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Awesome Food Bloggers and Their Healthy-Living Secrets – Spaghetti with Eggplant, Basil, & Breadcrumbs and a Guest Post from Faith

24 July 2011 37 Comments
vegetarian spagetti recipe

courtesy; Edible Mosaic

From seducing your taste buds and letting your gastronomic juices overflow to enticing you with those delectable recipes on their blogs, they have done all this and more for long. And just when you thought you were going strong this time with your diet plans they make you go weak on your knees with those stunning food pictures of multi layered double cream frosted chocolate cake on their blog.

These stylish food boggers astonish me a lot. With so much of food temptation going around them they could have easily given a complex to any Sumo wrestler 😉  When I contacted a few food bloggers to find out their meal planning, I was surprised to know that most of them prefer a simple and healthy mix of veggies, fruits and wholegrain in their diet on any normal day.

If it is more vegan recipes for Heidi, healthy ingredients for Marla, diet friendly for Tidy Mom,  wholegrain baking for Deeba, low fat cooking for Jaden and veggies & fruits for Joanne then exercise takes most of credit for the svelte & suave Jamie.

Some of the pointers that they shared are more of fresh veggies & fruits, organic products, wholegrain, no transfat and low fat in their diet which perform the magic for them. And it was then I thought of inviting these gorgeous food bloggers and share their views on healthy-living with us.

The series ‘Awesome Food Bloggers and Their Healthy-Living Secrets’  or AFBHLS is to bring forth some of the lovely food bloggers who will share their experiences on food, recipes, health and ways of cooking with you all.

Come let’s peek into their kitchen and unearth some of their secrets


Faith from An Edible Mosaic, food blogger

Faith from An Edible Mosaic

I introduce you all to adorable Faith, a cheerful and bubbly food blogger from New York as the first ‘AFBHLS‘. Her favorite foods are grapes, spinach, chicken makhani and her vice is Swiss dark chocolate. We have been connected with each other through our blogs for over a year, and I have always admired the freshness & healthy touch in all the recipes she posts.

Her blog An Edible Mosaic is a true celebration of food itself. She believes that we truly are what we eat and focus on real foods that sustain our bodies and minds, bring people together, and make a house a home. Let me take you over to some of her scrumptious creations in the various categories on her blog here.

The ‘Meals in a Minutes‘ series on her blog is worth every recipe if you are hard pressed for time and are looking for a healthy meal in a jiffy. The Leftover Grilled Veggie Bulgar wheat lunch is one such option for you to try;

leftover Grilled veggie Bulgar wheat lunch

Leftover Grilled veggie Bulgar wheat lunch Pic. courtesy;edible mosaic

She believes in moderation and thinks that there is time and place for every type of food. The ‘Health and Wellness‘ series on her blog has it all. The Oat Tea looks so refreshing and soothing!

Oat tea

Oat Tea Pic. courtesy; Edible Mosaic

And not to miss out on some of her exotic & marvelous baked goodies on her blog, here are the gorgeous Cherry-Vanilla cheese Danish Cup cakes for some heavenly indulgence;

Cherry-Vanilla cheese Danish Cup cakes

Cherry-Vanilla cheese Danish Cup cakes Pic. Courtesy; Edible Mosaic

With these Healthy-living secrets in her own words, I leave you with Faith to enjoy her scrumptious veggie treat here…

Here are some things I do to keep healthy/fit:

  1. I exercise 4-5 times a week (a mix of spinning, belly dancing, free weights, and walking).
  2. The majority of beverages I drink is just water – it quenches my thirst the best, keeps me hydrated, and this way I don’t drink extra calories.
  3. I eat as many whole grains, fruits, and veggies as I can.
  4. I try to use healthy cooking methods, like poaching, roasting, or grilling when I can, and when I really need to fry or saute something, olive oil is my go-to oil.  Instead of using a ton of olive oil, I like to add just a light coating to a nonstick pan (which doesn’t need a lot of oil to begin with), and I also like to add a splash of water as I’m cooking.  It helps push along the cooking process, doesn’t add any calories or fat, and evaporates off as the dish cooks.
  5. Instead of using sugar, I try to use natural sweeteners as much as possible.  A few of my favorites are fresh fruit (such as mashed banana), honey, and maple syrup.

Hello to all the lovely Lite Bite readers!  I’m Faith from An Edible Mosaic, and I was thrilled when the very sweet Sanjeeta asked me to do a guest post.  Her blog is beautiful and full of healthy, inspiring recipes so I wanted to make something healthy and delicious to share here.  I chose an eggplant dish, since it’s one of my favorite veggies
hope you all like it!

This time of year, so many different kinds of fresh, local veggies are at their peak.  Eating local veggies not only helps supports your local farmers, but it also benefits you because it’s usually cheaper (since the veggies aren’t being shipped in from somewhere else
and because the middleman is eliminated), better tasting, and higher in nutrients (since the veggies are fresher).  If you’re in the mood to try something new or want some inspiration, just head out to your local farmers’ market and see what they have that looks good that day
you won’t be disappointed!

My hubby is not a fan of eggplant, since he is very sensitive to its bitter flavor.  The beauty of this recipe is that it serves two so I can make it for just me and have it again as leftovers the next day.  But it is also easy to adjust for more servings if you have a crowd to feed.

There is a very small amount of honey in this recipe to round out the flavors.  If you want to make it vegan, you can omit it or substitute another sweetener of your choice, such as maple syrup, agave nectar, or stevia.

Spaghetti with Eggplant, Basil, & Breadcrumbs

(Serves 2)

Ingredients;

  • 4 oz spaghetti
    4 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
    1 very small onion, minced
    3 cloves garlic, minced (divided)
    1 medium-large onion, diced
    1 medium (about 3/4 lb) eggplant, chopped into bite-sized pieces
    1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
    1 teaspoon honey
    4 tablespoons Panko bread crumbs
    Handful of fresh basil (tear basil with your hands right before using it)
    Salt and pepper

Method: Cook spaghetti to al dente according to package directions.

In a small skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil over low heat; add the minced very small onion and 1 clove minced garlic and cook until tender and just starting to brown (about 5 to 7 minutes), stirring occasionally.  Add the bread crumbs and cook until light golden brown (about 1 to 2 minutes), stirring frequently.  Stir in a pinch of salt and pepper and turn off the heat.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, honey, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; set aside.

Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add the diced medium-large onion and eggplant and cook until they’re starting to soften and brown slightly (about 5 to 7 minutes), stirring occasionally.  Add the balsamic mixture and cook 1 minute, then cover the skillet, turn the heat down to medium-low, and cook until the veggies are tender (about 7 to 10 minutes), stirring occasionally and adding a splash of water if the pan gets too dry.  Add the remaining minced garlic and cook 1 to 2 minutes more.

 

Spaghetti with Eggplant, Basil, & Breadcrumbs

Toss the spaghetti in the skillet with eggplant mixture and cook to heat through (about 1 to 2 minutes).  Turn off the heat and toss in torn basil, then transfer to 2 serving dishes and top each with the breadcrumb mixture.

A huge thank-you to Sanjeeta KK for the honor of guest posting!  XO, Faith.

Thanks Faith for being a wonderful guest on ‘AFBHLS’ series and sharing some of your healthy-living secrets with us. Never would have thought of putting the humble eggplant (brinjal) to such a scrumptious looking treat! And Belly dancing, weight lifting…this sure sounds exciting, learning dance and keeping yourself fit too! And wish that customary ‘cup of coffee‘ never comes to me when I visit your home 🙂

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37 Comments »

  • chinmayie @ love food eat said:

    This is an amazing idea Sanjeeta! I am sure ‘AFBHLS’ will be great inspiration and very helpful to everybody! I am very interested in knowing how all the food bloggers cook such delicious food and stay in shape 🙂
    Looking forward to future posts of ‘AFBHLS!

  • Baker Street said:

    This is an excellent idea. Spaghetti with basil sounds great! Can’t wait for the next guest post!

  • Lana said:

    What a great idea for a series! I read almost all of the blogs that you mentioned, and I am looking forward to the guest posts to come:)
    I love using eggplant in pasta – it adds some “meatiness”, and it really does not look like dreaded eggplant (my middle daughter is not a fan, and I try my best to introduce it in some less visible ways).

    Thanks for sharing your secrets, Faith!

  • anu said:

    awesome recipe…very healthy…

  • Barbara said:

    AFBHLS is a super idea for a series, Sanjeeta. And I’m a big fan of Faith’s. Thanks for the guest post and thanks to Faith for a lovely light recipe with eggplant, one of my favorite veggies, unlike her husband!

  • Annapet said:

    This is wonderful, Sanjeeta! Very excited to read this late last night and the FIRST thing I’m reading this morning.

  • Krithi said:

    That is a great initiative to know many people!! lovely start!

  • Faith said:

    Thank you so much for the opportunity to guest post, Sanjeeta! It was my pleasure to be a guest poster here. This is such a great series and I can’t wait to see the upcoming posts!

  • sanjeeta kk said:

    @Faith, A big thanks from Lite Bite for being such a wonderful guest. And as my first guest here, you will always remain special to me. Glad to have known you more through this series, you are as awe inspiring as your blog is!
    Tight hugs and best wishes for all your endeavors.

  • latha said:

    very good start thank u sanjeetha

  • Heavenly Housewife said:

    Love your healthy tips :), I need all that I can get LOL. The pasta looks beautiful.
    *kisses* HH

  • pachecopatty said:

    Very inspirational! I follow faith’s blog and really enjoyed her guest post here. This promises to be an interesting series of ideas and recipes, thanks for putting it all together and sharing with us;-)

  • sanjeeta kk said:

    @Pachecopatty, Thanks for your sweet & inspirational comment! Feels good to see that AFBHLS is liked by many, hope to see many awe inspiring food bloggers in the series, including you 🙂

  • Junia @ Mis Pensamientos said:

    i love this “healthy living secrets” – yes, it’s all about making wise choices 🙂

  • Jacqueline said:

    What a great post and I love that pasta dish. I am eading over to edible mosaic to have a look around 🙂

  • sanjeeta kk said:

    @Jacqueline, Thanks for visiting and writing your views here. Love your blog and hope to see you in the series soon!

  • Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook said:

    Great post from Faith, the eggplant with pasta and breadcrumbs looks fantastic! Looking forward to more of the series, too.

  • Summer Rose said:

    Hey Faith , that pic is sooo pretty babe!
    I am loving reading about u , ur tips and more!
    I need to loose and am already more than halfway there , in less than 3months , all the weight have put on , recently 🙁
    And am enjoying gym class so muc again!
    Yeah i do have a couple of dvd’d and whenever i can squeeze in some time , do lods of cardio as in dancing or aero 🙂
    Maybe soon id start some other classes as well.
    And yeah walks 3thrice a month or so on the beach , in the rains , lol!
    And i love and enjoy every minute , specially with all the weight dropping and the muscle building !

    Ur Spaghetti looks so absolutely yummy and the combid delish , jus what i would love to eat for lunch and then some for dinner ….

    And yeah again some the next day :-))))

  • sanjeeta kk said:

    Summer Rose, Thanks for coming…that looks like we have got a huge Spaghetti fan here!

  • rebecca said:

    fun post love it great way to highlight healthy bloggers and the people behind their blogs

  • peachkins said:

    WOW! That looks like a fabulous dish Faith. and it is great getting to know more about you.

    This is a brilliant idea Sanjeeta!

  • Anamika said:

    Exactly the kind of article/ series that I needed. With so many temptations around, and creating some yummy treats for the blog; one needs some discipline for the longer run. Thanks for putting forward this series!!

  • Lite Bite > » Awesome Food Bloggers and Their Healthy-Living … | Health and Fitness said:

    […] the rest here:  Lite Bite > » Awesome Food Bloggers and Their Healthy-Living … Posted in Exercise, Nutrition | Tags: easy, faith, guest, guest-post, honey, lunchbox-bites, […]

  • Marla said:

    I have known Faith online now since I started my blog. I love her and her gorgeous, well thought out recipes and passion for life.
    I always look forward to visiting her blog & I can’t wait to meet her (and you) for reals some day. Could you please ask Faith if I could move in with her and Mike, better yet if she could move to CA…..I want her to be my personal chef. xo

  • sanjeeta kk said:

    @Marla, Aww..thanks for the invite…have already started day dreaming about being there with you both and gorging on the delightful recipes from your kitchen! Nom…nom…

  • Jeanette said:

    What a fun topic to explore with fellow food bloggers. With sweets and treats that are so popular on food blogs, it’s nice to see what healthy foods some are really eating.

  • elisbeth@foodandthriftfinds said:

    Thanks for sharing all those wonderful recipes. Such a great guest post, love the pasta…so healthy, and deliciou. So nice to combine the yummy sinful indulgence desserts with healthy goodness…otherwise it wouldn’t be right not to reward oneself with sweet treats!

  • Jamie said:

    This really is a great idea for a series (and I am so proud to be a part of it!). In this inundated world of food bloggers, it is nice to have a good, trusted friend to introduce to great bloggers and blogs and I’ll be following closely. Lovely post and guest post!

  • sanjeeta kk said:

    @Jamie, You are the driving force behind AFBHLS and I Love you! Hope I get lucky and the long wait ends soon, to feature one of my favorite food bloggers….you know who 🙂

  • Liz said:

    What a great guest post! I love the meal in minutes feature…wonderful idea. And such excellent tips…even though I make a lot of decadent dishes, I try to exercise daily and eat tons of fruits and veggies.

    Faith, your spaghetti dish looks amazing. I’m also eying those lovely cupcakes 🙂

  • Magic of Spice said:

    Faith this is a fabulous pasta dish! Wonderful guest post :0
    And great idea for a series Sanjeeta with a great selection of bloggers!

  • Joanne said:

    How fun! These are some fabulous healthy tips from Faith, who is an utter favorite of mine! And a delicious pasta dish as well.

  • kankana said:

    This is such a great post indeed. I had a good metabolism and somehow these days .. it stopped working 🙁 Should follow her tips and get back in shape.

  • LeQuan said:

    Sanjeeta,

    You have a lovely blog here. Thank you for having Faith as one of your guest posters.

    Faith: This is one of the most creative eggplant dishes I’ve seen. I’m so used to the Chinese stir fry method. This sounds wonderfully healthy and delicious. My hubby dislikes eggplant as well. I should make him try this one. It was good to learn more about you in this Post this post, faith.

  • Stevie said:

    I love your cooking, Faith! This dish sounds really good. Do you treat your eggplant with salt before cooking or just go right for it? I’ve usually salted then rinsed mine after about 30 minutes. Does it make a difference?

  • Mansi said:

    What a wonderful post, and great work by faith as well as Sanjeeta! Faith’s recipes are always down-to-earth yet delicious:) love the concept of this series, and will look forward to it:)

  • Anastasia said:

    And here I was, trying to think of what to do with the eggplant I got yesterday
 perfect dish for it and me

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