International Food Receipes

Darren Craddock asked:


Smoothies are no longer crunchy granola hippie food. They are in sidewalk cafes and are being sold at the grocery store in 6 packs. But smoothies are easy to make at home and can be even more nutritious when you make them yourself. One of the best reasons to start drinking smoothies is if you are prone to skipping breakfast.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, yet millions of people walk out the door with a thermos of coffee and a full to-do list. Your body needs fuel to work properly. Your brain needs energy to think properly. Smoothies are a great way to get super nutrition in a tasty treat. They are quick to make and easy to share. What more could you want form a great breakfast?

I keep a list of smoothie ingredients on hand so I can make the best tasting, most nutrient rich shake I can. I keep these ingredients on hand all the time so I can substitute different fruits or juices to change the flavor depending on my mood.

Here is my list: juice (I mix it up), plain whole yogurt, flax seeds, a super green powder, coconut milk powder, protein powder (vanilla), flax seed oil, and wheat germ.

You can start out with juice, yogurt, green food and the Coconut milk powder and work in the flax seeds, protein powder and other ingredients. I recommend a powdered super green mix because it mixes easily and digests very quickly. (In fact I often mix it with a cup of juice and take a green shot for a mid afternoon pick me up!) Plus it is less expensive than other vitamin regimes because you get all the nutrients you need in one shot. I particularly like adding vanilla protein powder and Coconut milk powder because they add more protein and omega 3 fatty acids, plus the coconut milk powder tastes really creamy and good! Ok, now that you have your basic ingredients lets get down to it!

Smoothies are good for you for many reasons, but two in particular. One: smoothies combine readily available nutrients in a liquid form. This means you get the nutrients you want in a highly digestible form, right away. Second: they are great healthy food on the go. Let’s face it, we need better food for a fast pace society. Before you go drop another 5 dollar bill on a starbucks -try creating your own smoothies and feel the super green food difference!

Smoothie recipes without using a blender

Creamy orange

1 cup orange juice (to taste)

1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt

1 tb super green energy powder

1 tb coconut milk powder

2-3 cubes of ice (helps mix ingredients and keeps it cold)

Put ingredients into jar with tight lid and shake vigorously or whisk together

Grape dream

2 cups grape juice (to taste)

1 cup vanilla protein powder

1 tsp super green energy powder

1 tsp coconut milk powder

2-3 cubes of ice (helps mix ingredients and keeps it cold)

Put ingredients into jar with tight lid and shake vigorously or whisk together

This one is sweet and creamy

Cranberry Lemon zest

1 cup cranberry juice (to taste)

1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt

1 tsp super green energy powder

1 tsp lemon juice

2-3 cubes of ice (helps mix ingredients and keeps it cold)

Put ingredients into jar with tight lid and shake vigorously or whisk together

This one is a real zinger and great when it’s hot!

Smoothie recipes using your blender

These are easy to make before work and you can

make plenty to share with your family too!



Apple banana fun

1 cup apple juice

1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt

1 tsp super green energy powder

1 tsp wheat germ

1 large cored apple (with or without peel)

1 ripe banana

2-3 cubes of ice

Put ingredients into blender and serve cold

This one turns out very chunky and good! The wheat germ gives I a slight texture and wonderful nutty taste.

Coconut banana cream

1 half cup fresh filtered water

half cup coconut milk powder

1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt

1 tsp super green energy powder

2 tsp flax seeds

1 ripe banana

half a cup of half and half (optional, but good)

2-3 cubes of ice

Put ingredients into blender and serve cold

Ok, are you ready for a yummy, creamy, coconutty and that’s really good for you? Try this recipe!

For this one I use fruit I keep the freezer, try it - its easy. Next time bananas, blueberries or strawberries (or any other fruit) starts to go bad, just peel chop and freeze it in a bag. I then use these chunks for smoothies all year long! It replaces the ice and gives your smoothies great flavor and texture.

Frozen Slushie delight

1 cup 2% milk

1 cup plain or vanilla yogurt

1 tsp super green energy powder

2 tsp flax seeds

1 cup frozen fruits

1 ripe banana

2 tsp coconut milk powder

1 tsp flax seed oil

1 splash of vanilla extract

Put ingredients into blender and serve cold

Healthy bloody mary

2 cups tomato/ vegetable juice

1 tsp super green energy powder

1 quarter cup celery leaves

2 -3 fresh basil leaves

2-3 cubes of ice

Put ingredients into blender and serve cold, serve with fresh celery sticks

Now that you have all these delicious options for adding a super green drink to your morning - what are you waiting for?

Joy Harrison asked:


Cook with Olive Oil for Flavor and Health

Olive oil is a great oil to use for cooking because of its amazing health benefits and distinctive flavor. Olive oil has been used for centuries, but has become extremely popular recently due to studies which have proven just how healthy this oil is. Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat which has been shown to lower your bad cholesterol and blood pressure, while raising the good cholesterol and helps protect against strokes.

There are a few things you should know about olive oil to make sure you cook with it properly and everything turns out as delicious as planned. The main thing to keep in mind is that olive oil has a low smoke point. This means the oil will start to smoke at high temperatures. If you have ever over-heated olive oil in a pan, you know how it can fill your kitchen with smoke and will destroy the flavor of your food.

Here are some tips for cooking with olive oil:

Some types of olive oil are not the best choice for high heat cooking or frying because they cannot handle the high enough temperatures needed for this type of cooking; however, it is possible to sauté with olive oil if you are careful and do not use high heat.

One way to compensate for the low smoke point is to combine olive oil with a high heat oil such as ghee (clarified butter) or canola oil for a healthier choice. This raises the smoke point while still allowing you to enjoy the health benefits and flavor of cooking with olive oil - extra-virgin or virgin varieties.

Since olive oil has become popular lately, and is available in every grocery store, you may have noticed quite a variety to choose from. The flavor of the oil can vary depending upon where the olives were grown, so if you find you don’t like the flavor of a particular brand, simply switch to another.

Each type of olive oil has its place in cooking and it’s important to use the best oil for a particular dish.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil needs to be cooked with very carefully because it can easily lose its flavor with heat. Save your most expensive, high quality extra virgin olive oil for drizzling over cooked dishes just before serving. These oils are also great in salad dressings, marinades, or added to sauces when finished. As a healthy alternative to butter, drizzle it over slices of Italian bread or on baked or mashed potatoes. A little can also be drizzled onto cooked vegetables, fish or other meats right before serving.

Virgin Olive Oil is less expensive yet still has a great flavor and aroma, making it a better choice for cooking. Use it straight or blend it with canola or clarified butter (ghee) for high-heat cooking methods such as pan-frying, or broiling.

Olive Oil or Pure Olive Oil refers to the fact that no other types of oils are blended with the olive oil. Unlike extra virgin and virgin grades, this oil is obtained through a refining process, which eliminates most of the flavor. It can be more cost effective to use this oil for cooking rather than more expensive virgin or extra virgin varieties. The refining process also increases the smoke point to about 410ºF making this olive oil more suitable for high heat cooking and frying. Just don’t expect this oil to have the flavor of the extra-virgin variety.

 

Extra Light Olive oil is not a calorie reduced food and the “light” only refers to the color of the oil. The light or mild varieties are very popular with consumers who want the health benefits of olive oil without a strong olive taste.

As you can see there is an olive oil for everyone and no reason everyone can’t enjoy the wonderful flavor and health benefits of this popular oil. If you haven’t tried cooking with olive oil yet, be sure to pick up a bottle on your next trip to the grocery store. Your heart will thank you and your food will taste great!

Learn more about how to cook with olive oil at http://www.italian-cooking-made-easy.com/Italianoliveoil.html.