Recipes

Save Time and Money on National Pack Your Lunch Day 0

6 Easy Dog Treats Recipes for the National Puppy Day 0

5 Navy Bean Recipes That'll Keep You Full Until Dinner 0

Forget the usual lunch fatigue—these five flavorful navy bean recipes will keep you full, focused, and satisfied all afternoon. From dips to chili and toast to quesadillas, navy beans deliver protein, fiber, and comfort in every bite.

5 Broccoli Recipes That Are Finger-Licking Good 0

Broccoli is one of the worlds' superfoods. It is nutrient dense and a good source of vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin E folate, potassium, and Vitamin K. The nutritional powerhouse is also rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium antioxidants, and phytonutrients, which are excellent for your health.¹

Try out these five broccoli recipes and get the fantastic benefits of broccoli.

Broccoli Pizza Bites¹

Vegan/ Vegetarian choices are hard to come by when traveling. These broccoli bites will save you time and money and help you achieve your vegetable intake while traveling.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of freeze dried broccoli

For the Pizza Sauce

• 1 tomato, chopped (or use our dried tomato flakes)
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• Pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 2 cloves garlic (or use our dried sliced garlic)
• 1 cup dried tomato flakes
• 2 tablespoon tahini
• 1 pitted Medjool date
• 1/4 yellow onion (chopped)

Method

1. Rehydrate the freeze dried broccoli and set it aside as you prepare the sauce.
2. Place all the other ingredients in a high-speed blender to make the pizza sauce. Blend until smooth.
3. In a mixing bowl, add the pizza sauce and the broccoli. Mix using your hands until the sauce is evenly distributed and the entire broccoli is coated with the sauce.
4. Line up the broccoli pieces florets evenly on baking trays. Bake for 30-45 minutes until they dry and are slightly crispy. Pack and eat as a snack on the go.

Raw Vegan Broccoli Chips²

Even though you're not into raw vegan food, this broccoli recipe will change the game for you. You won't even know it's raw in the first place. Freeze dried broccoli chips make a perfect snack and an excellent way to sneak a vegetable into your meals

Ingredients

• 1 cup freeze dried broccoli
• 2 tablespoons tamari sauce
• 2 tablespoons yeast
• 1/4 cup of hemp seeds or cashews (optional)
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth or water
• 1 garlic clove (or use our sliced garlic)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder

Method

1. Rehydrate the dried broccoli in a mixing bowl and set aside.
2. Add the remaining ingredients to a blender to make the cheesy sauce. Blend until smooth.
3. Pour the cheesy sauce mixture all over the broccoli and mix until all broccoli pieces are covered in the sauce.
4. Put the mixture over parchment paper on a baking tin. Roast for 30 minutes at 425F. Remove when they are dry and crunchy.

Baked Broccoli bites³

Baked broccoli bites are a perfect snack full of healthy nutrients like dietary fiber and protein. It's excellent for your cardiovascular health.

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried broccoli
• 2 cups raw cashews, soaked for 2 hours
• 1 large onion, chopped (or use our dried chopped onions)
• 2-3 cloves garlic, minced (or use our granulated garlic)
• 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon jalapeno, finely diced (or use our dried jalapeno peppers)
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Method

1. Rehydrate the dried broccoli. Add them to a food processor. Drain the cashews and add them. Pulse until they are chopped into tiny pieces.   
2. Add the remaining ingredients to the food processor. Blend until you get a paste-like consistency.
3. Scoop a small portion of the mixture and create little bites on the baking sheet until the whole mix is done.
4. Bake the broccoli bites for 30-40 minutes in the oven till dry and crispy.
5. Remove them from the oven and enjoy.   

Broccoli Sprouts Salad⁴

Broccoli sprouts contain sulforaphane, which has anti-cancer properties that work against breast cancer cells—more reason for you to indulge in this broccoli sprouts salad.

Ingredients

• 1 cup broccoli sprouts
• 1 cup freeze dried broccoli
• 1/2 cup chopped, raw walnuts
• 2 tablespoon raw agave nectar
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped (or use our dried garlic slices)
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 teaspoon ground flaxseed

Method

1. Clean the broccoli sprouts and set them aside. Rehydrate the freeze dried broccoli. Mix the two broccoli in a bowl and set them aside as you prepare the dressing.
2. Add the remaining ingredients except flaxseed to a blender. Blend until smooth.
3. Pour the dressing over the broccoli mix. Toss to ensure all the broccoli is coated with the dressing. Sprinkle the ground flaxseeds on top of the salad. Serve and enjoy.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup⁵

If you have never had broccoli cheddar soup, then this is the right time to try this broccoli recipe.

Ingredients

To make Bouillon

• 4 tablespoon celery salt
• 4 tablespoon dried parsley
• 2 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon dried onion powder
• 2 tablespoon salt
• 2 tablespoon ground savory
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried sage
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

Broccoli-Cheddar Soup

• 1/2 cup freeze dried broccoli
• 1/4 cup cheddar cheese powder
• 1/4 cup buttermilk powder
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1/2 Tablespoon dried onion
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried carrots

Method

1. Bouillon Mix: Mix all the bouillon ingredients in a bowl. Set aside 2 teaspoons. You only need 2 teaspoons for this recipe. Store remaining bouillon in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for use in other recipes.
2. Soup Mix: Combine the cheddar cheese powder, buttermilk powder, 2 teaspoons bouillon, cornstarch, garlic, paprika, and mustard in a jar. Seal the lid and shake to combine. Open the jar and add onion, carrots, and broccoli. Seal lid and store in an airtight container.
3. To Make Soup, boil 2 cups of water. Pour the soup mix into a bowl, and add the boiling water to the soup mix. Stir well to break up any lumps. Boil another 2 cups of water and add to the soup mix. Cover and let stand 10 minutes or until broccoli is soft.

Dried and freeze dried broccoli is very versatile. You can use it to make soups and salads or eat it as a snack. The best part is that you stand a better chance of your children eating it too. Get our freeze dried broccoli today and try out these five broccoli recipes. Share your experience in the comment section below.

References

1. http://www.thefloralvegan.com/2019/08/30/dehydrated-broccoli-pizza-bites-raw-vegan/
2. https://sproutingzen.com/dehydrated-raw-vegan-cheezy-broccoli-chips/
3. https://www.dherbs.com/recipes/recipe/dehydrated-broccoli-bites-are-the-perfect-snack/
4. https://www.dherbs.com/recipes/recipe/simple-broccoli-sprouts-salad/
5. https://www.9010nutrition.com/broccoli-cheddar-soup-mix/

5 Pineapple Recipes to Add Some Zing to Your Life 0

What can’t you do with a pineapple? Pineapples are among the fruits that taste good cooked and raw. Pineapple recipes are a favorite for many people. You can slice it up and eat it as it is, or you could tweak it up a little to make a sumptuous dessert, vegetable salad, or as a pizza topping.

There’s so much you can do with it your pineapple; read on for these five pineapple recipes that are bound to turn you into a sought after chef. If you chopped up your pineapple and realized it’s a little bland, sprinkle it with some sugar or glucose to make it sweeter.

1. Pineapple Fried Rice

Wondering what to do with the left-over fried rice from yesterday’s dinner? How about spicing it up with pineapple slices for that sweet taste?  This pineapple recipes will leave you craving for more.

Time

Preparation – 10 minutes

Cooking – 10 minutes

Total Time – 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. virgin coconut oil
• One medium onion, chopped
• ½ cup freeze-dried red bell pepper
• 1 cup freeze-dried pineapple
• Three cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup cashews, chopped
• 3 cup cooked rice (preferably day old)
• 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1 tbsp. lime juice
• 2 tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp Sriracha
• Two large eggs,
• Two green onions, thinly sliced

Method

1. Heat the coconut oil in a large pan on medium heat.
2. Add the onion, bell peppers, and pineapple and cook for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and the pineapple is caramelized.
3. Put in the garlic and cashews and stir. Cook for just over a minute or until fragrant
4. Stir in the cooked rice and the peas
5. Drizzle the lime juice, soy sauce, and Sriracha.
6. Cook for about 3 minutes more.
7. With a cooking spoon, push the rice to one side of the pan and pour in the eggs.
8. Keep stirring until it’s almost fully cooked, then fold it into rice mixture.
9. Garnish rice with green onions, coriander, or parsley and serve.

2. Pineapple Salsa

Salsa is a Mexican dip that is often eaten raw. Add some flavor and color to your salsa by adding pineapple slices in this pineapple recipe.

Time

Preparation time – 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup freeze-dried pineapple
• 1/2 cup dried red bell pepper
• 1/2 of red onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup cilantro, dried,
• 1 Jalapeño, minced, or our dried jalapeno peppers.
• 1 tbsp. Lime juice
• A pinch of salt

Method

1. Toss the pineapple cubes into a large bowl and stir in the peppers, onion, cilantro, jalapeño, and lime juice.
2. Season with salt, then transfer it back into the pineapple bowl. You can skip the salt if you so desire
3. Serve with tortilla chips. It goes great on pork chops.

3. Grilled Pineapple Chicken

Recipes are not complete without trying chicken; this grilled pineapple recipe is the ultimate guide to finger-licking food.

Time

Preparation – 10 minutes

Total Time – 2 hours, 25 minutes

Ingredients

• Five boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• Two cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp. freshly minced ginger
• ½ cup of vegetable oil
• 2 cups freeze-dried pineapple
• Parsley to garnish

Method

1. In a large bowl, whisk the pineapple juice, ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger until they are well mixed.
2. Put the chicken in a large zip-lock bag pour in the marinade. Allow the chicken to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours. You can keep it in the fridge overnight if you wish.
3. Heat the grill to high.
4. Put the chicken on the grill and let it cook, occasionally turning it. Keep basting it with the marinade until it’s charred and cooked through. Each side should take about 8 minutes.
5. Pour a little oil on the pineapple and toss it on the grill for 2 minutes or until it’s charred.
6. Garnish the chicken and pineapple with parsley or green onion and serve it hot.

4. Hawaiian Chicken Skewers

Chicken skewers are excellent as tapas or a main meal, and what better way to make them enjoyable than to make them with pineapple?

Time

Preparation – 25 minutes

Cooking – 25 minutes

Total Time – 50 minutes

Ingredients

• Two chicken breasts, chopped into large cubes
• 2 cups freeze-dried pineapple
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1 tbsp. rice wine vinegar
• 2 tsp. sesame oil
• Two cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp. ginger, minced
• 1 tsp. honey
• Salt to taste
• 1 tsp. dried red pepper flakes
• Two green bell peppers, diced
• One red onion, diced

Method

1. Preheat the grill.
2. Whisk the barbecue sauce, soy sauce, vinegar, oil, garlic, ginger, and honey in a large bowl until they are well combined.
3. Season with salt and red pepper flakes.
4. Make the skewers by alternating the chicken, pineapple, peppers, and red onion on a skewer.
5. Place them on a baking sheet and generously drip the marinade on it.
6. Place skewers on preheated grill.
7. Brush with the reserved marinade as they cook
8. Cook for five minutes and flip them, brushing the other side with marinade as well.
9. Cook both sides for five minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
10. Serve with white rice, mashed potato, and a sprinkle of cilantro.

5.      Fireball Pineapple

What do you do when you’re craving fireball whiskey and a slice of pineapples? You make a fireball whiskey. Follow this unique pineapple recipe and wow your guests.

Time

Preparation – 5 minutes

Making – 5 minutes

Total Time – 10 minutes

Ingredients

• Freeze-dried pineapple cubes
• 1 ½ cup of Fireball Whiskey
• 1/2 cup of cinnamon sugar

Method

1. Pour the Fireball into a large bowl.
2. Throw in the pineapple cubes and let them soak for one hour
3. Drain the Fireball and reserving it for cocktails. 
4. Toss the pineapple in cinnamon sugar and serve.

Conclusion

We may never agree whether pineapples belong to the pizza or not, but these five pineapple recipes will get you thinking more about the pineapples. Do not use very high heat or cook them too long to avoid destroying the pineapples’ vitamin C content.

References

1. http://www.goodcook.com/skillet-cashew-chicken-meal-prep/
2. https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipes/a53020/pineapple-salsa-in-pineapple-recipe/
3. https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a47354/grilled-aloha-chicken-recipe/
4. https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a25102459/easy-pineapple-fried-rice-recipe/
5.  https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a19867546/fireball-pineapple-recipe/

6 Must-Try French Toast Recipes for an Excellent Brunch 0

Is there just one way of making French toast? Definitely not. November 28th is the National French Toast Day. Are you wondering how the French toast recipe come about? This delicacy that originated from Rome has graced many breakfast tables for centuries. If the recipe didn't originate from France, why was it named "French Toast"?

Joseph French created the recipe in 1724. He advertised the recipe as "French Toast" because he forgot the apostrophe. However, we cannot give all the credit to Joseph. The recipe existed from the early 5^th century AD as early as the age of the Roman Empire. The Romans would dip bread in a milk and egg mixture and then fry it with oil or butter.

Other people believe that the French toast recipe was created by medieval European cooks who had to use every bit of food they found to feed their families. They knew they could revive a day old bread if moistened by adding eggs and heated.

Follow these French toast recipes to find out the various ways you can make this delicious treat.

Although you can make French Toast with any bread, the sandwich bread would suffice. You can choose to use heavy cream as opposed to regular milk, as well. French toast goes well with any sweetener, such as honey, sugar, maple syrup, or coconut sugar. Have fun with assorted fruits, fresh or freeze-dried, to make your French toast more delicious.

1. Vanilla French Toast

Time – 30 minutes

Ingredients

• Five slices of Bread
• 2 Eggs
• 1 cup of milk
• A pinch of salt
• Sweetener
• Vanilla extract
• Butter
• Maple syrup

Method

1. In a shallow dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, sweetener, and vanilla extract.
2. Place the bread slice in on one side and then quickly flip it over to the other side. Ensure that it doesn't stay dipped for too long as it will get soggy.
3. Place the bread slices in a skillet with melted butter set over medium heat. Let them cook for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
4. Serve them hot. Top with maple syrup or honey.

2. French Toast with Cinnamon

Time – 10 minutes

Sometimes, you want a little more flavor and aroma in your French toast

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk
• 8 slices challah, brioche, or white bread
• 1/2 cup maple syrup, warmed

Method

1. In a small bowl, mix cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar and set aside
2. Melt the butter over medium heat in a large skillet.
3. Whisk the cinnamon mixture, eggs, and milk.
4. Pour the cinnamon mixture into a shallow container, such as a pie plate.
5. Dip bread in the egg mixture and then put them on the pan.
6. Fry the bread slices until golden brown, then flip to cook the other side. Serve with syrup.

3. Mixed Berry French Toast

If you need some extra sweetness in your French toast recipe, this one is for you.

Time – 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 slices of bread
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup milk (240 mL)
• 2 cups mixed frozen berries,
• Freeze-dried blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar (65 g)
• Confectioner's sugar, optional

Method

1. Whisk the eggs and milk together in a medium-large bowl to create an egg wash.
2. Dunk bread in the egg wash.
3. On medium-low heat, melt butter in a skillet and cook bread for 3 minutes.
4. Mix the berries, sugar, and lemon juice in a medium pan over low heat.
5. Crush and stir the berries until they form a thick sauce.
6. Lay out the slices and spread compote in between each slice then on top.
7. Garnish with confectioners' sugar if you desire.

4. Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast

Time – 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup cream cheese one package, softened
• ⅓ cups of sugar 
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 12 slices of Texas Toast (one loaf)
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup milk
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

Method

1. In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla until you have a spreadable consistency.
2. Spread a thick layer of cream cheese filling on one side of half of the Texas Toast.
3. Top with the second piece of toast, forming a sandwich with cream cheese filling in the middle
4. In a small bowl, whisk eggs, milk, granulated sugar, and cinnamon together.
5. Then dip the sandwiches in the egg mixture to coat completely
6. Melt butter on a griddle or skillet over medium heat. Cook the sandwiches until they are golden brown on both sides. Top with freeze-dried strawberries, syrup, and whipped cream.

5. Patriotic French Toast

The only thing that's better than French toast is French toast with freeze-dried berries. This French toast recipe shows you how to make it.

Time

Preparation – 15 minutes

Making – 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries

• 1 cup freeze-dried blueberries

• 8 oz package cream cheese, softened

• 2 cups confectioners' sugar

• 2 cups of milk

• Two large eggs, beaten

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 8 thick slices of bread

Method

1. Preheat an oven to 200 degrees F (120 degrees C).
2. Mix the rehydrated strawberries and blueberries in a bowl and set them aside.
3. Beat the softened cream cheese and confectioner's sugar until smooth and then set it aside.
4. Whip the milk, eggs, and vanilla, in a shallow bowl.
5. Melt the butter over medium heat in a large pan
6. Dip bread into the egg mixture, and make sure it's fully coated
7. Cook the bread for five minutes or until it's browned on both sides
8. Place cooked slices on the baking sheet and place in the oven to keep warm until ready to serve.
9. Spread the cream cheese mixture over each slice of French toast, then top with two tablespoons of the fruit. Serve them hot

6. French Toast Broccoli Cheddar

This savory French toast recipe is great for leftover toast bread.

Time

Preparation – 5 minutes

Making – 5 minutes

Ingredients

• ½ cup of silken tofu
• ½ cup of coconut milk
• A pinch of salt
• Six pieces of broccoli cheddar bread

Instructions

1. Mix the tofu, milk, and salt in a blender. Add more milk to make it thinner if it's too thick
2. Pour the mixture into a shallow bowl or plate
3. Dip the bread slices into the batter
4. Cook on a skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes
5. Turn it and cook both sides, ensuring they have turned golden brown on each side
6. Drizzle some honey on it and serve

Conclusion

French toast recipes can vary depending on your preferred milk and fruits. If you're allergic to cow's milk or someone in the family is, use rice milk or nut milk, such as almond milk.

Use the fruits in season or one that may be out of season but have been freeze-dried to add flavor and color to your French toast. If you need to, you can make lots of bread pieces and freeze them to increase the shelf life.

Which French toast recipe will you try out today?

References

1. https://thebreakfastshoppe.com/history-french-toast/
2. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/robert-irvine/french-toast-recipe-1951408
3. https://www.yellowblissroad.com/creamcheesestuffedfrenchtoast/
4. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/214699/patriotic-french-toast/
5. https://www.spabettie.com/savory-french-toast-broccoli-cheddar/