Sunday, May 20, 2012

June's Meeting: Nostalgia

We had to reach back a few years to get inspiration for this collective meeting. Our mission was to create a dish that reminded us of home, mom, or anything nostalgic.

Fatma was our gracious host for this event. This time around, we got to share a little of our background. Of course, with our palates!

Sharria, made a pasta salad that reminded her of her youth.













Sharria's special guest Sakinah made a unforgettable pineapple upside down cake.












Nafisah made a tasty Ambrosia salad & Cows in a Blanket























MamMarie made a Senegalese spiced leg of lamb with saffron vermicelli










Fatma made a dish from Zanzibar: Mung Bean & Rice Dish, Onion Salad & Curried Chicken


























Faizah made a southern dish of Fried Fish, spiced Cabbage and Mustard Potato Salad 
& Lemon Meringue pie (*store bought)










CVOD: Green Smoothie


Green smoothies are a huge hit in the raw food scene. Raw kale contains large quantities of anti-oxidants and other anti-cancer nutrients as well as beaucoup chlorophyll, manganese, calcium, and B-vitamins. This simple green smoothie recipe with raw kale can be made even simpler by adjusting to whatever greenery you have on hand. The parsley and cilantro add their distinctive flavors while the mint reminds you of a favorite dessert. With great taste and immense nutritive value, this raw food green smoothie is a win-win scenario for everyone!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 cups
Ingredients:
  • 2 cups sliced banana or soft fruit of choice (Mango, etc)
  • 2 cups cold or frozen orange juice (you can freeze the juice in an ice tray)
  • 1 1/2 cups tightly packed dinosaur or curly leaf kale
  • optional 1/4 cup lightly packed parsley
  • optional 1/4 cup lightly packed cilantro
  • optional 1/4 cup lightly packed mint leaves
Preparation:
Blend all of the ingredients together for 10 to 20 seconds or until the greens have completely blended in. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Collective Vessel On A Diet!

I thought it would be great to include various low calorie snacks and treats on our collective efforts to find healthy! We are very proud of our members who have taken steps toward an active healthy lifestyle!! You all know who you are ! Keep up the good work!!!

I have been going to Trader Joes lately and I really love the Seaweed Snacks! Oh the fitna! However each package is only 60 calories and oh so tasty!!!



Nutrition summary:

Calories
30
Fat
2g
Carbs
1g
Protein
1g
There are 30 calories in a 1/2 package serving of Trader Joe's Roasted Seaweed Snack Packs.
Calorie breakdown: 69% fat, 15% carbs, 16% protein.




Saturday, May 19, 2012

Recipe: Coconut Curry Seafood Soup


Coconut Curry Seafood Soup (Submitted by Sharria)
Serves 6 to 8 /Total Time  30 min.

Ingredients – NOTE: this is the amounts that goes in it from a recipe online… I always manipulate, I don’t really measure.  I work according to taste.

Soup
  • 1 Tbsp. canola oil
  • 1 Med onion
  • 2 Tsp minced garlic
  • 1 knob (1 inch long) fresh ginger, diced (thinly sliced peeled)
  • 1  13.5 oz can of (chicken, fish, vegetable, or mushroom, depending on the overall soup flavor you want)
  • 2 13.5 oz cans coconut milk
  • 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1  Lime – JUICE FROM IT!
  • ¾  cup Fresh cilantro leaves.
  • ¼  cup red curry paste
  • 2- 3 Tbsp. minced palm sugar or brown sugar (the only thing I've skipped because I don’t always have it).
  • Protein-- 
  • shrimp and cubes of firm fish such as salmon, black cod, or halibut for a seafood curry soup – Grill , broil or bake fish depending on the taste you would like (I always grill that way everything is done at the same time – the amount depends on the amount of meat you want in it.).


Steps
Put the oil in a large stockpot and heat to medium. Add the onions and sautee—don’t let turn burn, add the garlic and ginger and stir for another minute or so. 
Cook seafood in another pan. 

Add the stock, 1 can of the coconut milk, fish sauce or soy sauce, lemongrass, and lime leaves (if using). Add ½ teaspoon each of the red curry paste and tom yam paste, as well as 2 Tablespoons of the sugar. Stir to dissolve the curry pastes and sugar in the broth, then bring to a simmer and cook for a few minutes. 

ADJUSTMENTS:
Sample the broth and decide: Do you want to add more coconut milk, for a richer soup? Do you want to add more curry and tom yam paste, for a spicier soup? Does the soup need a bit more sugar? Add accordingly.

Add cooked meat, simmer for a few minutes then add the juice of the lime.

NOTE: You can make it a chicken soup, vegetable soup or hot and sour soup (just don’t use the coconut milk). Be sure to use the vegetable broth that amounts to eating real veges so that you get the nutritional value needed.