Monday, July 30, 2012

Deviled Eggs


Deviled eggs are one of my favorite appetizers but I have not had any since I began my clean eating journey because I no longer eat mayonnaise. That was until I started making my own. It is easier than you'd think and you can add your own ingredients to give it some extra pop.

If you don't have mayonnaise, or don't want to try your hand at it, you can substitute Greek yogurt for mayo as well.

Homemade Mayonnaise

1 lg organic egg yolk*
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp water
1 tsp lemon juice
1 cup vegetable oil (or canola oil)

Combine yolk, salt, water and lemon juice in a medium sized bowl. Start whisking vigorously dripping the oil very slowly, in the beginning. Be careful not to incorporate too much oil initially or it will separate and you will have to start over. Continue whisking non-stop, using a towel under the bowl to stabilize it.

Slowly add more oil - you will see the mayonnaise start to thicken. Continue until all oil is incorporated and the mayo is thickened. Season with salt and pepper (and add additional lemon juice, if desired).

*Pasteurized or irradiated eggs are safe to use in raw preparations  - so be sure to use organic eggs to prevent risk of salmonella poisoning.


Deviled Eggs, Healthier version

12 lg hard-boiled eggs, sliced in half, lengthwise
1/2 c plain Greek yogurt
1 1/2 tsp mustard powder
Dash of apple cider vinegar
1-2 packets Stevia, to taste
1 tbsp red pepper, diced
Salt and pepper, to taste

Garnish:
1 tbsp green onion, minced
Paprika
 

Deviled Eggs

12 lg hard-boiled eggs, sliced in half, lengthwise
1/4 c mayonnaise 
1/4 c pimento
tsp Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
1-2 tbsp sweet relish

Garnish:
Paprika

Fill large pot with water. Add a dash of white vinegar to the water, to prevent leaking if eggs crack during boiling. Boil eggs for about 15-18 minutes. Crack eggs under cool water, while still warm, so the shells are easy to remove.

Slice each egg lengthwise in half. Gently remove yolks and place in  bowl; whisk yolks until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients until combined.

Spoon (or use pastry bag) to fill egg-white halves. Garnish with paprika and green onion. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.


All photographs are actual pictures of the recipe listed, prepared by Sweet Treats 'n Good Eats, and cannot be used without the owner’s consent.

Black Bean Soup


Black beans are packed with fiber and protein and will keep you feeling full for hours. They help to regulate your body's glucose level throughout the day, which means your metabolism will be chugging away at top speed, burning through any extra calories you've taken on so that you can stay slim and trim. (Taken from Yahoo! Health)

Black beans are one of the highest in flavonoids of all the beans. Research shows that flavonoids may thwart the storage of excess tummy fat. Black beans aid in benefiting your digestive tract, blood sugar regulation, cancer prevention, and cardiovascular and nervous system health.

This is a simple soup recipe. You can buy dried black beans and soak them overnight or use canned beans for a quick and dirty substitution.

To soak:
Place your black beans in a pot along with enough water to cover them and stand about two inches over the top of the beans. Let the beans sit for at least eight hours before cooking. Or, for a quick soak, bring beans to a boil for two minutes, remove from heat and let them sit for two hours before cooking.

Black Bean Soup

2 tsp olive oil
Half of a small onion
1 garlic clove
2 15 oz cans black beans – drained and rinsed
1  - 1 1/2 c chicken stock

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Dash of paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp lime juice


Garnish:
1/2 tbsp Greek yogurt
1 tsp lime juice
Scallions

Heat olive oil in a medium sized pot and cook onion until translucent. Add garlic and cook for a minute longer. Remove from heat. Add 1 can of rinsed black beans to the pot, along with seasonings and lemon juice. Combine.

Place the other half of rinsed black beans in a blender with the chicken stock. Blend until smooth. Pour blended soup into pot and heat over medium heat. Add additional salt and pepper, if needed.

In a small bowl, combine Greek yogurt and lime juice until smooth and swirl over the soup; garnish with scallions.

All photographs are actual pictures of the recipe listed, prepared by Sweet Treats 'n Good Eats, and cannot be used without the owner’s consent.