Simple Green Beans and Ground Pork Recipe (Filipino Ginisang Sitaw)

This delectable Filipino dish is a staple must! It is called "Ginisang Sitaw," which translates to "Sauteed String Beans." Not only is it savory, but healthy too as you get a good dose of your green beans, garlic, and tomatoes. Create a balanced meal in under 10 minutes.

Ingredients:

1 Bundle of String Beans
1 Medium Tomatoe
3 Cloves Garlic
Ground pork
2 Tablespoon Olive Oil
3-5 Tablespoons of Soy Sauce depending on taste
Black Pepper to taste

1. Chop up your string beans into bite-sizes. Then chop up your onion into your preferred size, I like mine to vary so I just chop it freely. Next chop your tomatoe into thinner slices so that its consistency is barely detectable when you sautee it. Lastly for preparation, mince the garlic.

2. Heat the oil under low to medium heat (just depends on how long you want everything to simmer) and then throw in the garlic and onion. Once, the garlic has turned to a brownish color, throw in the tomatoe and ground pork and let it simmer for about 5 minutes and stir fry occasionally. Be careful not to overcook it or the pork will dry out.

3. Next, toss in your soy sauce and black pepper to your preferred taste and mix well. Then finally, throw in your string beans and stir fry until the string beans have cooked to your liking. I served this over white rice but for a healthier alternative, top it over some brown rice or basmati rice.

*Optional: You can also add some fish sauce with or instead of the soy sauce in place of salt.

To make sure you're doing it right you can check out a very similar recipe with step-by-step directions with photos for each step at: http://stepbysteprecipe.com/2010/10/03/ginisang-sitaw-2/. According to this website, you shouldn't cook the string beans for more than 3 minutes, so keep that in mind. Good luck.

How to Make English Muffin Mini-Pizzas

Hello pizza lovers out there! I'll be sharing with you a simple recipe to make mini-pizzas using english muffins. This recipe is so simple and easy, kids can do it. It's just as easy as making a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich, all you need are the right ingredients. Once you try this pizza recipe, you'll want to make it over and over again and will think twice about ordering Pizza Hut or Papa John's. It's cheap and the best part is, you get to control what goes on it. You can make it as lean or as meaty as your heart desires. But I'd opt for the healthier version.

Prep Time: 5-10 minutes

Cook Time: 5-10 minutes

Total Time: 10-20 minutes

Ingredients:

English Muffins 

• I like using whole wheat, whole grain, multi-grain, or other healthier variations than the plain white ones that are insufficient in fiber

Spaghetti or Pizza Sauce 

• I use Prego Veggie Smart because it's just way better for you, 50% of daily vegetable recommendations and 25% less sodium

Margarine or Butter or Olive oil  

• I prefer Margarine I Can't Believe it's Not Butter!, a friend suggests Garlic Butter

Shredded Cheese  

• Any kind will do, even a block of cheese will work as long as you thinly chop it so it melts fast.
• Mozarella is the most favored. I like using Three-Cheese Blend. Some use Cheddar. For a healthier option you can mix non-fat/low-fat shredded cheese with the regular kind, 50/50, or just use the healthier one by itself.

Condiments 

• In the picture above, I used garlic, olives, and red pepper because this is what we had. Use whatever you have in your fridge.
• Some ideas for you: mushrooms, green or yellow bell pepper, sliced peaches, caramelized onions, pineapple.

Meat 

• I used pepperoni
• Some ideas for you: ham, chicken, meatballs, bacon.

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees (a mini-toaster works too).
2.  Split your english muffins into halves and then butter them.
3. Use 1 spoonful of pizza or spaghetti sauce to coat the top of the english muffins, go thin or thick depending on your desired taste.
4. Mince the garlic and put on top of each halve. Dice the red pepper and olives and add on top as well. Next sprinkle the cheese on top so everything looks even and then add your meats, for me it was pepperoni.
5. Put in the oven for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese has melted and everything has browned.
6. Optional: Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper.
7. Another option: use Siracha for spicyness.

Remember: Butter, sauce, condiments or cheese, and then meat. Voila!

Now that you get the gist of it, I hope I've inspired you to try recipes of your own in creating mini-pizzas. Meat is not a necessity, you can just eat with cheese, sauce, and veggies or fruit. De-lectable! You can make chicken alfredo mini-pizzas by substituting the spaghetti sauce with alfredo sauce and using chicken instead of pepperoni. Good luck!

I dedicate this post to a great friend and confidant who shared this idea with me. Thank you Tierra M. :)

Chickpea Tagine Recipe

Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 45 min
Makes: 4 servings

Nutrition Information: 350 calories, 11 g protein, 64 g carbs, 8 g fat (1 g sat), 12 g fiber


Ingredients:
1 1/2 tbsp extra-viring olive oil
1 red onion, quartered and thickly sliced
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus additional to taste
2 small carrots, sliced lengthwise, cut into 1/2 inch thick slices (about 3/4cup)
1 1/2 cups cubed, peeled butternut squash (6 ounces)
2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
3 quarter-size pieces peeled fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon harissa paste (available in most grocery stores), plus additoinal to taste
2 teaspoons honey, plus additional to taste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 whole cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon tumeric
4 plum tomatoes, cored and chopped ( 1 pound)
1 medium zucchini, quartered and cut into 1/2 inch chuncks (2 cups)
10 dried apricots, sliced (1/4 cup packed)
1/2 cup water
1 19-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
Freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 lemon, plus additional to taste
1 cup whole-wheat couscous, cooked according to package directions (optional)
4 teaspoons sliced, toasted almonds

1. In a large heavy pot over medium to low heat, warm the olive oil; add the onion and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 mins. Add the carrots and continue to cook for 5 more minutes.

2. Add the butternut squash, garlic, and ginger and raise the heat to medium. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes.

3. Add the harissa, honey, cumin, cinnamon stick, and tumeric and stir until fragrant, 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, zucchini, and apricots and stir well. Pour in the water and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and reduce the heat as needed to simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender but not mush, 20 to 25 minutes.

4. Add the chickpeas and lemon juice. Raise the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the chickpeas are heated through and the liquid has thickened slightly, 5 to 10 minutes.

5. Season to taste with additional salt, harissa, honey, and lemon. Serve over couscous if desired and garnish with sliced almonds.

Found this recipe from a February 2010 Fitness Magazine edition. You can check out their site at: Fitnessmagazine.com