CILANTRO MINT FAVA BEAN WALNUT HUMMUS

Hi Everyone,   I hope you are all doing well and that life is good.  I bought fava beans, but I cheated and bought already podded favas, but I still had the most tedious task to do, blanching and shelling, even though, after a few minutes you get into a rhythm and its like a meditation.  I created this recipe yesterday.  I have just finished eating some for lunch on a piece of fresh whole wheat bread from Tomar market.

1 kg fava/broad beans
1-3 cloves garlic
1 handful walnuts
4 - 6 tablespoon fresh coriander/cilantro or mint or both
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3-6 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Shell the fava beans and then blanch them for 2 minutes and peel.  They should be a lovely bright green colour.  Place them in a food processor with 1 - 3 cloves of garlic, handful walnuts, cilantro and/or mint, the lemon juice, salt and pepper

NESPERA BANANA FLAX SMOOTHIE

I created this one today and I'm very happy with the results.  In one I added almond butter and I loved it, my husband doesn't like it, so I left it out of his, and he really enjoyed his very much too.

1 cup shelled, seeded and peeled nespera/loquat

1 banana

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons golden flax seeds

1 tablespoon black sesame seeds

1 teaspoon local honey (optional)

1 tablespoon almond butter (optional)

4 or more ice cubes

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.  Enjoy all the lovely vitamins, minerals phytonutrients and good fats in this delicious smoothie.   As I mentioned in my last blog post, nespera is very high in vitamin A and potassium, the flax seeds have omega 3's and also lots of fibre, black sesame is packed with calcium and other minerals.  The coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid and gets absorbs easily and is used for energy production.  It is also anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and anti-viral.  This smoothie is nutrient dense and delicious tasting.

A NEW LIFE FOR ME!

Hello Everyone,  I apologize for the very long break, but, here I am again!  And its a new life for me as we have moved to Central Portugal.  I feel so lucky to have been able to move here and begin a new chapter in my life.

Here in Central Portugal we have an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruit, there are fruit trees everywhere.  In summer its a joy to be driving down a country lane, feel a little hungry and to be able to stop at any fig tree and pick a few figs!  A luxury coming from California where figs cost at least $6 for about 10 figs! I go to the market every Friday to buy all the fresh fruit and veggies I need for the week.  Its all local produce grown by local farmers, so its seasonal and you won't see nectarines or peaches from Chile in the winter.  We have lots of fruit trees on our land and right now in May, its Nespera (loquat) season.  I had never tried nespera/loquat before and I have to say, its divine.  I will be creating a recipe or two soon with it. I just did a little research about nespera/loquat and its is packed with vitamin A which is great for eye health, bone growth, reproduction and the immune system. It is also very high in potassium which is great for blood pressure, heart and kidney disorders  and also helps with anxiety and stress.  You can make a tea from the leaves and it is said to help with bone density loss, its also said to help regulate insulin and glucose levels.  If you make the tea make sure to use in moderation, as if over used can have some adverse effects like muscle aches.

I will be posting new recipes very soon and I look forward to sharing  these with you all.