Tropical Grapefruit Salad

Tropical Grapefruit Salad

This deceptively looking light salad is quite filling. You may serve it on butter lettuce leaves for an even more elegant presentation. Serves about 4.

  • 1-1/4 c. grated Coconut

  • 2 tsp. organic Tamari sauce

  • 2 Tbs. organic Lime Juice

  • 2 Tbs. Water

  • 2 tsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  • 1 organic Garlic clove, halved

  • 1 organic White Onion, finely chopped

  • 1 large Ruby Grapefruits, peeled and segmented

  • 1 c. organic Alfalfa Sprouts

Toast coconut in a dry skillet over low heat, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a bowl.

Add Tamari sauce, lime juice and water to the coconut and mix well.

Heat olive oil on medium in a sauté pan for 1 minute.  Add garlic and onion, and stir until softened. Remove and discard garlic.  Add onions to coconut mixture.

Arrange grapefruit segments among 4 plates.

grapefruit coconut salad

grapefruit coconut salad

Sprinkle each with alfalfa sprouts and spoon the coconut mixture on top.

~ Bon Apetit! ♥

Crock pot Chicken, Italian Style

This is one of our family's favorite crock pot meals. You may either cook this in a crock-pot or a large pot on the stove, depending on availability of equipment and time.

Crock Pot Chicken, Italian Style

This dish is abundant in lycopene, and onions are a major source of a Quercetin, a super-antioxidant. Similar to garlic, onions and shallots seem to be most helpful in cancers of the digestive tract (e.g. esophagus, stomach, and colon). Bell Peppers offer the antioxidant beta carotene.

Thyme It is an excellent source of iron and manganese and Thymol has been found to protect and significantly increase the percentage of healthy fats found in cell membranes and other cell structures.

  • 1 large organic Red Onion, cut into 8 pieces

  • 1 large organic Yellow or Red Bell Pepper, cut into 8 pieces

  • 2 tsp. fresh organic Thyme leaves (1 tsp. dry)

  • 6- 2" long fresh Sage leaves (1 tsp. dry)

  • A handful of baby Bok Choy or Spinach leaves

  • 1 tsp. organic Oregano

  • 4 organic, free-range Chicken Thighs

  • 2 organic, free-range Chicken Breasts, cut in half (to make 4 pieces)

  • 1 shallot, diced (1 Tbs.)

  • 2 cups homemade or jarred organic Marinara Sauce

  • 1 tsp. Sea Salt

  • 1 tsp. Black Pepper

  • Pinch of Cayenne Pepper (opt)

Place half the onions, peppers and herbs in the bottom of the pot.

Add half the chicken, then the rest of the onions, peppers, herbs and the rest of chicken.  Sprinkle shallot and seasoning on top.

Pour sauce over chicken, nudging pieces with a spoon to allow the sauce to make its way to the bottom.

Crock Pot: Cover and place on High.  Time for 3 1/2 hours.

Stove Top: Add 1/2 c. of water to chicken, and place on medium high until sauce begins to bubble.  Turn to medium low, cover and cook for 1 hour. Check at 30 minutes, gently stirring to make sure chicken is covered with sauce.
~ Sahtein! (double health) ♥

Serve with baked sweet potatoes and a fresh mixed green salad for a delightful meal.

Hoda's Lentil Salad

Lentils have been a staple, like rice, in the Middle East, for many centuries.  Eaten together, they offer a low-fat, nutritious source of complete protein, fiber, iron and other essential minerals.

Glycemic Values

The glycemic index gives us the impact of carbs on our blood sugar levels; the higher a rating, the more it spikes your blood sugar. On a scale where 100 is pure sugar (glucose), white rice has a GI of 64, while lentils are low on the index at 29.

This salad is full of fiber and flavor.

  • 2 c. boiled organic Brown Lentils

  • 3 organic Scallions, chopped

  • 1/2 c. organic Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped

  • 1 Tbs. virgin Olive Oil

  • 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

  • 1/2 tsp. Allspice

  • 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon

  • dash of Black pepper

  • Splash of lemon juice (opt.)

Mix all together.  Let sit 15 minutes to blend flavors.  Stir and enjoy served in romaine lettuce leaf boats.

~ Sahtein (double health)! ♥

Vegan Eggplant and Spicy Chopped Salad Sandwich

Eggplant - Mushroom Medley

I love this concoction because it goes well on lupin flour pasta, on a GF cracker or as a dip.

  • 1 med. organic white Onion, chopped

  • 1 med. Eggplant, mostly peeled and diced

  • 5 organic Mushrooms, peeled and chopped

  • 1 organic Tomato, chopped

  • 1 c. chopped Parsley

  • 1 Tbs. organic Tomato  Paste mixed with 1/2 c. hot water

  • 1 tsp. Pink Sea Salt, or to taste

  • 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper

  • 1/2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (opt.)

  • 5 cloves of Garlic, chopped

  • 1 Tbs. e.v. Olive Oil

Place onion in a large saucepan over medium heat, no oil.  Watch the onion, stirring until it begins to turn brown.

Add eggplant and mushrooms and cover, turn to medium low, and stir every 2 minutes, until eggplant is wilted.

Add tomato and parsley. Stir, cover and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.

Add the diluted tomato paste, seasoning and garlic, turn heat to medium, and cook uncovered for another 10 minutes, or until veggies are cooked through and water is absorbed.

You may drizzle with of olive oil once you remove from heat.  This dish is good warm or cold.

Spicy Chopped Salad

  • 1/2 bunch organic Parsley, chopped

  • 1/2 bunch organic Cilantro, chopped

  • 1 small white Onion, diced

  • 1 organic Tomato, chopped

  • 1/2 organic Jalapeno pepper, minced

  • 1 Tbs. fresh Lime juice

  • 2 tsp. fresh Lemon juice

  • 1/2 tsp. Pink Sea Salt

  • 1 Tbs. virgin Olive Oil

Mix it all up!

Serve as a topping for stews, sandwiches or as a fresh dip with toasted GF bread.

Assemble Sandwich

  • Vegenaise (opt.)

  • 1 Tbs. organic Tomato Paste

  • GF, high-fiber Bread or WASA Rye cracker

Spread a slice or bread or a cracker with tomato paste and the other slice or cracker with Vegenaise.

Spread some of the Eggplant Medley over the tomato paste. Then top with Spicy Salad.

eggplant sandw3

(You may add a protein if you like).

Cover with other slice, press down, and munch!

The Most Delicious Non-dairy Ice Cream!

Two new yummy words: ASHTA and MASTIC GUM.

Ashta is the creamy foundation of many Lebanese Desserts. It is made with either dry milk, or for a richer flavor half and half. It is used as a filling in shredded phyllo desserts, and in pastry. It is also served as a dessert with nuts, or frozen.

Lebanese Ice Cream

Lebanese ice cream contains mastic gum, which lends it a gelato-like texture. It comes in a myriad of flavors and is served in narrow cones.

Mastic Gum

This is a resin made from the pistacia lentiscus tree. The mastic plant originated in the Mediterranean nations in the south of Europe, northern portions of Africa, and the Middle East. The gum has a variety of uses in cooking, art, and alternative medicine.

For cooking, mastic gum requires boiling in hot water or another liquid, because the hardened resin will not dissolve in cold water. It comes in 'crystals' and can be crushed into a powder to add to puddings.

mastic gum

  • 1 pint organic Vanilla Plant-based Ice Cream

  • 1/4 c. Orange Blossom water

  • 1/4 c. Rose water

  • 1 c. finely chopped Pistachios

  • 1/2 tsp. crushed Mastic gum

Crush the Mastic gum in a mortar and pestle till it becomes very fine (powdery).

Transfer ice cream to a bowl.  Add the flavored waters, mastic and 3/4 of the pistachios.

Mix well, but quickly so as not to melt the ice cream.

Transfer to a glass baking dish. Sprinkle remaining pistachios on top. Cover with wax paper and freeze for 2 hours or overnight.

You may cut into squares and store in a freezable container. 

Lentil Mash and Kale Salad

  • 4 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  • 1-1/2 c. organic White Onion, chopped

  • 1/4 c. organic California Basmati Rice

  • 1-1/2 c. hot Green Tea (or boiled Water)

  • 3 c. Sprouted Organic Lentils (or parboiled Regular Lentils)

  • 1 tsp. Pink Sea Salt (or to taste)

Cumin for garnish is optional.

Heat olive oil in a 1 quart pot over medium heat.  Add onions and sauté for 10 minutes stirring occasionally, until golden. Add tea or water and salt. Simmer on low for 5 minutes.

Add lentils and rice, cover and simmer for 20 minutes if using sprouted lentils (35 minutes if using regular lentils). Stir occasionally so bottom does not stick to pot.

You may need to add a little more water if it looks too dry.  The consistency should be like thick oatmeal. You may use the back of a large spoon to mash some of the lentils for a creamier texture.

Taste, and adjust salt. Sprinkle lightly with cumin if desired.

Accompany the lentils with my Kale salad.

Kale, Tomato and Parsley Salad

  • 3 c. organic Kale, chopped

  • 1 organic Tomato, diced

  • 2 organic Green Onions, chopped

  • 1 c. chopped organic Parsley

  • 1/4 c. chopped organic Mint

  • Juice of 2 Lemons

  • 1/2 tsp. Cumin

  • 3 Tbs. extra virgin Olive Oil

  • 1 tsp. Pink Sea Salt

Mix it all together.

Lime Coconut Cream for Citrus Almond Cake

Make 1 recipe of the Almond Citrus Cake, and bake in a 9" Spring-form pan.

While it cools, make the topping.

Lime Coconut Cream

  • 1 15oz. can Coconut Cream (not milk)

  • 1-1/2 Tbs. Lime juice or 1 tsp. organic Lime zest (optional)

  • 1 tsp. Pure Vanilla extract (2 tsp. if you don't use Lime)

  • 2 Tbs. Pure Maple Syrup

  • 1/4 c. toasted Cashews or Hazelnuts, crushed

Refrigerate can of Coconut Cream upside-down, for at least 3 hours or overnight.

When ready to use... flip can back upright, and open. Any liquid should be floating on top. Drain the liquid carefully using the lid, so you don't lose any cream.

  1. In a dry metal bowl, beat cream with mixer for about 3-4 minutes or until it thickens and holds soft peaks.

  2. Add the lime juice and extract and beat another minute.

  3. Add maple syrup and beat again, until the consistency is what you desire.

  4. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour.  The cream will thicken considerable when chilled.

  5. Spread on cake and garnish with nuts and/or fruit of your choice.

If you have leftover cream:

  1. Use to top fresh fruit, or in cocoa, or oatmeal

  2. Mix in chopped fruit and chocolate chips and freeze for a summer treat!

The 5 Feline Farm Comes to Life

On Mother's Day, my son and J and I planted our seedlings that we started a few weeks ago in the greenhouse.

Three of my nieces and nephews joined us to Celebrate Mother's Day.  I grilled grass-fed, organic hot dogs and zucchini, and made a large salad, a bowl of Baba Ghannouj and J brought home a whole wheat crust pizza.

I made grain-free, dairy free Raspberry Brownies for dessert.

Afterwards softball and 'orange-ball' (poor oranges...) were enjoyed by both participants and observers.

My Italian Sauce with Spinach

This sauce can be used to top pasta, baked sweet potatoes, wild rice or polenta.

  • 1 organic red Onion, diced

  • 4 cloves fresh organic Garlic, minced

  • 2 c. thinly sliced organic Spinach (measure after slicing)

  • 1 Tbs. fresh Thyme, chopped or 2 tsp. dried

  • 1 tsp. Oregano

  • 1 tsp. Sea Salt

  • ½ tsp. Black Pepper

  • ¼ tsp. Cayenne

  • 2 Tbs. ev organic Olive Oil

  • 3 c. diced organic Tomatoes, fresh or canned

  • 1/2 c. Water

Heat large pan on medium for 1 minute. Add onions and garlic. Turn heat down to medium-low and stir onions until light brown in color.

Add spinach, herbs and seasoning. Continue to cook, stirring for 4 minutes.

Add oil, tomatoes and water. Bring back to a boil. Cover and turn heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste.

~ Buon Apetito! ♥

Pink Coconut-Banana Cream Squares with Chocolate Chips

Natural, vegetable-derived food coloring is thankfully now available, but using actual fruit and veggie juice is even better. I save the liquid after cooking beets for a pink dessert. Use strong flavors to mask the beet taste.

This treat is super simple and actually good for you.

Pink Coconut-Banana Cream Squares

  • 1 can Coconut Cream (not milk), refrigerated overnight

  • 1 organic Banana, mashed

  • 2 - 3 Tbs. liquid from boiling organic Beets

  • 2 Tbs. Psyllium Husk (don't skip this, if unavailable use freshly ground flax seeds)

  • 1 Tbs. Chicory Root Powder (or Coconut Palm Sugar)

  • 1-1/2 tsp. Orange Blossom Water (in ethnic section of market)

  • 1/2 c. Dark Chocolate Chips (or Carob chips for Vegan)

  • Blueberries and/or Raspberries for topping

Drain liquid from coconut cream. Place cream in mixer bowl and beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 6 - 7 minutes.

Add mashed banana, and the rest of the ingredients. Beat for 2 more minutes until well mixed. Stir in Chocolate chips.
Pour into round remekins or a rectangular glass dish. (I don't recommend using metal pans for this dessert.)

Top with berries and cover tightly. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Serve with more berries if desired.

Cheers! ♥

Broccoli-Carrot Slaw

Broccoli - Carrot Slaw

Lemon juice dresses one of my all-time favorite salads that I invented to get the kids to eat Broccoli! It also gets apple cider vinegar in their diet (wonderful health benefits).

Broccoli_Carrot Slaw

Recipe

  • 6 c. organic Broccoli Slaw, or 4 cups chopped up organic Broccoli and 2 c. shredded carrots

  • 1 c. organic Parsley, finely chopped

Dressing

  • 2 medium organic Garlic cloves, mashed in mortar and pestle with 1/2 tsp. Pink Sea Salt

  • 4 Tbs. Vegenaise

  • 1-1/2 Tbs. Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar

  • 1 Tbs. Lemon Juice

  • 1/4 tsp. Black Pepper

  • 1/2 tsp. Celery Seed (or you can add 1/2 c. fresh Celery, chopped

Combine veggies in a large bowl. 

In a small bowl whisk dressing ingredients until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning. Pour over veggies and toss to coat.

Note:  This is a light dressing, not meant to look like the thicker Slaw dressing we're used to. ~ Bon Apetit! ♥

Nutty Crackers

Infinite Possibilites

My sweet daughter was born on the 4th of July.  She has lived up to the spirit of that day in both her energy and expression of pure joy.  I made these crackers of hthe 4th to go with several dips.

Nutty Crackers - Gluten Free

This recipe will make about 35 - 50 crackers depending on size.  I got fifty 1-1/2" diamonds.

nutty crackers baked

  • 1/2 c. dry roasted Almonds, salted

  • 1/2 c. Pecans

  • 1/4 c. Walnuts

  • 2 Tbs. Chia Seeds

  • 2 Tbs. golden Flax Seeds

  • 2 Tbs. black or regular Sesame Seeds

  • 2 Tbs. Macadamia nut pieces

  • 2 Tbs. Sunflower seeds

  • 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper

  • 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

  • 1 Free Range Egg

  • 3 Tbs. Water

  • TOPPINGS: anise seeds, sesame seeds, caraway seeds or flaked salt and black pepper

Preheat oven to 360°F.

Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place all ingredients (except toppings) in a food processor.  Process until mixture has even grains, about 2 minutes.

Divine the dough into two, and place on parchment paper in the pans. Cover with another sheet of parchment paper to prevent rolling-pin from sticking.

Roll each ball out into a rectangle, turning the parchment paper in the pan to accommodate the rolling-pin. Roll quite thin (2 - 3 mm).

Use a sharp knife to cut into desired shape. I made a tray with diamond-shaped crackers and sesame seeds topping, and another that I hand pressed into rounds with anise seeds.

nutty cracker batter3

Mist with a little water to help your topping stick. Push the topping into the crackers lightly.

Bake for about 9-10 minutes, watching carefully after 8 minutes so they don't burn. Store in airtight container.  Will keep for 3-4 days.

Dark Chocolate Black Bean Bars

  • 3/4 c. cold-pressed Coconut Oil

  • 5 oz. 85% organic Dark Chocolate, broken into pieces

  • 2 c. cooked organic Black Beans, drained

  • 3 Tbs. organic raw Cocoa Powder

  • 3 Tbs. Coconut Flakes (more to taste)

  • 1 c. organic Walnuts, roughly chopped

  • 1 pinch of Pink Sea Salt

  • 2 Free Range Eggs

  • 3 Tbs. freshly ground Golden Flax Seeds

  • 2/3 c. Birch Xylitol or 1 c. Chicory Root powder

Preheat the oven to 325°F and line an 11-inch square or 8 x 11 baking pan with parchment paper.

Melt the coconut oil on low heat in a medium size pan, add dark chocolate pieces. Stir around until the chocolate is completely melted.

Chocolate Black Bean Bars2

Chocolate Black Bean Bars

Put beans, cacao powder, coconut flakes and 1/2 cup of the walnuts in a blender or a food processor. Blend for one minute or until well chopped, then add the chocolate mixture and blend for one more minute, scraping down sides once.

Chocolate Black Bean Bars6

Chocolate Black Bean Bars6

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs with an electric mixer for about 2 minutes, add the flax seeds and xylitol and beat for one more minute.

Save 1 tablespoon of egg mixture in a separate cup and pour the rest into the chocolate and bean mixture and process just until incorporated.

Add remaining walnuts and dark chocolate and stir gently with a spatula to blend.

Chocolate Black Bean Bars7

Chocolate Black Bean Bars7

Pour into the baking pan.

Drip the remaining egg mixture on top of the chocolate mixture and use a toothpick or a knife to create a marble effect.

Chocolate Black Bean Bars final

Bake for 25 - 30 minutes depending on size of pan. They might still feel a little soft in the middle when you test with a toothpick, but they will harden when they cool. These are decadently chocolaty!

You can spread a little no-sugar-added raspberry jam on top for variation.

~ Enjoy!  ♥

Coconut Cilantro Chutney

One of my sweet 30-something nephews came over for lunch today.  We hadn't really visited for some time since he lives an hour away. We caught each other up on news over chicken tacos, chicken Thai curry, whole wheat couscous, kale salad and spinach flat bread (I like eclectic meals).

I realized that I didn't have a chutney to serve, since most are so full of sugar I rarely buy them.  I came across this recipe... It goes very well with fish too, and takes just minutes to whip up.

Coconut Cilantro Chutney Recipe

GreenCoriander chutney

  • 3/4 c. shredded unsweetened Coconut

  • 3/4 c. fresh organic Cilantro, coarsely chopped

  • 1 small seeded organic Serrano chili,  quartered

  • 1/2 c. light coconut milk (or green tea)

  • Juice of 1/2 organic Lime

  • dash of Sea Salt

Place all but Lime juice in blender, or food processor, and pulse until consistency is almost smooth.

Pour into a bowl and mix in lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning.

As a variation you may add 1 clove of garlic to veggies, or a 1/2 inch slice of ginger.

Makes about 1 cup of chutney.

~ āp kā khānā svādiṣṭa ho! ♥

Eggplant Caponata - King of Vegetables

In the Middle East, the Eggplant is referred to as the King of Vegetables due to its versatility and the large number recipes that feature this violet beauty.

Caponata is served cold as an appetizer.  Since it is versatile, I have heated it up and spooned it over hot millet or quinoa cooked in vegetable broth!

Recipe

Serves @ 10 as an appetizer

eggplant muchroom saute

  • 2 lbs. organic Eggplant, peeled and diced

  • 2 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

  • 1 c. organic White Onion, small diced

  • ½ c. organic Bell Pepper, small diced

  • 2 Tbs. Garlic, finely chopped

  • 2 c. organic Tomatoes (peeled, seeded, and small diced)

  • ¼ c. organic Basil, fresh chopped

  • 2 Tbs. Sherry Vinegar

  • 1 Tbs. organic Lemon, squeezed

  • 1/8 tsp. Monk Fruit powder

  • 1 small Green Chili, minced (opt.)

  • ¼ c. Green Olives, chopped

  • 2 tsp. Black Pepper, coarsely ground

  • 1 Head of Green leaf Lettuce

Sauté diced eggplant in olive oil until lightly browned; removed from pan. In the same pan, sauté onions, bell peppers, tomatoes and garlic for 2 minutes (vegetables should still have some texture, and garlic should not brown). Mix everything else together in a large bowl with the cooked vegetables.

Refrigerate overnight.

Serve over a bed of lettuce and surround with toasted whole wheat pita bread triangles, or scoop onto whole wheat Tuscan bread.

capanota

capanota

~ Buon Apetito!

♥

Apples and Butternut Squash

Crock Pots are wonderful for easy, everything-in-one-pot meals. I love recipes that combine fruits and vegetables. 

Recipe

This recipe makes a lovely side dish to curries, grilled chicken or fish.

  • 1 Tbs. organic grass-fed, Ghee

  • 1/2 ts ground Ceylon Cinnamon

  • 1/4 tsp ground Nutmeg

  • 1 lb organic Butternut squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 5 cups)

  • 2 large tart organic Apples, cored, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (4 cups)

  • 1/2 organic White Onions, chopped

  • 2 Tbs. pure Maple syrup

  • 1 Tbs. Balsamic vinegar

Combine spices in a small bowl, and set aside.

Put squash in Crock-pot. Add apples and onion. Sprinkle with spices and add maple syrup.  Stir to combine well.

Cover and cook on LOW for 6 - 7 hours, or until vegetables are tender.  Stir in butter and adjust seasoning just before serving.

~ En Guete! ♥