January 12, 2012 · 2:39 pm

Juicy News!

So much has been in the news lately about pesticides and contaminants in fruit juices, you may worry about buying/drinking any juice. But commercially made juice isn’t that nutritional, anyway. Why not make your own? It’s a win-win-win because your own juice is safer, healthier, and cheaper.

There is a catch. You need a Vitamix machine. Regular visitors to the Hasty Tasty Meals Kitchen already know how enthusiastic I am about the Vitamix, but I’ll spare you a commercial of all its benefits. For now I’ll focus on juice.

Whole foods juice includes all the fruit (except the peel in certain foods like pineapple, oranges, and bananas): membrane, seeds (except for the deadly seeds found in peaches, apricots, and apples; you’ll want to remove those), pulp, and juice. A juice extractor removes everything but the juice, which leaves you with a high sugar/low fiber product. What a waste of good food!

Here is an example. To extract enough juice for two four-ounce servings of orange juice, you’d need two or three oranges, depending on size. With the Vitamix, you use one orange and a cup of ice. That’s it! If the fruit is too tart, you may add a touch of honey or other sweetener, but that’s optional and usually unnecessary.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Are you convinced? If so, go to Vitamix.com and place your order. Use code 06-006627 for free shipping!

Leave a comment

Filed under fruit, Healthful Eating

Tagged as , , ,

January 2, 2012 · 8:19 am

2011 in review

Thanks to all who follow The Hasty Tasty Meals Kitchen.  The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,200 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

More good things coming in 2012, so stay tuned!

Leave a comment

Filed under Healthful Eating

December 26, 2011 · 9:55 am

A New Year’s Day Soup

This recipe originally appeared in Hasty Tasty Meals in the RV (© 2006)

I created this recipe especially for my mom. She loved blackeye peas, and she loved this soup. It’s a great use-up of your turkey stock if you make it from your Christmas turkey bones. I prefer dried blackeye peas, but canned works, too.

You can make this recipe either in the pressure cooker in half an hour or slow-cook it half a day. Either way, there’s no need to presoak the blackeye peas. Make it up ahead and re-heat to serve. (Soup’s always tastier the next day!)

RECIPE

Blackeye Pea Soup

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 carrot grated
1 potato, cut up into 1” pieces
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
1 quart low sodium chicken broth
1 can blackeye peas, rinsed and drained (or 2 cups water and 1 cup dried blackeye peas― add cooking time)
1 can Rotel® tomatoes and green chiles
1 bay leaf

Directions:

Preheat the oil in a 4-quart sauce pan (I use either the Gourmet Slo-Cooker or the pressure cooker) on Medium and sauté the onion and garlic for 5 minutes. Add celery, carrot, potato. Sauté another 5 minutes. Add the quart of broth, can of Rotel®, and can of blackeye peas (or dried peas and 2 cups water). Bring to a bubble then reduce heat.

Slow-cook method: Remove pan from burner, add bay leaf, and place on the electric base. (or pour into a Crock Pot® if you prefer) Slow-cook on a medium-low setting for 5 hours, or longer if using dried peas. Remove bayleaf, check and adjust seasonings, then serve.

~OR~

Pressure Cooker Method: Secure lid of your pressure cooker, bring to pressure and cook 15 minutes for canned blackeye peas and 30 minutes for dried blackeye peas. Remove from heat, release pressure according to your manufacturer’s instructions, then carefully open the cooker.

Check the peas for doneness. If necessary, return pot uncovered to the burner and simmer until the blackeye peas are cooked. Remove bay leaf, adjust seasonings, then serve.

Happy new year!

1 Comment

Filed under black-eye peas, Healthful Eating, Recipes, Soups & Stews

Tagged as , , , ,

December 18, 2011 · 5:27 pm

A Regular Breakfast Shake

Does your busy schedule occasionally upset your digestive tract? Sure, you’ve seen those TV commercials about probiotics, but have you priced any of those products? I have. According to Dr. Oz (and countless other medical and nutritional authorities), you’re dollars ahead if you follow Grandma’s advice and eat your prunes.

You don’t like the taste of prunes? I certainly don’t. But here’s a suggestion: hide them in your fruit smoothies. I add 5 (one serving, according to the package) prunes to the following recipe, which serves 2. Tastes sweet and keeps your plumbing running smooth, too.

RECIPE

Breakfast Shake

Ingredients:

1 cup milk or soy milk
1 orange, quartered and peeled
1 apple, quartered and cored
5 prunes
1 cup frozen peaches or assorted frozen fruit

Directions:

Add ingedients in the oder in which they are listed to the Vitamix container. Secure lid. Set to Variable Speed 1 and turn on the machine. Gradually increase to Speed 10 then flip switch to High. Process for 1 minutes.

Makes 2 servings.

No added sweetener is necessary because the prunes are very sweet. If prunes still are a turn off for you, think of them as dried plums. 🙂

You don’t have a Vitamix? Ask Santa for one now. Click through the ad in the sidebar and get free shipping. You won’t regret owning a Vitamix. The more you use it, the healthier you’ll be!

1 Comment

Filed under fruit, Healthful Eating, Smoothies

Tagged as , , , ,