There's Gold in them Hills

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Puerto Rico .. HOOO..

The next few weeks are going to fly by. I can already feel it, wedding rehearsal and moving next weekend. Then Julnette's wedding the week after. Can someone tell how it is already June 2010?

Today would have easily been a lazy Sunday, except that today was also Julnette's bridal shower. A few weeks before we all decided on everyone bringing in one caribbean dish. (Believe it or not, Julnette is Puerto Rican). By the time I read over the list, there was only one item left - fried plantains and sour cream. I wasn't too worried, but couldn't help but wonder why someone would choose to grill chicken kabobs over frying a bunch of bananas.

Now that I have made them, I can atest that this is the easiest dish to prepare AND grabs the most attention at any potluck. However, if you do not have much patience then you just might have a problem.



Ingredients:
6 lbs ripe plantains
2 cups vegetable oil (depending on the width of the pan. just make sure the bananas are halfway submerged)
2 cups sour cream

1. Slice bananas lengthwise into four pieces (first down the middle - repeat)
2. Heat oil in a deep frying pan (medium high)
3. Fry banana on each side until deep brown
4. When done, let the bananas drain on a paper towel
5. Serve with sour cream

Fruit and more Fruit

I absolutely love tropical fruit. And Taipei was full of it - tropical fruit, I mean.

Green Apple Guavas





Pink Guavas with seasoning



I have NO idea what these are, but they have the texture and taste of white nectarines, with a hint of salt.

Brianna's Blushing

Ugh. I love/hate the holidays. The malls are packed, my brain is on overload and to top it off, I'm on a sugar high all the while. We keep getting holiday baskets at work (and I say this like it is a bad thing - what an ungrateful brat), but really it's NO good. Sure at the time of consumption, I'm loving all the chocolates, cakes and cookies. As an aspiring chef, it is my duty to try everything. By the end of the day I just want to throw up. I've crashed hard. I can't help but look forward to eating fresh, unprocessed foods.



Here is a quick nutritious salad that will leave you refreshed and satisfied. It is an adaptation of Marnie's Best Salad. I love the colors, flavors and textures.

Ingredients:

- Briana's Blush Wine Vinaigrette
- Firm tofu, cubed
- Fresh raspberries
- Fresh blueberries
- Sliced almonds
- Romaine lettuce, teared

Too Many Strawberries

Strawberry lemonade is the perfect fix for leftover strawberries. The longer they sit in juice, the better. Cool, sweet and tart, what's not to love?

Trader Joe's strawberry lemonade*
Fresh strawberries

1. Pour lemonade into a pitcher or beverage dispenser
2. Add 1 basket of clean, hulled and halved strawberries

*TJ's lemonade is soooo sweet I always dilute it with water

Furit and Nut Oatcake

After a two and a half month hiatus, I'm back in action - doing the things that make me happy. I've heard so much about oatcakes, but have never had one myself. So here goes ... Thank you Denise Santoro Lincoln for sharing!

Ingredients:
- 1 serving of Trader Joes Maple Syrup Steel Cut Oatmeal (you can find this in the freezer section)
- 3/4 stick of Trader Joes Salted Butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup unbleached flour (sifted)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup Trader Joes Simply Cashews, Almonds, Cranberry Trail Mix (chopped)

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Mix sugar and butter until fluffy
3. Beat in egg
4. Add cooked steel cut oatmeal
5. In a separate bowl combine flour and baking soda. Add to oatmeal batter.
6. Add in fruit and nuts (make sure to NOT overwork the batter)
7. Spread batter into an 8x8 pan and cook for 20 mins or until inserted toothpick comes out clean
8. Cool and serve

Voila - Enjoy!!!

**This recipe is great if you are wanting to serve oatcake that is more like cake than anything else. Stay tuned .. I'm wanting to make a batch of crunchy, hockey-puck oatcakes like those seen in a few local bakeries.

Apples

A is for awesome! Apples:
- can reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma and type 2 diabetes
- are packed with vitamin C, dietary fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants



It's a cold and gloomy Sunday morning, so I decide to make apple and cinnamon oatmeal. It is a such an oldie but goodie - and Quaker's just doesn't cut it in nutrition, taste or texture. Here's a healthy way to enjoy this meal at home.

2 mini gala apples (yields about 1 1/4 cups), diced
1/2 cup slow cooked oatmeal
1/2 cup vanilla soymilk
1 tsp cinnamon, or to taste

I always have a batch of oatmeal already cooked in the fridge.
1. Mix diced apples, oatmeal and soymilk in a microwaveable bowl
2. At medium high heat, microwave for about 4-5 mins (or until apples are tender)
3. Add cinnamon

Enjoy!

**Update: I soaked all the ingredients (minus the cinammon) in a bowl overnight and warmed it up in the morning! The apples were sweeter, the oatmeal plump and I used less cinnamon. YUMM!

Fresh Tropical Fruit Cocktail

1 medium sized banana, sliced
1.5 cups papaya, cubed
1/4 cup fresh jackfruit, sliced
Serves one

No preservatives or refined sugars here - just a whole lot of folate (papaya), vitamin B6 and potassium (banana), and Manganese (jackfruit). All three are also packed with vitamin C.

Banana Nut Oatmeal

1 banana (small to medium in size)
1-2 tblspn walnuts, chopped
1 tspn blackstrap molasses*
1/4 cup steel cut oatmeal, cooked
1 tblspn flaxseed meal
vanilla soymilk

1. Spoon chunks of banana and oatmeal into a microwaveable bowl
2. Microwave for about 1-2 minutes on medium heat
3. Mix banana and oatmeal well
4. Mix in walnuts and molasses
5. Add soymilk and flaxseed meal

Enjoy!

*If the banana is overripe and you don't have much of a sweet tooth, omit the blackstrap molasses.

Cheese and Fruit Pairing: Triple Cream Cambozola Soft Ripened Cheese

Cambozola is a cross between a brie and a blue. Mild in flavor, it goes great with good ole Granny Smith apples and a side of toasted walnuts! Or try it on toast with honey.

YUMMM!

Um suco de açaí e um misto quente

On almost every street corner in Copacabana is a juice bar that carries a variety of fresh juices and sandwiches. One of the many things I miss about Rio de Janiero are the misto quente (grilled ham and cheese) and ice-blended açaí - All for as little as $3 USD

Mas Merienda

Açaí gelato topped with sliced bananas, granola and honey



It's like finding the golden ticket



Courtesy of Lan

No Fuss Gourmet Salad

I never thought I would love salads or eating healthy as much as I do these days. You can immediately feel the difference between shoving fast, greasy food down your throat and consuming a delicious, nutritious meal. Healthy doesn't have to be dull, boring and tasteless .. If you don't believe me, try out this salad recipe ..it's guaranteed to suprise and satisfy.

Record prep time of 10 minutes!

Baby spinach leaves
1/2 cup Cheddar Dubliner Irish Cheese, cubed
1 medium Hot House Tomato, cubed
1 cup Soga Organic Extra Firm tofu*
1 medium Fuji Apple (Chile), cubed
1/8 cup Trader Joe's Simply the Best Trek Mix (cashews, almonds, pineapples, cranberries and cherries)
1/8 cup Trader Joe's Antioxidant-ly, Black Currant-ly, Walnut-ty Trek Mix
Brianna's Homestyle Zesty French Salad Dressing

Enjoy!!!

*This comes in a twin pack, which is perfect for those who can't kill a 16oz package in a week's time.

Pluots

Also known as the best fruit on earth.

Sweet Tooth Breakfast

1 Ripened Banana, sliced
4-5 Strawberries, sliced
1 teaspoon of light brown sugar
1/4 cup Archer Farms Pecan Sticky Bun Granola
Vanilla Yogurt

1. Combine yogurt, banana, strawberries, and light brown sugar
2. Top with granola

Yummmmmm ..

Simple Delights

- Fruits: Nectarines, cherries, strawberries, kiwis, bananas .. take your pick, dried fruit even - cranberries, dates
- Lucerne yogurt: Vanilla, Strawberry, Blueberry, the combinations are endless!
- Granola and Nuts: Walnuts, Almonds, Cashews, Trader Joes Granola, Archer Farms Granola

**My pick of the day**
Apricots, Vanilla Yogurt and Archer Farms Organic French Vanilla Almond Crunch Granola

Enjoy!