Spiralizer

Recently Jeff and I were watching a cooking show and saw a machine demonstrated that made amazing vegetable noodles.  Since we downsized our home and kitchen (you can read HERE), we have been really good about not purchasing much that needs real estate space in our home.  I made homemade spaghetti sauce (recipe coming soon) and once our little machine arrived, I was peeling a sweet potato and Jeff was washing the zucchini he had picked up on the way home.  In no time at all, we had a pile of zucchini and sweet potato noodles waiting for hot sauce.  I blanched the sweet potato spirals in boiling water for about 3 minutes.   Jeff did nothing to the zucchini.  I have used other tools and machines to get this effect but the difference with this machine is (1) it grips very well to the counter top (2) the noodles can be wound around a fork like pasta and (3) it is very easy to clean (4) the noodles aren’t wet.

We are always looking for ways to add vegetables into our diet and I can see many future possibilities.

Here is the link to this kitchen helper – HERE

Sweet potato noodles blanched in boiling water for 3 minutes and strained – bring on the sauce.

I sautéed some sweet potatoes in olive oil to add a crispy crunch to a salad and also a few raw zucchini noodles.

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Instant Pot – Amazon Deal of the Day


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Oh Instant Pot – how do I love thee? Here is my why? – it helps me cook nutritious food in less time.  No one is more surprised than me to hear myself say this about a pressure cooker – I was fearful of what I knew about these pots of the past but I have successfully made rice, steel oats, teriyaki chicken, beefy lentil chili, whole chicken, roast, pinto beans, quinoa, cheesecake, caramel sauce, soups, yogurt, etc successfully.  No more watching rice so it doesn’t bowl over.  I can cook something and keep it warm for up to 12 hours.  I can saute my onions, etc in the same pan.  It has a slow cooker feature (haven’t used that).  It also has 10 safety features.  I bought mine when it was offered on special but knowing what I know now – I would pay full price for this appliance. I don’t say that very often.  No longer do I fear cooking with pressure – in fact, it’s taken some of the pressure of preparing meals off.

Depending on what model you decide on – this appliance has other features beside being a pressure cooker…slow cooker, saute, etc.

To Order – Click Here 

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Chocolate Mint Tea Latte

What does one make when they choose to not drink coffee?  They make a chocolate mint tea latte.

Several years ago I was diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis and began my continuing education to what type of foods work best to nourish my body while managing this chronic condition.  One of my first lessons dealt with how coffee (my morning and through-the-day habit) was hurting my body.  I would take it out of my diet,  feel better and then think I can have a cup once-in-awhile.  Off I would go to “treat” myself to Starbucks or brew a cup at home and BAM! – I would be in pain again.  Talk about my own version of Groundhog Day – how often did I need to continue to hurt myself before I was willing to say no more?  Finally not suffering needlessly because of a poor food choice became the goal over a cup of coffee.  Now my hot and cold beverage choice is organic mint tea.  Drinking organic tea is a recent change for me and I’ve included a link toward the end of this post to explain why.  Many of my previous tea recipes in the blog do not reference organic teas as an ingredient.  Although the recipes are delicious – I would substitute an organic tea in the future.  Here is a recipe I came up with that helps me spice up my mint tea.  I’ve listed links of my tea-related products after the recipe.

Chocolate Mint Tea Latte
A chocolate mint hot tea beverage.
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Ingredients
  1. 1 Numi Organic Moroccan Tea Bag
  2. Hot Filtered Water
  3. 1/2 cup milk (I use coconut milk) or your choice of milk
  4. 1 Tbsp of cocoa
  5. 1/2 tsp organic vanilla
  6. 5 drops of Toffee Stevia
  7. Coconut Sugar - to taste
Instructions
  1. Brew a cup of tea
  2. Heat milk, cocoa, vanilla, stevia and/or sugar until well blended.
  3. Mix hot tea and milk together.
  4. Enjoy.
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Product Links that are helpful for this recipe.   (I won’t recommend anything I am not using.)   ***Deliciously Inspired utilizes affiliate links to help with the cost of the site.

Breville Electric Tea Kettle – Why I love – we have had our kettle for close to 10 years and use it daily for tea, coffee, and anytime hot water is needed.  Worth every penny.

Tea Maker or Mr Tea – Why I love – containing a tea for several minutes in an enclosed area makes a richer cup of tea.  They work well with tea bags but are an essential kitchen tool when using loose leaf tea.

Numi Organic Mint Tea – Why I love – I stick to organic teas because I want as clean of a product as I can to nourish my body.  Mint tea is one of the gentlest teas to digest.  I’ve tried other brands but this tea’s mintiness (is that a word?) is smooth and doesn’t have a bite to it.  Another benefit – this comes in bags and I always carry a few in my purse.  What to know more about what is in most tea you buy?  Here you go.

Toffee Liquid Stevia – Why I love – stevia is a natural sweetener made from a herb.  A little goes a long way so add a drop at a time.  Too much can taste bitter.

Organic Coconut Sugar – Why I love – coconut sugar processes slower in the body than white sugar. What to know more?  Here you go.

Hope you enjoy the recipe. Let me know if you have any questions.

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