photo courtesy of Sanctuary T Shop
Contest details: Until September 30th, Sanctuary T Shop will be hosting a tea-inspired recipe contest.
Prize: The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to Sanctuary T Shop and have their winning recipe featured on the Shop’s site. The runner up will win a free bottle of T-Dust Seasoning and a 2oz tin of tea of their choice.
Full contest/submission details at: http://www.shopsanctuaryt.com/recipecontest
Good luck!
When you’re looking for a sugary treat, look no further than one that incorporates caramel – a beige to dark brown confection fashioned out of different types of sugars that have been slowly heated. Caramel goes a long way – such as filling the centers of candies, flavoring desserts, making cookies ooey and gooey, and serving as topping for ice cream and custards. If you’re looking for ways to use caramel in desserts, the following suggestions will help get you started.
Homemade Caramel Topping
Drizzling homemade caramel sauce or topping easily transforms vanilla ice cream into a heightened treat. For the most basic recipe, add about ½ cup of brown sugar to a small saucepan and around one tablespoon of butter (or margarine). Heat ingredients over medium heat, stirring constantly. The mixture will start to bubble. Continue to heat for at least one minute.
Depending on how thick or thin you want your caramel topping, adjust the amount of butter or brown sugar to this recipe. As the caramel topping cools, it will harden. Quickly drizzle on ice cream and popcorn for a quick treat.
Caramel Popcorn
You can use a homemade caramel topping to spice up a bowl of popcorn. For children, caramel is the glue that holds together popcorn balls – a popular treat often seen during the Halloween season. To enhance the gooiness of this caramel dessert, add marshmallow to your recipes.
Caramel Rice Krispie Treats
You may also substitute popcorn for Rice Krispies to enjoy more crunch. A quick recipe combines one stick of margarine, 15 pieces of caramels, and one can of condensed milk that is melted in a pan over a stove. Roll in the Rice Krispies once all ingredients have melted together. Refrigerate to harden.
Caramel Candies
Pralines, nougat, and crunchy brittle all rely on caramel for its flavor and texture. Most often, nuts are used to complete a recipe. The typical caramel candy is soft and chewy. A simple recipe may call for boiling milk or cream, sugar, butter, and vanilla extract together.
Bananas Foster
Made with bananas and vanilla ice cream, Bananas Foster is topped with a caramel sauce made from butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, dark rum, and banana liqueur. At some restaurants, the butter, sugar and bananas are cooked, followed by the addition of alcohol, which is then set afire tableside. The alcohol evaporates, leaving behind the flavor of rum. The bananas and caramel sauce are then served over the ice cream. Don’t worry – there are less intense variations for preparing Bananas Foster at home.
Caramel Apple
An easy caramel dessert to make is the caramel apple. Gather six apples, one 14-ounce package of individually wrapped caramels, and two tablespoons of milk. You will need Popsicle sticks or wooden craft sticks on hand to create the “holders.” Butter a baking sheet. Remove the stem from each apple and press a “stick” into the top. Place caramels and milk in a microwavable bowl and cook for two minutes – making sure to stir once. Allow the mixture to briefly cool. Roll each apple in the caramel sauce until it is coated. This step should be completed quickly. Place finished apples on wax paper or buttered baking sheet so that the caramel can set.
Crème Brulee
It’s not uncommon to come across crème brulee on the menu of a fancy restaurant. The dessert is comprised of a rich vanilla-flavored custard topped with a layer of hard caramel. While other parts of the world typically eat crème brulee cold, the United States has a habit of warming up the sweet treat. Depending on the recipe, the custard base could be flavored with lemon or orange zest, coffee, chocolate, fruits, and even liqueurs.
Honey is making a splash in the culinary world this year thanks to its versatility and recipe-boosting benefits. The world’s top chefs use it; now the National Honey Board wants to hear from cooks of all abilities about their favorite ways of incorporating honey into dishes and treats.
photo courtesy of the National Honey Board
The contest kicked off August 2 and runs through September 15. To enter, just visit Honey.com and submit your original or favorite recipe that includes 100% pure honey by 11:59 pm on September 15, 2010.
Winners will be chosen randomly to take home one of three Le Creuset® cookware prizes!
To learn more, including entry directions and contest rules, visit Honey.com.
I hope you’ll take this opportunity to enter and share a recipe and perhaps invite your friends and family to do the same.
photo courtesy of the National Honey Board
Overlooked in the pantry in recent years, the iconic honey bear is reestablishing itself as the #1 secret ingredient for foodies everywhere. The Food Channel even named honey as a top food trend (check out the declaration here!). To help bolster the honey bear’s comeback and ensure it stays off the “endangered” list for good, the National Honey Board is encouraging everyone to use more honey. If you’re looking for 100% pure honey, make sure the label only has one ingredient: honey. Your local grocery store and farmers markets are perfect places to find 100% pure honey.
The National Honey Board is a federal research and promotion board under USDA oversight that conducts research, marketing and promotion programs to help maintain and expand markets for honey and honey products. These programs are funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey.
When warm weather brings the juiciness of ripe berries bursting with flavor, it’s time to put those tasty treats to good use. Fruit pies are not only wildly popular during the holidays, but also throughout the summertime when berry picking can take place in your own backyard. To enjoy a few ideas for pies made with berries, consider the following suggestions:
1. Three Berry Pie
Why settle for one kind of berry when you can have three? With a host of variations, Three Berry Pie usually consists of blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries (or blackberries). One recipe for a 9-inch double crust pie calls for 1 cup of strawberries, 2 cups of raspberries and 1 ½ cups of blueberries. Other ingredients may include cornstarch and sugar.
2. Apple-Berry Pie
Use blackberries and apples to bake a pie that takes the typical apple pie recipe to new heights. Flavored with cinnamon, this berry pie tastes exceptional with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
3. Berry Custard Pie
Combine raspberries and blackberries in a light custard sauce and you’ll enjoy an irresistible dessert that is surprisingly low in fat. Using fat free sour cream helps to cut down on the calories. Cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest, and vanilla extract help add flavor to the pie. When choosing the right recipe, one serving of Berry Custard Pie can be as low as 165 calories.
4. Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
Blend the sweetness of freshly sliced strawberries with the tartiness of rhubarb to create a delicious summer pie. Some recipes use quick-cooking tapioca to achieve their consistency, while others create creamy custard filling. For added crunch and texture, opt for a crumb topping by combining 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon salt. Cut in ½ cup butter or margarine until the mixture becomes crumbly. Spoon the topping mix over the filling and bake according to your recipe.
5. Huckleberry Cream Cheese Pie
Looking to try out a new berry? Huckleberries are small round berries that resemble blueberries. Growing wild in August throughout the Northwest (United States), some grocery stores carry the frozen berry. You can use fresh or frozen huckleberries to create a topping for your favorite cream cheese pie recipe. After cooling your pie, spread the huckleberry mixture over the cream cheese layer and refrigerate until you’ll ready to dig in.
Whether you’re looking to feed your stomach or fuel your brain, there are many foods and ingredients that come with benefits. From loads of antioxidants to natural energy boosters, plenty of items allow you to indulge in Mother Nature’s deliciousness. Below you will find a collection of desserts and beverages that let you to tap into the healing and healthy power of food.
Nuts: Overall, nuts are loaded with essential fatty acids like Omega-3s, and depending on the kinds you eat, there are other advantages to gain. Nuts also make delicious toppings for any of your favorite dessert recipes.
Cashews are high in magnesium, which provide an increase of oxygen-rich blood to your brain. Your brain function becomes enhanced when you eat foods that contain choline, and pecans can provide you with this essential nutrient. Almonds not only provide brainpower, but also help to stabilize your mood. You can think more clearly and stay focused when eating walnuts packed with Omega-3s.
Suggested Desserts: Cashew Coconut Pudding, Almond Bars, Walnut Balls, Maple Pecan Pie
Raw Carrots: We’ve all heard that carrots are beneficial to the eyes, but the raw vegetable also delivers a steady level of blood sugar that caters to the brain. A couple of ways to incorporate raw carrots into your sweet treats is to shave the vegetable as a fresh topping for Carrot Cake, Carrot Bars, and Carrot Muffins.
Berries: Fueling your brain with energy, berries are high in complex carbohydrates and possess their own health factors depending on the variety. Blackberries are packed with stress-preventing anthocyanins that work towards calming your brain during tension-filled situations. The antioxidants found in strawberries can boost your cognitive functioning. Cranberries have a high concentration of antioxidants that contributes to preventing brain cell damage associated with free radicals. The antioxidants in blueberries have been proven to lower your risk of developing Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Suggested Desserts: Blackberry Pie, Strawberry Tarts, Cranberry Squares, Blueberry Muffins, Raspberry Trifle, Berry Cobbler, Berries and Cream, Berry Crumb Cake
Yogurt: You can improve your neurotransmitters with yogurt, as well as gain calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin and iodine. Get your fill of this low-calorie ingredient by making Berry Parfaits, Yogurt Cake, Yogurt Pops, and Frozen Greek Yogurt.
Oatmeal: Apple Crisp topped with oatmeal or a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies delivers a boost in energy, as well as promotes better memory. The low-calorie raisins in the cookies also serve as a high-energy ingredient packed with antioxidants.
Bananas: Banana cream pie sounds even better when you learn that bananas possess a decent source of antioxidants and potassium. Other dessert ideas include Banana Bread and Banana Pudding.
Dark Chocolate: The possibilities are endless when you think of all the desserts that include dark chocolate. Not only can you actually stop cravings with a small bar, but also receive a burst of healthy antioxidants. Consider dipping pretzels and frozen bananas and into melted dark chocolate for a tasty sweet treat.
Watermelon: Watermelon is a low-calorie treat that increases energy levels and provides the body with nutrients. Perfect for warm weather days, consider transforming your watermelon slices into a Watermelon Cooler – often made with fresh lime juice.
Hot Cocoa: An intense surge of antioxidants comes when you drink a steaming cup of hot chocolate made with pure cocoa powder.
Peppermint Tea: Enhance your productivity with peppermint tea, which increases your focus and performance.
Green Tea: To relax your mind and jumpstart mental alertness, consume green tea with honey or drink an ice-cold glass with a sprig of mint.
Coffee: The caffeine found in a cup of coffee is known to encourage improved short-term memory when consumed in moderation.
Popular in Southeast Asian, Indian, and Jamaican cuisine, coconut is added to cakes, cookies, and other desserts to provide a nutty sweetness and pleasant texture. Coconut is actually a fruit and not a nut – sold as juice, milk, shredded (sweetened and unsweetened) flakes, and as a whole fruit with its edible, thin brown skin. For the freshest results, it’s suggested to crack your own coconut.
What’s So Good About Coconut?
High in saturated fat, the natural oils in the coconut provide the body with plenty of benefits. From boosting the immune system to improving digestion, coconut offers a high-fiber skin, iron, potassium, and a decent amount of electrolytes found in the coconut juice.
How to Crack Coconut
It takes a little effort, but cracking your own coconut will provide your desserts with a fresher flavor that enhances the overall taste. As you stare at the hairy shell, make the task a little easier by baking the coconut for 20 minutes in an oven set to 350 degrees. After letting the coconut cool, pierce a hole in two of the “eyes” with a hammer and screwdriver. Turn the coconut upside down in order to drain the juice. Use the hammer to tap the 
screwdriver until the nut breaks into two pieces.
Place each half of the coconut with the flesh facing down on your countertop (or other stable surface) and tap each piece with a hammer to break it up. You can then break the coconut into pieces using your hands. A table knife will help you dislodge the “meat” from the shell. Some people even peel off the brown skin of the coconut and eat it – it’s edible.
Ways to Use Coconut in Your Desserts
Coconut in Salads: Enhance a tropical fruit salad by sprinkling finely grated coconut on top of fresh mango, papaya, orange, and banana. You may use fresh or toasted coconut to achieve varying flavors.
Coconut in Coffee: Some people have added coconut milk to their coffee for a unique, hot beverage.
Coconut in Pie: With an irresistible whipped cream topping, coconut cream pie is comprised of a rich custard or pudding consisting of milk, cream, flour, and eggs. Sometimes, chocolate shavings serve as garnish, while toasted coconut is more commonplace.
Coconut in Cookies and Bars: Whether used as a garnish for cookies or added to your favorite recipes – sky’s the limit with coconut. Popular cookies with coconut include Coconut Macaroons, Coconut Bars, Chocolate Chip Coconut, and variations of the Almond Joy bar.
Coconut in Ice Cream
Add shredded coconut to your ice cream sundaes or create a vegan sweet treat with your ice cream maker called Coconut Curry Ice Cream. First, simmer two and a half 13.5-ounce cans of canned unsweetened coconut milk, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 ½ teaspoons of mild curry paste in a large heavy saucepan. Whisk often, and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer to allow the flavors to blend for about 10 minutes.
Slightly cool and then refrigerate the mixture uncovered until cold. Cover and chill overnight. When you are ready, process your ‘ice cream’ according to the directions of your maker. Add in ½ cup of toasted, sweetened flaked coconut to the mixture. Use extra toasted coconut flakes as a garnish.
