The Blog

Remmi Smith Talks Healthy #Resolutions

Happy New Year fans of Ask.Listen.Learn! I am Remmi of Cook Time with Remmi and I am so excited about the New Year! I wanted to start off the new year in the best way possible, with food, of course! So I’ve created some healthy dishes that are easy and super yummy! If you are reading this blog then you know about  Ask.Listen.Learn, but have you ever thought about joining and taking the pledge? Being on the Ask.Listen.Learn Team means you are active, you work hard making your grades, and you are all about helping your community.  Start the new year and hit the ground running by pledging to a healthier life!

This month I have come up with a couple of new recipes that are easy and delicious! The first one is Arugula and Pear Salad. Then, I make Spaghetti alla Carbonara, both dishes are simply and delicious! Let’s get cooking!

Arugula and Pear Salad

Ingredients:

  • Salad:
  • 2 C arugula
  • 2 C spinach
  • 1 small shallot (sliced)
  • 2 T fresh parsley
  • ½ C Parmesan cheese
  • Dressing:
  • 4 T canola oil
  • 2 T vinegar
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: Place salad ingredients in a medium bowl with the exception of the cheese. Mix salad dressing and drizzle on salad. Garnish with the Parmesan cheese.

Spaghetti alla Carbonara

Ingredients:

  • 2 T olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 4 t red pepper flakes
  • 4 OZ pancetta (sliced thin and diced medium)
  • 1 LB spaghetti (cooked al dente)
  • ½ C pasta cooking water
  • 2 eggs
  • 2/3 C Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese
  • Black pepper

Directions:  Prepare ingredients as directed. In medium saucepan heat the oil and then add the garlic, red pepper flakes and pancetta. Saute until the pancetta is slightly crisp. Place spaghetti in large bowl and toss with the pancetta mixture. Mix the eggs with the cheese and toss with the pasta. Add pasta-cooking water in small amounts until the sauce is creamy. When serving, garnish servings with fresh pepper.

Italians eat pasta everyday. In fact they consume on average 52 pounds of pasta per year while Americans average 15 pounds a year. Italians cook in season meaning they cook with the freshest ingredients available. Italians buy their food directly from food producers. They buy their meat directly from the butcher, buy their produce from the farmers and their bread from bakers. Each region and there are more than 20 has their favorite ways of preparing pasta. For example, Rome is known for their carbonara sauces, which are eggs, and pancetta, which we made today. And they add cacio e pepe with cheese and pepper. They are very easy to make and very delicious.

What I love most about the Italian cuisine and Italian culture is they love to enjoy meals with friends and family. The Sunday lunch is a great example with only 5% of Italians eating out in restaurants while the 95% are at home with friends and family enjoying food together. The cool thing about learning to cook is it is something you can do with friends and family and have fun with it.

I hope you enjoy these recipes along with your family! Thanks for watching my video. To hear more about me and my recipes visit my website at www.cooktimewithremmi.com. More importantly cooking is cool and it is a great way to say “YES” to a healthy lifestyle and no to underage drinking. Go after your dreams! Until next time…..<3Remmi!

For more information about resisting peer pressure and learning about other Ask.Listen.Learn Superstars, visit AskListenLearn.com and…..don’t forget to take the pledge!