Coco~Moco Chilled Coffee

Coco~Moco Chilled Coffee

Icy cold jolt perfect for a hot afternoon! 

After dragging tail this afternoon, this sounded like the perfect prescription.  It is blazing hot outside, the kind of day just begging for a super cold icy beverage!  This is a breeze to throw together in the blender and enjoy!  Did I say this was healthy????  NO I DID NOT, but it sure hits the spot!

Coco~Moco Chilled Coffee, adapted from Create

The Chef In My Head
Yields 4 cups


3/4 C double strength coffee, cooled
1 C milk, soy or low fat
1/4 C chocolate syrup
1/4 C Coconut milk
2 C ice cubes


Place all ingredients into Vitamix or blender container in the order listed above and secure lid.


Turn machine on high and blend for 45 seconds or until desired consistency is reached.


Enjoy and cool off from the inside out!

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Roasted Tomato Soup ~ Served Hot or Cold

Hot or Cold, Roasted Tomato Soup

This is a robust savory soup served hot or cold.  On this occasion, I served it hot for lunch.  The garden is overloaded with tomatoes!  Two varieties of Heirlooms, Celebrity, Roma and small Cherry tomatoes bursting with flavor.  Basil, yes, we have tons of that too!  Perfect for our delicious soup and easy to put together.

Roasted Tomato Soup, Served Hot or Cold,

adapted from CIA Master Chefs

The Chef In My Head

Yields 8 cups

12 fresh tomatoes, any variety, quartered

4 T extra virgin olive oil, divided use

2 tsp kosher salt, divided use

1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper, divided use

2 large onions, rough chopped

2 stalks celery, rough chopped

4 garlic cloves, 2 peeled rough chopped, 2 whole

4 C vegetable broth

1/4 C dry white wine

1 bay leaf

1/4 C fresh basil, chopped + more for garnish

Place tomatoes along with 2 whole garlic cloves on baking sheet, drizzle with 2 T olive oil and sprinkled with half of salt and pepper.  Roast in 450 degree oven about 30 to 45 minutes until they are browned and have a rich, roasted aroma.  Set aside.

Heat the remaining olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat.  Add the onion and celery and saute, stirring frequently until the onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes.  Add the remaining garlic and the bay leaf and saute for 2 minutes.  Add the roasted tomatoes, the remaining salt and pepper and roasted garlic along with the broth and white wine.  Scrape the bottom of the pot to deglaze.  Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.

Remove the soup pot from the heat and discard the bay leaf.  Carefully pour contents into the awesome Vitamix and add the basil and secure the lid.  Turn on machine on and quickly increase the speed to Variable 10, then to high.  Blend for 45 seconds until smooth.   Note: If you do not have a Vitamix yet, then you can use your food processor or blender, blending in smaller batches. 

If serving HOT, pour into serving cups or bowls, garnish with reserved basil sprigs.  

If serving COLD, chill the soup for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.  Check for seasoning just before serving.  Pour into cups or bowls and garnish with basil springs.

Enjoy!

Delicious with crispy garlic croutons or my favorite, a rustic Grilled Cheese Sandwich!

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Decadent Mushroom Soup

Mushroom Soup

The Rockin Vitamix soars again!  Really fast, delicious, creamy, deep and rich flavors and simply decadent.  Damn, this is really good!!

The fact that I can make a creamy soup without cream, never ceases to dazzle me!!

Soup-er easy....Here you go!

Decadent Mushroom Soup

The Chef In My Head

4-cup servings (very rich) as an appetizer or first course

1/2 stick unsalted butter

1 T. olive oil

1-8 oz. pkg. Cremini mushrooms, sliced

1-8 oz. pkg. White button mushrooms, sliced

1 large onion, sliced

3 green onions, sliced

1 carrot, diced

2 springs fresh thyme

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1 garlic clove, minced
Kosher Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste

juice of 1/2 lemon

1/2 Cup dry white wine

1-1/2 C vegetable stock

2 tsp. Chicken soup base (optional)

In a large saute pan, over medium heat, melt butter along with olive oil.  Add all ingredients with the exception of wine and stock.  Saute to allow all flavors to blend and vegetables to soften, not brown.

Add wine to deglaze pan.  Transfer mixture to Vitamix.  Turn on, rotate dial to 10 and switch to high.  Slowly add vegetable stock and soup base if using through lid.   Blend for 5-6 minutes or until heavy steam escapes top.

Pour into serving cups/bowls.  Garnish with Creme Fraiche or Sour Cream if desired along with fresh cracked pepper.  Enjoy!

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Mango, Orange & Banana Smoothie, A New Favorite!

Mango, Orange & Banana Smoothie!

First let's chat a bit about the amazing health benefits of our ingredients (Remember, this was part of my sales pitch to my husband to fork over the money for the Vitamix).  But it is true, we are getting the most out of our fruits and veggies now and I'm already seeing the difference in our skin and our energy levels are improving too!

The Mighty Mango:  Mangos taste so good that people forget they are also healthy!  Discover how the “king of fruits” can help you.

Health Benefits:


1.  Prevents Cancer: 
Research has shown antioxidant compounds in mango fruit have been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers. These compounds include quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat, as well as the abundant enzymes.


2.  Lowers Cholesterol: 
The high levels of fiber, pectin and vitamin C help to lower serum cholesterol levels, specifically Low-Density Lipoprotein (the bad stuff)


3.  Clears the Skin: 
Can be used both internally and externally for the skin. Mangos clear clogged pores and eliminate pimples. (Read more on page 5.)


4.  Eye Health: 
One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25 percent of the needed daily value of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes.


5.  Alkalizes the Whole Body:
The tartaric acid, malic acid, and a trace of citric acid found in the fruit help to maintain the alkali reserve of the body.



6. Helps in Diabetes: 
Mango leaves help normalize insulin levels in the blood.  The traditional home remedy involves boiling leaves in water, soaking through the night and then consuming the filtered decoction in the morning. Mango fruit also have a relatively low glycemic index (41-60) so moderate quantities will not spike your sugar levels.


7. Improved Sex: Ooo la la....
Mangos are a great source of vitamin E. Even though the popular connection between sex drive and vitamin E was originally created by a mistaken generalization on rat studies, further research has shown balanced proper amounts (as from whole food) does help in this area.


8. Improves Digestion: 
Papayas are not the only fruit that contain enzymes for breaking down protein. There are several fruits, including mangoes, which have this healthful quality. The fiber in mangos also helps digestion and elimination.


9. Remedy for Heat Stroke
Juicing the fruit from green mango and mixing with water and a sweetener helps to cool down the body and prevent harm to the body. From an ayurvedic viewpoint, the reason people often get diuretic and exhausted when visiting equatorial climates is because the strong “sun energy” is burning up your body, particularly the muscles.  The kidneys then become overloaded with the toxins from this process.


10. Boosts Immune system 
The generous amounts of vitamin C and vitamin A in mangos, plus 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy and strong.




The Astonishing Orange:  

Oranges are one of the favorite fruits of the world. Not only do they taste delicious, they contain several vitamins. They can help protect our body from many harmful diseases and illnesses while having a number of cures.

Some of these benefits include:

• Asthma

• Prevent kidney stones

• Lowers cholesterol

• Prevents diabetes

• Arthritis

• High blood pressure

Good digestive breakdown!

Did you know that the dietary fibre ion Oranges helps your stomach stimulate digestive juices to relieve the stiffness of your feces? It is recommended to take in 25-35 grams of fibre daily. Eating the flesh of an orange would be good for your dieting as it contains 3.1 grams of fiber.

You may also choose to include the orange zest into your diet for getting an extra 3 grams of fibre. If you wish to reach the daily intake, eat a few more fruits and vegetables and do nothing more.

Save money and moisturize!

You read me right. The skin of the orange contains natural oil. This oil is excellent for moisturizing your skin and keeping it young.

Instead of wasting hundreds of pounds a year, try using the natural way to keep your skin looking healthy. Therefore, you may use those hundreds of pounds for more important needs.

Let oranges fight cancer!

Vitamin c in oranges is an excellent nutrient which fights cancer. Another advantage is that the peel can also fight cancer with added benefits of lowering your cholesterol and keeping your blood pressure at the normal rate.

Protect your skin against skin disease!


Earlier, I mentioned about how the orange keeps your skin young and moisturized. Another health benefit of oranges is that there is a powerful antioxidant called Beta-carotene which protects skin cells from getting damaged.


Use the orange peel for other health benefits!


You may have not known but oranges can be helpful for you and your home. Other benefits include:


• Orange peels are useful for exfoliating facial scrubs


• Orange peel oil baths is healthy for the skin


• Orange zest can flavour your cooking recipes


• Orange peels can be used to keep cats, ants and slugs away from your garden


• Orange peels can kindle your house fire


• Orange peels is a deodorizer


• Rubbing fresh orange peel can repel mosquitoes


You can surely see the several health benefits that oranges contain. This is why it is so amazing and delicious. Enjoy the oranges and don’t allow any to go inside the trash bin!





Banana bana fo fama....Bananas:  Bananas consist mainly of sugars (glucose, fructose and sucrose) and fiber, which makes them ideal for an immediate and slightly prolonged source of energy 


1. Reducing Depression
Bananas contain tryptophan, an aminoacid that can be converted to serotonin, leading
to improved mood


2. Anemia
Bananas are relatively high in iron, which helps the body’s hemoglobin function


3. Constipation and Diarrhea
Due to their content in fiber, they help restore a normal bowel function. In
addition, diarrhea usually depletes your body of important electrolytes (of which the
most important is potassium, contained in high amounts in bananas). They also contain
pectin, a soluble fiber (hydrocolloid) that can help normalize movement through the
digestive tract.


4. Eyesight Protection
Research published in the Archives of Ophthalmology has proven that adults
consuming at least 3 servings of fruit per day have a reduced risk (by 36%) of developing
age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older
adults, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.


5. Healthy Bones
Bananas are an exceptionally rich source of fructooligosaccharide, a compound
that nourishes probiotic (friendly) bacteria in the colon. These beneficial bacteria
produce enzymes that increase our digestive ability and protect us from unhealthy
bacteria infections. Thanks to fructooligosaccharides, probiotic bacteria can increase
both in number and functionality, increasing our body’s ability to absorb calcium.
In addition, green bananas contain indigestible short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that are
very nutrient to the cells that make up the mucosa of the stomach. These cells, when
healthy, absorb calcium much more efficiently


6. Healthy Kidney
About 190,000 cases of kidney cancer are diagnosed each year.
Research published in the International Journal of Cancer has shown that daily
consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, especially bananas, is highly protective to
kidney health. The results show that, over a long timeframe (13.4 years), women eating
more than 2.5 servings of fruits and vegetable per day cut their risk of kidney cancer by
40%. Among the fruits, bananas were especially protective. Women eating bananas four to
six times a week halved their risk of developing the disease compared to those who did
not eat this fruit. The conclusion of the study is that frequent consumption of fruits
and vegetables, especially bananas, cabbage and root vegetables, may reduce risk of
kidney cancer. This is because bananas and many root vegetables contain especially high
amounts of antioxidant phenolic compounds, while cabbage is rich in sulfur, necessary for
effective detoxification of potential carcinogens.


7. Blood Pressure
Bananas are extremely high in potassium (about 4673mg), yet very low in sodium (1mg),
thus having a perfect ratio for preventing high blood pressure. So much so, the US Food
and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for
the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.


8. Heartburn
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn,
try eating a banana for soothing relief.


9. Morning Sickness
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood-sugar levels up and avoid
morning sickness.


10. Smoking
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. They contain vitamins B6 and
B12 they contain, as well as potassium and magnesium: these substances help the body
recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.


11. Ulcers
This is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicle
cases. It also helps reduce acidity and reduces irritation. Bananas stimulate the cells
on the internal stomach lining to produce a thicker mucus (which protects against acid).
Additionally, bananas contain protease inhibitors that help eliminate bacteria in
the stomach that have been pinpointed as a primary cause of ulcers.


12. Nerves
Bananas are high in B vitamins that have been shows to improve nerve function


13. Mosquito Bites
Many people report that rubbing the inside of a banana peel on a mosquito bite is
very effective in reducing itching and swelling


14. Stress Relief
Bananas are high in potassium, which helps normalize the hearthbeat and regulate the
body’s water balance. During periods of high stress, our body’s potassium levels tend to
be rapidly depleted: eating bananas is a healthy way to rebalance them without using
drugs


15. Stroke Risk
According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part
of a regular diet can reduce the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%



Greek Yogurt:  My big fat Greek dollop



Greek yogurt is a thicker and creamier alternative to typical American-style yogurts. While some people may find the texture more appealing, Greek yogurt is also a healthy addition to your diet. The rich taste and texture of this yogurt can substitute for higher-fat dairy products, help maintain balance in your digestive tract and provide essential protein.
Protein


1. Protein
Greek yogurt has substantially more protein than standard American yogurt. Per ounce, Greek yogurt provides an additional gram of protein over typical non-fat yogurt, reports Katherine Hobson in the "US News" article "Greek Yogurt Vs. Regular Yogurt: Which Is More Healthful?" If you opt for a typical 6-oz. serving of Greek yogurt, you'll have consumed a full 15 grams of protein. Additional protein can help you to feel full and satisfied.


2. Reduced Sugar
Greek yogurt is made by straining the whey off yogurt repeatedly to create its thick texture. Much of the natural sugar is removed during this process. According to Hobson, Greek yogurt has one-half the sugar of unsweetened, non-fat American-style yogurt. Flavored and sweetened Greek yogurts are available, but you can opt to add fresh fruit, sugar-free jam or your own sweetener to unsweetened, plain Greek yogurt.


3. Lactobacteria
Greek yogurt is minimally processed and has not been heat-treated. This provides you with essential healthy bacteria, including acidophilus, according to AskDrSears.com. Acidophilus and lactobacillus organisms can improve intestinal health, reduce diarrhea and even help to prevent vaginal yeast infections.


4. Calcium
Greek yogurt provides substantial amounts of calcium, and the calcium in yogurt is more easily absorbed due to live yogurt cultures, reports AskDrSears.com. While Greek yogurt provides slightly less calcium than some other yogurts, a 6-oz. serving provides nearly 20 percent of your daily calcium needs, according to "Greek Yogurt vs. Regular Yogurt."


Nopolina:  This stuff ROCKS!! (look for it in the health food section of your store)



Nopalina is a nutritional supplement comprised of fibrous elements such as flax seed, oat bran and wheat bran, along with fruit extracts such as grapefruit, apple, pineapple and orange. The advantages of introducing such foods into your diet are easily perceived, but the benefits of taking Nopalina as a dietary complement likely extend far beyond the evident gains. The complex actions that occur within the body as a result of ingesting Nopalina on a regular basis promote health on many levels.



Reduce Weight
Accelerate Metabolism
Increase Energy Level
Decrease Appetite
Reduce Bad Cholesterol Levels
Regulate the Level of Blood Sugar
Maintain Regularity
Improve Blood Circulation
Anti-inflammatory and Detoxify the Body


1. Weight Loss
NOPALINA is a special formula that consists of natural ingredients that activate and accelerate your metabolism. Helping your body to decrease appetite and promote weight loss in a healthy manner.
Surely you have heard or read different ways to make you lose weight overnight without any effort. Unfortunately there are no magic formulas. Nor is the use of restrictive diets, which usually tends you to stops eating to reduce a few pounds. Although it could reduce weight quickly, it would be an attack against your health seriously. The most significant weight reduction is to create new Eating Habits that will enable you to keep fit and healthy at the same time. Also, incorporate natural supplements like NOPALINA.
Formula NOPALINA is highly recommended by people all over the world because of its natural ingredients. It enables you have a good digestion of food intake and thus lose weight in a healthy manner.*


2. Cholesterol
NOPALINA contains Flaxseed, which is made up of high content of Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids. Medical studies have suggested that these fatty acids may reduce the level of triglycerides and LDL low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) from the blood. Thanks to its Original Formula, NOPALINA helps promote blood circulation and maintain a healthy heart.*


3. Diabetes 
NOPALINA promotes reduce the development of diabetes and enable the regulation of insulin and blood sugar levels in the blood when levels are already within normal range. NOPALINA contains Cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) which is highly known for its effectiveness in helping people maintain their level of glucose or blood sugar. For its high content of soluble fiber and insoluble fiber, this cactus helps combat diabetes and assists the liver in the process of digestion and calms the appetite.*


4. Digestion
NOPALINA promotes a healthy regularity, due to its high content of soluble and insoluble fiber. A colon that is poisoned by chronic constipation could be a leading cause of diverticulosis, diverticulitis, hemorrhoids and even more certain types of cancers of the colon.
By taking NOPALINA you are helping eliminating fat, parasites and toxins from the body. It is not a laxative and does not have any vital side effects. NOPALINA helps fight stomach acid known as heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux, and helps prevent stomach ulcers and gastritis.
When you eat foods that are high in fat, you are producing a slow digestion, which make you feel heavy or have a bloated stomach. The high fibers content in the ingredients of FORMULA NOPALINA helps speed up the digestive process and eliminate these effects.*


5. Heart
NOPALINA contains oat bran. This ingredient is well known for its properties to help prevent heart disease.
In many cases, excess body fat accumulates in the arteries causing atherosclerosis. Fat could clog the coronary arteries that feed blood to the heart, causing heart failure, hypertension (increased pressure) and strokes of the heart. Non-saturated oil Omega 3 (found in Nopalina) may help control blood pressure and lower levels of bad cholesterol in the blood. *


6. Anti-Inflammatory 
NOPALINA helps change the body’s response to inflammation. The presence of lignans in the flaxseed cleanses your body of toxins and may help fight many kinds of allergies, arthritis, asthma, psoriasis and eczema.*


NOPALINA contains 100% Canadian Flaxseed. Flaxseed can be harvested anywhere in the world, but Canada is known to contain the largest amount of non-saturated fatty oils Omega 3, 6 and 9 due to low temperatures in the soil.
Taking NOPALINA every day is the easiest way to add fiber, Omega 3, 6 and 9 and add HEALTH TO YOUR LIFE!
The FORMULA in NOPALINA combines the perfect proportions of its ingredients, such as oat bran, wheat bran and psyllium. All of these ingredients contribute to intestinal cleanse flow.

Mango, Orange & Banana Smoothie

The Chef In My Head

Serves 2

1 Cup Ice

1-1/2 Cups fresh Mango, diced

1 Orange, peeled

2 ripe Bananas

1/4 Cup Greek Yogurt

1-1/2 T. Nopolina

Put all ingredients in the order listed above into Vitamix.  Turn machine on, turn dial to 10, and on high.  Blend to desired consistency and enjoy!

My thanks to the following websites for their valuable information:

http://bananasweb.com

http://food-nutrition.knoji.com

http://www.livestrong.com

http://nopalinausa.com

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Moroccan Spaghetti Squash & Sweet Potato Soup

Spaghetti Squash & Sweet Potato Soup

The Vitamix is changing lives!!!   We are using this amazing machine at least two times per day, usually 3.  Today for example, breakfast was a fresh Apricot, Orange and Banana Smoothie!  Beautiful color and delicious too!

Apricot, Orange & Banana Smoothie

Apricot, Orange & Banana Smoothie

The Chef In My Head

Serves 2

1 cup ice

4 fresh apricots, pitted

1 banana, peeled

2 oranges, peeled

1 T. Nopolina (optional)

Place all ingredients in Vitamix in order listed,  Turn on and immediately turn to 10 on dial and switch lever to high.   Blend to desired consistency and enjoy!!  

Too easy and too tasty!!

Lunch today is the beautiful and creamy soup.  I am going to pretend that it is not expected to be over 100 degrees outside.  

After standing with the refrigerator door open for about ten minutes, this is what I came up with.  Man I love this blender, it was so worth saving up for.  Changing lives here....changing lives.

Moroccan Spaghetti Squash & Sweet Potato Soup

The Chef In My Head

Serves 6

1 3-4 pound spaghetti squash

1 large sweet potato, peel and cut into large cubes

1/2 large onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic, large dice

1/2 (4 T.) stick unsalted butter

1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp cayenne (or to taste)
1/2 tsp tumeric (optional for added nutrition and color)
3/4 teaspoon salt
fresh ground pepper
1/2 of an orange, peeled
2 cups vegetable broth



Pierce squash (about an inch deep) all over with a small sharp knife to prevent bursting. Cook in microwave oven on high power (100 percent) for 6 to 7 minutes. Turn squash over and microwave until squash feels slightly soft when pressed, 8 to 10 minutes more. Cool squash for 5 minutes.


Place Sweet Potato cubes in microwave safe bowl and microwave on high power (100 percent) until tender when pierce with a fork, about about 4 to 5 minutes.



Meanwhile, melt butter in a small heavy saucepan over moderately high heat. Add garlic and onion and cook, stirring, until translucent, about 1 minute. Stir in spices and salt & pepper and remove from heat.  Add to Vitamix.


After Spaghetti Squash has cooled slightly, cut it in half, scoop out seeds and discard (or save to toast for garnish).  with a large spoon, scoop flesh of squash into Vitamix, reserving a small amount of "noodles" for garnish if desired.


Place cooked cubed Sweet Potato into Vitamix.  Toss in orange and 2 cups of Vegetable broth.  


Secure lid on Vitamix.  Turn on machine, turn dial to 10 and lever to high.  Add more Vegetable broth as needed.  Let machine remain running on high until you see a fair amount of steam escaping lid.


Pour into serving bowls, garnish and serve.


Unbelievably creamy and delicious!!

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