Easy Way to Remove Pits from Cherries

Ever wonder if there is an easy way to remove the pit from a cherry?
Truthfully, I've never ever given that question a thought, but my friend Fay has!

Fay is always full of surprises, so no one blinked an eye when she requested a straw to eat her cherries.

 I was playing Mah Jong  with a group of friends. The hostess put out a large bowl of succulent red cherries. As the rest of us ate our cherries and spit out the pits on our plates, my friend Fay had a unique way of removing her pit before the cherry ever touched her lips.

You have to know Fay-- It was an entertaining afternoon!!

Ingredients:
1 bowl of cherries
1 straw

Directions: 
Select a ripe cherry.
Using a firm straw, insert the straw into one end of the end of the cherry . ( the end with the stem
Gently push the straw through the cherry until the pit comes out the other end.

Pictures Step by Step  

Fay selecting her cherry

Fay positioning her straw at the tip of the cherry

                                     Fay pushing the straw through and popping out the pit

Fay holding the depitted cherry

Why would you want to remove the pit from the cherry?
1. For baking or desserts ?
2. To give to little children?

Please leave Fay a comment by scrolling down to the very end of the post and clicking on the word ' comments' ( If you are reading this in your email, you will have to click over to the actual blog to leave a comment.)

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Gluten Free Tip:
If you are looking to understand Gluten Intolerance a little better, here is a short you tube video that does a good job of explaining.It's called " Is bread killing you"?   http://glutenfreewithjudee.blogspot.com/2010/09/is-bread-killing-you-gluten-intolerance.html


This post will be linked to the following blog parties

Middle Eastern Lemonade

No matter how you look at it,  this Middle Eastern Lemonade is a winner in this hot weather for so many reasons!

The recipe combines fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, and orange blossom water ( a typical Middle Eastern flavor available in many supermarkets, ethnic markets, or health food stores). This drink is not only absolutely delicious, but it is also bursting with minerals and antioxidants which can be readily lost by the body in really hot weather.

fresh lemons

I didn't create the recipe . My  husband's family has been drinking  this refreshing lemon drink with orange blossom water for generations. They lived in a really hot climate.
 They call the orange blossom water by it's Arabic name " Mazhar". It is not only used in lemonade, but also in baking and cooking. The fragrance is so wonderful that just opening the bottle and smelling the amazing fragrance will relax you.

orange blossom water

Last week my husband was doing a significant amount of  yard work.  The temperature was beastly, ( 102 degrees),  and he was sweating profusely. At times like that, your body not only needs fluids, but it needs to replace nutrients.

My husband's work in the yard

Why this lemonade is a Nutritional Power House and perfect for really hot weather!

Maple syrup provides the trace mineral manganese and the mineral zinc which are both very important to maintain a healthy immune system, as opposed to sugar which provides no nutrients and may actually rob your body of nutrients.Although maple syrup is sweeter than sugar, it only has 34 calories in 2 teaspoons.

Fresh lemon juice 
Lemons are high in vitamin C, full of powerful antioxidants, and can provide antibacterial benefits. Since you squeeze fresh lemons for this recipe, there are no nutrients lost in processing. Lemon juice also helps the body detox toxins.

Orange Blossom Water
This Middle Eastern essence contains no calories or nutritional benefits, but can have a very calming effect on the nervous system.

Mint leaves
Believe it or not , fresh mint leaves are high in nutrients. They are rich in  manganese, vitamin A and vitamin C. Mint also provides fiber, folate, iron, vitamin B2, potassium and copper. I have a great herb garden in my yard, and my mint comes back every year.

This drink takes about 2 minutes to make, adds to your nutrition, and is delicious.

As opposed to store bought lemonade that offers very little or any nutritional value, empty calories, and loads of  sugar that may be too stimulating for kids ( and adults) and rob the body of nutrients.  This recipe for Middle Eastern lemonade seems like a better choice.

Which tastes better? I'll choose this recipe hands down every time.

Needs to be stirred

In this hot weather, we keep a pitcher of this old family favorite in the refrigerator . We fill a glace with ice and cover it with lemonade and then add a few fresh sprigs of mint from the garden.

I hope you try it and enjoy it on a hot summer day!

Ingredients per 10-12 ounce glass
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 Tablespoons maple syrup ( or more or less to taste)
1/8 teaspoon of orange blossom water ( Mazhar)
water to fill the glass after everything else is added.
2 mint leaves

Directions:
Fill a 10 ounce glass with ice
Add fresh lemon juice, maple syrup, orange blossom water, and mint leaves.
Stir well and enjoy.

If you like my recipes, why not follow me on Twitter and Facebook.
I post additional recipes and tips on My Twitter and Facebook pages which have entirely different and fabulous recipes.

 Gluten Free Tip 

If you live in the Philadelphia area,   The Gluten Free Appetite for Awareness is a great event http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3391133973 is an amazing event to taste and learn about gluten free eating.

 Also please check out the following blog carnivals where I linked this recipe

Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms

Having company? Too hot to cook?  Stuffed mushrooms can be a quick appetizer , snack or meal that look great and are usually a hit at any party. They require no cooking, so that's a plus in this hot weather. These mushrooms are vegan , making them versatile for all kinds of eaters ( no eggs, dairy, or grain and they're raw).

I used my spinach basil pesto recipe below ( and left out the Parmesan cheese to make it vegan). I was surprised at how delicious it still tasted. This recipe is rich in healthy greens and loaded with antioxidants. Since it's eaten without cooking, none of the nutrients are lost.

I just lightly scooped out the mushrooms and filled them .

Pesto Ingredients:
1 cup fresh  parsley
1 cup fresh basil
1 cup fresh spinach ( I used organic baby spinach)
1 cup of pecans, pine nuts, or walnuts ( I used pecans)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 clove fresh garlic ( or more to taste)
1/4-1/2  cup olive oil ( don't cut back, the oil makes it)
salt to taste

Directions: 
Assemble ingredients
Process nuts and garlic, remove from processor and set aside.
Process, parsley, spinach, basil, then add nuts and garlic mixture, and olive oil.
Process until smooth .
Remove from processor and add a little more olive oil before serving  if its dry.

Wash mushrooms, remove stems, and clean out inside enough to stuff. 
Stuff each mushroom individually and serve.

What kind of appetizers do you make in hot weather? 

Gluten Free Tip of the Week 
 gluten-free Italian panko breadcrumbs, made with rice flour, is a new product from Ian's Natural Foods


 Since I blog real food healthy recipes ( that are just naturally gluten free) , I have a variety of readers who are both gluten free and not gluten free. I'm trying to figure out how many of my readers are actually gluten free. If you read my blog because you are gluten free, could you please leave me a comment. ( scroll down to the very end of the post, under the 5 small pictures of : you might also like this: look for the word, comments. click on it and leave a comment. If you are reading this in an email, you will have to click on the title and go to my blog first.)

I've linked this recipe to the following blog carnivals

SRC- Basil Spinach Pesto

                                      

Do you love basil? I've been wanting to make a basil pesto ever since I had a delicious gluten free pesto pasta dinner a few weeks ago at an Italian restaurant in Princeton, NJ. I've never made homemade pesto before, so I knew I would have to do some searching for a recipe. Luckily for me, my Secret Recipe Club partner for July,  Susan of Permanent Posies had a wonderful basil spinach pesto recipe on her blog. Once I saw that recipe , I looked no further.  What a great recipe, I couldn't wait to make it!

Pesto is a rich and flavorful paste that is fabulous in the summer when so many wonderful herbs are fresh and in full bloom.  I had plenty of basil growing in my yard, so this was a perfect recipe. Most farmer markets are selling basil in hearty bunches right now at very reasonable prices.

I try to focus on eating lots of greens, and this recipe has it's fair share:  a full cup each of  fresh parsley, basil, and spinach! It is truly green and fabulous and I like that all the greens in the recipe are raw which provide the greatest enzymes for better health! ! Actually, it's a great way to get kids to eat more healthy tasty greens too.

Permanent Posies had a recipe for a basic spinach basil pesto and also a creamed version. The creamed version was a little too rich for me, but it looked fabulous for any kind of pasta. Susan used it in her asparagus lasagna . 

I used my pesto as an appetizer and spread it on gluten free rice crackers and some Persian cucumber slices. My husband ate his pesto with some gluten free pasta.

Everyone raved about the fragrance of the fresh basil.  Yum!



Pesto Ingredients:
1 cup fresh  parsley
1 cup fresh basil
1 cup fresh spinach ( I used organic baby spinach)
1 cup of raw pecans or pine nuts ( I used pecans)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese ( leave out for a vegan dish)
2 cloves fresh garlic
1/4-1/2  cup olive oil ( don't cut back, the oil makes it)
salt to taste

Directions: 
Assemble ingredients
Process nuts and garlic, remove from processor and set aside.
Process, parsley, spinach, basil, then add nuts and garlic mixture, and olive oil.
Process until smooth .
Remove from processor and add a little more olive oil before serving  if its dry.

Susan, the pecans were a wonderful in this pesto!





             

Gluten Free Tip of the Week: 

If you live near Philadelphia there is a wonderful blog called Gluten Free Philly that blogs about restaurants, food, and events in the Delaware Valley. It is an invaluable source of information for gluten free in the Philadelphia plus area. This week they did a review of Atlantic City and all the Gluten Free options available in that area. I was happy to see that the Casino Harrahs has a gluten free menu in some of their restaurants and that a nearby restaurant in Ventnor, NJ, Hannah G's,  has a GF menu which includes blueberry pancakes. Here is Hannah G  gluten-free menu. In addition , there is a gluten free review of recent Road Trip to the Rehoboth Beach area . I

Linked to :
 
  

Homemade Cucumber Dill Dressing

I'm keeping cool with simple foods.
Have you ever been to a restaurant that served a wedge of lettuce as the salad?
Although the salad may be simple, the dressing is usually fabulous. 


My homemade cucumber sour cream ( and vegan alternative) dressing  is one of those dressings! It's rich and delicious and  tastes best with just plain green lettuce. Personally,  I used  spears of organic romaine lettuce garnished with organic mint ( that I brought in from the garden), and a little freshly grated Parmesan.  I then drenched the lettuce in my cucumber dressing and devoured. It looked simple, but tasted elegant! Of course the dressing is also gluten free.




The weather has been so hot ( over 100 yesterday), I have not felt like cooking.

Assemble Ingredients

                                            


 It was so easy. I just whizzed up the ingredients for the dressing in the blender and ate this salad as a meal. It was refreshing and light yet surprisingly filling! There is nothing like the taste of real homemade dressing without all the chemicals and salt! 


Variation: Sometimes I cut up halves of fresh avocado and add it to the salad.


Dressing Ingredients: 
1/2 Kirby or Persian cucumber, peeled and diced ( about 1/4 cup cucumber)
5-7 fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup fresh dill
1 Tablespoon Rice vinegar
1 cup of sour cream or Greek Yogurt or vegan sour cream
( I saw a recipe on a blog called Big Raw and Vegan Living Food that has a recipe for vegan sour cream)
Salt and pepper to taste ( I did not use any)

How to : 
Whiz all of the ingredients in the blender until smooth .
Serve immediately over romaine lettuce


***If you are looking for a salad with more salad ingredients, try my  Arugula and Cashew Salad , or my  Jicama Rainbow Salad With Mint which have been two of my most popular posts. 


I'm so glad you stopped by. Please take a minute and leave a comment, I read every one and it makes my day. Just scroll down to the very end of the post and look for the word, comment. Click for a box to open to write your comment.

I'm linking to the following blog carnivals:

Monday

My Meatless Mondays ;Mouthwatering Mondays ; Homemaker Mondays ;   Monday Mania ;  Mangia Mondays; ;Homestead Barn Hop ; A Marvelous Monday ; Savvy Homemade Monday  Just another Meatless Monday,  Meet Me Monday  Mix it up Monday Must Try Monday  Making you crave Mondays Organizing Junkie's Meal Plan Monday Green Backs' Meatless Monday Veggie Mama's Meatless Monday On the Menu Monday In the Gumbo Monday    Jo-Lynne's GF meal plan

Tuesday

Tasty Tuesdays; ; Show Me What You Got  ; Anti-Procrastination Tuesday;  Tuesday Confessional; ; Domestically Divine Tuesday ; Take a Look Tuesday ; Terrific Under $10 Tuesdays ; Hearth and Soul Hop ;  Slightly Indulgent Tuesday  Fat Tuesday  



 Works For Me Wednesday; Real Food Wednesday;  Passionately Artistic;  This Chick Cooks; ;  Ducks in a Row  Frugal Ways, Sustainable Days   Gluten Free Wednesday,, Welcome Wednesday,  Gluten Free Pantry  Beyond the Peel  Healthy2day    Wed Simple Living Wednesday   

I Gotta Create

 Simply Sweet Home Friday’s Favorites ;Food on Fridays ;Foodie Friday  Diane's Foodie Friday  Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap ;Creation Corner, Friday’s Link Party ;Feature Yourself Friday ;Sweets This Week Friday ;Simply Delish ; ;It’s a Hodgepodge Friday   Frugal Friday,   Fight Back Fridays Thankful for Food   Shabby Nest  Speckled Dog   Fantabulous Friday  Friday Food, Allergy-Friendly Frida, Natural Mother's Network, Butter Believer, A Well Seasoned Life, Six Sister's Stuff, The Sweet Details) Katherine Martinelli, Fitness Friday,  Sugar Bananas  My Romantic Home  Iron Violet Designs    Home Is Where My Story Begins  Food Friday   Real Food Freaks,

Stuffed Summer Squash

Aren't these yellow round zucchinis adorable?

Last week I was at the farmers market and saw these unusual looking summer squashes.. The woman behind the farm stand told me that are actually a variety of yellow zucchini, and that she stuffs them.  Although I thought they looked like mini pumpkins, they actually were soft and fleshy, just like a regular zucchini. Feeling very orange, I clipped one of my orange zinnias, and added it to the display above. 

The little round squashes hollowed out very quickly and easily with just a large spoon, ready to steam and stuff.
                                   

 I sauteed onions, garlic, cabbage, nuts, raisins, brown rice etc. ( see ingredients below) and made a quick vegan stuffing to fill those beautiful cavities.

                                  


The squashes came out nice and plump, bursting with flavor and there was also some extra stuffing left that we ate on the side.
                                
Ingredients:
1 large onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, diced
2 cups of chopped cabbage ( red or green)
2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup of green, yellow, or red peppers, chopped
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup raw cashews or walnuts, chopped ( optional)
1 and 1/2  cups cooked brown rice ( or 2 cups of cooked quinoa)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup total chopped fresh herbs ( basil, oregano, mint)
2 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups tomato sauce


Directions:
1. Cook 1 cup of brown rice and set aside
.
2. Place hollowed out squash and lids in steamer and steam for about 5 minutes until soft/firm ( will be baked) Remove from steamer basket, set aside and allow to cool.

3. Saute onion, garlic, cabbage, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, raisins, ( nuts)  in olive oil for about  10  minutes in a dutch oven, stirring frequently. Add lemon and fresh herbs,  rice and salt and pepper. Stir well and allow to cook for about 5 more minutes uncovered.

Place the stuffing mixture into the squash, and place the squash in a baking dish. Cover with your favorite tomato sauce and bake at a preheated oven on 375 degrees for at least 20 minutes.

I also added some of my favorite hot weather foods!

You can eat these stuffed squashes with a refreshing summer soup like Chilled Carrot Ginger Soup  topped with Greek Yogurt..  





It's supposed to hit 100 today, and nothing is as refreshing as
 my frozen Cooling Watermelon Smoothies ( non- alcoholic). 
I'll be making these today for sure!


Looking for an easy summer appetizer to use up some of your fresh basil?
 Try these simple Caprese Salad Bite Appetizers  
                              



How is the weather temperature where you are? What do you like to eat in hot weather? 
I am so glad you stopped by .  Please leave me a comment !  Scroll down to the end of the post and click on comments.


I like to share my posts on blog carnivals. I will sharing on the following


Saturday : 
Pity Party Summer Lovin Saturdays; Party Mindie Style; Shindig Saturday; Whatcha Got Weekend (WGW); Creative-ly U Link-up; Strut Your Stuff Saturday; Cookbooks and Glue Sticks  Country Mama Cooks
Sunday: Every Day Sisters Sharing Sundays; Your Recipe, My Kitchen Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper, I Gotta Create


Jo Lynnes Gluten Free Meal Plan

Sunshine Award

Thank you Chaya! 

This past week I was honored to have been awarded the Sunshine Award from one of my favorite bloggers, Chaya at My Sweet and Savory. Chaya makes lots of healthy recipes,  and if you need ideas for meatless cooking, Chaya hosts a weekly blog carnival called, Mealtess Mondays. On her other blog, Bizzy Bakes, she hosts a Wed Recipe box linky as well. Scroll down to see who I am passing the award onto.

The Sunshine Award  is special because it is an award given to bloggers by other by bloggers. 

The recipients of the Sunshine Award are: "Bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogoshere." 

The way the award works is this: 

1) Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them. 

2) Answer 10 questions about yourself. 

3) Select 10 of your favorite bloggers, link their blogs to your post and let them know they have been awarded the Sunshine Award! 

Don't forget to copy and paste the award on your blog!

Here we go! Ten questions:

1. Favorite color: Hot Pink

2. Favorite animal:  puppies and kittens

3. Favorite number: 22

4. Favorite drink: Fresh Lemonade (non-alcohol), Red Wine (alcohol)

5. Facebook or Twitter: Twitter! I get so much great information . People are tweeting all day long.

6. Good Book or a Good Movie:  Although I'm a reader, I just love a good movie too. 

7. My Passion: Cooking! I love to create healthy tasty recipes to share  with family and friends.

8. Giving or getting presents:  I give lots of presents, but I like getting them too . Who doesn't??

9. Favorite day of the year: My birthday! I always have a great time!

And here are the 10 FABULOUS blogs that I am passing this award along to (please go check them out!):

Penniless Parenting  focuses on frugality.  I have found many great vegetarian and gluten free recipes and lots of amazing frugal ideas. Penny hosts a blog carnival called Heart and Soul Hop every Tuesday

Gluten Free Cat is a gluten free blog where you can find lots of real food recipes . All her recipes are labeled vegan, dairy free, raw or refined sugar free for easy navigating.

 Sweet Healthy Living , is a blog with outstanding vegan and raw recipes that just make your mouth water. Victoria's photos are wonderfully inviting. You have to see her latest dessert!

The Soulicious Life is a delightful blog whose purpose is to focus on nourishing body, soul and the planet. It is a combination of vegetarian recipes, yoga, and ideas to save the planet.  Visit for inspiring ideas!

Food Floozie  is an interesting blog authored by Yenta Mary in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She features reviews of local restaurants, shares interesting recipes, and tells a great story.  I always am entertained at the Food Floozie!

The Tasty Alternative is a blog whose philosophy is 

"to create healing food with a holistic approach to mind-body health and with a meaningful connection to the earth. The blog has lots of allergy friendly recipes and  

healthy lifestyle resources! I find lots of great ideas on this blog.

The Haggis and the Herring is a husband and wife team who draw their recipes from flavors around the world including their English, European, Mediterranean and South- Asian food experiences.  It's a blog worth visiting as there is always an interesting recipe.  

Raw On $10 a Day (or Less)- this blog is always a treat. There are many wonderfully raw food recipes that are kept to under $10. I love to see what she comes up with each week.

Peaceful Plate is a fabulous vegan blog that uses healthy real food.  I met Noelle at Bloggy Boot Camp in Philadelphia this past May, and I was immediately blown away by her photos and recipes.  Check out her blog for her great vegan desserts.

Pin It Please leave a comment so I know you stopped by. Scroll down to the end of the post and click on comments.

Fabulous Finds Week 8

Fabulous find # 2- Eggs for 6-12 at once
 How to Cook eggs for a crowd  comes from a blog called Macheesmo
Each egg is perfectly shaped and all are ready to serve at the same time.
Great for a crowd Check out how long to cook on her blog.



       
                                 Photos property of Macheesmo


Fabulous find # 3- Hard boiled eggs made in the oven
I'm on a egg roll.. Did you know you can bake hard boiled eggs in the oven . No pot to clean or take up space on the range.
I found this picture and idea on Pinterest from a blog called The Burlap Bag. She has lots of great ideas.



 Burlap Bag


Fabulous find # 4 - You can also steam eggs for easy peeling
I found this fabulous find on a blog called Mama Chocolate How to steam eggs for easy peeling and tender eggs.
l

Photo from Mama Chocolate

Fabulous find # 5-  Roasted Garlic in the Crock pot



photo from Veggie Converter.
I found this fabulous find on a great vegan blog called Veggie Converter.  Use your crock pot to roast garlic for a wonderful spread.




Fabulous find # 6  - Get indentations out of your carpet with ice cubes.This Fabulous Find idea was pinned by Yvonne Matras on Pinterest
Use ice cubes to take out indentations in your carpet...
.
yvonne Mantras photo

Fabulous find # 6- Make your microwave Sparkle n 2 minutes
This Fabulous Find is from Practically Functional
Clean your microwave in 2 minutes easily. This is amazing. Literally it takes only minutes to get  that microwave to sparkle.


Practically Functional



Fabulous Find #1 
Grow Celery from your leftover celery stalks
Unbelievable! Wait!! don't throw your celery core away.
You can grow more celery at home!
I love this because celery is on the dirty dozen list ( meaning it has lots of pesticide) and organic celergy is expensive. Solution:  Buy organic celery  once and keep growing your own.
Find out how from Whole Lifestyle Nutrition




Photo from Whole Life Nutrition


Will be posted on the following blog carnivals:

; Every Day Sisters Sharing Sundays; Your Recipe, My Kitchen Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper, I Gotta Create Seasonal celebration
Monday

My Meatless Mondays ;Mouthwatering Mondays ;  Monday Mania ;; Mangia Mondays; ; ;Homestead Barn Hop ;  Just another Meatless Monday,  Mix it up Monday Must Try Monday  Green Backs' Meatless Monday Veggie Mama's Meatless Monday On the Menu Monday In the Gumbo Monday    Yummy  Inspriations Breakfast 

Tuesday

Tasty Tuesdays; Tempt My Tummy Tuesday ;  Naptime Creations Tasty Tuesday Link Party; Show Me What You Got  ; Hearth and Soul Hop ; Frugal Tuesday Tip  Tuesday ;  Slightly Indulgent Tuesday   Fat Tuesday  Allergy Friendly lunchbox 


Wednesday 
 Works For Me Wednesday; Real Food Wednesday; Whatever Goes Wednesday; We Did It Wednesday; Penny Pinching Party;  Passionately Artistic;  This Chick Cooks Frugal Ways, Sustainable Days   Gluten Free Wednesday,,  Gluten Free Pantry   Homestead Revival, The Recipe Box

Thursday

 Creative Juice Thursday;  Full Plate Thursday; It’s A Keeper Thursday;Making It with Allie Thursdays; Frugal Follies Thursday;  Pennywise Platter Thursday,  Simple Lives Thursday,  , Tastastic  

I Gotta Create

 Friday "
Simply Sweet Home Friday’s Favorites ;Food on Fridays ;Foodie Friday  Diane's Foodie Friday  Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap ;Creation Corner, Friday’s Link Party ;Feature Yourself Friday ;Sweets This Week Friday ;Simply Delish ; ;It’s a Hodgepodge Friday   Frugal Friday,   Fight Back Fridays Thankful for Food   Shabby Nest  Speckled Dog   Fantabulous Friday  Friday Food, Allergy-Friendly Frida, Natural Mother's Network, Butter Believer, A Well Seasoned Life, Six Sister's Stuff, The Sweet Details) Katherine Martinelli, Fitness Friday,  Sugar Bananas  My Romantic Home  Iron Violet Designs    Home Is Where My Story Begins  Food Friday   Real Food Freaks,     Katherine Martinelli Egg Hop