Recipes — Freeze Dried Mangoes

5 Delicious BBQ Side Dish Recipes to Kick Off Summer The Tasty Way

When it comes to summer cookouts, burgers and grilled corn on the cob often steal the show. But, let us tell you that these treats wouldn't taste the same if they hadn't side dishes to up the ante. From refreshing and colorful veggies to easy-to-chew legumes, sides help add a little variety to the mix by introducing various flavors and textures to your menu. So, if you are ready to give your backyard party a tasty makeover, these five delicious BBQ side dish recipes will definitely hit the spot. Happy summer, everyone!

1. Baked Beans With Bacon Bits

Usually stationed next to grilled corn, baked beans are a summer cookout staple. However, this recipe goes way beyond the classic version by adding various drool-worthy ingredients to the mix, from bacon and Worcestershire sauce to feta cheese and molasses.
Ingredients:
1 ¼ cup dehydrated red beans
3/4 cup TVP bacon bits
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
2 tbsp dehydrated garlic
2/3 cup fresh tomato puree
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
½ cup molasses
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp cayenne pepper
½ cup Feta cheese, crumbled
1 tbsp olive oil
Directions:

1. In a small pan, add 2 ½ cups of water and the red beans. Simmer for about 10-15 or until they are fork-tender. Remove from water and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, add 1 ½ cups of warm water and the TVP Bacon Bits to a bowl. Let them sit for about 15 minutes until the hydrate, and then remove the water. If needed, squeeze the Bacon Bits with your hands and pat them dry with a paper towel. This will remove all excess water.
3. In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over low-medium heat.
4. Then, add the onion and cook for a couple of minutes until they turn golden.
5. Add the rest of the ingredients (besides the Feta cheese), turn the heat to low and place a lid on top of the saucepan.
6. Let the dish cook on the stove for about an hour or alternatively, transfer to a baking dish and bake to 350F until the sauce is thickened.
7. Once it does, remove from heat and sprinkle with Feta cheese. Serve.

2. Cucumber, Peppers and Fried Halloumi Salad

Let's be honest: Everything tastes better with cheese. But, mozzarella sticks and melted Parmesan are not exactly grill- friendly. That's why you need to break out the halloumi. This Greek cheese has an abnormally high melting point, which means you can fry it to your heart's content. So, are you ready to impress your guests?
Ingredients:
1 cup freeze dried cucumber dices
½ cup freeze dried red bell peppers
½ onion, peeled and chopped
5oz halloumi cheese
¼ cup olive oil
¾ cup balsamic vinegar
¾ tsp red pepper flakes
Salt, for seasoning
Directions:

1. Add 1 cup of water and the bell peppers in a saucepan and simmer for 10-20 minutes until they hydrate. Remove them from water and squeeze out the excess water.
2. Then, add 1 cup of water and the cucumber in a bowl and set aside for about 10 minutes.
3. While the cucumber rehydrates, grill the halloumi in a grill pan until it turns golden on both sides.
4. By now, the cucumber is rehydrated, so remove the excess water and add it along with the remaining ingredients in a salad bowl. Make sure you mix them well and season with more salt if needed.
5. Chill for 15-20 minutes and serve.

3. Sweet Corn Fritters

Despite looking fancy, fritters are one of the simplest summer side dishes to make, and this recipe is no exception. Featuring sweet corn as the main ingredient, this variation is the epitome of summer in one bite. The best part? You can serve these fritters with just about any dipping sauce, from guacamole to queso.
Ingredients:
1 cup freeze dried sweet corn
1/3 cup semolina flour
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup milk
½ tsp baking powder
½-1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
A handful of cilantro, finely chopped
Directions:

1. In a pan, add 1 cup of water and the sweet corn and simmer for 10-20 minutes or until they hydrate. Once hydrated, remove from water and squeeze away all remaining liquid. Set aside.
2. In a bowl, add the semolina and all-purpose flours, salt, pepper, cilantro, and baking powder. Whisk together.
3. Pour the milk gradually while stirring and combine the ingredients even more.
4. Stir in the sweet corn until the kernels are coated.
5. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
6. Using your hands, form balls with the mixture while pressing the mound until it's flattened.
7. Cook each ball for about 5 minutes or until it's brown on both sides. Serve immediately.

4. Parmesan Potato and Tomato Bake

If you are looking for an easy and yummy way to balance out the meat-to-veggies ratio of your summer cookout menu, this bake is a no-brainer. Containing various earthy ingredients such as potatoes, tomato, and zucchini, this BBQ side dish will undoubtedly make everyone smile out of contentment.
Ingredients:
½ cup freeze dried potatoes
½ cup dehydrated zucchini
2 tsp dehydrated garlic
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
3-4 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper, for seasoning
Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
2. In a bowl, combine the all the ingredients and mix well until they are evenly combined.
3. Transfer to a baking dish along with 2 cups of water and bake for about 40 minutes or until they turn golden.
4. Once cooked through, remove from the oven and set aside to cool. You can sprinkle the veggies with more cheese if you want.

5. Mango Salsa

It's not every day that we see a tropical fruit making it into a salsa recipe, but we're totally digging it. Featuring basic ingredients, this Sriracha-infused salsa is also very easy to whip up, minimizing your time in the kitchen. Friendly tip: This dip may even work as an out-of-the-box topping for your baked pitas. So, get as creative as possible.
Ingredients:
½ cup freeze dried mangoes
1 tomato, seeded and diced
1 red onion, peeled and diced
2 tbsp cilantro, finely chopped
The juice of 2 limes
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp Sriracha sauce
Directions:

1. In a bowl add 1 cup of water and the mangoes and let them sit until they hydrate.
2. Once they do, remove them from the water and get rid of excess fluids.
3. In a Ziploc bag, add the lime juice, salt, and red onion. Let it marinate for 10-15 minutes.
4. Add all the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix them well.
5. Chill for about an hour and serve with tortilla chips, grilled meat or oven-baked pitas.

Final Thoughts

Newsflash: Steaks and hot dogs are not the only way to enjoy a BBQ feast. Truth is there's a wide variety of side dishes which can be even tastier than the usual culprits. So, gather your squad and get cooking 'cause another moment without these flavors is another moment wasted. Don't forget the drinks! #foodphilosophy

 

5 Healthy Treats For Mothers This Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is here with us once more. A day dedicated to celebrating mothers. They are selfless humans who have sacrificed a lot to bring us into this world. They have nurtured us and we owe them, don’t we? We celebrate them for all the amazing things that they have done for us. Show your appreciation and wow your mother with these healthy, delicious Mother's Day treats.

Frozen Chocolate Banana bites¹

Bringing together the best recipes for Mother’s Day, this frozen banana bites is a Mother’s Day must have. Your dad will definitely want a taste of this. Offering the flavorful goodness of banana with a taste of chocolate. Frozen banana bites are easy to make with freeze dried bananas. Rehydrate a pack of banana chunks, then toss them in the freezer for one hour.
Mix half a cup of chocolate chips with half a cup of peanut butter. Microwave on high for one minute and stir until smooth. Dip the banana chunks into the peanut butter and chocolate mixture, then roll over the shredded coconut to coat on all sides. Put in the freezer again for an hour, then serve. It's such a tasty and healthy treat that your mom will love.

Peach and mango smoothie²

Surprise your mom with a glass of healthy sweet smoothie on Mother’s Day. You can serve her in the morning or as a refreshing afternoon snack or a dinner dessert.
You will need a pack of mango chunks, peach slices, a banana and sugar or honey according to your preference. Use freeze dried peach slices and mango chunks since they don’t require any washing peeling or slicing. You can make this delicious smoothie in under five minutes.
After rehydrating the fruits, place them in the blender. Add sugar or honey, ice cubes, and mango nectar and blend until smooth. Pour into your mom’s favorite glass and let her enjoy the awesomeness. You can serve it to her with a piece of cake.

Peaches & Berries with Lemon-Mint Syrup³

This delicious fruit salad is refreshing for those hot summer afternoons while basking in the sun. Your mom will surely love this. You can pair with vanilla ice cream.
Select ripe peaches, or better still, buy a pack of our freeze dried peach slices. Put them on a plate and combine with a cup of blueberries and fresh mint. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on it and let them soak. You can add a little sugar. Cover and refrigerate for about 4-6 hours. Add a cup of blackberries or raspberries (or both) right before serving.

Banana Pancakes⁴

I'm pretty sure banana pancakes are one of the major reasons that bananas exist. Banana pancakes are easy to make and take a short time.
To prepare banana pancakes, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. You can add sugar or honey. Mash the rehydrated bananas with a fork in another bowl until smooth. Whisk in the eggs. Add milk and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Melt some butter and add to the banana mixture. Fold in flour a little at a time into the banana mixture until well blended. The batter should be thick.
Fry over a non-stick pan over medium heat. Alternatively, you can drop in hot oil and cook until brown. Flip the pancake to cook the both sides. Serve with sliced bananas while hot.

Mango Chunks Dessert ⁵

This dessert needs two ripe mangoes, agave syrup, and a yogurt topping. Put half of the chopped mango cubes in a food processor and blend until smooth.
Put the puree in a bowl and stir in agave syrup and almond extract. Place the remaining mango cubes in the food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped and set aside.
Make yogurt filling by mixing a cup of nonfat Greek yogurt with a cup of frozen whipping cream. Mix half of the mango puree and half of the yogurt mixture. Top up with the slightly processed mango cubes. Pour over the yogurt topping and cover. Refrigerate for about 8 hours and serve. It can be taken in the morning or during the afternoon. Yum!
This Mother’s Day, take time to treat your mom or the mom to your kids with these amazing healthy treats. And don’t forget to purchase freeze dried bananas, mangoes, and peaches, because you’ll need them for these recipes. Have fun.
Wishing all the awesome moms a Happy Mother’s Day.

 








References

1. http://www.seasaltwithfood.com/2011/05/frozen-banana-bites.html
2. https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/peach-mango-smoothies.html
3. https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/peaches-berries-with-lemon-mint-syrup.html
4. http://www.redappleapron.com/banana-pancakes/
5. http://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/263982/mango-tiramisu/