Home Made Ricotta Cheese

Homemade Ricotta Cheese

4 C Whole Milk

2 C Half & Half

pinch kosher or sea salt, no iodine

1/8 C white vinegar

Bring milk to a simmer and stir for 4-5 minutes

(you will see little clots forming)

Take off burner and stir for another 4-5 minutes

Drain this in a colander for 5 minutes.

Fantastic, sweet delicious, add herbs and garlic for 

a spread or bake with your favorite pasta.

Don't throw away the whey, use in a soup or cook new potatoes in the broth.

Peanut Butter Organic Plum Asian Noodles with Vegetables

 Namaste Asian Peanut Butter Noodles with Vegetables

 You might try organic buckwheat noodles, with a lower glycemic index. These noodles

are easy to find in a health food grocery. The Plum flavored noodles are a beautiful pink

when cooked, their flavor is mild and not sweet, they may have extra antioxidants.

Why watch your glycemic index? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycemic

The Peanut Butter Sauce is fantastic and easy, great for many dishes, kids love it too.

Spicy Spice Cake

Photograph courtesy of The Kitchen Table Priestess 

and her tricksters, to read her blog click link below;

 http://kitchentablepriestess.wordpress.com/

This cake is moist and delicious. 

Recipe follows

FEEL LIKE A BOWL OF SOOTHING SOUP ?

VISIT MY OTHER BLOG  
http://thesoupqueen.blogspot.com/

Cardamom & Cinnamon Infused Farina, Nuts & Honey

Cardamom & Cinnamon Infused Farina with Honey & Nuts 

Recipe follows 

 

4 servings 

1 C milk or soy, rice or almond milk

2  1/2 C water

simmer water & milk with these spices: 1 Tbs Cardamom seeds, 1 cinnamon stick,

pinch of cloves, nutmeg, allspice, sea salt

Stir in 1 C Farina (wheat or rice)

Stir on low until it thickens about 5-10 minutes

Add 3 Tbs Ground Golden Flax meal (optional but healthy)

3 Tbs Wheat Germ (optional but healthy)

2 Tbs Butter or extra virgin coconut oil

Sweeten with brown sugar, or sugar, honey, agave nectar, stevia top with toasted nuts

you can also add raisins or apple slices your choice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardamom 

Read about the health benefits of Cardamom
*Tip click on Read more
* I buy farina in an East Indian Market. It is called Sooji, creamy wheat farina, the brand name is

Golden Temple. A  4.4 LB bag is $3.99 and it lasts months. I also make a bigger batch than 

we need and keep it in the fridge. Then warm it up in the microwave with a little more milk

and butter is great in it too. I add the extra flax  & wheat germ for the nutrient value.

My friends love this, so I premixed all the sweet dry spices, with the farina and packaged it in containers for them, this might be good for you too, if you have to dart out of the house. 

Just add water and milk to the mix and you have a great breakfast fast. You can leave out 

the milk but milk gives the farina a creamy pudding richness.

Information below was gathered from wikipedia always see you doctor if you are ill, but hey

it doesn't hurt to add spices to your diet that may have health benefits, plus they taste great! 

Traditional Medicine

Green cardamom in South Asia is broadly used to treat infections in teeth and gums, to prevent and treat throat troubles, congestion of the lungs and pulmonary tuberculosis, inflammation of eyelids and also digestive disorders. It also is used to break up kidney stones and gall stones, and was reportedly used as an antidote for both snake and scorpion venom.Amomum is used as a spice and as an ingredient in traditional medicine in systems of the traditional Chinese medicine in China, in Ayurveda in India, Japan, Korea and Vietnam.Species in the genus Amomum are also used in traditional Indian medicine. Among other species, varieties and cultivars, Amomum villosum cultivated in China, Laos and Vietnam is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat stomach-aches, constipation, dysentery, and other digestion problems. "Tsaoko" cardamom Amomum tsao-ko is cultivated in Yunnan, China and northwest Vietnam, both for medicinal purposes and as a spice. Increased demand since the 1980s, principally from China, for both Amomum villosum and Amomum tsao-ko has provided a key source of income for poor farmers living at higher altitudes in localized areas of China, Laos and Vietnam, people typically isolated from many other markets. Until recently, Nepal has been the world's largest producer of large cardamom. Guatemala has become the world's largest producer and exporter of cardamom, with an export total of US$137.2 million for 2007.

High Protein Tofu Snack in 3 minutes

High Protein Tofu Snack 

1/4 block firm or extra firm tofu cut in chunks

Drizzle with tamari soy sauce

serve with a drop of wasabi on the side

I use dry wasabi which you mix with a little water

this keeps in the pantry for months.

Once you have it you can add it to mayo, or salad dressings or

asian dishes, or anything you want that hot horseradish kick in.

I have given this simple snack to children, (without the wasabi)

they love it and its good for them.  

Why incorporate it into your diet? Attention Women, check out the health benefits on this link;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tofu

Refreshing Iced Green Tea with Hibiscus

Refreshing Iced Green Tea with Hibiscus 

Makes 1 pitcher, 1/4 C loose green tea leaves 

5 to 8 Hibicus buds dry

Boil 6 C water, pour over leaves & flowers steep in ceramic or glass bowl

(metal reacts badly to tea) It's best to steep overnight for stronger tea

Strain into a 1 gallon pitcher add water & sweetener, (honey, organic sugar, agave syrup, stevia)

Fresh Lemon or lime juice is great in this too. Refresh yourself and get the health benefits. 

Dry Sorrel or Hibicus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_tea

Green Tea Link Below Check out the health benefits of both of these ingredients

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camellia_sinensis

Easy to Make Your Own Jerk Chicken & Sauce with Corn Pudding & Salad

Easy Jerk Chicken      Vegans try this on Tofu 

• 4 tsp ground allspice               Add 1/4 of dry mix to;
  
• 4 tsp ground cinnamon           2 mashed garlic cloves           
• 4 tsp dried thyme                     1Tbs minced onions          
  
• 1 tsp grated nutmeg                  2 Tbs vinegar         
  
• 4 tsp raw sugar (or not)             2 Tbs healthy oil      
  
• Mix, save extra for next time.     

1 package cut up chicken pieces approx. 4 lbs, this serves four to six, depending on your appetite

Add 1/4 of spice mix, with vinegar, oil, garlic, onion in bowl or bag and marinate chicken for at least 3 hours or overnight. You can do this to boneless skinless chicken too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_jerk_spice 

Jerk Chicken: After the chicken has marinated arrange on a 
baking dish separated, cook at 375° approx 45 min. Or grill
until done, use a meat thermometer to be sure. Tip you can 
throw bay leaves or smoke chips to add another layer of flavor. 
Easy Sweet & Sour Sauce For Jerk Chicken
1/4 c. Ketchup,   1 Tbs Tamari,    2 to 4 Tbs Brown Sugar or honey, 1 tsp rice vinegar, 1/8 to 1/2 tsp chili garlic paste or hot sauce adjust to your heat tolerance,1/2 tsp fresh grated ginger, 1/8 tsp cinnamon & allspice

 Luscious Corn Pudding

1 can organic creamed corn +  1 1/2 C fresh or frozen organic corn

1/4 C diced green & red sweet peppers, 1/8 to 1/4 diced jalapeno (what's your Hotness level?)   2 C diced steamed *yellow squash 

*(you can get creative with this and add what you like, lima beans? or zucchini? anything mild, you don't want to over power the corn flavor, or use more corn)

2 eggs beaten + 2 Tbs corn flour or fine corn meal + 3 Tbs Cream or 1/2 & 1/2 or Soy Milk

2 Tbs Honey or stevia or sugar (something sweet)  pinch of sea salt

  MIX ALL AND PUT IN 8" X 8 " OILED CASSEROLE DISH

TOPPING;  1/2 to 1 C Panko Japanese bread crumbs(or conventional, or crackers, or ?)

Mix the bread crumbs with 2 Tbs butter, coconut oil or something greasy, pinch of salt & cayenne. Top casserole & bake for approx. 40 minutes on 350° or until set. 

Easy 3 Minute Dark Chocolate Sauce

Dark Chocolate Sauce

Serves 2 or 3 takes 3 minutes

3 Tbs Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

3 Tbs Cream or 1/2 & 1/2 or milk or

plain soy, rice or almond milk

Place all in microwave bowl heat until melted

stir till all ingredients incorporate, lick the spoon*

*do not leave out this step, unless you don't like chocolate

If you would like your sauce runny add more liquid

Great served on ice cream, fruit, soy cream or whatever else you can think of. 

Chocolate Facts and Health

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate

Easy Pimento Cheese

Easy Pimento Cheese

1 fresh chopped* red bell pepper

you can use a small jar of diced pimentos, 

but the fresh red pepper tastes better and is better for you 

1   12 or 16 oz  block of cheddar cheese grated*

1 pinch of dry ground mustard

2 to 3 Tbs mayonaise*

Mix eat and enjoy, keeps a week or so in refrigerator .

* I highly recommend using a food processor for this, chop the pepper,

remove the blade and use the grating attachment for the cheese,

Mix all ingredients in processor bowl,

if it doesn't fit just transfer it to another bowl

and mix in the mayonaise and mustard.  

 

This tool can be your work horse in the kitchen.

When I was a chef I carried one to every restaurant I worked in.

Antioxidant Salad with Toasted Walnuts & Pomegranate Dressing

 

Antioxidant Salad with Toasted Walnuts & Pomegranate Dressing

Boost your brain and body with pomegranate dressing and toasted walnuts

Recipe:

Choose your greens:

Baby Field Greens, Spinach, Arugula, Nappa, Bok Choy, Purple Cabbage, Romaine

Add anything else you like or have around, fresh apple slices or oranges, raisins, cranberries,

chick peas, be sure to try the toasted walnuts they provide the brain power and add richness.

Purchase raw walnuts, toast in oven (carefully keep an eye to not burn). Toasting nuts brings out the flavor, store in the freezer for several months.

Sharp aged cheddar cheese, vegans try soy cheese

Easy Pomegranate Dressing

2 Tbls Pomegranate Molasses

1 to 2 Tbls Honey

1 to 2 tsp Balsamic vinegar

sea salt to taste

2 Tbls extra virgin olive oil

(or grapeseed, sunflower, walnut, hemp)

pick a healthy oil to have around the house

cayenne if you like a little sting

Toss Salad mixture in dressing eat immediately (or it wilts)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_oil

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate

I have found pomegranate molasses in farmers markets as well as Indian markets.

It is very inexpensive compared to pomegranate juice,

and can be added to green tea or mineral water,

as well as other recipes. It's great drizzled on fruit.

Once you find it, which is the hard part, try experimenting with it in your recipes,

mix with water or apple juice for you and the kids, a better cool ade.

Ingredients that have health benefits

Nutritional Yeast, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutritional_yeast I love this product and use it on homemade popcorn, to make a vegan soup, a tasty non-dairy sauce, you can use it like you wold parmesan cheese it adds a savory flavor to many dishes plus you get B vitamins.

Tofu, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tofu

Rosemary so easy to grow great for a lot of things, including a hair rinse for brunettes .
Many culinary health benefits, high in iron, calcium and Vitamin B6

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary

Sunny Scrambled Tofu & Oven Roasted Rosemary Fries

Scrambled Tofu

I know, but I swear it's really good and healthy too!

1 14 oz block firm or extra firm tofu

drain and squeeze out extra moisture, set aside

Saute all, in  3 Tbs olive oil:

 1/4  chopped onion or green onion

1/4 or more green pepper 

1 roma tomato

Add:

1/4 tsp tumeric

1/4 tsp curry powder*

1 Tbs tamari (quality soy sauce)

sea salt, pepper or cayenne to taste

Add mashed drained tofu stir and cover let simmer 10 minutes; 

remove cover simmer 5 more min. on low until the liquid evaporates.

You can sprinkle nutritious yeast on this, adds a cheesy flavor and a kick of B vitamins.

I also like an herbal blend called Trocomare or Herbamare made by A.Vogel

If you can get fresh cilantro this is great in it, chives, lemon thyme, or hot sauce.

If you have some seasonings you like try those. 

Tofu is bland you have to coax it into having some flavor. 

Vegan Friendly Meal

Rosemary Fries

Cut potatoes into wedges, roll in bowl with marinade :

 juice of 1 lemon

2 Tbs olive oil

1 Tbs chopped fresh rosemary

1 segment chopped fresh garlic

sea salt & black pepper

Spread on oiled baking sheet 

Bake in preheated oven 400°

until crispy brown,

Roll these back in marinade right before serving

fantastic with creamy feta dressing or 

sprinkle plain feta cheese right before serving, yummy.

Light and Fluffy Whole Wheat Cat Head Biscuits

I only learned what a Cat Head biscuit was a couple of months ago.

Yep, there as big as the head of a cat. If your hungry or running to

work you appreciate something that'll stick to your ribs for a while.

I do like southern biscuits, but I have issues with white flour, baking powder & soda with aluminum in them as well ingesting lard or other dubious shortening products.

So here is one solution when you have a craving for biscuits and want to be good to your body.

Light and Fluffy Whole Wheat Cat Head Biscuits

1 C unbleached organic flour

1 C whole wheat flour

1 Tbs ground flax meal

1 1/2 or so Tbs wheat germ

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp cream of tarter

1 1/2 Tbs non-aluminum baking powder

1/4 C butter

1/4 C extra virgin coconut oil

Mix dry ingredients together, cut in the butter and coconut oil until it forms pea sized clumps.

 Stir in    1 C. milk or plain soy, rice, or almond milk

Preheat oven 450°

Drop 8 biscuits to an ungreased baking sheet

Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.

You can leave out the butter, use all coconut oil and still have great results, you can also use coconut oil which is not virgin with good results. I love this product for baking. 

I keep it in the cupboard if it gets warm and melts, pop it in the fridge for a few minutes.

Try some extra virgin coconut oil on your skin after a bath or as hand cream, I use it on my face 

and it's great to take off make-up.

There is a myth out there about coconut oil, that it is high in cholesterol 

Back in the old days they hydrogenated it, you don't want to eat any hydrogenated fats!

Read your labels particularly if you are working to keep your cholesterol down. 

Benefits of coconut oil

Trans Fats

Health Issues  

Flax seed meal >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flax 

Vegans  replace an egg with 1 Tbs of flax meal 3 Tbs of water as a binder for baking.

Flax get the benefits of the extra omegas >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3_fatty_acid

The benefits of using non-hydrogenated oils

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil  < Read this article, scroll down to the health benefits

Rich & Golden Basmati Rice

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumeric 

Dry Ground Turmeric

The ingredient that makes our mustard and curry powder yellow, it has a mild mustard flavor as well.

Many studies are showing the benefits of using turmeric in our diets.

Rich & Golden Basmati Rice

1 1/2  C. Rice*

3 C. Water

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp curry powder

1 Tbsp Butter or healthy spread

1 Tbsp extra virgin coconut oil or olive oil, or your choice of healthy oil

pinch of salt, cayenne or white pepper if you like it

Melt butters or oil in pot add rice & spices cook approximately 5 minutes add water

let simmer approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Turn heat off and place lid on top. Let sit another 10 minutes to soak up remaining moisture.

Basmati Rice has been used in India for centuries it has a wonderful nutty flavor and aroma.

 Many grocery stores now carry it. If you visit a large farmers market you can buy it in bulk. I have some favorite East Indian stores where I buy a 20lb bag at a time, it stores nicely. You can get the chutney there too. Brown basmati is also available. You can also use almost any 

*brown rice with this recipe

 be sure to add more water and increase the cooking time for brown rice, 

short grain rice takes a little longer than long grain rice. 

Best to check the package for cooking methods of the particular type of rice you are going to use.

We do not have to import this rice it is being grown throughout the USA. 

Nice served with the Savory Grilled or Baked Yogurt Chicken

  

Savory Grilled or Baked Yogurt Chicken

Savory Grilled or Baked Yogurt Chicken

4  Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts or Tenderloins

 (If you use breasts cut them up into smaller pieces. )

4 ounces plain yogurt 

1/2 tsp tumeric

1/2 tsp curry powder

1/2 tsp paprika

1 mashed garlic clove

1/8 tsp fresh grated ginger

pinch of salt, pepper or cayenne (if you want it hotter)

2 Tblsp olive oil or grape seed oil, or healthy oil of your choice

Mix all the spices & oil in a bowl with the yogurt and add cut up chicken

Let it marinate, a couple of hours or even overnight.

 To grill: Put the chicken on skewers leaving as much of the marinade on as possible.

Oil your grill a bit and let cook till done approximately 15 minutes depending on the heat

( use a meat thermometer if you are unsure about its doneness)

To bake: Oil a baking pan placing chicken separated so it can brown a little. Preheat oven hot 

400° or so cook approximately 15 to 20 minutes depending on the size of the chicken pieces.

Sauce: 4 to 6 oz of plain yogurt

2 Tblsp sweet mango chutney.

Or try mixing in honey and chopped fresh mango

or sweet red pepper relish

Don't have any, try peach jam a couple teaspoons to taste

or pineapple, experiment even a little sugar will work

add some extra fresh grated ginger, and cayenne very nice.