Salivation Sunday

“Truth is a fruit which should not be plucked until it is ripe.”
-Voltaire

Good Morning! Have a wonderful day - I am about to go partake in a serving of today's recipe. Enjoy!


Fruit Parfait
Servings: 6

Ingredients:

* 1 1/8 cups organic vanilla yogurt
* 1 mango, diced
* 3/4 cup granola Cereal
* 2 cups blueberries
* 1 cup strawberries, diced
* Honey

Equipment Needed:

* 6 Parfait glasses

Directions:

1.) Place the ingredients in the 6 parfait glasses in this order:

*1 Tbsp yogurt
*Diced mango
*1 Tbsp granola
*1 Tbsp yogurt
*Blueberries
*1 Tbsp granola
*1 Tbsp yogurt

2.) Top with diced strawberries.
3.) Drizzle with honey to taste.

“Everyone who enjoys thinks that the principal thing to the tree is the fruit, but in point of fact the principal thing to it is the seed. Herein lies the difference between them that create and them that enjoy.”
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Temptation Thursday

"All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast."
-John Gunther

Hello! I do not know about you but I LOVE yams and sweet potatoes, so when I find a recipe using one of those ingredients I go for it! This waffle recipe is WONDERFUL, you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!


Yam Waffles
Serves 4

Directions:

* 1 large yam (about 3/4 lb), ends trimmed
* 2 cups buttermilk pancake mix
* 1 3/4 cups water
* 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
* Nonstick cooking spray
* 2 pints strawberries, hulled, sliced and macerated

Equipment Needed:

* Waffle Maker

Directions:

1.) Preheat waffle iron.
2.) Pierce yam 4 or 5 times with tines of fork.
3.) Microwave on high until tender, 8-10 min; cool slightly.
4.) Cut in half, then remove yam from skin, using folk to break up slightly.
5.) Discard skin.
6.) Combine pancake mix, 1 3/4 cups water, and oil in large mixing bowl.
7.) Whisk until smooth.
8.) Add yam, whisking until well blended.
9.) Lightly coat waffle iron with cooking spray.
10.) Spoon batter into waffle iron.
11.) Close lid and bake until brown, 6-8 min or as directed.
12.) Repeat with remaining batter, coat iron with cooking spray each time.
13.) Serve warm with berry topping.

“A woman is as old as she looks before breakfast”
-Edgar Watson Howe

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Mosaic Monday

“Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.”
-Pablo Picasso

Hello! I was thinking about color last night and became so thankful that I have my sight. The beauty of the world around us is a site to behold and I would hate to miss any of it! My thoughts about color led me to think about food - it is recommended that we eat a lot of colorful foods because they are good for us. Well, that makes sense - if seeing color makes me happy, then it stand to reason that eating colorful foods would make my body happy! Enjoy!

“There are not more than five primary colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen”
-Unknown




Thought of the Day:

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.”
-Maya Angelou

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Tasty Tuesday!

“Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.”
-Kahlil Gibran

Hello! I hope everyone is having a great week. I am a bit late posting today - but better late, than never they say! Enjoy this quick and tasty recipe!


“Nature magically suits a man to his fortunes, by making them the fruit of his character”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson


Fruit Trifle
serves: 4

Ingredients:

* 1/2 Angel Food Cake (store made), cut into 1-inch pieces (about 30)
* 1/2 cup Brewed espresso coffee, cooled
* 1 cup Vanilla low-fat yogurt
* 2 cups Mixed fresh berries
* 1 Plum, pitted and thinly sliced
* 1/4 cup Wheat Crunch Cereal (ie. grapenuts)

Directions:

1.) Arrange cake pieces on baking sheet & drizzle with coffee, moisten all sides.
2.) In trifle bowl layer cake, yogurt, berries, plum, and cereal, saving a little yogurt and fruit for garnish.
3.) Chill at least 10 minutes prior to serving.


Silly Joke of the Day:

What is a tree's favorite drink?
....Root beer.

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Mangia Monday!

Today I have two great drink recipes to share with you. Enjoy!

The first recipe is non-alcoholic and has been a popular summer tradition in Massachusetts since the early 1900s. The first time I had this drink was in Cape Cod many years ago, and now it is a yearly tradition for us on the Cape! You can make it with almost any type of berry and it would taste just as wonderful!

My second recipe today is an alcoholic drink, called a Mojito! The Mojito is known as the national drink of Cuba. Many people say it was invented in the late 19th century but, it actually may date back to an even earlier origin. It has been said that “pirates” of old, may have concocted drinks similar to the mojito, perhaps in the 16th century. The earliest mojito may have been a combination of a rum variant, aguardiente (fire water), and that these pirates of old introduced the drink to Cuba.


“We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons.”
-Alfred E. Neuman

Frozen Lemonade w/ Blackberry Puree
(adapted from Williams-Sonoma)

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

* 1 1/4 cups plus 1 tsp lemon juice
* 1/3 cup orange juice
* 3/4 cup plus 2 Tbs simple syrup (recipe below)
* 1 pint fresh blackberries, juiced, plus more for garnish
* 4 1/2 cups ice cubes
* 4 fresh mint sprigs (optional)
* 4 Iced Tea glasses

Directions:

1.) Stir together 1 1/4 cups lemon juice, the orange juice and 3/4 cup simple syrup. in a small bowl. Set aside.
2.) In another bowl, stir together the blackberry juice, 1 tsp. lemon juice and 2 Tbs. simple syrup. Set aside.
3.) Put the ice cubes in a blender and add the lemon juice mixture.
4.) Using the crush setting, (or high speed), blend until smooth.
5.) Put 1 Tbs of the blackberry puree into each glass.
6.) Pour in the lemonade mixture, dividing evenly.
7.) Garnish each glass with a mint sprig and a few blackberries.
8.) Serve immediately.


“Alcohol may be man's worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy.”
-Frank Sinatra


Mojito:

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

* 12 fresh mint leaves
* 3 Tbs simple syrup (recipe below)
* 2 Tbs lime juice
* Crushed ice as needed
* 2 ounces light rum
* 2 ounces club soda
* 2 lime wedges
* 2 high ball glasses

Directions:

1.) Place the mint leaves in the bottom of the highball glasses.
2.) Add the simple syrup and lime juice and mix well.
3.) Fill the glasses with crushed ice.
4.) Add the rum and club soda and stir.
5.) Garnish with the lime wedge.


Simple Syrup:

Ingredients:

* 1 cup water
* 1 cup sugar

Directions:

1.) In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring water to a simmer.
2.) Add the sugar and stir until it completely dissolves.
3.) Remove the pan from heat and set aside to cool to room temperature.
4.) Pour the syrup into a pint sized container and seal.
5.) Refrigerate until ready to use.


Silly Joke of the Day:

What is a tree's favorite drink?
..........Root Beer.


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Tasty Tuesday!

“Everyone who enjoys thinks that the principal thing to the tree is the fruit, but in point of fact the principal thing to it is the seed. Herein lies the difference between them that create and them that enjoy.”
-Friedrich Nietzsche

Hello! I hope you are having a wonderful day. The following recipe is a delight, especially if you like bourbon! It is not hard to make, but it does require some preparation a day or two prior to serving.

I like to use fresh berries, but if you are in a pinch frozen berries can be used also. Mint is a pretty garnish, but definitely not necessary! Enjoy!

“Better than any argument is to rise at dawn and pick dew-wet red berries in a cup.”
-Wendell Berry


Berries with Bourbon & Ice Cream

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

* 3- 6 oz pkgs. raspberries
* 8 oz strawberries, stemmed and halved
* 1 pint blueberries
* 1 pint blackberries
* 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp granulated sugar, divided
* 3/4 cup bourbon
* 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
* 1 cup heavy cream
* 1 pint french vanilla ice cream

Directions:

Day or 2 before serving:

1.) Combine berries, 1/2 cup sugar, and bourbon in bowl.
2.) Stir and mix well.
3.) Cover and refrigerate 24-72 hours.

Day you're serving:

1.) Combine 2 Tbsp sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream in bowl.
2.) Whisk until soft peaks form, 3-4 min to make fresh whipped cream.
3.) Place 1 scoop of ice cream into 6 individual bowls.
4.) Top with berries and whipped cream.
5.) Serve immediately.


“What will come from the briar but the berry.”
-Irish Proverb

Silly Joke of the Day:

What do you call a raspberry blowing a raspberry?
.............Berry rude!


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Tasty Tuesday!

“Doubtless God could have made a better berry (than the strawberry), but doubtless God never did”
-William Allen Butler


Hello! I have a great dessert recipe for you today! It is SIMPLE to make and sure to delight!! You can substitute blackberries or even add them in if you would like - be creative! Why not try it for Mother's Day? Enjoy!

“The blacker the berry the sweeter the juice”
-Proverb



Rice Pudding Brulee with Fresh Berries

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

* 1 cup fresh blueberries
* 1 cup fresh raspberries
* 22 oz Rice Pudding (found in most dairy sections)
* 1/4 cup turbinado sugar (aka: sugar in the raw)
* 6 strawberries, sliced

Equipment needed: 6 ramekins (3 1/2" wide & 2" deep)

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to broil.
2.) Spoon blueberries and raspberries evenly between ramekins.
3.) Cover berries with rice pudding.
4.) Sprinkle rice pudding with 2 tsp sugar.
5.) Broil just to melt sugar, 3-4 min.
6.) Garnish with sliced strawberries.

(If you have a culinary torch, brown the sugar with it instead of using the broiler)


“What will come from the briar but the berry.”
-Irish Proverb


Silly Joke of the Day:

What did the strawberry say to the watermelon when they were introduced?
.........Berry nice to meet you


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!