Happy New Year!
Bravo to you for every step you have taken, every positive choice you have made, and every encouragement you have given to others in creating a healthy, whole-food life!
We welcome the new year with a refreshed and focused mind. We review our goals and develop a strategy for success. My goals from the beginning have been:
Avoid developing Type II diabetes.
Avoid the need for statins and other prescription medicines to function.
Avoid weight gain, maintain, and perhaps lose weight.
Remain active and healthy.
To accomplish my goals, I may need to simplify my meals further to reduce my time in the kitchen where I am tempted to mindlessly snack. I will increase my physical activity and focus on hobbies I enjoy (painting, reading, photography…), which further support my mind and body. I’ll stock my fridge with fruits and veggies, my pantry with nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains. I will remember to drink water!
I am cheering for you every step of the way. I commend you for beginning and moving in a positive direction.
Someone dear to me recently prepared a beautiful appetizer dip served with crackers. The recipe included a cream cheese base and beautiful cranberries, jalapenos, green onions, cilantro, and a lot of refined sugar. I tasted it, and of course, the original version hits the pleasure centers in my brain. The refined sugar, fat from cream cheese, and the salt of the crackers is the dangerous triad that creates cravings. Of course, my brain loved it, but I can create a light, refreshing version that feeds our body rather than challenges it and weighs it down. This is what we do. We reject the old standard definition of good food and actually produce good for the body food. Here is my version:
Ingredients
- 12 oz. Cranberries Whole, Fresh
- ¼ Cup Green Onion
- 2-3 Peppers Jalapeno
- 4 Tbsp Cilantro Fresh
- ½ Cup Apple Juice Concentrate
- 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice Fresh squeezed
- ⅛ tsp Salt
- 12 oz. Tofu Silken
- Celery
Instructions
- Prepare the jalapeños by trimming off the stem and cutting them lengthwise to open. For a very mild dip, remove all of the vein and seeds. To create a spicy dip, leave most or all of the seeds and vein. Cut into thirds and add to a food processor along with the cranberries, and cilantro. Pulse gently until they are all finely chopped.
- Remove from food processor and add to a container to marinate. Add the apple juice concentrate and salt, stir, cover and refrigerate 2-6 hours.
- Clean, trim and finely dice the green onions. Stir the diced onions and 1 Tbs. of fresh lemon juice into the silken tofu. Refrigerate.
- To assemble the dip, drain the cranberry jalapeño mixture in a sieve. Press to remove excess moisture. Add the remaining lemon juice and stir to incorporate. Clean your sieve and gently drain the tofu.
- Spread the tofu on the bottom of your serving dish. Gently spoon the cranberry jalapeño mixture over the tofu to cover.
- Serve with cleaned, bite sized pieces of celery.
Nutrition
Nutrition Values are estimates.
The salty crackers have been replaced by the celery. Celery has a natural saltiness to it and is a rich of Vitamin K.
The fruit and vegetables are a great source of numerous vitamins and minerals, fiber and cranberries in particular are powerful antioxidants.
Additional party pleasing recipes include Plant Based Italian Chili, Lettuce Wraps With Maple Miso Soy Curls, and Lettuce Wraps With Chipotle Lime Soy Curls.
Enjoy!
Cheers to you and a Happy Healthy Whole Food New Year!
~XOXO~
B