Chocolate Ganache (dairy free)

Another "Health Starts Here" magical recipe. Dates and Almonds are gifts from heaven. Another sampled experience at Whole Foods. They had it as a dip for fresh strawberries, but it could go on bananas (when strawberries no estan aqui) crepes, or other desserts as well (Cake!! Cupcake! Ice cream!).

Serves 4-6

• 3/4 cup pitted medjool dates, soaked in 3 cups of water for 2 hours

• 3/4/ cup unsweetened cacao or cocoa power

• 1/2 cup raw almond butter (roasted might be good too)

• 1/2 tbl vanilla extract

• 3/4 cup water, divided 

Blend the softened dates (discard soaking liquid) cacao powder, almond butter, vanilla and 1/2 cup water until smooth and creamy. Add more water until desired consistency is achieved. Slightly thicker consistency for a dessert, or thinner to coat fruit.

You'll be saying "put it in my mouth" for sure.

Date-Sweetned Hot Chocolate

Finally, a little bit chillier weather and it is appropriate to share this with you. Tried this at Whole Foods and was blown away by how tasty it was.

*Credit to Health Starts Here (Whole Foods)

Makes about 4 cups

• 1 quart  Unsweetened Almond Milk (or the real deal if you can hang)

• 10 Dates, pitted

• 1/2 cup unsweetened Cacao or cocoa powder

• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 pinch sea salt (Optional)

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer to a medium sauce pan and heat until desired warmth is reached. Pour and drink in cozy rich and natural sweetness.

Meatloaf!

What you sweet cheeks will need:

- 1 lb ground beef (you can use any mix of ground meat, turkey, pork, etc.)

- 1 yellow onion chopped

- 1 bell pepper diced

- 2-3 celery stalks chopped

- 1/2 cup carrots chopped

- 3 cloves of garlic minced

- 1/2 cup grated parmesan

- 1 egg

- 3 tbsp. ketchup (I use natural no sugar added)

- 1-2 tbsp. ground herbs de provence 

- dash of onion and/or garlic powder

- hot sauce (I use Siracha)

- salt and pepper to taste

- 2 slices of turkey bacon

• Preheat over to 425
• In a large sauce pan heat some good olive oil, add chopped onions and cook until translucent
• Add the bell pepper, celery and carrots and cook for another 4 minutes
• Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (about a minute or so)
• Turn the heat off and let the veggies cool
• In a bowl combine the ground beef (meat), parmesan, egg, ketchup, herb de provence, onion powder, garlic powder, hot sauce, salt and pepper
• Once cool add the veggies to the ground beef (meat) mixture
• Transfer to a loaf pan
• Place the turkey bacon on top
• Cover with tin foil and bake for 20 minutes
• After the 20 minutes take the tin foil off, turn heat down to 400 and cook for another 25-30 min
• If the turkey bacon has not browned turn the broil on for a few minutes 
• Pour out some of the liquid (mostly fat and do not pour out all of it since that is flavor)
• Slice and serve with some extra ketchup if so desired

EASY PEASY YUMMY PORK CHOP

First time ever making a Pork Chop and turned out pretty damn good! The recipe is pretty basic but it really has a lot of flavor...

(Credit to Smitten Kitchen)

~4 garlic gloves

1 tsp dried oregano 

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tbsp smoked paprika 

Salt & Pepper

~3 tbsp EVOO

4 pork chops

1. Put the garlic through a garlic press or mince very small. And cook with EVOO and oregano until aromatic.

2. Stir in all other spices

3. Rub mixture into chops and let marinate for 30 minutes or more (even overnight).

4 Broil 5 minutes per side (I thought that sounded too short but it was pretty much on point).

I served it with a sautéed Brussels sprout/red onion and arugula salad (redwine vinaigrette).  NUM!

Delicious Winter Kale Salad (Credit to The Juice Bar Collective)

A head of Kale (I've done it with Dino and Curly)

Cauliflower (you could do raw, blanched or roasted)

Purple Cabbage (cut thin)

Garbanzo Beans

Delicata Squash 

Dressing:

2 tbs Cider Vinegar 

1/4c Juiced Lemon

1/4c Juiced Orange

1tbs Dijon

1 tsp Garlic

1tbs Honey

1/4 of a red onion (I used much less, diced tiny, and then pickled it for 20+ min with the garlic, honey citrus and vinegar)

1 tsp ground fennel

1 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp yellow curry

1/4 tsp cumin

salt & pepper to taste

1/2-3/4c EVOO

The process is pretty straight forward. The ingredients and amounts change slightly every time I make this. The magic is in the dressing!!  Don't forget to massage your Kale with EVOO and salt beforehand.   Goat cheese or persimmons have been another nice addition. Healthy and Hearty enough for a meal!!

Thai Style Butternut Squash Curry

Thai Style Butternut Squash Curry

(with Tofu, shredded Chicken, Extra veggies... Whatever your heart or tum tum desires)

from taste Williams-Sonoma

This is so yummy and simple. Enjoy my beauties!

1 Tbs. vegetable oil
4 green onions, white and light green parts sliced separately
3 Tbs. minced fresh ginger
1 package (3/4-1 lb./375 -500 g.) butternut squash cubes (about 2 1/2 cups)
1 can (14 oz./430 ml) coconut milk
2 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1 1/2 Tbs. Asian fish sauce or gluten-free tamari
1 Tbs. Thai red curry paste
2 tsp. sugar
1 package (14 oz./440 g.) firm tofu, drained and cut into 3/4-inch pieces ( I used some shredded boiled chicken that I had and added it at the end)
2 cups (2 oz./60 g.) chopped chard leaves
Cooked brown jasmine rice ( I used short grain. So tasty)
1/3 cup (1/2 oz./15 g.) sliced fresh basil

1. In a heavy medium pot over medium-low heat, warm the oil. Add the white part of the green onions and the ginger and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
2. Add the squash and stir 1 minute to heat.
3. Add the coconut milk, 3/4 cup (6 fl. oz./180 ml.) water, lime juice, fish sauce, curry paste and sugar and bring to a simmer. Stir in the tofu.
4. Cover partially and simmer until the squash is just tender, about 20 minutes.
5. Add the chard and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.

Fluff the rice with a fork and divide among 4 warmed bowls. Spoon the curry over. Sprinkle with the green part of the green onions and the basil and serve. Serves 4 (or 3 hungry ass people... depends how much rice you spoon in each bowl).

Turkey Chilli

What you sexy people will need (everything is approx.):
- 1lb ground turkey (I use ground white)
- 1 yellow onion (diced)
- 1 bell pepper (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (chopped)
- 1 can tomatoes in their juices (no salt added is best)
- 1 can kidney beans (rinsed)
- 1.5 cups chicken broth
- 2 tbs. ground cumin (you really need this!)
- drizzle of balsamic
- hot sauce to taste (I use siracha) 
- few shakes of onion and garlic powder (optional)
- salt pepper to taste
- sour cream and avocado to top it all off

1. Drizzle some olive oil in a large pan and add the diced onions when warm
2. Cook the onions for about 5 minutes
3. Add the bell pepper and cook for another 2 minutes
4. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant (a minute or so)
5. Add the ground turkey and cook until all the pink is gone (about 5 minutes)
6. Add the tomatoes, beans and chicken stock and stir to combine
7. Add the cumin, balsamic, hot sauce, salt, pepper, onion and garlic powder
8. Stir to combine (add more stock if the mix does not have a soup like consistency)
9. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for about an hour or until the stock has reduced
10. Top with sour cream and avocado and enjoy

• You could add a lot of other things to this recipe (carrots for example). It is up to you and what you like. You can also top with other things (grated cheese for example). Great and easy recipe!