April | 2014 | My Foodie Call | Page 2

Monthly Archives: April 2014
- Make friends with…Seitan.
  
  Posted at 8:00 pm by myfoodiecall
  
  Apr 12th
  
  Have you ever seen this stuff?
  
  Make friends with…Seitan.
  
  Say what?
  
  Yes. Seitan.
  
  First off, let’s talk about this crazy word’s pronunciation. Seitan is said like “Say” and “Tan” (yes, like you are laying out getting a tan.)
  
  So what is Seitan?
  In short: a vegan protein
  
  What is it made of?
  Cooked wheat gluten. Yes, I said it: gluten. I know everyone freaks about gluten these days, but I am on the team that says unless you are a celiac, quit worrying about it.
  
  Is it healthy?
  It’s a plant-based protein and has no fat or cholesterol, so yes, it’s healthy.
  
  Why eat it?
  As mentioned, it is a super high-protein source for those of you out there that want to cut out some meat, but just can’t do the tofu thang. It’s chewier, more dense and has a jerky type quality (but not in a weird way.) As a matter of fact, many vegetarians like seitan better than tofu because of this meaty texture.
  
  Other random stuff about Seitan:
  It’s BROWN. (like beef)
  Like tofu, it absorbs flavors easily so you can add it to anything.
  For those of you low-carbers out there, don’t be afraid. Although Seitan is made from wheat, all the starch from the wheat has been removed and all that is left is gluten (the protein.)
  
  Remember the next time you grocery shop:
  
  Ask for “Say-tan”…
  
  Posted in Make friends with... | Tagged seitan
- Strawberry Cream Cheese Pita Pizzas
  
  Posted at 8:00 pm by myfoodiecall
  
  Apr 9th
  Gotta pita?
  
  Strawberry season is here in the south. A reason to celebrate! Although blueberries are my favorite of the berry family, strawberries are right up there in rank. Check out this strawberry pita treat…complete with a chia infused cream cheese.
  
  Chia seeds. You should be eating this daily. Sick of chia lectures, yet?
  
  The base flavor for the recipe. Strawberry Chia Cream Cheese.
  
  How to make the Strawberry Pita Pizzas
  
  Buy some whole wheat pitas. These come in various sizes. You could even get the cute little ones like in this post.
  
  Dairy-free cream cheese. You could use regular…whatever you are feelin’.
  
  Again, your chia.
  
  Pile it in a bowl with some strawberries and a tad bit of sweetener.
  
  Whip it up.
  
  Assemble and…
  
  cut.
  
  Strawberry Cream Cheese Pita Pizzas
  
  Ingredients:
  - 1 tub Tofutti cream cheese
  - 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  - 2 Tbls sugar (or stevia)
  - 1 package strawberries
  - 1 package whole wheat pita bread
  Directions:
  
  1) Combine cream cheese, chia seeds, sugar and 3 hulled and fine-chopped strawberries to a bowl.
  
  2) With a hand mixer, blend for 1 minute on high. Stop, scrape down bowl. Blend for one more minute.
  
  3) The rest is pretty self-explanatory. Spread cream cheese on pitas, thin slice some strawberries, arrange them on your pita and that’s it!
  
  Slice and serve.
  Posted in Breakfast, Desserts, Snacks | Tagged chia, strawberry
- Chocolate Dipped Pretzels (healthy ones.)
  
  Posted at 8:00 pm by myfoodiecall
  
  Apr 5th
  Want to get your family to eat chia?
  
  Got a snack for you.
  
  Yes, these little guys are whole wheat. Yes, that’s dark chocolate, and yes those are chia seeds stuck on the ends.
  
  Have you ever made chocolate covered pretzels? So super easy. It is usually my go-to snack to bring in to Valentine’s Day parties at school. I use the long rods and I have always been slightly bugged that they do not make them whole wheat, whole grain or something slightly healthier than enriched wheat. What’s up with that?
  
  These guys. “Hey Utz, can I get a whole grain version please?”
  
  You can find whole wheat regular pretzels. It’s just super hard…I know Newman’s makes them.
  
  Or Trader Joes. They have these babies.
  
  …And they are actually whole wheat.
  
  So here is the snack. Whole Grain Pretzels sticks, 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate, and Chia Seeds.
  
  Let’s marry these three things, shall we?
  
  Melted chocolate.
  
  Chia seeds.
  
  Line them up and get to work.
  
  Dip, dip, and let them chill out for a bit on wax paper. That’s it. Told you it was easy.
  
  Healthy Chocolate Dipped Pretzels with Chia
  
  Ingredients
  - 1 bag Whole Grain Pretzels
  - 1-2 bars of the darkest chocolate you can find (get those antioxidants!)
  - Chia Seeds
  Directions
  
  1) Melt your chocolate bar down in a small bowl in the microwave in 15 second intervals, stirring in between (Don’t overdo the microwaving. Don’t want any burnt chocolate. That would be tragic :(. I always leave a tiny bit of chocolate unmelted and by the time I am ready for it, it is good to go)
  
  2) Dip your pretzels into the chocolate, about a third of the way up. (I also use a knife to help me spread it.)
  
  3) Dip the chocolate into the chia seeds.
  
  4) Lay the pretzels on the wax paper and allow to set. (You can speed up the process a bit if you put them on wax paper and then set in the fridge)
  
  I made a ton of these!
  
  Kids loved them, although my oldest complained about chia in her braces. #chiaproblems
  
  Enjoy!
  Posted in Snacks | Tagged chia, dark chocolate
- Cheesy Spinach-Stuffed Phyllo Pockets
  
  Posted at 8:00 pm by myfoodiecall
  
  Apr 2nd
  Do you know phyllo?
  
  Or phyllo pockets? I love little “pocket” meals. Just more fun to use your hands. Remember this spinach and sausage pizza pocket?
  
  Phyllo is both fun and a big pain to work with.
  
  This is the stuff. Have you ever played with it? “Play” is the operative word here, because it’s super flaky and can leave a super flaky mess if you aren’t careful.
  
  Still, phyllo produces some pretty yummy results so don’t be afraid, just allow some patience and forgiveness if your pockets aren’t beautiful.
  
  Mine never are. Beautiful, that is. My kids tell me so. Hey, as long as they taste good.
  
  Here is how this recipe goes down.
  
  Let’s do our filling, shall we?
  
  Start with this stuff.
  
  Process until creamy. You may need to stop and scrape the bowl down (depending on the size of your work bowl.)
  
  Add your spinach, almonds, and basil. Process again. Process as much as you would like until you gain the consistency you want..
  
  Should wind up looking like this.
  
  Next, lay out a few sheets of your phyllo. Cut in half, or triangles. Your pick.
  
  Add cheddar cheese, then a generous amount of filling.
  
  Fold sides in and make a cute little pocket. Bake and serve. Careful, they are hot!
  
  Cheesy Spinach-Stuffed Phyllo Pockets
  
  Ingredients:
  - 1 tbsp lemon juice
  - 1 tbsp tamari (or soy sauce)
  - 3 cloves garlic, minced
  - 1/2 tsp salt
  - 3 cups baby spinach leaves
  - 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
  - 1/2 cup almonds
  - 1 can Great Northern Beans, rinsed and drained
  - Shredded cheddar cheese
  - Olive Oil or butter for brushing
  - 1 package phyllo dough
  Directions:
  
  1) Combine lemon juice, tamari, garlic and salt in your food processor bowl. Process.
  
  2) Add spinach, basil, and almonds. Process again, stopping to scrape the bowl when necessary.
  
  3) Lay out 3-4 sheets of phyllo. Cut in desired shape.
  
  4) Spread cheddar cheese on one end.
  
  5) Add a generous amount of filling.
  
  6) Fold signs in and shape your pocket.
  
  7) Brush the top with olive oil or butter. Pinch in sides to hold the pocket together.
  
  8) Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
  
  Cheesy and crunchy. All in one neat little pocket.
  Posted in Meatless mealtime | Tagged almonds, beans, spinach
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