Mama Mia, MANGO!

FRESH MANGO SALSA

Okay....so you are out grocery shopping and having a great time...

Wait, is that only ME?

Whatevs. There you see it...heaven in a box....a FREAKING BOX of mangoes. Like a whole box!

You stop yourself and say, how could I ever eat a box of mangoes? I stop you and say, SHUT UP. Hell yeah, you can eat a box of mangoes. The real question is how can you stop yourself from eating them in one day?

One of my favourite things to make when I get my hands on fresh mangoes is salsa! 

1 large mango or 2 smaller ones, peeled, pitted, and diced.

1/2 cup diced red onion

1/3 cup fresh chopped cilantro

1 fresh jalapeño, chopped, or 4-6 slices of pickled jalapeño. More or less to taste.

Salt and pepper

Fresh squeezed lime juice from one lime.

Mix it up and try, just try to not eat it all.

Eat it with tortilla chips. 

Use it to top your favourite quesadilla, taco (great on fish tacos), etc.

Top your grilled fish with it -- instant gourmet!

Pssssttttt....gonna let you in on a little secret: substitute the mango with fresh tomatoes and you just made Pico De Gallo. Ummmm, yeah.

Homemade Fat Free Yogurt Cheese!!

If you are like me, cheese is a problem.  Yup, I love cheese...any kind of cheese.

After perusing the internet (yes I was googling cheese, so what) and happening across this little recipe: http://www.danone.ca/en/recipes/cheese.aspx  I though I would give it a go.

So...I dug out a coffee filter (the cone ones work really well) and followed the recipe. I used my favourite fat-free organic yogurt brand (ummm, errr, sorry Danone) and got started. I placed the filter and yogurt in a wide mouth glass so I could drape the top of the filter around the top of the glass to hold it suspended in place. Covered it and put it in the refrigerator last night.

This morning, I lifted the filter and (now) cheese out of the glass and dumped the cheese out into a small bowl.  The liquid at the bottom of the glass and the filter gets discarded obviously unless you know of some fantastic way to re-use them.  Oh heck, compost the filter...you'll feel better.

To this beautiful yogurt cheese I added 1 tsp each of Epicure's 3 Onion Dip Mix and Epicure's Herb and Garlic Dip Mix and stirred it up. Of course you can easily use any herb or spice mix...have fun! I love Epicure's blends (http://epicureselections.com/) because they are so easy and convenient.  Headed off to the gym and upon my return I tasted my delicious fat free herbed yogurt cheese. Voila:

Nice hey?  Yeah, lucky I took a picture.  All I can say is it is a good thing it is fat free....nom, nom, urp...

The flavour possibilities are endless.  I think it is safe to say I will be experimenting! Enjoy!!

Note: I have continued to make this...out favourite uses Greek Yogurt (yum) and the herb/spice blends depend on how we are feeling that day. I have since replaced the cone filter with cheesecloth, which I wash a re-use.

Layered Mexican Fiesta in Your Mouth!

Yes sir-ree...it is a FIESTA in your mouth...so much so that I didn't take a picture quick enough on Sunday. They ate it all too quick!


1 cup fat free sour cream
1 cup low fat soft cream cheese
1 Tblsp Epicure's Poco Picante Salsa Mix or substitute a low-sodium Taco Seasoning Mix, adding more or less to taste.

Mix the three together and spread on the bottom of a plate. You want to make a layer about 1/2" thick. At this point you can set it in the refrigerator until just before serving. About half an hour before serving you create the following layers.

On top of the cream cheese mixture, sprinkle one cup of shredded lettuce (iceberg works best, nice and crunchy).

Next layer, sprinkle a half cup of shredded cheese -- cheddar or monterey jack or both!

Next layer, one seeded and chopped tomato.

Sprinkle with sliced green onions, sliced olives, and chopped pickled jalapenos if you dare. Be creative...add your favourite toppings. How about some chopped cooked shrimp? Maybe some colourful bell peppers?

In the end, when all the creative juices have run dry and you are pretty much drooling, garnish with some fresh chopped cilantro or parsley.

OLE! A FIESTA for your mouth. For real!

Serve it with tortilla chips (multigrain baked ones if you want to feel less guilty but whatever) and an ice cold cerveza (beer) on the side.

I guarantee it won't last long.

Spicy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Made this on the weekend as part of the menu for my daughter's birthday dinner. We had it with veggies and blue corn tortilla chips instead of the usual high fat dip. Yummy!

3 cups (or 2 15-ounce cans) cooked chickpeas
1/4 cup tahini paste
2 Tbsp VE Hummus Dip Mix
1/2 tsp. VE Harissa
1/4 tsp. VE Mild Smoked Spanish Paprika
10 ounce jar of roasted red peppers
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
Juice of 1/2 lemon

Put everything into the food processor, process for a bit, and slowly add cooking liquid from the chickpeas (or water from the can or just water from the tap) until you have the consistency that you would like. You want to be able to dip your chips or veggies into it.

Taste it...it will most likely need some salt. Add to taste. Tasting is the best part of cooking!

Makes a great high protein healthy alternative to veggies and dip for your afternoon snack.