Cran-Raspberry Fizz

1. Slice two of the limes using Ultimate Mandoline fitted with v-shaped blade; set aside. Pour cranberry juice concentrate and water into Family-Size Quick-Stir® Pitcher.
2. Juice remaining limes into pitcher using Citrus Press. Scoop sorbet into pitcher using Ice Cream Dipper; plunge to combine. Add ginger ale and lime slices. Plunge gently until well mixed. Serve over ice.

Yield: 16 servings

Nutrients per serving: Light: Calories 130, Total Fat 0 g, Saturated Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Carbohydrate 34 g, Protein 0 g, Sodium 15 mg, Fiber 1 g

Cook’s Tips: If desired, 2 cups flavored vodka such as raspberry, cranberry, currant, citrus or lime can be added to this recipe.

To garnish rims of glasses, zest one lime using Microplane® Adjustable Grater. Combine lime zest and 1/2 cup sugar in Prep Bowl. Place a small amount of sugar mixture onto Simple Additions® Appetizer Plate. Rub rim of glass with lime wedge to moisten. Dip rim of glass into sugar mixture.

For a simple garnish, using Zester/Scorer, score a lemon and zest a lime; thinly slice using Ultimate Mandoline. Make a cut to the center of each lemon and lime slice using Petite Paring Knife. Garnish each glass with one lemon slice and one lime slice.

Shared by a Pampered Chef  Consultant—thank you!

Bananas

Bananas…
As soon as bananas get more ripe than you like, peel them, break them into big chunks, throw them into a
freezer bag and into the freezer. Then, whenever the urge for a smoothie strikes, you are prepared.

Fresh Citrus?

Fresh Citrus?

The recipe calls for freshly squeezed citrus. How many do you need to purchase at the market?

The following measurements should come in handy on your next visit.
An average size lemon and lime have about 1/4 cup of juice and and an average orange has 1/3 cup of juice.

Don’t forget to zest it first….zest adds “ump” to the recipe.

Kitchen tips: Dishwasher*oven*refrigerator*microwave

Before going to bed or after breakfast, use clorox clean-up with bleach on your counters and exterior appliance surfaces as directed, so that your kitchen will be clean, fresh and ready for the next time you use it.

Dishwasher
Offensive dishwasher odors can often be removed by simply running the wash cycle for 30 seconds to add water to the bottom of the washer. Then pour in 1 cup of baking soda and let it stand overnight, and restart it in the morning.

Oven
To tackle that brown-stained oven window, make a thick paste of water and baking soda. Apply to the inside of the window, leave for 10 to 15 minutes then scour with clean water.

Refrigerator
Vanilla Va-voom
Vanilla extract makes a great deodorizer for the fridge. Pour a little on a cotton ball and put it in a small dish or cup where it won’t be disturbed.

Microwave
Microwave Clean
To remove baked-on food more easily, simply fill a measuring cup full of water and sliced lemons and microwave until water boils, usually 3 minutes. The moisture makes old food easy to wipe clean.

Lettuce Recall

Lettuce Recall, never fear……
The lettuce being recalled is the romaine lettuce. You can still have pretty salads and a salad that is so cool and refreshing without the fear of your lettuce being on the recalled list.

I prefer the green leaf head lettuce. I find there is no after taste, no re-tasting later during the night or feeling yucky after having eaten a salad.

The green leaf head lettuce can be found in most groceries. It is a great source of Vitamin, A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin K, calcium, iron, copper and antioxidants lutein and beta carotene. It is very low in saturated fats and cholesterol. On the charts, it would be listed as 0 for both. One cup and a half of loosely shredded is about 15 calories or a cup is about 9 calories.

Be sure to wash the lettuce in cool water and pat dry with a paper towel if you do not have a salad spinner which takes out the excess water, prior to bagging it for the refrigerator. If you take our the moisture, it should be good for about 3 days in the refrigerator.

When storing lettuce, be sure to store away from apples, pears and bananas. Ethylene gas, a natural ripening agent, causes lettuce to have brown spots and to decay much faster than normal. Discard lettuce that appears slimy or has black spots. Slimy lettuce is a sign of decomposing and the black spots are normally mold.

Of all the lettuces I have tried, I keep coming back to the green leaf head lettuce. When spun in a salad spinner after rinsing, its crispness and taste is so good. The green leaf head lettuce doesn’t bother me after eating it as many types of salad leaves do. I do not know why it doesn’t but it doesn’t. I’ve heard others say so too after trying this particular lettuce. Try it for yourself, now that romaine, is not the lettuce of choice in many areas due to the recall.

Check out my recipe section for several great salad choices–with or without the meat, they are excellent salad recipes.

Bon Appetite!

Chocolate tips…

Chocolate melts quicker when it is chopped up. Use the food chopper to chop your chocolate, before melting.

Melting chocolate in the microwave is wonderful in the micro cookers. It melts smoothly, it doesn’t stain, and the cooker isn’t hot to touch. Microwave 1 minute on 50% power, then in 20-second increments until melted.

When working with chocolate, keep it away from droplets of water. Be sure the container you are using is completely dry. One drop of water will change the outcome of your recipe.

Chocolate can be stored for a long time if it is kept in a tight container, away from humidity and in temps
60-70 degrees F. When exposed to direct sunlight, chocolate, especially white chocolate can go rancid changing its quality and flavor.

Tips when using bananas

Do you peel your bananas correctly? Peel a banana from the bottom and you won’t have to pick the little stringy things off of it. That’s how the primates do it.

Do you know how to keep bananas longer? Take your bananas apart when you get home from the store. If you leave them connected at the stem, they ripen faster.

Dip a banana in boiling water for approx. 10 - 15 seconds, which will make the peel turn black from pulling the acid into the peel. Peel to use for your recipe and your banana won’t turn dark.

Milkshake and Bananas? Try using frozen bananas instead of ice cream. They make a thick and creamy milk shake without the extra fat.

Bell Peppers–Green, Red, or Yellow?

In the produce section of the grocery store, looking for a bell pepper and there are three colors. Which do you choose? Green, Red or Yellow?

If you are choosing based on vitamin C, skip over the green one. Although a green bell pepper has 2 times as much Vitamin C as an orange, the red and yellow peppers have 4 times as much!

Now that you have chosen the color of the bell pepper, do you want 3 or 4 bumps on the bottom of the bell pepper?

Bell Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating. Bell Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.

When a recipe only calls for a portion of a bell pepper, cut the bottom off and leave the core in the middle. This will allow the moisture to stay in the pepper when storing the left over section.

Lemons, Limes, and Oranges, Oh My!

Did you know about 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice equals the amount of juice from 1 lemon? This will save you the time from measuring when you are preparing a recipe.

Lemons, limes, oranges will produce more juice if you will leave them out at room temperature prior to preparing a recipe.

If you’re juicing lemons, oranges or limes, and you forgot to take them out of the refrigerator, you can heat them for 20 seconds in the microwave and roll on the counter for a minute, you’ll get more juice.

Prior to using your citrus press to juice your fruit, take a few minutes to zest it. Zesting citrus can be done using a zester (small tool) or my favorite method is using my microplane grater for finer shreds. Take the fruit and rub over the microplane until you get to the white pulp layer, then turn it and zest the next part, until you have zested the entire fruit. If the recipe doesn’t call for the zest, zest it and store it in the refrigerator or freezer for future recipes. The zest can also give off a nice aroma in the refrigerator or in your home if you set it out for a few minutes on a small dish.

If you are making fresh lemonade, orangeade or limeade zest the fruit prior to juicing. Place the zest into the pitcher and then juice the fruit into the pitcher. Friends and family will think it’s the best they have ever drank.

The zest of the lemon lemon can be placed in ice cube trays. Fill with water and freeze. Add to iced tea or your favorite drink for extra pizzazz!

Just add lemon zest to get a little extra kick to the flavor of most any recipe without the calories!
Lemon Zest is great on any chicken, in any green salad to make it taste just a little fresher, and it’s so tasty on dessert pizza and tortes.

Simple Healthy Tips For Mealtime

Did you know, it’s important to spend a little time on the presentation of your meal?
You are more likely to enjoy a meal if it’s visually appealing as well as tasty.

A simple meal of meatloaf and mashed potatoes can go from a hum drum look to a magnificent display by simply cooking your meat loaf in a bundt style stone or pan. Once the meat loaf is finished, dump onto a platter or in large round bowl, putting your mashed potatoes in the center. You could top the potatoes if you wish with a sprig of parsley or cilantra to add color.

Make every meal an occasion. Set the table. Use the real deal, not paper plates. Eat with your family. Sit down with them and eat together. Give yourself the opportunity to enjoy your food without distractions like television. At the family meal, you can truly connect with members of your family and hear about their day by being truly present with them.

You are less likely to overeat if you eat slowly and savour every mouthful. As you savour every mouthful of the meal, listen and savour every moment of sharing by the family during this special time together.

Bringing the family back to the table should be a goal for each of us. Meals at home are normally healthier, eaten in less of a hurry, and the reconnection of families. “priceless”!

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