Asian Ribs Are the Hit of the Weekend BBQ!

The Fourth of July weekend is the traditional time to barbecue outside, gather with some friends or family to enjoy all that summer has to offer. While regular ribs usually are slathered in bbq sauce full of high fructose corn syrup, these spicy ribs have an Asian twist you’ll love.

Happy SUMMER!


The Fourth of July weekend is of course, the traditional time to barbecue outside, gather with some friends or family and get outside to enjoy all that summer has to offer.

While regular ribs usually are slathered in a sweet sauce full of high fructose corn syrup, these spicy ribs use a Korean marinade followed by slow cooking on the grill to produce some mouth watering tender ribs with yummy Asian twist. This one is sure to please everyone!

Ingredients
1 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup raw honey
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup sesame oil
juice of 1 fresh lime
5-6 big cloves minced garlic
2-4 large green onions, chopped
1/2 to 1 tsp of red pepper flakes
5 lbs Korean-style short ribs* or any type ribs
Combine marinade ingredients in medium bowl; whisk to blend well. Pour into heavy jumbo resealable plastic bag. Add ribs; seal bag. Turn bag over several times to coat ribs evenly. Refrigerate overnight, turning bag occasionally.

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Drain ribs; discard marinade. Grill ribs over medium low heat, until browned and tender, about 5 minutes per side (if using Korean style rib cut). If using regular pork ribs, grill over indirect medium low heat, turning often, about 45 minutes to an hour.

Serve with marinated cucumber salad.

*beef chuck flanken, cut 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick across bones; about 20 pieces*

Marinated Cucumber Salad

This salad is a refreshingly cool and tasty way to enjoy cucumbers. Smaller locally grown cucumbers work, or try the European or Persian style cucumbers that are appearing in stores. These have a more tender skin that is fine to leave on, especially if you can find the organic cucumbers. Make ahead of time to marinate. You can make a day or so ahead and let it soak up the flavors of the marinade.

2 large cucumbers, sliced thinly, with or without skin
1 large sweet onion sliced roughly
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp or so of honey
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil
handful fresh basil, chopped
sprinkle of red pepper flakes

Combine all ingredients in glass bowl, and store in fridge a few hours or overnight. Serve with ribs.

 

Have a safe, happy and FUN Fourth of July everyone!

Till next time, stay healthy, lean and energetic!

 

Look for the Fat Burning Kitchen Superfood Recipes coming in July!!

 

Catherine (Cat) Ebeling RN BSN,is a back to basics diet and nutrition specialist. In addition to her advanced degree in nursing from a major medical school, she has spent the last 30 years intensely studying diet, health and nutrition. She also has a book titled “The Fat Burning Kitchen, Your 24 Hour Diet Transformation” that has sold over 60,000 copies worldwide, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health.                 

Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.
           Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

 

 

Asian Spicy Pork Meatballs

These were a hit at the last party! A yummy party treat or just anytime for a delicious Asian-inspired dinner.

A yummy party treat or just anytime for a delicious Asian-inspired dinner. Serve with delicious Pineapple Salsa on the side. (See below for recipe.)

Asian Pork Meatballs

 Asian Spicy Pork Meatballs

Ingredients

1 lb ground pork

1 egg

1/3 cup coconut flour

½ red onion, diced finely

2 cloves garlic

2 T fish sauce

2 T soy sauce

2 teaspoons finely chopped or grated fresh ginger

2 T Thai sweet red chili sauce

½ teaspoon salt

a handful of chopped cilantro

2 T sesame seeds

Directions

Mix all ingredients together well. (I used my clean hands)

Roll in 1 ½” diameter  balls.

Place on a baking sheet with sides, so the juice doesn’t run off.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30-40 minutes, turning to brown evenly.

Serve immediately or in a crockpot with the juice from the pan.

Serve with Pineapple-Mango Salsa on the side, below.

 

Pineapple Mango Salsa

This is delicious served with the Asian Meatballs, Porkchops, Fish, or even Chicken. Liven up a dinner with the sweet and spicy taste of pineapple and mango, high in vitamin A, antioxidants and digestive enzymes. Enjoy.

mango salsa

Half of a decent sized pineapple, chopped in small pieces

1-2 ripe mangos, chopped

½ red onion

1-2 cloves of garlic minced

1-2 Romano tomatoes, chopped

Handful of cilantro, chopped

Juice of 1-2 limes

Touch of sea salt

Mix all ingredients together, serve or refrigerate.

cat e1335982521218 Breakfast Quinoa Scramble

 

Cat profile close upSM Breakfast Quinoa ScrambleCatherine (Cat) Ebeling RN BSN, is a back to basics diet and nutrition specialist. In addition to her advanced degree in nursing from a major medical school, she has spent the last 30 years intensely studying diet, health and nutrition. 

Cat’s  book titled “The Fat Burning Kitchen, Your 24 Hour Diet Transformation” that has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health.

                          Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.

                                Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

 

 

Bacon, Blue Cheese, Apple and Arugula Salad

I had this crazy idea for a salad recipe and thought these things would work together. I was right…

bacon blue cheese and arugula salad

I had a crazy idea for a superfood salad recipe and thought these things would work together and I was really not surprised they worked as well as I had thought. I purchased some delcious creamy, nutty raw blue cheese that was just magnificent with the saltiness of the bacon, the bite of the arugula and the tart-sweetness of the apple.

I topped it off with an olive oil, and cinnamon-pear balsamic mixture. You don’t need cinnamon-pear balsamic but a nice, mellow sweet balsamic will do just as well.

I purposely did not include measurements in this recipe, it’s very easy to adjust to whatever size crowd you are serving. Hint: Add more Bacon to gain more popularity! 😉

Dark green leafy vegetables are, calorie for calorie, probably the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food. They are a rich source of minerals (including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) and vitamins, including vitamins K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins. They also provide a variety of phytonutrients including beta-carotene,lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage and our eyes from age-related problems, among many other effects. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of healthy omega 3 fats as well.

The standout of all the nutrients  in dark green leafies is Vitamin K.

A cup of most cooked greens will give you about 9X the minimum recommended intake of Vitamin K, and even a couple of cups of dark salad greens usually provide the minimum all on their own.

Here ya go…I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. 🙂

Bacon, Blue Cheese, Apple and Arugula Salad

Any combination of Arugula, regular baby greens and/or baby kale

2-4 slices thick sliced natural (no nitrites) bacon, cooked and cut up in small pieces

1/2 to 1 apple, chopped in small pieces (Granny Smith is good, or any tart-crisp apple variety)

Crumbled Blue Cheese (try something exotic here like Maytag Blue or another aged delightfully nutty flavored blue cheese)

Thin sliced red onion

Add greens to large glass bowl, with apple, bacon, and blue cheese sprinkled on top. Drizzle equal amounts of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil on salad and serve.

 

 

 

 

 

Paleo Carrot & Apple Muffins

Looking for a healthy grain free and gluten free alternative to muffins for a friend of mine with some health issues, I threw together some carrot, ginger and apple. The result was a moist, tender, delicious muffin…

Paleo carrot ginger apple muffins

Looking for a healthy grain free and gluten free alternative to muffins for a friend of mine who is dealing with some health issues, I decided to throw these ingredients together and see what came of it. The result was a moist, tender delicious muffin that is low-glycemic and full of fiber and nutrients. The carrots and the apple added a great flavor and the addition of fresh ginger makes it anti-inflammatory and easier on the stomach. A perfect breakfast or snack!

Paleo Carrot, Ginger, Apple Muffins

Ingredients

4 medium sized organic carrots

1 apple

1″ chunk of fresh ginger

1/3 cup coconut oil, melted

1/2 heaping cup of coconut flour

1/3 cup ground flax seed

3 medium eggs

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup honey

1/2 tsp sea salt

Juice of one small orange

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a food processor, add carrots, apple and ginger and chop finely. Scrape out and add to bowl with other ingredients. Stir well.

Scoop out dough into large or small muffin pans. You can use muffin papers or grease cups with coconut oil.

For large muffins, bake for about 25 minutes. Muffins should be brown on the outside but moist inside.

For small muffins, bake 15-20 minutes.

Makes about 12 large muffins.

Serve with grass fed butter and raw honey. Enjoy every bite!

Till next time,

Stay healthy and lean!

cat

 

 

Find out what foods age you the fastest and how to reverse aging here.

The Top 101 Foods that Fight Aging

Cat profile close upSMCatherine (Cat) Ebeling RN BSN, is a back to basics diet and nutrition specialist. In addition to her advanced degree in nursing from a major medical school, she has spent the last 30 years intensely studying diet, health and nutrition. 

Cat’s  book titled “The Fat Burning Kitchen, Your 24 Hour Diet Transformation” that has sold over 100,000 copies worldwide, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health.

                           Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.

                                Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.

 

Warm Lentil, Kale & Bacon Salad

Lately I have been really liking lentils. Lentils are a power food–loaded with protein, fiber, B vitamins and iron; and the stellar health benefits of kale. And there’s bacon…

Lentil kale bacon salad lgLately I have been really enjoying lentils. Now for the die-hard Paleo/Primal folks, lentils are not on the ‘list’, but as an athlete who needs to get plenty of non-grain high quality carbs, lentils are a perfect addition. Lentils are a power food–they are loaded with protein,  fiber, B vitamins and iron.

Lentils contain more folate than most any other plant food. Besides protecting your body against heart disease and inflammation by lowering dangerous homocysteine, folate is ideal for women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, as it helps prevent birth defects. And did you know that folate, combined with vitamin B6 (also in lentils) helps reduce the risk of breast cancer and other cancers.

Lentils’ high fiber makes them filling and satisfying, while keeping blood sugar low. This low calorie legume is a great dietary addition if you are trying to lose weight as well. The lentil is an easy to digest food that is helpful to those who have digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrom and diverticulosis.

Lentils contain the third highest level of protein of all legumes and nuts, so not only are they a  great slow burning carbohydrate source, but they are also an excellent source of protein.

And one of the main reasons I love lentils is their steady, slow-burning energy they provide for athletes, along with the iron which helps to transport oxygen in the body. Oh, and did I mention they taste delicious?
And of course, there is the kale, which we all know is a known ‘Superfood’. A member of the cruciferous family, it has anti-cancer, fat burning properties, along with its powerful anti-oxidants, calcium and vitamin K, among other more numerous health benefits.
There’s also turmeric in this recipe too. If you don’t know about turmeric, read more here. It’s one of the most powerful, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging spices you can use.
I used black lentils in this recipe. They are a slightly smaller, firmer lentil than the more common brown lentil you see at the grocery store, although you can use either type. Brown lentils cook relatively quickly, so don’t overcook or they will become mushy.
This recipe, that I made up on the fly, turned out surprisingly good. I may have to make it again tonight!

Warm Lentil, Kale and Bacon Salad

2 slices of thick sliced, natural (nitrite/nitrate free) bacon

4-6 good sized garlic cloves, chopped

1 cup (or so) cooked black or brown lentils

1/2 bunch of kale, chopped in small pieces

sea salt

1/2 tsp turmeric

juice of 1 fresh lemon wedge, to taste

hot pepper flakes, to taste

toasted sesame seeds, optional

In a frying pan, fry bacon until medium crisp. Remove from pan and chop or break in small pieces. Set aside. Leave about 1-2 Tbsp of the bacon grease in pan, and stir and cook garlic for a few minutes, until soft. Add chopped kale, salt, drained lentils, red pepper flakes, and turmeric. Cover with lid and cook over medium to medium-low heat for a few minutes until kale is tender. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over kale, stir and serve. Enjoy! Serves 2-4.

This can be served as a side dish or as a complete meal.

 

 

 

 

Easy Lentil Curry Salad

So I am doing this detox diet, and for some strange reason, I’ve been craving lentils. When you crave something that’s good for you, listen. It’s most likely your body telling you it needs a particular nutrient…

lentil salad

So I am doing this detox diet, and for some strange reason, I’ve been craving lentils. I know enough about my body (and you should too) to listen when I am craving a certain type of food. No that doesn’t mean when you crave candy, cake, mac and cheese, or anything else that isn’t healthy for your body.

But when you truly crave something that is good for you, then listen. It’s most likely your body telling you it needs a particular nutrient.

So what about lentils? Well, I try to eat a mostly Paleo style diet, and legumes are a ‘no-no’ on a Paleo diet. I’m not sure why, it seems that primitive folks would want to eat lentils if they had ’em. Maybe they didn’t cozy up around the camp fire to a big bowl of steaming lentil soup, but really, there are worse things, right?

Well, for starters, lentils are full of fiber. Guess that’s good for a detox diet, don’t ya think?

And, lentils help lower cholesterol, and stabilize blood-sugar. Lentils are also very high in magnesium, that calming mineral that the majority of us are short on. Got leg cramps? Get magnesium. Trouble sleeping and relaxing? Get magnesium. You get the idea…

On top of that, lentils also provide plenty of B vitamins and protein and are not heavy on the calories. Good thing for a detox diet, it sounds like. Plus they are tasty, go great in a salad or soup and fill you up. I’m all for that.

So here is the salad I whipped up while I was craving lentils and on my detox diet. I have to say it was delicious and satisfying. You can play around with the ingredients as you like, but this combo was pretty tasty! Just be sure to use organic veggies as much as possible.

Lentil-Veggie Salad

1 cup or so dry lentils, rinsed

1 bunch of radishes, chopped or sliced

6-8 asparagus stalks, chopped and lightly cooked

1 medium size cucumber

1 firm tomato chopped

1 firm avocado chopped

1 red onion chopped or 4-5 green onions sliced

1 clove or 2 of garlic

handful of fresh cilantro chopped

1 tsp or so of curry powder

red pepper flakes

sea salt and pepper

juice of one fresh lemon

2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Rinse and cook lentils till tender. Rinse with cool water and drain. Add veggies, lemon juice, olive oil and seasonings. Stir and chill. Enjoy! Serves 2-4, and makes great leftovers too.

Till next time,

Stay healthy and lean!

cat

 

 

Catherine Cat profile close up(Cat) Ebeling RN BSN, is a back to basics diet and nutrition specialist. In addition to her advanced degree in nursing from a major medical school, she has spent the last 30 years intensely studying diet, health and nutrition. Get the latest Gluten Free, Superfoods Recipe book HERE–The Fat Burning Kitchen Superfoods Recipes. Cat also has a book titled “The Fat Burning Kitchen, Your 24 Hour Diet Transformation” that has sold over 60,000 copies worldwide, and has helped thousands of people transform their lives, lose weight and improve their health.

                   

 

                 Her mission is to help others prevent disease and live their best life ever.

                                      Nutrition made Easy. Simple.Smart.Nutrition.