Bombay Shrimp & Quinoa Bites

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Cheesy quinoa mini-muffins topped with shrimps dusted in Indian spices?

Yes, please!

You don’t need a mini-muffin tin to make this, btw.

You do need quinoa, however. And cheese. Glorious, glorious cheese.I used 2 cups of cooked quinoa (Psst, my recipe card at the end of this post has a foolproof way to cook quinoa every time).

You also need an egg and a bunch of whatever fresh herbs you have in your kitchen.

I used tarragon:

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Mixy-mix everything:

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Scoop *a heaping spoonful* of the quinoa mixture into a mini-muffin tin sprayed with baking spray or form them into patties and place them on a baking sheet.

Bake these beauties at 350F for 30 mins.

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Now, for the Bombay (I know it’s now Mumbai. I know.) part of the recipe. You need an equal parts mixture of freshly ground coriander and curry powder.

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 Sprinkle this spice mix onto your shrimp and sauté for a few minutes on each side.

bombay shrimp quinoa bites indian curry 6 bombay shrimp quinoa bites indian curry 7 bombay shrimp quinoa bites indian curry 16 bombay shrimp quinoa bites indian curry 17 In the last minute or two of cooking, squeeze the juice of a lime to freshen the whole thing up.

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 Top the quinoa mini-muffins with a shrimp and enjoy!

It’s like a savory cheesy cupcake with shrimp frosting!

I don’t think that’s a good description!

Why am I screaming?!

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 These are two-biters but I one-bit the shit out of them.

You could also stick a toothpick in them if you like to surround yourself with people who don’t like to get their hands dirty.

If you know what I mean 😉

I don’t know what I mean.

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Yay!

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Raiden’s pose expresses how I feel as I write this post.

Hey guys. Sorry for not posting a recipe yesterday, or today.

Gulp.

I’m sure it threw a wrench in your whole day. I know my blog is such a crucial part of your routine.

Ahem. Let’s pretend.

Anyway, my bestie is coming to visit me from LA and I have been a little busy preparing for her arrival. I have lots of goodies planned for us and I hope to share a few of the things I’m making with you tomorrow. 

Enjoy the weekend!!

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These guys know how to do the weekend up right!

“Ok now, bye bye then!”

(Name that movie)

(It’s my favorite movie)

Ok, I need to go to the airport now!


Detox Spa Water

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Again with this heat!

Ugh. What the fuck happened to spring?!

The heat makes me angry.

For my own safety, and that of those around me, I couldn’t turn on the oven or stove or any device that emanates heat of any sort. I would have gone into a seething rage. I only wanted things that were chilled or ice-cold. Nothing hotter than room temperature was entering my body.

So, I made water.

Detox Spa Water, to be exact.

In case someone hasn’t had “spa water,” it’s basically just water infused with fruits, veggies or herbs.

This is how it all went down:

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I used a lot of ingredients in comparison to the water. I like an intense fruit taste and as many of the detoxifying properties as I can get, then I just top it off with more water when needed. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, or your business casual, just use the same amount of fruits but place them in a pitcher. Or keep the glass but use less fruit. Whatever.

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So pretty.

I’m a sucker for pretty food floating in liquids.

Plus the all of these ingredients aid in purifying the body.

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The strawberry & mint was my favorite.

The lemon & lime is going to be my new water to start the day, very good for digestion and metabolism.

The cucumber was very cucumber-y. Not bad. Not my fav, but it’s an appetite suppressant.

Let me know what variations you would make.

I wanna try making a chia seed water. I’ll post it on Instagram.

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Cucumber & Celery Salad

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So, here it is: the salad I promised to post using my Low-Fat Chia Seed & Cardamom Dressing.

It is so light and refreshing.

It’s also creamy and flavorful, with a hint of spice.

You need a cucumber sliced into half moons:

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A stalk of celery (cut into crescents) and a bunch of chives and parsley (finely chopped):

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Ok, here is where the recipe gets really difficult:

  Place all of these ingredients into a bowl, add a little S&P, a tablespoon or two of the dressing and toss.

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See what I did there? 😉

Under-promise and then over-deliver. That’s my motto in life.

That’s a lie. My motto is over-promise and under-deliver and then over-apologize.

Why are we discussing my life motto? 

Place it into a bowl and enjoy!

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Perfect summer salad for this hot-ass weather.

Help me beat the heat by subscribing to my blog:

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One has everything to do with the other.

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Low-Fat Chia Seed & Cardamom Dressing

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 I love this dressing.

It feels really decadent, but it isn’t.

The chia seeds make me feel like I’m bettering myself and my community. The cardamom is the not-so-secret, secret ingredient.

This dressing also makes a great dip with veggies. So much better than ranch and way better for you.

Ok, so this is what you need:

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The labneh and vinegar are flexible. Plain or greek yogurt work just as well and you can use any wine vinegar or lemon/lime juice for the acid component.

You need cardamom as well:

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 Ground cardamom is available at Indian or Middle Eastern markets. Just get the smallest packet they have.

Measure out a 1/4 cup of labneh/yogurt into a bowl:

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Add a tablespoon of vinegar, chia seeds, all the spices (don’t forget a little S&P) and combine.

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 Taste and adjust for seasonings (if too tart, add more yogurt). 

Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to a week or two.

Hopefully it doesn’t last that long.

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 Who said salads are boring?

I made a creamy Cucumber & Celery Salad with this dressing that is really light and satisfying.

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Strawberry Shortcake w/ Ice Cream

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 I love this idea. Plus, this recipe is so flexible, it does yoga.

You can use any biscuit and any ice cream. You could even use different fruits, but then it won’t be strawberry shortcake and that’s too much instability for me. I need some structure in life. Only some.

This recipe is so easy, you only need 3 ingredients.

1.) A biscuit.

I used my gluten-free ones but as I said before, any kind works. Even the one from the can. “I’ll never tell…” (Name that movie) (Here’s the answer in a 16 second clip)

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2.) Ice cream.

I used my non-dairy creamy coconut ice cream. Any ice cream works here. Dulce de leche anyone?

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3.) Strawberries

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This recipe is so easy. It’s just assembling. No need to cook to treat yo self on a Monday.

Start by cutting the tops of the strawberries and slicing them. (If you’re only making one shortcake then about 2-3 strawberries will be enough.)

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 Now for the assembly.

Slice a biscuit in half and place a scoop of ice cream on the bottom half of the biscuit:

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Now sprinkle on some strawberry slices:

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Some will stick to the ice cream, some will fall on the plate, all will enter my mouth.

Finally, place the top half of the biscuit on the strawberries and eat!

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What a glorious, glorious sight.

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No spam. Just deliciousness.

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Gluten-Free Biscuits

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 There is no reason why you can’t have a biscuit.

I mean, there are a few reasons why you shouldn’t

But no real reason why you can’t. 

This recipe is for those moments. Those moments when you may not want to consume gluten but you really, really want a fucking biscuit so bad you can taste it.

Ahem.

This is for those moments, that I’m sure we all have. Right? Please. Right?

Anyway, this is what you need:

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I used a gluten-free all-purpose flour, the kind that Bob’s Red Mill makes. You can make your own, but if you’re not a big baker I find that it’s cheaper to just get the mix.

Xanthan gum. If you’re baking gluten-free you need xanthan gum or guar gum, otherwise your biscuits will fall apart and that’s just too damn sad for words.

The coconut milk is to replace the heavy cream/buttermilk found in most biscuits. A great dairy-free option.

First step is to get all your dry ingredients combined. I used a food processor with a dough blade. Also, if using a food processor make sure you are on the dough setting.

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You don’t need a food processor, of course.

How do you think they did it hundreds of years ago?

With their feet, duh, but that’s besides the point.

Anyway, get the coconut milk out of the can and mix it up until it’s all smooth and combined.

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Next you need to cut 6 tbsp (or the whole stick, fuck it) of very cold butter into the dough until it looks like pebbles.

You can use a pastry cutter or two knives.

If using a food processor, use the pulse setting only, you don’t want to over-work the dough.

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Now pour in the coconut milk and mix until combined.

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Place the dough onto a floured board and form into a rounded ball. 

Cover with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 mins or in the freezer for 15 mins if you’re as impatient as I am.

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After the dough has set, it should look something like this:

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Now. There are two schools of thought on the next phase of the biscuit making process.

The school of rolling and cutting:

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The school of hand forming and dropping:

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Since I’m into mixing things up, I decided to hand form and cut.

It fed both my wild-side and my inner control-freak, equally.

I don’t have a biscuit cutter so I just used a glass.

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I like the homemade look of hand forming, and cutting just ensures they all cook evenly.

I got six biscuits out of the dough.

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You want them touching each other a little, it helps them rise up to the powers that be.

I baked at 450F for about 30 mins. The time depends on how large the biscuits are. 

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 I wish you could smell them.

Oh, I almost forgot. Happy Mother’s Day!

You know, I’m a mother. I don’t have actual human kids but this blog is my baby. Which means I deserve a Mother’s Day gift. Which means you should get me one. Which means it has to be free. Which means you should subscribe to my blog:

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Homemade Vanilla Coconut Ice Cream

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 I scream for ice cream. 

Actually, it’s more of a hysterical shriek, but that’s not the point.

The point here is ice cream.

Technically this isn’t ice cream, because it’s dairy and egg free. But if it looks like ice cream, tastes like ice cream and walks like ice cream, it’s a duck.

I mean it’s ice cream.

Whatever. This is what you need:

coconut vanilla ice cream non dairy vegan paleo gluten free 1

The vanilla bean paste is optional. I use it to get the little flecks of vanilla. You can also use a vanilla bean pod if you have one. Just cut it down the middle and scrape out the vanilla caviar. Swoon.

That white jar has powdered sugar in it, also known as baker’s cocaine.  

You should really refrigerate the cans of coconut milk for at least 4 hours. It helps separate the cream from the water and it’s best to have super cold ingredients when making ice cream.

So after the cans have chilled, open the cans and scoop out the top layer of thick cream into a bowl. Pour the coconut water into a separate container and reserve.

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The coconut cream should look luscious and sinful. Although it has no dairy and qualifies as Paleo, it is pretty calorie heavy so this is still a treat.

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To the coconut cream, add a splash of vanilla extract, a drizzle of vanilla bean paste and a heaping 1/3 cup of powdered sugar or any other sweetener that soothes your conscience.

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Now that all the ingredients are in the bowl, whisk it up until the consistency is thick and ribbony like custard.

If you feel it’s too thick, add a little of the reserved coconut water until desired consistency is reached.

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Ok, now for the fun part. If you have an ice cream maker, set it up, pour the ice cream mixture in and churn according to your manufacturer’s instructions.

If you don’t have an ice cream maker, do not despair. Just place the mixture in an airtight container and freeze. Take it out every few hours and whisk it for a few minutes then return to freezer. Repeat until desired consistency is reached.

Don’t let anything stop you from making this ice cream!

Below are photos of before and after churning:

coconut vanilla ice cream non dairy vegan paleo gluten free 22 coconut vanilla ice cream non dairy vegan paleo gluten free 23 It was so hard not to stick my face in this.

I composed myself and placed it in an airtight container and into the freezer overnight.

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This morning, I jumped out of bed to check on my ice cream.

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Looks perfect!

So, I scooped some out to take a picture, and then I decided it needed a little something.

Maple syrup.

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Then I tasted it because it’s a job requirement.

I had coconut ice cream for breakfast.

I need to go workout.

Bye.

P.S. Please subscribe to my blog. I might just pop up at your place with a fresh pint of ice cream to thank you 😉

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We Jammin’ Cocktail

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Awww. Look at hubby in the background. What you can’t see is our husky puppy Raiden behind the cocktails. He likes to run tethered besides hubby, channeling his inner sled dog instincts. So cute.

I was channeling my weekend instincts. You know, the instinct to make a cocktail every weekend. Don’t blame me, it’s genetic. I adapted this gene to survive in life.

So, you might be wondering about the name: We Jammin’. Well, it’s because there is a genius ingredient in these cocktails. Yep. You guessed it. Jam. 

Yes. Jam.

Before you begin mumbling at the screen and questioning my judgement, hear me out. The jam is sweet and fruity, and when mixed with liquid, it adds an amazing flavor as well as texture. The pectin (thickener) in the jam gives the cocktails some body and you see tiny fruit pieces in the cocktail. OMG. You have to try it.

If you have jam at home and some kind of liquor, there is no reason you shouldn’t be making this. I mean, I can think of a few reasons why you shouldn’t but spare the details. Spare the details.

 This is what you need:

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You only need one type of jam per cocktail. I made two cocktails, one with strawberry jam and the other with peach.

Alright, let’s get started.

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The cocktail shaker. 

Please don’t make fun of the water spots on my shaker. I love my dishwasher and I’m not ashamed of it.

If you don’t have a shaker, do not despair. Just violently shake the cocktail with a spoon, take out the week’s frustrations as you do so. See, this drink is a stress reliever in many ways.

Add some ice to the shaker.

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A *heaping spoonful* (it’s like when they say the name of the movie during the movie) of jam.

Whatever fruit jam you have is perfect. If you like it on toast, you’ll like it in a cocktail.

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 Then toss in a sprig of mint.

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Cut a lime into quarters. You only need two quarters per cocktail.

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Then add the juice of two of the quarters, an ounce (or more) of vodka and a 1/4 cup of water.

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 Now shake until your hands are about to develop frostbite. Or for about 30 seconds.

Then drop those lime wedges you just squeezed into a glass. I hope you didn’t throw them out. Top with some ripped mint leaves and ice. Finally, pour the cocktail in.

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I repeated the process again except with strawberry jam.

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 Cheers to the freakin’ weekend!

Drink to that.

Yeah yeah.

(Name that song)

(Subscribe to my blog)

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Coconut Ginger Coleslaw

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If you like coleslaw, you will love this version.

If you don’t like coleslaw, maybe you can try this one as a way to dip your toes in the coleslaw pond.

I promise it’s warm.

The metaphorical pond. Not the coleslaw. The coleslaw has to be cold.

Anyway, the real star of the show here is the dressing. So tropical and so yummy.

This is what you need to make it:

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 That’s powdered sugar. You can use regular sugar, or coconut sugar or stevia or crack. Whatever.

I used powdered sugar because it dissolves much easier into the dressing.

I don’t want grains of sugar in my slaw, y’know?

Ok, so plop the coconut milk into a bowl.

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It’s supposed to be separated like that. Just whisk, add all the ingredients (specific measurements in recipe card at end of post) and whisk again.

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This dressing can be made in advance. In fact, it’s better to make it the day before to let all the flavors develop.

While the dressing is chilling, shred all the veggies using a food processor or box grater.

I used a head each of green and purple cabbage, carrots and ginger.

Make sure to remove the cores of the cabbage before shredding.

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Place all the shredded veg into a large bowl, add some chopped green onions, as much dressing as your heart desires and toss!

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Add a little S&P and let it chill in the fridge for at least an hour to give the flavors a chance to come out of their shells and show you their true, fun personalities.

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I love this coleslaw.

So balanced.

Sweet and tangy.

Pretty and tasty.

Just like me, I mean you, I mean me.

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