by Sharm | May 8, 2018 | Cocktails & Wine, Food & Drink, Recipes
This skinny mojito recipe is free of sugar and sweeteners and is perfect for those wanting to watching their diet or have blood sugar issues.
Speaking of blood sugar, this mojito cocktail just might lower it. I know it sounds crazy but I came across this sparkling water called Good Idea. It contains amino acids that have show to lower blood sugar when eaten with a high carb meal or sugar. So, with alcohol being considered a sugar I am using it as a mixer in this cocktail.
Here is the scoop on Good Idea Drinks and how they work.
This recipe is free of sugars and sweeteners so it is a little tart. If you like your cocktails a little sweeter you could add a drizzle of agave nectar or sweetener of choice. I like using pure lime juice which you can find jarred or make your own by juicing fresh lime. Here is where you can purchase the Good Idea Drinks.
Mojito Ingredients
Course:
Drinks
Cuisine:
American
Servings: 2
-
2
Ounces
Rum
-
2
Whole
Limes
-
1/2
Cup
Fresh Lime Juice
-
1
Can
Good Idea Sparkling Water
Lemon Lime Flavor
-
4
Sprigs
Fresh Mint Leaves
-
11/2
Cups
Ice Cubes
Divided
-
In cocktail shaker add 2 sprigs of mint and 6 lime slices. Muddle until juice is released from limes and mint is aromatic.
-
Add rum and lime juice and 1/2 cup ice cubes. Shake well.
-
Divide remaining ice into two glasses. Using cocktail shaker strainer divide mojito mixture into two glasses. Top off with desired amount of Good Idea sparkling water.
-
Garnish with remaining lime slices and mint. Enjoy!
If you would like your mojito a little sweeter add sweetener of choice in with the limes and mint and muddle until sugar or sweetener is mostly dissolved.
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by Sharm | Mar 18, 2018 | Food & Drink, Mains, Recipes, Salads
This recipe makes a quick weeknight meal and only takes minutes to prepare. I always make it from leftover steak. I am addicted to Costco and buy the 4 pack of beef filet from there and cook them all at the same time to use for meals later in the week, like this salad. You could of course you could use any cut of steak that you like and always sub out the beef for chicken or pork. Make it vegetarian and use tofu.
You could of course also throw in any other veggies you have on had if you like including cucumber, celery or carrots.
With this salad only consisting of protein, veggies and healthy fats, it is clean eating and Whole 30 approved!
Chipotle peppers have become one of my favorite ingredients, but beware that the heat is in the seeds so it is important to scrape the seeds out of the pepper before chopping it. You can always add in a few seeds if you like your dishes spicy.
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Mexican
Servings: 2 people
-
2
Heads
Romaine Lettuce
chopped
-
1
Cup
Grape Tomatoes
sliced
-
1
Large
Avocado
sliced
-
1/4
cup
Red Onion
chopped
-
8
Ounces
Beef Filet
-
1
Chipotle Pepper in Adobe
seeded and chopped
-
2
Tablespoons
Salsa of choice
-
2
Tablespoons
Olive Oil
for cooking/re-heating steak
-
Chop lettuce and place in bowl.
-
Slice grape tomatoes, red onion and avocado.
-
Add tomatoes, onion and avocado to lettuce and toss to together. The avocado should coat the lettuce pieces. Set aside.
-
Chop chipotle pepper and set aside.
-
Slice steak into bit size pieces and set aside
-
Pour olive oil in skillet, and heat for 30 seconds.
-
Add steak and chipotle pepper to skillet tossing to coat all of the steak pieces with some of the chipotle pepper. Cook until desired doneness is reached. Or if steak is precooked, just toss with pepper and cook until heated through.
-
Divide lettuce mixture into 2 serving bowls and top with desired amount of steak. Serve with your favorite salsa.
by Sharm | Apr 21, 2017 | Food & Drink, Recipes
This strawberry walnut spinach salad is the epitome of spring. With fresh berries coming in to season and local farmers markets starting to open, you can get the ingredients at the peak of freshness and support you local farmer all at the same time.
I love the combination of the sweet strawberries with the salty goat cheese and the walnuts add a nice crunch. You can use plain walnuts or take a stab at making these maple glazed walnuts. They are sweet and salty and the perfect addition to this salad. They also make a great snack!
You can top it with any dressing you like. I like using a balsamic or poppy seed but you can use whatever you like. This salad is great as a side or add a little chicken or protein of choice to make it heartier.
It is absolutely fabulous to serve to a big crowd as you can just get the big one pound package of spinach from Costco or wherever you shop. They also have the best goat cheese! Throw in more berries, onion and walnuts and you will have the perfect salad for whatever event you are hosting. It also travels well so can be the perfect dish for a potluck or gathering.
Strawberry Walnut Spinach Salad
Serves 2
_______________________________________________________
1 6 oz Package Fresh Spinach
1/2 Cup Walnut Halves
1/2 Cup Crumbled Goat Cheese
1 Cup Fresh Sliced Strawberries
1/4 Cup Sliced Red Onion
Method:
Place Spinach in large serving bowl. Top with remaining ingredients. Toss and serve with dressing of choice.
by Sharm | Apr 18, 2017 | Food & Drink, Kansas City, Local Restaurants, Recipes, Restaurants, What You're Missing KC!
The pizza crust at Pizzeria Locale is perfectly crispy and chewy thanks to the unique wood-fired oven used in the restaurant.
This method of cooking ensures the classic Neapolitan style pizza found in Italy.
Pizzeria Locale is the brainchild of Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson and Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey, who own Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, Colorado. The name Frasca comes from Italy where Frascas are what Italians call their neighborhood restaurants.
With the success of Frasca, Patterson and Stuckey opened Pizzeria Locale next door to Frasca and it became a successful full service restaurant as well. With the help of friend Steve Ells, founder of Chipotle, they figured out how to make it a fast casual concept while still preserving the old-world flavor.
Kansas City has benefitted from the success of the local Boulder chain as they have expanded by opening three locations in the KC metro. Two are in Overland Park and the other is in KC close to Waldo.
There a few secrets to getting the perfect Neapolitan style pizza in just minutes and the first starts with the pizza crust.
I was lucky enough to attend a dough making class at the135th Street location in Overland Park and had a blast.
Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson was there himself teaching us the tips and tricks to the perfect dough.
You will want to plan ahead for pizza night as once the dough is made it needs to sit overnight. You can find the pizza crust recipe here.
If you want to make homemade pizza but just don’t have the time to make made-from-scratch dough, just give the Pizzeria Locale that is closest to you a call and tell them you want some dough balls. They will hook you up with fresh pizza dough. If you get your dough to go, get your favorite pizza toppings together and follow steps 11 through 16.
I highly recommend grabbing some Nutella and take a stab at recreating their Nutella dessert pizza. It is so good!
The second secret to the amazing pizza at Pizzeria Locale is using top quality ingredients. They even have in house slicer that slices fresh prosciutto to order.
There are classic pizzas on the menu to order and mine is the spicy chicken, But with fresh basil, tomatoes, mozzarella and other fresh veggies and meats your choices are endless, allowing you to build your perfect pie!
Pizzeria Locale Menu
Lastly is the oven and method of baking. To achieve the wood-fired brick oven bake in just minutes, takes Pizzeria Locale’s state-of-the-art oven, engineered specifically for them. It simulates the cooking experience of old-world Italy, but in a way that meets the needs of a fast casual concept restaurant.
Pizzeria Locale’s Oven
The oven works by sending your made-to-order pizza on a journey around a center flame on a rotating hearth. This bakes the pizza on all sides and in three and a half minutes, your pizza is done!
Spicy Chicken Pizza
I was in Italy a few months ago and had my share of pizza. I have to say, the pizza at Pizzeria Locale is just as good as some I had in Florence and Pisa.
If you have not had the chance to check it out, I encourage you to stop in and create you perfect pie. Then take a stab at pizza night at home using their fabulous crust recipe.
Locations in KC include:
11875 W. 95TH STREET, OVERLAND PARK, KS
11AM-10PM DAILY (913) 438-9262
6455 W. 135TH STREET, OVERLAND PARK, KS
11AM-10PM DAILY (913) 851-5975
505 W. 75TH ST, KANSAS CITY, MO
11AM-10PM DAILY (816) 523-1161
In Good Taste,
Sharm
by Sharm | Mar 1, 2017 | Food & Drink, Health, Recipes
This Gorgeous Green Smoothie recipe is courtesy of Tosca Reno. She is the author of the Eat Clean Diet® series of books. I have been a fan of this lady for quite some time and just had the chance to meet her on a wellness retreat, which you can read about here.
The Clean Living® Experience with Tosca Reno
The avocado makes this shake smooth and creamy while the pear adds just the right amount of sweetness.
Here is the recipe. Enjoy!
GORGEOUS GREENS SMOOTHIE
PREP TIME: 5 MINUTES | COOK TIME: NOT APPLICABLE | YIELD: 2 CUPS | NUMBER OF SERVINGS: 1
1 pear, cored
½ avocado
1 handful baby kale
1 handful spinach leaves
1 cup water or milk alternative of your choice
1 scoop vegan vanilla protein powder like Sun Warrior.
1 Tbsp flaxseed
METHOD:
1. Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Add more liquid if necessary.
2. Serve chilled.
