Black Currant Tart

Did you Know ?

Currants are an excellent low-calorie source of Vitamin C and are high in bioflavonoids. Black currant lead both the red and white types in nutritional value. A cup of black currant provides a whooping 220mg of Vitamin C and 360 mg of potassium. Currants are also a good source of fibre , providing about 2g per cup.

Here's a recipe which I enjoy.

Ingredients:

Short crust pastry made with whole wheat flour
16 oz - Black currants
4 oz - Honey
4tbsp - chopped sweet Cicely
Glace Cherries

Method :

• Heat oven to 400F. Use the pastry to line 6 tart tins 2-inches deep by 2 inches diameter. Mix the currants with the honey and Cicely. Fill the pastry with the currants. Cover each tart individually with foil & place on a baking sheet.
  
• Bake for 25 minutes. Let them cool completely.
• If you wish, whip up some cream & pipe it onto the tarts. Decorate with glace cherries.

Enjoy the recipe !

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Macadamia Nuts

Did you Know?
Sweet potatoes are high in nutrients and fiber. They have a lower glycemic index than white potatoes. They help to prevent cancer, macular degeneration and heart diseases.

Ingredients:
1/4 cup - macadamia nuts
4 - medium sweet potatoes, peeled
1/4 cup - extra virgin olive oil, divided
sea salt, to taste
ground pepper, to taste
1/4 cup - macadamia nuts
1/2 tablespoon - fig or pomegranate balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons - maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon - Dijon mustard

Method:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread macadamia nuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 5 to 8 minutes, until fragrant and lightly browned. Remove from oven, cool and chop. Increase oven temperature to 400°F.

Oil a baking dish. Cut the sweet potatoes lengthwise into wedges and toss them in a tablespoon of olive oil. Place potatoes in the baking dish and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.

When potatoes are done, remove from oven and let cool for a few minutes. Transfer to a serving platter.

Whisk together the remaining oil with the vinegar, maple syrup and mustard. Drizzle over the sweet potatoes and garnish with toasted macadamia nuts.

Enjoy the recipe!

Date Cake

This is one great cake recipe which I love as it has my favorite dried fruit - dates.

Did you know?

Dates are very high in potassium and fiber. They are also a good source of iron, niacin and vitamin B6. As they are very sticky and high in sugar content don't forget to brush your teeth after eating dates.

Ingredients:
3 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups or 3 sticks butter, softened

1 cup pineapple, diced pieces

1 cup peaches, sliced and chopped

1 cup raisins

1 cup dates

1 cup pecans, chopped

1 cup coconut

Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a cake tin.In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together three times. Cream together with butter.In another bowl, with a wooden spoon, mix fruit, pecans, and coconut until thoughly blended.Add creamed butter mixture to the fruit-nut mixture and stir until ingredients are well blended. Pour into prepared cake tin. Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees F. or until a fork pierces clean from the center. Cool to room temperature.

Enjoy this recipe!

Artichoke - Pepper Pizza with Feta Cheese

Did you know?
The globe artichoke is both a delicacy and a low - calorie, nutritoius vegetable. It is the flower bud of a large thistle - like plant with only a few edible portions - the heart and the tender fleshy part at the base of the tough
outer leaves.
Artichokes contain cynarin, an organic acid that stimulates the sweetness receptors in the taste buds of people, causing the foods eaten afterwards to taste sweeter.

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 small red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 small orange bell pepper, cut into strips
2 garlic cloves, minced and divided
1/4 low-fat mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
9 artichoke hearts
1 Italian cheese-flavored pizza crust
1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Method:
Prepare pizza crust according to package directions. Heat oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper strips; sauté 3 minutes. Add half of minced garlic; sauté 1 minute. Remove from heat; set aside. Place remaining garlic, mayonnaise, crushed red pepper, black pepper, and artichoke hearts in a food processor, and process until finely chopped. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet. Spread artichoke mixture over pizza crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Top with bell pepper mixture. Sprinkle with Feta cheese and thyme. Bake at 450° for 14 minutes or until crust is crisp (cheese will not melt).

Enjoy this recipe!

Simply Sauted Fennel

Do you know?
Fennel is an ideal food for people trying to lose weight as it is filling and low in calories. It is a good source of potassium, fiber, folate, iron and calcium. Its leaves are a good source of bete carotene. It is much more nutritious than celery and its distinctive licorice flavour is an asset to a variety of dishes.







Here's a simple fennel recipe.

Ingredients:
12 medium Round fennel knobs
2 Garlic cloves
1/2 cup Olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground white pepper
3/4 cup Water

Method:
Remove and disgard all the bruised and tough parts of the fennel and cut into 4-6 wedges. Wash throughly. Place garlic and oil in a large skillet and saute until the garlic is browned. Remove garlic and add the fennel, season with small amounts of salt and pepper and saute for approximately 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add water and cook over moderate heat, tightly covered, for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Uncover the skillet and let the liquid evaporate and the fenel acquire a nice golden tone.

Serve hot.

Enjoy this recipe!

Pickled Lemons

Did you know?

Lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C. 1 cup of lemon juice contains 55 mg of vitamin C. Licking a lemon can stimulate saliva flow in people who suffer from a dry mouth.

Ingredients:

5 lemons
80 gram sea salt
4 whole cloves
4 cardamon pods
2 bay leaves
1 1/2 cups olive or canola oil

Method:

Wash and dry the lemons and then cut them into quarters lengthwise. Put the lemons in a colander placed over a bowl and sprinkle them evenly with salt. Leave them to stand for 24 hours till their skin softens and the juices run out of the lemons.

Now pack them into a sterilised jar with the spices and bay leaves. Completely cover the lemons with oil. Seal the jar and leave in the fridge for a month bekore using.

They can be enjoyed with dips, sprinkled over fish or in Greek salads.

Enjoy this recipe!

Apple Chutney

Did you know?
A fresh apple is an ideal snack filling and low in calories. A 140g piece of fruit has only 90 calories. It contains a good dose of pectin which helps lower LDL blood cholesterol levels. The most positive nutritional aspect of apples is the mix of anti oxidants they contain.

They are called ' nature's toothbrush ' because biting and chewing an apple stimulates the gums and the sweetness of the apple causes an increased flow of saliva which reduces tooth decay by lowering the levels of bacteria in the mouth.

Here's a tangy apple recipe !

Ingredients:
2 limes
6 Granny Smith or other tart apples (about 3 pounds), peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
2 navel oranges, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
1 jalapeño chile, seeded and minced
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 cup dark seedless raisins
3/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/2 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons minced, peeled fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt

Method:
From limes, grate 1 teaspoon peel and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice. In 4-quart saucepan, heat lime peel, lime juice, and remaining ingredients to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Cook, uncovered, about 20 minutes or until thickened, stirring occasionally. Cover and refrigerate chutney until well-chilled, about 6 hours or up to 1 week.

Enjoy this recipe!