Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from 2016

#172 The Case of Sparkly Christmas Greetings and Gifts!

W ant to send an e-greeting that's much more than a card? A PURSE TO DIE FOR and/or A KILLER NECKLACE in the form of gift e-books can include a personal message and they cost only 99¢ each (US) from December 1-15. Here's the Amazon link: http://ow.ly/zlpp306qii8 . Or be that superstar gifter, who gives A PURSE TO DIE FOR and A KILLER NECKLACE, on sale at Smashwords: (Use coupon code YU36M for A PURSE TO DIE FOR) http://ow.ly/z3KkQ (Use coupon code MJ65L for A KILLER NECKLACE) http://ow.ly/UxpLF . What the heck, gift yourself at Kobo ( http://ow.ly/Zy4G301BCeC ) or Google Play ( http://ow.ly/9tkW306GuIQ ). ♥ Becki

#171 The Case of Chocolate Mint Smoothie

M int is a cheerful, invigorating flavour, isn't it?   Chocolate, on the other hand, is an acquired taste. [Straight face.]   I get plenty of fresh mint sprigs from my friend Kathleen. I have to assume that it's the zucchini of fresh herbs because she's always saying, "Here, have some mint!"   Chocolate Mint Smoothie   1 banana 1 tablespoon fresh, slightly-compressed-between-your-fingers mint leaves 1/2 cup cashew milk 2 tablespoons Sunwarrior raw vegan protein powder 1 tablespoon cacao 1 tablespoon raw agave syrup 8 ice cubes Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender, in the order given, and blend. Serves 1. ♥ Becki PS This also works with 1/2 tablespoon dried mint in the place of fresh mint!

#170 The Case of Simple as Boiling an Egg

W ell, if it's so damn simple, why have I been doing it wrong for so many years? Wrong may be a bit harsh. My eggs have always been hard-boiled just like I like them, with no ring around the yolk, which would be as much a sign of confusion in the kitchen as ring around the collar is of disorientation in the laundry room. What I really mean by wrong is that a Becki Green hard-boiled egg, up until now, has often been difficult to peel. Sometimes, in fact, a nightmare to peel, despite the fact that I'm a natural communicator and I tried everything I know to bring my eggs out of their shells. I tapped them lightly on their bottoms before shelling them, a trick from my mother. She also passed down advice from her father, my grandfather, whose eggs apparently always, extremely annoyingly, came out pristine. "Roll them on the counter firmly with the palm of your hand before you start." Nevertheless, my results were inconsistent. Sometimes the shell would slide

#168 The Case of Spaghetti in a Beet Pesto Sauce

B eets are sweet! 4 beets (2 cups total volume) drizzle of olive oil plus 1/4 cup for later enough whole-wheat spaghetti for two people enough regular spaghetti for two 2 cloves garlic 1/4 cup walnuts, toasted in oven at 350ºF for 10 min. salt pepper I/4 teaspoon chilli pepper flakes Preheat oven to 400ºF. Trim the beets. Place on foil or in a casserole dish and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap or cover, and roast for 1 hour. Let cool. Cook the spaghetti (if your whole-wheat pasta is not a tiny bit thinner than your regular pasta, add the whole-wheat pasta to the pot first, bring back to a boil and cook for 1 min. before adding the regular pasta). In the meantime, peel and chop the roasted beets into large pieces and pulse them in a blender with the garlic, toasted walnuts and salt to taste. Add the 1/4 cup olive oil and pulse again. Check seasoning. Drain the pasta and toss with the pesto. Twirl onto plates using tongs. Grind pepper on top to taste. Sprinkle with the chilli pepp

#167 The Case of Creamsicle Smoothie

1/2 orange 1 banana 1/2 cup light coconut milk 2 tablespoons Sunwarrior raw vegan protein powder 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 4 ice cubes Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender, in the order given, and blend. Serves 1. ♥ Becki PS Do you feel the love? PPS Remember, if using cashew milk instead of coconut milk, reduce vanilla to 1/4 teaspoon.

#166 The Case of Guacamole

W elcome back Avocado Green!   1 avocado 1 tablespoon lime juice 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1/2 tablespoon olive oil   With a large knife, score the avocado in half lengthwise around the pit. Twist the two halves in opposite directions to separate. With the pitted half lying on a cutting board and with a swift chopping motion, embed your knife in the pit. Turn your knife to remove the pit from the flesh. Cut each avocado half into three lengthwise strips then peel off the skin, dropping the flesh into a small bowl.   Mash together the avocado flesh and the rest of the ingredients.   Serve with tortilla chips.   Serves 2.   ♥ Becki   PS Friend Richard Hawes shared this recipe with Cynthia; she shared it with me; I'm sharing it with you; who will you share it with?

#165 The Case of Oat Groats with Cashew Milk and Maple Syrup

G lamming up oatmeal! 1 cup oat groats (whole, hulled oat kernels) 3-1/2 cups water p inch salt 1/2 cup raw cashews, soaked uncovered in plenty of water for at least 4 hours then drained and rinsed 2 cups hot water (not above 118ºF) 1/2 tablespoon raw agave syrup maple syrup Bring the oat groats, water and salt to a rolling boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour. In the meantime, in a high-speed blender, blend together the soaked cashews, hot water and agave syrup. You can store the cashew milk in the fridge for about a week. When the oats are ready, divide between two bowls. Pour on some cashew milk then drizzle on maple syrup to taste.   Serves 2.   ♥ Becki   PS T here’s no comparison between purchased cashew milk and homemade!

#162 The Case of Strawberry Sorbet

A  luscious Valentine's Day sweet.   1 cup strawberries 2 tablespoons sugar 2 cups ice cubes   Place all the ingredients in a high-speed blender in the order listed and blend on the Frozen Desserts program.   Serves 2.   ♥ Becki   PS Be mine? PPS This recipe works wonderfully with 1 peeled, halved, seedless orange or 1 cup ugli fruit. Peach is also delicious. And Raspberry Sorbet (just add 3 tablespoons of sugar instead of 2)!

#161 The Case of Chocolate Raspberry Banana Smoothie

1 banana 1/4 cup raspberries 1/2 cup light coconut milk 2 tablespoons Sunwarrior raw vegan protein powder 1 tablespoon cacao 1 tablespoon raw agave syrup 8 ice cubes Add all the ingredients to a high-speed blender, in the order given, and blend. Serves 1. ♥ Becki PS Replace the raspberries with strawberries and/or the coconut milk with cashew milk. Good stuff!