Ayurvedic Anise and Cardamom Tea

Do you enjoy herbal tea?
This herbal tea is not only soothing, but good for you.

This herbal blend  is tasty, aids the digestive system, and is relaxing. It is made from anise seeds and green cardamom pods that can be purchased in bulk at a reasonable price in any Indian grocery store. Anise and cardamom pods ( not ground) can also be purchased in some supermarkets in the spice isle, but they are a little pricier.

I live in Bucks County, Pennsylvania directly across the river from where the historical Battle of Trenton was fought against the British during the American Revolutionary War. In 1775, George Washington set up headquarters on many properties throughout Bucks County to plan that very battle.

One of his headquarters, known as Headquarters Farm, is a historic site that was later sold to private investors.

You may be wondering what George Washington  has to do with this herbal Tea.

Well, In the 1980's,  the carriage house at Headquarters Farm was home for a year to my friend Vicki. It was there that I was first introduced to the tea. Vicki had a rustic little kitchen and loved to make things from scratch. This tea was an Ayurvedic herbal blend that she learned in her travels to India. Until this day, whenever I visit Vicki, we always enjoy good conversation and a cup of anise and cardamom tea.

Are cardamom and anise seeds healthy? You bet..
Spices  are very rich sources of vital nutrients and antioxidants. Cardamom provides calcium, iron, magnesium , phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Cardamom also has small amounts of Vitamin C, B6, B1, B2, Niacin, and folate. In addition, anise seeds provide vitamins B complex, C, potassium, calcium, iron,  and sulfur. Spices and herbs are powerhouses of immune building antioxidants and nutrients.

The tea is simple to make. All you need is a small pot.

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon anise seeds
3-4 pods of green cardamom, crushed to expose inner seeds
3 cups water

Directions:

Place the water, anise seeds, and cardamom in a small pot. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 3 minutes. Shut off the heat and allow to steep for about 5 more minutes. Strain and serve hot.
Add a little honey or agave nectar if you like a sweet tea.

Enjoy.. this tea is soothing to the stomach, aids digestion, and the taste and aroma surpasses any tea you could brew from a tea bag.

Step by Step with Pictures

Purchase anise seeds and green cardamom pods at an Indian Grocery Store or supermarket



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  Fill a mesh tea holder with 1T anise seeds, and 4 cardamom pods ( cracked) ; Add to 3 cups water in a small pot or just put the herbs in the water loose ( that is what I do )

  
  

 

 Bring to a boil for 3 minutes; Turn off heat and allow to sit for an additional minute. 


Add honey or agave if you like it sweet or drink it just the way it is...



This recipe is posted on the following fabulous blogs:

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Full Plate Thursday,  Mouthwatering Monday,  Seasonal Saturday,
Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, My Meatless Mondays, Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday, Friday Potluck ,
 Midnight Maniac Meatless Mondays, Fight Back Friday, Foodie Friday, It's a blog party,
Simple Lives Thursday , Tuesdays At The Table,  Katies Cucina  Mouthwatering Mondays, Mingle Monday, Cravings,  Muffin Tin Monday, Gluten Free Wednesday   Real Food Wednesday , Gold Star Wednesday, Let's Do Brunch

1-2-3 Easy Butternut Squash

                Two months ago, I would have said, "I don't eat butternut squash !"  

Even though I like all vegetables, I had many good reasons why I would walk by the hearty manila colored butternut squash in the market and never ever entertain the idea of purchasing one.  Let me explain my reasons for not eating butternut squash.

Reason # 1.  I always felt they were too hard to peel
Reason # 2.  I always felt they are too hard to cut
Reason # 3.  I always felt they were too fattening

Well, my excuses are over. I now buy and make butternut squash for three very good new reasons.

Reason # 1. I learned to bake a whole butternut squash without peeling it.
Reason # 2. I learned to bake a whole butternut squash without cutting it.
Reason # 3. I learned that Weight Watchers now classifies butternut squash as a regular vegetable that does not have any point value.

 For those of you who have never been a "Weight Watcher", I will explain.  You see, each dieter gets a daily allotment of points that can be consumed in one day. Lettuce, cucumbers, string beans etc. are what were referred to as "free vegetables" because they do not have any point value that count towards the daily allotment. But butternut squash always had fattening points! And after all, who wanted to use my precious points to eat butternut squash when I could have perhaps chosen to use my points on a cookie or small scoop of ice cream instead.

Well officially, now everything has changed. The new Points Plus program at Weight Watchers counts butternut squash as a free vegetable ( just like cucumbers and lettuce),  and it has no points.  I can eat it, and I don't have to count it towards my daily points allowance. It is a free vegetable! Yay!  So, now I eat happily eat butternut squash.

Truthfully, I have always loved the sweet flavor of butternut squash.  ( kinda like a sweet potato or yam). Now, I can eat butternut squash at least once a week ( or more)  and love it. I'm glad because butternut squash is really healthy . It is loaded with fiber, beta carotene that is good for the eyes, and other healthy antioxidants that boost the immune system. It is a great addition to a gluten free ( or any diet).

I also found a way to eat butternut squash without peeling or cutting it..
I learned that you can take a whole unpeeled butternut squash ( wash it well) , place it on a cookie sheet, ( no need to pierce) , place it in a preheated 450 degree oven, and bake it until the squash until it becomes tender ( about 45-1 hour for a med-large squash).

I love this method of baking butternut squash ( or acorn squash) because it is so easy, and because it always comes out  extra sweet.

Of course once you open the tender baked squash, you have to scoop out the seeds before eating the succulent orange meat.
So, there you have it. There is no reason not to enjoy a nice size portion of  sweet as sugar, delicious and healthy butternut squash!

Katies Cucina ,  Tuesdays At The Table  ,  Tasty Tuesday,  Works for me ,  Simple Lives Thursday, It's a blog party,
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Soft and Creamy Crock Pot Beans

Baby, its cold outside!




 Snow Again!  

Last week I thought spring was in the air and then I woke up this morning to this!! The Snow is back!

There are two things that I don't like about winter in Pennsylvania : the snow ( and ice), and how early  it gets dark.  By the time I get home from work, the last thing I feel like doing is cooking because I am cold, tired, and prefer to find refuge hiding under one of my warm fluffy down quilts than starting dinner.
I do enjoy a good dinner, so for me, there is nothing better than using my crockpot in the winter.

Imagine walking into the house hungry for dinner, and finding that dinner is ready for you.
After a days work, I love opening the front door, walking into the kitchen, going directly to my crock pot, lifting the lid , peering inside, and marveling at how smart I was to think of using my crock pot.

To make this easy healthy bean's recipe in a crock pot, I have to start thinking about soaking the dry  beans by 6:30 -8:30  the night before because the beans have to be soaked overnight. I have to empty and rinse a bag of mixed dry beans, place them in a large bowl, cover them with water, and then ignore them until about 6:30 the next morning.

In the morning, before I leave for the day,  I rinse the beans, place them in my crock pot with 3 large carrots ( cut in half),  2 T of dry ground ginger ( fresh doesn't work) , a few shakes of Trader Joe's 21( no salt) Salute,  and enough water to cover the beans( about 6 cups),  put the temperature setting on low ,and leave for work.

When I return at about 4:00 pm.. the delightful aroma smells like I have been at home cooking all day. The beans form their own little sauce in the crock and are delightfully soft, tasty and filling. With a large salad, and a slice of gluten free bread, we call it a meal.

For a faster version:  Cover beans with water in a pot, bring beans to a boil, turn off heat and cover. Allow to sit in the water covered for about 2 hours to soften them After 2 hours, drain water and place the beans in a crock pot and follow recipe. Put the crock pot on high and check to see when they look done ( about 3-4 hours).

This particular bean recipe is very simple, ( yet very tasty),  but you can also use recipes that include more vegetables and potatoes. Some people say that cooking the beans with a quartered potato cuts down on the gas. Others say that the more you eat beans, the more you increase the amount of good bacteria and intestinal flora in your gut, which helps digest beans. Of course, there is always "Beano," a digestive enzyme to help digest beans that is available in most health food stores.

My favorite bean mix is a mix called "cholent beans". ( For those on the East coast, I buy it in the Kosher Experience Section of Shoprite) It is a combination of navy beans, small kidney beans, and pinto beans. ( you can make your own by combing the beans)It is the basis of an old Eastern European " Cholent" recipe which orthodox Jews baked overnight to eat for the Sabbath meal on Saturday. Traditionally, barley, potatoes, and flanken bones are added to the cholent beans.

My gluten free vegetarian version just uses the combination of beans, ground powdered ginger ( a must),  a piece of fresh garlic, a little Trader Joe's 21 Salute spice mix.  and 3 cut up carrots. After a slow slimmer for 7 hours in the crock pot, the flavor is amazing.

Are beans healthy? You bet!
Very high in fiber , good source of protein,( when eaten with a grain like rice, quinoa, bread ( GF) ) and provides  magnesium, iron, potassium, and is a slow burning complex carbohydrate to help regulate blood sugar.
To boot, beans are very inexpensive, easy to make, and are a very healthy addition to your weekly menu. Think some version of  rock pot beans at least once a week in the winter..


I USUALLY INCLUDE STEP BY STEP PICTURES, BUT ALL MY PICTURES FOR THIS BLOG POST WERE DELETED BY A FAMILY MEMBER WHO WE WILL NOT NAME!
If you have a good vegetarian bean crock pot recipe, add your recipe or link to your blog in the comments ( scroll to bottom, look for the green box and the word comments. Click comments and add yours..)


 This recipe is posted on the following fabulous blog hops: Click for a variety of recipes.
Hearth and Soul Hop,  Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday, Tuesday Twister, Simple Lives Thursday, It's a blog party, Foodie Friday, Real Food Wednesday , Fight Back Friday, 
Midnight Maniac Meatless Mondays, Katies Cucina , Friday Potluck , Gluten Free Wednesdays   

Pea and Corn Polenta Mold

You may have seen this adorable little dome before. This recipe is a re-run. I posted it last summer when sweet Jersey corn was at its height. It's a good winter recipe too and makes a great side dish. If you add cheese or cooked beans, it could be a meal in itself or eat it with a nice salad and bowl of steaming black bean soup.

Corn meal is popular in Northern Italy, Latin American countries, and in the American south. Corn meal can be found in any food market. Personally, I like to buy an organic brand of corn meal like Bob's Red Mill Organic Corn Grits which is a little pricey, but there are many inexpensive brands of regular corn meal available in the supermarket or Latin American grocery stores. (There is a charming Mexican grocery in New Hope, Pa.)

This recipe for polenta is not only soft and creamy, but it is also easy and quick to make.

In addition, it is versatile. You can add just about anything you like to the basic recipe: fresh corn, fresh or  frozen peas, cooked black beans or fava beans, sauteed mushrooms, red pepper, chili peppers, cheddar cheese etc. Your only limit is your imagination or your palate..

The appealing dome presentation makes this recipe perfect for your family or company as well. Just slice and eat. It's delicious. Either way, it is sure to be enjoyed by all..


Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes

Creamy Polenta with Corn and Peas
This recipe uses a basic polenta recipe; however, just before the polenta is finished cooking,  add fresh ( frozen thawed) peas and fresh ( or frozen thawed) raw corn.

Basic recipe:
Ingredients
3 cups water or vegetable broth
1 cup of corn meal , quick cooking
1/2- 1 tsp salt
Additions:
1 cup of frozen peas slightly thawed or fresh peas
1 cup of raw corn cut off the cob ( or frozen thawed)
1 cup black beans, drained well ( optional)

Directions:
1. Bring water ( or broth) and salt to a boil in a sauce pan. Add corn meal slowly, stirring until blended. Reduce heat to a simmer and continue to stir until mixture becomes thicker and shut off the heat. Mix in corn and peas ( black beans if desired) and
Spoon mixture into a small bowl ( spray with oil spray)   and allow to set for about 10 minutes.



Spoon cooked polenta into a small bowl and allow to sit until molded ( about 10  minutes)

Unmold by inverting bowl onto a plate and serve. Makes about 5 slices

This recipe has been posted on the following fabulous blogs:
 Tuesday Twister,  Make it with... Mondays   , Slightly Indulgent Tuesday,  My Meatless Mondays,   Katies Cucina ,

I love your comments, please leave one by clicking "comments" in the green box under this recipe

Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

.Want to make your family a relatively healthy dessert that looks special and is really easy to make? Chocolate dipped strawberries make a wonderful gluten free dessert

They look spectacular, taste delicious, and can be made in just minutes. ( follow my tutorial below)

All you need are some good looking strawberries and a bag of semi sweet chocolate chips.
In fact,t it can be a fun project to make with your kids.. These special treats delight both young and old.

I always feel that there is something very festive about chocolate covered strawberries. They are a perfect dessert that doesn't pack on the pounds.
So, why not make them for your next special occasion or the next time you are asked to bring a dessert to someone's house.

These strawberries also make a perfect Passover dessert since they contain no flour products!

Ingredients:
Strawberries
Chocolate chips

Directions:
Wash a container of strawberries and dry really well ( that is the secret)
Place half a bag of chocolate chips in a microwaveable bowl and microwave for 1 minute.
Open microwave and stir.
Holding on to the stems, dip the dry strawberries in the melted chocolate.
Place on waxed paper.
When all strawberries have been dipped, place in refrigerator for about an hour.




Dry them very well





Place 1/2-3/4 of a bag of dark chocolate chips in small a microwave proof bowl




Microwave for about a minute. check and stir

Refrigerate for at least an hour until the chocolate is hard... enjoy...


This recipe has been posted on the following fabulous blogs: 
Tuesday Twister, Simple Lives Thursday,  It's a blog party,  Gluten Free Wednesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Real Food Wednesday, Fight Back Friday, Midnight Maniac Meatless Mondays, My Meatless Mondays,  Seasonal Saturday, Simply Gluten-Free,, , Foodie Friday, Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday, Hearth and Soul Hop  Katherine Martinelli Strawberry Blog Hop

Fruit- Friend or Foe?

Be Careful How You Eat Fruit

 

 Fruit helps detoxify your body, provides immune building antioxidants, and gives you wonderful uplifting energy- But only if you eat it correctly.

Yes, there is a correct way to eat fruit. If you eat it with other foods,  you may be doing yourself more harm than good.You may think that eating and getting the amazing health benefits from fruit is as simple as popping a piece of delicious fruit  into your mouth. Not so, says many health experts, including Dr Oz.

  Fruit should be eaten on an empty stomach and should not be combined with any other foods.

WHY?

Fruit digests differently than other foods. Eating fruit with other foods can promote gas and bloating.

Because the sugar in fruit digests very quickly and then moves on to the intestines, if you combine it with your meal, it actually has to hang around the in the stomach until it actually turns acid and interferes with the digestion of your other food. Eating fruit with food on a regular basis may lead to irritable bowl syndrome, diarrhea, constipation etc. When fruit turns acid waiting to pass through the stomach, you can enjoy the detoxifying benefit of fruit. Instead, you may be doing your body harm.
So, enjoy fruit- its good for you when you eat it correctly
Eat it before your meal ! Don't mix it with other food.

Remember: eat fruit alone or leave it alone!!

Excellent Fruits:

Kiwi: Not only does it have twice the vitamin C content of an orange, it is also a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E and fiber.
Strawberry: Very high in antioxidants which helps protect the body from disease causing free radicals. Buy organic strawberries for best results.

Watermelon: High in lycopene, Vitamin C, potassium, and glutathione.


ANOTHER HEALTH  TIP:

NEVER DRINK COLD WATER AFTER A MEAL

Cold water turns oil ( from your food) into a solid. This slows digestion, which can produce a sludge like condition in the stomach which can create disease.
Instead drink hot tea after a meal instead to help digestion and clean the digestive tract.

This recipe has been posted on the following fabulous blogs:
Tuesday Twister, Simple Lives Thursday, It's a blog party,  Gluten Free Wednesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Real Food Wednesday,  Midnight Maniac Meatless Mondays, My Meatless Mondays,  Seasonal Saturday, Dr. Laura's Tasty Tuesday, Hearth and Soul Hop