Lychee Lemon Sparkler and Thin Crust Thyme Pizza

An absolutely entertaining drink and snack

The juicy sweet tropical fruit - Lychee ,is a rare delicacy.The lychee juice that is more common than the whole fruit can be used to make refreshing summer drinks.Lemon and mint in the sparkler is a flavorful compliment to the sweetness of lychee.
Recipe : Lychee Lemon Sparkler
Serves 3
Ingredients
2 cups of Lychee juice,chilled
1 lemon,halved ,seeded and juiced
3 tablespoon agave nectar(optional)
6 ounce bottle of lime flavored soda water
few fresh mint leaves

Method
Mix the lemon,lychee and agave nectar in a big pitcher.Add in the soda water.Pour in tall glasses and pour a cup of soda water in each.Garnish with fresh mint leaves and slice of lemon.Serve immediately.


Lighter in calories this thin crust pizza squares with simple toppings of onion ,partly skimmed cheese and aromatic thyme ,makes a thoroughly enjoyable evening snack.The fresh thyme was from my own herb pot.
Recipe :
Yields: 2 Pizzas 8x15 inches
Ingredients
For Dough
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon Cornmeal, for dusting
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
For topping
1 medium red onion,sliced
1 cup partly skimmed mozzarella cheese
1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

Method
Dissolve the yeast in warm water, stir in the sugar and allow the yeast to get frothy, about 10 minutes.In a large bowl combine the flour,salt and flax seed meal. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil and knead until well combined.Apply some more oil on the sides of the bowl cover and allow to rise until double it size about 1-2 hours.
Preheat oven to 450F.
Turn out the dough on to a lightly floured surface,knead lightly.Roll 2 rectangular pizzas about 8x15 inches and 1/4 inch thick.Sprinkle some corn meal on a baking tray or pizza stone.Place the pizza,sprinkle the cheese,onions and thyme all over.
Place in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until crust has risen and is golden and the cheese has melted.Cut in squares and serve warm.

This is my entry for this week's Yeast Spotting

Silk's Pure Almond Iced Cocoa Mocha and a Giveaway

Mr.Healthnut helping himself a glass of mighty almond goodness.

A nutritious addition in our diet,velvety smooth ,light and incredibly yum,Silk's new Pure Almond Milk has taken an honorable space in our refrigerator,since introduced to me by the kind folks at Silk.

Topping in the list of Nature's best foods,almonds are attributed as a nut with most fiber,protein and load of essential anti oxidant(Vitamin E).Naturally low in fat and free of cholesterol,the almonds help in lowering bad cholesterol and raising the good cholesterol.Silk Pure Almond™ almond milk is an excellent way to get more of these healthy almonds into your everyday routine.The calorie smart Silk's Pure Almond Milk is just 60 calories for a serving of Original flavor, and 90 for a glass of Vanilla.One can enjoy the almond milk in all the recipes were milk is used.I prefer it chilled from fridge,as is or in bowl of cereal or milk shakes.


Hello Summer! the heat is starting to pick its momentum and the body desires chilled drinks more than ever.The cool refreshing anti-oxidant rich Iced Cocoa Mocha has the light flavor of Silk's vanilla Almond milk intensified with cocoa powder and coffee,a fantastic shake,you'd want to sip every single hot summer's day.

Recipe :Pure Almond Iced Cocoa Mocha
Ingredients
serves 2
2 cups Silk's Pure Almond Milk Vanilla
1/2 cup strong espresso coffee
1 tablespoon 100% cocoa powder
1 tablespoon agave nectar
few ice cubes

Method
Blend all the ingredients(except ice) at high speed for 2 to 3 minutes. Serve immediately in a tall, cold glass with ice cubes.


Silk Pure Almond Giveaway!

For a chance to win Silk's Pure Almond milk ,please leave a comment about ,"Your favorite anti oxidant food(s)?" by end of the week(June 8th).
3 winners will be chosen to receive a free coupon of the product,and one
lucky winner would receive a Silk Pure Almond branded ChicoBag in addition
to the coupon.

Update June 10th : The winners have been choose : SassyAgapi,Becca and Kiran.Congrats!
Please contact me in next 4 days at my email address YasmeenHealthNut@gmail.com
Enjoy!

A Saudi meal - Matazeez(Pasta), Date Dessert and Arabic Coffee

February was Saudi Arabian Cuisine for the Walima Cooking club.The sumptuous Saudi recipes were introduced to us ,by host of the month,Noor of Middle Eastern Cook.

Snippet - Saudi Arabia History and Cuisine
The birthplace of Prophet Muhammad,Arabia had stability and unity after the advent of Islam.The boom in economy opened the trade routes ,the spices imported enriched the aroma of the traditional cuisine.The growth of immigrants in modern times mainly from Asia and Africa adapted many more exotic dishes from the foreign lands.


Matazeez,the Saudi style pasta is commonly cooked with lamb in the spiced pasta sauce ,although one can use any kind of meat.The following recipe with fish is much faster to cook,ideal for quick weekday meals and also picking a fish rich in omega 3s like wild salmon is great for a change.If you choose to use lamb or goat ,cook the meat in the tomato sauce and add all the vegetables when the meat is almost cooked.

Recipe : Matazeez(Pasta) with Vegetables and Wild Salmon
Serves 4
For Pasta Dough
2 cups fine ground wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup water

For Vegetable sauce
1 medium or 3 baby Eggplant ,sliced lengthwise
1 small zucchinis,sliced lengthwise
1-1/2 cups pumpkin or squash, cubed
1 big carrot,julienne
1/2 cup green beans,cut in 2 inches pieces
1/2 cup broccoli florets
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1-2 hot peppers or green chillies,chopped
2 tomatoes, finely chopped
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon black pepper,freshly ground
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
2 dried lemons, cracked
2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil


For Fish on Side
4 Wild salmon fillets(about 3 inch long)
2 teaspoon spice rub(I used mixture of ground cumin,coriander,pepper,cinnamon,hot chili powder and cloves)
2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

Method
Prepare the pasta dough
In a large bowl add flour, salt and oil. Add water small amounts at time enough to make a workable dough.Cover and place in bowl and allow to sit in a warm place for 30 minutes.
Cook the sauce with vegetables
Heat a large pan,add oil and onions, cook until tender about 3-4 minutes.Add the Vegetables ,tomato sauce,chillies and other dry spices. Cover and cook for 5 minutes until vegetables are almost tender.
Roll the pasta and cook with the sauce

Sprinkle some all purpose flour on the work surface.Roll the dough thin and cut into small circles using a cutter about 2 inches wide. Drop the pasta in the cooking vegetable tomato sauce when the vegetables are almost cook.Cover and cook another 10 minutes until pasta is cooked through.

Cook the fish
Rub the spices on the fish and marinate for few minutes.Heat oil in pan on medium and sear the fish ,3-4 minutes on each side until cooked through.Serve on side with the prepared Matazeez(pasta) and vegetables mixture .

The Matazeez and Lamb Kabouli(posted last Walima Challenge) are my entries for Regional recipes : Middle East,hosted this month by Joanne of Eat well with others.

Saudi Date Dessert and Arabic Coffee
Saudis love to serve black Coffee at the end of the meal.Flavored with cardamoms or ginger ,the coffee is best served with the dessert,sweetened with the most abundant fruit of Arabia ,dates.

Recipe
Makes dozen date balls
For Date Dessert (Al-Harrisah or Al-haysah)
1 cups durum wheat flour
1 1/2 cups dates, finely chopped(I used soft dates)
2 tablespoon Puree Ghee(next best substitute is Virgin pressed coconut oil for coconut lovers)
1/2 tablespoon ground cardamom

Method
1.In a small heavy bottom pan or skillet ,melt the ghee on medium heat.Add flour, stirring until lightly brown and aromatic.Remove from heat, add dates and cardamom, blend together in a processor to prevent lumps.
Shape as desired,the round is traditional.Serve with Arabic coffee.


For Arabic Coffee(Qahwa Arabeya)
Makes 4 Arabic coffee cups or glass(2 ounces each)
3 tablespoon roasted ground coffee or Arabic Coffee
2 cups of water
3-4 cardamom pods

Method
Brew the coffee for 5 minutes along with the cardamoms.Strain and serve warm with the date dessert.

Orange Ginger Drink

Berries are gone,Oranges seem like the only vitamin C rich fruit that survives through the frigid season.Orange is often recommended while recovering from a seasonal sickness for its richness in antioxidants

Not just when sick,the Orange Ginger Drink is a rejuvenating anytime drink ,that might even drive away the winter blues.Blending the Orange with the pulp adds fiber.And ginger gives a zing besides enhancing the nutrition.


Orange peel

Don't dispose the peel of the oranges,it has many good uses.I use the peel in the drink,which in some studies have shown to lower cholesterol.

Recipe: Orange Ginger Drink
Serves 3
Ingredients
3 Oranges
Peel of 1/2 an orange without the white rind (or about 1 teaspoon orange zest)
1 teaspoon ginger,freshly grated
1/2 cup fruit puree(I used peach puree)

Method
Rinse the oranges in warm water to get rid of any pesticides.Dry with kitchen towel.To peel the Orange,use a sharp knife to thinly cut through the skin without any white pith.Too much peel can make the drink bitter,so just use a little in the beginning and add more as per your taste.
Halve the oranges.Keep one halve on the cutting board and cut the top and then the sides along the white rind.Repeat same with all of the oranges.Cut in quarters and blend them together with rest of the ingredients in a powerful blender until smooth.I prefer the drink at room temperature during the cold season and chilled in summers.


Health nut Challenge 3 :Healing foods - please share your creations.Rules of the event.

Introducing Xagave,complete replacement to sugar.Cranberry sauce,bread , topping and a Protein shake.

Xagave(pronounced za-gah-vay) ,an organically grown premium blend of nectars derived from Agave Tequiliana (Blue Agave) and Agave Salmiana (White Agave) plants ,is an answer to all the blood sugar woes.It has low glycemic index(30),that will not raise the blood sugar levels(also reduces risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes) unlike the sugar.Plus its sweeter than sugar that helps save calories ,as less is sufficient to sweeten.What more,its delicious and works well in everyday cooking ,has no after taste like some sugar substitutes.That's not all,its a good source of calcium ,iron,vitamins,minerals and inulin(a probiotic fiber essential for healthy immune system and even shown to reduce the risk of cancers).All these convincing reasons make Xagave a satisfying sugar substitute ,that gives you the best of both ,taste and health.
Learn more about the Xagave health benefits

The founder of Xagave,Stephen Richards and his Cookbook "Delicious Meets Nutritious"
Stephen Richards is a full-time business owner, husband and father and a part-time chef and health nut that loves to eat. He struggles with his weight like 67% of Americans. He comes from a family with a long history of diabetes and has always been concerned about his health, particularly as he ages. A couple of years ago, he was introduced to agave nectar and began to research it. He ultimately flew to the region in Mexico where it is grown and spent time with the growers and processors, learning about the product and its benefits. He engaged medical doctors to study the claims being made and he explored hundreds of recipes on his own. After several years, he developed Xagave, a blend of agave from several agave plants that incorporates the best taste, texture and health benefits that this wonderful plant has to offer.


The Delicious Meets Nutritious Cookbook guides through using Xagave,history of agave ,properties and health benefits.Includes beautifully presented breakfast recipes ,quick breads,appetizers,salads,side dishes,quick & easy gourmet meals,sauces and healthy desserts all using Xagave as replacement of sugar.

About 1/2 to 2/3 cup of Xagave is replaced for each cup of sugar needed.Refer to the Sugar Exchange Table for the quantity of Xagave versus sugar and the calorie comparison.Amazingly the Xagave also acts as a natural preservative with its ability to absorb moisture hence increasing the storage life.Completely soluble in hot or cold water, Xagave worked perfectly in all kinds of drinks,dressings and sauces.It also promotes rising in whole grain cooking resulting in light fluffy texture to the baked goods.Also note xagave will cook faster and at a lower temperature.Thanks to the representative of Xagave,I was offered a sample of this wonderful product along with the cookbook.Following are few of the delicious and easy recipes from the cookbook.

Classic Cranberry Sauce made with Agave(click for recipe)

An awesome tangy sweet side with turkey or chicken,this fresh homemade cranberry sauce is far better than the canned ones usually loaded with sugar.See other variations of the sauce with oranges ,lemons and pomegranates.

Citrus Cranberry Walnut Quick Bread

I use fresh cranberries that not only add the color but also the nice tang to the bread and the Xagave sweetens superbly.
Recipes from Delicious Meets Nutritious
Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour(fine ground)
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup Xagave(replacement for 1 cup of sugar)
1 teaspoon grated orange or lemon peel(zest)
3/4 cup orange juice or lemon juice
1 Organic egg
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries,coarsely chopped
3/4 cup walnuts,chopped(or use any other nuts desired)
Method
Heat Oven to 325F.Grease bottom of a 9x5 or 8x4 inch loaf pan.
In large bowl,combine first 4 ingredients(flour,baking powder,salt and soda).Whisk the eggs in a another mixing bowl,add the oil,Xagave,zest and juice.Mix this wet mixture gradually in to the flour mixture until well combined.Pour in the greased pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.Cool for 15-20 minutes before getting out of the pan and slicing.

Whole grain pancakes\waffles with Triple Berry Topping

For Pancakes\Waffles
Ingredients
2 cups whole wheat flour(fine ground)
2 cups reduced fat milk
2 tablespoon Xagave
3 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Method
Put all the wet ingredients in to a blender and blend.Add dry ingredient and blend until just slightly lumpy (about 30 seconds).Pour batter on to griddle about 1/4cup at a time when hot and cook until bubble form and edges dry.turn and cook on other side.

For triple berry topping

Ingredients
4 cups fresh or frozen berries
1 cup water
1/2 cup Xagave
2 tablespoon corn starch.
Method
Put berries and Xagave in a pot and bring to a boil.Reduce heat to simmer.Mix corn starch in 2 tablespoon water and stir until all lumps are gone.Pour corn starch mix in to berry mix while stirring slowly.Stir until topping thickens(1-2 minutes) and begins to bubble.Serve hot over pancakes and waffles.

Chocolate Protein Oat Shake with Agave(click for recipe)


I use skimmed milk for this quick and nutritious shake with anti-oxidant rich unsweetened cocoa.The Chocolate Agave Syrup also made with unsweetened cocoa makes this even more chocolicious.The syrup is also great for topping on any fresh fruit to add an extra touch of chocolate flavor.

The Delicious Meets Nutritious cookbook and Xagave can be bought from the official website.Or find the store near you.

Pomergrante Plunge and Acai Berry Boost, super fruit smoothies

In response to consumer demand for healthier beverages packed with powerful nutrients, Tropical Smoothie Café today introduces its new menu category of Supercharged Smoothies that contain pomegranate, goji and acai (pronounced AH-SAH-EE) at all 250-plus franchise locations. These super fruits, known for their exceptional antioxidant and nutrient-rich qualities, will be blended into six new smoothie offerings.
Tropical Smoothie Café’s new Supercharged Smoothies menu includes such fun-sounding and flavorful treats as Island Intensity, a combination of ripe blueberries, strawberries and bananas loaded with acai; Get-Up-and-Goji, ripe and juicy peaches, oranges, bananas, yogurt and goji; and Pomegranate Plunge a mix of ripe bananas, strawberries, and cranberry juice with pomegranate.

Super fruits such as pomegranate, goji and acai have their roots in ancient civilizations, typically eaten for their health and medicinal benefits.

* Acai – a berry from the rain forests of Brazil with an abundance of antioxidants. The fruit has been used for thousands of years to boost energy and vitality, strengthen the immune system and provide a host of vitamins.


* Goji – this tiny fruit from the Himalayan Mountains in Tibet has been used for centuries for its 18 amino acids, concentrated beta carotene and 21 trace minerals. It has 500 times the vitamin C of oranges and has been known to aid in weight loss.

* Pomegranate – native to the Mediterranean region, the fruit has been used for its antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial benefits as well as a great source of potassium, fiber, vitamin C and niacin. Regular consumption of pomegranate also has been known to lower blood pressure.

Recipe courtesy Tropical Smoothie Cafe`
Pomegranate Plunge

Serves 2
Ingredients
1 cup Pomegranate arils
1/2 cup fresh or frozen Cranberries
*2 tablespoon Turbinado Sugar
3/4 Cup Water
1 ripe Banana
4-5 Strawberries,hulled.


Acai Berry Boost
1/2 cup acai juice
1 ripe Banana
1/4 cup Pomegranate arils
1/4 cup blueberries
4-5 Strawberries,hulled.
*2 tablespoon Turbinado Sugar
3/4 Cup Water


*one can skip the sugar to keep the smoothie low in sugar or can also use other sweeteners like stevia(liquid 3-4 drops) or Agave nectar(1 tablespoon)

Method
Blend all the ingredients to a smooth consistency.Serve

The fruity delights are my entry for Sanghi's Fall in love food event,focusing on fruits this month.

About Tropical Smoothie Café
Established in Destin, Florida in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Café has taken the smoothie concept to the next level by offering diners a healthy alternative to typical fast food. The concept, which introduced food in 1999, provides consumers with a variety of high-quality real-fruit smoothies, toasted wraps, gourmet sandwiches and salads. The company also caters. Tropical Smoothie Café includes menu options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ranked 127 out 500 and rated one of the fastest growing franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine, the concept currently has over 270 locations in 33 states with four locations in India. Plans call for more than 300 locations by the end of 2008, and an additional 100 by the end of 2009. For more information, visit www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com or call 888-292-2522.

Silk Heart Health Soy Milk......Strength in every pour. And a free Silk GiveAway.

The light and smooth taste of Silk Soy Milk is making me reach for it more often;I'm afraid it has become addictive,the proven health benefits entices me even more.

Silk's Heart Health Soy milk is made from nature's perfect Soy protein and cholesterol reducing plant sterols.It has the goodness of milk and then some more essential nutrients that make it a no cholesterol ,no saturated fat food with good source of omega 3s and antioxidants.Recent study has shown 3 servings of Silk Heart Health per day for four weeks ,can lower the cholesterol by 7%.

Silk Banana Dates Smoothie
To get the best taste of the Silk Heart Health Soy Milk enjoy it cold.Ideal with the morning cereal or in smoothie for a nourishing start of the day or anytime guilt-free snack.Silk is also a wholesome substitute for dairy milk ,can be used in baking or cooking with some tips in mind.

Recipe
Serves 2

Blend together 2 Cups of cold Silk Heart Health Soy Milk with 1 Ripe Banana and 2-3 Soft Dates until smooth .Serve.





Here is your chance to get the smooth taste of Silk for free.Leave a comment on this post.Please check back the post at the end of the week, one winner selected by the Random Integer Generator will take the 3 free coupons(Valid only in US).

Updated October 19th : The lucky winner is the number 3,Organic.Congrats!.Please mail me your address.

Radish Greens Brown rice Soup With Sesame Twists. And Introducing Fruit2day ,a new way to eat fruit.

Remember this post in which I talked about ,how the switch from white to brown rice can be a little challenging for the taste buds after getting used to the fluffiness of the white rice.Thanks to my sis-in-law who suggested me to cook both white and brown rice together,to get the best of both ,fluffy and nutty at same time plus the benefit of a whole grain.Now I can eat brown rice more often than ever before.The cooking time is slightly longer than white rice,and soaking the rice for 15-20 minutes before cooking can lessen the cooking time.
Or a soup like this combined with greens and vegetables is great for including brown rice in your diet.The sesame twists makes a nice crunchy accompaniment to the soup.


Radish greens is again one of those completely edible greens which should never ever be thrown away.The nutritious soup with radish greens is off to this week's Blogger Secret Ingredient(BSI) Assignment :Greens.

Recipe :Radish Greens Brown rice Soup
Serves 2-3
Ingredients
1 bunch(about 3 cups) Radish greens ,washed and chopped
4-5 small red radishes or 1 medium white radish,chopped
2 medium green chillies
3/4 cup brown rice,uncooked
pinch of turmeric
1 big clove garlic,chopped
1/4 teaspoon each of coriander and cumin powder.
1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice,freshly squeezed
3/4 teaspoon salt

Method
Wash and soak brown rice for 30 minutes.Drain.
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil ,add salt and soaked brown rice.Cook until soft.

Meanwhile heat oil on medium heat,saute garlic until lightly brown and aromatic.Add the radish,radish greens,green chillies and rest of the spices.Cover and cook until radish is soft and cooked through.Mix in the cooked brown rice,blend the mixture to a smooth sauce with a cup of water.Simmer the soup for another minute or two.Serve warm with sesame twists.


Recipe: Sesame Twists
Ingredients
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 Organic egg,divide(reserve 1 teaspoon for brushing over the dough)
2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
[or use 1 tablespoon butter at room temperature + 1 tablespoon of oil]
2 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Method
Preheat Oven to 350F.
Sift flours,salt in a bowl.Add the oil ,egg and milk to make a firm dough.Knead briefly on a lightly floured work surface until smooth.
Sprinkle paprika over floured surface;roll out the dough on it to form a square slightly larger than 20cms.Trim edges neatly.
Brush dough with reserved egg mixture;Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the top.Cut the dough in half,then cut into 10-cm sticks about 1 cm wide.
Twist sticks;place on baking sheets.Lightly press the ends of the sticks down so that they do not untwist during baking.
Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp.Cool briefly on baking sheets,then serve warm.Or,cool completely and store in air tight containers for up to 5 days.

While this soup fulfills 2 of 5 daily recommended servings of fruit&Vegetables,a nourishing fruit drink like Fruit2day provides a whopping 2 serving of fruit in each bottle(6.75 ounce)!
Fruit2Day ,a new way to eat fruit.

Mine is a fruit loving family,we love fruit any time of the day after any meal.I'm picky about fruit drinks,anything artificial or sweetened with corn syrup or fructose is not for me.Fruit2day promises a whole new way to eat or should I say "drink" the fruit.Made with real fruit bits,rich puree and splash of natural juice,the drink has made it into my family's diet.
The little chunks of fruit give you the feel of eating a fruit while drinking it too.Mr.Healthnut thought it was rich like a smoothie ,totally suitable after his workouts and my little fruit monsters slurped it to the last drop .

Find these sleek bottles in your grocery stores or natural food stores.Available in 4 delicious blend of fruits.With no sugar added the drink is packed with Vitamin C(antioxidant).Each bottle of Fruit2day packs has two servings of fruit and only 110 - 120 calories, depending on the flavor.Its as portable as a fruit snack can be ,carry it at work ,school or long drives,also makes a perfect thirst quencher after summer's adventures.

Organic,for a healthier you and a greener earth.Food,Inc-the truth about Food Industry.

Organic refers to the way agricultural products- food and fiber- are grown and processed. It is an ecological system that at its core relies on a healthy rich soil to produce strong plants that resist pests and diseases. Organic farming prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favor of more “earth-friendly” practices that work in harmony with nature. In the case of livestock, antibiotics are prohibited, opting instead for preventative measures for keeping animals healthy and productive. Organic production also prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s).
- StonyField Farms


There are many good reasons to eat Organic whenever possible.The availability and higher costs are the common excuses for not buying them more often,but think about it as a good investment that's not just supporting your own good health but also a greener earth.And remember only when we buy organic more often,the demands for Organic food rises ,leading more grocers to stock up on Organic food ultimately promoting Organic farming.

Stonyfield farms,world’s leading organic yogurt-maker,offers a variety of Organic Yogurt both dairy and Soy.There Organic guide should answer some common queries about Organic food.And coupons will definitely save a few bucks.Here are some easy foods I whipped up with the Organic Yogurt.

Blueberry Flax Smoothie
A nutritious blend of fresh blueberries ,StonyField Organic Fat free Yogurt and Flaxseed meal.find the complete recipe here.


Fruit Yogurt Parfait
Juicy layers of fruits with nuts and Stonyfield Organic Strawberry Soy Yogurt


Tzatziki
Thick and delicious dip made with Organic fat free Greek Yogurt(Oikos),fresh mint and cool cucumbers.whip 1 tablespoon of chopped mint in 1 cup of yogurt and mix in the 1/2 cup of grated cucumbers.Season with salt.Serve cold with any kind of baked whole grain chips.


The Organic Yogurt can be also be using in baking ,like the Cinnamon Cocoa bread.

Food,Inc.
A must watch documentary revealing the truth about the Food Industry, releasing this week.Watch the trailer.
.

Also listen to the director of the documentary Robert Kenner as seen in Now on PBS.

Strawberry Milk Shake with Homemade Strawberry Syrup.And a POMWonderful contest Entry.

"Most people associate vitamin C with oranges, but if you look at oranges versus strawberries, ounce per ounce, strawberries actually contain more vitamin C than oranges." A Doc at Center for Human Nutrition
In fact Strawberries have 58mg of Vitamin C verses 50 mg in Oranges.

Not an exciting fact, for folks living were Strawberries are not readily available as Oranges.Growing up in bustling city of Hyderabad(south India) with 365 days of sunshine,strawberries were considered exotic rare fruit and too pricey for daily consumption ,unless you live around the spectacular hill station of Mahabaleshwar(in Western Central Indian province), the hub of Indian Strawberries.

picture courtesy Wikipedia and Sydney alvares at Sulekha.com

In this Indian Grand canyon,known for the scenic hill side drives and misty romantic boat rides,the juicy strawberry farms flourish more than any other region in India.I remember tasting my first strawberry during my memorable visit to this beautiful place few years back.The farm fresh strawberry milk shakes and ice creams sold at the fruit stalls have the unbeatable succulent flavor.The region is also famous for purest honey , tastiest fresh jams and the huge variety of chikkis(Jaggery and nuts candy).

Fast forward 6 years to were I live now in the frozen north(it literally is at this time of the year),thankfully strawberries are available throughout the season,little more in abundance and a few cents cheaper during summer .

Next only to chocolate ,I love to flavor my plain milk with strawberries.But mind you unlike hot cocoa,the strawberry milk shake has to be made cold.Even slight heating can easily curdle the milk shake,and tastes best when chilled.With strawberry syrup the milk shake is smoother cause the seeds have been filtered and not to mention the tasty berry flavor is sure to get the 'ICK' out of picky eaters who dislike milk.

Ingredients
For syrup
12-15 fresh strawberries,washed and sliced
1 cup of water
2 tablespoon sugar(optional,I excluded it)

For Milk Shake
3 tablespoon strawberry syrup
2 cups of Reduced fat Organic Milk or Soy milk or Almond Milk or Oat milk

Method
To make the syrup
Combine the syrup ingredients in a saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil,stir occasionally,cook for about 20 minutes. Allow mixture to cool slightly, then process in a blender or food processor ,pour through a strainer in to a storage container,this removes the strawberries seeds from the syrup. Can be stored in a sterilized container for about 2 weeks.Drizzle on toast,ice-creams or use it to flavor the cold milk.
To make the milk shake
Stir in the desired amount(about 2 tablespoon for 1 cup) of prepared strawberry syrup(completely cooled) in to the cold or room temperature milk.Enjoy!


For more kid friendly recipes join in the Cooking for kids food event,featured ingredient this month is milk\cheese ,hosted Preety's Kitchen.

POMWonderful contest

Remember this irresistibly delicious pie I baked last fall with divine POM pomegranates.On Judy's request I'm sending this to the POMWonderful contest at Judy's Kitchen.

Hot Chocolate Vs Hot Cocoa

Which is healthier, Hot Chocolate or Hot Cocoa ? Intriguing ,I assumed both were same.Investigating in to the ingredients,apparently the Hot cocoa made with cocoa powder is certainly more concentrated in antioxidants(called Flavonoids) than the Hot Chocolate made with melted chocolate.Although a hot chocolate can also be healthier if Dark chocolate with at least 60% cocoa is used instead of sweet Milk chocolate.

The Mayans who discovered the cocoa ,consumed it with spices and no sugar,so next time you see cocoa or chocolate in a savory dish,you know its the original Mayan style to relish cocoa.The sweetened form of cocoa called the milk chocolate was later introduced by the Europeans which quickly became popular and addictive.
How important are the antioxidants for good health?,simply put ,antioxidants helps stay younger,heart healthy and protect against cancers.

So whether hot chocolate or hot cocoa try to incorporate more of the cocoa instead of the sweetness to get the most health benefits.
For Hot Cocoa
Ingredients
2 tablespoon Cocoa powder
2 cups of reduced fat Organic Milk
2 tablespoon sugar or 2 teaspoon honey or date syrup
1 cinnamon stick
2 tablespoon water.

Method
Mix the cocoa powder with water and keep aside.Bring milk to a slow boil along with the cinnamon stick and add the cocoa mixture and sugar in to the milk,stir well until nicely incorporated.Remove the cinnamon stick.Pour in the serving mugs.

For Hot Chocolate with Dark Chocolate
Ingredients
2 cups reduced fat Organic Milk
1/2 cup(about 4oz) good quality dark chocolate ,coarsely chopped

Method
Heat the milk with the chopped chocolate and stir occasionally until melted and smooth about 10 minutes on medium heat.Serve in latte cups and serve hot.

An Interesting Read
Antioxidant activity of Flavonoids affected by addition of milk to cocoa.

Snowed Under!
That's my Camry snowed under.Average snowfall a year is between 60-100 inches in the snow belt of North East Ohio,Cool!


Snow cones any one?

Icicles,feels like Arctic Wonderland.


Blessed to be sipping the mug of Hot cocoa to beat the nip in the air.