By Special Request: Tuna in a Pouch

Ahoy mates! I was having one of my favorite "stuff" conversations today and I was quite suprised to learn that there are people out there who have not yet had the pleasure of trying one of my all time favorite inventions: Tuna in a Pouch. I thought it had been around for a while now, so I came home and did some hard core research. I stumbled upon a Sunkist Tuna press release from June 15, 2000 which stated that:

"StarKist Tuna in a Pouch is the biggest wave of innovation in tuna since StarKist pioneered canned tuna in the 1920s. The vacuum-sealed foil pouch delivers firmer, fresher-tasting tuna with no draining. Unlike canned tuna, the easy-open pouch contains virtually no liquid."

Get it? A wave of innovation? Heheheh. I love a punny PR writer.


So there you have it folks. I've been enjoying pouched tuna for almost 7 years now. It's about time you all get on board.

Arroz Con Pollo with Apples (From Real Simple)

I made this recipe this week and it was soooooooooo delicious. It turned out to be 5 servings, so it made a good lunch too. The only thing that I did differently, is that I made it in a dutch oven because it's really a ton of food - and would be very hard to do in one skillet. It was one of those... "even better the next day" recipes! Super easy!

2 large tart unpeeled apples, such as Granny Smith
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 teaspoon black pepper
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 green pepper, coarsely chopped
1 yellow pepper, coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 14 ½-ounce can diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup long-grain converted rice
2 cups chicken broth
1/4 teaspoon fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Quarter, core, and slice the apples into ¼-inch-thick pieces; set aside. Season the chicken with the salt and black pepper. Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove the chicken and set aside, leaving the oil in the pan. Add the green pepper, yellow pepper, onion, and garlic. Stir well and cook over medium heat until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and apples to the pan. Cook 8 to 10 minutes more. Add the paprika and red pepper. Stir well and add the rice. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, arrange the chicken on top of the rice mixture, and cover. Cook about 20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Sprinkle with the parsley. Serve hot.

Yield: Makes 4 servings (5 for us - it's very filling!)

No Pudge, The Miracle Brownie

If you know what's good for you, you'll try these brownies. I saw them in the little grocery store by my apartment and couldnt resist the cute pink box. It's just the mix from the box, and some fat free yogurt - and 34 minutes later... the moistest (is that a word) most delicious brownie that you've ever had, and totally fat free. You might need to padlock them once you bake them so that you don't eat the whole pan, but they have gotten me through some very desperate chocolate cravings. If you have a microwave (which I don't) it even tells you how to make them in individual portions. ((I can't vouch for the deliciousness of the microwaved version)

There's nothing fat free tasting about these brownies. It's like a box of magic. I like these so much that if you can't find them, I might send you a box myself. Seriously, they're that good.

Don't Skip Breakfast!

Almost everyone who knows me has heard me talk about my favorite cereal in the entire world. Just the tiniest bowl makes me start my day off in a good mood. You should buy it, eat it and love it. If I go on and on, I'll sound like a commercial... so just trust me.

Kashi Strawberry Fields, this post is for you.