Recipe #69... Whole Living's Roasted Red Pepper Hummus... DIY popular snack

Note:  This recipe hails from the June edition of Whole Living Magazine.  I haven't blenderized hummus in the Vitamix for a while and so it seemed like a decent thing to do...  literally mixing it up a bit in my kitchen.


Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 4-6 servings

1 whole roasted sweet red pepper
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 15 oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 clove garlic (optional, in my opinion)
1/2 tsp red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp lemon juice
salt + pepper to taste

Serve with veggie slices or your favorite Crack-a-lackers!  You can even make a hummus experimental day and blend up other beans, add herbs or veggies (more experimentation on this blog is in store)... Have a happy hummus humdinger of a day! ... -A

Recipe #68... Cherry Chocolate Almond Smoothie... Enough said

Note: From the same Women's Health story that provided the introduction to Apricot Gazpacho, let me present the Cherry Chocolate Almond Smoothie...

Cherry Chocolate Almond Smoothie
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 2 healthy servings

1 1/2 unsweetened almond milk
1/2 c ricotta cheese or lowfat greek yogurt
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp cocoa powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 c sweet cherries, pitted
4 ice cubes 

I used yogurt in mine and not ricotta... that is next on my list of alternate proteins to add to smoothies... along with tofu and cottage cheese... Until the next post, have a delightful week!  -A

Recipe #67... Fresh Tomato Sauce... Summertime or anytime

Note: It's getting to be that time of year...  Yes, Christmas in July does mean red and green... and purple and yellow... tomatoes are here!  When you're bursting at the seam with fresh tomatoes, and you aren't sure that another tomato-cucumber or caprese salad will receive the high praise it got the first 10 times you served it, blenderize your bushel boys and see how fresh tomato sauce goes... or maybe if you're feelin' frisky - bloody mary's ...

Fresh Tomato Sauce
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes enough for 2, 12" pizzas and extra for sauce

10 fresh tomatoes or 28 oz can of whole tomatoes 
2 carrots
4 large basil leaves (fresh)
1/4 white onion
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 cloves of garlic
Savory herbs (thyme, oregano, etc)
2 anchovies (optional)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Salt and pepper to your liking... This sauce makes a wonderful pizza topper that is fun for all to construct!  Even Bernard the dog benefitted from this cooking adventure... and so did the person who mops in our house... more shredded cheese please... -A

Recipe #66... Honey Ginger Plum Smoothie... Inspired by a sundae

Note: Did you know that eating dried plums has been found to ward of bone fractures?  According to Women's Health Mag, plums are a source of antioxidants and potassium, and potassium helps regulate your fluids and contributes to healthy bones... who doesn't need a little fluid regulation from time to time... Here is a sweet fluid for your next bone-bolstering breakfast...

Honey Ginger Plum Smoothie
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 2 healthy servings

1 1/2 c milk of your choice
2 purple plums, pitted
1/2 orange, peeled
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp fresh or frozen minced ginger
1 tsp cardamom
1 tsp vanilla extract
5-6 ice cubes 

To savor this in sundae form, combine everything but the milk and vanilla in the blender/mixer for a rough chop and then use it as a topping for your vanilla fro-yo or ice cream.  Sprinkler a few pistachios (sans the shells) on top and you've got your sundae... Hooray for versatility... -A

Friendly Reminder of the Week...

The simple things no one should forget... though we sometimes do...

Happy week...  -A

Recipe #65... Sleepytime Smoothie... An evening snack to send you dreaming

Life is so hard...

Note: Reading back through my Yoga Journal archives, I came across the "Nourish your Dreams" article in the Dec. 2011 edition.  It offers suggestions for those wee hours when your sheep counting tallies start seeing 3 or 4 digits.   A small strategic snack before bed may calm your body and help you drift off into the clouds of drowse.  Your strategic maneuver - seek foods that are rich in tryptophan, a natural sleep inducer, + melatonin, and magnesium.  Why not include them all in a dreamy elixir?

Sleepytime Smoothie
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 2 healthy servings

1 1/2 c soy or dairy milk (tryptophan)
1-2 drops vanilla or almond extract
1 c tart cherries (melatonin)
6 walnut halves (melatonin + healthy fats)
1/4 c almonds (magnesium)
1 handful spinach leaves (magnesium)
ice (6ish cubes)
Optional dollop of honey or agave syrup

Draw the blinds, turn off the TV, grab your version of a "Yoga Journal," and prepare to greet the Sandman... Sweet Dreams... -A

Recipe #64... Apricot Gazpacho... Sweet summer soup

Note: Found this gem in the July edition of Women's Health.  While I was little skeptical about tampering with what works for traditional gazpacho, curiosity got the better of me... I am certainly glad it did!

Apricot Gazpacho
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 4 servings

10 apricots, halved
1/2 english cucumber
1/2 sweet orange
2 green onions, white & green parts
4 large basil leaves
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp orange zest
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Chill and garnish with avocado... Stay cool... -A

Recipe #63... Summer Berry Sorbet... Simplicity at its finest

From this...

Note: If you are wishing for an alternative use of blueberries and strawberries - skipping the flag cake for this year's 4th of July festivities - consider blending up a quick and easy sorbet.  I promise it is less labor intensive... think one-step... and you can still have your whipped cream on top!

Summer Berry Sorbet
Add the following to your mixer of choice...
Makes 2 servings 

1/2 c water
1 c frozen mixed berries
1 tsp lemon juice + a little zest
1 tsp honey or sugar (optional)

To this!

1 c Ice (big cubes usually 5 or 6) 

Since it's summer and berries are popping up everywhere, freeze any fresh berries you buy instead of foraging them from the freezer section...  Express your inner dessert revolutionary and play with the addition of herbs... maybe basil-watermelon sorbet will be a pre-fireworks dazzler for your crew... Whatever you enjoy, may your 4th be sparkly and bright... -A