Suzy Eats

When I researched rice pudding, I found that it is made in nearly EVERY country  in the world in some variety. I also discovered that a recipe can vary greatly between people in the same country. Rice pudding was one of my late father’s favorite dishes, and whenever I make it, I am reminded of my dad which makes it extra special for me.

Rice pudding is made from rice and is usually mixed with water or milk. Different variants are used for either desserts or dinners. When used as a dessert, it is commonly combined with a sweetener.  Rice pudding can be boiled or baked, and it can be thick like a pudding or thin like a drink.

Below is a list of the most common ingredients of rice pudding across the world:

1. rice (all types- long-grain, short grain, basmati, jasmine, etc)
2. milk (usually a thick milk such as whole, heavy cream or evaporated, etc)
3. spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamon, etc)
4. flavorings (orange blossom water, vanilla, almond, orange, lemon, etc)
5. sweetener (sugar, honey, brown sugar, etc)

In the US, most rice pudding recipes are based on European immigrants; but more recently, Asian, Middle Eastern and Latin American recipes have become more popular.  Below is my Mediterranean Read the rest of this entry »

After last week’s post on Muhammara, I received a lot of questions about pomegranate molasses. Pomegranate molasses is made by boiling down pomegranate juice to a tart variety, and it is used in many Mediterranean meals including dips, meats and salads. Pomegranate molasses can be puchased in the ethnic aisle of your local grocery stores and can be found in Mediterranean/Middle Eastern markets.

You can also make it on your own using the recipe below. I prefer to make it on my own because I can determine the sweetness of the molasses.

Ingredients

• 4 cups pomegranate juice
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice

Read the rest of this entry »

Muhammara is a popular Mediterranean dip that originates from Aleppo, Syria and is eaten by people all over the Mediterranean region. Muhammara means “reddened” in Arabic. The main ingredients are fresh red peppers, walnuts and breadcrumbs. The walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and make it “heart healthy”. Muhammara is eaten as a dip with bread, as a spread for toast and as a sauce for kebobs, grilled meats and fish. You can garnish it with fresh mint (as pictured). My favorite is to spread it on pita bread.

Ingredients:

• 2 roasted red peppers
• 6 ounces walnuts, crushed or whole
• 1/4 cup pomegranate molasses
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes or red chili powder
• 4 garlic cloves, whole
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• salt and pepper to taste
• mint, to garnish
• pita bread, crackers (optional) Read the rest of this entry »

I definitely believe in a healthy diet, but in order to maintain good health, exercise is crucial. As part of my new “healthy” lifestyle, I am beginning a new exercise regimen. As a woman, cardio was something that was very important to me as it helps burn the most calories and protects against heart disease (the leading cause of death in women). Caloric intake is also the biggest determinant Read the rest of this entry »

It has been awhile since I have regularly posted on Suzyeats.com, but there are many reasons for this. Let me explain

The first reason is that I was pregnant and with my pregnancy came the usual tiredness that all expecting moms experience. I thought it would resolve itself after the first trimester but then I was in a major car accident which affected my ability to cook/walk/stand for awhile. Thank God I have since recovered but then came other issues…..most notably was the diagnosis of preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is when a pregnant woman develops high blood pressure and protein in her urine. It is one of the leading causes of death of a pregnant woman in the world, and the only treatment is the safe delivery of the baby. How did I get preeclampsia? ME? The person who reads every single ingredient on a food label BEFORE I make a purchase at the grocery store…the person who loves to eat “healthy” and encourages others to eat this way too. I am not really sure of WHY this happened. But, what I do know now is that I have preeclampsia or gestational hypertension and that I now take a daily blood pressure pill to manage my high blood pressure. (I am hoping to get off in the near future…)

I was induced at 37 weeks exactly due to my elevated blood pressure, which allowed me to meet my baby boy Jude and experience the best day of my life. Up until this point, I pushed for the Mediterranean Diet because I believed in it and saw that my family members lived long healthy lives because of it, but now everything has changed. I am now trying to manage my high blood pressure, and I believe this way will help me!!

I am going to start blogging again so please let me know if you have any specific recipes you would like or any specific health tips. Thanks for staying loyal to my site!! Please follow me on facebook or twitter