Mango-Turmeric Smoothie

Lately, I've been reading more about the spice ~ turmeric, and I keep sneaking it into some of my smoothies. Depending on what I'm blending, the orange color of the turmeric is either front-and-center (like in the Mango-Turmeric Smoothie, sprinkled with fresh cracked pepper, shown above) or camouflaged (like in a green smoothie or one with dark colored fruits/veggies).  Either way I make it, I'm happy with the health benefits of including turmeric in my diet. 

Strawberry Chia Pudding ~ Meatless Monday

I'd heard about using chia seeds in desserts and was curious about how it would turn out. So, when I saw this recipe for ~ Rich & Creamy Strawberry Chia Pudding, I decided to give it a try. My take on it ~ This is an interesting dessert, with an unusual 'crunch' and a texture that is kinda-sorta like pudding. (it's so trippy how the seeds thicken up the mixture like that) I used dark chia seeds, so mine wasn't as pretty as theirs, but that was OK. My guys weren't too keen on it, they like their pudding smooth, not with a crunch... but I'm glad I tried this superfood sweet treat. It's always fun to try a new spin on traditional foods.

Turmeric Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps

I've been trying to include more of the golden spice ~ turmeric ~ in my diet. And I've recently found another simple and tasty way to sneak it in ~ I'll often just add a teaspoon to my tuna salad. So simple and tasty, and when stirred into the salad, it adds a lovely golden orange hue. For a low carb meal, I like to nestle the salad in a lettuce leaf, top it with some avocado and chopped tomatoes, and lunch is served.  If turmeric is good enough for Dr. Oz, it's good enough for me.  :)

Quinoa Tabbouleh ~ Meatless Monday

I was craving tabbouleh, but was all out of cracked bulgur wheat. Dang it! I did have some leftover cooked quinoa in the fridge...good enough.  Into the bowl of quinoa went ~ chopped tomatoes, diced red bell pepper, lots of chopped parsley, a little chopped cilantro, a big squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, a dash of balsamic vinegar, a sprinkling of sea salt, fresh cracked black pepper, and a bit of hot red pepper flakes.  I gave it all a good toss, chilled it for a bit, and then served it.  This quick and easy to make salad satisfied my craving, was full of the superfood quinoa...and it helped me use up some leftovers.  I call that a win-win!  Toss in some cooked beans, tofu or tempeh, and you've got a quick, protein packed  meal.

Steamed Superfood Veggies & Over Easy Eggs ~ Meatless Monday

To make this super simple breakfast/brunch/lunch/light dinner, I just steam a bunch of ~ chopped kale, baby bok choy, sliced onion, and bell peppers.  When they're done, I toss them with some ~ Bragg's, crushed red pepper flakes, minced ginger and cracked black pepper.  To complete my masterpiece I crown it with ~ an over easy egg, cooked to crispy-on-the-outside-and-runny-on-the-inside perfection, cut so the yolk runs down into the veggies, then misted with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray and a slash of sriracha sauce.  To me, it's a perfect way to make an outstanding low fat, low cal meal, Fat Flush Plan friendly meal ~ just the way I like it!

 

Superfood Stir Fry ~ Meatless Monday

Lately, I've been craving all sorts of deep green veggies ~ raw, cooked, and juiced.  This time I decided to throw a whole bunch of the fresh superfoods into my wok, along with a few other ingredients, and enjoy a quick, healthy dinner.  I had some prepacked bagged veggies in the fridge, so it was a snap to get my meal on the table.  To make this I simply...

Superfood Stir Fry

Warm a little olive oil in a wok, over medium high heat, and then throw in handfuls of...

• chopped kale
• baby spinach
• baby bok choy
• sliced onion
• sliced red bell pepper
• broccoli florets
• garbanzo beans
• toasted slivered almond
• dried cranberries
• minced ginger
• minced garlic

Toss the veggies until they begin to wilt.  Then add to taste...

• Bragg's Amino Acids (or soy sauce)
• sriracha sauce
• red pepper flakes
• Chinese 5-Spice

When the veggies are as crisp/cooked as I like, it's time to eat!  Easy-Peasy!

Steamed Kale & Veggies with Sriracha Sauce & Almonds ~ Meatless Monday

Steaming kale has become one of my favorite ways to enjoy eating this superfood.  It softens the kale and makes it really tender.  I've been adding whatever veggies are lurking in the fridge to the steamer basket, and steaming them until the veggies are just tender.  Currently, my favorite way to dress them is with some Sriracha Sauce and a little Bragg's.  I like to sprinkle on a few almond slivers, crushed red pepper flakes (for a little more heat) and lunch/dinner is served.  Super easy, super simple, super fast & super tasty!

Wheatgrass-Coconut Superfood Green Protein Smoothie

I've always wanted to try a freshly squeezed shot of wheatgrass...but, I'm a chicken.  Ever since I saw the face Samantha & her man-of-the hour (in an episode on the classic show, Sex & the City) made when she/he tried one, I've been hesitant, to say the least.  I mean, drinking grass juice?  You've got to be kidding, right?  Even if it is supposed to be healthy for you...you are supposed to mow it, not drink it.

Well, I finally stood up to my fear, and decided to give it a try...but, not the traditional kind.  I found a powdered version that looked and sounded less threatening ~ it came in a little packet that you mixed-up into whatever cold beverage you wanted to add it to.  I controlled the amount of green wheatgrass flavor by adding the right amount of water for  me ~ it turns out that 8 ounces of water is just perfect for my tastes.  I was pleasantly surprised when I found the reconstituted wheatgrass drink to be almost sweet, with a very subtle 'green taste'...and it's not yucky at all!  I actually even liked it.  So much so, that I'm going to add it to my daily diet.  Now, that was an unexpected surprise.  Not only is it just fine mixed with water or fruit juice, it's also really at home in a smoothie, and gives it a light hint of green.  Such an easy way to have a superfood green smoothie.  Cool.

My cute, little, single-serving packet of organic wheatgrass powder, from Amazing Grass, only cost about $1.50 at Whole Foods. (after a bit of sleuthing, it looks like some wheatgrass powders are made from dried wheatgrasss juice & others from the entire dried blade of wheatgrass ~ from what I've been able to decipher, Amazing Grass is the latter kind...I think...I'm such a wheatgrass newbie!) The best thing about it, was that it let me see if I liked it before buying a whole container. Sample sizes are so handy, for trying out a product or for an easy, single-serving, take-along size. Now that I know I like it, I'm going to buy a container of it.  I found a really good price over on Amazon, so I'm going to order mine from there.  Maybe someone should tell Samantha there IS a way to actually enjoy drinking a shot of wheatgrass.  Nah, I'd rather just watch her make that face.  heehee   :)

Wheatgrass-Coconut Superfood Green Protein Smoothie

serves 1

Ingredients

• 1 cup coconut milk beverage, like the vanilla one from Trader Joe's (or your favorite kind of juice/nut milk/milk)
• 1 cup cold water
• 1 single serving packet wheatgrass powder (or single serving scoop)
• 1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
• 1/2 banana
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• couple drops of stevia extract (or sweetener of choice ~ optional)
• 4-6 ice cubes

Directions

Place all ingredients in blender & whirl away until smooth & frosty.

Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry with Hemp Hearts Seeds

Hemp Hearts Seeds were the perfect addition to my Chicken & Veggie Stir-Fry dinner.  I just sprinkled them over the dish, right before serving.

Hemp Hearts ~ from Manitoba Harvest

I always wanted to try hemp seeds, but never had. Something about eating hemp seeds just didn't sound right to me.  But, I kept seeing articles about the benefits of this 'superfood'...and if it's good enough for Oprah to give it a thumbs-up, there must be something to them. They are a bit pricey, so I didn't want to commit to buying a big bag, just in case I didn't like them. Finally, I found a small packet of Hemp Hearts, raw shelled hemp seeds, over at Whole Foods, so I decided to give them a try. 

I must say, I'm so very happy that I did!  The flavor of the seeds is fantastic, they have a delicate, little 'crunch' and have a rich, 'nutty' quality that I really enjoy.  I think they're just as good eaten out of hand, as they are sprinkled over any recipe you are so inclined to add them to.  If you're like I was, on the fence about eating hemp seeds, why not give them a try?  I hope I come across a sample of Hemp Milk sometime...I'd like to try that hemp product, too.  At least for now, I've got a new tasty treat to add to my pantry staples.  Yay!!  :)

Having fun with Chia Seeds ~ homemade drinks full of superfood goodness

I came across a unique drink one day while I was in Whole Foods, from the company ~ Mamma Chia.  Jewel-toned, fruit juice flavored beverages, that are a bit strange looking...because they're full of the superfood ~ chia seeds.  The drink comes in a variety of fruit juice flavors and I decided to give it a try.  My thoughts on the drink...it has an interesting, 'almost-melted jello-like' texture (because of the coating the chia seeds make from swelling in the juice), a light crunch (due to all the tiny seeds), and a nice fruit juice flavor.  It's probably not a drink that everyone would enjoy, (because of the 'texture', my son wouldn't try it) but I liked it.

As I was going through some of  my old food photos, I found some pictures I took of the drink bottles.  Well, that made me want to have some more, so I decided to try making my own spin.  I decided to made a fruit juice version and a yogurt version.  My drinks didn't come out as colorful and pretty as Mamma Chia's because I used dark chia seeds.  As the seeds rehydrated, they ended up giving the fruit juice version a dull, grayish cast.  The dark seed color slowly faded into the fruit juice, but the flavor/texture was similar.  (Mamma Chia must use white chia seeds for their beverages)  So, if you're interested in enjoying your chia seeds in a new way, consider 'drinking' them.  It's a simple way to get more of this superfood into your diet.  :)

Fruit Juice with Chia Seeds

one serving

It started out a pretty color, but it lost it's hue as the chia seeds swelled...

Ingredients

• 4oz. of your favorite fruit juice
• 2/3 cup cold water
• 2 Tbsp chia seeds

Directions

Combine all ingredients in bottle, shake well.  Keep bottle in fridge until all seeds have rehydrated, about an hour. Shake before serving.  Enjoy.

Vanilla Yogurt Drink with Chia Seeds

one serving

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 cup cold water
• 2 Tbsp chia seeds
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of salt (optional)
• stevia or other sweetener, to taste

Directions
Combine all ingredients in bottle, shake well.  Keep in fridge until all seeds have rehydrated, about an hour.  Shake well before serving.  Enjoy.

Chocolate Yogurt Drink with Chia Seeds
one serving

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 cup cold water
• 2 Tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 Tbsp cocoa powder (mixed in a little hot water until all lumps are gone)
• pinch of salt (optional)
• stevia or other sweetener, to taste

Directions
Combine all ingredients in bottle, shake well.  Keep in fridge until all seeds have rehydrated, about an hour.  Shake well before serving. Enjoy.

Deep Green 'Full-of-Fiber' Fruit & Veggie Juice ~ how I make fresh juice with all the fiber...without having a Vitamix blender

I've been enjoying making fresh juice in my Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juicer for some time now.  I've shared some of those recipes on the blog,  as well as ways I use up the leftover pulp.  Waste not, want not.  If I had a Vitamix blender this wouldn't be an issue, it can turn all of the fruit and veggies into juice...with no leftover pulp at all.  But, since I don't have one, I decided to see if I could reincorporate the pulp back into the juice by using my blender after juicing. Happy to report ~ it works!!  

It might not be quite as smooth as a Vitamix created glass of juice, but for me it works out just fine...and there's no $400-$500 hit to my budget.  :)  The juice can be as thick or thin as you like, just add as much water or apple juice as you want. This is how I created the deep green beauty shown above...

Deep Green 'Full-of-Fiber' Fruit & Veggie Juice
~ made without a Vitamix blender
serves one

Ingredients

• 1 small apple, seeds removed
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 celery stick
• 1 handful washed spinach
• 2 kale leaves with stems
• 1/4 Meyer lemon, cut into slices, seeds removed
• 1 'coin' slice of fresh ginger (or more, to taste)
• 1 cup (or more) of cold water (or bottled apple juice)
• stevia, maple syrup, or you favorite sweetener ~ optional
• ice cubes

Directions

Process all fruit/veggies through the juicer.  Pour juice into the blender.  Take all (or less, your call) of the leftover fiber out of the juicer and add to the blender.  Add a cup of water (or apple juice) and blend on 'puree' (or highest setting) for a minute or until as smooth as it can get.  Add additional water/juice, if desired, to get the juice to a consistency you like.  Taste and add a little sweetener if needed/desired.  Serve fiber blended juice over ice.  Enjoy!

 

Lentil Rogan Josh ~ Meatless Monday

A while back, I came across a vegetarian curry recipe spin in one of my Penzey's Spice catalogs.  Since it replaces meat with lentils, I thought it would be a perfect fit for Meatless Monday.  I followed this recipe for ~ Lentil Rogan Josh ~ that was shared by one of their customers.  I served it over a bed of brown rice, topped with a big dollop of fat free Greek yogurt and a sprinkling of dried cilantro.  I enjoyed my meal...but, my boys, not so much.  They didn't care for the ginger flavor, (they can be a bit picky when it comes to ginger cooked into a dish).  Fine by me, just means I don't have to share any of the leftovers!  So, if you're looking for a simple way to serve the superfood lentils, that has a nice Indian flair, this might be your dish.  Happy Meatless Monday!

Quinoa Tuna Salad

Quinoa and Tuna? Together, like as in tuna salad?  You betcha!!!  One day I added a a cup of cooked quinoa to a cup of canned tuna.  Why?  Because I had some cooked quinoa in the fridge and not enough tuna to go around for lunch.  They are the perfect match!  Not only have we had it in a traditional sandwich, we've also eaten it on crackers; stuffed in a pita; and as part of a green salad.  Just make your tuna salad like you normally do and then throw in the cooked quinoa.  Such an easy and tasty way to get a superfood on your plate.  Give it a try, I think you'll love it, too!

 

Kale & Chickpeas with Simple Spicy Peanut Sauce ~ Meatless Monday

I was cleaning out my veggie bin and found some kale and yellow squash that had totally seen better days.  Since I never let anything in the fridge go to waste if I can help it, I chopped the tired veggies and gave them the ol' steamer treatment.  Then I tossed the hot cooked veggies with a big spoonful of creamy peanut butter, some canned chickpeas, a healthy shot of Bragg's (my soy sauce stand-in), a liberal dose of Frank's Hot Sauce, a few chopped nuts and some crushed red pepper flakes ~ just for a little extra 'kick'.  It made for a really quick, tasty, cheap and satisfying meal.  Booyah!  

 

Balsamic-Glazed Chickpeas & Kale ~ Meatless Monday

This recipe for Balsamic-Glazed Chickpeas and Mustard Greens popped up on my Facebook feed yesterday.  The recipe said to change up the greens if you like.  Well, I had some kale that needed using up...and an open can of chickpeas in the fridge...and a bottle of balsamic vinegar in the pantry ~ all the things I needed for a superfood Meatless Monday meal!

I made this today for my lunch and I was really happy with how it tasted...and used up the odds-and-ends in my fridge.  Real-time cooking in my kitchen this afternoon.  Check out FatFree Vegan Kitchen for LOTS of other wonderful meatless recipes.

Oat Bran "Polenta" with Mexican Beans ~ Meatless Monday

Giving leftover oat bran the 'polenta treatment' ~ what a great way to eat more of this superfood!

Ixtapa, Mexico

I've recently returned from a 2-week long vacation and I'm slowly easing back into my routines, both around the house and on the blog.  I went to another Club Med EXGO Reunion (read about my first EXGO reunion here) and this time I took my son.  This latest reunion was at the Club Med village ~ Ixtapa Pacific.  We met lots of new people and became really good friends with a lovely family from San Francisco. :) 

Since I've been busy working on editing our trip photos, I've been thinking a lot about our vacation and all the different types of Mexican foods they served ~ as well as some interesting new spins on old classics.  They served polenta a few times on the dinner buffet and since I happened to have some cooked, leftover oat bran in fridge  that looked a lot like chilled polenta, (once I took it out of the round Tupperware container) I decided to give it the 'polenta' treatment.

I sliced the cold oat bran 'polenta' into a few discs (just like you would from a tube of precooked polenta), sprinkled on some zesty spices and then 'fried' the discs in a little oil.  I topped the 'fried polenta' with home cooked pinto beans, some Mexican fixin's (chopped white onion, cilantro, sofrito and chipotle hot sauce) and salt/pepper from my cool new shakers (Thanks, L!).  It made for a marvelous meatless lunch that would be good for breakfast, brunch, or supper, too.  I just love finding new and unusual ways to enjoy my oats!

The cooked oat bran really tastes a lot like polenta when you slice and cook/fry it after it's been chilled overnight in the fridge.  It would be easy to adapt this for an Italian version, just by switching up the spices/toppings.  All the more reason to make some extra oat bran in the mornings ~ now I can eat it for a quick lunch or dinner, too.  :) 

  

Hot Wilted Kale and Lettuce Salad ~ Meatless Monday

The inspiration for making this Hot Wilted Kale and Lettuce Salad was a simple one ~ I had some iceberg lettuce and kale in my veggie bin that had seen better days and it was time to either use it, or toss it.  Since I'm not one to throw out food if it is still edible, I decided to assist the 'wilting' of my veggies...by chopping and chucking them into a hot skillet!  I sauteed the greens in some EVOO, along with a splash of Balsamic vinegar and Braggs, diced onions, minced garlic, a little chopped green apple, a handful of walnuts and some spices.  It was a wonderfully light, meatless lunch that was ready in a flash.  I love it when I can make a meal from seemingly nothing ~ like Grandma Bunni always said, "Waste not, want not!"

 

Superfood Veggie Scramble with Chickpeas ~ Meatless Monday

I had one last 'Little Bessie' egg in my fridge, and I was all set to make a pretty meal.  I planned to saute superfood veggies (kale, spinach and 3 colors of bell peppers), getting them ready so I could crack my huge, double-yolk egg on top of their healthy goodness and then poach those two beautiful, mounded yolks (that came out of that one egg) and enjoy my breakfast...  

What really happened was that one of the yolks burst when I cracked the egg ~ WAH!!  Total bummer!  Since I couldn't make what I wanted, I got cranky and just scrambled it all together.  Since I was on a roll, I added some chickpeas that were in the fridge for good measure and topped it all with some salsa.  It had became a glorious, tasty mess.  Not pretty, but it was ~ low fat, low carb, low cal and yummy ~ all the same.    Some days chickens, some days feathers...some days cracked yolks.  Ya gotta roll with the punches and not let it ruffle your feathers.  (tee-hee ~ every pun intended! :)  Happy Meatless Monday!

Cranberry Greek Yogurt Smoothie

Here is another tasty way that I've found to use fresh or frozen cranberries in a smoothie.  I took a little different spin on this High Protein Berry Smoothie recipe that I shared the other day.  I gotta say, I'm really enjoying adding those shiny, ruby berries to my smoothies.  I've been a bit lax lately in adding greens to my smoothies, so I decided to include some this time.  The fresh baby spinach just disappears into this drink ~ can't see it, nor taste it ~ but you still get the benefit of its green goodness, just the same.  Greek yogurt, flax seed/oil and strawberries/blueberries are just more of the superfood goodies in this smoothie ~ and it works for the Fat Flush Plan, too.  Booyah! 

Cranberry Greek Yogurt Smoothie
serves one

Ingredients

• 1 cup cold water
• 1 oz. unsweetened cranberry juice
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
• 3/4 cup fresh or frozen mix of strawberries and/or blueberries
• 2 handfuls of baby spinach leaves
• 1 Tbsp flax seed oil
• 1 Tbsp ground flax seed
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 6 ice cubes
• 2 packets of Equal or sweetener of choice 

Directions
Throw all ingredients into the blender and whirl away until it's smooth and frosty!

Antioxidant-Superfood High Protein Smoothie

I felt like having a smoothie today for breakfast, something full of good-for-you ingredients.  I started throwing superfoods into the blender, going for things that were rich in antioxidants, nutrients and high protein.  Here's the superfoods I found hanging around in my freezer, fridge and pantry ~ blueberries, strawberries, banana, chilled green tea, cinnamon, flax seeds, chia seeds, honey and Greek yogurt.  Man, combine them together and what a powerhouse of a beverage! I'm really enjoying the smoothie I came up with and thought you might like it, too.  So, here is my real-time morning superfood breakfast smoothie recipe.  Enjoy!

Antioxidant-Superfood High Protein Smoothie
serves 1~2

Ingredients

• 1 cup chilled green tea
• 1 cup fat free Greek Yogurt
• 3/4 cup mix of frozen blueberries & strawberries
• 1/4 cup frozen banana slices
• 1 Tbsp ground flax seeds
• 1 Tbsp chia seeds
• 1 Tbsp honey, or to taste (or sweetener of choice)
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions

Throw all ingredients into blender and whirl away until smooth and frosty.