Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Persimmon Freezer Jam and Basic Muffins


Last week my Fella picked up a pack of 6 persimmons he found on the discount fruit rack in the produce department. He thought they were tomatoes. I told him what they really were and that I'd never had them but I knew Martha Stewart seemed to like them a lot so they must be good. Hee hee.

I was intrigued by these little guys but a little intimidated too. What would I do with them? Were all the recipes going to be complicated and involved? I was delighted when right away I found a super simple Persimmon Freezer Jam recipe by doing a Google search on "persimmon recipes." 

I have been enjoying my jam (which took about two seconds to make...ok, maybe a little longer) on toast (when I manage not to burn it...or when I do, because then it tastes better) and on these quick and simple muffins via the good ol' Betty Crocker Cookbook. I love this muffin recipe because it is so easy and you can add just about any mix-in you desire to change it up. 

Want to try?

The jam recipe is here.

The muffin recipe is as follows:

1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose or whole what flour
1/3 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Bake in greased (bottoms only) muffin tin, filled halfway at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. Makes about a dozen.

*I actually make these vegan style and sugar free by substituting a flax egg, almond milk, and stevia for the egg, milk, and sugar respectively.


Bon Appetit,
Tamar

Monday, June 30, 2014

Meatless Monday--5 Simple Recipes

Source: MeatlessMonday.com
It's Meatless Monday and we're on board this vegetarian gravy train, are you? Going meatless for just one meal, one day per week does loads to help the evironment. Doesn't seem possible that one little itty bitty person making such a small change could make such a difference? Well if you don't believe me, check out more info at MeatlessMonday.com It's true! Since it's that easy, why don't you give it a try! If you're just not sure what the heck you would make for a vegetarian dish, well that's pretty easy too and that's why I've done the searching for you and found 5 simple recipes for your Meatless Monday enjoyment:

1. Thin Spagetti with Garlic, Red Pepper, and Olive Oil
This one is seriously as easy as it sounds and it is SOOOO delicious! This is one of my favorite pasta recipes of all time for ANY time! You can find the details here.

2. Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili 
Don't let the long ingredient list throw you off, most of the items come in a can and are ready to toss in the pot and simmer away. A good chili is good any time of year. Nom nom nom! Find the recipe here

3. Creamy Barley Salad with Apples
This is a good one if you're in the mood for something a little different but without having to pick up too many exotic ingredients; I wouldn't be surprised if you have most of these things in your fridge or cupboards. And what you don't have will be easy to find at your local grocery store. Recipe here.

4. Roasted Zucchini Flatbread with Hummus, Arugula, Goat Cheese, and Almonds
Here's another one that gives you all the flavor of a special meal without sending you to a specialty store or even any unfamiliar specialty aisles at your grocery store. Grab these ready made ingredients and all the prep you'll need to do is slice the zucchini and assemble the rest. Voila! Restaurant style flavor without the having to be an experienced restaurant chef! Find out how to make it here.

5. Oatmeal Brulee in a Jam Jar with Fruit and Nuts
I know. Brulee. Does not sound simple does it? But honestly this delightful twist on a wholesome and easy favorite only requires one quick extra step. Treat yourself, you deserve it! And this recipe is a good reminder that your one meatless meal for the day doesn't have to be dinner! The recipe for this yummy one is here

I hope these recipes have inspired you to go meatless for at least one meal, once per week now that you have a handful of ideas in your pocket that are easy and delicious without having to stock your cabinet with ingredients you've never heard of and can't pronounce!

Happy Meatless Monday!
Bon Appetit, 
Tamar

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Guest Post: Plant Sources of Iron & Protein

Popeye Had It Right
By Leslie Vandever

Popeye the Sailor was a popular Saturday morning cartoon character in the 1960s whose main claim to fame was his love for spinach. At the crucial moment—usually when his nemesis, Bluto, was about to pound him to smithereens—Popeye would nom a can of spinach. He’d grow a pair of huge biceps (his “muskles”) and proceed to pound Bluto instead. And then he and his adoring “goil,” Olive Oyl, would stroll happily away together, cheek to cheek.

We’ll never know if Popeye was a vegan, vegetarian, or omnivorous, but he sure liked his spinach. He was a smart guy: spinach is rich in iron, a vital mineral our body needs to function. It makes up part of the protein hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from our lungs to the rest of the body, including the muscles, which not only use it, but store it. When we don’t get enough iron, we develop anemia.

The iron in meat, poultry, and fish—heme iron—is the type that the human body absorbs most efficiently. Non-heme iron—the iron found in plant foods—is just as good, but the body also needs Vitamin C in the same meal in order to absorb it. The best plant-bases sources of iron, other than spinach,include: ·


  •  broccoli, bok choy, kale, dandelion greens, beet greens, collards, and asparagus · soybeans, lima beans, and dried beans and peas, chickpeas, lentils, black-eyed peas ·
  •  dried prunes, raisins, and apricots · 
  •  almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, sunflower seeds · 
  •  whole grains like wheat, millet, oats, bulgur, and quinoa and brown rice · 
  •  blackstrap molasses and tofu 
 Many iron-rich foods are also rich in Vitamin C. Others include: ·

  •  tomatoes, sweet and white potatoes, green and red peppers, turnip greens, spinach, and other leafy greens, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts · 
  •  citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, mango, papaya, pineapple, strawberries, cantaloupe, and watermelon 
It wasn’t just iron that made Popeye so strong, though. It was also protein (also found in spinach!). Protein is another essential nutrient, needed to build and maintain healthy skin, bones, muscles, and organs. The myth is that it’s hard to get enough protein if you’re a vegan or vegetarian, but that’s simply not true—if you’re mindful about what you eat and make sure that protein-rich,plant-based foods are a regular part of your daily diet. The best vegetarian/vegan-friendly,protein-rich foods include: ·

  •  tofu, tempeh, seitan, soy milk, soy nuts · beans and legumes, like navy beans, chickpeas, split peas, lentils, black beans, kidney beans, and black-eyed peas ·
  •  cashews, almonds, nut butters, almond milk, and sunflower seeds · whole grains, bulgur, and quinoa 
  •  spinach and broccoli Turns out that humble, green, leafy spinach really is a super-food,packed as it is with iron, Vitamin C, and protein. 
How about that? Popeye had it right! For more information about healthful eating and other health-related subjects, click here.

Leslie Vandever is a professional journalist and freelance writer with more than 25 years of experience. She lives in the foothills of Northern California.

References: ·

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Rockin' the CSA

This year our family decided that it would be worth our money and our health but into our local organic crop share association (CSA) and I am thrilled that we did! I have wanted to start my own backyard organic garden for sometime, but this summer we will be adjusting to and enjoying the welcoming of our fifth child, so the idea of tending a garden doesn't seem feasible. Yesterday we picked up our first boxes share and it was amaze-za-zing! I couldn't be happier with our choice.

Speaking of getting our money's worth, with a large family who loves their fruits and veggies, we have made our grocery store's discount produce rack our main go-to spot in the store. We always come home with a variety of delicious produce for very little money. The other day my Fella came home with 16 lbs of fresh blueberries for $12, a calculated $67 value! We froze most of them to make them last. 

This morning I enjoyed a healthy and delicious smoothie containing, milk, avocado, blueberries, spinach, mango and vanilla. Oh. My. Yum! 


For lunch I just made a fresh salad of Boston lettuce, blueberries, mini turnips, radish, avocado, cheddar, and a lovely maple balsamic vinaigrette.



Last night we sautéed up bok choy, turnip, red bell pepper, young garlic and scallions with soy sauce and sriracha to have as a side to our chicken thighs. So savory and fantastic. 


How do you keep it fresh while saving money? I'd love to hear from you in the comments. 

Bon Appetite!
Tamar

Thanks to Peas & Thank You for hosting yet another delicious What I Ate Wednesday blog hop!

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Meatless Monday

     
     I'm excited to participate for the first time in the Meatless Monday blog hop, hosted by Stephanie at The Recipe Renovator  If you haven't heard about Meatless Monday, you can get the low-down here. Yesterday, I made the official pledge on the MM website to go meatless one day per week. I have made this choice because I want to do something that is helpful to our planet, our animal friends, and my own body. Something about the pledge energizes me, I love knowing that this simple act of going meatless for one day per week will make such an important difference; and imagine if I go meatless even more days per week than that. I often do, so that is making an even bigger difference. Yay for a healthy planet, healthy body, and happy animals!

     For some it might seem hard to wrap their heads around making a balanced meatless meal. It's really not hard at all though, I find that tossing some beans, nuts, or tofu into a dish is an easy way to meet protein needs. Not only that, but I have read several reports that a healthy plant based diet with plenty of whole grains actually provides all the necessary protein requirements.

     Below is a recipe that is super easy, quite cheap, and can easily be "beefed" up (bad pun) by tossing in some beans or nuts, both would be nice additions.


Easy Spinach Spiral with Tomatoes and Chard

1 lb. Spinach spiral pasta
1 bunch Swiss Chard

1-2 mid sized tomatoes

2 Tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste (optional)

  1. Prepare pasta, set aside.
  2. Coarsely chop chard. Slice tomatoes into chunks and set aside.
  3. Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chard and saute until just wilted and tender.
  4. When chard is nearly done, toss tomatoes in just until heated but still nice and fresh.
  5. Add salt and pepper then toss veggies in with pasta.
Serve immediately as a side to a salad and/or meat substitute, or as a main dish tossed with slivered almonds, or garbonzo or white beans.

See, wasn't that easy?

Bon Appetit!
Tamar




Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Candied Sweet Potato Fries

     A few weeks ago, while searching for a quick yoga workout on Yogi Tara Stiles' YouTube channel, I came across a video (see below) of Tara sharing her recipe for Candied Sweet Potato Fries. All I can say is YUM-O! I found these to be a delicious between-meal snack that were plenty filling, the next time I made them I used them as a side to compliment my quinoa, kale, and tofu stir-fry. Give 'em a try, they are delish! As a side note, feel free to play around with the recipe and don't stress if the exact ingredients aren't in your cupboard. I had agave syrup and olive oil on hand, so I swapped them out for the maple syrup and coconut oil. Also check Tara's yoga videos, they are a great way to sneak 10 minutes of mat time into your day.

Namaste, 
Tamar



Wednesday, February 27, 2013

We're Back!!

     A few months ago, Deirdre and I were feeling a little overwhelmed with the combination of the holidays and keeping up with posts on two (or three in Deirdre's case, see here) blogs. We loved all the blogs but felt it was a good time to cut back for awhile. Thus we took a break from our yumm-eriffic foodie blog Aliment and put our energy full force into our baby, Ladies Holiday.

     With the end of the year holiday season and the new year bustle behind us, we feel ready to share some more delicious goodness with you here. We may not be back to our thrice a week schedule for awhile, but we hope to share with you weekly nonetheless. Today we start off simple with a foodie post that is also being shared on Ladies Holiday.

Enjoy!
Tamar & Deirdre





Every once in awhile, we ladies find it fun to participate in 
What I Ate Wednesday (WIAW.) 
This nifty blog hop is hosted by the lovely Jenn over at Peas and Crayons.
As some of you may remember, I started the new year off with the gentle, yet oh-so-effective
Adventure Cleanse, as found in the pages of Wellness Warrior
Kris Carr's sparkle-tastic health-eriffic book Crazy Sexy Diet.
Since participating in the 21-day cleanse I have been able to maintain this 
cleaner lifestyle in regard to what I put in my belly on a daily basis and 
I have found that I feel 
lighter, more energetic, more focused, and generally 
happier 
than I have in a long, long time. 
Now that is really something to rave about! 
Here I share a glimpse into what my dishes are filled with 
on a regular ol' day, but you'll see that it is not in the least boring.

Ladies Holiday, copyright 2013
Brekkie: I usually start my morning with green juice followed by a protein and produce packed smoothie, this sticks with me until lunch. Picture here, a blend of freshly juiced carrots and oranges, half an avocado, almond milk, and my favorite protein powder mix.

Lunch: I combined leftover quinoa from last night's dinner with sautéed kale and tofu. I topped it off with some delicious vegan cheddar, and sliced up the other half of my avocado on the side with a bit of lime juice and s&p on top.

Dinner: Oooh my mouth is watering at the memory. Vegan enchiladas: white basmati rice (although I usually use brown) mixed with lime juice and cilantro. Vegetarian refried beans. Vegan Daiya brand Monteray Jack cheese. Fresh tomatoes. All wrapped up in Trader Joe's brand habenjaro lime tortilla and smothered in enchilad sauce. Yum yum yum!!!

What foods make you feel sparkly and truly alive?

Bon Appetit!
Tamar

Monday, October 8, 2012

Simmering...

Hello dear Aliment readers ~


Tamar and I are taking a wee hiatus from Aliment and food blogging. We absolutely love posting and writing about our culinary escapades, but our respective schedules are such that Aliment has to get put on the back burner for the time being. We will be back and are always to be found over on Ladies Holiday. In the meantime please join us there and check here back in a few. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Bon Appetit,
Deirdre & Tamar
 
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Friday, October 5, 2012

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution


Source: amazon.com via Michelle on Pinterest
For several years now Jamie Oliver (celebrity chef) has been campaigning, first in his native Great Britain, and now here in the US for improved school lunches (and breakfasts where provided.)
 
I was a hot lunch kid, I remember standing in line for my green tickets, not the yellow ones which were reserved for paying families, nope I was one of millions of children who eat subsidized school lunch every year. Sometimes it was the best or only meal I ate all day. So it follows that school cafeterias provide a substantial amount of food, whether it is nutritious or not to our nation's children. The children who are the future, our future as we age they will be the ones leading, maintaining our infrastructure, teaching and so on. Or not considering obesity and the related ailments are higher than ever in children in the United States. Click here to gain a better understanding of the school lunch program.
 
I grew up and had the good fortune to taste real food, fresh food from the earth. When I returned to the cafeteria with my own children I was appalled at what I had eaten (it was much the same, chop suey anyone?) and what was being offered my kids.
 
I joke that I'm a food snob, but I'm not, I just require  prefer to provide and consume wholesome food as close as possible to its natural state as the staples in my diet. Cookie butter on occasion, but after I know that I've had a few square meals under my belt. Food is meant to be fun and pleasurable, but out of the food eaten over the course of the week it is made up of mostly whole grains, greens, fresh veggies, fruit, nuts, seeds, beans with the occasional organic dairy item.
 
So what my kids, what our kids eat, is important to me so I just on board with Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution and you can too!
 
Click here for the site and to educate yourself, your school system and your community. You won't find any "Go-Go Juice" on this menu.
  
I encourage parents and people who care to work in your community to make it clear that what we eat matters and why and the positive impact it has, not only on our bodies and health, but on local agriculture, businesses and the future.
 
 
 
 
Bon Appetit,
Deirdre

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

WIAW~Tamar Learns Her Lesson

     As we do every Wednesday here on Aliment, today it's my turn to participate in the fun of "What I Ate Wednesday" (WIAW), a nifty blog hop hosted by the yummy-maker, Jenn over at Peas and Crayons. So here goes...

                                                                                            Source: lokalty.com via lokalty on Pinterest
  

     Whoever said, "Life is short, eat dessert first" wasn't very smart...wait, I think that was Mark Twain, he was pretty smart and pretty awesome. Ok, fine, the idea isn't all bad...but I learned that for me, eating dessert first might be a bad idea. Why? Because if I'm hungry for a meal and I eat dessert first, then I'm much more likely to eat a larger portion of the sweet stuff than my belly can handle. If you've been following us for awhile then you'll know that my body doesn't respond well to too many sweets, but the other night I took Twain's advice and learned a lesson in moderation.

Let's start with the night before...


 The culprit: Raspberry Shortcake (it was so stinkin' good.)
Should've stopped there...or not inhaled the whole thing in 90 seconds flat.
This was followed by dinner...which was a turkey burger patty, topped with a slice of meunster cheese and a dollop of dijon mustard. Yummy, but no picture. 

Maybe it was just a bad combo, 
or maybe I should've eaten a real dinner followed 
by a smaller portion of the above shortcake. 
Either way, next morning I awoke with a stomach ache!!
I felt like I had a hangover, nausea, slight headache, and just...blahhhh; 
but no alcohol had been consumed, then I remembered dessert.

I felt like I needed a gentle and clean start to my day, which lead to
this very kind breakfast:


Two tall glasses of water and a juicy nectarine later, 
I was feeling less wobbly and my belly was on the mend. 
I was ready for lunch by 11am:


Mmmm. Sprouted grain bread filled with:
Sliced Fuji apples
One slice of Meunster cheese (one of my faves!)
3 thin slices of Applegate Farms Turkey Bologna
Baby Spinach
Dijon Mustard

My belly said "Thank you, I'm back to normal now!"

Tonight, a healthy dinner first...then maybe just a spoonful of Cookie Butter. :)

What's the tastiest thing you've eaten this week?

Whatever it was or will be...
Bon Appetit!
Tamar 
 

Monday, October 1, 2012

Make-at-Home Yogurt Drink

What kid doesn't love a yummy yogurt drink? Yogurt drinks are fun, often portable, and full of tummy friendly probiotics. My beef with the store bought brands though, is that even the organic all natural brands are often packed full of sugar. One I bought not to long ago had a whopping 25 grams of sugar in one small bottle!

I got the following idea from my smarty pants Mama friend, Seana. Making my own yogurt drink at home is easy, cost effective, and I control the contents! I use whole milk, whole milk plain yogurt, all natural juice (just a splash) with no sugar added and a tiny bit of agave. There are all natural, chemical free food colorings you can buy at Whole Foods too if your little one would appreciate a little fun color too. My tot, Violet loves this drink in a spill proof cup with straw. Easy peasy!

Aliment, Copyright 2012
Vi also likes this because she can feed herself, which she loves to do...and I like it because she doesn't quite have the dexterity for spoon feeding herself drippy droppy yogurt yet. 

What little tricks do you use to make your own versions of more sugary store-bought items?

Bon Appetit!
Tamar

Friday, September 28, 2012

Spork Fed Cookbook Review


If you understand what it is to relish reading a good cookbook, then you'll completely understand why I dove deep into Spork-Fed: Super fun and flavorful vegan recipes from the sisters of Spork Foods by Jenny Engel and Heather Goldberg. Having been a longtime vegetarian leaning towards vegan eater, I appreciate the cooking tips, ingredient suggestions (I'm beginning to master the ingredient swap) and creative approach to this type of diet.

Each recipe has a little preamble with some "Sporkie-Scoops" toward the end outlining ways the food items may benefit your body and mind...fun and informative!

There are also loads of photos. I won't apologize for preferring shiny photos with my recipes. I'm like a magpie that way. The suggested menus page even has little thumbnails with photos of the dish! Joy for the visually inclined!

My family and I tried an assortment of dishes from Spork-Fed and the two my kids enjoyed most were (yes, I do try to be a crowd pleaser:)


Homemade BBQ Sauce Page 114


Tamar inspired me to make my very own barbecue sauce. I could easily have dumped some store bought from a jar and called it a day...but I couldn't. I just couldn't.




And here is the finished product...Barbecue-Style Spelt Pizza with Caramelized Onions and Tempeh Bacon from page 116 (plus asparagus because I can't eat a meal without green.) Oh and corn on the cob, since it was after all, barbecue.

Before the oven...
After...nom, nom, nom...

These Pear, Fig and Sage (fresh from my garden) Tarts with Roasted Garlic Aioli (page 2) were, how shall I put it? The BOMB. They were little parcels of deliciousness. Oh my goodness I didn't know food (that I make) could be so good!




And as for little 'ole me I was swept away in a rhapsody of flavors by the Caribbean Salad with Crispy Plantains and Avocado Mango Salsa in a Light Lemon Vinaigrette (page 26) I have long been a fan of fresh vegetables and this was a delicious representation of what vegan cooking can be. Note...those are peaches in case you noticed. My mangoes were not ripe. Sniff.  
 



This is the meal plated...the Salad, Plantains, Cuban-style black beans and coconut rice with a blue corn tortilla chip garnish. Perfecto!




To be honest, I wasn't familiar with Hearts of Palm before preparing this meal...and luckily Trader Joe's had a jar...similar to artichokes, but with with the texture of cooked leeks. They were good and nicely paired in the salad!


That was my adventure with the Spork Sisters...for more about them visit: Spork Foods where you will find their cookbook, loads of downloadable cooking class videos and lots more!

Bon Appetit,
Deirdre

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

WIAW with Deirdre

 
 
 
Here we Wednesday again and in case you're wondering what this "What I Ate Wednesday" hoolabaloo is all about check out Peas & Crayons.
 
Happy Autumn. It's official. It's here and there is no denying it. Apples, pumpkin, cinnamon, mums, colorful leaves and crisp air.
 
But there was no way I was going to let that last day of summer slip me by so we went to the beach. It wasn't a sunny day (cloudy when we arrived, sunny when we left) nor was it warm (58 degrees) and by all accounts beach season appeared to be over, but not for us, nope...we savored it until the very last moment.
 
 
We pulled on our wetsuits, paddled out and rode those waves until our toes were numb and hot chocolate was the only remedy...and maybe some pumpkin bread.
 
Then we got back in the wild water and rode wave after wave and sat out there watching the water and chatted about everything and nothing. It was beautiful, perfect and warmed me from within.
 
When the sun started to dip low and we positively couldn't take the air temperature and wind any longer we peeled off our wetties, turned up the heat in the sandy car and went and got some warm butternut squash and cranberry soup in bread bowls...and for dessert, ICE CREAM! It was after all the last day of summer. Why not? And why not fall into the habit of doing what you love despite the odds, ride those waves, whether they be water or painting or writing or dog walking or whatever...do what you love and love what you do.
 
 
Unfortunately the camera was forgotten as I enjoyed most of this day, food included...so here are a few other items from my week, yes I take photos of what I eat...and no they're not high quality, but it's all part of savoring the flavor...
 
Cheers! A week's worth of Sambucol for a cold...Boo Hoo.
Tomato Soup and Gold Fish are good for the aformentioned cold...

I'm a pretty big deal...

Apple Dumpling pre-baked....

Baked with homemade whipped cream...
 

Chard & Ricotta No-Noodle Lasagna with Parm.


Homemade peanut butter - peanut butter cookies...
No, that's not a typo, I made the peanut butter.
 
 
Bon Appetit,
Deirdre
 
 

 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Greens with Kick

As promised...

Tamar's Collard Greens with Turkey Bacon

Gather:
 
2 lbs Collard Greens or Kale, washed and cut into 1/2 inch strips

6  slices Trader Joe's Uncured Turkey Bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
 
 
1 Tbs Garlic-Giner paste (or use fresh minced portions of each)
 
Coconut oil (for tossing)
 
Low-Sodium Soy Sauce, to taste
 
Chilli sauce/paste, to taste 

 
Then:
 
 Place greens in a large pot. Boil a kettle of water and pour over greens, 
let stand (poking & tossing occasionally) for 5-10 minutes.


Meanwhile, fry up bacon in a pan until crispy.
 

Drain water 
(feel free to save this vitamin packed water in a jar for making soup stock later!)
 Place greens and bacon in a bowl, toss with remaining ingredients.
 

Serve alongside your favorite whole grain
(brown basmati rice shown here.)
 

This is a quick, delicious, and nutritious meal. 

Bon Appetit!
Tamar
 
 
*all photos property of Aliment Blog, Copyright 2012