Foodie Friday: Thai Basil Tacos, Kale, & Proscuitto Asparagus

If you need more recipe ideas, look no further. Since my nutrition and personal training clients constantly beg for more ideas for healthy food in the kitchen, y'all too can benefit from my adventures as a healthy cook. Three recipes per week to inspire your culinary adventures. Sometimes I go by recipes. Other times I use recipes as inspiration. And some things come together from whatever's in the fridge. Recipes are linked to the original creator. Any alterations and tips to make it quicker are noted. Today's recipes are:

1. Thai Basil Beef Lettuce Wraps
2. Kale
3. Proscuitto Asparagus

 

1. Thai Basil Beef Lettuce Wraps

Prep time: 12 minutes / Cook time: 12 minutes I love this recipe from Sarah Fragoso at EverydayPaleo.com as they are a nice twist on the typical taco. ADJUSTMENTS: The only thing I'd change in this recipe are the red peppers. Chop them in 1/2 after thinly slicing for easier eating.  

2. Garlic Truffle Kale (no photo)

Prep time: 5 minutes / Cook time: 5 minutes Spice up your kale life with garlic, bone broth if you have it, and some truffle oil. I'm loving truffle oil these days because it can completely transform the same-old, same-old into a completely new dish. Ingredients: 1-2 bunches lactino kale, washed and chopped 4 cloves garlic, smashed and minced 1/2 c. bone broth or chicken stock (optional) 2 Tbsp. truffle oil salt and pepper   Using what's in the fridge is deeply satisfying in ways hard to explain, but here's what happened. I'd chopped several cloves of garlic for a couple of dishes that I either did not make or forgot to add the garlic. What's a girl to do? Quick and dirty braise some kale in bone broth, of course.

Braising is a technique used to sear meat or vegetables at a higher temperature and then lowering the temp to finish in its own or added juices.

My quick and dirty braising flipped this technique a bit by adding 2/3 cup of broth, kale and garlic together in a pot over medium heat, covered. After 4 minutes, remove the lid and turn the temp up so that the kale can finish at a higher temp for 2 more minutes. Salt & pepper as desired. Finish by drizzling truffle oil on top and serving immediately.  

3. Broiled Proscuitto-Wrapped Asparagus

Prep time: 15 minutes / Cook time: 5-6 minutes I LOVE NomNomPaleo and all of her delicious eats. I chose this recipe because it looked quick, but I soon discovered how labor intensive individually wrapping asparagus can be. Although it definitely wasn't as quick as I'd hoped, the result was worth it. ADJUSTMENTS:

• I used one bunch of asparagus and two packages of proscruitto
• Cut the proscuitto in 1/2 to make them go further. An extra package would have covered the entire bunch, instead of 2/3.
• Instead of a high broiler setting, I used medium, which worked just as well.
• I also used olive oil instead of ghee since I was out.

  ************* One simple adjustment, addition, or subtraction to your normal menu is usually all it takes to completely change the flavor, and thus your long-term buy in. Today's recipes are all upgraded versions of the old faves - tacos, kale, and asparagus. How can you apply this to your food?   I challenge you to add or subtract one thing from your normal eats this weekend. In the comments below, share your one thing and the results. I can't wait to read them.   

Life tastes better with butter,