Best of the Month November 2015

A recap of my most popular posts from November 2015.

I'm finally back after my winter/holiday break from blogging.  It was great to turn off the computer and just relax.  Now that the holidays are over I'm back and it's time for my best of the month November.  It's interesting to note all of my most popular recipes, from this month, are vegetarian.

All #vegetarian recipes are my BestoftheMonth Nov 2015  [Tweet this]

November was a good month.  All of my recipes received at least 200 views and I polished and re-posted some old (but great) recipes.  All 3 of my re-posts got many more views and are my top three best of the month.

2013's best of November:

Black Bean Soup

A creamy, flavorful, and meatless soup made with black beans and spices.  Filling enough for an entree.  Now has 926 views, 73 +1s, and 34 'yums'.

BlackBean #Soup: BestoftheMonth Nov 2013  [Tweet this]

2014's best of November:

Green Pea Soup

Healthy and easy, frozen, green peas pureed in a flavorful broth for a creamy and delicious, vibrant green, soup.  Now has 612 views, 40 +1s, and 6 'yums'.

GreenPeaSoup #vegan: BestoftheMonth Nov 2014  [Tweet this]

Now back to this year's best of the month:

Parmesan and Garlic Roasted Broccoli

A deliciously simple vegetable side of roasted broccoli flavored with parmesan, garlic and a dash of lemon juice.  This is a re-post of the same recipe from 2013.  It only had 58 views and now it has 1230 views 103 +1s, and 366 'yums'.  It's one of my favorite vegetable side dishes.

Parmesan&GarlicRoastedBroccoli #veggiesides: BestoftheMonth Nov 2015  [Tweet this]

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Coconut Oil

A Simple side dish of mashed sweet potatoes with coconut oil.  That's it and it is delicious.  This is another re-post recipe from 2013.  It now has 655 views and 68 +1s, and 35 'yums'.

MashedSweetPotatoes w/CoconutOil #veggiesides: BestoftheMonth Nov 2015  [Tweet this]

Green Bean Salad

Crispy green beans in a honey mustard vinaigrette with sliced almonds.  A simple and quick vegetable side for any meal.  Another re-post from 2013.  Now has 497 views, 35 +1s, and 13 'yums'.

GreenBeanSalad #veggiesides: BestoftheMonth Nov 2015  [Tweet this]

Spicy Edamame

Young soybeans, in the pod, sauteed in ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and sriracha.  A spicy, salty, and nutritious snack.  490 views, 38 +1s, and 71 'yums'.

Spicy Edamame #healthysnacks: BestoftheMonth Nov 2015 [Tweet this]

Hoisin Baked Tofu Vermicelli

A vegetarian rice noodle salad with vegetables, herbs, and sweet and salty baked tofu.  258 views, 46 +1s, 7 'yums'.

HoisinBakedTofuVermicelli #vegetarian: BestoftheMonth Nov 2015  [Tweet this]

Check out my Bests of November from previous years:

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Dark Chocolate Energy Bites

Healthy snack bites made with cocoa, nuts, seeds and dates.  No processed sugars.

I've been seeing these everywhere recently.  Everyone raves about how healthy, simple, and tasty these types of energy bites are.  I've always been skeptical until I tried them myself.  They really are great.  Yes, they are simple, healthy, and delicious.  There is no baking involved in this snack just blitz in a food processor and you can have these ready in 15 minutes or fewer.  The bites are made up of unprocessed sugar from dates, protein and fiber from nuts and seeds, and healthy fat from coconut oil.  They, of course, don't taste exactly like candy but for all the health benefits are a delicious snack that will help curb sugar cravings and keep you full.  A great option for mid-day or late night snacking.  I made these for a friend who has stopped eating refined sugar and she raved about how delicious and sweet they are.

Put down the candy bar for #healthy Dark Chocolate #EnergyBites  [Tweet this]

Energy bites are very versatile too.  Don't feel like rolling them into balls?  Press the mixture into a square or rectangular pan and then cut into squares or bars.  My husband loves to take the bars with him while hiking for quick and easy fuel.  You can vary the flavors too. Just be creative. Something as simple as using roasted instead of raw nuts will enhance the flavor.  Vary when you add and how long you process each ingredient for different textures. Use different kinds of nuts, seeds, flavorings, and dried fruit...half the fun is experimenting.  I add finely ground coffee or espresso powder to the mix sometimes for a little wake-me-up caffeine.  When I'm making these for hiking I try to add more calories with healthy fats from nut butter and coconut oil.  The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.

Get creative w/ #DarkChocolate #EnergyBites  [Tweet this]

Dark Chocolate Energy Bites

Prep time: 15 minutes
Servings:  20-30 balls

Ingredients:

10 dates, pitted (if dry soak in warm water for a few minutes then drain)
1/2 cup almonds (raw or roasted whatever you have)
1/2 cup pecans (as above)
1/4 cup sunflower seeds (as above)
2 Tbsp flax seeds
1 heaping Tbsp dark cocoa powder
1 Tbsp Chia seeds
1 heaping Tbsp coconut oil

Start with the dates.  Chop in a food processor until they form a sticky ball.  Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until chopped and mixed to your satisfaction.  If it's not sticky enough add a few more dates, too sticky add more nuts and/or seeds.

Scoop out a spoon full at a time and roll into balls.  Alternatively, dump into a parchment lined square pan and press out until flat, then cut into squares or bars.

Makes 20-30 balls depending on the size.  A great sweet treat when you want a snack and great fuel to help get you through the day (or a hike...no need to buy expensive and not very tasty energy bars)

Vary ingredients for more flavors and nutrition.

Enjoy.

For more healthy snacks check out:

Ginger Lime Muffins  -

Cinnamon Raisin Bran Muffins

Candied Pecans      -

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Bhindi (Okra) Masala

A vegetarian Indian dish made with okra and spices.  A delicious, healthy, and filling meal.

(Re-post of original from 1/11/13. Edited for grammar, updated pictures, tweeables, pinnable image, and like posts.  Had 96 views)

Okra.  It's one of those vegetables I only knew one thing to do with and that is batter and fry.  I grew up in North Carolina and we love our fried okra.  Every spring my dad planted a  garden in our yard and okra was one of the usual vegetables.  By summer, we would have so much okra, but I don't remember having it any other way than fried.  I'm not complaining I love fried okra it's one of those foods I look forward to whenever I go home.

There's more to #okra than frying: Bhindi (Okra) Masala #Indianfood [Tweet this]

Not long after moving to Honolulu and finding Chinatown, I found a market there that had okra.  I was excited and curious.  Fried okra isn't a common food here so how is it used?  It took me some Googling to find an Indian recipe site that had many dishes with okra as the main ingredient.  I like Indian food and I like okra so what could go wrong?  Once I tried Bhindi Masala I fell in love and it's much healthier than deep fat frying okra.  This is a recipe I make frequently.  If you like okra I urge you to try this recipe.

Like Okra? Try this #Vegetarian #Indianrecipe: Bhindi Masala  [Tweet this]

Bhindi Masala

Cook time:  20 minutes or fewer
Servings:  3-4

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp ghee, or oil of choice
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp minced ginger
1 large onion, chopped
1 Tbsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp garam masala powder
1/8 tsp ghost chili masala, or hot chilli powder of you choice (if you can handle more heat by all means add more)
1 pound okra, chopped (about 3 cups)
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce, or juice of 1/2 a lime
Salt to taste

Heat ghee (clarified butter) in large frying pan (I think ghee adds better flavor, but it has 9g saturated fat per tablespoon and it's not vegan so you can use any oil that withstands high heat instead).

Add cumin seeds and stir cooking until they start to sputter.  Then, add the ginger and garlic.  Stir until just fragrant (it won't take long) and add the onions.

Mix the onions around for a minute or two until they soften.  Add the spices and let cook for a little while until fragrant then add the okra and salt.

Stir and let cook until the okra softens, add Worcestershire sauce (or lime juice) and keep stirring.  I add about 1/2 cup of water to deglaze the pan and make a bit of sauce then turn off the heat (the hot pan will evaporate most of the water, but it make things a little less dry as well as helps cool the pan).

Serve immediately over rice garnished with cilantro and with naan on the side.  Makes 3-4 servings.

Enjoy.

For more vegetarian Indian recipes check out:

Arhar Dal           -

Cauliflower and Chickpea Curry

Patta Gobhi Mattar (Cabbage and Peas)

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Spicy Edamame

Young soybeans, in the pod, sauteed in ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and sriracha.  A spicy, salty, and nutritious snack.

This is my new favorite game day snack.  I love having salty and spicy snacks/munchies when I'm drinking (alcohol) and I do a bit of that while watching my favorite teams play.  Even when not drinking these beans are a great snack.  The recipe is very customizable to your individual tastes add more or less of any ingredient as you prefer.  Use any hot sauce, minced chilis, or none at all.  It always turns out great. Spicy Edamame also makes an excellent side dish.

Spicy Edamame is my new favorite #gamedaysnack  [Tweet this]

If you've never eaten soybeans like these you should definitely give them a try.  You only eat the beans inside the pods (the pods are tough).  So what you do is put the whole pod in your mouth and kind of suck/squeeze the beans out of the pod.  The beans are tender and buttery and you suck the spicy salty oil off the pod with the beans.  Just 1/2 of a cup is considered a serving but I've been known to eat it all by myself.

You gotta try this Spicy #Edamame #snack  [Tweet this]

Best of all, this is a nutritious snack.  There are 5 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein in just 1/2 a cup.  As well as many other health benefits of soybeans, ginger, and garlic (they are all on The World's Healthiest Foods site click to check them out).

Spicy Edamame is a #healthysnack  [Tweet this]

Spicy Edamame

Servings:  2-4
Cook time:  about 10 minutes

2 cups frozen edamame (in pods)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp minced ginger
1-2 tsp soy sauce
2 tsp sriracha

Boil the edamame, in enough water to cover them, for 5-8 minutes then drain.

While the edamame is boiling, simmer the garlic, and ginger in the oil over low heat.  Then add the drained edamame stirring and tossing to coat with the oil mixture.

Pour in the soy sauce and sriracha and turn up the heat so that the liquid boils off while mixing to coat well.

Turn off the heat and remove edamame to serving dish (with an empty trash bowl on the side).

To eat you just suck the tender beans out of the spicy coated pods (make sure you suck all that spice and oil off the pods and don't forget to lick your fingers too--it's so good) and discard the pod.

Enjoy.

For more healthy snacks check out:

Hummus           -

Cucumber Bites      -

Sun-dried Tomato Spread

Linked to:  Pretty Pintastic, Show off, Best of the Weekend, 2 Cup, Lou Lou Girls, TicklemyTastebuds, Wake Up, Full Plate, Freedom, Foodie Friends

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Sun-dried Tomato Spread

A zesty two-ingredient spread made with pureed sun-dried tomatoes and olive oil.  A great appetizer for a party, a gameday snack, or anytime.

Wow.  Sun-dried tomatoes are so rich in flavor.  They add an extra pop of flavor to anything they are added to.  I often just much them right out of the jar.  I love keeping a jar of these little beauties in the fridge for easy addition to pastas, pizzas, and antipasti.  Sun-dried Tomato Spread is simple (just a puree of sun-dried tomatoes and olive oil), packed with lycopene, versatile, and delicious.

Add rich flavor w/ Sundried Tomato Spread  [Tweet this]

This spread is so easy and quick to prepare and it's so delicious it will impress everyone.  It's perfect for a fancy dinner party or even a simple gameday snack.  I also love that it is healthy (packed with fiber and lycopene) in kind of a sneaky way.  Sundried tomatoes are just so delicious you don't even consider their nutrition, but it's there.

Snack healthy w/o realizing it w/ Sundried Tomato Spread  [Tweet this]

Sun-dried Tomato Spread

Prep time: under 10 minutes

Ingredients:

Sundried tomatoes in Italian seasoned oil
Olive oil
Fresh basil (optional)
Parmesan (optional)

This is super simple.

In the bowl of a food processor, fitted with the chopping blade,  add about 20-30 sundried tomatoes.

Turn the processor on and let chop/puree until the tomatoes are finely chopped.  Add optional ingredients (if using) and continue to chop.

Add oil 1 tablespoon at a time while processing until spread is to your desired consistency.  You may not need any extra oil if you use oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes ...if it looks dry add some oil (remember it's easy to add more oil but you can't really take it away so err on the less oil side).

The spread is ready to serve immediately.  Serve with your favorite bread, meats, and cheese.  It's great on sandwiches or paninis and as a pizza sauce too.

Refrigerate any leftover spread.  I've kept it for up to a week...it would probably last longer (maybe not as long if you add fresh basil), but I always eat it all right away.

Enjoy.

For more dips and spreads check out:

Bacon Jam          -

Quick & Easy Guacamole

Hummus          -

Linked to:  Best of the Weekend, Pretty Pintastic, Tickle my Tastebuds, Wake up, Whimsy,  Wonderful, Full Plate, Freedom

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