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One of my biggest dreams is to host dinner for my close friends at home. And by dinner, I don't mean take-out food and the likes. I want a menu that's carefully planned, but also very simple to prepare. The end goal is to make sure I serve them simple healthy dinner recipes that they'll enjoy and fondly remember. One of the best lessons I've learned from my mom was that nothing beats the magic of home cooked food. True enough, it's one thing that I always ask from her whenever she's in town for a visit. Among us siblings, my sister inherited the culinary talent of the women in our family. If we have a dish in mind, it's automatically agreed that I take care of the planning while she does the execution. One of her best recipe is the beef teriyaki. After several experiments with pantry ingredients, we were able to come up with a marinade for beef that is easily assembled with what you have in the kitchen. This is where a well-stocked pantry proves to be very useful. All you need are the following: 1/3 cup water 1/3 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup soy sauce 1 teaspoon crushed garlic 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon In a medium bowl, simply mix the water, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic and cinnamon. Place desired meat in the mixture. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator at least two hours before grilling as desired. Place a personal touch on the recipe if you want. Sometimes I choose to be creative and do away with the cinnamon. Or I keep the meat marinated overnight to let the flavors seep in. Never, ever leave them marinated for a week because it'll affect the meat's texture once it's cooked. If I'm preparing something grilled or savory, I love pairing it off with a salad to balance my palate. Salad greens are a favorite in the family especially if my mom's raspberry vinaigrette dressing recipe is used. For dessert I'd probably bake a batch of Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. It's a recipe I got off the internet that uses rolled oats which is a good source of fiber and whole grain, as well as canola oil and soy milk as substitutes for butter and full-fat milk. The recipe also contains bananas which add another dimension of flavor because they contain resistant starch. To cap the night off, a glass of red wine will come in handy. Studies have shown that moderate wine drinkers have lower mortality rates compared to their beer and spirit counterparts. This is because probiotics found in fermented foods like wine have also long been associated with good digestion. You'd be surprised that the polyphenols in red wine may contain the secrets to staying young. So how about it? Beef teriyaki, salad greens, banana chocolate chip cookies and red wine. A simple menu for dinner that is both satisfying and healthy. I credit my love for good food to the exemplary culinary skills of the women in my family. They have taught me to eat healthy and learn how to cook in order to survive. Eating a healthy, balanced diet provides nutrients to your body and significantly lowers your risk of developing a range of chronic diseases. This goes without saying that having control over what you eat will contribute to you achieving and maintaining a healthy weight which in turn results to a happier disposition and a happy YOU in general. So ditch the fastfoods and rediscover your love for home cooked meals. It'll not only benefit you financially but also health-wise.
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