Blackberry Walnut Salad Recipe

This recipe would be delicious on a hot summer day, it is also served with a yummy Lime Ginger Vinaigrette. Pair this salad with a glass of Viognier or Chardonnay to complete this tasty meal made for two.

Source: rawmazing.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

INGREDIENTS and DIRECTIONS

Vinaigrette:

2 limes, juice and zest from (approx. 1/2 cup juice and 2 teaspoons zest)
3 teaspoons finely chopped shallots
1 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons agave or raw honey
Salt and pepper to taste

Whisk all ingredients together.


Salad:
1 cup blackberries
4 cups mixed greens
1/2 cup walnuts

Toss all ingredients together. Top with vinaigrette to taste.


Brought to you by: RawMazing.com

16 Healthy Food Choices

We need to remember what foods are actually good for us and do something about it. This chart is non-threatening and inspiring for me to eat healthier. I like the majority of these foods too. Cheers!

Source: downtownn.tumblr.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Blueberries and French Toast Recipe

This is a quick, easy and delicious take on blueberries and french toast recipe that I found and recently tried.

Source: bluewillowblog.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

INGREDIENTS:

1 - 3 oz package cream cheese, softened
1- 1/2 tablespoons confectioner sugar
1 package (12 oz) frozen french toast slices
3/4 cup fresh blueberries


DIRECTIONS:

• In a small bowl mix cream cheese and sugar. Set aside.
• Heat french toast according to directions. 
• Spread cream cheese on one side of bread, add blueberries, top with other slice.
• Garnish with extra blueberries and confectioner sugar if desired. Cheers!

Recipe courtesy of Blue Willow Blog

Baklava Recipe: A Tasty Greek Treat

My great friend Wendi and I were having a glass of Syrah from Columbia Winery on a hot summer day and were thinking about Greece and how it is a country that we would both love to visit. So we thought "Hey, we can make baklava and be that much closer to the Greeks." Let's do it!

Source: 1bestdessertrecipes.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

INGREDIENTS:

8 sheets of filo dough
2 cups shelled and finely chopped pistachios
1/2 cup honey
1/8 tsp ground cardamom (if you don't have cardamom, you can use cinnamon)
1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tsp orange flower oil (if you don't have orange flower oil, try almond extract or rosewater)


DIRECTIONS:
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the chopped pistachios, honey, and cardamom. Set aside. Lay 4 sheets of filo dough down onto a buttered baking dish. Brush half the butter over the dough with a basting brush. Spread the pistachio mixture over the buttered filo dough. Lay the remaining 4 sheets of filo dough on top of that and then brush the remaining butter across the top. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes. Then raise the temperature to 400 degrees F and bake for 10 more minutes.

While the baklava is baking, in a sauce pan over medium heat dissolve the sugar and honey into the water. Stir in the lemon juice and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens into a syrup. Stir in the orange flower oil and remove from heat. Allow the syrup to cool.

When the cake is baked, cut into into diamond-shaped lozenges and pour the syrup over it. Allow the baklava to sit for 15 minutes and then serve immediately or chill and serve later...Cheers!

Cabbage Head Crudité

I came across this picture on Pinterest and found it fascinating! I never thought of hollowing out a cabbage head for a center piece crudité. The presentation is fabulous.

Source: eddieross.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Have you ever created anything like this or wanted to? Check out the step by step easy instructions at EddieRoss.com.

Easy Spaghetti Recipe

Spaghetti is everyone's favorite Italian dish. Well, it is for me. It's easy and delicious. I love to pair mine with some good hot french bread, green beans and a glass of Sangiovese red wine. I came up with this quick and easy spaghetti recipe that cooks of all ages can prepare and enjoy!

Source: penniesonaplatter.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

INGREDIENTS:

2 ground beef or turkey patties
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 cup of chopped purple onion
1 whole jar of red spaghetti sauce
1 package of angel hair spaghetti pasta

salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Coat sauce pan with light olive oil. Place patties and cook until brown. Add minced garlic and onion. Let simmer. Boil water for pasta. Continue to stir the sauce. When water boils add pasta; I like to add a small dab of olive oil in with my pasta so it doesn't stick together. Drain pasta after 8-10 minutes of cooking. Drain through strainer. Combine sauce and pasta. Cheers!

Creamy Green Pea Soup Recipe

This is a nice and easy recipe for green pea soup. Make this after a tough day at the office. Pair it with a delicious french or sourdough bread; curl up with a good book and enjoy this tasty pea soup.

Source: blog.bloumebaby.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

INGREDIENTS:

2 shallots, minced
2 tbsp butter
2 cups chicken broth
2 sprigs of fresh mint
1 pound of frozen green peas
1/4 cup cream
Salt and pepper to taste
Sour cream and sugar snap peas for garnish (optional)


DIRECTIONS:

In a medium saucepan melt butter on medium heat. Add minced shallots and cook until softened. Add the broth and mint sprigs to the shallots, increase the heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the frozen peas and return the mixture to a boil. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Discard the mint and purée the soup in a blender until completely smooth. Blend in the cream. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or chilled. Garnish with sour
cream and sugar snap pea pods. ~ Cheers!

Courtesy of Wendi