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Category: Recipes

Fluid Book Review “A Year In The Village of Eternity” Asparagus Frittata recipe

I am reading “A Year In the Village of Eternity” by Tracey Lawson. She describes her time spent in Campodimele Italy where the residents have gained fame via their unusually long lives. Most residents enjoy a quality of life not seen in other cultures including low incidents of common diseases like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, leading healthy vibrant lives into old age. Can you imagine your 80 year old grannie riding her vespa up and down cobblestone streets to tend to her olive trees, feed her chickens and gather fresh eggs for breakfast?

What I love about this book is each chapter includes several recipes from the locals, including this asparagus frittata recipe. You will have to read the chapter “Looking for Mamma” if you want to learn more about the hunt for the elusive green stalks – evidently very similar to truffle hunting. To prepare the asparagus the author suggests you hold the root end of the spear, snap off the tip and continue snapping down until you come to the root end which you discard. I don’t know why I never thought of doing this but it makes much more sense than snapping off the ends then chopping them into pieces.

Wild Asparagus Frittata:

  • 20 wild (or young fresh green) asparagus spears
  • olive oil
  • 10 fresh organic eggs
  • sea salk
  • flat leaf parsley

Wash the asparagus, drain them and snap into pieces as described above. Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a non stick pan over medium/ high heat. Cook the asparagus for two minutes. Meanwhile crack the eggs into a bowl and add a pinch of salt and a handful of parsley and beat vigorously. Pour the eggs into the pan and cook for about four minutes. When the underside of the frittata is golden and crispy remove the pan from the heat, place a plate over the top and quickly flip the pan so the eggs are now cooked side up. Slide the frittata back into the pan and return it to the heat. Cook for another minute, then slide it onto a plate. Slice it into squares and serve either warm or at room temperature. Serves four to six.

Recipe adapted from “A Year In the Village Of Eternity”

 

Curried “Mashed” Cauliflower

Cauliflower is a member of the cruciferous family along with broccoli and cabbage and it contains several anti cancer phyto-chemicals. These compounds have proven benefits against prostate, breast, cervical, colon, ovarian cancers. It is loaded with B vitamins and an excellent source of vitamin C; a proven antioxidant that helps fight against harmful free radicals, boosts immunity and helps prevent infections and cancers.

Turmeric (the spice that makes curry powder yellow) has anti anti inflammatory properties and may improve your memory. It too has cancer fighting properties.

Try this easy cauliflower recipe and let me know what you think. I paired mine with roasted chicken and a baked sweet potato. yummy.

Ingredients:

  • 1 – 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 1/2 tsp. ginger root, grated
  • 1 Tbsp. curry powder or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp. cayenne
  • 2 heads of cauliflower, rinsed and chopped
  • ¼ cup water
  • Sea salt to taste

Instructions:

Sauté onion, garlic, ginger root, curry powder, and cayenne in oil. Add cauliflower and water. Simmer until tender. Add sea salt and adjust seasonings if needed. Enjoy!

When I made this I cooked my cauliflower until it was the consistency of mashed potatoes (hence the “mashed” in the title – get it?) about 30 minutes from start to finish.

Chocolate Date Brownies

Looking for a sweet treat for Valentine’s Day? Try these “healthy” brownies and let me know what you think. The eggs and garbanzos provide protein and agave has a lower glycemic index than refined white sugar.

  • 1 ¼ cups pitted dates, chopped
  • 9 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • ¼ cup coconut oil
  • ½ cup raw agave
  • One can of garbanzo beans (2 cups)
  • 4 eggs
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.

Measure dates in a glass measuring cup and pour in hot water to the 1 ½ cup line. Then let sit for 10 minutes.

Pour off ¼ cup of liquid and process the rest in a food processor.

Put the date paste in a bowl and add cocoa, oil and agave and mix.

Combine the beans and eggs in a food processor and blend until smooth.

Add the beans to the dates. Add the baking powder and cinnamon and mix. Pour into a 9 in round or square greased pan and bake for 45 min. Cool for 15 minutes, then slice and serve.

The consistency is close to flourless chocolate torte and unless you announce that these have no refined sugar or gluten I bet no one will notice that it is a “healthy” dessert.

Adapted from “The Healthiest Meals on Earth”

Tropical Holiday “Nog”

Here is a healthy enzyme rich frosty beverage that could easily sub for Eggnog at your next holiday party.  I’ll let you decide whether to make it virgin or add your favorite bourbon. Recipe adapted from Jonny Bowden’s “The Healthiest Meals on Earth”

Tropical Holiday Nog

16 oz chilled unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 1/2 ripe bananas

1/2 cup of coconut milk

3-4 ice cubes

1 tsp raw honey

sprinkle of nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon or clove

 

Place the almond milk, bananas, coconut milk, ice cubes and honey in a blender an blend until smooth and creamy.  Divide into four glasses, sprinkle with spices and serve!

 

Healthy Pumpkin “Cheesecake”

I love holiday desserts but have been experimenting with limiting the amount of sugar in my diet for the past few weeks and came across this recipe in a recent Barre 3 newsletter.  I’m going to try it out tomorrow.  What are you making for turkey day?

Pumpkin Cream Cheesecake

recipe provided courtesy of Andrea Nakayama at Replenish PDX (www.replenishpdx.com)

 

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups raw cashews, soaked one to three hours
1-1/2 cups pureed, cooked pumpkin
1/2 cup full-fat coconut milk *
1/2 cup gently melted coconut butter (Artisana brand or Nutiva Coconut Mana)
30 drops liquid stevia, vanilla flavored or 3 tablespoons raw honey
2 tablespoons liquid vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground clove
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preparation:
1. Drain the soaked cashews, discarding the water. Place the nuts into a food processor and process them until a butter forms.
2. Add the remaining ingredients to the processor and process until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Taste to be sure that it meets your tastebuds. Since all pumpkins will be of varying degrees of sweetness, you’ll want to be sure that you’ve satisfied your taste buds before pouring the mixture from the food processor.
3. When the mixture meets your taste requirements, pour or spoon the contents of the bowl into a rectangular glass container in which you can store the cream “cheese”.
4. Allow the “cheese” to set in the fridge for at least two hours before trying to slice. You can store it covered there for up to four days. (Ours didn’t last so long!)
* Look for Native Forest brand coconut milk which doesn’t have BPA in the cans.