Pumpkin Chocolate Coconut Soup

Pumpkin Chocolate Coconut Soup 

3 small pumpkins (or 1 medium)


1cup apple cider


¼ cup pumpkin puree


¼ cup orange juice



1 tablespoon cinnamon


1 teaspoon allspice


Unsweetened Dark chocolate chips (to likeing)

Coconut shavings (to liking)


1/4 cup brown sugar (you do not need to add sugar at all but if you want you can)

teaspoon ground nutmeg


1 teaspoon ginger


¼ cup Half and half

½ cup coconut milk

Chop/cut/peel/prepare pumpkin into small chunks, and simmer in the apple cider. When Pumpkin chunks in soft add orange juice,  purred pumpkin, all the spices, the half and half, and the coconut milk (cook on low).

When ready to serve add the chocolate chips and coconut shavings on top. 

I made this recipe this morning and it is delicious and very nutritious.  It taste very good with pumpkin zucchini bread or Chocolate  zucchini bread.  This soup can be used as a snack or desert. It is very healthy  And WLS friendly if you skip the sugar.  You really don't need to add the sugar because everything else is sweet. 

Cheesecake pumpkin pie

Ingredients 

• 24-ounce cream cheese
• 15-ounce can pureed pumpkin
• 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 cups sugar ( or agave or stevia)
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Directions:

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sugar and the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.

Pour into crust. Spread out evenly and place oven for 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Zucchini and Pumpkin Muffins

Trust me this is delicious, I would have this over a cup cake any day.

Ingredients

▪               3 eggs, lightly beaten

▪               1/2 cups sugar (this gives each cup cake 4 grams of refined sugar, you can put less or not at all).

▪               1 cup canned pumpkin (real pumpkin purred)

▪               1/4 cup butter melted

▪               1 tablespoon vanilla extract

▪               3 cups all-purpose flour

▪               1 teaspoon baking soda

▪               1/2 teaspoon baking powder

▪               1/2 teaspoon salt

▪               2 tablespoon ground cinnamon

▪               1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

▪               1 teaspoon ground cloves

▪               1 cup shredded zucchini

▪               1 cup chopped walnuts

For extra protein 1/4 cup of crushed almonds

You can substitute the sugar with Agave or stevia… You can also make the recipe with no sugar at all.  Agave or Stevia are made from plants and are not harmful artificial sweeteners.

I also add dark chocolate chips to my husbands muffins. :) 

Directions

In a mixing bowl, combine eggs and sugar. Add pumpkin, butter and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Stir in zucchini and nuts. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes or until breads test done. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove to a wire rack.

Peppermint Tea

My new found obsession is tea! All teas... Did I mention I love herbal teas? Especially peppermint tea. The smell of Peppermint tea reminds me of christmas candy canes :).  Peppermint tea is a brown tea, that taste delicious. Add a little peppermint candy to your tea and you have refreshing and tasty drink, that leaves you feeling relaxed yet energized... 

The health benefits of peppermint

•               Peppermint tea treats irritable bowel syndrome

•               Peppermint tea eases nausea and vomiting

•               Peppermint tea controls flatulence and diverticular disorders

•               Peppermint tea improves digestion and reduce heartburn

•               Peppermint tea dissolves gallstones

•               Peppermint tea reduces the severity of herpes outbreaks

•               Peppermint tea fights bad breath.

•               Peppermint tea controls muscle aches and chronic pain

•               Peppermint tea clears congestion and cough related to colds and allergies

•               Peppermint tea controls mild asthma

Peppermint tea fights stress

The Journey Through The Garden: Acorn Squash

My Journey Through The Garden.

For the next year (every month) I will try a fruit or vegetable I have never eaten in my adult life.  I will write an article on each food’s taste, health benefits, and my experience.  I will also makes videos of some of the more exciting experiences, for example; if I am going to have to travel to a farmers market to buy it or if I make a recipe.   I will even record when I am scared to try something (yeah you will get to see me freak out over trying new things).

For those of you who know me, this is a big deal. I hate trying new foods.  Here we go!

May 2010 is… ACORN SQUASH

I picked out an acorn squash at my local grocery store when I was purchasing the ingredients for Butternut Squash & beef stew.  It just called out to me, and it had a sticker on it with simple recipe (slice in ½ and microwave, add brown sugar, and cinnamon).   I tried it without the brown sugar or cinnamon.

Two weeks went by before I even considered trying it… It is now one of my favorite foods!

Heath Benefits of Acorn squash are similar to that of a butternut squash.

-Promotes optimum health 

-Promotes men’s health

-Promotes lung health

-Prevents birth defects

-Prevents heart attacks

-Supports a healthy colon

The Health Benefits of Artichokes.

The Health Benefits of Artichokes

I was inspired by a friend to post. She had artichokes for the first time and was curious to know how healthy this delicious treat was. For the record I have never tried artichokes but after the description of it’s wonderful taste I am very tempted. My friend describes it as a delicious “earthy” taste.

Nutrients in Artichokes

Artichokes are an excellent source of dietary fiber, magnesium, chromium, vitamin C, folic acid, biotin, manganese, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin A and potassium.

The Health Benefits;

- Lowers Cholesterol

- Relieves IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

- Relives Dyspepsia

- Diabetes

- Cures Hangovers- here is one my friends will love.

All pictures are of the artichokes recipes are from:

http://www.phamfatale.com

Please find the recipes on the links above.