Monthly Archives: January 2009

REVIEW: Pei Wei

To begin, I’d like to apologize to my little blog hiatus! I am a college student and work full time, so I have been a bit overwhelmed with Anatomy & Physiology work this semester. I will try to post more often!
Okay. Let us begin.
So Sunday night Z and I tried out Pei Wei before going to see “Revolutionary Road” ( Because there is nothing like spicy asian cuisine right before an extremely depressing and emotionally volatile film!) In case you didn’t know, Pei Wei is a sister restaurant to P.F. Changs, and has much more of a casual/diner feel.
**Pay attention to the lit up 6 ft menu as you wait in line and note the little red Pei Wei symbols next to certain “spicier” dishes. I did not, and am embarrassed to say I had to send my first dish back. (we will get to that in a moment)
First I ordered a trio of Crab Rangoon and they were tasty but I’ve certainly had better. The crunch was near perfect, and the sweet chilli sauce they swam in was really delicious, but the filling was under spiced and altogether underwhelming.
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Then I ordered the Coconut curry with veggies & tofu. ALL I COULD TASTE WAS ONIONS. GROSS.
Sent that back to its maker within 2 bites. I will say that the tofu had the perfect firm texture and was grilled the way I love it. But no hint of coconut or curry anywhere. Just onioncity.
So I split Z’s Pad Thai Chicken with him and it was awesome. I so prefer Thai dishes that use peanuts instead of gooey peanut sauces. The Pad Thai at Pei Wei with rice noodles is totally the way to go!Photobucket

I heart Pesto



P1060682, originally uploaded by Jamie Susan.

I’m not going to lie. I didn’t always like pesto. I just didn’t grow up eating fancy food. Yes, pesto was considered “fancy” in my house. I don’t know how I made it through to an adult with the crap I ate growing up. Not that my parents didn’t cook healthy meals, because they did, and still do. It was quite simply that my palate was mature enough to appreciate only a few things: cheese pizza, mint chocolate chip ice cream, animal crackers, and the sweet bitterness of teenage heartbreak.
It is important to note that I also grew up in a household where although the cooking was healthy, it was certainly limited to a few predictable staples and seldom creative or adventurous. Oftentimes, us teens were informed by the folks that it was “fend for yourselves night,” (which meant that due to my parents busy schedule and growing intolerance for our complaints about their cooking, we were ON OUR OWN!) So, that ussually meant that I either melted cheese on a plate and ate it with a fork, or perhaps dug into a box of chips ahoy until my mouth hurt from all of the sugar while watching Singled Out. (I miss that stupid show)
Luckily as I grew up, I became curious about cuisine and was fortunate enough to make friends whom possessed more daring culinary backgrounds than myself. Eventually these wonderful people took pity on me and introduced me to the wide and mesmerizing universe of TASTE!
Somewhere along this journey I met Pesto! And oh how I adore thee! I don’t know how I made it this long without you on my pastas, pizzas,salads, and sammies!
Pesto and I have always had a thing for each other, but this year we finally took the plunge and fell into a deep, unalterable, planet-shifting love together. It’s a sickness, I’m sure of it..
I haven’t been able to find anything savory that doesn’t become AWESOME after a little dab of the green stuff.
I barely ever eat marinara anymore because upon first bite, I wish it was pesto. It’s like trying to love your new boyfriend, but knowing deep down that your ex was so much better. Maybe it’s not quite like that, but you follow.
So tonight I made a quick and simple dinner using my darling beloved pesto. Farfalle pasta, fresh peas, parmesan, and pesto tossed together in such a way that brings stars to my eyes and a flutter to my heart! Dreamy and Delicious and much better than getting sick on chips ahoy or picking at melted cheese on a plate!

REVIEW: FAGE, will you go to the dance with me?

It is time for me to stop hogging the best kept secret in the world of healthy yet delicious sweet treats. I have been having a love affair with Greek yogurt for a good 8 months now and I have never been so happy with a healthy dessert. My love for sugar is no secret, but I seldom indulge because I’ve had to do the work before to shed the repercussions of said love and losing weight is far more frustrating and difficult than the process of gaining. (Ohhhhhh if it only worked the other way!)
Buyer beware: This is no syrupy sweet Yoplait nonsense. This is the creme de la creme of yogurts. This is yogurt for adults who respect and admire the craftsmanship and hardwork that goes into creating a food that can serve as breakfast, dessert, and a beneficial work out snack. ( and provides active cultures for our lovely lady parts!)
Please treat your Greek yogurt with the respect it deserves and do not stir (you’ll ruin the fluff!)
Gently fold in your fruit or granola or whatever. It actually says on the container “Please do not stir!”
This is serious business folks.
So, before I run off and marry my container of Greek yogurt, I will introduce you to my dearest love:
I give you FAGE Greek Yogurt!!!(pronounced fa-ye) Photobucket  Get the kind with mix-ins and you will forget you ever cried into a half gallon of Edy’s double fudge brownie. (well maybe not. But you will be glad as hell that you listened to me. And so will your scale.) The consistency is amazingly rich and thick. Greek yogurt is not sweet, and by itself can be a bit sour, but seriously…add a tablespoon of honey and a handful of granola and your brain will be dancing. The Peach version is my favorite by leaps and bounds and has a mere 140 calories, 2.5 grams of fat, and 10 grams of protein. Just look at how perfectly fluffy and heavenly my spoonful of FAGE looked right before I crammed it down my gullet today at lunch!Photobucket
Currently I can locate FAGE products at most organic markets in my area and also Harris Teeter. FAGE is of course not the only Greek yogurt on the market, but I’m no whore. I’m sticking by my man…..er…..brand.

MMMMMMeatballsssss

P1060668, originally uploaded by Jamie Susan.

I don’t eat a whole lot of red meat. I find it wonderfully delicious, but it always makes me tired, depressed, and not to mention it is full of fat. Fatty Fat Fat. No thank you. Soooo, when I make spaghetti and meatballs, I use ground turkey and it is always a victory.
I used an organic basil & tomato sauce and added lots of roasted garlic and sauteed spinach. With spinach spaghetti and a little parmesan………..not pictured(I know, I know, what kind of shitty food stylist am i?!)
Well, it was really really tasty. Trust me, turkey meatballs done well are quite simply Awesometown.

REVIEW: Bombay Palace

P1060580, originally uploaded by Jamie Susan.

I have become a monstrous curry-thirsty stalker of the Bombay Palace in Nashville.
I go apeshit over Indian food, and lose track of time and space over amazing Indian food. That being said, Bombay Palace is where I go to lose my effing mind. Every Sunday since the beginning of November I wake up salivating for Bombay Palace. I’m typically frightened of buffets, but this place is top notch and truly exceptional dishes come out of that kitchen. Due to the fact that my camera is decent but not professional, and the decor of Bombay Palace is mostly shades of red, it was very hard to get a great shot of my lunch. That, and well……the lack of self control I have in a room swirling with the aromas of curry and buttery naan. I took like 4 pictures and said screw it, I need to get this food in my mouth ASAP.
Besides the buttery curry dishes, awesome selection of vegetarian fare, and delicious never ending baskets of naan, the service here is remarkable.
Ron, the manager is the sweetest man and walks table to table like you are a guest at his home chatting you up about what your favorite dishes are and how they are prepared. Your water is seldom half-way empty and if there is something you are craving from their regular menu that isn’t available on the buffet THEY WILL MAKE IT AND BRING IT TO YOU CHEERFULLY!!
I have never heard of this before. Its astounding.
http://www.bombaypalacenashville.com/bpHome.html

Bombay Palace on Urbanspoon

Fresh Spinach

P1060558, originally uploaded by Jamie Susan.

Spinach is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet.
Not to mention it is extremely versatile and yummy!
It’s loaded with lutein (great for eyes) and many other carotenoids, which are healthful antioxidants; plus other antioxidants like coenzyme Q, in serious doses; plus several B vitamins plus C and E; plus iron and other minerals; plus betaine, a vitamin-like nutrient research suggests is good for your heart. And with almost no calories, you can eat as much as you want. Dang! More please!