1 Cup raw cashews
1 1/2 teaspoon of salt – Celtic is best
1/4 cup cold pressed olive oil ( I have also used rice bran oil)
Enough water to cover cashew nuts in the blender

Method: Put all ingredients into blend and blend until creamy and smooth.

Apple Butter
6 Apples chopped and peeled + 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
A handful of raisins + 3 Tablespoons water

Put all ingredients into a pan and simmer until water is absorbed.
Puree in blender till smooth
Store in the fridge and use as butter – its also delicious as a topping over desserts like apple crisp or peach crisp – experiment !

This  mint tea is very refreshing and tastes just as good hot or cold.  If you are serving cold add ice cubes.

The recipe serves 4 but the amount can be extended or reduced for the number of people you want to serve this treat up to.

2 Green Tea bags  - I like to use Fair Trade, organic or similar

5 large springs frresh mint

1/4 cup caster sugar   –  don’t use raw or brown sugar as it will darken the tea

Place tea bags, mint and sugar in a teapot or jug that will hold 4 cups.  Add boiling water.  Stand for 5 minutes.

Serve with a small sprig of mint.   It looks super good served in a glass mug or cup.

Secret up until now

Just make sure you have lots of delicious, crusty French bread to soak up the Mussel broth left over !

Ingredients:

• Enough mussels for all your guest – naturally New Zealand green lipped ( large!) Mussels are preferable
• Lots of chopped Garlic
• Butter
• White Wine
• Lots of ground black pepper
• Crusty French – or sourdough bread
• Extras like chilli, coriander, capsicum,
• cream or coconut cream

How to

• De-beard and wash mussels
• Heat butter in a heavy pan ( one that has a close fitting lid
• Add garlic and fry until you get that delicious aroma
• Add Chilli & capsicum
• Toss in mussels with a BIG splash of white wine
• Put lid on and give the pot a few shakes, check for any open mussels and discard these
• Remove to a warm bowl or to the table
• Stir cream or coconut milk into remaining juice, pour over mussels
• Serve with bread – lots of it

Best eaten with good friends on a sunny deck or by the beach and a glass of wine

If you want to lose weight more efficiently, you need to eat more to get it done. You may not believe it because it disagrees with the whole concept of dieting, but it really work. The truth is you need to eat more of the good food.

The sizes of the food you eat depend on your total daily calorie allowance. You may stock your metabolism by eating a snack or small meal around every 3 hours. In a day you may eat up to 5 or 6 small meals for instance breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, dinner and evening meal.

It is advisable that snacks should contain between 100 and 200 calories each. You are probably wondering what kind of snacks could possibly contain 100 to 200 calories and at the same time satisfy your taste. You can agree with me that junk food options or any sort of processed snacks can lead to zero nutrition and full of empty calories. You will notice that processed snacks will not satisfy you and it cause a drop in blood sugar levels, which lead to unhealthy food cravings. The only way you can avoid this viscous cycle is to get foods that are naturally low in calories and nutrient dense.

The top 10 Nutrient Rich Snacks are given below:

1. Dried Fruit like prunes, raisins, cranberries, dates and cherries – unsweetened.
2. Popcorn for example unsalted, no butter, margarine or air popped.
3. Veggies such as baby carrots, sugar snap peas, celery sticks and so on.
4. Nuts for instance pine nuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts.
5. Dark Chocolate.
6. String Cheese.
7. Whole grain cracker with Peanut butter or Hummus.
8. Fresh fruit & Berries.
9. Cottage cheese, frozen berries and honey.
10. Smoothie.

Finally, lots of these snacks are great for on-the-go or at your desk at work. Make sure that you develop a very good portion control if you really desire healthy snacks. By the time you have these healthy snacks at your disposal; it will help in avoiding any dietary difficulty.

To get weight loss fast, click here Six Pack Abs.     Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Mike

Avocado with   ….  ?     Everything )   Some quick and easy ways to use avocado

Avocado Dip – mash avocado with sweet chilli sauce  and use as a dip for nachos or crackers

• Avocado  - mashed on toast with freshly ground black pepper and sea salt from a grinder
• Add a poached egg  topped with sprouts for a more substantial light meal
• Splash a small amount of lime juice over mashed avocado and sprinkle with Gomasio or pine nuts
• Add a splash of olive oil, paprika and pistachio nuts to mashed avo’s
• Top avo dip with sweet chilli sauce with slices of tomato
• Top Avo dip  with thin slices of cucumber
• Mashed avocado with crumbled feta cheese sprinkled with chopped chives on cracker biscuits or Crostini
• Rub Toast or Crostini with crushed garlic before adding Avo topping of your choice
• Lemon infused olive oil is extra delicious with Avo and lemon zest sprinkled on top

There is a never ending  variety of breads to experiment with as a base – you will find your own favorite but half the fun is trying different combinations.

Remember to use freshly ground salt and pepper to bring out the best flavor

Turn the oven on

Grate Parmesan ( if feeling super lazy then buy it grated !)

Spread small handfuls on a greased  oven tray (or covered with baking paper)

- spread out a wee bit rather than “clump” them up

Bake in moderate oven until nicely browned

Let cool then transfer to cake cooler

These will be crisp and delicious and great to dip into dips, soups, crumble over dishes and salads and is superb  with slices  of pear or apple

Try different cheese to see which one you prefer and experiment with the placement of the cheese “gratings” to get the most pleasing effect.  Best with more holes and less cheesy “dumpings” as they tend to be more crisp.

Ingredients:

2 Cups self raising flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon mustard powder

1/4 cup chopped parsley,  (optional – add additional herbs of choice like basil)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 cup cottage cheese

2 Tablespoons melted butter

1/4 cup milk

1 egg

Grated cheese and paprika

1. Put flour, salt, and mustard in a bowl and add chopped parsley and onion
2. Mix cottage cheese and melted butter, add milk and egg and stir into flour mixture to make a soft dough.  Mix with a knife. Turn out onto a floured board and knead lightly
3. Shape into a 3cm thick round
4. Place round o a lightly buttered tray and mark it into six.
5. Sprinkle the top with grated cheese and paprika
6. Bake at 190 – 200 degrees C for 25 – 30 minutes
7. Eat Warm

Great with a green salad, egg dishes, soup, and a great bread to experiment with adding different herbs, spices an is even great with grated veggies in it too like zucchini.

Try it, you will find its a favorite

Take a look at this site about insects and protein – I found it fascinating.  It has all the elements of healthy eating, its a snack food, a quick healthy meal, finger food, could be a salad with extras but is not vegan I guess with six times more protein than  fish and beef and its quick and easy to prepare.

Insect Cuisine

Yep, insect cuisine !   Problem from our Western perspective would be getting our heads around the whole thing but its green, it rids the planet of insect “pests” and could be pretty sustainable, its not over processed, no additives, emulsifiers or additives and could be as instant as you like !   There is a steady supply, they are inexpensive and found everywhere.

What is it   ?  Take a look here and find out …

.chef-a-gogo.blogspot.com/2010/06/bonus-for-cricket-fans-insect-cuisine.html