Tag: Recipe

Birmingham /

Zucchini Lasagna Spirals Recipe: Cooking Demo on WBRC Fox6 News

Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to visit WBRC Fox6 news and host a cooking demo.  The recipe that I prepared was Zucchini Lasagna Spirals.  This was a fun opportunity because I like to prepare meals at home for my family with time-saving kitchen appliances.

Feature Photo from Destination Delish

I wanted to share the ingredients for those that enjoy trying new meals.  See the list below.

Zucchini Lasagna Spirals

 Ingredients:

  • 2-3 cups Cucina Antica Tomato Basil cooking sauce
  • 12 oz. ricotta
  • 2 tbsp. basil, chopped
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, freshly grated
  • 8 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 4 medium zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
  • Salt

Preparation:

  1. Lay the zucchini strips out on a cooling rack (cooling rack allows excess water to drain). Sprinkle salt across the tops of the zucchini and let sit for about 10-15 minutes to let the water sweat out of the zucchini. Pat the water off the zucchini and then flip them over and repeat with the next side. Wipe off excess salt with a towel.
  2. Preheat your oven to 375°F
  3. In a medium bowl mix ricotta cheese, basil, mozzarella, and egg. Stir well.
  4. Spread 1/2 cup Cucina Antica Tomato Basil on the bottom of casserole dish.
  5. Lay out the sliced zucchini noodles and spread about 2 tablespoons of the ricotta mixture over each individual zucchini noodle. Add a spoonful of Cucina Antica Tomato Basil over the top of the ricotta.
  6. Carefully roll up the zucchini and place in the casserole dish.
  7. Spread extra Cucina Antica Tomato Basil cooking sauce over the top of the rolls. Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano on top.
  8. Bake for about 45 minutes or until the cheese on top is a nice golden brown.

A suggestion I provided on-air would be to include onions, mushrooms or ground turkey meat.  This is the perfect dish to serve for dinner or during Sunday brunch.

Brunch /

The Morning Delight – Hearty Beverage Packed with Vitamins and Nutrients

Food is the best medicine for relief from stress, anxiety, sleep issues, and acid reflex.  Coconut milk adds a silky creaminess and the right amount of healthy fats so you’ll feel satiated, while lacuma, a super food hailing from Peru, is low-glycemic and packed with antioxidants, fiber, and protein. “The Morning Delight is a hearty beverage packed with vitamins, nutrients, and healthy carbs, which is going to give you the get up and go everyone needs in the morning without the coffee crash,” says Brooks.

INGREDIENTS:
11/2 cups coconut milk
1 tsp lacuma
2 tsp pure matcha tea powder
2 frozen bananas
2 to 3 dates, pitted
1 tbsp maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract OR 1 vanilla bean
Small handful of ice (optional, depending whether you froze your bananas)

DIRECTIONS:
Add the coconut milk, lacuma, and matcha to your blender and process until completely mixed. Turn off, then add the rest of your ingredients and blend until totally emulsified. If using the vanilla bean, split the bean in half and scrape out the vanilla pods.

Lifestyle Tips /

Woodbridge Wines – March Madness Entertaining

For any viewing party, Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon-infused Sausage Balls are sure to be a slam dunk – especially when served alongside Woodbridge Merlot Chili. WPaired with Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, you’ll please every palate.

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi is also a choice your listeners can feel good about. Every March, Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi partners with The V Foundation, helping find a cure for cancer by generating awareness and broad-based support for research. Over the past five years, Woodbridge has helped to raise more than $1 million for the V Foundation and will continue to work towards ensuring a better future for generations to come.

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Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Sausage Balls
Prep + Cook Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 30-40 sausage balls

Ingredients:
Sausage Balls
· Wood1 cup cornmeal

· 8 ounce block of sharp cheddar cheese, grated

· 1/2 tsp kosher salt

· 2 tbsp chopped thyme leaves

· 1-pound ground spicy sausage (or mild if you prefer)

· 3 oz cream cheese

Cabernet Honey Mustard
· 2/3 cup brown sugar

· 1/2 cup whole grain Dijon mustard

· 1 cup of Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon

· 2 fresh thyme sprigs

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350º. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then spray parchment paper with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, stir cornmeal, cheddar cheese, salt and thyme together.

3. In a separate bowl, combine sausage and cream cheese with your hands.

4. Add sausage mixture to cornmeal mixture and combine the two. Your dough will be dry and crumbly, and somewhat difficult to combine. Form 1-ounce balls and place on baking sheet one inch apart.

5. Bake at 350º for 20 minutes.

6. While the sausage balls are baking, make your Cabernet Honey Mustard.

7. Add all Cabernet Honey Mustard ingredients to a medium saucepan, bring to medium heat. Stirring often, cook for 20-25 minutes or until sauce has reduced by about half. Remove thyme sprigs, and serve in a bowl alongside sausage balls.

8. Enjoy sausage balls hot or at room temperature, serving with Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon.

*Entertaining Tip: These sausage balls are great at room temperature, making them the perfect tailgating food. Let the balls cool completely, and then pack them between paper towels in a storage container to transport them to the game.

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Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Merlot Chili
Yield: 8-10 servings

Ingredients:
· 1 tbsp olive oil

· 3 large cloves garlic, chopped finely

· 1 large jalapeno, chopped finely (remove seeds or omit completely if you don’t like spicy chili)

· 1 large yellow onion, chopped

· ½ pound hot Italian sausage, removed from casing

· 2 pounds ground 80% lean ground beef

· 1 tbsp salt

· 1 tbsp pepper

· 1 tsp cumin

· ½ tsp cayenne pepper

· 2 bell peppers, chopped

· 1 28 oz. can of whole tomatoes

· 1 15 oz. can whole kernel corn

· 1 15 oz. can reduced sodium red kidney beans

· 1 15 oz. can low sodium black beans

· 1 cup Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Merlot

Directions:
1. Heat olive oil over medium heat. Add next three ingredients and stir to coat with oil. Add lid and let the onions sweat for 3 minutes.

2. Add meat and all spices and stir frequently until all meat is browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. This will release a lot of moisture, so continue cooking until most of the moisture evaporates. You may have to ladle some out.

3. Using your hands, crush the canned tomatoes over the pot. Add the entire can this way. Add the remaining canned goods.

4. Lastly, add the Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Merlot. Simmer with the lid on for at least 30 minutes, but up to two hours. (Like all chili, this is best reheated and served the next day, making it a perfect dish for weeknight meals or easy entertaining!)

5. Serve with your favorite chili toppings like sour cream, shredded cheese, chopped green onions, chopped jalapeno, tortilla chips or corn bread.

*Entertaining Tip: Make chili up to three days before serving. Reheat individual portions in microwave-proof mugs, or store in the pot that you cooked it in and simply reheat the entire pot.

Lifestyle Tips /

Sparkling Ice Cocktails and Cupcakes – Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Today is St. Patrick’s Day and I wanted to share some refreshing cocktails (and a tasty green cupcake recipe) from Sparkling Ice – a great tasting, lightly carbonated, zero-calorie beverage which combines sparkling water, fruit juice, vitamins, antioxidants, and BOLD natural flavors.

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Ingredients

1 ounce vodka
1 1/2 ounces Sour Apple Pucker
1 1/2 ounces Sparkling Ice Crisp Apple
2 cups of ice
Apple wedges for garnish (optional)
Instructions

1.Fill a martini shaker with ice.

2.Pour in the vodka, sour apple pucker and juice into shaker.

3.Stir ingredients

4.Garnish with an apple wedge

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Ingredients

Cake

1 box of white cake mix
12 oz of room temperate Sparkling Ice Lemon Lime
Icing

1 can of vanilla icing
4 drops of green food dye
Instructions

1.Preheat your oven to 350°

2.Line muffin pan with liners.

3.In a medium bowl combine your Sparkling Ice and cake mix, stirring with a whisk until most of the lumps are gone.

4.Fill each liner ½-2/3 full of batter.

5.Bake for 18-20 minutes until cupcakes are springy and toothpicks comes out clean.

6.Let cool completely before frosting.

Lifestyle Tips /

Fruttare Frozen Fruit Bars: Poptails Recipe

Check out the recipe (below) that’s Sunday Brunch approved!  Why not serve something different from the normal Mimosa or Bellani?  Poptail’s are made with Fruttare Frozen Fruit Bars.  Each one is:

  • Made with real fruit
  • Sourced from sustainably farmed fruit like strawberries, bananas, coconuts and limes
  • Appealing for all types of fruit lovers with nine refreshing varieties including Mango, Pineapple and Strawberry

 

Fruttare Frozen Fruit Bars are available at local retailers including Walmart, Ahold-Giant Food, Safeway, Shop Rite and Target. Plus, they’re a tasty treat you can feel good about eating.

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Mango Banana Sunshine Poptails

2 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

2 Fruttare® Mango Fruit and Juice Bars, chopped
1 1/2 cups ice cubes(about 9 to 11)
1 small banana, broken into chunks
3 Tbsp. orange juice

Process all ingredients in blender until smooth. Pour into 2 cocktail glasses.

Nutritional Information 2 servings :

Calories 120.00 , Calories from Fat 0 , Total Fat 0 g, Saturated Fat 0 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 0 mg, Sodium 0 mg, Total Carbs 29.00 g, Dietary Fiber 1.0 g, Sugars 19.00 g, Protein 1.00 g, Vitamin A 6.0 %, Vitamin C 40.0 %, Calcium 0 %, Iron 0 %

 

Lifestyle Tips /

Summer Cocktail Recipe with Alize Passion Fruit Vodka

Friday nights are here for unwinding which means every lady (and beau) could use a nice cocktail.  After a long week of shuffling kids, meetings, errands, and miscellaneous tasks there’s nothing better than a sexy beverage.  Even better, why not invite the girls over for a drink, dinner, and movie?

Below, I wanted to share a cocktail recipe to help get the weekend started:

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Friday night cocktail

2 shots of Alize Passion Fruit Vodka

2 shots of Cranberry Juice

toss in ice and fruit

Compliments of Alize
Compliments of Alize

Don’t forget to add a special touch to your glass with a charm and a nice platter of treats!  Also, pour a glass of Alize to make a yummy Sangria.  If you like this post, click here: Sangria Sundays

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Product Review for Alize Passion Fruit Vodka

Baltimore | Birmingham | Atlanta /

Carrington Farms May On The Move: Kale Omelette Recipe

CarringtonMayontheMove

This year, Carrington Farms is celebrating springtime by encouraging everyone to keep healthy items on hand at all times, made possible by Carrington’s new line of portable, on-the-go products.

As you already know from this blog, I am a fan of the Carrington Farms product line.  They’re quick, healthy and an easy way to incorporate certain vitamins and nutrients in your diet.  The company has also taken this concept a step further with the creation of Flax Chia, Coconut Oil, and Flax Hemp Paks.

We often overlook breakfast but it’s a very important start to our day!  The proper (breakfast) dish can jumpstart your energy and metabolism.  I wanted to share a recipe with the use of Flax Hemp Paks.

Kale Omelette Recipe:

Ingredients:
About a cup of shredded kale
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 eggs
1 tbsp of milk
1 tsp of Flax Hemp
1/2 diced tomatoes
1/2 onions
1 tsp Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
 
Directions:
Add olive oil and garlic to pan over medium heat for about a minute. Add your kale and let it sizzle and wilt for a few minutes. Whisk two eggs, milk, cheese, onions, and tomatoes together and add to the pan, and wait a few minutes.
Once its cooked flip the omelette and fold the egg.  Season to taste and enjoy!
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Kale Omelette with Flax Hemp Paks
Anyone who orders products off the Carrington website www.carringtonfarms.com can enter the coupon code of MayOnTheMove for 20% off + free shipping (valid for all products on the site).

 

To follow Carrington Farms on social media:

Facebook page www.facebook.com/carringtonfarms | Twitter https://twitter.com/CarringtonFarms | Instagram page https://instagram.com/carringtonfarms/

Sponsored Post
Baltimore | Birmingham | Atlanta /

Homemade Soup and Recipe – Lifestyle Tip

I like to make homemade soup for my family during the winter months.  It’s a fairly easy recipe and can be a hearty meal.  As new generation women, we’re busy and need simple ideas to make our lives easier; one option is to make soup.

Homemade Soup
For Recipe Click On Photo

 

Soup3
For Recipe Click On Photo

 

Eating soup can be a healthy meal substitute from our normal grilled caesar salad.  Simply cook the recipe, store in ziplock bags, and put in the freezer.  Also, depending on the amount that’s left over, one can store soup (in the freezer) for family sick days.

There’s two easy steps I like to incorporate that’s less time consuming when cooking the recipe.  Number one, use a soup starter mix and number two, take pre cooked chicken breast (from last night’s dinner) and shred for your recipe.  If you want to get “fancy” add vegetables to the recipe as well.

Soup2

After you’re done don’t forget to serve in your soups mugs (I found a set at the thrift shop) with crackers or make a batch of crescent rolls on the side.  You can sit back and watch your favorite reality show because dinner’s done!

Soup mug

Holiday Gift Giving Guide /

Candy Cane Cooler Recipe from NoMa Social

Candy Cane Cooler
Candy Cane Cooler

NoMa Social is bringing in the holiday season with a Candy Cane Cooler that just screams Christmas spirit. Not only does this concoction look festive, but it decks the halls of your taste buds as well. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:
1 tbs crushed soft peppermint candy
1½ fl oz vodka
splash of white creme de menthe
¼ fl oz brandy
½ fl oz half-and-half
Crushed ice
Peppermint stick for garnish
Mint sprig for garnish

Directions:
Combine the vodka and crushed peppermint. Stir to dissolve. Add the remaining ingredients, stir and garnish.

Also, make sure to come in from 4-8pm and take advantage of NoMa Social’s 4×4 deal during the winter season. Choose any 4 different wines, cocktails, beers and tapas for only 4 dollars each.

Beauty /

Fox 45 Morning News Segment – Summer Grilling Tips

Kimberly West

Summer’s finally in full swing and that means we’re attending several outdoor parties.  With that being said, we are also enjoying barbecue chicken, pasta salad, and other food items that can give us summer calories.

Luckily, I was able to share a few healthy eating tips on Fox 45 News, compliments of bistroMD.com

Kimberly West
Hosting Lifestyle Segment on Fox 45 News

Black Pantsuit: New York & Company | Pink Pumps: Ninewest | Lipstick: Buxom

Smart tips for summer grilling, courtesy of bistroMD

“Use spices and herbs for seasonings instead of pre-made marinades/sauces which enables the cook to control sugar and sodium.

Season freshly chopped veggies with seasonings of your choice and toss in a bit of olive oil. Then wrap the veggies into a foil pouch. Place pouch on top grill rack while meat is grilling and flip occasionally. This times your meat and your veggies to complete at the same time.

Grill sliced pineapple and serve warm over Greek yogurt for dessert.

Use leftover grilled veggies the next day on a salad or as a homemade pizza topper, or use them with your leftover grilled chicken or steak for fajitas.”

At home, I had the opportunity to grill a few sliced pineapple and served over greek yogurt and it tastes delicious.  I am actually planning to incorporate grilled fruits and veggies in my personal summer menu because it’s a time saver and super healthy (win-win situation.)

The recipe used was from  Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa: 

Instructions:

  1. In a bowl combine all ingredients except pineapple, yogurt, and Flax/Chia blend
  2. Marinate pineapple slices in mixture for 15 minutes
  3. Grill pineapple on each side for 2 minutes
  4. Remove from heat
  5. Serve warm over Greek yogurt, sprinkled with Flax/Chia seeds

 

Overall, I had a wonderful time hosting the morning news segment and even learned a new recipe that I can use at home.  As a prior nutrition teacher, this was right on target and also fun to discuss.

Don’t forget to try these tips and eat healthy this summer!