Showing posts with label yogurt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yogurt. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Day Ten: Favorite Things-Coconut

Mmmmmmm...COCONUT...I love the way it smells and the way it tastes.

I have loved coconut since I was a little girl and my grandmother would share with me her stash of Brach's Neapolitan Coconut candies, which I just found out have been discontinued. 

One of my favorite perfumes, Ooh-La Hula, that had the perfect mixture of coconut, jasmine and neroli was also discontinued.

Evidently not everyone shares the same love for coconut that I do. 

Here is how I enjoy Coconut products:
  • Coconut milk (I usually buy canned but have also made it from whole coconuts and frozen it)
    •  In my daily Coconut Milk-Blueberry-Banana-Almond Butter Smoothie 
    •  In place of water when cooking rice for a little sweetness and added layer of flavor when adding rice to stir fry.
  • Coconut Oil (Unrefined)
    • As the oil of choice for roasted sweet potatoes
    • Melted and rubbed over a whole chicken for roasting
    • As a moisturizer for skin
    • In my bath fizzies
  • Shredded Coconut (Unsweetened)
    • Mixed with sliced bananas, thawed berries, almond butter, and raw cacao
    • Over greek yogurt with cinnamon and walnuts

Coconut Milk-Blueberry-Banana-Almond Butter Smoothie
 
8-10 Ounces of Coconut Milk
8-10 Ounces Frozen Blueberries
1 Whole Banana
1 Heaping Tablespoon of Almond Butter
1 Tablespoon Ground Flax Seed
1 Tablespoon Wheat Germ
1 Tablespoon Chia Seeds (Optional-When I add these I soak them in coconut milk for 15 minutes)

Add all ingredients to your blender and mix until smooth and creamy.  Enjoy!

Warning...the blueberries may leave little specks in between your teeth from the shredded skins and seeds.  Check your teeth before leaving the house or you may get some funny looks. 




Wednesday, February 16, 2011

A Few of My Favorite Foods

Since December I have been focusing on eating healthier and more balanced meals.  Some days the amount of chocolate I consume versus vegetables is not balanced, but some days just call for more chocolate than others. 

Two of my favorite and go-to again and again foods are Flat Bread and Plain Greek Yogurt.  These are such simple items, but the combinations for how I can and do use these are endless.  I use the flat bread for wraps, pizza, burritos, enchiladas and bread crumbs.  My favorite use for flat bread though has got to be pizza.  It is so quick to grab the flat bread and just about anything you have in the refrigerator and "POOF" you have a delicious, healthy and quick meal.  Today I had veggie pizza with an olive oil base, fresh mushroom and red pepper slices, fresh cilantro leaves, feta cheese, and topped with a little shredded mozzarella and dried oregano.  The feta cheese gives it a nice bite. 

Pre Oven
Post Oven (see how it fills the plate-a hearty meal)
My husband's favorite pizza is our take on Buffalo Chicken.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza
1 piece of flat bread
1 tablespoon of Olive Oil (you can use more if you like)
1/4 Cup Cooked and Shredded Chicken (I use roasted or rotisserie chicken)
3 Large Fresh Sliced Mushrooms
About 10 leaves of fresh Cilantro chopped or whole
1/2 teaspoon of Dried Oregano
Buffalo Wing Sauce Drizzled (approximately 1 tablespoon/we use Texas Pete)
2 tablespoons Feta Cheese
1/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese

Measure 1 tablespoon of olive oil and spread all over the flat bread with the backside of the spoon.
Layer on ingredients in order listed.
Drizzle with wing sauce then top with cheese. 
I only bake this pizza for about 5 minutes at 350 and then I turn on the boiler (low) until the cheese bubbles and turns slightly brown.

 I have included suggested amounts for the ingredients but add or subtract as your taste buds dictate. Also feel free to add any other ingredients you have on hand or simply just love. 

The other food I constantly find myself using is Plain Greek Yogurt.  It does not stay plain long in my house, but that is where it all begins. You can dress it up with nuts and fruit for breakfast or use it as a substitute for mayonnaise, salad dressing, and as a topping or dip for fish/chicken/meat dishes.  I mix in Chalulu hot sauce with greek yogurt for a hot and spicy topping for black beans and tacos.  For roast beef I mix greek yogurt and hot and spicy mustard together as side sauce or for sandwiches. Once a week I make a batch of my take on the famous greek tzatziki sauce.  This is a refreshing and tangy sauce for chicken, fish and veggie dishes or sandwiches and I use it almost every day.

Yogurt Cilantro Sauce
1 cup Plain Yogurt 
2 Tablespoons of honey (optional but I love it)
1 large cucumber peeled and chopped fine (you can de-seed but I don't bother)
Cilantro chopped or cut fine with scissors (I use about 1/4 of a bunch)
1-2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
3 dashes of dill (or more for your taste)
Salt and Pepper to taste (just a dash of salt as this is flavorful without it)
2 Tablespoon of Lime Juice (you can also use lemon if that is what you have on hand-I just prefer lime juice)

Mix all of the ingredients together and refrigerate for up to 7 days.  This tastes great when just made but tastes even better about an hour after the ingredients have had a chance to blend together.

What are your favorite go-to foods or food finds you just can't live without?