Tag Archives: cooking

Detox Smoothie

Posted on January 13, 2011 by zoomyummy | Leave a comment

detox smoothie recipe with step by step picture tutorial

Yep, that’s a healthy green smoothie?

I realize things like these are rather scarce over here, at this little place of mine.

But before you start wondering whether I’ve overcome a head injury recently, let me explain what’s going on…

I made this smoothie yesterday. That allowed me to tick off my first New Year’s resolution – to bring a little more health into my life.

Then I did three (3) sit-ups.

I was feeling amazing.

A new person was born.

Today I made a batch of cookies and had two glasses of wine.

So everything is back to normal.

The new person has grown up rather quickly, it seems.

Still I wonder what made me feel better, the alkalizing smoothie or the lovely wine.

Need to think it all through.

Here’s what you need to prepare this healthy beverage.

detox smoothie recipe with step by step picture tutorial, pour the juice into the blender

1. Pour the juice into the blender.

detox smoothie recipe with step by step picture tutorial,add the lemon juice

2. Add the lemon juice.

Minus the seeds.

detox smoothie recipe with step by step picture tutorial, grab a handful of fresh spinach leaves, they have rather mild flavor so they won't affect the final taste of your drink substantially

3. Grab a handful of fresh spinach leaves.

They have rather mild flavor so they won’t affect the final taste of your drink substantially.

detox smoothie recipe with step by step picture tutorial, throw them into the blender

4. And throw them into the blender.

detox smoothie recipe with step by step picture tutorial, peel the fresh ginger and grate it finely

5. Peel the fresh ginger and grate it finely.

Fresh ginger is beyond healthy but very flavorful.

A little goes a long way.

We need just about 1/4 teaspoon.

detox smoothie recipe with step by step picture tutorial, blend

6. And into the blender it goes as well.

detox smoothie recipe with step by step picture tutorial, blend till liquefied and green

7. Blend till liquefied and green.

detox smoothie recipe with step by step picture tutorial, this super detox smoothie is great for alkalizing your system, it is refreshing and packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and enzymes

This super detox smoothie is great for alkalizing your system. It is refreshing and packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and enzymes.

And when you drink it, you’ll feel like a new person.

Enjoy, dear friends.

(This recipe was loosely adapted from pattycake.ca.)

Posted in drinks

Tagged Alkalizing beverage, Beverages, cooking, Green smoothie, Healthy smoothie, Home, New Year's resolution, recipe, smoothie, Smoothie with fresh greens | 65 Comments

Scrambled Egg Muffins

Posted on January 3, 2011 by zoomyummy | Leave a comment

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures

Happy New Year, dear friends!

I wish you health, love, happiness and joy!

And I am completely sure that you’ll have it all.

Some things I just know.

What I am also sure about is that you’ll love these scrambled egg muffins.

The idea comes from lovely and cute Jessica Seinfeld. She presented the recipe on Martha Stewart’s show recently.

The recipe is included in her cook book called ‘Deceptively Delicious’ where she shares very smart secrets on how to trick your kids into eating healthy stuff.

Cool, huh?

To tell you the truth, I am kind of blushing now. I need to own up to something. But it’s a little hard… because I think I’ve done something really naughty.

Maybe worse than naughty.

The original recipe includes chopped chickpeas and I just left them out wickedly.

And, I added salt.

Aaaaa…

I can only hope that the universal committee for healthy living will forgive me.

But I think they have to because these muffins tasted just amazing.

Here’s what we need.

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures, preheat the oven, lay the strip of bacon in a large frying pan or skillet

1. First, preheat the oven to 400 °F (200 °C).

2. Then lay the strips of bacon in a large frying pan (or skillet, or griddle).

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures, fry bacon until crisp

3. And fry them until crisp.

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures, slice the bacon thinly

4. Slice the bacon thinly into 1/2-inch pieces.

You can also cut the bacon with kitchen shears if that makes the job easier for you.

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures, in a bowl, whisk the eggs lightly

5. In a bowl, whisk the eggs lightly.

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures, whisk in the milk

6. Then whisk in the milk…

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures, add Parmesan, parsley, black pepper, and salt

7. …and Parmesan, parsley, black pepper, and salt.

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures

Nice.

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures, coat the cups of a muffin tin with vegetable oil, or brush the cups with the oil or sue non-stick cooking spray, divide the egg mixture evenly among the prepared cups

8. Now we need six standard muffin tins. Metal or silicone, both are good.

Coat the cups with some vegetable oil (you can brush the cups with the oil or use non-stick cooking spray).

9. Divide the egg mixture evenly among the prepared cups.

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures, sprinkle with the bacon

10. And sprinkle with the bacon.

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures, bake until the eggs puff and are cooked through, remove egg muffin from the muffin pan and let cool slightly before serving

11. Bake at 400 °F (200 °C) for 13 – 15 minutes or until the eggs puff and are cooked through.

And in case you wondered, the person in the picture looks very much how I look these days.

You wanted to know it, so now you know it.

12. Then remove your egg muffins from the muffin pan and let them cool slightly before serving.

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures

Here they are.

Just adorable.

A great idea for breakfast or lazy brunch, don’t you think?

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures, garnish with red bell pepper hearts

The hearts are red bell pepper.

I’ve used sharp metal cookie cutters to cut them out.

scrambled egg muffins step by step recipe with pictures

See how deliciously moist they are?

Mmm.

And they are packed with wonderful and very satisfying savory flavors.

These are totally worth a try!

Enjoy, dear friends!

(This recipe has been loosely adapted from Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. It yields six muffins and takes about 30 minutes to prepare.)

Posted in breakfast, muffins

Tagged Bacon, Breakfast, Brunch, cooking, Fried bacon, Home, How to make scrambled egg muffins, Jessica Seinfeld, Martha Stewart, muffin, Muffin tin, Scrambled Egg Muffins, Scrambled egg muffins recipe, Scrambled eggs | 31 Comments

Bowtie Cookies

Posted on December 19, 2010 by zoomyummy | Leave a comment

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

I am sending you warm greetings from my kitchen.

Because I luv ya!

And because the running oven makes it really, really warm in here.

The time before Christmas has a sweet and magical impact on me. I find myself in the kitchen even more often than usual.

Which actually means that instead of 14 hours a day I spend 20 hours here now.

Like yesterday, for example, I made 82 cookies and I don’t even know how that happened to me.

Strange.

Anyhow, these lovely Bowtie Cookies were one of those I made yesterday.

The dough has cream cheese in it. It remotely resembles puff pastry, but it is less layered and less fatty. And oh so delicious!

The dough is filled with jam. You wouldn’t believe how gorgeous that combination is.

Let me show you how I prepared them…

Here’s what we need.

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

1. In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, butter, sugar, and salt on medium speed until light, about 2 minutes.

2. Then on low speed, gradually beat in the flour just until mixed. A crumbly mixture will form.

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures, using your hands, pat the crumbly mixture together to from a dough ball

3. Using your hands, pat the crumbly mixture together to form a dough ball.

Oh, and the face – I had to. Again. It’s addictive. Sorry!

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures, preaheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a square or rectangle, cut the dough into even square

4. Preheat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

5. Now, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a square or rectangle about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick.

6. Cut the dough into even 2.5 x 2.5 inch (6 x 6 cm) squares.

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures, cutting dough with pizza cutter

I’ve found out that my pizza cutter works best when it comes to cutting pastry.

It’s perfectly sharp.

And pink.

I’m in love with it!

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures, place 1 teaspoon of filling in the center of each square

7. Place 1 teaspoon of the filling in the center of each square.

Use a really thick jam. There are even jam brands out there that are meant for baking. Get one of those, preferably.

Also, when I was making the first batch of these cookies I was a little too generous and placed a little more than one teaspoon of the filling in the center. And I also spread it.

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

I don’t recommend that.

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

Although the cookies looked amazing before baking, if there’s too much jam, it has a tendency to leak while baking.

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

In the second batch I was less generous.

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures, bake

And the cookies leaked less, they almost didn’t leak at all.

7. Back to the instructions… pull 2 opposite corners of the square into the middle, and pinch the edges together to seal.

Pinch the edges well, don’t give them a chance to open back into the square shape while baking.

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

8. Place the cookies on the prepared cookie sheet, spacing them about 1 1/2 inches (4 cm) apart.

9. Bake at 350 °F (175 °C) for about 12 minutes or until lightly golden.

Christmas Bowtie Cookies recipe with step by step pictures

10. Let cool on the cookie sheet for 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.

11. Dust the tops with sifted confectioner’s sugar while still warm, then let cool completely.

Enjoy, dear friends!

(This recipe was loosely adapted from Epicurious.com and makes 40 cookies.)

Posted in recipe

Tagged baking, Baking and Confections, Bowtie Cookies, Bowtie Cookies recipe, Christmas, Christmas baking, Christmas Cookies, cookie, cooking, cream cheese, dough, Favorite Christmas cookies, Flour, Holiday baking, Home, Kolace, Kolace recipe, Kolacky, Kolacky recipe, Mixer (cooking), puff pastry | 30 Comments

Cream Cheese Straws

Posted on December 16, 2010 by zoomyummy | Leave a comment

cream cheese straws recipe with step by step pictures

These straws are super easy to make.

And yummy!

Of course, they can be enjoyed as a nibble or finger food year-round, but I think they are especially welcome at Christmas and New Year’s parties.

Mmm. I can imagine them with drinks, salads or thick soups even.

Also, creating these savory treats makes a great project for you and your kids. Just try making them together. I am sure there will be loads and loads of fun.

cream cheese straws recipe with step by step pictures

Here’s what we need.
Yes, this is one of those recipe where you only need very few ingredients.

I am a huge fan of such recipes.

cream cheese straws recipe with step by step pictures

1. Preheat your oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Place the butter, cream cheese, flour, and salt into a bowl.

cream cheese straws recipe with step by step pictures

3. Combine the ingredients by hand just until a nice ball forms.

cream cheese straws recipe with step by step pictures

4. Place the dough onto a well floured surface.

5. Using a rolling-pin, roll out the dough into about 1/4 inch (0.6 cm) thickness.

If the dough gets too sticky during this process, just use more flour to make the work easier.

cream cheese straws recipe with step by step pictures

6. Now cut the dough into even strips. My ones were 3/4 inch (2 cm) wide and 4 1/2 inches (11 cm) long.

If you want them to look super fancy, use a fluted pastry wheel cutter.

Oh, and it helps a lot if you dip the cutter in flour beforehand.

7. Re-roll any scraps and cut more strips.

cream cheese straws recipe with step by step pictures

8. Lay the strips on the lined baking sheet. Brush them with a lightly beaten egg.

This will make them beautifully golden in color.

cream cheese straws recipe with step by step pictures

9. Lastly, sprinkle each strip with some salt, sesame seeds and cumin.

I only had ground cumin seeds on hand when I was making these cuties. I think that the whole ones would look even better.

cream cheese straws recipe with step by step pictures

10. Bake at 350 °F (175 °C) for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Enjoy, dear friends!

(This recipe makes about 30 straws and takes 45 minutes to prepare.)

Posted in recipe

Tagged Baked straws, baking, butter, Cheese Straws recipe, cooking, cream cheese, dough, Flour, Home, How to make cheese straws, How to make cream cheese straws, How to make straws, Parchment paper (baking), recipe, Sesame, Sheet pan, Step-by-step baking, Straws | 18 Comments

Chicken Roulade Stuffed with Ham, Cheese, and Peppers

Posted on December 10, 2010 by zoomyummy | Leave a comment

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

This roulade, which by the way is just another word for a roll, is devilishly good.

There are countless variations of chicken roulades, in fact. They can be stuffed with basically anything you can imagine. Well, not anything maybe (chocolate chicken roulade might be a little too funky, I guess), but still there are many ingredients that just work perfectly in that lovely rolled up wonder.

Spinach, bacon, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, shallots – these are just some of the ideas, and the list goes on.

What I love about chicken roulades is how cute they look. This is one of those dinners that will elicit a lot of oohs and wows.

And you know what?

They really are easy to make!

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures Here’s what we need.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

1. First, preheat the oven to 400 °F (200 °C).

2. Place the chicken breast into a Ziploc bag (or between two sheets of plastic wrap).

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

3. Beat the chicken breast with a meat mallet until about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thin.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

This is the ham I had on hand.

It’s beyond yummy!

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

4. Place two slices of ham lengthwise along middle of the breast.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

5. Then place two thin slices of the cheese over the ham.

I use Edam cheese in this recipe. You can, of course, use any kind you like.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

Blue cheese.

My true love.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

6. Now divide the blue cheese into three equal parts and arrange one third crosswise at the near end of the breast.

We are starting to create the center of our roulade here.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

These are red peppers.

I had some pickled ones in my fridge.

Yum!

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

7. If you are using fresh red pepper then place two thin slices over the blue cheese.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

8. And two green pepper slices over the red ones.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

9. Roll the chicken roulade from one end to form a cylinder, securing the seam with a couple of toothpicks.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

10. Secure the ends as well.

We definitely want to keep those flavorful juices inside.

11. Repeat the process for each of the two remaining chicken breasts.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

12. Brush a baking pan with some olive oil and place the roulades inside, the seam side down.

(Tip: You can sear the rolls in a hot oiled pan before putting them into the baking pan – about 2 minutes from each side. That will help keep the juice inside the roll while baking.)

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

13. In a small bowl, mix the olive oil with salt.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

14. And brush the roulades with the oil mixture.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

15. Place in the oven and bake (at 400 °F – 200 °C) for 30 minutes.

There will be a little juice in the pan when your remove the roulades from the oven.

Keep it please, it’s precious.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

16. Remove the roulades from the pan and let them rest for 5 minutes before doing anything else.

17. Then remove the toothpicks and slice the roulades crosswise into 1/2 inch (1 1/2 cm) rounds.

Then sit down for awhile and feast your eyes on that cute structure you’ve just created.

chicken roll stuffed with ham, cheese, and peppers, recipe with step by step pictures

When serving these cuties, pour a little of that precious and flavorful sauce from the pan over them. That will make them even more moist and delicious.

You can serve these roulades warm with toasts.

Or, to create a more satisfying dish, serve them with mashed potatoes.

And most importantly, ENJOY, dear friends!

(This recipe takes about 1 hour to prepare and makes 3 servings.)