Fortunato's

So it is far past due that I give a shout out to my favorite local bakery. Fortunato's. Conveniently located right up the street, I love stopping in after dinner for a cappuccino and a cannoli. I love the old italian men who idle away the afternoons here almost as much as the food. The cheesecake is fabulous, I love the cannoli, the eclair, and the cream puffs. I also love the bite size of each pastry, it's just the right amount of dessert. They also offer gelato, some I've enjoyed, some I have not. I love straciatella, but I find their version to have a strange tinny flavor. Otherwise, I have no complaints.

Looking forward to my next visit...

No Impact Man

So it's been almost a month of being a vegetarian, 3 since I vowed to "change my diet instead of go on a diet", and about 4 since I watched Food, Inc, which started it all. So far? The changes have all felt pretty easy- I'm actually not missing meat very much at all (Although hot wings I have missed, dearly). It has been great to see what I've truly missed (italian imported Speck, YES) and what I've probably been eating just because I didn't know any better (chicken breast, breast, breast). I can't say more than I'm signing up for another month. I feel really good about the fuel I've been putting in my body, and that is all that matters to me.

It has been really interesting, on the other hand, to see and hear friends and family member's reactions to the news. I kinda tried not to make a big deal out of it, but when it eventually came up- most seemed intrigued, and then wanted to know if it was politics, health, or some other reason. Well folks, as I've said before, it is both- though I still stand by my belief that meat is an ok and natural part of the diet, as long as the animals are treated humanely during their stay here on earth. I have no doubt there will be times in the future when I am going to treat myself to some meat- but that is exactly what I think it should be- a very special treat.

The past few weeks have led down some interesting paths. Can you really be aware of how your food consumption impacts the environment and your health without starting to question every other thing you do? The answer is no. Cleaning products? Make-up? It all becomes suspect. And as I look around me, I start to question our collective consumption- and my individual, too- and wonder about my impact on the environment. Right now, I take and take and take- and I'm leaving a footprint. Yeah, I comfort myself with my use of mass transit, our new reusable grocery sacks, and that we recycle our plastics and paper products. But we still produce more trash than we should, and we fly on an awful lot of airplanes, and eat food from far away. In the long run, we'll have to do more.

Which brings me to No Impact Man. A film and book about a NYC family that spends an entire year reducing their carbon footprint to zero, No Impact Man goes to the limits- riding their bikes EVERYWHERE for a year, shopping only in local farmer's markets, reducing their trash to nothing (including not using disposable TP!), and turning off their electricity.

Understandably, the author does not expect most to got to the extremes he did- and following the experiment, some things in their lives have gone back to "normal". But just like my food experiment, by pushing the limits- this family realized what they really needed and what was excess. I hope to live like that- in the balance, taking just what we need- and giving some back.


Check out No Impact Man's blog @:
http://noimpactman.typepad.com/

Vegging Out: The Entree Salad

Since going the way of the veggie-eater, I have given some thought to what makes for a good entree salad. I have always been a fan of eating my greens, but trying to "beef" them up to be the main part of the meal has taken some creativity. But here are some of my new favorite ingredients, and my classic salad secrets. Friends swear by them, and revealed here for the first time- I feel a little strange. I only told my husband the trick a few years back... Well, for you, dear readers, I present the world:

(As you move through each category, the trick is to add less and less of that set- so lots of leaves, a little less veg, a little less fruit, and then a pinch of dairy, protein, and finally light on the dressing makes for the right ratio!!)


1. Begin with...

Rubbing the bowl with a clove of garlic. Reserve to make dressing.

2. Add: Leaves:
-Arugula
-Spinach
-Radicchio
-Endive
-Romaine Hearts
-Boston lettuce
-Red and Green leaf
-Dandelion, frisee, etc
-fresh herbs: basil, parsley, oregano

I like at least 2 kinds of lettuce in my salad. I can't stand iceberg. Not sure why anyone eats it, it's predominantly bland, pretty much like eating water, and it makes me burp like crazy. *Dislike* If I am using a head of lettuce, I do not cut the leaves with a knife but rip them with my hands. I rinse them and pat them dry, but leave a little water on them to mix with the dressing.


3. Add: Veggies

-Roast Red Peppers
-Cherry tomato (Room temperature! No one likes a cold tomato...)
-green or yellow bell pepper
-baby bella mushrooms (I can't stand white button, again NO flavor whatsoever, though at least in this case I get why the texture can be pleasing)
-garbanzo or black beans
-corn
-red onion
-shredded carrot
-beets
-cucumber
-asparagus, other dark greens

I usually overdue it if I use more than 2-3 veggie mix-ins tops. It's hard to stop myself sometime, but then the veggies just become overwhelming.

4. Add: Fruits, Nuts, Seeds:
-strawberry, apple, pear, orange, grapes
-dried cranberry
-walnuts
-pine nuts
-seeds

I will put in one of these choices for a sweet compliment to the salad.

5. Add:Protein
-eggs
-chicken (for my carnivore friends!)
-marinated beef
-portobello mushroom
-tunafish
-tofu
-bacon or pancetta

I suggest a small serving, just a handful!

6. Add:Dairy
-mozzarella
-parmesan/ pecorino
- crumbled goat cheese, feta, or blue

*Just a pinch!

7. Add: Secret Seasonings
-Pinch italian seasoning, pinch salt, fresh ground black pepper

8. Add:Balsamic Dressing:

1 clove garlic, minced very fine
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper
Up to 1 cup olive oil

Mix mustard, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. Slowly drizzle in olive oil and whisk. (This is key). Taste to adjust flavors. Pour on slowly, and enough to wet salad, but it should by no means be taking a bath! MY biggest pet peeve is an overdressed salad! If you actually put in great ingredients, you won't need to hide the bland flavor with a ton of dressing. If you like a crouton, or olives, toss just a few on top, and voila!

Serve!

Teddy's Bar & Grill

This is probably my favorite neighborhood "joint". We've been coming here for several years for brunch and lunch, and enjoy the food. I don't really see it as a dinner spot, but right through afternoon snacks, this place is great. I love the veggie and chicken paninis, which come with a side salad and are served hot and gooey with cheese. I LOVE the veggie burger here which does NOT come from a box, but which is clearly hand-made and delish. Ryan likes the burgers, and the bar food- nachos and quesadillas- are really good too. On a nice sunny day I love sitting by the open windows and watching people go by. Fun fact, it was featured in the the film "PS I Love You", so if you've seen the movie, you've already spent some time in this bar. The bar is over 100 years old, I believe, and has a great tin ceiling and wooden bar.

The reviews on Yelp are hit or miss, and I have heard this too. But I think I've almost always had hits- the complaints about mixed drinks just make me want to stick to the iced tea, wine, and beer option. I have never really tried some of the more complex food items either, so I suppose my advice is to just stick to the bar basics, and you should be satisfied too!!

Formaggio Kitchen

Few things get my heart pounding like "Formaggio". I love cheese. I have fond memories of eating cheese on picnics in the italian alps, on the steps of cathedrals, and in some of my favorite restaurants. The sight of many cheeses really just makes me happy. Throw in wine, local organic produce, fresh baked bread, and an impressive selection of fancy cold cuts... well, it took a lot not to buy the whole damn store.

My friend Casey accompanied me on our adventure, and we spent a solid 45 minutes shopping- and tasting! Of course, silly me, I neglected to write down all the names- but a few highlights:

- Sottocenere al Tartufo:

Let's just call it heaven. A soft white cheese with truffles. What more can a girl ask for?? It was divine. I had to buy some of this to bring home...

Comte- a french white, somewhat nutty, not my favorite, but tasty.

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar- this stuff was soooo tasty! The cheese lady was super helpful- and told us about how cabot makes this cheese at one dairy, from one herd. crazy.

We also tried several others- including an incredible blue cheese that is an exclusive import.

I highly recommend stopping by the next time you are in cambridge or on the lower east side of new york. But for everyone else, good news- they sell on their site, too- at: http://www.formaggiokitchen.com/

Pizza, Pizza: Motorino, Fornino, and Sal's

Everybody knows pizza is what it is all about in Brooklyn. A review of my favorites:



I gave a shout out to this place way back in my early posting days, but it deserves a full review. We probably go about once every other month, if not even more often. Along with Le Barricou, my favorite local brunch spot, this is definitely one of our most frequently visited spots. The menu changes often, with seasonal foods popping on and off. The pizzas have a thin crust and are fired in a charcoal oven. Ryan loves the sopresetta picante, which has spicy sopresetta on it and mozzarella cheese. I have had a few outstanding pizzas- most recently, I had one with cremini mushrooms that was to die for. I also really appreciated that they made me a non-meat version! They have some tasty salads too, and a nice bar. However, the real highlight- and I mean this as no small compliment- is the tiramisu for dessert. I have never seen Ryan inhale anything like he does this! I have to make sure to be aggressive, or it's gone. The custard is creamy, with cocoa powder and mint garnish, and a really great hazelnut flavor. We have also had the house-made bomboli- donuts- which were pretty insane. This spot has had a lot of press- Rachel Ray is apparently a very big fan of the East Village branch, but I can attest that it is not hype!





Before Motorino, there was Fornino. The first gourmet pizza place we had, it still offers a few amazing pies that are worth the trip. Perhaps most noteworthy is the truffle pizza, which is a $40 pie, and worth every cent. I've only had it once, but I'll remember it forever. Usually, though, I go for its cousin- a mushroom pizza with truffle oil. At about a fifth of the price, it still has so much flavor. The margarita pizza here is great, and all the ingredients are super fresh.




And before them all, there was Sal's. Sal's is old school. It is conveniently located across the corner from my apartment, and it has had my allegiance from my earliest visits to the neighborhood. The pepperoni is awesome, but over time I have come to love some of their specialty slices- the salad pizza, which requires a fork, is great. The white pizza is awesome. The marinara and pesto slice is great, and I also really love the fresh vegetables. I also have a particular fondness for their baked ziti, which I am dying to replicate at home one of these days. Finally, the chicken parm sub gets my seal of approval, though now that I am in meat retirement, I might have to try the eggplant. Next time you're in the burg, stop in to one of my fav's, and let me know which one is yours!

Nero D'Avola & drinks at Buddakan

I met my dad for dinner in the city the other night. Ironically, it was St. Patrick's day, and we went for Italian. Go figure. I have walked past Nero several times, and it always looked really romantic inside. It was also always packed, so it was nice to have a reservation on a *quieter* evening. I was really impressed by my glass of montepulciano, and couldn't get enough of the fresh bread and garlic-infused olive oil. We split an appetizer of Crostini- There was an artichoke, a tomato and basil, and a prosciutto- all were great and served with melted delicious buffalo mozzarella cheese. For my entree, I had super think maccheroni- real italian style- in a marinara sauce with eggplant. This is quickly becoming my go-to item- something about the eggplant really makes the tomato sauce pop, and brings out just so many fresh, spring flavors in the sauce! My dad opted for the carbonara, which he reported was also good, though not as good as he has had in the past. Overall, I was really pleased with this spot. There was a ton of flavor in the food- something that can be lacking, but here, it was clear everything was fresh and quality.





After dinner we stopped in Buddakan for a drink and to soak in the sexy atmosphere. I'd been dying to check the bar out for a while, and I figured my dad would appreciate the elaborate decor. This really is a beautiful space. I recommend sitting at one of the low tables- the bar stools were a little rough, but the place was really cool!!

Stuffed Peppers

I remember this one fondly from my childhood. I figured a month without meat should include this classic! I made it two ways, so Ry could have beef in his- but the beans did a great job substituting in this recipe! One thing I find tricky is getting a good flavor in the sauce- it can very easily turn bland. I’m thinking next time I’ll add the sauce into the sautéed garlic and onions to grab those flavors, and season it up with Italian spices, and lots of pepper.

Red, orange, yellow, or green peppers- 1 per person, and 1 for the pot
1 cup cooked brown rice (will fill 4 peppers easily)
onion
2 cloves garlic
olive oil
Italian seasoning
1 large can tomato soup or tomato/pepper soup
1 can kidney or black beans OR hamburger beef
salt & pepper
pinch cayenne
jalepeno, celery, or eggplant
parmesan/pecorino/mozzarella cheese
bread crumbs
hot sauce


Oven @ 350

Prep each pepper by removing tops and stems. You can either leave them whole or cut them in half. Set aside in a casserole dish deep enough to fill with soup at least halfway to top of peppers.

Cook the rice. Brown onions in olive oil and add garlic. Add beans and any other veggies, or beef if desired. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.

Mix the tomato soup into the beans mixture over low heat, and a splash or two of your favorite hot sauce. Then remove from heat and stir into rice.

Spoon mixture into peppers. Cover with remaining tomato soup, and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Top with grated cheeses and a splash of olive oil, salt and pepper to taste.

Bake for 30-40 minutes, until mixture and peppers are cooked and cheese melts. Finish it off with a few minutes in the broiler for a nice cheesy topping!

Voila! Serve over mashed potatoes, or with salad and bread.

Austin, Texas

Ryan and I love this town. We made our third trip to the great state of Texas, and spent a lovely weekend with two of our favorite people- Lori & Brendan. As always, there was a fair amount of eating and drinking, and good times to be had! If you haven’t been, put it on the list. SO great! Beautiful weather this time of year, warm sunny days (enough for me to get a sunburn) cool nights, and for the music lovers, the SXSW festival. Here are a few highlights from this trip, and a shout out or two for places that are just must-visits:



Gueros- This place is awesome goodness. Now on our third trip, I can confirm that this is a time & again classic. I highly recommend the chicken enchiladas with verde sauce. The salsa is spicy and fresh, the chips are great, but the margaritas really steal the limelight! I seem to remember from prior visits that the queso here is pretty damn amazing too. Don’t miss it!

Doc’s- Cute little lunch spot with ample outdoor seating. Nothing special bar food, good ice tea, and a convenient location.

Uncle Billy’s- barbecue joint offering items like “brisket” “moist brisket” and the like. Try the beer sampler of their house-made brews and receive 6 different tastes.



Steiner ranch steakhouse- We had cocktails at the outdoor bar and watched the setting sun over the lake. Live music added to the vibe, and the place definitely can boast an amazing view. I was a little disappointed that the wine list was fairly limited by the glass, but did have a tasty pour of a blanc de blanc. We didn’t try the food, though rumor has it the steak is quite good. Worth a drive on a pretty day!




Carlos & Charlies- Right on the marina, somewhere outside of Austin, this place is more or less a bucket of fun. The restaurant has a kitschy vibe, with outdoor bars and seating, and lots of neon. We snacked on some wings, which my husband declared both very spicy and really good. Ry & Brendan sampled the oysters and peel & eat shrimp, and Lori & I had Caesar salads. I have to admit that the wings smelled pretty amazing and tempted me to eat some meat, but I managed to get a hold of myself! There was a plethora of fruity drinks and margaritas to be had to wash down our tasty food.


Buenos Aires Café- Another South Austin restaurant we tried on this trip was the BA Café. I have to preface this by saying Ry & I are totally snobby about Argentinean cuisine, having found most of the restaurants to be somewhat inauthentic in flavors and quality. That being said, this place had charm and very good dessert, though maybe not all we dreamed of for our entrees. We started with empanadas, not really the first food that pops to mind when I think of the Tango nation, and they were a bit disappointing. The shells seemed heavy and as though they had sat a while after hitting the fryer. The spinach and cheese filling was a bit bland, and Ryan suspected that the tuna empanada was not the freshest. I had a spinach salad for my entrée, that was fresh and tasty, but perhaps a little overdressed. Ryan ordered a steak special that he really enjoyed. The steak was well seasoned and cooked, and served with asparagus and mashed potatoes. Brendan had the beef Milanese, but after seeing Ryan’s, wished he’d gone with the steak special too.



Hiball- One of Austin's "hot spots" of the moment, this new bar features an old-fashioned bowling alley and private karaoke rooms!! The wait for bowling was quite long, but the rooms were open ASAP, so we went for the karaoke! Ryan was a beast unleashed- singing all sorts of songs, and really rocking out to "Rapper's Delight". Fun times!! I of course had to sing a song by my all-time fav- Madonna.


Mighty Fine Burger- The burger, Ry tells me, was indeed fine- and for a fast food joint, high quality. It has a large, real beef patty- and tasty fixins. But what really knocked my socks off was the chocolate milkshake! They use vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup- and it tastes like a chocolate milk- milkshake! SO good. Thank god this is in Austin or I would be here about once a week, no joke!!



Baby Alcapulco’s

Last but not least, we visited "Baby A's" for Queso and slushy margaritas- complete with secret ingredients: everclear. There were a ton of flavors to pick from- including prickly pear- and all packed a punch! Two seems to be the limit- though I abstained, Ry and Brendan were feeling quite good!!

Oh yes, and a shout out for the best BBQ EVER, though we did not return on this trip, but have loved in trips past-

THE SALT LICK



Don't ask questions, just take my word for it. Best BBQ EVER.

Coffee Shop

I recently revisited Coffee Shop with my Mom. I get such a kick out of this place. There is always a bit of a mob- outside on sunny days, with their dogs at the tables, and waiting in line most every day. The waitresses are all aspiring models, dressed to impress, but not so thrilled to serve. Great eye candy, always. The menu is eclectic with some brazilian influence- lots of salads, sandwiches, and the like. I have never had dinner here, and tend to think of it as a lunch/brunch spot. This past visit, I ordered my favorite: a mozzarella, tomato, basil sandwich with an olive tapenade. It is served on fresh french bread, and I always opt for the side salad. I tend to eat this sandwich a lot- and I think one of the best versions I've had is here. The olive tapenade is never overpowering and the sandwich is slightly toasted. I love it! My mom opted for the cheeseburger, which she loved.

To me, the perfect afternoon might involve a walk through the union square's farmer's market, a stop in here for lunch, and then a trip to DSW!

La Nonna

There are so many italian restaurants in our neighborhood, and I have favorite dishes at each of them. But La Nonna is also one of my favorites because of the casual, family atmosphere. The food is always tasty, and a former colleague of mine and her husband are the owners, and so I know how hard they work to make the restaurant a star. The restaurant is BYOB, which is great- one of my favorite wine shops, Uva, is right up the street. I am a huge fan of their steak salad- although this last time, I didn't have a bite. Ryan says that this is THE item to get off the menu. Thin slices of steak, marinated in balsamic vinaigrette, is served over arugula. The peppery flavor of the salad adds to the steak, and cherry tomatoes and pecorino cheese adds to the delight. It really is amazing.

I also really like two of the pastas they serve. The first is the penne, which comes in a fresh marinara sauce, with buffala mozzarella and eggplant. It is topped with a dollop of pesto sauce- amazing. I love this dish! The second that I highly recommend is the "zingara"- also made with a thick cut pasta, and featuring a cream sauce and pancetta.

I haven't actually tried the pizza, since I found these favorites early on. They do take out and counter service as well. The list of daily specials is always long and impressive. If you are seeking some great italian food with less traditional flavors, try this place!

El Almacen

Ryan and I decided to revisit El Almacen on friday night. We went long, long ago, before they had a liquor license, and before the hype got out. We had a really nice time, brought our own bottle, and enjoyed some tasty food. We've been meaning to go back ever since, and the more we heard the latest news, the more excited we got.

The atmosphere is really nice- low lighting, lots of old things, and a warm feeling. We tried to get there a little before the crazy rush, since we knew the place would get crowded. We ordered some wine- a malbec for Ryan and a torrontes for me.

We ordered appetizers and entrees, and were really surprised- and unhappy- when they arrived at the same time. We ordered the chipotle fish tacos, which were disappointing. The fish was bland, and they were soggy. Also, the smoky chipotle flavors just didn't come through.

Ryan ordered a steak, and I had vegetarian enchiladas. The enchiladas were for sure the star of the evening. On the menu, they have chicken, so they made them for me special. They used rice and beans for the filling, which was a stroke of genius. In the past all the veggie enchiladas I've had were filled with vegetables, but the rice and beans really carried all the flavors well. The verde sauce was green and tangy, with red onions and cotija cheese. Everything really came together perfectly.

On the other hand, Ryan's steak was a total fiasco! He ordered it medium rare and it came out purple and raw in the center. So, we sent it back to be recooked. After that, it was edible, but Ryan reports that the flavor was still disappointing. Some uninspired green mashed potatoes were served on the side.

We ordered a second glass of wine with our meals, but skipped dessert. The restaurant was filling up, but we couldn't believe the bum rush we got. Twice a waiter came by to ask if Ryan was done while there was still food on his plate. And I refused to chug the overpriced glass of wine I ordered- so we got hairy eyeballs from the hostess, too.

The tab got pricey with the wine, and we left feeling quite disappointed. The rushed service, the bland appetizer, the undercooked steak- it definitely was a bummer. I might be willing to go back and try the brunch, but I'm not sure. And I'm not raving. Though I did like the enchiladas....

To Za, Ya Ya!

To Za! A farm-fresh, high-quality restaurant in Arlington. That's how they describe themselves on their site, and I can report that they lived up to the "high-quality" and then some.

The menu features two items, made well. Salad, and pizza. It's a simple, and brilliant concept. All come with gourmet fresh market toppings. We decided to split all our orders and try a few different options.

We had a beet, apple, microgreen and goat cheese salad. The presentation was stunning- the beets were molded into a can-shaped salad, and the citrus vinaigrette was just the right amount of tart flavor. Very clean and refreshing, and a light start to the meal.



We split two pizzas- a caesar salad pizza, topped with romaine lettuce, olive tapenade, red onions and parmesan cheese and a special featuring carmelized onion, walnuts, pear and gorgonzola cheese.

I've had several other "gourmet" pizzas with multiple flavors and items, and sometimes one will muck up the other, or it just wont work. But this place pulled it off to a whole new level. Everything melted together, and tasted great. For dessert, we split a rosemary creme brulee- which despite my initial skepticism, was a light and perfect flavor combo!!

A few glasses of wine, and I can officially crown this a great meal.

I would highly recommend this place- it was great from A to Za :)

I'm turning vegetarian....!

Dear Michael Pollan,

You tell me to "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly vegetables."

Ok, I'm willing to go "whole hog" on the vegetable thing. I thought this would be a good time of year- After all, March IS the "Greenest" month, and I have my boston kitchen to attempt some of the more adventurous recipes. I've spent most of February prepping, and I've already started cutting back and supplementing out the meat in my diet. So I'm ready to go. I've already decided that I am a fish, milk & egg-eating vegetarian, so those items remain on the menu. But chicken, beef, pork- I'll see you in April.

Why? Some of you may ask. Just because Michael Pollan and every nutritionist ever has shown that the less meat one eats, the healthier one lives? Well, that is part of it. But, as it is also the lenten season, I thought this was an appropriate time of year to also take a moral stand. Without getting too preachy, or gory, I want to try and call attention to the way we treat animals in this country. Now, I am not against killing and eating animals. I've grappled with this one, and I still believe that we are predators, and meat is a part of our natural diet, as much as it is a part of the puma's. We have the teeth for it. We need the protein. We have developed fire to cook it. It is a good and rightful thing.

What is NOT good is the way we have turned something natural into a cruel factory line. The chickens, cattle, and pigs that are processed in the US by major companies are never allowed to be animals- not for a day of their very short and unfortunate lives. We feed THEM unnatural diets- corn for the cows, who cannot digest it. Animal fats for the chickens who are by nature not meat eaters. We force them to live in too-small spaces, knee-deep in feces, and often without any daylight. We cut off the beaks of the chickens so they don't peck each other in frustration, and the tails of the pigs for the same reason. We have created chickens that grow too large too fast, and cannot stand up during their lives. I'm not offended by the way the factories slaughter the animals. I'm disgusted by how they are treated while they live.

So, 1 soap-box paragraph later, My month-long protest has begun.




The problem is that I have a hungry man at home who wants some meat on his plate. I need help finding vegetarian entrees that will fill up a growing man's belly and satisfy a slightly suspicious vegetarian eater. Or, at the least, food that can easily be made in both veg/non-veg versions, or supplemented with meat on the side for the Ry guy. Thing's currently on Ryan's "absolutely not" list include tofu, tempeh, and any funny-sounding, hard to pronounce grains (Quinoa, couscous, farro...). If I can get him to try any of those things by the end of the month, I will be really impressed.

So far, I have the following list of potential vegetarian entrees that might just satisfy my meat-eating man. Help me out, and send some of your favorites my way-

My vegetarian TO cook list:
-Pasta: veggie lasagna, pasta primavera, etc etc etc (I have a feeling this is going to be the back bone of meals....)
- Bean Burritos / beef & bean burritos
- vegetarian omelets/frittatas/quiche
- veggie burgers
-vegetarian chili
-thai vegetable curry
-stir-fry
-stuffed peppers with rice
-grilled veggie wraps
-fish: tilapia, tuna, etc