80 Proof Melon

Ever since I brought Watermelon Vodka Hose Down to Jaime's White Trash party, that's Jaime of Prudent Baby fame, I've been craving spiked fruit.  It makes so much sense to get a daily serving of fruit while getting a daily serving of spirits.  Alcohol is in the food pyramid right - just below grains?  

Watermelon with fancy sticks for the children and a spritzer of vodka for the parents.  

Erin demonstrates while carrying around a tiny baby in her back pocket. 

Then, my Sunset magazine arrived and it never disappoints with fresh, inventive recipes and such was the case for the August issue that offered Fruit Cocktail with Margarita Dressing. I modified it slightly, using just the fruit I had on hand and I made our cocktail ration greater that the demure recipe suggested.  This might be the only way I can get Dan, my husband, to eat fruit.   

Spiked Fruit  2 servings

7-8 melon sticks per serving (can use berries, mango and jicama)

Zest and fruit of one lime

3 T. tequila

3 T. agave nectar or honey

Arrange the fruit in a cocktail glass. Mix the zest, juice, tequila and nectar and pour over two fruit servings.  Add one ice cube to the cocktail.  And serve.  

RECIPE

Thanksgiving for Summer's Bounty and Bikinis

Looks like an overloaded plate of traditional holiday fare, but this one won't put you into a food coma on the sofa with your waistband crying for help.   Roast turkey, steamed beans, fresh cherries, cauliflower 'mashed potatoes.' and the biscuit (for show).   Whole Foods offers this crazy packaged, gluten-free, low-fat gravy that despite all the stuff it doesn't have, tastes great and has only 20 calories a serving.  Let me put gravy on everything!   
If you haven't had the famous South Beach Diet cauliflower 'mashed potatoes', we've provided an adaptation of the recipe below-our version is faster.  Anyone have other ways for slimproving  the traditional Thankgiving menu? 
Cauliflower "Mashed Potatoes"
4 c fresh cauliflower florets
1 T Earth Balance spread or butter
1 ounce fat-free half & half
S & P to taste
Rinse cauliflower and put still wet florets into microwavable bowl.  Cover bowl with *paper towel and microwave for 90 seconds.  Time will vary depending on how small the florets and the microwave.   Florets should be soft but not mushy.  When finished cooking, I like to flip over the bowl and let the florets drain onto the paper towel before mashing.  
Puree the first three ingredients in a food processor and add salt and pepper.  Taste and adjust seasonings.  
*I was advised by friend who works at the EPA, to microwave food in only glass containers and if you don't have a glass lid, use a paper towel.  The dangers of microwaving with plastic has been exaggerated, but I think better to be safe than sorry.  

RECIPE

Less Pasta, More Zucchini

Use the zucchini ribbons we sliced for the salad to embellish your pasta serving. In this dish, we sauteed chopped garlic in EVO, tossed in chopped tomatoes (I take the extra minute to remove the seeds) to warm, fold in cooked pasta and sliced zucchini ribbons and top with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil.  

Slice the zucchini into smooth ribbons.  Slice lengthwise to get julienned 'noodles.'

Zucchini

RECIPE

Lettuce Roll Lobster - West Coast Style

The CSA farm service had delivered red bib lettuce, luscious tomatoes, and red onion; grilled lobster waited in the refrigerator to be reinvented; I was daydreaming about the Hamptons, and it was lunchtime.  With a little Food Madonna inspiration, a very nutrient-rich meal emerged.  

Lobster Rollin' on the West Coast 
1 c. cooked lobster meat
1 celery rib, chopped 
2 T red onion, chopped
2 T fresh tarragon, chopped
2 T fat free mayonnaise
1 t dijon mustard
juice from 1/2 large lemon
lettuce leaves
Combine lobster, celery, onion, and tarragon in a bowl.  In a separate bowl, mix the remaining ingredients before adding to the lobster mixture.  

Tip: mix all of the dressing ingredients before adding them to your main ingredients.  It's harder to adjust the flavors when it's all mixed together and worse, if your dressing doesn't turn out at all, you would have ruined your key components.  
Spoon the lobster mixture into lettuce leaves and serve with lemon wedges.  
Alternative:  If you want to have yours East Coast style, but still have it lower in calorie, take advice from the luminescent nutritionist Ellie Krieger and serve the lobster salad in whole wheat hotdog bun. 

RECIPE

Camp Care Package That's Not Campy

I first learned about this clever company You Bars on Cooking Channel's, Foodcrafters program.  The foodcrafters at You Bar let us create our own health bars, cookies, trail mix and more by selecting from their nearly endless list of healthy ingredients.  The coolest part is they customize the packaging label.  My son received this trail mix I concocted (raisins, sunflower seeds, peanuts, almonds, granola, and chocolate candy) at his summer camp.  He's going to Secret Agent camp which, from the looks of the camp's photos, appears more like he is in Taliban training. They're labeled "Griffin's Spy Fuel."  Let's just hope when he's questioned by the Feds, they don't take away his snacks.

My daughter is at an art school named Innerspark, so she received,  "Kendall's Innersparks" cookies.  She said, and this I quote from a sometimes snarky 16 yearold, "they are really delicious."  She sent this photo:

These are not the cheapest treats, but they are healthy, fast and uniquely personalized.   Check 'em out!

RECIPE

Cheap Tail - Grilled Lobster

I'm a sucker for fish and meats that are on sale, but that means I have to be flexible and simple with food prep.   I swear I picked up lobster tail as the "manager's" special at Ralph's for only $5.99 a tail.  Sure, it wasn't minutes-fresh from the ocean, but it smelled good when I boldly tore open a corner of the package at the store.   This is an opportune time to remind everyone to ask your fish monger or butcher to let you smell it before they wrap it.  I hate them and myself and the lady who's driving slowly in front of me when I need to make a return trip to the store.

Grillin' Lobster - the easy, healthy way.  Here's how:

Slice open hard shell and fan open to reveal the lobster meat.

Brush meat with lemon juice and olive oil mixture.

Place tails flesh side down on medium, lightly oiled grill.
Cook for about 4 minutes and turn over.
Brush more lemon juice and OO on the grilled meat and let it cook for another 2-3 minutes.  Don't overcook.  The shells will be pink and the meat will not be translucent. 
Serve in the shells or remove the meat, slice, and serve.  Feel free to go the butter dunking route, but I don't think it's necessary.

Serve with lemon wedges.  I added grilled vegetables that my sister-in-law sent home with me after her Fourth of July party.  Yeah, they held up.  I uncooled them in the microwave for 90 seconds to bring them to room temperature.

Grilled Lobster Part 2:  Lobster Roll West Coast Style.

RECIPE

Staging Leftovers for Revival

I plated last night's leftovers on one stage in hope of a third performance - lemon chicken with peanut sauce, farm-fresh tomatoes and green grapes.  If it looks like a meal, smells like a meal, it must be a meal - right? Will my husband reach for this, instead of chips?  Anyone have good ideas for making your real food leftovers more desirable in the fridge?

RECIPE