Home-Made Chai Tea - Made right in the crock-pot!

This sweet tea is just divine, and fun to make.

8 cups of water
8 bags of black tea
3/4 cup sugar
16 whole cloves
16 whole cardamon seeds
5 cinnamon sticks
8 slices fresh ginger
1 cup milk (keep aside for serving)

Add all ingredients except for milk into crock-pot. Cook on high 2 1/2 hrs. Strain mixture, discard solids. At this point, tea can be covered and stored for 3 days in fridge.

Stir in milk just before serving. You'll love it!

Chai tea is pretty sweet, so if you like it less sweet, reduce sugar to 1/2 cup Makes 8-10 servings

Blueberry-Banana & Spinach Smoothie

I enjoyed this great afternoon pick-me-up smoothie while surfing through the Bar Harbor magazine which showcases our 2013 summer vacation destination!

1 frozen banana
1 cup frozen wild blueberries
1 1/2 cups baby spinach leaves
1 cup soy milk
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup ice
1 tablespoon agave nectar

Pineapple-Avocado Smoothie

I made one of these after dinner tonight. Very refreshing. I'll sip 1/2 of the mixture at around 7 and save the rest in the fridge for later in the evening when I get cravings for something sweet. The pineapple will take care of those sweet cravings!

1 avocado, pitted and peeled
1 cup fresh pineapple
1 small carrot
2 inches of cucumber
1/4 inch fresh ginger
1 handful of baby spinach
1 cup water
1/2 cup orange juice
2 cups ice

Pineapple-Orange Smoothie

A fruity smoothie that tastes fruity, but still has 2 cups of kale and spinach in it!

1 cup water
1 orange, peeled and halved
1 cup pineapple chunks
1/2 apple
1/2 cup grapes
1/2 lemon, seeded and peeled
1/2 cucumber cut into chunks
1 cup kale
1 cup spinach
2 cups ice

Enjoy!

Ginger Smoothie - Day 10

I love Ginger and orange juice together - makes for a zingy smoothie which is great for the morning.

1 banana
1 cup orange juice
2 tsp grated fresh ginger
2 Tbsp honey or agave nectar
1 cup ice

blend away and enjoy

Thai Pumpkin Soup

This is a lightly spicy comforting soup, and very easy to make.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
1 garlic clove minced
3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
1 tablespoon chopped green chilies
1/2 teaspoon cumin
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Extra 1 or 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock to add later


In a large sauce pan, sauté onion in oil until onion is soft
add tomato paste, pumpkin, ginger, garlic, cumin, broth, coconut milk and combine until heated through

Add mixture to blender, add chilies and lemon juice, and blend until smooth (or blend in saucepan if you have a hand blender)

Add mixture back to saucepan and heat over medium heat. Add enough chicken or vegetable broth to get the soup consistency that you want. Continue heating until heated through.

Enjoy!

Zingy Green Smoothie - Day 9

Love this smoothie for it's lemony zing!

Juice of 1/2 lemon
zest of 1/5 lemon
2 handfuls of Kale
1 green apple
1 banana
1 avocado
1 tbsp flaxseed
1 cup water
1-2 cups ice

Blend away and enjoy!

Very Berry Smoothie - Day 8

A great way to kick start your day. Also makes a great dessert.

1 cup lowfat vanilla greek yogurt
1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen raspberries
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1/2 cup water

Blend away to deliciousness!

Banana Oat Smoothie - Day 7

This is a great sweet breakfast that I absolutely love. 

Banana oat smoothie

1/4 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup ice

1 banana

1 cup unsweetened vanilla flavored Almond milk

1 tsp agave nectar or honey 

Guacamole Dip - the best ever!!

This is the best Guacamole I've ever tasted - honestly! Now, I don't care for cilantro, an ingredient in many guacamole dips. For me, cilantro has a soapy taste, and I don't use it in recipes. I replace cilantro with flat leaf parsley.

2 avocados, halved and pitted (if you don't know the trick to getting the pit out easily, see below)
1 plum tomato chopped
1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cup chopped red onion
2 Tbsps lemon juice
1/2 tsp kosher salt

pulse all ingredients in a blender for 7 to 8 pulses, and that's it! I like my guacamole very chunky. If you like it smoother, pulse a few more times.

tip to get pit out of avocado: hold the halved piece of avocado with the pit in it in the palm of your hand. Hold a sharp chef knife in the other and lightly tap the pit with the sharp edge of your knife. the knife should penetrate the pit, and you should be able to lift the pit straight up and out of the avocado quite easily.

Day 6 Pineapple and Spinach Smoothie

After a week in Dallas and eating too much at our company dinners, I welcome the green smoothies back into my diet again! This one gave me a boost of energy this morning. This makes about 3-4 cups

1 large slice pineapple
3 leaves romaine lettuce
1/2 avocado
1 handfull spinach leaves
1 frozen banana
1 Tbsp flaxseed
2 cups water
2 cups ice