Fresh Grape n’ Pear Gauacamole

Who would have ever thought of tossing in a few fresh red grapes into a guacamole recipe?  Leave it to me, of course, as I’m always experimenting with new fruits, veggies and herbs for a fun spin on the classic ol’ guac.  Here is a tasty ‘summer’ inspired guacamole recipe that has a hint of natural sweetness from farm-fresh grapes n’ pears but rounds out well with a savory bite.  Enjoy this guacamole atop gluten-free crackers, spread onto a sandwich in lieu of mayonnaise, as a dip with gluten-free chips or topped onto a salad as a tasty dressing.

Ingredients

• 2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and sliced
• 15 red seedless grapes, halved
• 2 ripe pears, sliced
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 5 blanched almonds
• 1 tsp. sesame seeds
• 2 Heirloom tomatoes, chopped
• 1 tsp. white balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp. agave nectar
• Pinch of sea salt and freshly ground white pepper
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• Greek plain yogurt, for topping
• Lime zest, for topping

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a food processor; blend until desired consistency.
2. Transfer to serving dishes.  Serve chilled with a dollop of Greek plain yogurt and a sprinkle of lime zest on top.
3. Enjoy!

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Garlic Gold

Exciting news…I just receive the most amazing product in the mail and I just couldn’t resist selling it in my Shop and sharing it with all of you…Ya like Garlic? Well, let me tell you these ‘Nuggets’ are quite impressive and will not disappoint!  Enter: Garlic Gold, which comes in a 4 flavor variety pack: Parmesan, Sea Salt, Crunchy and Italian Herb.

Let’s just say I haven’t stopped shakin’ these babies on my snacks and meals since they arrived in the mail…yes, they are nearly gone and I’m ready to order more!

Not only does Garlic Gold have these tasty nuggets, but they also have a delicious Garlic Oil, which I’m now selling in my Shop, as well. Here are a few of my Garlic Gold recipes, that I created last week in my kitchen…I hope you enjoy them and be sure to check out my latest Shop addition, Garlic Gold today.  I’ve been shakin’ the nuggets on my omelets, tuna salad sandwiches, salads and grilled chicken dinners…It’s amazing how many ways you can fit a bit o’ garlic into your day, isn’t it?

I’m goin’ ta sprinkle some on my morning eggs right now.

ow will you use these tasty Garlic Gold products?

Garlic Gold Pasta with Shrimp and Vegetables

Ingredients

• 6 oz. whole grain pasta
• 12 oz. raw shrimp
• 2 large red bell peppers, sliced
• 1 bunch asparagus
• 3 Tbsp. Garlic Gold
• 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 Tbsp. Garlic Gold oil
• 2 cups Greek plain non fat yogurt
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• Sea salt and pepper, to taste
• Wheat germ, for topping

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to package in a large pot of boiling water.  Add shrimp, peppers and asparagus; toss until shrimp are cooked and pasta is al dente; drain.
2. In a large bowl, combine Garlic gold, lemon juice, Garlic Gold oil, yogurt, parsley, sea salt and pepper with the pasta, shrimp, pepper and asparagus mixture; gently toss to coat.
3. Serve warm; sprinkle with wheat germ.

Garlic Guacamole

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp. Garlic Gold Nuggets
  
• 5 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and mashed
• 1 Roma tomato, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup fresh cilantro
• 2 Tbsp. lime juice
• ¼ tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. ground flax seeds
• 1 tsp. sea salt

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.  Coarsely mash until well combined.
2. Transfer to serving dishes.  Serve chilled with whole grain chips and crudites.

Garlic Grilled Flank Steak

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. Garlic Gold Sea Salt Nuggets
• 2 tsp. Garlic Gold oil
• 2 lb. flank steak
• 10 grape tomatoes, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1/3 cup red onion, chopped
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp. freshly ground white pepper

Directions

1. Preheat grill to high heat.
2. Combine Garlic Gold Sea Salt Nuggets and Garlic Gold Oil together in a small bowl.  Rub mixture onto flank steak to coat both sides.
3. In a separate bowl, combine tomatoes, pepper, red onion, cilantro, vinegar and pepper; mix well.
4. Reduce heat to medium; grill steak for 5 minutes per side or until desired doneness.  Transfer to a cutting board; let sit for 5 minutes.
5. Slice steak across the grain into thin pieces; serve with tomato mixture.

Parmesan Garlic Green Beans

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. green beans, washed and trimmed
• 3 Tbsp. Garlic Gold oil
• 3 Tbsp. Garlic Gold Parmesan Nuggets
  
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 tsp. coriander
• ¼ tsp. sea salt
• ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and prepare a bowl of ice to blanch beans on the counter.
2. When water is boiling, add beans; cook for 5 minutes (blanch) until bright green.  Quickly transfer beans to the ice bowl; blot dry and transfer to a dry dish.
3. In a large skillet over medium heat, add Garlic Gold Oil, Garlic Gold Parmesan Nuggets, parsley, coriander, sea salt and pepper; mix well for 2-4 minutes.
4. Serve warm.

Garlic Herbed Toasts

Ingredients

• 2 slices whole grain bread
• 2 tsp. Garlic Gold Italian Herb Nuggets
  
• ½ tsp. Garlic Gold oil
• 1 Beefsteak tomato, sliced
• Sea salt and pepper

Directions

1. Toast or grill each slice of bread.
2. Rub one side of each toasted bread slice with Garlic Gold Oil, sprinkle with Garlic Gold Italian Herb Nuggets.  Place sliced tomato slices atop each slice and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.
3. Serve.

Sweet Beet Hummus

Here’s a tasty spin on the classic hummus platter…I opted to toss in fresh beets for a sweet flavor without the added sugar.  Beets are a wonderful source of folate, potassium, dietary fiber and manganese…This beautiful Beet Hummus is incredibly tasty and pairs well as a dip for crudites, fruits or crackers as well as an amazing spread on sandwiches and bagels.

Ingredients

• 5 large beets, scrubbed, cooked and cubed
• 1/2 ripe avocado, peeled, cored and sliced
• 1/2 cup macadamia nuts
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 2 small cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 tsp. white balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro
• Pinch of sea salt and pepper

Directions

• Combine all ingredients in a food processor; pulse until smooth.
• Transfer to a serving dish and enjoy with gluten free crackers, pretzels and crudites.
• Enjoy!

In The News This Week…

Low Calorie Diets May Lead To Weight Gain

Raisins Get a Nutritious Makeover

Four Key Processes of Aging

Your Diet in 2020

Apples Deserve Superfruit Status

Balance Your Caloric Equation To Loose Weight

Squash Blossom Guacamole and Giveaway…

Last night, I had a bit of time on my hands and decided to once again get creative in my kitchen.  I recently purchased a few beautiful squash blossoms and I was yearning for a guacamole to have in my fridge for the weekend, therefore I decided to make the best of my blossoms and whip up a tasty guac with a pinch of saffron and chili powder to add a nice kick. The end result: Delishhhy.   Let’s just say there isn’t much left as I was tasting it all night long…

Ingredients

• Pinch of saffron threads
• 4 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
• 3 squash blossoms
• 2 Tbsp. lime juice
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. lime zest
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
• Dash of sea salt
• Dash of pepper

Directions

• Toast saffron threads in a frying pan.
• Mash in a mortar and pestle.
• In a medium sized bowl, mash avocados with saffron and squash blossoms.
• Fold in remaining ingredients.
• Serve chilled.
• Enjoy!

Wildwood Organics Coupon Give-Away

I have 4 Complimentary Wildwood Organics Coupons to giveaway as well as many discounted coupons, therefore I will be picking 4 winners on Monday, March the 15th.

4 Lucky Winners will each win 1 complimentary coupon along with many discounted coupons!

To enter this Wildwood Organics Coupon Giveaway, leave a comment on this post telling me what Wildwood Organics product you’d like to try.

Good Luck.

In The News This Week…

Avoiding Processed Foods is a Good First Step Toward a More Healthful Diet

Improving Your Diet Doesn’t Mean You Have to Break the Bank

How Healthy is Going Gluten Free?

Salty, Sweet: A Study Says Fat is the 6th ‘Taste’

Green Fish Catches On

Gluten Problems for Babies

Monday is the last day to enter the Progresso Souper You Contest at www.Progresso.com/SouperYou.

Don’t forget to set your clocks for Daylight Savings this weekend…

Spring Ahead one hour!

Sweet Potato Almond Soup

Last night, I created a deliciously simple sweet potato and almond soup that warmed me up after my chilly walk home.  Let’s just say that it hit the spot and paired perfectly with a side of grilled vegetables and tofu smothered with organic tomato sauce and sprinkled with nutritional yeast…delicious is an understatement.

Dig in, this is a tasty protein-packed soup with a nice dose of beta carotene that is sure to fill you up (and warm you up) on a chilly March evening.

Ingredients

• 3 large sweet potatoes
• 1 Tbsp. oil
• 1 small sweet onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp. lime juice
• 3 cups low sodium vegetable broth
• 2 cups Greek plain non-fat yogurt
• 1 tsp. all spice
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• ½ cup Krema Almond Butter
• Pinch of sea salt and pepper
• Topping: fresh cilantro

Directions

• Prick sweet potatoes with a fork to create air pockets. Place into the microwave for 10 minutes. Set aside.
• In a large saucepan, heat oil.  Add onion and cook until they begin to brown, approximately 3 minutes. Add garlic; stir for 2 minutes.  Add lime juice, all spice, chili powder, and sea salt and pepper.  Cook for 10-15 minutes.
• Peel sweet potatoes and chop into small chunks.  Place into a food processor along with the vegetable broth, Greek yogurt and Krema Almond Butter; puree until smooth.  Add the puree to the pot and mix well.
• Transfer to serving dishes and garnish with cilantro.
• Enjoy!

In The News This Week

March is National Nutrition Month

Blood Test Might Sort Out Milk Allergies

First Lady Talks Obesity With School Nutritionists

Are In Season Foods a Better Match for Nutrition Needs?

Sweet Pea n’ Asparagus Guacamole

Last night, I got to thinking…its been quite some time since I’ve whipped up a guacamole, so I picked up an avocado at my corner farmer’s market and decided to get creative…how creative? Well, while at the farmer’s market I stumbled upon a fresh batch of sweet snow peas and a beautiful bundle of asparagus…I simply couldn’t resist and I purchased these incredibly fresh veggies to bring home and have a bit of fun creating a new guacamole recipe…after a bit of altering and tasting, I had perfected my new ‘guac’ and this may be the best one yet.  I present to you…my newest guacamole creation…

Ingredients

• 5 Tbsp. vegetable broth
• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
• 4 medium cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
• 2 cups fresh snow peas
• 1 1/2 cups asparagus, chopped into 1 inch pieces
• 4 Tbsp. sunflower seeds
• 1 ripe avocado, peeled, cored and chopped
• 1 tsp. white balsamic vinegar
• 4 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 3 Tbsp. lemon zest
• 3 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
• 1/8 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. flax seeds
• Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

• Heat vegetable broth in a small skillet over medium heat.  Add chopped onion and garlic; saute until onions are translucent.  Add snow peas, asparagus, sunflower seeds, sea salt and pepper; heat for approximately 4 minutes.
• Transfer snow pea mixture into a blender or food processor.  Add avocado, white balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, lemon rind, chopped parsley, sea salt and chili powder; puree until desired consistency.
• Serve at room temperature or chilled.
• Enjoy!

Simple Substitutions

We’ve all been there…you’re in the middle of making dinner or baking a pie and, Oopsie Daisy… we’re stuck without a much needed ingredient.  Have no fear, here’s a few simple substitutions you can use (instead) hehe, of the ingredient called for in the recipe…

When in Doubt…Opt for Greek plain yogurt when you need:

Soup Base: 2 Tbsp. Rice Flour and 1 cup Greek plain yogurt

Cream Cheese: Strain plain Greek yogurt in cheesecloth; cover and place into the fridge for 24 hours.

Sour Cream: Plain Greek yogurt and 1 tsp. baking soda added to your dry ingredients

Mayonnaise: 1 cup Greek plain yogurt, sea salt, pepper, 1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard

Other Substitutions

1 clove Garlic: 1/6 tsp. garlic powder

1 Tbsp. Fresh Herbs: 2 Tbsp. dried herbs

1 tsp. All Spice: 1/4 tsp. cinnamon and 1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1 cup honey: 1 cup agave nectar or 1-1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup warm water

1 tsp. Lemon juice: 1/2 tsp. White vinegar

1 cup Dry Bread Crumbs: 1 cup crushed crackers, cereal, corn chips, rice chips

OR

1 cup Dry Bread Crumbs: 2 slices of bread, toasted in the oven, then crumbled or sliced into cubes

1 oz. Baking chocolate: 1 oz. raw cacao nibs

OR

1 oz. Baking chocolate: 3 Tbsp. cocoa and 2 tsp. butter or ghee

1 cup Buttermilk: 1 cup milk (or 1 cup Greek plain yogurt) mixed with 1 Tbp. white vinegar; let sit for 20 minutes.

1 cup Self-Raising Flour: 1 cup all purpose flour mixed with 1-1/2 tsp. baking powder and 1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. Arrowroot: 1 Tbsp. Flour and 1-1/2 tsp. cornstarch

1 Tbsp. Flour for thickening: 1-1/2 tsp. cornstarch or arrowroot

1 tsp. Baking powder: 1/3 tsp. baking soda and 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

Whole Eggs: Two egg whites for each whole egg and 1 Tbsp. oil

In The News This Week…

Salt-Loving May Seeks to Trim it from NYC Diets

Guiding Stars Site Adds a Nutrition Blog

Celestial Seasonings Explores Facebook “PossibiliTEAS”

Online Programs Can Boost Fruit and Vegetable Intake

Soda Fountains Contained Fecal Bacteria, Study Found

All Fibers May Not Be Created Equal

Target, Giada DeLaurentiis Launch Line of Cooking, Food Products