The Apple Doesn't Fall...

As a woman neurosurgeon, I wear the simultaneous hats of surgeon, mother and wife (along with chef, businessperson, volunteer, leader...) so I am thrilled to announce that my daughter has started her own blog called College Kitchen.  Even if you are well beyond college, she has a great insight into cooking healthy, fast and inexpensive meals-just what every college kids needs but also what so many of us that juggle hectic lives need too.
It will be very interesting for me to watch her evolution as a blogger.  I have already shared with her the few "tricks" I have learned during my time in the blogosphere but more importantly, I have shared with her how my own blogging has transformed the way I think about each day and each encounter.  I wonder if it will have the same impact for her.  Perhaps her blog will catapult her to fame and fortune-like Julia (and Julia), maybe it will help others learn how easy it is to prepare fast but healthy food, perchance she may gain insight into a new part of herself or her future...all I know as  mother is that I am so proud of her, and specifically tickled that she now also has a blogspot address.

First Post: A Recipe for Health

Happy 2011 to all.  I thought I would share a recipe I recently created as part of our holiday celebrations that is quick, easy, delicious and healthy.  Certainly a good way to start the year!

Fregola with sauteed spinach and shrimp

1/2 c Fregola
1 pound spinach, cleaned and chopped
1 leek, sliced
1 red pepper, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
6-12 shrimp, shelled
1 c. stock or bouillon
olive oil

1.  Cook fregola in stock until tender but not mushy.
2.  While the fregola is cooking, prepare the vegetables.
3.  Warm olive oil in sauté pan.  Add leek and red pepper, cook until soft.  Add garlic and then spinach.  Cook just until spinach wilts.
4.  Add shrimp to vegetables and cook just until color turns to pink.  Add a little of the stock (bouillon) to create some sauce.
5.  Add fregola and toss.  Salt and pepper to taste.

Obviously there are many variations on this...you can add fresh or dried herbs for more flavor, eliminate the shrimp or substitute some sausage...onion can stand-in for leek...to make it extra festive, you can drizzle the final salad with crispy leeks...Try it my way or make it your own.

To a healthy 2011 for all.