Coriander Coconut Chutney

A slightly sweet, sour, spicy, and flavorful blend of cilantro and coconut.  A great side to enhance just about any Indian meal or a snack for dipping naan.

As promised, I'm sharing the chutney recipe I made to accompany my Cauliflower Curry.  I used a recipe I found from Veg Recipes of India's list of 30 Easy Chutney Recipes I shared on Google+.  There were so many delicious and simple options I just chose the one where I had all the ingredients on hand. This chutney turned out great and added, even more, fantastic flavor to the meal.  Any leftovers are great as a snack with naan.

Coriander Coconut #Chutney adds, even more, flavor to #Indianfood  [Tweet this]

Coriander Coconut Chutney

Modified slightly from Veg Recipes of India

Prep/cook time:  10 minutes
Servings:  3-4

Ingredients:

1 bunch cilantro roughly chopped (3/4 cup packed)
3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1 jalapeno (or green chili) rough chop
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp sugar
pinch of salt

For tempering:

1 Tbsp oil
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
8-10 curry leaves (dried and crushed---it's what I had)
pinch of asafoetida

Add all of the first 7 ingredients into a blender and puree until smooth (add a little water if needed to help blend).

Remove the puree to a bowl and set aside.

Heat the oil in a small frying pan over medium-high heat.  Add the mustard seeds and wait for them to start to sputter.  Then add the curry and asafoetida.  Fry for a few seconds then immediately pour over the puree and stir to combine.

The website says to serve this with idli, dosa, or other snacks but I thought it made a delicious accompaniment to my Cauliflower Curry and with naan.

Enjoy.

Check out my Cauliflower Curry mentioned in this post:

For more Indian recipes that would be great with this chutney check out:

Arhar Dal

Baked Samosas

Bhindi (Okra) Masala

Linked to:  FullPlate, Freedom, Foodie Friends, Pretty Pintastic, 2 Cup, Lou Lou Girls

Follow Joybee What's for Dinner? on Pinterest:

Read more ...

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      -

Linked to:  Lou Lou Girls, Whimsy, Tickle my Tastebuds. Full Plate, Pretty Pintastic

Follow Joy Bee's board Joybee Whats for Dinner blog posts on Pinterest.

Read more ...

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

Follow Joy Bee's board Joybee Whats for Dinner blog posts on Pinterest.

Read more ...

French Onion Dip

A slightly beefy, very oniony, sour cream dip perfect for snacking.  Dad will love it.  It makes a great gameday snack too.

Updated from original 10/4/13 (520 views and 34 +1s.) updated for content, pinnable image, minor editing, and links.
I thought this would be a great recipe to re-post for Father's Day.  I remember my dad frequently having French Onion Dip in the refrigerator when I was growing up.  I know my sisters and I loved the dip too, but we rarely got to eat it.  It was Daddy's special treat and we were not supposed to eat it.  I don't think we were ever told specifically not to but when I remember eating it, it was always with a sneaky guilty feeling and not getting to eat much.  Nothing ever lasts long with 6 people in the house and my dad can sit and snack like a champ so maybe that's why I don't remember getting much chance to eat any dip.  All I know for sure is that my dad really likes French Onion Dip with ruffled potato chips.  Understandably, this dip makes me think of my day and I think he will enjoy it as much as I do.

French Onion Dip for #Dad on #fathersday.  [Tweet this]

Now that I'm an adult I don't have 5 other people to share it with, just my husband (my dad probably thinks the same thing now that all of his kids are grown up it's only him and Mom).  It's probably not the healthiest, but it makes a wonderful treat. If you want to try and lighten this dip, it tastes great substituting (plain, nonfat) Greek yogurt for the sour cream.  It's not exactly the same, but it's close enough that it's hard to tell the difference.  You could easily make the substitution without telling anyone and I don't think they'll even notice.

Substitute #Greekyogurt for a #healthier dip.  [Tweet this]

French Onion Dip

Cook time:  10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound(16oz) sour cream or try non-fat plain Greek yogurt for a lighter dip
1 tsp Better Than Bullion Beef Base (you could probably use a bullion cube just crush it into powder first)
1/4-1/2 cup dried minced onions
few dashes Worcestershire sauce

In a large frying pan, over medium heat, cook the onion and garlic until soft and translucent.  Set aside to cool.

In a food processor, fitted with the chopper blade, add the sour cream, bullion, dried onion, Worcestershire, and the cooled onion/garlic mixture.

Turn on the food processor and chop/mix until ingredients are thoroughly combined.

Remove the dip to a seal-able container and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Makes about 3-4 cups of dip (plenty for a gathering or for two to snack on all week maybe).  Serve with plain ripple potato chips or if you must it would be good with vegetables too (that's just so disappointing).

Enjoy.  Happy Father's Day.

Other dips Dad might like
(you can lighten all of these by using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream):

Loaded Baked Potato Dip

Three Onion Dip      -

Beefy Horseradish Dip

Linked to:  Sat Night Fever, See ya in the Gumbo, Merry Mon, Two Cup, Lou Lou Girls, Teach Me, Tasty Tues, Tickle my Tastebuds, Whimsy Wed, Wonderful Wed, Yuck Stops Here, Cook Craft Share, Full Plate, Eat Create, Freedom Fri, Foodie Friends, Pretty Pintastic, Best of the Weekend 

Linked to:  Treasure Box, 2 cup, Loulou Girls, Tickle my Tastebuds, Wakeup, Whimsy, Pin Worthy, Full plate, Foodiefriends, Freedom, Bestof the Weekend, Pretty Pintastic

Follow Joy Bee's board Joybee Whats for Dinner blog posts on Pinterest. 

Read more ...

15 Super Dips for Super Bowl 2015

A roundup of 15 dips, salsas, and spreads to make any Super Bowl party super.  I sure love dips.

Super Bowl is Sunday.  Whether you are watching at home or away, by yourself or with a crowd, here are 15 dips that are sure to please even the pickiest eaters.  Make one or make many you can use vegetables, potato chips, tortilla chips, crackers, bread, or pita for your dippers.  Maybe even mix it up and have multiple dippers and/or dips.

Click on the pictures to go to the recipes or pin for later

	French Onion Dip

If you would like even more recipes for Super Bowl check out last year's 30 Super Recipes for Super Bowl:

Have a great Super Bowl.

Enjoy.

Linked to:  Pretty Pintastic, Best of the Weekend, 2 Cup, See Ya in the Gumbo, Lou Lou Girls, Teach Me, Tasty, Wed Roundup, Cook Craft Share, Full Plate, Freedom, Foodie Friends


Follow Joy Bee's board Joybee Whats for Dinner blog posts on Pinterest.

Read more ...