1/3 - 1/2 of whatever I cook. Now, less leftover and less cooking in the future!
Sesame Stir Fry
Stir fry is a great option if you are short on time and/or cash. Places like TJ’s & Kroger’s offer great stir fry kits for reasonable prices. *pro tip: catch them on sale at kroger & freeze an extra. I cooked my stir fry in sesame oil & topped it with sesame seeds. Ready in under 10 mins!