Pumpkin Persuasion – A Muffin Affair

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I have always felt like pumpkin soup and traditional dishes of cooked pumpkin and roti or rice  in Trinidad was just something that should not be cooked in that way. Pumpkin , I thought could be used in a latte or a tea, as the essential ingredient to a bread, a cake or even a smoothie. The texture, colour and sweetness of the pumpkin always enthused me to experiment with it in non traditional kitchen ways. Obviously, I am working on my menus, recipes and breakfast items. I thought the low fodmap diet should not only be healthy and attractive but it should be interesting and fun too! So I used pumpkin (not from a can but from the farmer’s market) and millet flour as my gluten free flour. The result was a week long supply of yummy breakfast muffins. So here is the recipe below just for you!

Ingredients

1/2 cup olive oil

3/4 cup brown sugar

2  eggs

2 cup pureed pumpkin (boil pumpkin until soft then process until smooth)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 3/4 cup millet flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup coconut milk

1 semi sweet Hersheys Baking Bar of Chocolate

 

Method

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Lightly grease muffin cups or line tray with paper liners.

Combine olive oil, brown sugar, eggs, milk, pumpkin puree and vanilla extract in one bowl.

In another bowl combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon.

Now add the dry to the wet ingredients.

Pour batter into muffin cups or paper lined cup cake trays (half full to allow them to rise when baking).

Add the chopped chocolate to each batter filled cup.

Bake for 20 – 45 minutes (use the toothpick test when the toothpick is inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean then it is ready).

Cool for 15 minutes or your desired muffin temperature and enjoy!

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(I got more than the 8 muffins you see on this plate.

I got about 16 muffins but I used disposable, aluminum heart shaped  pans)

N.B.

These muffins were stored in the refrigerator and lasted for a  week.

Plantain Seduction – The Dessert Bar

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Well darlings, it seems like I will be stuck on this low fodmap diet for more time than anticipated. However, it seems to be working for now which only suggests healthier lifestyles and more adventures in the food laboratory aka my kitchen. (The low fodmap diet allows flexibility. Rather than off the shelf products that are too expensive the Caribbean dieter can use lots of available produce from their local farmers to sustain their diet and themselves). This also means I get to share my journey through the low fodmap diet with other fodmap dieters, the vegan community and just about any one of you interested in experiencing food differently. I am definitely not vegan but pescetarian; I consume seafood. Although, my recipes are somewhat restrictive due to the low fodmap regimen there is room for you or the vegan food lover to do substitution. The recipe I will share with you is a gluten free recipe for a plantain dessert bar or what one can refer to as “The Plantain Seduction.”

Ingredients

    • 2 ripe plantains
    • 2 eggs
    • 1/4 cup of olive oil
    • 1/4 cup raw cane sugar
    • Hersheys Baking Bar of Chocolate (1 pack)
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • 2 tsp vanilla extract
    • 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Grease Pyrex dish with olive oil and set aside (use anything that is available to you)
  3. Add the plantains (peeled and chopped) to your food processor.
  4. Pulse until your batter is smooth.
  5. Add in your chocolate bar in pieces and pulse a few times until they are combined into the batter. Add other ingredients and mix well.
  6. Pour your batter into your greased dish and allow to bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
  7. Allow the baked brownies to cool.
  8. Frost with Nutella or your own frosting
  9. Start cutting and serving (preference for warm or cold plantain bar depends on individual).
  10. Refrigerate

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N.B.

You can substitute the baking chocolate, oil and eggs if you wish. The texture is very delicate and moist almost like a custard or bread pudding except lighter. (Be careful not to burn it . You can use a toothpick to test if it is done. When the toothpick is inserted and comes out clean it is cooked). The taste is slightly salted and sweet with neither of the two overpowering each other. I used an oval casserole dish of 12 1/2 inches in length and 7 1/2 inches width (at the middle) so use what you have.

 

Super Foods = Super Powers

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So forget all the OTC (over the counter) drugs and the illegal ones that once caught you have to face dire consequences. There is a new “high” that is cost effective, legitimate, all natural  and definitely pro body and mind! It just might be the world’s best kept secret from mankind! But as usual I cannot keep it to myself so I am just dying to fill you in on all the details! ( Super hero fanatics you may get your superpowers after all!)

super power

My Fruit Salad Recipe

1/2 pear (chopped)

1 banana (chopped)

1/8 cup of pumpkin seeds

Method

Add ingredients to bowl

Toss them

Enjoy!

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My Breakfast Story

I believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I hate when it gets skipped because a hungry person is an angry person (myself included). I love  variety in any breakfast menu. It should never be boring! Hence, I started to  introduce fruit salads rather than just have one fruit a day to the breakfast table. This week I added some pumpkin seeds to my morning fruit salad (see recipe above).

I loved the freshness, textures and the array of sweetness of the fruits and the crunch of the pumpkin seeds too. It took only a little while before my brain was dancing and singing (I really don’t know how else to explain it). I became somewhat happy. My mind was alert, my eyes felt like they opened up to a whole new world. My mind, my body and soul were at peace with each other. It lasted for the entire day and night. I did not feel tired at all. There was a sense of  calm. Yet, I still felt as thought I had a boost of energy!

I could not fathom why this was happening or what was the reason so I did my research and I found the culprit or should I say miracle worker! This is the real deal! It works and it is so amazing that this stuff is natural and readily available at leading supermarkets and health stores nationwide. Could you have guessed pumpkin seeds were the super ingredients ?! If you guessed right, good for you! Now go take a pumpkin seed break!

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Interesting Facts

Nutritional Value (0.25 cup)

(manganese 74%, phosphorus 57%, magnesium 48%, copper 48%, zinc 23%, protein 20%, iron 16%)

Benefits:

  1. Get High-These little pieces of magic are a great source of magnesium which help increase the creation  ATP (adenosine triphosphate) or the energy currency of life as it is known as the high energy molecule that stores energy for us to do everything that we do. This means there is an increase in the pumping of your heart.
  2. Morning Flush Guaranteed (Look out for the evening flush too!) Of course there is fiber so you can rest assured there will be a flush some time after digestion.
  3. Irie Vibes – We be Jammin’- The blood vessels become relaxed as a result of magnesium consumption. Finally, you can take the natural route to relax land.
  4. Smile and Stretch- Strengthen your bones and teeth with this magnesium drug as it promotes  bone and teeth formation.
  5. Zinc will give you Super Powers
  6. Get Immunity– improved health of the immune system
  7. Network Coverage : ” Hellurr earth to body! Pick up the phone”- increasing the growth and reproduction of cells.
  8. Mood Ring –  stimulate moods and heighten senses of taste and smell
  9. Maximum Coverage – The eye and skin are no exceptions from improved health with the consumption of zinc.
  10. Regulator– Diabetics can also benefit as it promotes insulin regulation.
  11. Keep the doctor away – Guys who are no too much into the healthy lifestyle guess what Zinc just may save you a trip to the doctor in your later years. There is proof that it improves overall health of prostate.
  12. The Good Fat  – This is a great source of Omega 3 , healthy fats, antioxidants and fibers for improved health of heart and liver.
  13. Pause for a cause – There is an increase of good cholesterol. They decrease blood pressure levels. So women who are facing menopause and suffer from hot flashes, headaches and joint pains can now enjoy a natural alternative.
  14. Goodbye Insomnia– Tryptophan is an amino acid found in this world wonder seed. The body uses it to convert into serotonin which is then converted to melatonin (the sleep hormone). It is recommended to pair it with some fruit (some hours before bedtime curfew) for a restful night!
  15. Natural Analgesic-These anti inflammatory effects will make you forgo a  trip to the pharmacy. It has been tested with proven potential to help arthritis patients.

So 2015 Cheers to a healthier and  happier you!

Take care of yourself !

Come on you owe it to yourself to not only look good but feel good too!

Credits:

Information Source:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/09/30/pumpkin-seed-benefits.aspx

More Recipes

http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/10/roasted-pumpkin-seeds-spicy-sweet-salty-recipes.html

 

 

Gastronomic tourism; Ode to the chow

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ODE TO THE CHOW

pommecythere chow

What is chow?

Is it an undiscovered fruit ?

Or a meaning masked so well

….Marked so well

 On the hearts and taste buds of every Trinbagonian

Unremittingly being hidden like a secret

 Kept from the burgeoning taste buds of the international foodie

It is a requited victory to have championed such a taste

Such a unique flavor

 Such a prized possession…

 But the realest form of this bliss would be ..

The blessing and virtue of sharing this gift

The treasure of this tantalizing chow

… with everyone.

 

Chow originated in the exotic Caribbean isles of Trinidad and Tobago.  Locals use fruits that are near ripe and a series of spices, seasonings, salt and pepper for taste. It can be used as a quick snack or a condiment when serving meals. Please find below a recipe for chow.

Recipe

2 mangoes (near ripe)

2 grains garlic

2 tbsp shadon beni

½ tsp salt

½ tbsp black pepper

½ tbsp crushed pepper (pepper flakes)

½ tbsp lime juice

Method

  1. Wash, peel and cut mangoes into pieces
  2. Peel garlic and grate
  3. Add mango pieces and seeds to an empty dish
  4. Add grated garlic, shadon beni, salt, black pepper and crushed pepper
  5. Mix
  6. Taste
  7. Add more salt or pepper to suit taste.
  8. Serve

 

Any other fruit can be used in the same way.

 

SALUD ;)

LGTT

REPRESENT!!!!!