#EdenCooks - Green Jamaican Soup with Guest Host Melissa Ramos - Mon. March 19 at 8pm EST

Contributor: Kithara Kithara
Quote:
Originally posted by Melissa Ramos
No problem. I'm always giving some great tips in my Red Couch Confessions newsletter: link

and there are some great recipes with four awesome fun, engaging, dance-with-me kind of cooking videos in the actual Remodel Sexy program: ... more
Thanks so much, Melissa!
03/19/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Kithara
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What does the spoon-in-mouth trick do to help with tears when cutting onions? I've never heard of that technique.
Ive tried it with bread and it worked for me. I think because the sinuses are all connected from your tear ducts to your nose drainage etc. Putting pressure like a spoon will help from getting you teary. And the bread smell is kind of like a wall so ive read.
03/19/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova

Next I added about a cup and a half of water to my flavor step, to make it soupy. Then I chopped up my potatoes and zucchini and added them to the soup, so they could start to become tender while I worked on the "kale."





03/19/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Kithara
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What does the spoon-in-mouth trick do to help with tears when cutting onions? I've never heard of that technique.
Yeah, I'm a bit curious about this as well. I had heard the bread thing as well.

To be honest, I just use a slap chop and that cuts a lot of the potential teariness, lol.
03/19/2012
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova

Next I added about a cup and a half of water to my flavor step, to make it soupy. Then I chopped up my potatoes and zucchini and added them to the soup, so they could start to become tender while I worked on the "kale." ... more
Wow that looks fantastic!
03/19/2012
Contributor: Melissa Ramos Melissa Ramos
Quote:
Originally posted by Say
For those of us with limited spice-tolerance, are there other ways to keep vital energy flowing? I don't like to think of my Qi-channels clogging up because I can't resist a good walnut.
LOL...well drinking lots of water will help to move your Qi. Bitter foods like dandelion added to salads are a great place to start. And beets are excellent as well!

Enjoy your good little walnut - why deprive yourself. Just remember balance baby!
03/19/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
I know! This is why cooking is sexy... somebody hovering over a pan of onions garlic and peppers and you're inexorably drawn to it... your taste buds take over your whole body so you fall in love in spite of yourself!
My boyfriend walks in the door straight to the stove to smell food that im cooking. Hes always in a trance when he comes home from work. The smell just leads him without fail!
03/19/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Starkiller87
Ive tried it with bread and it worked for me. I think because the sinuses are all connected from your tear ducts to your nose drainage etc. Putting pressure like a spoon will help from getting you teary. And the bread smell is kind of like a wall so ... more
I just cry. It's about the only time I ever have a reason to!

(Although I'm almost immune to most onions now... but shallots really make my cry like an alligator.)
03/19/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova
I just cry. It's about the only time I ever have a reason to!

(Although I'm almost immune to most onions now... but shallots really make my cry like an alligator.)
Yellow onions are the ones that get me. Im fine with others. My sister has a neat pair of onion goggle ive been meaning to steal since she doesnt use them
03/19/2012
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
I'm such an idiot. I was thinking 8pm my time, clearly saw it said EST.. sigh
03/19/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova

So if you're like Melissa and you have an awesome blender, this might not matter to you. But I have pretty limited kitchen space, and I usually let elbow grease take the place of fancy equipment, so I have to chop my foods into bite-sized pieces, instead of blendable-sized pieces.

I spent a long time in life cursing kale and collard greens and other delicious leafy greens for being so frustrating to cut. They have big veins so you can't just tear them up like you can spinach... then one day a guy taught me this awesome trick on our first date. I feel ridiculous for not having figured this out sooner... but I guess that's a good reason to cook with people on first dates? Kale is totally sexy, guys!

Anyway, check out how effective this is.



Cut out the vein (you can even do this with like 5-8 leaves at a time). Then take all your V-shaped leaves and stack them and roll them up. Then cut the roll into slices. When you unroll your sliced greens, these will be completely edible.





Add them to your soup and thank your lucky stars you thought that guy was cute
03/19/2012
Contributor: wrmbreze wrmbreze
Quote:
Originally posted by Illusional
I'm such an idiot. I was thinking 8pm my time, clearly saw it said EST.. sigh
At least you made it!
03/19/2012
Contributor: Melissa Ramos Melissa Ramos
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova


I have to admit, that mock cheesecake looks amazing. I'm going to pretend *my* birthday is in June so I can make it for myself!
Honey, my birthday is every day! LOL
03/19/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Starkiller87
My boyfriend walks in the door straight to the stove to smell food that im cooking. Hes always in a trance when he comes home from work. The smell just leads him without fail!
If I'm cooking when my husband gets home, he does the same thing.
03/19/2012
Contributor: Kithara Kithara
Quote:
Originally posted by Illusional
I'm such an idiot. I was thinking 8pm my time, clearly saw it said EST.. sigh
But you made it anyway! That's what counts!
03/19/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Illusional
I'm such an idiot. I was thinking 8pm my time, clearly saw it said EST.. sigh
I do that ALL THE TIME! Luckily we're still going, and you can still ask Melissa questions too
03/19/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
I always say this but seriously a green smoothie/drink added to your regular routine will do wonders on how you feel.

I think its changed my life completely and I dont even eat a lot of junk as it is.
03/19/2012
Contributor: Antipova Antipova
Quote:
Originally posted by Melissa Ramos
Honey, my birthday is every day! LOL
I have to admit I like this philosophy
03/19/2012
Contributor: Starkiller87 Starkiller87
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
If I'm cooking when my husband gets home, he does the same thing.
No wonder a way to a mans heart is cooking haha.
03/19/2012
Contributor: Kithara Kithara
Quote:
Originally posted by Starkiller87
I always say this but seriously a green smoothie/drink added to your regular routine will do wonders on how you feel.

I think its changed my life completely and I dont even eat a lot of junk as it is.
What would you put in a green smoothie? I admit, I need more vegetables in my life, and I have a smoothie machine that I've been dying to use!
03/19/2012
Contributor: wrmbreze wrmbreze
I have switched most of my sweets( not all) to fruits and veggies(grapes, watermelon, carrots, cucumbers)
03/19/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Antipova

So if you're like Melissa and you have an awesome blender, this might not matter to you. But I have pretty limited kitchen space, and I usually let elbow grease take the place of fancy equipment, so I have to chop my foods into bite-sized ... more
Oh that does look easy!
03/19/2012
Contributor: Melissa Ramos Melissa Ramos
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
That pink dressing sounds tasty, and I am a sucker for anything pink!
Me too, I was told I should bottle this recipe. It's pretty fantastic and so therapeutic. Umeboshi plums are Japanese pickled plums that are so alkaline for the body, help with stomach disorders, nausea, morning sickness and oh ya...hangovers!
03/19/2012
Contributor: Melissa Ramos Melissa Ramos
Quote:
Originally posted by Kithara
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What does the spoon-in-mouth trick do to help with tears when cutting onions? I've never heard of that technique.
LOL...it does, no more tears!!
03/19/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Starkiller87
No wonder a way to a mans heart is cooking haha.
Haha, my husband will eat just about anything, but he gets super excited if I cook because I don't do it often. I love cooking, I just hate doing dishes and having minimal space.
03/19/2012
Contributor: wrmbreze wrmbreze
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What would you suggest for those with picky eaters?

Only one member of my family will eat lettuce with me..
03/19/2012
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Quote:
Originally posted by Melissa Ramos
Me too, I was told I should bottle this recipe. It's pretty fantastic and so therapeutic. Umeboshi plums are Japanese pickled plums that are so alkaline for the body, help with stomach disorders, nausea, morning sickness and oh ya...hangovers!
Oooh sounds like something for me, I get ulcers easily and other things like that.
03/19/2012
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Melissa Ramos
Me too, I was told I should bottle this recipe. It's pretty fantastic and so therapeutic. Umeboshi plums are Japanese pickled plums that are so alkaline for the body, help with stomach disorders, nausea, morning sickness and oh ya...hangovers!
If you bottle it, I will purchase a bottle off of you!
03/19/2012
Contributor: wrmbreze wrmbreze
Quote:
Originally posted by Jul!a
Haha, my husband will eat just about anything, but he gets super excited if I cook because I don't do it often. I love cooking, I just hate doing dishes and having minimal space.
Thats what I hate about my kitchen too, but he is good about cleaning the kitchen as long as I cook.
03/19/2012
Contributor: Melissa Ramos Melissa Ramos
Quote:
Originally posted by Starkiller87
Seems like we all have a love for hummus here. hhaha.

Ive also never had kale in a salad but have had it in numerous amounts of smoothies and juices, kind of weird right. haha
OMG Starkiller87, this killer kale salad is TO DIE FOR. I'm serious, this is one of the best salads I've ever created! A MUST try!
03/19/2012