Category Archives: Pasta

Cucumber Orange Relish Appetizer and My Strange Pasta Creation (with Farm Fresh zucchini)

Posted by ButterflyBeauties in Appetizer, Pasta and tagged with , , , , , ,
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From: Vitamix – Create – Professional Series 750 – Page 268
Cucumber Orange Relish
1 orange, peeled, halved, seeded
1/4 cup fresh dill
12 ounces English cucumber, cut into 2-inch pieces
4 teaspoons rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1. Place orange and dill into the Vitamix and secure lid.
2. Select Variable 1.
3. Switch machine to Start and slowly increase speed to Variable 5.
4. Blend for 5 seconds.
5. Reduce speed to Variable 3 and remove the lid plug.
6. Add cucumber through lid plug opening, one piece at a time, until coarsely chopped.
7. Place in a medium-sized bowl and add vinegar, sugar and salt. Mix well.
8. Cover and chill 2 hours or until needed. Relish should be used the same day.
Delicious!!
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I sauteed my bunching onions (Farm Fresh) and my zucchini. When soft I added my garlic. I put a fair amount of olive oil into the Vitamix along with my sauteed vegetables. Then I added red pepper flakes, pepper, salt, pine nuts, Basil, and Farm Fresh Oregano to the Vitamix. I pureed this mixture and poured it over my favorite De Bolces Jerusalem Artichoke spaghetti. I added parmesan and Stoneyfield Farm ricotta. Although a strange concoction, my kids loved this one and I had dinner in a pinch!

Early Dinner: Zesty Italian Salmon Sausage Patties with Red Pepper Walnut Pesto; Vanilla Chocolate Chip Ice Cream; Late night smoothie snack

Posted by ButterflyBeauties in Dessert, Fish, Pasta, Pesto, Smoothie and tagged with , , , , , ,

My research to find the healthiest fish to feed my family led me to a company called Vital Choice. You can buy all manner of fish on this website for home delivery and a host of other organic foods. We have discovered that we love Dr. Weil’s Zesty Italian Salmon Sausage. Since I don’t eat fish, I must rely on the rest of my family for the feedback. First I put 2 tablespoons of olive oil in my deep saute pan and let it get hot. Then I added the salmon sausage and cooked for 6 minutes on each side. The online instructions at the website recommend placing it in the frying pan when still completely frozen for best results.

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I am almost tempted to eat some it looks so good….

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Some ate it plain and loved it….

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Some ate it with the Red Pepper Walnut Pesto and raved.

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I also placed some of the pesto on quinoa pasta.

 

From: Vitamix – Create – Professional Series 750 – Page 148

Red Pepper Walnut Pesto

6 ounces red bell pepper

2 medium garlic cloves, peeled

3/4 cup walnuts, toasted

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes

2/3 cup fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Halve and trim red pepper, place skin side down on oven rack. Roast 15 to 20 minutes or until skin is well shriveled but not blackened. Place in plastic bag for 15 minutes to steam.

2. Place garlic cloves in medium-sized saucepan, add cold water to cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until soft enough to pierce with a fork. Remove using a slotted spoon and set aside to drain.

3. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix in the order listed and secure lid.

4. Select Variable 1.

5. Switch machine to Start and slowly increase speed to Variable 3. Blend for 30 seconds or until desired consistency is reached.

Dessert:

After we finished dinner I decided our weekly treat was in order. Since I was short on time I went with a Vanilla Ice Cream Starter from Williams-Sonoma. I added Stoneyfield Farm organic half-and-half and whisked. Then I added the Stoneyfield Farm organic cream. I placed the mix in the ice cream maker for 25 minutes. Then I added Enjoy Life Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips. I let the machine mix for five more minutes before serving. The instructions recommend freezing your ice cream for some time before eating; however, we all like it soft-serve right out of the machine best. I like the chocolate starter from Williams-Sonoma better than the vanilla and I think I would have been happier if I left the chocolate chips out. However, the chocolate flavor with the added chocolate chips is off the charts.

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Late Night Smoothie Snack:

Since we ate dinner so early today we were hungry again by 8:00. This smoothie was pretty tasty.

From: Vitamix – Create – Professional Series 750 – Page 22

Key Lime Smoothie:

1/4 cup water

1/2 lime, peeled

2 ripe kiwis, peeled, halved

1 ripe pear, halved, cored

1 Tablespoon honey

1 cup ice cubes

1. Place all ingredients into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.

2. Select Smoothie program.

3. Switch machine to Start and allow machine to complete programmed cycle.

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