Ahi Tuna Perfection

One of my favorite meals has always been Ahi Tuna. It can be very pricey to order at a restaurant, so I looked in to the cost of making it at home. Surprisingly, it is much more pocket book friendly, as the ingredients last a long time and fresh tuna fillets can be found at an affordable cost when on special. Frozen Tuna will also work and can be found for a very reasonable cost at your local grocery store.

Ahi Tuna is the perfect meal for a special night in with your honey or when you just need a fast meal for yourself. I love the versatility of this meal, perfect for lunch (over a salad) or for dinner. And the best part is it literally takes minutes to prepare! Because who wants to spend all of their time cooking on date night anyways?

**And guys, this meal would definitely be an impressive and tasty meal to surprise your lady with...and so easy, anyone can pull it off effortlessly!**

Ingredients:

4 small to medium Tuna fillets

1/4 cup white sesame seeds

1/4 cup black sesame seeds

1 tsp powdered ginger

1 tsp wasabi powder

1 tsp garlic powder

soy sacue

sesame oil

salt and pepper to taste

Brown rice

Your choice of vegetables

Instructions:

Start cooking the rice first, since it will take the longest. Rinse the tuna fillets off under running water and set on a plate. On a small place mix the black and white sesame seeds, ginger, wasabi (add more if you like it hot), garlic powder and a small amount of salt and pepper.

Pour about two teaspoons of sesame oil into a sauce pan over medium heat. Add 2 tuna fillets and turn heat down to medium low.

Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side, just searing each side. Add about a teaspoon of soy sauce right before pulling them out of the sauce pan.

Make sure that your plate with the sesame seed mixture is close by.

Dip each side of the seared tuna fillets in to the sesame seed mixture, making sure to completely cover each side.

Return tuna fillets to sauce pan with more sesame oil and soy sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. The middle should be pink, but warmed through. Repeat with the other 2 tuna fillets.

Remove fillets from heat and set aside. Place rice, which should be done at this point, int he middle of four plates.

Place tuna fillets on top of the bed of rice. Garnish with whatever vegetable you choose to cook and enjoy!! (You can also make this meal for lunch and serve over mixed greens or salad with an Asian inspired salad dressing, delicious!)

Hope you enjoy!!

XOXO, CutieTwins

~*Please feel free to email us with any questions you may have at TheCutieCooks@gmail.com*~

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Get Warm this Winter: Chicken, Rice and Veggie Soup

I am one of those chronically cold people. (I’ve been known to wear Ugg boots when I’m boating in the middle of July.) So when there is snow on the ground, I can never seem to warm up. From morning until night, I’m usually freezing. A good, hearty soup is one of the few things I can always count on to make me warm.

I recently made this chicken, rice and veggie soup. It’s delicious, filling and HEALTHY! At less than 200 calories per serving, you’re sure to stick to your new year’s resolution, feel satisfied and get cozy with this recipe.

Ingredients:
3 medium carrots
2 stalks celery
1 medium onion
Several leaves of kale
¾ cup brown jasmine rice
1 medium chicken breast
1 lemon
2 bay leaves
4 cups chicken broth
1 cup water

In a large pot, bring a ½ cup of chicken broth to a boil. Chop carrots, onion and celery. Reduce broth to a simmer and add carrots, onion and celery. Cook until onion becomes transparent (about 8 minutes). Stir occasionally.

In pot, add the remainder of your chicken broth, water, rice and bay leaves. Cut chicken breast into cubes, and add chicken to the broth. Squeeze the juice from one lemon (about ¼ cup), and add to broth. Bring broth to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer. Stir occasionally. Allow soup to simmer until chicken and rice are cooked (35 to 40 minutes). When chicken and rice are completely cooked, turn off the stove.

Thinly slice several leaves of kale. Remove bay leaves, and add kale. Allow soup to sit covered until kale is slightly wilted (three to five minutes). Add pepper to taste.

This soup is great paired with whole-wheat, grilled cheese sandwiches. The recipe makes five hearty servings and makes great leftovers! Enjoy!!

XOXO,
The CutieTwins
~*Please feel free to email us with any questions you may have at http://www.blogger.com/TheCutieCooks@gmail.com*~
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Watermelon Glazed Chicken with Corn and Blueberry Salad

Watermelon is a staple of Summer! It is served at almost every summer cookout or BBQ, adored by children and adults alike. It is so juicy and refreshing on those hot summer days, especially this summer! Plus, it's good for you! But what else can you do besides eat watermelon raw?

I discovered this summer that you can actually do a lot with it, including cook. So of course, I had to try it for myself! It was definitely a success, my family loved these recipes together. Much different than you might imagine just from hearing it but the Watermelon Glaze was the perfect mixture of sweet and spicy for a good summer meal. The Corn and Blueberry Salad was a great complement to cool the whole meal down while still adding its own unique flavors to the mix. It was a crowd pleaser to say the least!

Watermelon Glazed Chicken




Ingredients:

1 Watermelon glaze

3 1/2 lbs. meaty chicken pieces

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

fresh herbs (optional)


Instructions:

1) Prepare Watermelon Glaze; remove 1/3 cup and set aside.

Watermelon Glaze:

1 small watermelon

1 12-oz. jar of apple jelly (I used apple and cranberry chutney)

zest and juice of 1 small lime

2 tsp. red Chile flakes

1 tsp. jalapeno hot sauce or salsa

2) Cut half of the watermelon from the rind in to chunks and the other half in to wedges to serve with the chicken. Place chunks in a blender or juicer and blend until smooth. Pour into a fine mesh sieve over a bowl. Reserve 1 cup of the juice and discard the rest.

3) Melt jelly over low heat, stir often. Stir in 1 cup watermelon juice, lime juice and zest. Then add red Chile flakes, jalapeno hot sauce or salsa and a pinch of salt. Mix and taste. Use warm or let cool and refrigerate (will keep for 2 days).

4) Pat chicken dry with paper towels and prepare grill for indirect grilling.

5) Brush chicken with olive oil and salt and pepper both sides. Place skin down over indirect medium heat.

6) Grill 25 minutes. Turn chicken over and brush with glaze two more times. Let rest for 10 minutes. Serve with fresh watermelon wedges and sprinkle with fresh herbs.



Corn and Blueberry Salad

Ingredients:

6 ears fresh sweet corn

1 cup blueberries

1 small cucumber, sliced

1/4 cup red pepper (or red onion if you like), chopped

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped

Dressing:

2 tbsp. lime juice

2tbsp. olive oil

1 tbsp. honey

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

Instructions:

1) Bring salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add corn. Cook, covered, for 5 minute or until tender. Cool and cut corn off the cobs.

2) In a serving bowl, combine corn, blueberries, cucumber, red peppers (or red onion), cilantro, and jalapeno.

3) To make dressing, combine lime juice, oil, honey, cumin, and a 1/2 teaspoon salt in a screw top jar. Cover and shake well. Add to salad and toss!

The salad stays good if refrigerated for up to 24 hours. So make it in advance and sereve with the Watermelon Glased Chicken at your next cookout. I promise it will make the perfect end of summer meal and leave your guests begging you for the recipe!

Hope you enjoy!!

XOXO, CutieTwins

~*Please feel free to email us with any questions you may have at TheCutieCooks@gmail.com*~

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Never Skip Breakfast Again: 10 Fast and Healthy Fixes

For those of you who are either too rushed to eat breakfast or just need something quick to grab on the way to school or work, I have some easy ideas for the widespread breakfast dilemma so many of us seem to face!


Everyone knows breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So why do so many of us skip it? I used to be one of the many who would have way too many things to do in the morning to remember to eat breakfast. Once you're used to it its no big deal, right? Wrong!


My senior year of college, I finally started eating breakfast. Since then, I've learned that breakfast helps me eat healthier throughout the day, and keeps me much more satisfied. I have never been an early riser, so I had to find ways to make quick breakfasts that were yummy, healthy and sustainable throughout the day. Some of these are so easy, you won't believe it until you try it for yourself! And once you do, you will see that you no longer have any excuse to skip breakfast (or let your kids eat pop tarts anymore). Say hello to healthy eating and a happier healthier you!


1) Egg in a Mug Sandwich: Microwave an egg or 2 in a mug, either scrambled or not, for 30 seconds and place on a toasted whole wheat English muffin. Add cheese or bacon if you like.


2) Oatmeal: This is a healthy, fast meal that you can easily jazz up with your favorite fruits or spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. The fiber in oatmeal will keep you satisfied all morning.


3) Greek yogurt parfait: Add your favorite fruits or berries to Greek yogurt for a delicious and nutritious breakfast. You can even pre-make this the night before to save time in the morning!


4) Instant muffin in a cup: Choose your favorite muffin mix or homemade recipe and whip up the batter at night. Keep refrigerated until morning. Pour muffin batter into a paper or plastic cup, fill half way and microwave for 30 seconds for a perfectly moist muffin. Serve with fresh fruit for a complete meal. Batter should stay fresh for up to one week.


5) Grapefruit: One of my personal morning favorites; I always sprinkle a little bit of sugar over the top of each grapefruit half. This is good for a morning when you are not too hungry but need a little something!


6) Scrambled eggs with cheese: Scrambled eggs take only minutes to make. I usually use one egg and one egg white, to cut the fat and cholesterol in half. If I'm in a hurry I just scramble with Swiss or feta cheese, but if I have a little extra time I add more goodies like peppers, mushrooms, spinach, artichoke hearts, or whatever else I have on hand at the time.


7) Frittatas: Whisk eggs together and add whatever veggies you like. Pour into a small pan and place in the oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Frittatas are a fresh alternative from your daily scrambled eggs.


8) Cereal with fruit: Choose a healthy cereal, like any from the Kashi line, and add fresh fruit or nuts.


9) Fruit Smoothies: This is the perfect breakfast for a car ride commute to work. Take your favorite fruits like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries or raspberries, and blend them with Greek yogurt. You can use fresh fruit and add ice or frozen fruit works well, too. Pour into a glass for a meal on the go!


10) Stuffed mini crescent rolls: This is a super easy one that all kids are bound to love! Take Pillsbury mini crescent rolls and lay them out on a cookie sheet. Fill them with jam, chocolate chips or cheese and roll them up. Follow cooking directions on the container and serve with fresh fruit for extra nutrients.

Please feel free to email us at TheCutieCooks@gmail.com with any questions!!

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Special thanks to the fabulous Maggie Conner, follow her blog, TheHauteHoosier too!

Four Easy Tips to Make a Pizzeria-Tasting Pie

Like so many people, I love pizza; it’s a staple in my diet. When I think about pizza, my mind usually conjures images of Pizzology (Indy), Bazbeaux (Indy) or Gino’s East (Chicago). A recent episode of a show called “Pizza Wars: NYC v. Chicago” recently brought my obsession into perspective. I have been to the every featured pizzeria in the episode, though I’ve never lived in either city.

As much as I enjoy the Italian goodness, I’m not a huge fan of oven pizzas. But sometimes it’s just so easy and convenient to pop a frozen pie in the oven. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tips to make oven pizza taste a little more like your favorite pizza joint. It may not exactly rival Pizzology or Bazbeaux, but with these simple tips, you can make a pizza in your kitchen that you’re proud of.

Tip #1: Get a pizza baking stone! For around $30, you can pick one up just about anywhere that sells kitchen gadgets. The stone will ensure the perfect combination of a crispy yet chewy crust. The more you use it, the better your pizzas will taste. After your first run with a pizza baking stone, I’m confident you’ll agree it was $30 well spent. Note: The stones aren’t meant to be washed. I keep mine on the bottom self of my oven. Crumbs and sauce overspill burn off.

Tip #2: Buy pizzas that are refrigerated, not frozen, with minimal toppings; add fresh toppings of your choice. My favorite at-home pizzas come from Whole Foods ($8-$10). The pies are always fresh. You can find them in the refrigerated food area. I pick up a simple cheese pizza then hit the produce department and deli for the rest of my ingredients. I buy fresh veggies and pepperoni that I add to the pizza when I get home. By adding fresh ingredients, it improves the texture and flavor of the pie.

Tip #3: Sprinkle the pizza with crushed red pepper. In my opinion, the sauces on take home pizzas leave much to be desired. I add a little crushed red pepper for an extra kick of flavor.

Tip #4: After slicing and plating the pizza, lightly drizzle it with a flavored olive oil. I prefer red pepper and chili infused olive oil- I discovered it about a year ago at a hole-in-the-wall NYC pizzeria. If you don’t like red pepper, you can get olive oils infused with numerous herbs and spices.

By following the four simple tips listed above, your oven pizzas will taste a little more like takeout.

Feel free to email us with any questions or comments! TheCutieCooks@gmail.com Happy Cooking!

XOXO,

The CutieTwins

'Tis the Season for Open Housing: How to Throw an Effortless Graduation Party

As alot of our loved ones are graduating at this time, there are a lot of parties to attend. If you're anything like my family, you get a ton of invites to these things and end up open house "hopping" every weekend from May through June!

So what happens when it comes time to throw your graduate an open house? Do you try to "one up" all the others, or try to plan so that you can enjouy your time with family and friends, unlike "Ms. Party Perfect"? We vote for the second option! Let's face it; we couldn't one up her anyways.

That doesn't mean that you can't have a chic party yourself, even on a budget. We are here to give you the 411 on how to throw an efforetlessly chic graduation open house! The key is to keep it light and refreshing, since most people bounce from open house to open house.

First, decide where you want to place the food buffet, as it is the focal point of the party. If you want it inside, the dining room or kitchen will work best. If you want the food outside, anywhere on a deck will work, although a screened-in porch keeps bugs away from food.

Food, although the focal point, should not be your biggest worry. Most people bounce from open house to open house and eat a little at each. So keep it simple. Pick something that will be effortless to keep fesh and at the right temperature. Here are some ideas:

- A taco or burrito bar, where people can create their own
- Pulled pork is a very easy food to either cater in or make yourself and keep warm in a crock pot
- Ham and turkey sandwiches, either catered in or homemade

For effortless side dishes, try a mix of any of these options:

- Fruit platter
- Veggie platter
- Cheese and cracker platter
-Potato salad, tuna salad, chicken salad and/or fruit salad



All of these can easily be homemade or bought pre-made at your local grocery store!

For easy desert options, if you so wish to serve desert, stick with summer staples like popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, or single serve ice cream cups. Place in coolers or bowls of ice to keep frozen.

And of course, use paper plates and plastic utensils to make clean up easy for guests. Place a couple of trash cans throughout the party in inconspicuous places.


Drinks should be the most effortless part. All you need are a few tubs or coolers filled with ice. Serve mini bottled waters and any assortment of mini sodas that you would like. Place tubs or coolers throughout the party, maybe one by the food and one outside, so guests can easily find refreshments!

If you want to serve adult beverages, do the same thing with wine and/or beer, placed in smaller tubs or buckets. I would advise only serving adualt beverages in one location so that you do not have to serve or buy as much.


Decorations should be minimal and easy to put up and take down. There is no reason to spend a fortune; you can probably find all you need at your local dollar store. Just be sure to use your grad's school colors.

For the most effortless decorating, stick with a "Congratulations Graduate" banner and some streamers and balloons placed around the party. For an added touch use colored table clothes and table skirts. You can also use colored paper plates and plastic utensils. Hanging flower baskets are also an easy added touch for outdoors, and they will last all summer with little maitenance.

One of the most important decorations to have are pictures of your grad! You can place them throughout the party on serving tables, or as center pieces or you can dedicate a single table or location for pictures and posters. Lay out your graduate's senior pictures so that people can take them as a memento. You can also make a banner that family and friends can sign that acts as a "guest book"!




Something fun my mom has done for each of the grads in my family is make a memory book of our entire lives. It is a great conversation piece to lay out in the living room as a coffee table book, or what have you. It is always a big hit and a great present that I have added on to as the years go by!

Lastly, and most importantly, ask one or two of your close friends or neighbors to come and help you do most of the restocking of drinks and food throughout the party. This will allow you to be stress free and enjoy visiting with family and friends.

Have fun planning and Happy Open Houseing!!

XOXO, CutieTwins


Please feel free to email us at TheCutieCooks@gmail.com with any questions or for more ideas or yummy recipes!


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Finding the CutieCook in Everyone

Hello and welcome! We are Linds and Ally, also dubbed the CutieCooks!

We believe that there is a CutieCook in everyone! Women should feel fearless and fabulous in the kitchen every single day. So we are here to act as a guide for those of you who find yourselves a bit intimidated by cooking or who are just looking for some yummy new recipes.

Do you ever find yourself thinking, “I’m over eating carry out for dinner five nights a week. Maybe I should actually fire up that big metal cube in my kitchen.”? If you have, we’ve got lots of tips to get you started making simple, healthy meals for yourself and those you love.

Most of us don’t have the time to spend hours a day preparing for each meal. If you’re anything like us, you have a lot going on these days, so grabbing take out on your way home from work or popping a frozen pizza in the oven is an easy solution to the never-ending “what’s for dinner?” dilemma. All of you women who spend your days juggling a million different things and don’t have much time to get in the kitchen have inspired us to share our simple and delicious recipes.

Our goal is to help you enjoy cooking and to create a healthier and happier society around us. Trust us, we were NO wonder in the kitchen before we set out on this quest…but we hope that you will see that if we can do it, so can you!!

We are going to start sharing some of our favorite quick, easy and healthy recipes with you! You can also visit our blog for video posts—a visual guide, if you will-- of us cooking some of those recipes and videos of the people around us who inspire us to become better cooks.

We are always open to your suggestions and/or requests! Feel free to email us with any questions or comments at TheCutieCooks@gmail.com.

You can also visit our Etsy store to learn more about CutieCooks and what we do at http://www.cutiecooks.etsy.com!

We hope you enjoy!

XOXO,

CutieTwins

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