Cooking - I haven't done for so long

One thing about this regimen is that there are no fast-food places to get what I need. Even my favorite take-out spots are not heart healthy. So for now, I have to take a pass.

And if I don't want to eat everything raw...I must cook. My tiny kitchen makes this tricky - I have a single sink, a prep space that fits the cutting board, a microwave above the stove, and a gas range! Thank goodness for the range - because I definitely can't cook on electric coils.

Tonight, I tried one of the Esselstyn family recipes (the Dr. who created this regimen) and adapted to my tastes. Here is the recipe as I made it. The amounts of each ingredient are as you like:

• Brown Rice (if I had made a batch ahead of time, I could save lots of after-work prep time), cooked in Pacific organic vegetable broth instead of water
  
• can of black beans (I like Westbrae Natural organic vegetarian, just make sure there is no added stuff, just beans and water), drained
• matchstick carrots (because they get tossed in and this size is easiest)
• fresh green (or red) pepper diced - steam in the micro a bit to soften and cook a little
  
• fresh chopped cilantro
• salsa (I like Muir Glen organic, but use your favorite)

Cook the brown rice. Add beans, carrots, green pepper and cilantro. Stir. Top with salsa.

No kidding. It's that easy. It is amazingly tasty and filling.

Next time, I will look for more veggies to add. A can of tomatoes and/or corn come to mind. The dish is a bit heavy on the starch. So maybe green beans instead of corn would be good, or baby asparagus. I have both in the fridge, and can use with the leftover for tomorrow's lunch.

Leftover (with no salsa), also can be served with a vinaigrette or without - as a cold salad.

Ok, so I can "cook" or at least throw together ingredients easily to make a tasty dish!

But something very wonderful is happening to my pallete...I'm tasting the flavors of food. I thought I was just really hungry tonight after waiting 45 minutes for the brown rice to cook, and that's why it tasted so good. But I discovered that it not only tasted good, but the flavors popped. That's because my sense of taste is coming out from under the blanket of processed food flavor, oil induced flavor, and dairy flavor. I must say, it is quite pleasant! The good Dr. Esselstyn foretold this in his book, but I thought he was just trying to put lipstick on the pig. Who knew!

As for my progress...I will be honest and admit a big slip this past weekend. I went to a Mexican restaurant. Don't do this while you are still learning this regimen. There really is nothing to eat, so you will make "compromises" and that is like heroin to the junky. I followed it up later with kettle-cooked potato chips. Don't ask. Let's just say, I am not beating myself up. It was a slip and I really don't want to go there again.

Onward!
<3