Showing posts with label Herbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Herbs. Show all posts

Friday, October 9, 2015

Creamy Spinach & Fennel Dip

Creamy Spinach Fennel Dip

I decided to make a "Easy Creamy Spinach & Fennel Dip" this recipe that you can whip together easily. It is supper creamy – so I threw everything together and the results were very delicious.

Yield: Makes 6 cups dip

Ingredients:

3 cups fresh spinach, remove stems—rinse and chopped
1 (16 oz.) sour cream
1 cup Hellmann's ® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
1 Knorr ® Vegetable recipe mix
1 (8 oz.) water chestnuts, drained and chopped (optional)
3 green onions, chopped (optional)
1 large fennel bulb, stalk—rinse chopped
1 Tablespoon Olive oil
2 teaspoons butter
2 large garlic clove minced

Directions:

In a skillet add oil and butter; bring to medium heat.

Add fennel, garlic cloves and spinach saute for 10-12 minutes; remove from heat and drain liquids off.

Let fennel and spinach cool for 45 minutes.

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

Let chill 2-4 hours or overnight.

Hollow out round sour dough loaf and fill with dip.

Garnish with chopped fennel fronds.

Serve with your favorite chips and crackers or hallow out cherry tomatoes or cucumber slices and fill with dip.




Sunday, August 23, 2015

The Benefits of Drinking Infused Water



If you’re like me, you’ve heard or read why we should drink more water to maintain a healthy life or why we should drink water to lose weight, yet more times than not we grab an unhealthy soda or sports drink because they taste much better. It’s too bad we do not crave water the same way we crave unhealthy beverages! What if I told you that you can crave water the same way with a few simple tricks? Well you can, by trying one of these techniques to reduce your cravings for unhealthy beverages and foods.

How to Flavor Water to Reduce Unhealthy Cravings


1.       Make Mint Ice Cubes—put some sprigs of spearmint, lemon mini, or peppermint into an ice cube tray, then add water and freeze. The taste of mint can curve your urges for snacking, cool the body down on a hot day, or settle an upset stomach. Mints are perfect for people that do not enjoy sweetened beverages but still prefer some flavor. You can also do this with your favorite herbs, like lavender, rosemary or basil.

2.       Make Juice Ice Cubes—is a great way to trick your children into dinking more water. Buy their favorite juice, fill an ice cube tray with it and freeze it into cubes. They will get some of the flavor from the juice but far less sugar and calories. Make different flavored ice cubes and let them mix their own blend and give it a crazy name. And, yes it is just as good for the adults in the home. Healthy can be fun!

3.       Add Fresh Fruit—fresh fruit in a glass of ice cold water looks more appealing and sophisticated while adding a hint of flavor. One of the biggest hits at a party we hosted was a bowl of mixed fresh cut fruits and berries, and a bowl of fresh mint sprigs beside a large container filled with ice cubes and water with a tap. Every time I turned around one of the three had to be refiled. Some of the guest picked just berries, others picked melon or citrus, a few used just mint so don’t be afraid to set out fruit and water for your guest. In the meantime keep a bowl of fruit sliced in your refrigerator to mix in your water throughout the day. For better flavoring add some fruit to a pitcher of fresh water and let it refrigerate a few hours or overnight. The fresh fruit and water curves your cravings for sweet or salty foods.

4.       Add Fresh Vegetables—I know, some of you prefer flavors that are less sweet, one of my favorites is cucumber.  Adding a few thinly sliced vegetables like: sweet peppers, carrots, beets, etc. and the subtle flavor gives your water a spa-like refreshing taste. For better flavoring add some vegetables to a pitcher of fresh water and let it refrigerate a few hours or overnight. The fresh fruit and water curves your cravings for sodas and sports drinks.

5.       Add Frozen Berries—this method allows you to skip filling ice cube trays and freeze fresh berries instead. The great thing about using this method is that you can stock pile fresh berries while they are in season so that you have them year around and when you need them you just pull out a bag of berries from the freezer. You can freeze strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and acai berries and they will add flavor and color to your water. You will reduce your cravings for sweets and save money by freezing the berries.

6.       Add Fresh Herbs Ice Cubes—is refreshing and tricks your taste buds into enjoying water. Mint, lavender, lemon grass, rosemary, are good mixed in with fresh fruits, berries, and/or vegetables. Depending on your needs adding herbs can be energizing or calming; also cleansing. They reduce cravings for unhealthy beverages and foods. They are something you have to experiment with to find the flavors you will enjoy.

Health Benefits from Drinking Infused Water


Would you like some juice with your cup of sugar?

Unfortunately we all grew up believing that drinking juices that we get from our local supermarket is healthy, but we now know that these juices are no healthier than a cup of corn syrup or a candy bar. Of course it is healthy to eat fresh fruits! But every time you eat fresh fruit and drink fresh fruit juices you’re consuming a spoonful of fructose or more. This includes dehydrated, frozen and fresh fruits and berries as-well-as their juices frozen or bottled; organic or non-organic doesn’t matter, they all have a high fructose count. On the other hand bottled vegetable juices are no better because they are high in sodium.

The good news is that you can decrease the amount of calories, fructose and sodium by eliminating bottled juices and replacing them with infused water. If these are not good enough reasons to drink infused water here are a few more examples of its health benefits:

  •          Your skin will look fabulous by keeping your skin plump and elastic.
  •          Your face will have less wrinkles.
  •          Your health will improve.
  •          It naturally flushes the toxins out of your body.
  •          It helps reduce your cravings for sweet or salty foods.
  •          It adds a healthy array of vitamins and antioxidants to your daily diet.
  •          It will awaken your taste-buds to nature’s most amazing flavors.
  •          It reduces cravings for unhealthy beverages.
  •          It can be energizing or calming.
  •          It will help you lose weight.
  •          And more…


All of these are some of the best reasons in the world why you should switch to drinking infused water…but the best reason of all is the simple fact that water is your body’s source of life. All the bottled juices, sodas, coffee, etc. cannot replace the body’s need for water to function correctly.

Choosing an Infuser


 
Water Infuser
There is a large selection of water infusers available—it really depends on your fashion taste. Here are a few criteria’s to keep in mind when you are choosing the right water infuser for you.





  1. Make sure the containers are BPA-free, not made of a plastic that releases chemicals. Glass or Tritan plastic are BPA-free.
  2.  For the home you may want a large picture with a spout or flip-top no one has time for stopping and unscrew/screw a lid; everybody is always in a rush.
  3.  For traveling you will want one that will fit in a cup-holder, has a flip-top lid, that you can use driving, walking, hiking, or biking.
  4.   Look for Eco-friendly options.


Hopefully these tips will help you live a healthier and happier life. It sounds like a lot of work but looks are deceiving in this case. Switching over to drinking infused water is a simple change, but one with life-long-lasting health benefits. And, before you know it you will be feeling more refreshed and full of energy.


By: Teresa Fuller
fast-n-delicious@outlook.com
www.fast-n-delicious

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Delicious Herb Butter


This delicious "Herb Butter" recipe is a savory spread good for just about anything.


Ingredients

2 tablespoons fresh chives,  minced
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2  tablespoon fresh thyme, minced
1/2  tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Directions

Plus all the ingredients in a small bowl.

Beat until smooth.

Serve at room temperature.