Random Recipe: Peanut-Mustard Chicken with Veggies

Since my heath and fitness regimen requires that I eat nothing but good, healthy foods with low sodium, sugar and wheat, you can imagine that the diet can get a little... well, bland, after a while. I got tired of eating the same three things for dinner, so I took matters into my own hands last night and tried something different.

If you're trying to eat healthy and you're scared that the food won't taste good, or if you don't have a lot of time to prepare dinner--or if you're just someone who doesn't know how to cook--then this original concoction (made from store-bought ingredients) is the perfect dish for you. It's delicious, takes less than 15 minutes to prepare, and there's virtually no salt or sugar to worry about. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

The following recipe serves one person (with left-overs, depending on how hungry you are), so double or triple the recipe for more people.

Ken's Peanut-Mustard Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

One large boneless chicken breast
One bag frozen stir fry veggies
1/4 cup pearl onions (or chopped red onions)
1 tablespoon Beaver brand honey mustard (or honey mustard of your choice) *
1 tablespoon Terrapin Ridge Hickory Honey mustard **
1/2 tablespoon unsalted creamy peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

In a wok, cook chicken on high in 1 tablespoon olive oil until about halfway cooked through, then add veggies and pearl onions. Cook on high for about 5 to 6 minutes, or until veggies are soft but crisp and chicken is fully cooked. (Add a little spring water here and there as needed if olive oil cooks away.)

Turn off heat. Immediately add mustards and peanut butter, then just a little bit of spring water and the pepper, and stir until ingredients create a "sauce." Serve immediately, or chill and serve later as a "chicken salad" entree.

NOTE: Vegetarians can, of course, substitute tofu for chicken. If you wish, you can also add peanuts, raisins or both to the dish. For the veggies, I prefer Trader Joe's stir-fry veggies (bok choy, sugar snap peas, and kale), but last night I made it with a bag of frozen veggies that included carrots, edamame, cauliflower, green beans and red peppers. Brocolli is also a great ingredient.

* Can be found at Ralph's grocery store
** Can be found at Whole Foods grocery store

Enjoy!

It's Official: 2007 Is MY Year, Baby!

You know, I knew I was on to something this year. And now it all makes sense... It seems that in the Chinese Zodiak, 2007 is the Yeare of the Red Fire Pig. And I, my friends, am a Pig. (No comments from the peanut gallery on that one, mmmmkay?) I thought there was something in the air this year that was making me feel so empowered and liberated, and this proves it.

Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is Sunday, February 18.

Chinese New Year in 2007 is the Year of the Red Fire Pig. The year of the pig ends the 12 year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Like the houses of the zodiac, the animals of Chinese astrology are said to influence your luck during the year. Your horoscopes for 2007, the year of the pig, depends on which animal signifies the year you were born.

Pigs are said to be very good matches for tigers and sheep, but do not get along well with snakes and monkeys. Other pigs, rabbits, horses, oxen, rats, roosters, dogs and dragons can make good companions, but the relationships are not always smooth or long lasting.

Babies born in the year of the pig are fortunate and make good partners in life. The pig is modest, sometimes quick to anger but also quick to learn and hard working. Their ability to see things through brings success in business and personal affairs.

If you aren't sure which animal ruled the year that you were born this list will help. To get more specific information and learn more about what the omens are for your future in the New Year, check out related links of interest and find out what else the animals of fortune predict for you in 2007.

Here are a few general conclusions from the opinions of the sages...

Pig : 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
With the 2006 year of preparation behind them, those born in a pig year finally come into the full energy of their own sign. With all of the patient pig's attention to detail and hard work, the table has been set for this banquet year and pigs will enjoy sharing the feast with their family, friends and business associates. This will be a lucky year — with prosperity coming from success in business but also from unexpected money. Good fortune in 2007 is ahead for romantic adventures. A marriage for the pig this year is blessed with good omens. Family, always important to the pig, will be well taken care of and the home ruled by the pig will enjoy harmony and good fortune. Old business will be successful and new ventures will be fortunate.

My Physical Therapy!

So how come nobody ever told me how awesome working out is?

Many of you may already know that I've started working out with a personal trainer for a six month health and fitness project for Frontiers magazine. Well, I've been working out with Ronn (my trainer) for about a week and a half now, and so far, it's rocking my world.

If you've been keeping up with my KenGetsFit blog, then you know that I had a myriad of issues "preventing" me from taking matters into my own hands and hitting the weights. All those old junior and high school memories of being picked on and humiliated in gym class kept re-emerging to haunt me over the years, and I let it keep me from doing something really wonderful for myself, even though I knew better. Insecurities are weird like that.

Well, last year, I finally decided that I'd had enough, and I pitched a six month-long project to Frontiers, and they ate it up. So they published an introductory story about me along with a terrible "before" shot (the photographer literally made me make myself look as slovenly and lethargic as possible for effect), and in the spring, they will run a follow-up story that tracks my progress. Then, in the summer, the project will come to an end, and there will be an "end piece" along with "after" pics. My goal is to be in good enough shape that I might even get to model a few swimsuits for their summer swimsuit issue! It gives me something to aspire to anyway.

At any rate, I'm having a blast working out with Ronn, who takes really good care of me and who is very attentive to my concerns and my inexperience with anything athletic. It's not easy by any stretch; there are nights when all I want to do is scream out in agony. Hell, sometimes I do. But I'm challenging myself in a way that I never have before, and it feels great to be able to start to make myself into the man I've always envisioned myself to be. It's not about being "hot." It's not about getting laid. It's not about being "butch." It's just about stepping up to the plate and doing something really positive and healthy for myself. And so far, I've never felt better about myself. Yay me!

Anyway, hope you get a chance to follow my workout blog! I'm having a blast writing it!

XOXO,

Hollywood Ken

Daniel Radcliffe Bares All!

So, has anyone seen little Harry Potter lately? Holy hot future porn star!

OK, well, maybe not quite, but these publicity photos taken to promote his new play on the West End in London sure do paint a whole different picture of the boy we've come to know as the bespeckled wizard-in-training at Hogwart's! Gone are the glasses and "schoolboy" haircut, and in their place are muscles (the boy has abs!) and a more contemporary 'do. Hell, I'm not usually into younger guys, but I'd totally do him!

Looks like Harry is growing up rather quickly, which should make the next few Harry Potter films a lot more interesting to watch. Wouldn't you agree?

Check it out: