July 29, 2010

My friend’s a jerk chicken master. So when we were invited over to enjoy some of his special hot and spicy jerk chicken we didn’t hesitate. However, no amount of questioning and cajoling could pry the recipe from him. His marinade was very spicy, intense and flavorful which makes sense since he says he marinates it for two days! I left with a full belly but empty handed.

So when Sobey’s challenged food bloggers to try some of their new recipes, and their Sensations by Compliments Caribbean Jerk Marinade was on the list of foods they would send me, I jumped at the chance. Hoping it would be that easy to recreate the real thing was a bit naïve, I guess. 

The bottled sauce just did not have the kick of a real jerk but it was quite pleasant.  I’d call it Caribbean pork and enjoy it often with its smooth tingle of sour sweet. I’d even feed it to kids, it was that mild.  But for a more jerk experience, I found a few enhancements made the dish much, much better.

Cheatin’ Jerk

1/3 cup Sensations by Compliments Caribbean Jerk Marinade
3 tbsp lime juice
1 tsp dried thyme
1 pinch clove
1 pinch red pepper flakes
1-4 pinches cayenne pepper (to taste)
6 boneless centre cut pork chops

Mix together marinade, juice and spices. Pour over chops and refrigerate as long as you can up to 48 hours.  BBQ over med-high heat until pork reaches 160F.  Serve with salsa below.

Tropical Salsa

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp malt vinegar
1 tbsp Sensations by Compliments Caribbean Jerk Marinade
1 mango diced
2 tbsp fresh mint, minced

Toss ingredients together and serve on the side.

Labels/Tags: Theresa Albert, Mummy Eats, Health, Ace Your Health, Cookbook, Health Book, Jerk Pork

Posted by TheresaA at 08:55:11 View Comments | Click Here to Comment

July 25, 2010

Vacations play funny tricks with my body. Last week we did the Huron county tour of Farm to Table as we always do. I feel good about shopping along the way at the farm gate, seeing the growers and producers of my food is only natural to me and it is something that I try to carry into my real life.

In my real life, I am as aware and healthy as I can be. The workouts are regular, the meals are thoughtful and the treats are low.  On vacation, the whole thing gets flipped.  The workouts become ad hoc, the meals often from a cooler on the beach (with portions that I normally wouldn’t allow myself) and the baked goods too good to resist.  All of this means that I come home and don’t like the feeling of a waistband all of a sudden. And in just one week!

Interestingly my hubby takes the opportunity to smarten up.  Since he is under my cooking care for the whole week, he actually loses weight.  His fruits and vegetable intake increase, his meals are more regular (he is a terrible lunch skipper) and his holiday schedule (and access to the beach) allows him to exercise more often.

So which one of us has this right? Who is the smarter bear? Me with my “all healthy 51 weeks of the year” or he with his “I’ll take this week to tweak”? Well, both actually.  We are each getting what we need when we need it. 

I need a week to drop the damned ball to remember that I feel better in my regime. He to remember that my harping is helpful and that he feels better when he pays attention.  We both need the reminders of a vacation to get back on track! We just approach it from opposite ends.  And in the end, it is me taking the lead and I am already on the road to recovery. Strapping my sneakers on now and getting back to my smart breakfast. He is on his way out the door WITH his lunch.  We will both do our best to keep our health and our vacation keenly in focus knowing that it will all come out in the wash.

(No, like literally, could someone else please wash the clothes? I got the food thing covered!)

Labels/Tags: Theresa Albert, Mummy Eats, Health, Ace Your Health, Cookbook, Health Book, Vacations

Posted by TheresaA at 07:48:27 View Comments | Click Here to Comment

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