The Food Blog
Very Berry Popsicles (0 Comments)
Creating homemade pop is a fun, creative activity to get your kids involved in the kitchen, especially on a hot summer day. I enjoy this treat due to it’s flexibility in flavors, textures and it’s simplicity. You can make these on the cheap with pure ingredients utilized. When I was growing up, my siblings and I would make these with my mom. We would get creative by utilizing cube trays and sticks to make our pops. We would make them out of grape juice, orange juice, or even just those cans of lemonade and then place in the freezer. After the waiting part, which was the hardest, we would gobble up it all up. An enjoyable cool refreshing tasty treat! So now, I’ve passed this along with my family, but with some healthier alternative options to the recipes. My boys really enjoyed seeing the whole process from point A to point B. A definite two thumbs up!
Berries are loaded with fiber which keeps you feeling satisfied and eat less. They contain high levels of antioxidant power, protecting your body from free radicals, molecules that can damage cells and organs. In a study, they found just one half to one cup of berries a day improved cognition and motor performance in animals. As we age, we become more susceptible to damaging effects of free radicals and inflammation and so, consuming berries they help prevent those effects by turning off the inflammation signals triggered by cytokines and cox-2s, making them an ideal part of your natural diet. To gain optimal health benefits, eat 2 or 3 types of berries whether it frozen, fresh, or dehydrated sources each day.
SERVES: About 6-8
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup of pomegranate juice
1/2 cup organic blueberries
1/2 cup organic strawberries
1 tbsp honey, or preferred sweetener
small handful fresh mint leaves, or basil leaves
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS:
Combine ingredients into the blender and puree until desired consistency. Fill the molds and allow to freeze for about a few hours, or until solidified. When ready to serve, place the molds under hot water for a couple minutes to remove from the mold. Then you are able to enjoy a super simple treat that is healthy, energizing and delicious. Yum!!
NUTRITIONAL VALUE: Calories 87; Sodium 4mg; Total Carbohydrates 22; Dietary Fiber 0.8; Sugars 15; Protein 0.3; vitamin C 26%, iron 1%, calcium 1%. Vary high in antioxidants vitamin C type of treat.
Coconut Chocolate Ice Cream (0 Comments)
” I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!”
This non-dairy refreshing, mood enhancing ice cream is a perfect summertime treat. With only just a few key ingredients and about 10 minutes of preparation time, this is super simple and satisfying. You may use this recipe with or without a maker. I made this with a high fat content of coconut milk for creaminess, a natural sweetener (honey), pure vanilla and good quality (semi-sweet) chocolate. So light, creamy and so delicious!!
The charming coconut!! Coconuts are so good for you, they contain numerous health advantages for your overall health. They are high in fiber and vitamin C which helps promote a healthy immune system and satiety when consuming coconut. It also contains lauric acid which is an anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties. This simple super food provides high amounts of selenium, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium in which will provide you with more sustainable energy, it’s a wonderful cleanser and healer of a leaky gut, also helps to fight off infections and it’s ability to boost thyroid functions by up to 20% as well as preventing colon and breast cancer. This is due to the oils protective nature and ability to prevent infections of the body while cleansing the system. In addition, coconut contains no trans fats, is gluten free, non toxic, hypoallergenic and anti-parasitic healing properties. Need i say more?! I don’t think so, a green light to incorporate some or more coconut in your life to maintain overall well being.
Serves: 2 quarts
INGREDIENTS:
6 cups coconut milk (high fat content for creaminess)
6-8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped and melted
4 tbsp cornstarch
1/3 cup local honey, or maple syrup
2 tbsp pure vanilla, or pod
INSTRUCTIONS:
Combine 1/4 cup of coconut milk, and cornstarch together; set aside.
In a small saucepan, on low heat, combine the rest of the milk, sweetener and chocolate. Stir frequently until boiling.
Remove from heat. Add cornstarch mixture. This will create a thicker consistency. Then, add the vanilla.
Place in a heat proof serving dish with a lid, apply parchment over ice cream before placing lid on top. This will prevent from ice crystals to form. Refrigerate overnight or at least 4 to 6 hours before placing in the ice cream maker. If not using a maker, just keep in freezer until it solidifies.
Delicious Dill Pickles (0 Comments)
“Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers;
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked;
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?”.
Pickled cucumbers, a great anytime treat !! So good and good for you. This is super simple and quick to create at home. The best part about this recipe is that you’re able to enjoy it the next day and will last up to to one month in the refrigerator, unless, your household is a bunch of avid pickle fans. In our household, they are gone in about a week. So yummy!! I Hope you enjoy this lazy super simple treat for the summer.
Here are some facts about cucumbers. Did you know, cucumbers are one of the oldest cultivated vegetables and believed to be originated in northern India?! Today, cucumbers are the fourth most widely used grown vegetable crop in the world behind tomatoes, onions and cabbage. There are two types: the slicing kind and there is the pickling varieties. The pickling tend to be smaller, thicker and have bumpy skin with black dotted spines. This vegetable is often regarded as a healthy food due to that it is low in calories and fat. An excellent choice for cooking and snacking purposes. The greatest health benefit of this simple super food is skin revitalization. Cucumbers display a diuretic, a cooling and cleansing effect. Very beneficial for skin health. The high water content of vitamin A, B, and C plus the presence of minerals like magnesium, potassium and silica make cucumbers an essential part of skin care for tightening and hydration. Besides the positive effects of skin health, it provides healthy digestion, joint health, blood pressure levels, tape worm elimination, oral, nail, kidney care, great for gout and arthritis and so much more. The list goes on and on.
Tip: When purchasing cucumbers, choose the ones that are firm to the touch and are a dark green in color. Go for more of the organically grown type, provides more nutrients and better tasting.
SERVINGS: about 24 spears or 2 quart jars
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar (5% acidity)
2-3 tbsp sea salt
2 tbsp sweetener, honey or sugar
2 cups cold filtered water
6 spears of cucumbers
5 garlic cloves, peeled and halved
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
16 fresh dill sprigs
INSTRUCTIONS:
In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, salt and sugar over high heat. Make sure it’s a non-reactive pan (stainless steel, glass, ceramic, and Teflon). Whisk until completely dissolved. Transfer liquid into a bowl and whisk in the cold water. Then, place in the refrigerator when ready to use.
Place sliced cucumbers into a clean 1 quart jar. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, mustard seeds, dill sprigs and chilled brine. Be sure brine covers the tops of the cucumber, add water if necessary. Sometimes i place an onion (halved) on top before sealing to ensure cucumbers are beneath the liquid. Cover and refrigerate about 24 hours. Then you may serve. Enjoy!
NUTRITIONAL VALUE: 35 grams serving size; Calories 8 g; Sodium 450 g; Total Carbohydrates 1.5 g; Sugars 1.1 g; Protein 1 g; ( no saturated fat, cholesterol and high in manganese)
Old Fashioned Lemonade (0 Comments)
Here is a great summertime favorite……Old fashioned lemonade!! My family LOVES lemonade!! Normally around this time of the year, we enjoy making our own. It’s so much better for you due to quality control of ingredients and just so much fun concocting your own style. It’s so versatile that you may add your favorite fruits, spices, and/or herbs to the mix. This is a super simple, pure and absolutely the best tasting recipe ever. It is only made with three ingredients of lemons, water and sugar. It is a southern classic.
Serves: about 6-8
INGREDIENTS:
8 lemons, extra for garnishing
1 cup brown sugar
6 cups water
INSTRUCTIONS:
First, wash lemons thoroughly. Roll lemons firmly on a hard surface until they become soft. This will make it easier to juice.
Zest 3 lemons and set aside.
In a saucepan or pot, over medium heat, add sugar, lemons zest and 2 cups of water. ( at this time you may add other spices, herbs, or fruit to the mix). Simmer lightly for 5 minutes, or until the sugar has been dissolved and the mixture has turned a light yellow color. Do NOT boil. Remove from heat.
Juice the lemons. Strain the lemon juice into a large pitcher. Strain the sugar mixture into the pitcher. Then add 4 cups of cold water. Taste and adjust accordingly, if needed.
Fill chilled glasses with ice and pour in the lemonade.You may garnish glasses with sliced lemons, herbs or mint leaves.
Enjoy!
Watermelon and Basil Iced Tea (0 Comments)
It’s that time of the year for fresh watermelon, the simple super food!!! It is extremely hydrating and so good for you. In addition to being delicious, this refreshing drink has numerous health benefits due to the herbs, green tea and watermelon. A perfect summertime drink!
The great green tea. The Chinese have known about the many positive affects of consuming this amazing tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. It is a great cancer fighter, reduces infections and cardiovascular diseases, helps with rheumatoid arthritis, and lowers levels of cholesterol in the body. So, what is there NOT to love about the great green tea. Nadda! Get your daily dose of the great green tea.
The beautiful basil. This herb has some serious mind-body benefits, from busting stress to clearing your skin. Besides having more clear skin, it lowers cortisol levels in the body due to stress and keeps you calmer and relaxed. Basil also replenishes iron levels in the body, especially around the time when you are menstruating. So, consuming more basil around that time of the month, will do wonders for you physically and mentally! Here is the recipe below. Hope you enjoy this lovely drink. Definitely a two thumbs up for me!!!!
SERVES: 8
INGREDIENTS:
8 cups boiling water
8 ounce tea bags, jasmine green tea
1/8 watermelon, medium size, cut into small triangles or squares
1 small bunch fresh basil sprigs
sweetener, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS:
Pour 8 cups of boiling water into a heat resistant pitcher. Add 8 tea bags and let steep for about 10 minutes.
Remove and discard the bags and allow the tea to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
To assemble, cut the watermelon into wedges and gather the flesh, cut into cubes. Reserve 8 cubes for garnish. Combine the watermelon and iced tea into the blender and puree until smooth.
Pour into 8 tall glasses. Garnish with watermelon cubes and fresh basil leaves, or preferred herbs. Super simple elegance. Enjoy!
Refreshing Watermelon Salad (0 Comments)
What a great summertime side dish to refresh you during a scorching summer season!! With only 10 minutes to prepare, there is no excuse for skipping this healthy treat!! The refreshing, sweet and juicy watermelon can do more than just cool you down on a hot summer day. It is packed full of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants!
Every 100 grams of this simple super food contains 30 calories, 1 gram of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, 1 gram protein, fat and cholesterol free, contains numerous vitamins such as A, C, E, D, also niacin, thiamine, B6, B12, and acid pantothenic. It also has iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, fluoride, and selenium. Besides it nutritional values, it promotes a healthy heart function, a cancer fighter, increases sexual activity, treats infections, increases proper kidney function and reduces high blood pressure too. In that regards, no reason NOT to have this spectacular super food!! So good and good for you.
SERVES: 4
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups watermelon, chopped (3/4 inch chunks)
1 cup cucumber, sliced and quartered (1/4 inch chunks)
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled or by the block
2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
2 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette
BALSAMIC DRESSING:
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp local honey, or preferred sweetener
sea salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
INSTRUCTIONS:
Simply combine the first four ingredients in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the balsamic, olive oil, sweetener and thoroughly mix until sweetener has dissolved. Pour dressing over salad, lightly toss; sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Tip: This is best made just right before serving. I find that if it sits in the frig overnight, it gets slimy or too juicy. The salad is crisp and bright, the feta is creamy. The mint adds an extra element of flavor and combines nicely with the ingredients. Light, cool, and refreshing. A two thumbs up!!
NUTRITIONAL VALUE: Calories 91; Total Fat 4.2g; Cholesterol 17mg; Sodium 200mg, Total Carbohydrates 10.6g; Sugars 8g; Protein 3.6g; vitamin A 17%, calcium 11%, vitamin C 17% and iron 5%.