Recipe Review: CCF Tea from Hey Monica B!

 There is nothing like a simple, warm cup of tea to start your morning. I love a cup of herbal tea to start the day and usually a few hours before breakfast to help get things going. This tea comes from a great Ayurvedic website called Hey Monica B! I started listening to her podcasts a few months ago and got a basic education in how Ayurvedic medicine works. It is a gentle, natural approach to supporting your body and I found it fascinating.

 

This tea is made from Cumin, Coriander, and Fennel seed. It is mildly cleansing, a liver detoxify-er and helps balance hormones, a great way to start the morning. Here is the article with the directions.

 You can add honey to sweeten it if you wish, I found that it isn't really needed for my tastes.

 

I like to have it first thing and then do some light yoga before breakfast. It gently wakes up my digestive fires and gets my system ready for the day. If you want to know more about Ayurveda take this quiz and start listening to Monica's podcasts. I suggest starting with #1 and listening to them in order if you aren't familiar with Ayurveda, she gives a great background and modern application.

Enjoy your day!

Artisan Romaine

I found this lettuce by accident. I was shopping at Costco last week, and well, you know how it is, you just end up buying a bulk amount of something you aren't even sure what it is. This time my impulse buy turned out to be a gold mine!

This "artisan lettuce" is a tight little bundle of romaine, just perfect for wraps and dips. The company even has a web site with recipes! Check it out here.

I made tacos using the lettuce instead of tortillas, it turned out great. The leaves are just the right size for eating with your hands and they are sturdy enough to stuff full. I highly recommend this lettuce!

 

Recipe Review: Cream of Mushroom Soup

I accidentally posted this picture last week without the recipe. Sorry about that. I found this recipe through Kat's posting on SCD Lifestyle Spotlights. Check out all of the spotlights, including the last one on Jan the Foodlady. I have ordered her very affordable cookbook and can't wait to try some more recipes from it.

This soup was very filling and hearty, I loved the richness the came from using whipping cream instead of yogurt but either one will work. It is so good for you too, if you have been cheating a bit and need to get some good nutrition back in your system this is the recipe.

Here is the original recipe at foodlady.org

Here is my revised version:

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Ingredients:

3 T. coconut or olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1/3 lb cremini mushrooms, cleaned and diced
1 c. homemade chicken stock
1/2 c. SCD Whipping Cream
salt and pepper to taste
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of cayenne
dash of smoked paprika

Method:

1. Saute' onions in oil until lightly golden. Add mushrooms and continue sauteing until they are softened.
2. Blend with an immersion blender (or cool and use your food processor, or use a potato masher for really chunky soup) until mostly smooth.
3. Add broth, salt and pepper, nutmeg and cayenne. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Add whipping cream and stir until heated through, you don't want it to boil after adding the cream.
4. Serve immediately, garnish with paprika and a drizzle of cream.

Pizza Buttons

These little gems would make a great appetizer or fun finger food for little ones. My kids are not at all excited about helping out in the kitchen anymore but there was a day when they loved to "help", this is a great one for kids to take part in. Have them tear up the cheese and fill the mushrooms with sauce as well as help eating them!

Pizza Buttons

Ingredients:
12 mushrooms
1/2 c. pizza sauce
2 slices provolone cheese, torn into small pieces
4-6 slices pepperoni, sliced into small pieces
any other toppings you like such as olives, peppers, onions, etc.

Method:
1. Clean mushrooms and remove stems by scooping them out with a spoon so you make an indent in the underside of the mushroom. Place upside down on a baking sheet.
2. Fill each mushroom with 1 heaping tsp. pizza sauce, top with cheese then desired toppings.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Quickie Appetizers

Waaaahhhhooooo! I got my new camera and am back in the blogging business. I hope you can use a quick appetizer recipe as much as I can. Sometimes the only food I can eat at a party is the food I bring, and this appetizer could be a meal in a pinch, plus it is so easy.

Quickie Appetizer

1 cucumber, peeled and cut into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices
1 recipe chicken salad minus the lettuce leaves
colorful garnish, I used the green part of a scallion and some bell peppers but olives or fresh herbs would work too.

Arrange cucumber slices on a nice serving plate. Top with a dallop of chicken salad (a small cookie scoop comes in handy here) and garnish with desired toppings.