if you're in the mood to cook

Honey Glazed Sweet Potatoes:

1 pound satsuma imo (red skin, yellow flesh sweet potatoes), peeled and cut into 1″ chunks
vegetable oil for frying
1 teaspoon sesame oil
mild honey
toasted sesame seeds

Add the satsuma imo to a pot large enough to fit all of them in one layer. Cover the potatoes in vegetable oil, then add the sesame oil. Turn the heat on to medium high and fry them. until they are medium brown on one side. Flip them over and continue frying until they are dark brown and have a thick crunchy shell. Transfer the fried potatoes to a large metal bowl and drizzle a copious amount of honey on top. You need to work quickly as the residual heat from the potatoes is needed to caramelize the honey. Toss the potatoes to give them an even coating of honey, then sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Black sesame seeds look better, but I only had white ones. Serve immediately, but be careful, they’re hot! Note: While you normally don’t add things to the oil when it’s cold, these big pieces of potato need some time at a lower temperature so they cook all the way through. Since potatoes aren’t very porous, they don’t have the problem of absorbing too much oil you would have if you were to do the same thing with something breaded for instance.

Roasted Broccolini with Pistachios: 

1lb baby broccoli or broccolini, washed
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup shelled raw pistachios, chopped
2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese, divided
salt
pepper'

1. Preheat oven to 425
2. In a roasting pan, arrange broccoli in an even layer
3. Toss with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper
4. Add chopped pistachios
5. Roast for 20 minutes
6. Toss broccoli mixture and sprinkle with 1 tbsp parmesan
7. Roast for another 20 minutes
8. Serve with parmesan and black pepper

Check out FoodGawker.com for more amazing recipes!! 

10 best foods

I bet you did not know that some of your favorite, great tasting foods were actually the best for you! Here is a list of ten foods that you may be surprised to know contain a variety of extremely healthy nutrients. Recipes containing these foods coming this week! 

1. Sweet Potatoes

A nutritional All-Star — one of the best vegetables you can eat. They're loaded with carotenoids, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. Bake and then mix in some unsweetened applesauce or crushed pineapple for extra moisture and sweetness.

2. Mangoes

Just one cup of mango supplies 100% of a day’s vitamin C, one-third of a day’s vitamin A, a decent dose of blood-pressure-lowering potassium, and 3 grams of fiber. Bonus: mango is one of the fruits least likely to have pesticide residues.

3. Unsweetened Greek Yogurt

Non-fat, plain Greek yogurt has a pleasant tartness that’s a perfect foil for the natural sweetness of berries, bananas, or your favorite breakfast cereal. It’s strained, so even the fat-free versions are thick and creamy. And the lost liquid means that the yogurt that’s left has twice the protein of ordinary yogurt – about 17 grams in 6 ounces of plain Greek yogurt.

4. Broccoli

It has lots of vitamin C, carotenoids, vitamin K and folic acid. Steam it just enough so that it's still firm and add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes and a spritz of lemon juice.

5. Wild Salmon

The omega-3 fats in fatty fish like salmon can help reduce the risk of sudden-death heart attacks. And wild-caught salmon has less PCB contaminants than farmed salmon.

6. Crispbreads

Whole-grain rye crackers, like Wasa, Kavli, and Ryvita — usually called crispbreads — are loaded with fiber and often fat-free. Drizzle with a little honey and sprinkle with cinnamon to satisfy your sweet tooth. 

7. Garbanzo Beans

                                

All beans are good beans. They’re rich in protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc. But garbanzos stand out because they’re so versatile. Just drain, rinse, and toss a handful on your green salad; throw them into vegetable stews, curries, and soups; mix them with brown rice, whole wheat couscous, bulgur, or other whole grains.

8. Watermelon

Watermelon is a heavyweight in the nutrient department. A standard serving (about 2 cups) has one-third of a day’s vitamins A and C, a nice shot of potassium, and a healthy dose of lycopene for only 80 fat-free, salt-free calories. And when they’re in season, watermelons are often locally grown, which means they may have a smaller carbon footprint than some other fruits.

9. Butternut Squash

Steam a sliced squash or buy peeled, diced butternut squash at the supermarket that’s ready to go into the oven, a stir-fry, or a soup. It’s an easy way to get lots of vitamins A and C and fiber.

10. Leafy Greens

Don’t miss out on powerhouse greens like kale, collards, spinach, turnip greens, mustard greens, and Swiss chard. These stand-out leafy greens are jam-packed with vitamins A, C, and K, folate, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, lutein, and fiber. Serve with a splash of lemon juice or red wine vinegar. 

taken from: http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html 

major league eating?!?!?!

Bill Myers, 35th ranked professional eater of Major League Eating's 50 top ranked contestants, spoke to my journalism class yesterday. It truly inspired to me to think about this yes... professional sport like I never had before. 
I knew that eating contests happened across the country (mostly in America of course) but I never thought of the extent of the profession, sponsors and hype involved. Personally, I am disgusted by anyone who can consume 16 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Currently the top female competitor is Sonya Thomas. She once ate 10% of her body weight in cheesecake. THAT is absurd. 
Myers said that most of the contestants throw up after every competition, but he never does. He also said that many of the contestants are thin and fit....... 
I just thought I'd consider what the appeal of eating so much food at one time is. I am assuming with these eaters it is the large sum of money. I think I'd much rather sit in an office but I guess there is something to be said about earning $5000 in 10 minutes. 
I think there's something to be said about American's fascination with supporting contests of who can eat the most in the shortest about of time.... gross if you ask me but I am open to other opinions on the subject.  

horns

New to 4th Street this year Horns has become popular among the majority of Lehigh students as well as the locals. Horns prides itself on cooking local, organic, extremely fresh food. As written on one of their chalk boards that hangs overhead: "We strive to use the freshest, locally sourced and organic produce whenever possible. We are committed to living an eco-lifestyle that will benefit ALL of us in our community!" They are dedicated to reducing their carbon footprint by recycling, composting, supporting sustainable agriculture, and serving grass-fed and nitrate-free meat. It seems to be working! 

Their vegetarian options are excellent, and everyone raves about their burgers. They have provided us with an interesting atmosphere that beats out almost any restaurant off campus for great food. My new favorite thing to get there (as a vegetarian) is the roasted vegetable wrap. It is slightly pricey at 9 bucks but definitely worth it. The wrap I got this weekend had spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and a special dressing. Delish! My friend raved about her burger, and you can never go wrong with the fries. Bring your appetite! 

that time I became a vegetarian

I read Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer for a class last semester and it changed my life. It caused me to reevaluate meat consumption, our entire food industry, and the way that Americans think about food. Foer writes this book as he experiences the food industry, with a first-hand account of the exploration he did after becoming a father. 
He does not write this book to turn his readers into vegetarians. Instead, he colorfully describes the impacts of our food industry and how harmful it truly is. I am not the only person that has become a veg after reading this book. 
I do not want to give too much away but I highly suggest reading this book. I have developed a passion for wanting to change how we process and experience food as a country and this book is a great start toward developing knowledge about all of this. 
This is an excerpt taken from the book: 
Before visiting any farms, I spent more than a year wading through literature about eating animals: histories of agriculture, industry and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) materials, activist pamphlets, relevant philosophical works, and the numerous existing books about food that touch on the subject of meat. I frequently found myself confused. Sometimes my disorientation was the result of the slipperiness of terms like suffering, joy, and cruelty . Sometimes it seemed to be a deliberate effect. Language is never fully trustworthy, but when it comes to eating animals, words are as often used to misdirect and camouflage as they are to communicate. Some words, like veal, help us forget what we are actually talking about. Some, like free-range, can mislead those whose consciences seek clarification. Some, like happy, mean the opposite of what they would seem. And some, like natural, mean next to nothing.


If you would like more information please visit the website: Eating Animals

the "fro-yo" craze

If you haven't hopped onto the fro-yo train yet I suggest you try it. This low-cal dessert is extremely satisfying and SO FUN! The closest legitimate fro-yo provider to Lehigh is So Fun! Yogurt located by the Target at 3770 Dryland Way
Easton, PA 18045. Pricing is by weight so just beware that the more you indulge the more expensive it will be! 100% worth the drive out there. You can even try every single flavor before you go for the gold. My personal favorite is cake batter. They do rotate their flavors regularly so you may be surprised each time you go! More from your foodie to come this week... Happy Easter and Passover to those observing this weekend!

something to think about

Do you ever think about what you eat? I mean really think about it. Who picked the tomato in your salad? Where did the seeds come from? Do you have any knowledge of the science behind these seeds? 
What does your daily eating really consist of? 
I have started to think more about the answers to these questions. I have recently learned that almost all of the food that we consume has been genetically modified in some way and that meat is processed in ways no one would ever want to hear about. It has caused me to question whether anything we put into our bodies is remotely good for us. Obviously I am still alive and healthy (knock on wood), but having learned about what we really eat it is hard to imagine how. 
Europe enjoys food in a way that seems completely natural. Food serves a purpose to other countries that is foreign from American culture. They enjoy their home cooked meals in a relaxing setting surrounded by family and friends, truly savoring each bite and the company around them. Meals in our country consist of a family eating most likely something microwaved at completely separate times often in front of the TV... upsetting huh?  
There's only one way to change the system and that is to change how we as Americans think and act on a daily basis. We are all too concerned with where we're going, how long it will take to get there, and what we will get out of it. The majority of us want cheap and fast and do not bother to be concerned with the other details... My life goal is to be able to work toward making healthy delicious food available and affordable. It has to be possible!! I wanted this post to give some background and insight behind this blog. I want food to be a central part of American's lives because I believe in the power it holds to bring people and culture together. 


"Food connects us... to our bodies, to each other, to the earth." - Frances Moore Lappe


While reviewing the restaurants that we Lehigh students enjoy I want to ask you to take some time to reflect on what food consumption has become for you and what it should be. For the sake of the planet and our relationships do you want to make a change? 

the infamous 'Mexican night'

Fully equipped with beef, chicken,veggie burger with black beans, corn and red peppers, bean and corn salsa, sour cream, cheddar cheese and GUAC Mexican night is one of my house's favorite dinners. This buffet makes for the perfect taco salad and leaves me satisfied every time. 


If you're looking for an actual authentic Mexican experience, I recommend hopping over to Tulum for a quick burrito, conveniently located across from Johnny's and next to what used to be Dave's deli (still in denial that they have moved to Mountain Top). "Tulum's Burritos come with your choice of Beef, Pork, Chicken, or Grilled veggies. They are all stuffed with rice, beans, cheese, Pico de Gallo, crema and a crisp tropical salad." They offer a wide variety of burritos, tacos and quesadillas all for around 7 bucks. It is rare that I hear a bad review about their stuff. They even take Gold Plus!! 


If you'd like to plan your order ahead of time visit this site for their menu: Tulum!!

allow me to introduce myself

I am 20 years old and enjoying college life. I have always been goal-oriented and I have come to decide that my future goals include earning a masters in nutrition and helping the world in some way to change how we eat and ultimately live. Child obesity should not be a part of the American vocabulary. I believe that a healthier population and a healthier environment stems from the food that we create and consume. 
On a different note! I am starting this blog to share my passion for food with the rest of Bethlehem. I never expected to have access to such a wide variety of great food in a past steel capital that looks the way it does today. Surprise! I can name at least 20 delicious restaurants within 10 minutes driving distance from my house on the hill at Lehigh. Most would not count the food prepared by my sorority chef... well... some might. 
I plan to provide thorough reviews, menu information, nutrition information, and thoughtful insight into good eats around Bethlehem as I experience them first hand. Enjoy!!