A sweet treat to start the day..

Well it's been awhile since I last posted.. Don't worry I have eaten in the past few months.  I just haven't had the time to post anything delicious! So to start making up for that, I am starting this year's posts with a sweet breakfast surprise.

Strawberries and Oats

1/2 c old fashioned oats

3/4 c water

2 T chopped dates

heavy sprinkling of pumpkin spice (or just cinnamon)

2 t ground flaxseed

1 1/2 t brown sugar

fresh sliced strawberries

fresh whipped cream made with vanilla bean

~ 1 serving per recipe

If you are just making a single serving I would opt for the microwave method.  Combine the first four ingredients in a large bowl and zap it (as my Grandma says) for 3 minutes.  Let it cool in the microwave for 1-2 minutes before removing.  Then top with the ground flaxseed, brown sugar, strawberries and last but not least some delicious strawberries! Mmm you will be surprised at how much this tastes like dessert.  If you use vanilla bean in the whipped cream it makes all the difference! Enjoy~ ;-)

Double the pleasure

So I've been beaten with the sick stick repeatedly the last week and finally lost the fight last night. I decided to make a healthy, fruity smoothie for breakfast to soothe my sore throat.  And then later I was feeling a little perkier and made one the tastes more like dessert!  I have a new bullet like blender that is perfect for making smoothies for one person and quite quickly too!

Feeling green smoothie

1/2 a small avocado

1 kiwifruit peeled

1/2 a large banana

1/3 cup frozen strawberries

1 T flaxseed oil

1/2 c - 3/4 c hempmilk

Blend and sip.

The smoothie is naturally sweet and refreshing yet still creamy with the avocado and hempmilk.

Holiday smoothie

1/2 c eggnog*

1 1/2 bananas

1 heaping T peanut butter

1/4 rice krispies cereal

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

ice cubes

Blend and sip slowly.

*Use soy eggnog if you are lactose-intolerant.

The smoothie is delicious, sweet and creamy.  You get hints of banana, peanut butter and eggnog under the chocolate flavor; like a holiday surprise! ;-)

Sipping Sweetness

Mmmm.. just one last sip! This morning I woke up and decided it was time to make another smoothie. I went into the kitchen and pulled out frozen grapes, pineapple, peaches, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, persimmons,  bananas, and apples.  Looking at the chilled assortment I picked off the counter sweet cherries, peaches and apples.  I then grabbed some cool hemp milk, ice cubes, tahini, rose water and some lavender sugar to make one delightfully sweet smoothie.

Delightfully Sweet smoothie

1 cup frozen yellow peaches

1/4 c frozen sweet cherries

1/4 c apples

handful ice cubes

2 tsp tahini

2 capfuls rose water

1 tsp lavender sugar

1 c hempmilk

Combine all ingredients in blender. Enjoy! ;-)

*Sorry no picture; camera charger is missing*

My lips remember New Zealand..

So..New Zealand. Just saying it, makes me yearn to be there again! I was there a month ago for a short jaunt to see a kiwi boy and eat some good food.  A good balance ay? Unfortunately, my camera battery died soon after and I had to resort to taking food pix on a camera phone.  I failed to plan ahead for power outlet differences between american and kiwi power sources.. I now know it is wise to invest in one at the airport for about $17.

I was greeted by cold weather and hearty food when I arrived.  I had several delicious, flaky yet also juicy mince pies.  It's basically like a pot pie but heaps better!  You can get them everywhere from the gas station to Border's cafe.  A simple mince and cheese with some tomato sauce (pretty close to our Heinz ketchup but sweeter) warms the body and soothes the tummy.  When we were grocery shopping I found a bottle of Tuimato sauce which was a hit.  Tui Brewery makes the tomato sauce with a little (2%) of their famous beer.  It's worth passing the ketchup and reaching for it instead.

 

Kiwi families are very health conscience.  Two of the families homes I got to visit each had an extensive garden with everything from fresh herbs, vegetables and fruit trees.  In the kitchen there was a huge platter filled with different fruits that the family nibbled on.  I tried the yellow kiwifruit that has been engineered to be more sweet and less bitter.  It was divine. It's so good cold and juicy.  I am now in love with kiwifruit. I didn't eat them growing up and I remember being confused in the lunch line as to how to eat them; all those seeds were intimidating!

We had a fancy dinner out or maybe I should say "up" in the Auckland Sky Tower above the city.  I chose lamb for my main entree but the duck souffle appetizer was so much more succulent.  The prices were reasonable though and the view was spectacular!

A lovely lassi

So sickness suppressed my ravenous appetite this week. Fortunately,  I was still lively enough to whip up a Lovely Lassi smoothie to share with you.  I am happy it's mango season and there is an abundance of mangoes on the neighbor's tree!  I hear them drop from the branches at night with a crash and then a juicy plop!  You really can't beat fresh mango in the summer. Try this refreshing mango chiller with sweet hints of raspberry and rose...

A Lovely Lassi

1 1/2 c frozen cubed mango

1/2 c frozen raspberries

1/2 c lite coconut milk

3/4 c rice milk

2 t rosewater

1 T agave nectar

a few ice cubes

Blend until smooth. Add more liquid if needed, and more agave nectar to your preferred sweetness. Enjoy!

Hip Hemp

Aloha, it's a new week! New beginnings and new food to be tasted.. So my skin has not taken too kindly to the estrogen-rich soy I've been eating. I have had soy yogurt, soy pudding and soy milk! Quite a bit of it too! Lately my smoothies were becoming soy yogurt based, so this morning I was almost forced keep my fast. Fortunately, I pulled it together and realized I can still make amazing smoothies avec sans soy! Today I was craving blueberries so I made a Hip Hemp smoothie thats still fruity, creamy and oh so tasty! I used my new favorite protein powder called Nutiva Hemp Shake Berry Pomegranate thats organic, non-dairy, gluten-free and 100% soy-free! You would never guess where I found it.. 24 hour fitness! They also sell Chocolate and Amazon Acai shake flavors and for around $14.95.


Hip Hemp
1 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 c frozen raspberries
1 T almond butter
1 T sesame tahini
2 T ground flaxseed
2 T Nutiva® Hemp Shake Berry Pomegranate™*
1 c hemp milk
1 T agave nectar
2 T golden raisins
handful of ice cubes

*Ingredients: Organic hemp protein, superberry blend (organic mesquite pods, organic strawberries, organic blueberries, organic raspberries, organic cherries, organic pomegranates, organic Sambazon® açai, organic goji berries, organic guar gum, inulin from chicory root), organic Fair Trade Certified evaporated cane juice, organic berry flavor. Contains tree nuts.

Combine all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into one large glass or two medium size glasses. Enjoy! (Side note: This is a super thick smoothie so a spoon might be best!)

Paired with Pear

Mmmm! This morning I made another Dreamy smoothie.. pairing notes of lavender, honey and vanilla with pears and green grapes.  The perfect blend of creamy sweetness and exquisite flavor.  Lavender is one of my favorite herbs!  It's floral quality really kicks it to the forefront in a dish.  It is especially complimentary in sweets like lavender sugar, lavender tea, lavender chocolate, lavender coffee etc.. Fresh lavender is THE best! Here in the islands there is a place called Ali'i Kula Lavender on Maui that covers your every lavender need from postcards to lip balm. 

http://www.aliikulalavender.com

Pale Pear smoothie

1 c frozen sliced pear

1/2 c frozen green grapes

handful ice cubes

1/3 c soy yogurt

1 1/2 T cashew butter

1 T honeycomb

3/4 c vanilla hemp milk

1/2 t vanilla bean paste

2 pinches of lavender buds

Combine all ingredients in blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into two tall, medium sized glasses and garnish with a sprinkle of lavender. Enjoy!

(Side note: You may have to stop blending a few times and stir up the mixture so everything gets evenly blended.)

Substitutions for..

green grapes~add more pear

soy yogurt~yogurt of choice

honeycomb~regular or whipped honey

vanilla hemp milk~ vanilla soy milk

vanilla bean paste~pure vanilla extract or 1/4 t vanilla beans scraped from pod

cashew butter~replace with 1 T sesame tahini

*Lavender has amazing healing qualities.  It's wonderful for soothing the mind and body as well as renewing the spirit and soul.  It enhances sensuality; bringing awareness to ourselves and tuning us into our inner being. ;-)