Too Easy Tilapia (or any fish you like)

Heyyy! I'm happy to inform you that I'm noticing major changes in my general health.
For one, my skin is glowing! As in! My skin was nice before, don't get me wrong. Now, however, wow! More people are starting to ask me what cream I use. And they think I'm lying when I say it's not the cream (I use Vaseline, by the way), it's my WOE (way of eating). Lol!

The second thing I've noticed (and this is MAJOR for me, like a miracle) is I now sleep properly.
Ever since I can remember, I've had to read myself to sleep or watch cartoons to sleep. Now, for the past 5 days, I've slept without cartoons or books. Imagine the ordeal my poor Dh has had to put up with for almost 4 years now. In fact, I don't know who's happier now, him or me. For 5 days, I'm off to dreamland  as soon as my head touches my pillow (now if only the million-pound cheque I get in my dreams can just stay in my hand when I wake up...dream on, dreamer!).

Anyway, this is a really easy meal. And it's really filling. Everything on the plate is fertility-friendly, without me having to go into the nutrition of each ingredient. This is also safe for pregnant and lactating women.

Ingredients

8oz Tilapia, (mine is just half of a whole fish)
7 atarodo (habanero)
2 teaspoons of sea salt
3 carrots, cut into matchsticks
Handful of green beans, trimmed
Pinch of salt

Method

Blend the pepper with 3 cups of water. Pour into a large bowl. Add salt, mix. Put the fish in and leave to marinate for 1 hour.
Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat. Spray with cooking spray. Place the fish in the pan and cover. Cook for 5 minutes on one side.
When you turn over the fish, add the Veggies and sprinkle a pinch of salt over them. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.
Serve and enjoy

Remember, it's sooo good for you,

Deema

Coconut Jollof Rice and Cowtail Gravy.

I'm an unrepentant foodie to the core! If loving good food is a crime, please lock me up and throw away the keys (don't even bother with a trial). This recipe examplifies my love of food.

I just had to find a way to combine two wholesome, tasty meals into one healthy, delicious, fertility-friendly meal. If you aren't like me, you can serve your cowtails with white rice, couscous, bulgur, pretty much anything you like. Or you can serve the rice with fish or chicken.

Now, to the nutrition...did you know that bone broth is a 'treatment' for infertility? Well, neither did I, until I started eating this way. Apparently, when bones are cooked down, all the nutrients from the bone marrow-calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc- seep into the broth, making it one of the most nutrient-dense foods you can consume.

Bone broth, while being good for all men and women who are trying to conceive, is particularly helpful for women who have PCOS, as the nutrients in the bone marrow promote thyroid health.

If I still haven't piqued your interest with all the above, I'm sure I will now- the gelatin in bone broth is proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and cellulite. AHA! I've got you now! I can see you rushing to your freezer to bring out ALL the bones you have...cool down!

I chose cowtails because they contain more gelatin and juicy marrow than most bony cuts of meat.

Extra: in your quest for bone broth, pepper soup is fine! You can use chicken bones, cow, goat, anything!

Nutrition aside, this meal is hecka tasty...you're making it, period!



Ingredients for Cowtail Gravy

1.5 kg of cowtail, cut into 2-inch chunks.
2 juicy tomatoes, diced
1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons of freshly ground atarodo (habanero)
2 tablespoons of freshly ground onions
1 teaspoon of mustard seeds, ground
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon of dried basil
1 14oz can of chickpeas, rinsed (totally optional!)
1/2 teaspoon of worcestershire sauce (optional)
2 teaspoons of salt
2 teaspoons of garlic powder
2 large carrots, peeled and diced
3 tablespoons of cornflour, mixed with 2 tablespoons of water to make a slurry


Coconut Jollof Rice

3 cups of rice, washed and parboiled
3 tablespoons of coconut oil
3 tablespoons of freshly ground atarodo(habanero) and onions
4 medium tomatoes, chopped
5 cups of coconut milk
2 Knorr double stock cubes
1 teaspoons of salt
1 bay leaf


Method-Cowtail Gravy

Place the cowtails in a pressure cooker on medium-high heat. Add all ingredients except chickpeas and carrots. Add enough water to just cover the cowtails. Cover and cook for 45 minutes.

Open the pot after letting the pressure come down (don't cover the pot again!). Reduce heat to medium-low, add the carrots. Cook for 3 minutes. Add the chickpeas and the cornstarch slurry. Simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat.


Coconut Jollof Rice

To a pot on medium-high heat, add the oil. After 30 seconds, add the tomatoes, pepper paste and bay leaf. Stir and cook for 5 minutes.
Pour the coconut milk in. Add salt and stock cubes. Stir and bring to boil.
Pour in the parboiled rice. Cook till all the water is gone. Fluff with a fork and remove from heat. Serve with cowtail gravy and YUM!

Enjoy, and remember,
it's sooo good for you!

Deema

Poultry and Vegetable Sunday Bake

I told you before: I suck at naming recipes. Let's not even get into that now! Just know that this recipe is chockfull of vegetables and poultry (chicken and turkey, because I didn't have enough of either to cater to guests I had coming over).

I used to avoid eggplants like the plague before I started this fertility diet. The only way you could get me to eat eggplant was with a trailer load of peanut butter. Then I started my research on this diet and found that, in some places there's a 'remedy for infertility' which has milk and eggplant as its ingredients. That made me take another look at eggplants, and I realise that, cooked right, they actually make for delightful eating.

Eggplants are rich in antioxidants which help to lower LDL cholesterol. They are also rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and folate. We all know how beneficial those are to men and women who are trying to conceive.

This recipe is perfect for having guests over on a Sunday. Just prep the veggies, toss into a baking dish, throw in the oven, set an alarm and go take a nap (no, not really, because you have to baste the meat after about 30 minutes in the oven).

Ingredients

1 1/2kg of chicken or turkey (or a mix like mine), cut up.
1 large eggplant
1 medium leek (cut off the green part)
3 large tomatoes, sliced into rounds
4 large carrots, sliced into rounds
1 large red onion, sliced into rounds
300g of green beans, cut into 2-inch pieces (or however you like them)
10 atarodo peppers (habanero), blended
2 Knorr double stock cubes
2 tablespoons of salt, divided
2 teaspoons of curry powder, divided
1 teaspoon of dried thyme
2 tablespoons of coconut oil

Preheat oven to 350. Slice the eggplant and leek. In a bowl, put the oil, 1 double stock cube, 1 teaspoon of curry powder, and 1/2tablespoon of salt. Mix well, and add the eggplant, leek, onions, carrots, and green beans. Stir to coat well. Pour into a 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Ensure that the veggies line the pan evenly.

To the same bowl in which you mixed the vegetables, add the blended pepper, 1 double stock cube, thyme, 1 teaspoon of curry powder, and 1 1/2 tablespoon of salt. Mix well. Remove 4 tablespoons of the pepper sauce and reserve. Add the meat to the bowl, stir to coat and leave aside for 10 minutes. Then place the meat on top of the vegetable bed in the baking dish. Arrange the tomatoes on top of the meat and bake for 1 hour, baste the meat after 30 minutes with the reserved pepper sauce.

To make a sauce for rice, after the meat is done, pour the liquid from the baking pan into a pot. Add a slurry of cornstarch and water and simmer for 3 minutes. Serve over the vegetables and meat.

Enjoy, and remember,
It's sooo good for you!

Deema

Coconut Prawns

Prawns have kind of a bad rep for being high in cholesterol. A serving of prawns (about 100g) contains 179mg of cholesterol, which is more than half of the recommended daily amount of 300mg.

I started this on a crazy note, didn't I? Now, you're wondering "if they're that high, why do you have a recipe for Coconut Prawns here?". Don't worry, I'm heading somewhere. Prawns, like every other food, or even water, should be consumed in moderation. You can actually enjoy prawns as part of a healthy, low-cholesterol fertility diet. In fact, in a 1996 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers found that the cholesterol in prawns lowered LDL levels of cholesterol(bad cholesterol) and increased HDL levels(good cholesterol). They concluded that the cholesterol in prawns doesn't have a negative effect on health.

Also, prawns are rich in vitamins B-6, B-12, and Omega-3. Low levels of Vitamin B-12 have been linked to recurrent miscarriages. Studies have been carried out on women who have had issues with recurrent miscarriages, and, after being treated with this Vitamin, most of them (11 out of 14) went ahead to have their first full-term delivery! Now, if that's not amazing, I don't know what is.

Vitamin B-12 is also linked to sperm count. Researchers have found that men with low sperm counts saw a significant improvement (in one study, 400% increase) in sperm count after taking 1000mcg of Vitamin B-12 daily.

Next time I make prawns, I'll harp on the benefits of Vitamin B-6 (in moderation) and Omega-3 to male and female fertility. Till then, make these and have fun!

This recipe is soooo easy to make. The hardest part of this recipe is deveining the prawns. It's really that simple.
They will make a rocking appetiser at parties, and people you serve them to will love them, so make lots!

What I love about this recipe is that you get the toasty crunchiness of the coconut, the hint of nuttiness with the almond flour, and then you bite into the delicious moistness of the prawns. Yummy!

If you aren't a prawn person, you can do this with chicken breast strips, or some other kind of fish.

Ingredients

100g of peeled, deveined prawns
1/8 cup of desiccated coconut, unsweetened
1/8 cup of almond flour
Pinch of black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoon of salt


Method

Mix the almond flour, coconut, black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a flat plate.
Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of salt over the prawns, refrigerate for 10 minutes.
Spray a nonstick pan with cooking spray and place over medium-high heat.
Coat the prawns with the coconut mixture and add to the pan.
Depending on the size of your prawns, cook them for 6-10 minutes. I had 2 smaller prawns, I cooked them for a total of 6 minutes,flipping them after 3 minutes. The larger prawns took 10 minutes, I flipped them after 5 minutes.

Serve these anyway you like, with mayonnaise or any dip you like. I just served mine on napa cabbage.

Enjoy, and remember,
It's sooo good for you!


Deema

Chickpeas and Bulgur Pottage

Chickpeas are also known as Garbanzo beans. I don't know if we can find them in Nigeria other than in cans. Please let me know.

These legumes are very high in fibre, so high that 2 cups of chickpeas provide your entire daily value of fibre. They regulate cholesterol by reducing LDL (also known as bad cholesterol, lol) levels. They help control blood sugar and insulin secretion. They are also a good source of folate, manganese, and Vitamin B6.

For women with PCOS, chickpeas are important as they contain D-Chiro Inositol (DCI); it has been shown that women with PCOS who received DCI enjoy lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and a higher frequency of ovulation. Good news, Ladies!

This recipe is the first of a multitude of chickpea recipes that will crop up here. I'm looking into exciting ways to include these in my diet (popped chickpeas, anyone?).

Bulgur is simply wheat kernels that have been steamed, dried, and crushed. They are also very rich in fibre and are a good way to bulk up your meals without unwanted calories-a cup of Bulgur has fewer calories, less fat, and more than twice the fibre of the same quantity of brown rice. So, if like me, you can't find brown rice, even though you've checked all the stores from here to Jericho, stop your search, get Bulgur, and enjoy.

Ingredients
14oz can of boiled chickpeas, drained and rinsed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 cup of bulgur wheat
4 habanero peppers, sliced
1 small bunch of celery, sliced
1 cup of green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 medium red onion, diced
4 tomatoes, diced
1 tablespoon of almond oil
1 teaspoon of salt, or to taste

Method
To a pot on medium-high heat, add almond oil. After 20 seconds, add the pepper, onions, tomatoes, and green beans. Sautée for 2 minutes. Add 3 cups of water. When the water boils, add the bulgur, celery, and salt. Leave to cook for 3 minutes, taste to make sure the bulgur is as soft as you like (if it's not, add a little more water). Add the chickpeas and mix carefully to avoid breaking the chickpeas. Cook for 1 minute. Serve and enjoy.

Remember,
It's sooo good for you!

Deema

Cocoa-Nut Almond Milk

I've been feeding my DH a handful (ok, not a handful, more like 10-15) of almonds every morning since I started taking this fertility diet seriously. Today, I wanted to change it up a bit to prevent him from getting bored. I figured if I give him something he likes, he will be more apt to ingesting the raw almonds.

Boy, did I shoot myself in the foot! He loved this so much, he declared that he won't take the almonds any other way from now on. As in! He even begged me for another glass and I said NO because, although everything in this drink is fertility friendly, moderation is key.

Now, I'm going to have to make up a glass of this for him every morning (he was on his own o! Na me find trouble), but I don't mind: the end justifies the means.

Almonds contain plant chemicals which are known to promote testosterone production. They also contain zinc and L-Arginine.

***pls do not overdo the zinc in your diet. Aim for 12mg everyday. An ounce of almonds (about 22 almonds) contains 1.0mg of zinc.


Ingredients

14 raw almonds (you can use 20 if you like, I'm just stingy!)
1/2 cup of cold coconut milk
1/2 cup of cold water
2 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon of honey

Method.

Grind the almonds into a powder. Add all the ingredients into a Blender and blend.

Serve and watch the smile on his face when he finishes it, then get ready to go shopping to stock up on all the ingredients.

it's sooo  good for you

Deema

Plantains and Green Snail Sauce

If you follow me, you already know the link between green Plantains and fertility. If not, please read thIshttp://www.frostedbakeshopng.blogspot.com/2013/08/unripe-plantains-with-simple-lamb.html?m=1. I'm sure you also know that green vegetables are loaded with iron, folate, and antioxidants.

Today, I present to you the humble snail. If, like me, you are trying to conceive, you would have heard of selenium, omega-3, and Vitamin B12. Now, did you know that snails are rich sources of these nutrients? As in? Snails are known as a superfood to combat infertility in both men and women; that's more than enough reason for me to include them in my fertility diet.

Now imagine a meal of snails, green plantains, and green vegetables- a mega fertility booster, if there was any (I'm on my way to triplets, yay!).
While fertility-friendly foods are my priority, I'm not willing to sacrifice taste. This meal is super tasty. Have a Hubby like mine, who hates boiled plantains? Serve him this and he'll beg for more.

Ingredients

7 large snails, washed very properly (I use limes)
6 medium Unripe plantains (not too unripe)
1 Knorr double stock cube
1/4 cup of palm oil
1 small red onion, chopped
7 habanero peppers, chopped
3 large tomatoes, chopped
300g of amaranth leaves (greens)
Salt, to taste

Method

If you choose to grill the snails, skewer them and place on the grill. If you choose to boil them instead, go ahead and do so, I just wanted the charred taste.
I grilled my plantains for about 5 minutes then boiled them. I think it made them softer, I can't vouch for the method.
Boil your plantains.
In a wok on medium-high heat, pour in the palm oil. Add the onions, tomatoes and peppers. Sautee for 3 minutes. Chop the snails and add to the wok. Stir, then add the greens. Stir and simmer for 2 minutes.
Serve with the plantains.

Enjoy, and remember,

It's sooo good for you

Deema