We went on vacation and I didn't have asparagus.

Last week we went on a cruise.  In an effort not to gain 25lbs in a week, I tried to eat as many greens as possible, as little bread as possible and try asparagus!!  The asparagus didn't happen, more on that later.

Here's what I did try!

Jalapeno Potato Soup

This soup was DELICIOUS!!! I'd had it before and it was even better this time!  I'll recreate this in the fall when it's time for comfort food! 

Conchiglioni Pasta filled with Spinach & Ricotta served atop Marinara w/ a Pesto Drizzle

This dish was pretty good.  I'm not a huge fan of Ricotta cheese, so when I make it,  I'll make a Mozzarella/ Parmigiano Reggiano filling instead!

Bresaola Carpaccio

Yes...that is meat on the bottom of that dish.  No...I did not eat it.  BUT, the potato salad stuff on top was FANTASTIC!!!  So much so, that Miss J had them bring her a dish of it!!!  Potato Salad is great!!

I really wanted to try asparagus....I tried (well, sort of).  Anyway, I felt so strongly about it, when I got home the first thing I picked up from the store was asparagus.

I've always been a bit intimidated by asparagus.  It looks so...treelike, and fibrous.  Nonetheless, I bought it cooked it and...hid it...in pasta. :)  There's nothing like stir fry!

Here's what I did:

Vegetable quantities are estimated.   Feel free to add more of what you like, and less of what you don't.  I did!

1 julienne cut Carrot.

2/3 cup of Snow Peas (cut into bite-sized pieces)

1 tablespoon Fresh Italian Parsley

1/2 cup chopped Red Pepper

1/2 cup chopped Green Pepper

Zest & Juice of 1 Lemon

1 large clove of fresh Garlic minced (or Garlic pressed)

3/4 Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese - Finely Grated

1 tablespoon of Olive Oil

1/2 Tablespoon of Unsalted Butter

Salt & Pepper to taste

Morton's Nature's Seasoning Blend - to taste

1lb cooked pasta (Your choice)
1/4 cup Green Onions

1 cup Asparagus (chopped) - Miss J said I'm exaggerating a bit about the quantity, but whatever, this is my recipe!

I sauteed the veggies in butter and olive oil until crisp tender.  Tossed the veggies with the cooked pasta and added cheese.  Toss until mixed well and serve.

...

Ok, I admit it.  I cheated the asparagus, by hiding it in pasta...and cheese.  I feel a little bad about it too.  (sigh)

I guess I'll have to make it again, especially since I cheated the snow peas too.  :/

Everyone loved it though and that stands for something in my book!!!

How do you prepare Asparagus or Snow Peas?  Do you tend to hide them too?  Any recipe suggestions?

I'd love to hear from you!  Please comment, follow & subscribe!

Blood Orange

I wasn't really fond of the name "Blood" Orange, but that's neither here nor there, we tried it anyway.  :)  As you can see, this one was a bit dried out around the edges, but it was still tasty.  The deep red segments were very pretty.

I had Lasik this week, so I didn't make anything with them.  I'm occasionally a bit accident prone in the kitchen, so Miss J wouldn't let me turn on the gas, or use a knife until my eyes had time to heal a bit.  She's the kitchen police.

Blood Oranges are rich in Vitamin C, Fiber, Folate, and the antioxidant Anthocyanin that comes from the red pigment in the fruit. (Blood Orange Info.) They are found to be higher in vitamin C than their plain orange counterparts, and the Anthocyanin provides even greater health benefits.

They are said to have notes of raspberries or red grapefruit, but those flavors were missed by me!  They tasted like regular oranges to me.  But, they were cute and fun, so we'll get some again!  Next time, I'll probably add the segments to a salad for a splash of color, mix into Sangria, or better yet, make Blood Orange Sorbet!  We like sorbet.

Miss J - "The color kind of creeps me out, but it wasn't bad."

JB - "They're pretty good.  It tastes like a regular orange." 

J - "It tastes kind of like a pomegranate." (Now that I think about it he's right, it did!)

Have you tried Blood Oranges?  Did you taste raspberries, red grapefruit, or pomegranate?

Please comment, share & follow!

Curiosity Didn't Kill Anyone! Lemon Plums?

I happened upon these cuties at my local health food store!

Lemon Plums

I guess this fruit gets its name because the top is pointed like a lemon, but the color is not really yellow at all.

Whatever...it was delicious. 

 This little gem was super juicy and super sweet!  All of them were consistently fantastic, unlike my hit or miss experiences with regular plums.  All in all, it was the best plum I've ever had.  I even shared (reluctantly).  :)

They are not regularly found in the grocery store, but if you happen upon them give them a try!  You won't regret it.


On the other hand, if you can't find them and you want to pretend you had Lemon Plums, try this recipe!  It's great!!

Lemon Plum Sorbet

Here's the verdict!!

Me - It's sooo good!  The plum flavor really intense, and definitely reminded me of the Lemon Plum!

J (Husband) - "Very good! I want some, but a small bowl of it."

Miss J - "If you've never had a Lemon Plum before, this is what you would expect it to taste like!  It's best in small servings, I wouldn't eat a big bowl of it like somebody (JB was the culprit, of course.  :) )."

JB - (He could barely wait for it to chill, was the first one to try it, and had the most servings) - "It's good!  The plum flavor is really strong, in a good way!"  

Have you ever tried a Lemon Plum?

Please comment, share and follow!!! I'd love to hear from you!

Good Stuff #4 - Mediterranean Vegetarian!!

For the past two years my family and I have traveled to Charleston, SC so my husband could run over this...

Cooper River Bridge

I'm thinking about running this race (Cooper River Bridge Run) next year, so any prayers would be greatly appreciated.


Anyway, last year we went to The Tabbuli Grill as meat-eaters, so we decided to pay them another visit.


This is what I had...

It's Falafel, on a pita...with Jerusalem Salad (cucumber, lemon, tomatoes, parsley & spices) !!!  It was delicious!!!!  Nobody, else really liked it, but I LOVED it!!!  :) 


Falafel is made from ground chickpeas and deep-fried.  They have a meaty texture and great flavor! Miss J said the texture was more crumbly, almost like grits to her.  I guess I agree.  Maybe I was just wanting it to taste like meat! ;)


We also had the Hummus and Pita Chip appetizer.  It was awesome and by far the best hummus I've ever had.  

Here's a link to the menu: Tabbuli Grill Menu


I'm really becoming a fan of chickpeas in various applications.  I still can't quite get them down in plain form, but you can't win them all.  :)

J had Shrimp Pitas and thought they were really good.

The kids had meat.  (That's all I have to say about that.)


Now that I'm on a Mediterranean flavor kick, I decided to make this!

Here's the recipe!

1 Piece of pita brad
2 tsp Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
2 tsp Mayonnaise
1 Tsp "Good" Olive Oil ;)
1 Tsp Red Wine Vinegar
Salt & Pepper
Organic Green Pepper Slices
Organic Red Onions Slices
Organic Romaine Lettuce
Organic Tomato

Listed below are the ingredients I would have added if I had thought of it before I ate the sandwich! :)

1. Organic Cucumber - I thought of this as I typed.  I will definitely add this next time, because I know it will be good! :)

2. Tzatziki Sauce. This sandwich would have been REALLY delicious with Tzatziki Sauce (Greek yogurt based sauce mixed with cucumbers, garlic, lemon etc...)!

3.  J was not home, but he would have liked Black Olives on his sandwich as well!
  
Finally,  If you are looking for a really flavorful Hummus, I would try these!

This brand is not USDA Certified Organic, but many of the ingredients are listed as organic.  This product is Gluten-Free and Vegan. 

 This is the best tasting store bought hummus I've tried, and the only hummus Miss J will eat.  She even puts it on her Pitas!   
 
Note:  I will always try to showcase organic ingredients in an effort to show what is seasonal and/or available in my area. 


Until next time!!!

Denise

Green Books #1 - Green for Life By Victoria Boutenko

I started drinking green smoothie's a couple of years ago.  At the time, J and I knew we weren't consuming enough vegetables, so we decided that drinking them would be more efficient.  We ordered a VitaMix and the blending began.

Amazon.com

I happened upon Green for Life, by Victoria Boutenko shortly after becoming a vegetarian.  I found that it answered many of my questions about greens and their importance in the overall health of my family.

While I won't give the contents of the book away, I thought it might be fun to list 10 things I learned while reading this book!

Here goes!

1. The healing power of greens - Greens can be effective in healing certain diseases and ailments.  (PLEASE don't stop taking your medications without consulting your physician!!! - That is a BAD idea!!)

2. The importance of rotating the types of greens you consume - p.91

3. Why fiber is so important - p.49

4. Why drinking Green Smoothies eliminated my severe seasonal allergies - p. 62 

Note: I had terrible seasonal allergies.  My regiment consisted of one pill and one nasal spray in the morning and a different pill and nasal spray at night.  My sinuses drained, and I coughed and cleared my throat constantly.  My allergist predicted that this spring my allergies would be worse than last spring.  It is April and EVERYTHING is in bloom.  I have taken NO allergy medicine and have No symptoms!!!

5. The importance of Chlorophyll in our diet - p.85

6.  How you get protein from greens - p.41

7.  The health benefits of drinking Green Smoothies over Green Juices - p.19

8. Why greens can be hard to palate - p.27 

Another Note: The more greens I eat and drink, the more my body craves them.  They don't taste nearly as bad as they used to! I drink a Green Smoothie every day!!!

My "Green" Smoothie as a new vegetarian.

My Green Smoothie base NOW!!!

Kale, Chard & Spinach Blended

 (My flash got a bit overzealous.  It was not quite this neon green.)

I added 1 Organic Banana, 8 frozen Strawberries,  3 Organic Carrots and blended again.

The final result! 32 oz. of Green Smoothie!

9.  Green Smoothie recipes - p.175

10.  Testimonials - p.117

BONUS!!!  - The importance of eating raw.  - I thought this was cool, but I'm not doing it.  :)  

I thought this was an excellent book.  It supported many of the things I learned in the documentaries listed on the right side of the page, and presented the "why's" of eating green and raw.  It was an easy read and fairly inexpensive, (under $12) considering there are lots of recipes inside.

By the way, I thought this article was really informative as well.  If you can't eat organic fruits and veggies all the time.  This list suggests the most important ones!

The Dirty Dozen: 12 Foods to Eat Organic

Finally, I am intrigued by what The Bible says about diet.  Check out this passage about Daniel, Shadrack, Meshach, & Abednego !
 

Will you explore this book?  Are you and your family trying to eat more greens?  Do you have any tips about making or drinking Green Smoothies? 

I have one!!  If your Green Smoothie tastes really bad...hold your nose and drink it down!! You won't taste a thing! ;)

That's all for now, don't forget to comment, share and follow!

Denise :)

It was a rough week, I ate fake meat - Quorn Patties

This week has been a struggle for me.  I've learned rather quickly that being a vegetarian can be difficult at times.

Confession:  I have to be the WORST vegetarian on the planet.  Why? Because I really don't like most vegetables.  I never have.  Becoming a vegetarian for me was a means of staving off the high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and cancers that have plagued my ancestry for generations.  I don't want ANY of that, hence my vegetarian diet.

Just to give you an idea of what I don't like food wise, here's a list:

1. Eggs - The texture is all wrong for me in any form.  I have ALWAYS hated eggs.
2. Eggplant - Too mushy and slimy.
3. Cauliflower
4. Mushrooms - I know it's a fungus... and that scares me a bit. 
5. Squash - I've tried it and just can't get past the texture.  I might try this one again.
6. Fennel - See this blog post -> Organic Fennel & Saffron
7. Olives
8. Corn - See this blog post -> Mini Pops

 OK, that's enough for now.  You get the idea.  I have texture issues.   On the bright side, I have discovered that the vegetables I actually do like, I like raw, which is better anyway!!!



Sooooo... today, I decided I needed something meat-like so I tried these,

and made this....

with these!!!

(SIGH) Deliciousness!!!!


These patties are Non-GMO, Soy Free and Meat Free!!!  I won't eat these on a regular basis, but when I feel a bit weak for meat, this will be my go to meal!! The texture was very meat-like, not mushy, but rather firm.  They tasted... like chicken!  I was delighted! (Miss J wanted me to use the word chickeny.  It's a real word, but only in the urban dictionary.)

What are they made of you ask? That's a difficult question for me to answer.  I started reading the ingredients and stopped.  I don't eat mushrooms, or anything related to a mushroom, so I decided it was best for me to remain in the dark about the actual contents of the patties.  But, if you want to know what's in them, click here!  -> What are Quorn patties made of?


Here are the Waffle Fries and Onion Rings.

I won't pretend these are the best for you, but they are All Natural and better for you than their fast food counterparts.

All in all, this was a tasty treat!

J (Husband) - "This is the best thing I've had!"

Miss J - Liked the fries.  She passed on the "chicken burger".  - (Maybe another day)

JB (Son) - He liked it all! - (Big Surprise)

Have you tried any of these products?  Will you?  If so, come back and share!!  I'd love to hear from you!!  Also, please (pretty please) comment, share and follow!


Denise

Good Stuff #3 - Mini Pops! - Finally!! An Alternative to Popcorn

I love popcorn...I really do.

Popcorn has been my comfort food since I was a small child.  Just about every evening, after the dishes were done and everyone was settling down to read or watch TV, my mom would make a huge batch of popcorn for the family.  I continued this habit throughout college and into my married with children life. 

I can almost smell it, the aroma was intoxicating then and it is now.  

Unfortunately,  after suffering years of terrible gastrointestinal distress, my doctor came to the conclusion that, I have a corn allergy.  Perfect....just lovely. 

I removed corn from my diet, and immediately began to feel better.  For years I had severe stomach pain and discomfort, and for years I comforted myself with popcorn.

I'm truly grateful for the discovery, however, it has been challenging living without some of my favorite foods: corn on the cob, cornbread, tortilla chips w/ salsa, Doritos, Cheetos...you get the idea.

To make matters worse,  the smell of popcorn seems to follow me.  Between visits to Target, the car dealership, and let's not even mention the movie theatre, I am hounded by POPCORN!! (By the way...I do realize that I'm being just a tad bit dramatic.)   :)

Finally, it brings me great joy to share with you, my most wonderful discovery!!!

Mini pops!!!!!

Here's the story:

I was at my local TJ Maxx store (in the gourmet foods section again) and I noticed this product!

Mini Pops!

 I purchased a bag and ran out to the car.  I sat down, took a deep breath and opened it.  Immediately, a popcorn like smell permeated the air! I looked inside.  The tiny kernels looked like popcorn.  Could it be???!!!  I reached in and tossed a few into my mouth....and YES!!!!!! It tasted like popcorn!!!! I was so grateful and relieved!!! I finally found something to replace my beloved popcorn!!!!!

Note: The picture shown above is not the actual bag I purchased that day.  I ate that bag of Mini Pops and threw it away before I took the picture.  It was 3 oz.  I tracked down these smaller bags (1oz.) at Cost Plus World Market.

Sorghum is a grain that is commonly used for cereal. 

Here's what it looks like!

Sorghum Plant

Sorghum Grain

MINI POPS!

Mini Pops:

Organic (YEAH!)

Gluten Free!

Non-GMO - Not Genetically Modified!!!

Sorghum Farmed in the US!

You can purchase Mini Pops popped or unpopped.

There are 8 popped varieties!  Here are just a few!

Itty Bitty Butter

Sub-Atomic Sea Salt

Baby White Cheddar

Nano Pepper & Herb

Mini Pops can be ordered online or purchased at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or Cost Plus World Market.

Click below for more info or to order online!

Mini Pops Website 


So....What do you guys think?  Are you as happy as I am?  Don't forget to comment, share and follow!!!


Denise :)