Iftar Bites : Barley Pomegranate Tabbouleh and Dal Soup

The markets are bursting with juicy ruby-red pomegranates here in Hyderabad.About Rs.15 each,the fruit is worth every rupee.The power packed sweet pomegranates in the wholesome barley tabbouleh is one nourishing Iftar(fast breaking) nibbles. Ingredients1 cup barley1/2 teaspoon black pepper,freshly ground1/2 teaspoon ground cumin(zeera)1/2 a lemon freshly squeezed3/4 teaspoon salt1/4 cup Mint,freshly...

Peanut Flour Waffles

Every body has a sea of microorganisms, (bacteria, viruses, fungi) that reside in our intestines, throat, mouth, nose, you name it. Most of the time, these microorganisms do not cause illness, unless our resistance becomes lowered. Candida albicans is a yeast that lives in the intestines, mouth, throat and genitourinary tract of most humans and is usually considered to be a normal part of the bowel...

Archives : July 2010

July 2 Red White Blue Dessert,Health Nut's second anniversary July 7 Healthy Ice Cream CarnivalJuly 9 Tuna Burger with Pineapple Relish, Plantain Fries and Berry Milk shakeJuly 13 Peach Mango Salsa RancheraJuly 14 Water Melon SpritzerJuly 15 Dark Chocolate Velvet Banana SplitJuly 18 Water Melon SpritzerJuly 14 Baked Doughnuts with Peach Honey GlazeJuly 20 Caramelized Plantain MuffinsJuly 24 Foodbuzz 24X24 : Save the Coast - A Louisiana Seafood...

Banana Pineapple Pudding Cups with Toasted Coconut

An avid baker presently cooking in mommy-in-law's oven-less kitchen,I truly miss baking.Sure glad I had some drafted baked goodies to post.My honest intention was to make a very fruity cup cakes,but when the cup cake recipe went wrong yet tasted incredibly good,I decided to call them pudding cups.Pineapple and bananas,the two most common tropical fruits,come together to create a pudding like consistency...

Thai Peanut "Noodles"

I love peanut butter! I ate this for a 3PM snack when I got home. I am usually very hungry and this totally satisfied me and I loved that the peanut butter gave me a little love to my sweet tooth! I always have a batch of zucchini shredded into noodles in the fridge and I had the peanut sauce ready to go. All I had to do when I got home was put the two together! I enjoyed it cold, but you could warm...

Scotch Eggs

These were really tasty. I've never had a real scotch egg, but we liked these!Coconut oil or Ghee for frying4 eggs2 pounds lamb or pork sausage8 TBS (2 TBS per egg) coconut flour, seasoned with spices2 eggs, beatenPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in a pan to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).Place eggs in saucepan and cover with water. Bring to boil. Cover, remove from heat, and let eggs sit in hot...

Eating at the State Fair

The MN State Fair starts this Thursday. I will be with Showcase MN giving suggestions on how to eat healthy at the fair. Most fairs have the same food items, so even if you are in a different area here are some of my favorite picks.Have you ever noticed that you can eat a lot of junk food, but you never feel satisfied? Well, our brain is brilliant…it knows what nutrients we need to survive. So we produce hormones that send hunger pains and cravings....

Plum Corn bread Salad with Cider Vinegar Dressing

A salad as good as a mealInspired by the Louisiana style corn bread salad, hearty corn bread,dry and fresh fruits,nuts,seeds ,baby greens and cherry tomatoes - this is the splendid low-calorie salad ,rich in essentially healthy ingredients.I skipped all the cheese and mayo and used the reduced cider vinegar dressing instead.The vinegar soaked bread gives a nice tart kick to the salad.One could also...

Protein Waffles

These crisped up really nice. I plan on doubling the batch next time to keep in my freezer for an easy breakfast in the toaster!2 cups almond flour1 cup vanilla egg white or whey protein1/2 tsp Celtic sea salt1 TBS aluminum free baking powder1 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk2 eggs4 TBS butter or coconut oil, meltedPreheat waffle iron to high. Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine the wet ingredients...

No Bake Protein Balls and SPECIAL K BARS

As consumers I want to warn you against false advertising. These Special K bars are anything but healthy and will cause weight gain rather than weight loss.Kellogg's Special K Protein Snack Bar Chocolate Delight Ingredients: COATING (SUGAR, PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED PALM KERNEL OIL, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, WHEY, NONFAT DRY MILK, SOY LECITHIN, SORBITAN MONOSTEARATE, SALT, POLYSORBATE 60, ARTIFICIAL...

Papaya Banana Silken Smoothie

Don't judge a fruit by its outward appearance,holds true with this warm and exotic tropical fruit with beauty skin deep.I had tasted dried sweet papaya before but never bought a whole fruit home.The ripe papaya with hues of pretty peach color is deliciously sweet with soft buttery texture,ideal in smoothies,milk shakes and fruit salads.The enzyme called papain present in papaya(concentrated in raw...

Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies

Do you know what TBHQ is? It is found in A LOT of packaged foods and fast food items (chicken nuggets are sprayed with it). TBHQ is derived from petroleum that is either sprayed directly on products or the inside of the box it comes in to "help preserve freshness." According to A Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives, TBHQ is a form of butane (i.e. lighter fluid) the FDA allows processors to use...

Eggs Benedict

This one is for you April! 6 large egg yolks1/4 cup lemon juice2 TBS Dijon mustard1 1/2 cups melted unsalted butter1/2 tsp salt1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper1/8 tsp cayenne1 large eggplant (cut into "English muffin" shapes)3 cups Crab, or ham slices12 large eggsOptional: CapersMake hollandaise sauce: In the bottom of a double boiler or in a medium saucepan, bring 1 in. of water to a simmer...

Pop Tarts

Sending our kids off to school with protein and healthy fat is essential for concentration in school. We can't expect them to focus on a diet of enriched flour found in cereals and pre-packaged breakfasts. Pop Tarts also contain TBHQ (lighter fluid), trans-fat, HFCS (causing leptin resistance and fatty liver disease), caramel coloring (banned in other countries, due to the link to cancer), ...should...

Lychee Lemon Sparkler and Thin Crust Thyme Pizza

An absolutely entertaining drink and snackThe 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 3Ingredients2 cups of Lychee juice,chilled1 lemon,halved ,seeded and juiced3...

Iced Chai Latte & Homemade Almond Milk

Who doesn't love an iced chai latte from your local coffee shop? But a Grande at Starbucks can load 315 calories and 37g sugar in 16 ounces! Even a Grande using soy milk is 203 calories and 25g carbohydrates. 1 Chai Tea Bag16 ounces vanilla almond milk (or coconut milk)Few drops of liquid stevia (or Truvia to taste)NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)Starbuck's Chai Latte = 315 calories, 39 carbs,...

Cauliflower Soup with Cauliflower Beignets

This soup was SO flavorful and the little beignets were an awesome addition.SOUP:1/2 onion, finely chopped1 garlic clove, finely chopped1 strip bacon (cut into 1 inch strips)1¾lb cauliflower florets, roughly chopped1¾ pints chicken or beef stock4 oz cream cheeseCeltic sea salt and pepper (to taste)BEIGNETS:3/4 cup cauliflower florets, roughly chopped1/2 cup cold water2 TBS unsalted butter, chopped3...

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

It is our 9th wedding anniversary today on August 11th, so I wanted to make Craig's favorite dessert...Vanilla Bean Cheesecake! I brought this to a gathering with family and friends and everyone loved it. No one knew it was "healthified!"CRUST:1 1/2 cup blanched almond flour1/2 cup coconut flour1 tsp aluminum free baking powder1 cup coconut oil or butter1 cup Swerve (or erythritol)2 tsp stevia...

Toaster Strudels

I remember eating Toaster Strudels like they were going out of style. Yikes, check out the ingredients...trans-fat and high fructose corn syrup.Major Ingredients: Enriched Flour Bleached Water, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Cottonseed Oil, Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Apple Puree (10% of Filling), Maltodextrin: Allergen Warning Contains wheat, soy, corn, milk and egg ingredients...

Homemade Mayo and BBQ Party Salad

Have you seen the ingredients in the Kraft Mayo? How long does it last in the fridge??? Forever! INGREDIENTS in OLIVE OIL Blend: Water, Olive Oil, Canola Oil, Soybean Oil, Vinegar, Modified Food Starch*, Sugar, Maltodextrin*, Eggs, Contains Less Than 2% Of Salt, Mustard Flour, Dried Onions, Dried Garlic, Natural Flavor, Enzyme Modified Egg Yolk*, Beta Carotene* (Color), Lactic Acid*, Potassium Sorbate*...

Mango Pancakes

Marvelous MangoesMangoes is one such fantastic fruits that I would love for break fast ,lunch and dinner.Just a week before we started for India,Mr.Health nut got this big box of sweet ripe mangoes.7 days and a box of mangoes to devour,we were literally including them in 3 meals of the day.Mango mellowness intensified in every layer,the pancakes charmingly capture the essence of mangoes,that can certainly...

Zucchini Crisp and Fructose Facts

This recipe reminds us of an apple crisp, with less fructose. The only organ in your body that can take up fructose is your liver. The first thing that eating fructose does is causing an increase in uric acid. Fructose inhibits nitric oxide, which would otherwise reduce our blood pressure. This is why fructose is famous for causing hypertension (high blood pressure).Fructose also initiates what’s...

Coconut Chocolate Pastries(Baked Puran Puri)

Welcomed by the breezy rainy monsoons,the health nut family safely reached incredible India after an expected tiring journey with a toddler in terrible 3's.It has been raining since we arrived,the wet season may not be the best season to go around the town,but definitely inviting to warm up the ovens.The coconut pastries are baked version of the infamous deep fried puran puri.The divine match of chocolate...

Homemade Nutella and Almond Cookies

Are you a fan of Nutella? It is so easy to make! Here is a recipe for the yummy goodness. If desired try it in between the almond cookies!2 cups raw hazelnuts1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder1/2 cup Truvia (or 1/2 cup erythritol and 1 tsp stevia glycerite)1/2 teaspoon Pure vanilla1/8 teaspoon iodized sea salt3 tablespoons hazelnut oil (could use other oil like coconut)Heat the oven to 400 degrees....