Thai Sweet Rice with Mango

This delicious Thai dessert will satisfy both your tummy and your taste buds!

Ingredients

1 cup sticky rice
1 3/4 cups water
pinch of salt
3/4 cup coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon stevia (or 1 tablespoon sugar)
1 ripe mango, refrigerated*

*I like to use the smaller yellow mangoes for their smoother texture and sweet flavor, although any ripe mango will do.

Soak the rice in the water for at least 30 minutes in a rice cooker. Add a pinch of salt and 1/4 cup coconut milk, and turn the rice cooker on.

After the rice cooker stops, taste the rice. If it is not soft and chewy, add a little more water and turn it on again.

Once the rice is finished cooking, allow it to sit on the "warm" setting while you prepare the sweet coconut milk and the mango. Mix the stevia in with the coconut milk and stir over medium-low heat until warm. (Do not boil it.)

Dish the rice and pour sweet milk over it. Slice up the mango and lay it on top. Serve warm with chilled mango and enjoy!

Almond Milk & Puree

Almonds are a great source of healthy protein, and they're also good for your skin. This simple recipe makes almond milk from scratch--and you can use the puree as a homemade facial scrub.

Ingredients

1/2 cup sliced almonds
2 cups water
1 teaspoon honey

Soak the almonds in water for at least 6 hours, or overnight, at room temperature.

Blend in a blender for a couple minutes, add honey, and blend a little longer. Use a coffee filter to strain the liquid from the almond puree, scooping out the puree from the filter as you go.

Refrigerate the milk and enjoy by itself or in cereal or a smoothie. You can add a little cinnamon, sugar, or more honey if you want it sweeter. Use the puree as a facial scrub to cool and exfoliate dry skin. The milk will stay fresh in the refrigerator up to 4 days; the puree will stay up to 2 weeks.

Creamy Tomato Parmesan Soup

 I love this recipe because it's full of veggies, yet it tastes almost like a dessert! Its thick and creamy texture also makes it a great pasta sauce, or even a warm cheese dip with a little extra parmesan tossed in.

Ingredients

Veggies & Seasoning:

4 cups vegetable broth
2 cups diced tomatoes
1 cup finely sliced celery
1 cup finely sliced carrots
1 cup finely sliced onions
1 teaspoon oregano
1 tablespoon basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 a bay leaf

Cream:

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup butter
1 cup half & half*
1 cup milk

*For soupier soup, you can substitute another cup of milk for the half & half.


Put all of the veggie and seasoning ingredients in a pot and cook over medium heat for about an hour, or until veggies are softened.

Melt butter over low heat and add flour, stirring together.  Take about a cup of the soup mixture and stir it in with the butter and flour, then add it back to the soup pot.

Add the rest of the cream ingredients. Mash up the soup veggies with a potato masher, breaking up any flour clumps if necessary.

Simmer for another 20-30 minutes. Then enjoy it as a soup or a warm sauce.

Lemon Garlic Roasted Potatoes

 A simple and tasty way to make potatoes!

Ingredients
(for two servings)

3 medium to large potatoes
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
4 cloves minced garlic
1 tablespoon dill

Coat a baking dish with non-stick spray and preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Slice the potatoes into 1- to 2-inch pieces. Cover them evenly with about a tablespoon of olive oil. Season them well with salt and pepper, and roast in the oven for 30 minutes.

Prepare a mixture of 2 tablespoons oil, lemon juice, garlic, and dill. After the 30 minutes, stir the potatoes in this mixture and return to the oven. Bake for another 15 minutes.

Remove potatoes from the oven and drizzle any remaining lemon garlic mixture over the top. If desired, season with more salt and pepper. Serve warm and delicious!

Strawberry Mint Smoothie

Sweet and minty and so good--a perfect accompaniment to those Valentine's Day chocolates.

Ingredients (for 2 smoothies)

2 cups frozen strawberries
1½ cups vanilla soymilk
10 mint leaves
2 teaspoons honey
7 ounces love  :)
extra mint leaves for garnish

Mix the ingredients until smooth in a blender. If desired, garnish with heart-shaped mint leaves.