PAPAYA BREAKFAST SHAKE

I made this with hand-picked papayas

Thanks to Gordon and Phyllis!!!

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup ripe papaya
2 Tbsp.  wheat germ
1/2 frozen banana
3/4 cup frozen blueberries
3 pitted dates
Kale, 3 hand fulls
Water, start with 2 cups, add as needed

DIRECTIONS:

Put all ingredients into the Vitamix and blend on high till smooth.  Serves 2

getting ripe in the nice warm weather

A QUICK LIGHT LUNCH

Golden Berry Blend consists of golden raisins,

cherries, cranberries and blueberries. 

This is one of my all time favorite lunches.  I add absolutely NO dressing, NOT necessary.

In a bowl mix one diced apple, about 1/4 cup of pistachios OR Planters mixed nuts and the same amount of the Golden Berry Blend (or raisins, or any other dried fruit).  Mix and eat. 

This is so simple and so good.  



COUSCOUS SALAD

makes a great lunch or side dish

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups cooked Israeli couscous

1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

1 green onion, sliced thin

1/2 cup Trader Joe's dried fruit mix (golden berry blend)

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup olive oil

2 to 3 limes juiced

golden berry blend consists of golden raisins,

cherries, cranberries and blueberries

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, toss all the ingredients with the olive oil and lime juice, to taste.

SORBET in seconds

 

my fruits of choice, blueberry and peach

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

 

about 2 cups frozen peaches, semi-thawed

1 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 tsp. vanilla

generous squirt of agave nectar

1/2 cup ice

 

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

Put all of the ingredients into a high speed blender. 

 

Increase the speed slowly to high.

 

Blend for 30 to 60 seconds

 

In a Vitamix, the sound of the motor will change AND four mounds should form.

BANANAS FOR SHAKES

handy to have / snack size zip-lock bags

For those of you that like starting the morning off right with either fruit shakes OR green smoothies...a must have is the frozen banana. 

Think ahead...let the banana ripen to the point of having some dark spots / better flavor. 

Peel the banana, for easier handling later. 

The snack-size zip-lock bag is perfect for holding one banana.

When some of the fruit is frozen, the need for ice decreases, a nice chilled thick shake will result. (frozen peaches are also good in smoothies and sorbets)

These bananas can also be used in baking...especially good in banana bread.

SIMPLE SEASONAL BREAKFAST

so simple, so good

What's better than fresh peaches?  Try this quick simple combination for breakfast or lunch.

Spread 1/2 flat bread with almond butter and a layer of fresh peaches.  You can't eat just one!

(or make a sandwich for easier handling)

AVOCADO BITES

ripe avocado cut and seasoned, now into the freezer

Try this one at lunch or snack time for a quick healthy pick me up.  This is a good way to use avocados when they start to all ripen at the same time.  Now buying the huge bag at Costco finally makes sense.

Sprinkle avocado slices with chile powder and sea salt.  Freeze up to 4 hours.  Serve

I just might be trying one of these in my next bloody mary.

BERRY COMPOTE

great served on the oatmeal egg white pancake

2 year old blueberry bush in my garden

One way to use those many fresh picked blueberries.  This mixture is thick and rich and great served atop pancakes, french toast or better yet my healthy OATMEAL EGG WHITE PANCAKE.

INGREDIENTS:

1 pkg. frozen blueberries  (I freeze in batches and then use one of the baggies full)
1/4 cup organic sugar or Sucanat (I use agave nectar)
1/4 cup spring water
1 tsp. Arrowroot powder


DIRECTIONS:

Simmer the spring water and sugar together until reduced and bubbly.

Add the berries and allow them to cook until they pop.

Whisk in the arrowroot powder and cook until sauce becomes bubbly and thick.

Serve immediately with the pancakes.


Feel free to use any berry; I just love the blueberries.

I'm always fighting the birds for these.

berries cooking on the stove

ready to serve

DAY 2:  used this as a jelly spread on a flat bread with almond butter

BLUEBERRY PICKING TIME

rows and rows of huge blueberry bushes

CHAMPNEYS FARM

Ravenel, SC

http://getlocalfoods.com/Buy-Local/Search-by-City/Charleston,-SC/Farms/Champney-s-Blueberry-Farm.aspx

This is the equivalent of 9 to 10 pints.

I love keeping a bowl of these in the frig and freezing the remaining.  Not too much work required but I will admit that it's very time consuming with a side by side frig.  There isn't enough width to hold my large cooking sheets.

DIRECTIONS FOR FREEZING BERRIES:

http://www.pickyourown.org/freezingblueberries.htm



TOMATO PEACH SALSA

cherry tomatoes from the garden

INGREDIENTS:

2 ripe peaches, diced

1 1/2 to 2 pints cherry tomatoes, cut into 1/4s

1/2 large red onion, minced

1 yellow sweet pepper, diced

cilantro to taste

salt and pepper to taste

1 Tbsp. white vinegar

1 Tbsp. agave nectar

1/4 to 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 1/2 limes, juiced

DIRECTIONS:

In a food processor, puree about 3/4 cup of the whole baby tomatoes. 

Mix together the peaches, the blended tomatoes, the diced tomatoes, red onion and pepper.  Season with the cilantro, salt and pepper.

Add the vinegar, agave nectar, oil and lime juice.  Stir all together and let sit a bit to blend the flavors.



serve as a salsa or as a cold soup / gazpacho

FIRST LIME TREE / FIRST FRUIT

my first lime

mama tree

Last year I decided to experiment with a baby, container held, lime tree.  Although Charleston's temperatures dip a bit too low for this tropical fruit; "LIMEY" is growing quite nicely and already has produced its first lime and is already in its third pot!  At this rate I may have to move "LIMEY" further south or the purchase of a tree blanket.  She's way too heavy for me to be carrying inside!

Thinking about growing a lime OR lemon tree?  I strongly encourage you.  Read further:

http://www.citrus-tree-care.com/care-potted-citrus.html

clusters of blooms and budding fruit

lots and lots of little limes;

I'll soon selectively abort some to allow for the full growth of others



BLUEBERRY CUBES / WHITE WINE

reduce calories / drop the simple syrup, used in most recipes, in favor of the blueberries and WATER

Place 5 to 6 blueberries in each indentation.  Cover with water and freeze.  When solid, empty into a freezer bag and store till the wine cork is popped.

I love this on a hot summer day with sparkling white wine.  The blueberry is an after-drink TREAT.

my top white wine pick

blueberries are released as ice melts and cools your wine

yep, it doesn't even have to be that hot outside  :)

I normally prefer a nice red wine but lately am loving the white sparkling wine, particularly Graham Beck (pictured above).  It's reasonably priced, refreshing and delicious.

APPLE AND ONION BAKE / 2 ways

INGREDIENTS:

Pam to spray baking dish
1 1/2 lbs firm not-too tart apples, such as Granny Smith, Golden Delicious or Fuji
1 large onion, sliced 3/8 inch thick and separated into rings (3/4 to 1 lb)
3/4 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
1/8 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups coarse bread crumbs, preferably homemade
2 Tbsp butter, cut into small pieces (Earth Balance)


DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Arrange the apple slices in an overlapping layer in the baking pan.  Top with a layer of the onion rings.  Sprinkle the brown sugar and salt over the rings and top with the bread crumbs and bits of the butter.  Cover with foil and place in the oven. 

Bake for 3 hours, remove the foil, and continue baking for 30 minutes more, or until the juices are evaporated and the breadcrumb topping is browned.  Cool slightly, then serve while still hot.

This is a great holiday side-dish.

the day after with the addition of blueberries, a good breakfast /

would be a great addition to pancakes

SIMPLY PEACHY DESSERT

a good SIMPLE HEALTHY dessert last night

This is so simple and so delicious.  For dessert:

Heat grill to medium temperature.

In a small bowl, mix some agave nectar with a good quality cinnamon.

                      (Penzeys - I LOVE the Indonesia Korintje)

Meanwhile cut the peaches into halves and remove the pits.

Baste the cut sides of the peaches and grill that side for 5 to 8 minutes, depending on YOUR grill.

Baste the skin side and turn those over to the grill side.  Continue grilling for an additional 5 minutes. 

The peaches will be softened but not mushy.  Serve warm.

These could also be served with lemon tofu cream (recipe posted soon).

NOTE:  I made these wonderful fresh grilled Georgia peaches AGAIN this am.  I finished them off with a small amount of almond butter in the center.  Nice flavor combination!

yum

TOSSED MANGO SALAD

start with all fresh ingredients

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 head of lettuce, shredded

1 tomato, chopped

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 ripe mango, diced

1 lg. bunch of fresh mint, remove stems

DIRECTIONS: 

Toss the above together and dress at the last minute with the following mixture:

DRESSING:

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1/2 tsp. balsamic vinegar

1 tsp. red wine vinegar

1/2 tsp. dijon mustard

3/4 tsp. agave nectar

2 Tbsp. water

salt and pepper to taste

SERVES 2

GUACAMOLE

I obtained this recipe from one of the many vegetarian cooking classes that I have attended over the past 15 yrs.  It's simple but great.  By now, I'm making this one by heart.  No recipe needed!  Hint:  for a summer twist, instead of the diced tomato, add diced mango.  Fantastic!

INGREDIENTS:

2 ripe avocados
juice of 1/2 lime
1 1/2 tsp hot sauce or fresh roasted jalapeno sliced into thin rounds (opt)
1 clove garlic (mashed OR grated)
1 large tomato diced into small pieces
salt to taste


DIRECTIONS:

In a small bowl, fork mash the garlic and salt together.
Add the cubed avocado pieces.  Semi-mash with the fork...leaving a chunky texture.
Add the lime and stir.
Add the tomato and hot sauce or peppers (if using). 


NOTE:  Please read above for the tomato substitution.  Many other combinations are possible...be creative.  Try some red diced onion or olives.  Can't go wrong here.  The mango is my absolute summer favorite.

Most people serve guacamole with chips.  I prefer a wheat free, gluten free cracker, Mary's Crackers.  There is a variety of flavors but my favorite are the original and the black pepper.  Look for a good sale, these can be quite costly...ranging anywhere from $3.33 to $5.00. 

Check their site:  http://www.marysgonecrackers.com/ns/intro.php