Simply Sweet Ingredient Challenge: Strawberries

Such a wonderful time of year with all of the baby birds and bunnies, bright and beautiful flowers, and, last, but not least, the absolutely amazing produce that's sprouting up all around! With all the tasty food showing up at Farmer's Markets near you, I was easily inspired to go for the ever-loved strawberry... and what a great idea it turned out to be!

J loves himself some Ahi, so I decided to make a tangy strawberry salsa to put atop his seared fishy! The trick to this tasty salsa treat is a food processor... If you don't have one you truly are missing out on one of the seven wonders of the kitchen. I have used it almost daily since I bought it and I truly believe that everything can be processed in one way or another! You'll never have to chop, slice, mince, or puree by hand again!

Sweet and Tangy Strawberry Salsa

Ingredients: 

• 2 little green baskets of strawberries
• 2 jalapenos
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 bunch of cilantro
• juice of 1 lime
• sprinkle (or two) of garlic salt

Directions: 

1. Add the jalapenos, garlic, and cilantro into the processor and pulse until chopped to your liking. 
2. Slice the tops off the strawberries then drop the rest into the processor. 
3. Pulse to your liking. 
4. Add the lime juice and the garlic salt then pulse. 
5. Taste test... Add more salt or lime or strawberry as you wish. 
6. Enjoy on chips, fish, quesadillas... On whatever you'd like! 

And for the other participants' entries: 

Zoe's Strawberry Shortcake Sandwiches

There's another coming, I'm just waiting for the post so check for it later! 

And for the next challenge due in two weeks... 

Oatmeal

It's probably the most boring ingredient ever... But the list of health benefits are longer than you'd ever expect! Full of fiber, cholesterol reducing agents, and so much more! 

Cookies, breakfast, cakes, waffles... However you can incorporate it, I want to see it!

Simply Sweet Ingredient Challenge: Hummus

This week's Simply Sweet Ingredient Challenge was to make hummus! Such an easy, but so fun and creative way to make a tasty treat that you can use as a dip, a condiment, a garnish, or fun tasting dish! 

I couldn't help myself and made a little trio of Triscuit toppers that J and I gobbled up several nights in a row as an after dinner snack! 

(sorry for the poor pictures... I left my camera at home so iPhone photography it is!)

The first of the trio: 

Spicy Black Bean Hummus

Ingredients: 

• 1 15 ounce can of black beans
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 heaping scoops of jarred jalapeno slices
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil 
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Red pepper flakes to garnish

Directions: 

1. Drain the black beans of their liquid and pour it down the drain. 
2. Add all other ingredients into a food processor and pulse away. 
3. Add salt and pepper (or even jalapeno or red pepper flakes) as you like. 
4. Enjoy! 

*Simply Sweet to Note: Chill it in the fridge and it firms up a little nicer than the warm soupiness you may originally end up with.

The second of the trio: 

Spicy Cilantro Lime Hummus

Ingredients: 

• 1/3 cup cilantro 
• 1 lime, both its juice and zest
• 1 15 ounce can of cannelloni beans 
• 2 heaping scoops of jarred jalapenos, sliced 
• Drizzle of olive oil 
• 2 cloves garlic 
• Red pepper flakes (to garnish and taste)

Directions: 

1. Drain the cannelloni beans of their liquid and pour it down the drain, then drop the beans in the food processor. 
2. Zest the limes then cut in half and juice in the food processor.
3. Add all other ingredients and pulse away. 
4. Add jalapeno or red pepper flakes as you like. 
5. Enjoy! 

 And finally, the delicious recipe I debuted here!

(It's my first made all by myself recipe so I'm sort of proud!)

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup of crumbled goat cheese

• 2 Tablespoons minced garlic 
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil (plus some to drizzle on top!) 
• 1/2 of a really juicy lemon
• Dash of pepper
• 1 bunch of basil 
• A handful of sun dried tomatoes (mine weren't in oil, but if so just drain)

Directions: 

1. Place the feta cheese, goat cheese, and garlic in a bowl. 
2. Sprinkle with pepper and add 2 Tablespoons of olive oil. 
3. Mix together with a spoon (sort of smashing the cheese together into a paste). 
4. On a cutting board mince the basil into finely chopped bits. 
5. Layer basil on top of the cheese in the bottom of the bowl. 
6. Chop the sun dried tomatoes on a cutting board into smaller pieces. 
7. Sprinkle these on top of the basil and cheese. 
8. Drizzle with olive oil and dash with pepper. 
9. Use pita chips or triscuits to scoop up the tasty topping. 
10. Enjoy!

Now for the other recipe from my Mama Bird... Check her sun-dried tomato hummus recipe here. This is absolutely irresistible and loved by all (especially J!). 

And the next challenge's ingredient... 

(drum roll please) 

Strawberries

Their season is thriving and they are so wonderfully tasty... So cook away with these tasty fruits!

Simply Sweet Sunday Ingredient Challenge #3: Beets!

Time for challenge number three! Yipee! Things are still going strong and I'm just loving sharing this with everyone. The other gals and I are truly enjoying talking about our time in the kitchen with one another.

I'm out of town today, so I set up a linky just to make sure that everything was linked to without my help... Please feel free to enter your delicious little number on here!

Now, to my recipe!

Citrus Beet Ginger Salad

Ingredients: 

• 2 bunches beets (about 5 or 6 medium beets)
• 3 tangelos 
• 2 Tablespoons ginger
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Drizzle of olive oil 
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar 

Directions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 400 f. 
2. Cut the beets in half and then slice the halves into quarter inch thick slices. 
3. Place the sliced beets in a glass baking pan and drizzle with olive oil. 
4. Cover the top of the pan with tin foil and place in the oven. 
5. Let cook for 40 minutes or until the slices are tender to a poke with a fork. 
6. Remove from oven and let stand until cool. 
7. Drain juice into a medium bowl. 
8. Add the 1/4 cup cider vinegar, 1/4 cup sugar, and ginger to the juice in bowl and whisk. 
9. Peel the tangelos and break in half. 
10. Slice halves in quarter inch slices.
11. Place beet and tangelo slices in a large bowl. 
12. Pour dressing mix from step 8 over the beets and oranges. 
13. Enjoy! 

And the challenge for next time (due on May 15)... 

Hummus! 

Now, it's not so much about finding a new use for hummus, 

but instead, making your own hummus recipe! 

I have fallen head over heels for all of the amazing hummus they have at the local farmer's market and decided why not try it myself! Plus you can use many types of beans to make it! 

Now, before I sign off...
Share your beet recipe with us!

Beginners who were worried about the challenge being too tough, this is the perfect one for you! 

Simply Sweet Ingredient Challenge: Coconut Oil

Two weeks ago I posed my second edition of the Simply Sweet Ingredient challenge... Coconut Oil! I had to think hard about what I was going to do with this one, but it ended up being perfect. I made one of my favorite things to eat ever, granola! (and it turned out so wonderfully!)

Please note: It yields a WHOLE HECK of a LOT, so please find someone to share with! 

Coconut-Almond Granola

 Ingredients:

• 3 cups of rolled oats
• 1 1/2 cups sliced almonds 
• 1 1/2 cups of shredded coconut 
• 1/2 cup agave (you can use honey instead if you want) 
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/3 cup of coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

Directions: 

1. Turn on the oven to 350 f. 
2. Melt the coconut oil in a pan over the stove. 
3. Mix together the oats, almond slices, and shredded coconut in a bowl. 
4. Once the oil is melted (since it starts in a solid) add the vanilla, agave, honey, and spices. 
5. Stir all of the oil and spices together then pour over the dry ingredient mixture. 
6. Spread the coated oats in a baking pan and place in the oven. 
7. Stir every 7 minutes.
8. Let cook until it's baked to your liking.
9. Enjoy with almond or soy milk! 

Now, the other lovely gals that took part in this challenge: 

Zoe with her Chicken Masala

Mama bird with her Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

And for the next ingredient challenge due in two weeks... 

BEETS! 

This one's due in two weeks on May 1st! 

Please let me know if you're interested in participating... 

It's soooo much fun and I promise there's no pressure! 

Simply Sweet Sunday Ingredient Cooking Challenge: Kale

Yay! It's been two weeks since I posted my last ingredient challenge... And here is the fruits (or maybe veggies is more appropriate!) of our labor! I had four people participating this time (a couple forgot their kale at the grocery store, so next time!) and I'll link up to them in this post after I finish my recipe for you!

Kale Sausage Lasagna with Sun-dried Tomato Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients:

• One package of spicy Italian sausage (or sweet if that is more your style) 
• One bunch of kale
• One jar of sun-dried Alfredo sauce
• Two tablespoons of tomato paste
• One clove minced garlic 
• 1/2 of a white onion, minced 
• 2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1/2 package of whole wheat lasagna noodles 
• 2 cups of grated mozzarella cheese. 
• Salt and pepper to taste 

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350f. 
2. Boil a pot of water and cook the lasagna noodles until just tender, not completely done. 
3. Drain noodles and run under cool water. Set aside. 
4. Boil sausages in a pot of water until cooked through, about 12 minutes. 
5. Remove from water and slice into 1/2 inch thick coins. 
6. Remove big stems from the inside of the kale.
7. Place two tablespoons of water in the bottom of a frying pan and toss kale inside of it. 
8. Taste with salt and pepper as you like. 
9. When kale becomes warmed through and tender, remove from heat. 
10. Mix Alfredo sauce, garlic, onion, and tomato paste in a sauce pan. 
11. Stir over medium heat until well-combined. 
12. Spray inside of 9x9 pan to prevent sticking. 
13. Cover bottom of pan with a layer of sauce. 
14. Layer with noodle. 
15. Layer with ricotta cheese (you'll need to use a spoon to spread it around). 
16. Layer with sausage coins. 
17. Layer with sauce. 
18. Layer with kale. 
19. Noodles. 
20. Sauce.
21. Ricotta. 
22. Sausage. 
23. Kale. 
24. Sauce. 
25. Cover the top with the grated mozzarella cheese. 
26. Cover the lasagna with tin foil. 
27. Cook lasagna in the oven for 40-45 minutes (or until cheese is melted and bubbly). 
28. Let stand for five minutes before serving. 
29. Enjoy! 

And for my favorite part, the link up!

Mama Bird's Kale Salad and her Tossed Kale-Bell Pepper-Pasta

Zoe's Baked Kale Chips

Michelle's Creamy Linguine Pasta with Kale

And our next Simply Sweet Sunday Ingredient... 

Coconut Oil 

This can be found in your local grocery store's organic foods section. 

The oil has MANY health benefits: 

It's high in saturated fat which is good for athletes and also great for baking. 

(that's the good fat, remember?) 

It has wonderful heat tolerance so it'll withstand a greater temperature than other oils. 

It's also great for your hair and skin! 

My jar of it says to put it in your hair for an hour and wash out for moisturized clean hair!
If you're a baker, this one's right up your alley!

The next Simply Sweet Sunday Ingredient Challenge 
will be due on April 17th. 

Can't wait to see what my new friends come up with! 

Are you interested in joining? 

Leave a comment or send me an email and I'll fill you in! 

First Edition of the Simply Sweet Sunday Ingredient Challenge

Here goes nothing! Our first ingredient is going to be none other than the dark leafy greens...

kale!

These dark leaves known for their bitter taste are great for every single part of your hot bod! Check out all the nutritious benefits that come from this sweet little leaf: 

1. High in calcium which is good, not only for your bones and teeth, as well as your brain and nerve functions! 

2. It's cholesterol lowering... Wonderful! 

3. Provides support for the detoxification system throughout the body.

4. It helps fight cancer because it's packed with anti-oxidants! 

5. The number of vitamins that come from this little leaf is greater than the number of eggs you get in a carton from the grocery store! 

So, here's the plan. Visit your local grocery store or farmer's market and pick yourself up some kale (some is more fluffy than others, pick whichever you like!). Then head home to make a delicious meal using your kale... Soup, salad, bread, cupcakes... Whatever you want! 

On April 3rd (or the 2nd if you like to be ahead of the game), we will post all of our recipes on our respective blogs... I will link to everyone's so you can see all the different things we came up with! Also on the 3rd, I will put out the next ingredient! If you haven't joined the S&S Sunday Ingredient Challenge you are cordially invited... Just leave a comment and I'll email you! 

Best wishes for your cooking and concoctions! I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with! 

Simply Sweet Sunday Ingredient Challenge

The cooking portion of my blog has grown a lot since the beginning of the year and I have made so many new friends who also love to cook. I love to watch Food Network and Top Chef and they always have such fantastic ingredient challenges... Then I got to thinking, why can't my new foodie friends do the same?

This is how the Simply Sweet Sunday Ingredient Challenge will work if you choose to accept your mission. 

1. This will be a bi-weekly thing so it's not too overwhelming... or like another full-time job! 

2. I will post the ingredient on a Sunday and your recipe will be due two weeks later on Sunday...

3. In your posted recipe, please link to the other participants (who I will tell you about if you are interested in joining the challenge!). 

4. Make yummy food for all to enjoy! 

Please let me know if you're interested... I'll be posting the first ingredient tomorrow if enough people are excited about it. 

And lastly, 

Happy Weekend!