Let's think Healthy

The New Year is now 11 days old. How are the resolutions holding out? I suppose all the usual resolutions have been made. Stop smoking, lose weight, do more exercise, be a nicer person. Well I suppose someone besides Scrooge will make that one. Wonder if there any original resolutions left. Anyone thought of a new one.

I feel the word revolution would be more apt. That’s what I need, personnel revolution.

To help anyone and myself who need a “Personnel Revolution” I’ll be posting some healthy recipes I have used in the past.

I’ll even add a few fitness tips. I’m actually quite knowledgeable about fitness. It’s more do as I say not as I do though. I used to be an obsessive runner. I do mean obsessive. One training aim was to run 100 miles (120kms) a week. That was tough, eat, drink, run and sleep.

Here’s my first healthy filling recipe. This is meant to be a vegetarian dish but on occasions I would add chicken or prawns or even both.

If I add prawns I would either cook them in their shells.  Or take out of the shells and make a prawn stock by boiling the shells for about 5 minutes.

This works well for any dish you are making with prawns and need a stock.

CASHEW NUT PAELLA.

Ingredients.

2 tablespoons of oil, type of your choice, Olive oil probably best.

1 onion peeled and finely chopped

1 or 2 cloves of garlic crushed or chopped finely.

4oz (110g) long-grain brown rice. 

Of course you could get proper paella rice but Brown rice is probably better for you.

3oz (75g) cashew nut pieces. If you only have whole nuts wrap them in a cloth and bash’m with your rolling pin or saucepan. You can leave them whole.

½ to 1 tsp paprika, depends how spicy you like it.

10 or so fesh basil leaves, or

A tsp of dried basil

A red or green pepper, or both, de-seeded and cut into strips.

4-6 sticks of celery. Cut length ways then sliced into pieces.

1 pint boiling water, you may need to add a little more.

Glass or two of white wine, one to drink.

14oz tin of diced tomatoes (in juice)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper.

You can add other vegetables of your choice, such as tomatoes, leeks, courgettes, mushrooms or what ever takes your fancy.

For a garnish you can have black and green olives, slices of hard boiled egg, lemon wedges.

The Method

Heat the oil in your wok or large frying pan and fry the onions and garlic for a few minutes, till the garlic starts to brown and the onions start to become translucent. Add the rice along with the cashew nuts, paprika and dried basil and cook for a few minutes, turning the mixture over well so that the rice and nuts are slightly roasted. Add the celery and peppers and any other choice of vegetables. Mix in well.

Be careful how you time putting in other vegetables, some need less or more time to cook. It’s not a dish you want over cooked vegetables. Nothing worse than soggy broccoli.

Pour in the boiling water bring to the boil cook for a few minutes to absorb a little into the rice. Add the tomatoes and the wine simmered uncovered for 35-40 minutes.

If you used fresh basil, stir it in now.

Season to taste going easy on the salt.

The liquid level may need checking towards the end of the cooking, but most of the liquid should cooked away leaving a moist mixture with a rich tomatoey colour.

Serve and garnish to your liking. Happy eating.

You can serve with a green salad and fresh crusty bread.

I’m a real carnivore when it comes to eating but this dish will satisfy most dedicated carnivores