Sunday, April 20, 2014

A Little Spring Time Fun

So, while I've been giving you all fun, healthy but delicious recipes, I thought this week shouldn't be any different! We're going to add a little butter to the mix and a drink that is so delicious and simple to make! Let's get to it!

Brown Butter Citrus Salmon




Ingredients
1.5 pounds fresh salmon fillets, pat dry (I used skin on)
¼ cup honey
salt & pepper
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, chopped
Juice of 1 lime (1 tablespoon)
Juice of 1 lemon (1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon fresh orange juice
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon honey (optional)
Zest of lemon, lime and orange (optional)
8 flour tortillas, heated in oven until crisp on outside and chewy on the inside (optional)

TOPPINGS
lettuce, shredded
tomatoes, chopped
avocados, diced
sweet corn kernels
red onions, diced
Make an Easy Lemony Blueberry Pie

Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Brush salmon fillets generously with honey and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
Place in a foil-lined pan (skin side down). Set aside.
In a light-colored pot, over medium heat, add butter.
Allow butter to melt, stirring often.
When butter has melted continue to stir as the butter begins to foam and bubble slightly.
Keep stirring or swirling the butter constantly as the butter solids begin to turn golden in color and release a fragrant aroma.
*Remove butter from heat immediately and pour into a heatproof bowl. (brown butter can burn fast)
Let cool.
Stir in lime juice, orange juice, lemon juice, garlic powder, honey, salt and pepper into the brown butter.
Pour over salmon fillets.
Bake for 12 minutes. Turn the oven to a low broil and broil for about 2-3 minutes (watch carefully) or until salmon is flaky and tender.
Remove from oven and shred salmon. (add citrus zest if desired)
Place salmon in prepared tortilla shells and top with toppings.
Drizzle on citrus brown butter sauce.
Enjoy!

Let's wash this down with a tasty drink! Feel free to leave the alcohol out if you choose!

Sparkling Strawberry Margarita Punch




Ingredients
16 oz. fresh strawberries, hulls removed (can also use frozen)
1 can frozen limeade concentrate
4 cups water, divided. May need more (can also use sparkling water for a fizzier punch)
2 cups orange juice (without pulp)
4 cups strawberry soda
1½ cups tequila, can use more
½ cup cointreu or triple sec, can use more
Instructions
Process 1 cup of water and strawberries in a food processor until smooth.
Add to a large pitcher.
Stir in frozen limeade.
Add in orange juice, strawberry soda, tequila and cointreau.
Stir in 3 cups of water. (Can use more water if you think it’s too sweet, but remember punch is suppose to be sweet so don’t water it down too much.)


Sunday, April 13, 2014

Spring Time Detox!

So, the ancients and the pagans believe Spring to be a new year, instead of January. This is the time where the weather changes and you should be ridding yourself of bad habits...and people. Let's stick with food this time! You know what that means....time for a detox! Below you will find what herbs work best for this!

Cilantro contains phytonutrients, flavonoids and active phenolic compounds. It helps your body get rid of heavy metals by binding to them. Eating a diet rich in cilantro can also have great anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits. If you’re one of the thousands of people who can’t stand cilantro, try adding it in small amounts to pesto or smoothies to reap the benefits without being overwhelmed by the flavor.

Green tea is high in flavonoids (antioxidants) and is the best source of catchins. Catechins are a group of antioxidants that stop cell damage and fight disease and are even more powerful than vitamins C and E. Green tea appears to also help lower the risk of certain kinds of cancer and help prevent heart disease. (source)

Cucumbers don’t get as much attention as they should – they are great sources of vitamin C, K, beta-carotene and molybdenum. They are full of phytonutrients that provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits. (source)

Pineapple is one of the best sources of vitamin C around. Just one 8-ounce serving provides 131% daily value of vitamin C. It is also an excellent source of bromelain, an enzyme which aids in digestion, as well as several b vitamins. Pineapple is an excellent source of manganese.

Ginger has long been known to help with digestive troubles, but more recently studies have shown that it also has many anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Ginger contains gingerol which can help reduce the symptoms of arthritis. It also helps with circulation and gives your metabolism a big boost. (source)

Avocados are an excellent source of numerous vitamins and minerals including high amounts of potassium, vitamin E and B vitamins, as well as other antioxidants. It can also help replenish liver cells, making it a great detox food. The high (healthy) fat content makes it a great companion to other foods containing vitamin A, as it helps the body absorb the other vitamin. Adding in some avocado each day will also help add fiber to your diet, which in turn helps with digestion.

Lemon juice is a natural diuretic with great cleansing and detox properties. It’s high in vitamin C, citric acid, magnesiun and calcium, all of which give the immune system a boost. Starting the day with lemon juice will help improve digestion. It works with the liver to cleanse the body and can help balance pH levels and clear the skin. (source)

Raw honey contains phytonutrients with antibacterial and antiviral properties that can help the boost the body’s immune system and fight illness. It also contains trace minerals, enzymes and antioxidants. Pasteurizing can destroy the benefits of honey, so it’s best to consume it in its raw state. (Don’t give to babies under one though. That’s true for raw or pasteurized honey.) Raw honey is a source of the enzyme amylase which helps with digesting carbohydrates properly. (source) Another benefit of honey, particularly local honey, is that it can help combat spring allergies.

What can you do with some of these ingredients? Well...Let's make a smoothie!

1 cup cilantro
1 cup organic baby kale (or another baby green)
1 cup cucumber
1 cup pineapple
juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
½ avocado
1 green apple

Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth. I recommend using frozen fruits so you won't need much ice! Enjoy!

Sunday, April 6, 2014

PARTY Time!

So, since we're embarking upon Summer time, I think it's only appropriate that I give you guys some ideas and recipes! Enjoy!

Let's start with Love Potion-great for a girl's night!

Pink Lemonade, Raspberry Sherbet, Sprite, and Vodka. (measurements depend on your crowd)


The BEST Party Punch

The Party Punch
1 can frozen piña colada concentrate, thawed (Bacardi makes a good one)
1 can frozen orange pineapple juice concentrate, thawed
4 liters of diet lemon-lime soda (That’s two 2-liters for the mathematically challenged.)
1 bag of pebble ice (You can buy it at Sonic Drive-In or at most grocery stores in the deli or meat departments.)
1 bag of frozen raspberries
Directions:
Pour the thawed concentrates into your punchbowl and stir.
Use one of the empty cans and fill it with water four times and add it to the mixture. Stir.
Add your diet soda to the mixture. (You can use regular sugar-filled soda if you want, but I think it gets too sweet and you will also feel guilty when you fill your glass for the sixteenth time. Which you WILL.)
Next, add about half your bag of pebble ice.
(NOTE: Please do not insult The Punch by using crappy ice cubes from your freezer. The Punch will hate you forever.)
(ANOTHER NOTE: Please do not screw up the order and add the ice before the soda. You will get an ugly foam at the top of your punch bowl.)
(ONE MORE NOTE: I’m sorry if it seems like I’m micro-managing this recipe. It’s just that I have already suffered bad punch experiences so that you won’t have to. I micro-manage because I care.)
Let’s see….where were we? Oh, yes. We’re ready for the crowning ingredient…
Add your frozen raspberries to the top.
Congratulations! You have just created the Mona Lisa of Punch!
Your punch should be a lovely dark yellow at the bottom of your punch bowl, light lemony yellow in middle, almost white on the top, and then bright magenta on the very, very top! So pretty!

The Best Burger Recipe

Ingredients
Burger
2 lbs ground beef 85/15
sesame seed buns
½ cup of grated Monterrey jack cheese
¼ cup BBQ sauce
season salt to taste
cracked black pepper
onion powder
Secret Sauce
¾ cup of mayo
¼ cup ketchup
¼ cup relish
2 tablespoons worcestershire
seasoned salt

Instructions
Combine the ground beef, grated cheese, bbq sauce, and seasonings. Shape patties that are about 1 inch thick.
Then it is very important to push a ½ inch indent into the center of the patty–this is what prevents the patty from becoming a dome. These burgers stay extra moist because the bbq sauce and cheese are mixed in with the meat.
Wait for the skillet to get super hot and then apply a very thin layer of butter to the pan. Place the patties on the pan, indent side up.
Reduce heat to medium and allow this side of the patty to cook for about 4-6 minutes, but make sure it doesn’t burn. Then flip the burger over and cook until done.
For the sauce: Combine all ingredients and whisk until well mixed. Taste and adjust ingredients to your liking.
Assemble the burgers and serve with avocado, lettuce or your choice of toppings!