Archives for July 2013

Cherry Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. {clean eating}

July 29, 2013 by Knead to Cook Filed Under: 4th of July/Patriotic, Desserts, Frozen Pops, Fruit, Gluten Free, No bake/cooking required!, Party Foods, Vegetarian, Vitamix 5 Comments

Okay the dog days of summer are here and that calls for ice cream, right? Of course!

My clean eating journey continues but that doesn’t mean I can’t have ice cream (or at least a healthier version of it). PLUS no ice cream maker required! I love that this creamy “ice cream” hits the sweet spot plus bananas are filled with fiber and potassium, cherries are a natural anti-inflammatory fruit (we can all use that) and the creaminess… oh you had me at the first spoonful. Great treat for the kids too! Also a perfect way (without making banana bread) to use up ripe bananas. Go grab your bananas and get them into your freezer~ you’ll be so happy you did!

[Read more…]

— Knead to Cook

5 favorite things.

July 26, 2013 by Knead to Cook Filed Under: 5 favorite things... 2 Comments

I receive about 40 emails a day asking various questions, not always about food or exercise. I thought it would be fun to share a bit more about myself and things I love with a random post of 5 favorite things. Items I love, websites, blogs, clothing, books etc. This is my very first installment. I hope you enjoy!

[Read more…]

— Knead to Cook

Gazpacho.

July 25, 2013 by Knead to Cook Filed Under: Appetizers, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Gluten Free, Mexican, No bake/cooking required!, Party Foods, Soups, Vegetarian, Vitamix, Wheat Free 4 Comments

I love making vegetarian dinners for my family. It’s important to me to do this a few times a week. This one, I admit, is super easy when you have a bounty of fresh tomatoes flowing from the garden daily. I typically make salsa or roast my tomatoes for sauce but I thought it would be a nice night for a cold soup with some crusty bread and tons of flavor! If you love salsa, you will totally flip over this soup. Also, great to make the night before or a few hours before dinner and let the flavors mingle while chilling. Also great for an appetizer idea served in tall, thin glasses as shooters. You can top this with fresh sliced jalapeños or cold shrimp would be perfection too! Plus another great thing about this recipe, no heating up your kitchen and preparation is super fast! Vegan.

[Read more…]

— Knead to Cook

Shrimp Salsa.

July 23, 2013 by Knead to Cook Filed Under: Appetizers, Dips, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Fish, Gluten Free, Mexican, No bake/cooking required!, Party Foods, Salsas & Guacamole, Seafood, Side dish, Snacks, Vegetarian, Wheat Free Leave a Comment

Lately I haven’t been eating any meat, actually it’s been quite a few months since I have. I haven’t had a taste for it so I adjust my sails and go forward. I’m sadly not a seafood lover but I do love, and have since I was pregnant with my oldest 15 years ago, cold shrimp. Not cooked shrimp, it has to be cold. I actually think I love the spicy cocktail sauce more than anything (the shrimp being a venue to get that to my mouth) but as of late, I started venturing out of my comfort zone and this little dish is now one of my favorites that I cannot stop eating. Hashtag addictive! Ha ha. This is the perfect salsa to serve with tortilla chips, as a side or straight up out of the bowl like I do it. It is so good and so refreshing. It also proves my point once again, clean eating can be easy, quite tasty and fun. Plus the longer this has to sit in the fridge, the tastier it becomes. Easiest recipe ever!

[Read more…]

— Knead to Cook

Press Release for the Beach to Beacon Race – Cabot Fit Team.

July 22, 2013 by Knead to Cook Filed Under: Knead to Cook Promotions, Life. 2 Comments

I’m so honored and excited to participate on Cabot’s Fit Team in less than two weeks! This press release came out today and I wanted to share, I’m so humbled and blessed by the entire experience.

http://www.wolfenews.com/releases/PRESS-KIT-Story-Ideas-for-Media-re-2013-TD-Beach-to-Beacon-10K-Road-Race/03029/

~Robin
oxo

— Knead to Cook

Farfalle Garden Pasta Salad with Lime Cumin Dressing.

July 22, 2013 by Knead to Cook Filed Under: Party Foods, Salads, Vegetarian, Vinaigrette 1 Comment

I make many different pasta salads throughout the summer. It is the most versatile dish you can make and it helps you to use up whatever veggies you have in your veggie bin before a trip to the farmer’s market. This is my creation for today – again, omit or add whatever you have on hand or love. Make it your own. Pasta salad is perfect for leftovers – just keep it covered in the fridge and it will last for several days and the longer it sits, the better the flavor. My family loves it for lunch. Protein, dairy, fiber etc… this is a great meal all by itself too, especially on these hot summer evenings.

For a fun idea: Serve in a hollowed out bell pepper.

[Read more…]

— Knead to Cook

Dried Fava Bean Hummus.

July 17, 2013 by Knead to Cook Filed Under: Appetizers, Condiments, Dips, Evolution Power Yoga 40 Days, Gluten Free, Indian-inspired., Party Foods, Snacks, Stocks/Broths, Vegetarian, Vitamix, Wheat Free 4 Comments

I often buy bags of beans (thanks to Bob’s Red Mill) that look interesting or something I haven’t tried before. Now I’ve eaten fresh fava beans but never dried so I grabbed the bag and vowed to make something this week (and not let it get buried in the back of pantry never to be seen again). This is a crazy (yes, another) week with three swim meets, one of which we are hosting amongst construction in our house, training and our swim banquet. My eye is twitching in stress as I type this (ha ha). So in my free hour that I was blessed with today, I grabbed the beans and cooked them according to the package directions. It only took about 40 minutes. The texture is similar to a baked potato when done. They are packed with protein, fiber and iron! Perfect as I haven’t been eating meat in the past few months. And this is what I did with them after draining…

[Read more…]

— Knead to Cook

Black and Blue Banana Muffins. {clean eating}

July 16, 2013 by Knead to Cook Filed Under: Breads, Breakfast, Brunch, Desserts, Muffins, Quick Bread, Snacks, Vegetarian, Yogurt 8 Comments

This was my second attempt at making a “clean” muffin meaning no refined sugars or oils. The first batch wasn’t a failure but it was too boring and dry. I needed to get more creative and that is just what I did! I also added protein to these with the addition of Greek yogurt (I used Chobani honey) and that kicked the muffin flavor up a notch. I used berries I had on hand (black and blue) and added a banana for extra moisture. These are so good! Guilt free. No sugar. No oils. Kids to adults – everyone loved these!
[Read more…]

— Knead to Cook

Broiled Spicy Cherry Tomato Appetizer.

July 15, 2013 by Knead to Cook Filed Under: Appetizers, Party Foods, Snacks, Vegetarian 2 Comments

Tomatoes are just starting to become ripe in the garden. We sit on the precipice of a deluge of tomatoes ripening and my kitchen overflowing with these incredibly flavorful fruit (yes, a fruit). I wait all year for them. Sweet, flavorful… I use them in so many different ways. These little cherry tomatoes are perfect for appetizers on a hot summer night. Even better for an appetizer at a party. You can use whatever cheese you love, I had on hand some lovely extra sharp Cabot cheddar and I knew I had to use it on these. Gruyere or a spicy jalapeño jack would also be fun!

Along with the important cheese decision, I had some delectable spicy Panko breadcrumbs that Firefood just sent me and I knew it would be a perfect topper. Start to finish these took about 5 minutes to prepare. I was eating and enjoying them within minutes.

[Read more…]

— Knead to Cook

Tomato Basil Vinaigrette.

July 10, 2013 by Knead to Cook Filed Under: Condiments, Dips, Gluten Free, Italian-inspired, No bake/cooking required!, Salads, Salsas & Guacamole, Vegetarian, Vinaigrette, Vitamix, Wheat Free 4 Comments

This is like a fresh burst of garden flavor. I just love the flavors. Now I know the color may be deceptive (thanks to the yellow tomatoes I used and the dark balsamic) but don’t be swayed. The flavor is incredibly summer. Packed with freshness that will make your tastebuds dance! Great for topping your favorite greens, proteins or for dipping veggies into. I keep dipping my veggies into it… so good! Easy, clean and vegan!

[Read more…]

— Knead to Cook