Sunday, June 9, 2013

Apples and Peanut Butter

Just a quite note on a great after-dinner snack. If you ever find yourself hungry after dinner, but don't want to eat something so sweet, try cutting up apples with some Maranatha peanut butter! The dessert is healthy, allergy free, filling and delicious!


Eggwhite Pizza

Always trying to inventive with lunch options, we discovered this allergy-free "pizza" and didn't wait to try it! The easy recipe is quick and can be varied.

Ingredients:
4-6 egg whites (depending on how big you want the pizza)
Salt and Pepper
Fresh Oregano
Basic Marinara Sauce
Mixed Vegetables

Directions:
1) Pre-Heat Oven to 375
2) Separate eggs placing whites in a large bowl.  Add salt, pepper, and oregano to taste.  Blend with a hand mixer until foamy. (There should be peaks when you remove the mixer blades). About 5 minutes.
3) Spray a small pan with non-stick spray – and add the egg mixture to the pan.

4) In a separate pan on the stove add the mixed vegetables and some olive oil, salt, pepper and oregano on medium heat. Stir every few minutes while the egg whites are in the oven. Let them sit until they are soft- almost like a stir fry.
5) Place the pan in the oven for about 10 minutes.
6) Take the pan out, spread on the marinara sauce and add the stir-fried vegetables on the pizza.
7) Change the oven to broil and put the pan with the eggwhites, marinara and vegetables back in for 5-10 minutes or until they get crispy brown.


8) Serve!

Love,
The Dishing Duo

Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Filled Banana "Sandwiches"

Our sisters and us are always trying to make sweet desserts that are both healthy and allergy free. So when Gabs (our older sister) found a recipe for chocolate peanut butter filled banana "sandwiches" on instagram, we knew we had to try it!

Ingredients:
1 cups Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Chips
1 bananas
2 tablespoons of Maranatha creamy peanut butter



Directions:
1) Take a small pan and place on the oven on low heat. Pour the cup of dark chocolate chips into the pan.


2) Keep stirring the chips until they are completely melted but NOT burnt!
3) While the chocolate is melting, cut up the banana into small pieces.


4) Place peanut butter on every other banana and then place another banana on top of the peanut butter.


5) Dip the banana and peanut butter sandwiches into the chocolate sauce and place on plates.


6) Place in the freezer for an hour and enjoy!

Love,
The Dishing Duo

Yummy Brown Fried Rice

Having sides is hard with all of Niki's allergies. So finding out that she could have brown rice gave us the idea of making brown fried rice (without any soy sauce). This side goes great with the salmon in our last post!

Ingredients:
2 cups long grain brown rice
1 carrot
1/2 small white onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 egg whites and 3 whole eggs
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1) Fill up a pot halfway with water.
2) Let the water come to a boil and then add the two cups of brown rice.
3) Dice up the carrots and onions.
4) Let the brown rice sit for 40 minutes until soft, but about 15 minutes in add the diced carrots and onions and a little bit of salt and pepper.
5) While the rice is cooking, crack the eggs and whip them for about two minutes until frothy.
6) After 40 minutes when the rice is soft, turn the oven on medium heat.
7) Turn another oven on medium/high and in a separate large pan, add the oil.
8) Pour the eggs into the pan and begin scrambling right away. (the eggs will cook quickly on high so you need to move them around so they don't burn)
9) Once the eggs are cooked let them sit for a few minutes so they get slightly golden brown, then place on medium heat.
10) Take the pot of rice and pour it into the large pan. Mix around so the eggs are spread evenly throughout the rice.
11) Add a little bit of olive oil, salt and pepper to make the rice softer and tastier.
12) Remove from the pan and serve!



Enjoy the delicious and allergy free brown rice!

Love,
The Dishing Duo

Salmon Dinner

With a limited amount of dinner options, it's always hard to keep things tasty. Even though we all love fish, we never liked salmon because we could never figure out how to get rid of the unwanted fishy taste. When Niki found this incredible recipe, we just couldn't resist.

Ingredients:
2 scallion heads
Half of a white onion
3 leaves of basil
3 tablespoons of crushed dill
4 parsley leaves
2 cloves of garlic 
Handful of salt
Handful of pepper
1/4 cup of oil
1/4 cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup of white wine
4 pieces of wild salmon cut 3 inches wide 

Directions:
1)Set the oven to 375 degrees. 
2) Dice all the scallions, onions, basil, dill, parsley and place in a small mixing bowl.
3)  Add the salt, pepper and minced garlic to the bowl.
4) Slice the wild salmon into 3 inch pieces and place in a glass dish.
5) Use the dry ingredients from the mixing bowl and spread even on the salmon and in between the pieces. Make sure all the pieces are covered. If there is not enough, cut up more parsley and onions and finish dressing the salmon.
5) Pour the oil, lemon and white wine individually on the salmon. Make sure the salmon is wet as it cooks better and is more moist when there is more liquid ingredients.
6) Let the salmon sit and marinate for about 30 minutes.
7) Place in the bottom shelf of the oven for about 35 minutes or until cooked all the way through.
8)Turn the oven on broil and transfer the salmon to the top shelf so it gets crispy on the top.
9)Let the salmon crisp for about 10 minutes.
10)Take out of the oven and serve!



Enjoy this healthy and allergy free dinner!

Love,
The Dishing Duo



Saturday, June 8, 2013

Cookie Crush

Who would think that a small farm stand in the middle of Old Brookville would make amazing cookies and pies? Even more surprising is that this small barn makes the most incredible peanut butter chocolate chip gluten free AND dairy free cookies.

You can imagine how happy Niki was when she saw the package of cookies sitting in one of the baskets that hold millions of sweet treats. She was even more excited when she realized that the cookies (while a little crumbly because of the lack of any butter) were the best allergy free cookies she has ever tasted!

Now we buy a package every couple of days and she literally can not stay away! So for all of those allergy free sweet lovers out there, or any normal sweet lovers who love a good, rich cookie stop by Young's Farm off Hegeman's lane and ask for the gluten free desserts!


Love,
The Dishing Duo

Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Perfect Sweets

Looking for a sweet treat that fills you up but doesn't make you feel guilty? Check out our favorite nutritionist Keri Glassman's nutritious life blog post about the right things to eat when your craving something sweet!

http://www.nutritiouslife.com/nlts/sweet-sweets-for-your-waistline/

Final French Fix

Staying at the beautiful Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat, has many perks. The amazing views, exceptional service and of course gourmet food. After experiencing a day full of sun, and relaxation we were ready for a simple and delicious meal in the hotel's restaurant La Veranda.

My parent's are regulars here and have told us how delicious the food was, but we couldn't believe just how tasty it could be.

After a day of exploring the gelato and pizza on the port, our family was ready for a plain and allergy-free meal. When we got the menu we all decided to get the roast chicken.

Roasted in the oven and then pressed on the grill with a weighted pan, the chicken was perfectly crunchy, but moist. We traded all the white meat for the dark meat (since both of us love the taste of dark meat) with our parents. Paired with the roasted cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and fennel, the meal was exceptional!






















We definitely recommend this restaurant and of course the beautiful hotel!

Love,
The Dishing Duo

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Gluten-Free Breakfast

Check out this blog post by Dr. Frank Lipman a renowned expert in Integrative Medicine. He gives some great gluten-free breakfast options that are both healthy, delicious and filling!

http://www.drfranklipman.com/whats-for-breakfast-10-gluten-sugar-and-dairy-free-options/

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Gourmet French Dinner

The best part of being surrounded by amazing French cuisine iis the chefs that inspire the cuisine and open up restaurants such as the Rivea. Alan Ducasse, who started his career at the Monte Carlo Hotel De Paris, is now a world renowned French chef with many notable achievements.

After hearing about his cuisine and finding out that he had opened a restaurant in our hotel, we couldn't wait to eat there! Before visiting, we had arranged to cook with the staff in the kitchen and learn how to make and design the numerous dishes offered at the restaurant. Even though we weren't allowed to take pictures while we were cooking, we did get some  shots of the beautiful kitchen and the numerous areas delegated to preparing various types of food.

 The pastry area 


 Meats and small dishes 

 The Main Area

 Head Chef preparing a shrimp and citrus dish 


After spending an hour in the kitchen, we couldn't wait to order our dinner! The menu was simple, with salads, meats, chicken and of course fish. As a gluten and dairy free option we both started with the Salad Rivea which had various lettuces, sweet peppers, tomatoes, edamame beans, fennel and zucchini  flowers. The presentation was so beautiful it was almost hard to ruin it and take a bite! 


For the main course we ordered the loup (sea bass) which was prepared plain grilled with olive oil and spices. It was extremely tasty especially when  paired with the steampot of vegetables that included carrots, potatoes, celery, artichokes, peas and peppers. The meal was delicious, healthy and allergy free! 



The next stop on our trip is Cap Ferrat. Keep checking the blog for more exceptional French cuisine!

Love,
The Dishing Duo

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Healthy Snack Idea

Today we stopped by the massive market in the middle of St. Tropez. They had EVERYTHING from clothes to meats to jewelry to candy to fresh produce.
Although we stayed near the clothes, we couldn't resist the delicious tomatoes and baby cucumbers at the small stand. We figured it would be a great snack if we got hungry later.

At about 7, we cut up the tomatoes and cucumbers, drizzled some fresh olive oil, salt and pepper on top and ate them as a snack! The vegetables were so fresh and sweet it was perfect to have before dinner!



So if your ever hungry and looking for something that will satisfy you, but is still healthy try this simple snack!

Love,
The Dishing Duo


Simple, Authentic and Delicious!

With so much to see on the streets of St. Tropez, it is easy to stroll by the tiny bakeries, coffee shops and bars. Everywhere you look there is another shop selling gelato, sorbet, glace, or pastries. However, one we couldn't skip out on was the chicken stand called Rotisserie Tropezienne or Saint Tropez Rotisserie.

 

Because my parents have been to St. Tropez many times before, they have tested all the places and know exactly where to go. One day a couple of years ago, they were hungry and looking for somewhere to eat when they saw a small stand with rotisserie chicken roasting in a large rotating oven.
 

Skeptical, but knowing they would have to wait at any restaurant, they ordered a whole chicken and a bag of vegetables which were cooking underneath in the broth of the chicken. They were handed 2 take-out bags and sat right next to the stand on marble steps to eat their "take-out" meal.
It was absolutely amazing. Better than any other meal they had on the trip. Now it is a staple everytime they come to St. Tropez!

Big fans of simple meats and even more excited to try fresh cooked chicken, we finally stopped by the small stand. Just the smell was overwhelming. We watched the chicken as it was cooked slowly on the rotator and our mouths watered.



We ordered two whole chickens with extra vegetables. They told us that they only marinated them with olive oil, garlic, parsley and a little basil, which was perfect for all Niki's allergies. They took out the chicken and made us a beautiful platter!

If we tell you, this was the most delicious chicken we have ever had. The meat fell off the bones and were so tasty it was hard to stop eating it. Even the white meat was extremely moist and flavorful. Even though we are huge vegetable eaters, we barely touched the vegetables because the chicken was too hard to resist. Hands down the best meal we had in St. Tropez (and definitely the cheapest).

We would 100% recommend this small stand for the nicest help, most delectable flavor and careful presentation!

Love,
The Dishing Duo

Saturday, June 1, 2013

A Taste of France

Last night we went to the most adorable and quaint restaurant on a back alley in St. Tropez called
L'Auberge de Maures. The restaurant is small, with round tables, flower table clothes and small flower pots. As soon as you walk in, you know you are getting authentic French Cuisine. Although we had to wait a little to get a table, we asked to see the kitchen. The chefs showed us what they do and even let us cook fish and make their famous pork shoulder! 

















 When we sat down, we were overwhelmed by the huge menu and the amazing choices. Since we love vegetables, Eri suggested the artichoke stew. The waiter told us that the leaves and hearts of the artichoke were stewed for up to 6 hours in just there own juices and some olive oil. When the dish came it was steaming hot and absolutely delicious. It was so good we ended up ordering another for the table! 



For the main course, we decided on their most popular dish, the loup (a seabass). We had helped earlier with the preperation and couldn't wait to actually try it. Once the fish was cooked the waiter brought it out and showed it to us whole! 




Once filleted, the fish was served with some ratatouille (a mix of vegetables in a light red sauce). It was simple, tasty and savory. 

This restaurant was incredible! Everything was amazing: the environment, the service, the perfect blend of tastes and the beautiful presentation. 

Keep visiting our blo for more delectable French meals! 

Love, 
The Dishing Du