The Easiest Way To Make Pomegranate Juice

OK, maybe the easiest way to make pomegranate juice is going to the store and buy some, I’ll concede that.
But oh, it is pricey. A little 16 ounces bottle goes for over $4, easily. That’s a LOT of money.
So if you find pomegranates when they’re in season (and maybe on sale), you can make your own juice at a reasonable cost. It’s easy, quick and tastes so much better than store bought —
you have no idea how much better it actually tastes.

Easy Garlic Butter Roasted Mushrooms

Let’s keep things delicious, people.
Because it’s Wednesday and that means you (and I) need some yummy to get through the rest of the week.
Personally, I hate Wednesdays because, well...they’re not Fridays (and the only cool day of the week is Friday).
On top of that, today the weather is gloomy and we’re expecting snow (again!)
That isn't helping either, considering that I should go on a 2 hours bike workout.
And if I can’t ride outside, I need to train on the indoor bike trainer — which makes me feel like I’m a hamster on the wheel. Pedaling like crazy for 2 hours and not moving an inch...so many things are wrong with it.

Orange Thyme Pork Kebabs

Nothing makes me hungry like swimming does.
After completing my laps I get so ravenous, I could eat everything in sight. More so than after the other vigorous cardio workouts I routinely do for triathlons (i.e., running and biking).

Cauliflower Crust Hot Pockets

Guys, this recipe is phenomenal. Truly, madly, deeply phenomenal.
But let’s start from the beginning.
Let’s start from Hot Pockets.
For those of you unfamiliar with Hot Pockets, they’re wildly popular microwaveable turnovers, made of dough and stuffed with a LOT of cheese, meat, and/or vegetables.
They probably are the quintessential microwaveable food.
I actually can’t think of any other food that screams “microwave food” as much as Hot Pockets do.
Grab one from the freezer, remove the wrapper, pop it in the microwave, nuke it for 2 minutes, and voila’ a steamy Hot Pocket ready to be devoured.

Easy Soy-Ginger Chicken (Low Carb & Gluten-Free)

Funny things happen while you run 13.1 miles on a lazy, freezing, dark February Tuesday evening.
Such as bumping into your high school math teacher; darting to avoid collision with double-wide stroller driven by a firm-handed mom down the sidewalk; seeing a Doberman wearing a pink tutu [and - just for the record - why forcing your dog to wear uncomfortable costumes, people? Is there really a need for this?]; AND craving Chinese food at around mile 10.

Vanilla & Honey Avocado Pudding

This pudding is the result of me being lazy or better yet, of me been completely swept away by the Olympics.
Like everyone else, Saturday morning I was glued to my TV watching US hockey team win over Russia. An amazing game decided in the shootout. [For the record: T.J. Oshie you've just made it onto my list of heroes!]
It was breakfast time and I wanted this chia chocolate mousse. But as I was about to start making it, I discovered I had no cocoa. I had hot chocolate powder, real dark chocolate, cocoa nibs, but no cocoa. A total impasse.
And leaving the apartment...let me rephrase that...leaving the TV, and that awesome Hockey game, to get cocoa? Not gonna happen.
So I went with what I had on hand and that was avocado, honey, vanilla, almond milk and chia seeds.

Cheesy Baked Spinach

When I was 6 I used to carry a can of spinach around my back pocket, mimicking Popeye.
I would even borrow one of my grandpa's pipes, pretending to gobble spinach through it (sometimes even pretending to suck in the can itself along with the contents) and acting afterwards as if I had become super-strong, flexing my biceps and all.
Then I would set off for great adventures with Bruto, Olive Oyl, baby Swee’pea and stowaway Wimp (all impersonated by my sisters’ old dolls).
Ah, those were the good times...

Chinese Chicken and Broccoli (Low Carb & Gluten-Free)

Grilled chicken breast and steamed broccoli is one of the staple meals of sportsmens (especially weightlifters). I once even met a dude at the gym who told me he was sick of preparing different meals and was seriously considering just eating that for every meal.
I mean, chicken and broccoli is an easy and quick meal to prepare, it’s also pretty healthy and tastes okay; but twice a day, every single day? Let say it out loud: BLAH!
On top of that, how boring can it get to eat the same thing over and over again?

Bruschetta Quinoa Casserole

There’s something about bruschetta that makes my taste buds do a happy dance in my mouth.
I think it’s the combo of fresh tomatoes, basil, oregano, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and cheese served on toasted bread rubbed with garlic that works the magic.
Bruschetta is garlicky, very garlicky. It’s actually loaded garlic, and has it must be so.
No garlic? No Bruschetta -> no party!
However this garlic thing has a drawback, and that is garlic breath.
That's why when serving bruschetta, everybody has to eat it; so there aren’t complaints later about it.
Needless to say it, this obligation applies in particular to couples. Because let's face it, garlic breath kissing is just gross.

Svetlana's Russian Salad

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The 2014 Winter Olympic Games begin today in Sochi, Russia. Athletes from all over the world come together and will compete in a variety of events. I LOVE the Winter Games. I mean, where else you get to watch sports like speed skating, short-track, freestyle ski or curling?
Yes, curling - one of the least understood and lower profile sports ever.
To me curling is nothing more that a mixture of shuffleboard and bocce on ice.
I honestly can't see where any athletic ability comes into play during curling. Throwing a stone and sweeping the ice is not like doing a crippler trick with the snowboard. However, there are some very sophisticated tactics - not to mention abilities - involved in the game of curling, that's why I enjoy watching it during the Winter Games. I have an uncanny sweeping ability, and I feel that someday, when I'm old and not able to compete in triathlons anymore, I could be a pretty decent curler, provided that I learn the tricks.
Anyways, to celebrate the beginning of the Olympic Games, today I’m making a classic Russian dish: Olivier salad, also known as Russian salad.
A salad usually made with diced boiled veggies, hard boiled egg and dressed with mayo.
But wait, this is not A recipe for Russian salad, this is my friend Svetlana’s recipe for Russian salad; and it's special.
Who’s Svetlana, you ask?
Let me do the introductions then; people, this is my friend Svet: