Lost In The Kitchen

I am amazed at where my mind takes me as I work in the kitchen.  Our mind has  the ability to span years and miles, to remember good times lost.  The birth of my children come to mind, sometimes I remember when I first began working in a restaurant.  I remember the source of my culinary inspiration, Chef Leona Johnson, (Mom).  “Food, she would say, has a way of  bringing people together.”  It is not just the ingredients in a particular recipe, but a clear mind and a happy heart can help turn a meal into something very special.

Pan Seared Lamb Chops with Mango Chutney

It was once said, “The Americans are just learning what the French have always known. Dinner isn’t something you do before you do something  else in the evening – Dinner Is The Evening!”   If you desire an amazing main course for that special evening, this one is just for you.

Ingredients:

Nonstick vegetable oil spray

1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt

4 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, divided

1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala

8 T-bone loin lamb chops (each about 1 inch thick)

1 1/2 cups 1/2-inch cubes peeled pitted mango

2 1/2 tablespoons ginger preserves

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1 1/2 teaspoons minced serrano chiles with seeds

Preparation:

Spray grill rack with nonstick spray and prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Whisk plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons chopped mint, and garam masala in medium bowl to blend. Add lamb chops and turn to coat with yogurt mixture. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine mango cubes, ginger preserves, lime juice, serrano chiles, and remaining 2 tablespoons mint in small bowl. Season mango chutney to taste with salt and pepper.

Remove lamb chops from yogurt mixture; sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Grill lamb to desired doneness about 5 minutes per side for medium-rare. Place 2 lamb chops on each of 4 plates; serve with mango chutney.

10 Foods that Fight Fatigue – (Chia Seeds)

10. Chia Seeds

These little dudes earned their reputation for being a “running food” when the book Born to Runrevealed that Aztecs and Mayans used chia seeds to improve performance and endurance. While the jury is still out on whether these seeds live up to the folklore (though one study found that they were as effective as Gatorade for fueling before a race), they have all the trappings of a fatigue-fighting food, say Lakatos and Shames. Protein and 5 g of fiber per tablespoon keep blood sugar stable, and a hearty helping of omega-3 fatty acids fight inflammation to keep muscles feeling fresh. Plus, they set you up with magnesium, potassium, and iron, as well as the antioxidant quercetin. Quercetin has been shown to aid athletic performance and recovery—in fact, it’s even used in some popular sports drinks.

10 Foods That Fight Fatigue – (Black, Green, or Oolong Tea)

9. Black, Green, or Oolong Tea

Unlike a cup of Joe, tea contains the amino acid theanine, which may improve attention and alertness, say Lakatos and Shames. And you’ll still get a little boost from caffeine (about 35 to 50mg per cup compared to the 100 to 140mg in a cup of coffee). Just make sure you don’t drink it too close to bedtime, caution Lakatos and Shames: “You don’t want the caffeine to affect your sleep—if you can’t get a good night’s rest your energy level will be low.”

10 Foods That Fight Fatigue – (Eggs)

8. Eggs

“Eggs are a great energy source—they have iron, zinc, and a lot of protein,” White says. Science agrees: A 2009 research review found that protein not only helps build muscles and keep you full, but it supplies sustained energy as well. The 6 grams of protein in an egg helps maintain level blood sugar and includes the amino acid leucine, which is an important part of protein synthesis (a factor in muscle growth and recovery). Meanwhile, B vitamins assist with energy production in the body.

Eggs are pretty much the gold standard against which all other proteins are judged. For starters, they’re cheap. You can’t beat a three-buck dozen.

But they’re also a solid diet staple because they’re loaded with amino acids, antioxidants, and iron, making each 85-calorie egg—which somehow delivers 7 grams of protein—a beyond solid investment in your health. Let us break your egg choices down for you:

• Brown vs. White? It’s up to you. The difference in color just varies based on the type of chicken—they both have the same nutritional value, says Molly Morgan, RD, a board certified sports specialist dietician based in upstate New York.
• Eggs vs. Egg Whites? While egg yolks do contain cholesterol, they’re also full of nutrients like B vitamins, plus they contain about half of the egg’s protein. Unless you’re watching your cholesterol intake, there’s no need to shy away from the whole egg, as long as you’re not overdoing it.
• Regular vs. Free-Range vs. Organic? Advantage: Organic. These are certified by the USDA and are free from antibiotics, vaccines, and hormones.

So, now that we’ve got all of that out of the way, it’s time to change your egg game. Here we’ve rounded up eight of the best ways to whip them up—or add them into other dishes.

10 Foods That Fight Fatigue – (Sweet Potatoes)

7. Sweet Potatoes

In addition to dishing out energy-stabilizing high-fiber carbs, sweet potatoes have a quarter of a day’s worth of potassium. Potassium helps keep electrolytes balanced—which allows us to stay maximally hydrated. Another benefit: Potassium helps relax the body and lower blood pressure, so it lessens stress in the body that can create fatigue, say Lakatos and Shames.

You Eat, Where?

It is not my usual practice to review restaurants, however, after being asked over and over again, “Where do you eat?”, I will do it this one time just for you.  Let me just say that after I spend long hours in the kitchen I usually like to dine at restaurants which offer selections that I usually don’t prepare.

Let’s begin Chef Lynnie’s Top Ten

10    Quiet Woman

        Corona Del Mar, CA

 

9      Don Julio’s

       Tupelo, MS

 

8      Cafe Tyler

        Starkville, MS

 

7     Spenger’s Fish Grotto

       Berkeley, CA

 

6     Fairpark Grill

       Tupelo, MS

 

5     Las Brisas

       Laguna Beach, CA

 

4     Kell’s Irish Restaurant & Pub

       Portland, OR

 

3     Bambuza Viet Nam Grille

       Tualatin, OR

 

2     The Skybox Sports Grill

       Saltillo, MS

 

1     Kermit’s Outlaw Kitchen

       Tupelo, MS

10 Foods that Fight Fatigue – (Crimini Mushrooms)

6. Crimini Mushrooms

These ‘shrooms are a great source of the B vitamins riboflavin, pantothenic acid, and niacin, and are a good source of thiamin, vitamin B6, and a good source of folate, say Lakatos and Shames. “B Vitamins are essential for energy production. Riboflavin does several things to help our bodies produce energy. First, it’s important in aerobic energy production, while it also protects the cell’s energy production house, mitochondria, from damage,” they say. To boot, pantothenic acid fights fatigue during times of stress by supporting the adrenal glands, and niacin helps convert food into usable energy.

Cajun Red Beans and Rice

It’s Monday, therefore, Red Beans & Rice. Enjoy Yall

Delicioso

With my wife hailing from Louisiana it was a necessity that I learn to cook “Cajun.”  Before I could begin cooking, however, I had to learn a few things such as:

• The Trinity = Celery, Onion & Bell Pepper
• Cayenne Pepper in just about everything
• Roux = The Beginning

With all of this in mind here is a Cajun specialty “Just For You.”

Ingredients:

4 cans red beans
1 can Rotel tomatoes (Original)
1 Red onion chopped semi fine
4 Green onions
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 stick salted butter
1 carton chicken stock
2 tbsp chopped garlic
2 tsp Sea salt
1 tbsp Tony Chacheres cajun seasoning
1 pound package Andouille sausage
1 13oz package smoked beef sausage
1 Bell pepper
2 Stalk celery
Long grain rice

Preparation:

The Roux – The Roux is the very beginning to this South Louisiana favorite; so here goes!

In a large…

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10 Foods That Fight Fatigue – (Nuts)

5. Nuts

Nuts pack both protein and fiber, which help boost energy and then keep it stable, say Lakatos and Shames. “They’re also great for replenishing and boosting energy after a workout. Roasted and salted pistachios are a natural way to get back some of the electrolytes you lose during exercise that leave you fatigued, like potassium and sodium,” they say. Bonus: These nuts serve up a healthy dose of magnesium.