Strawberries with Minted Yogurt
For the heart smart theme meal, Michelle shared Strawberries with Minted Yogurt as dessert. This tangy, mint-infused yogurt makes a refreshing topping for fresh summer strawberries. Strawberries boast fiber, have…
Easy Mango Sorbet
Another dessert which Michelle prepared for the South Arm Older Adults Community Kitchen is an easy Mango Sorbet.
Due to shortage of time, the mango sorbet was soft but still tasted very good.
One of the participant added some crumbled Monica’s Almond Thins which we also made in this kitchen as topping to the sorbet. The almond thins made a great cookie for Chinese New Year celebration.
Ingredients
- 4 cups frozen and slightly thawed mango cubes
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 cup 2% or 10% plain yogurt
Source: from Ricardocuisine.com
Peche Peche
During the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club Christmas theme cooking session, we shared our favourite recipes instead of gifts.
Peche Peche is a recipe shared by Doleres. It is a Filipino dessert. It is similar to a Malaysian dessert called Onde-Onde but using cassava instead of glutinous rice flour.
I made this for a Christmas/New Year gathering.
Ingredients
- 1 package of grated cassava (1 pound)
- 1 cup of milk/coconut milk
- 3/4 cup sugar (or less depending on how sweet you like it)
- 1 teaspoon pandan extract
- unsweetened shredded coconut for coating (about 100g)
Source: this recipe is adapted from Doleres recipe. Doleres, thank you for sharing.
Lemon Dream Bars
I made this Lemon Dream Bars for a Christmas eve dinner with friends.
These Lemon Dream Bars have a rich coconut aroma. The tangy and sweet custard like filing makes it very appetizing.
Ingredients
- 3 cups graham cracker crumbs (I used Marie cookies)
- 3/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 egg (slightly beaten)
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 can (14oz) sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
Source: this recipe is adapted from an unknown source.
Chocolate Mendiants
A very merry Christmas to all chowtimes readers.
Michelle incorporated a chocolate treat in the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club for the holiday theme session.
These Chocolate Mendiants are fairly healthy treats to have at Christmas if you choose dark chocolate and have fruit and nuts on top.
Researchers have found links between dark chocolate consumption and reduced risk of heart problems. The protective benefit was only seen when chocolate contained at least 60 to 70% percent cocoa. (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/heath/2012/01/dar-chocolate-for-a-healthier-heart)
Ingredients
- Approximately 1 pound of dark or milk chocolate, roughly chopped (we used semi-sweet chocolate chips)
- Assorted finely chopped dried fruit, chopped toasted nuts, seeds, sprinkles, etc (we used dried apricot, raisins, toasted pumpkin seeds and candied ginger)
Parfait with Dried Fruit Compote
The South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club had a Christmas theme cooking session for the last meeting of 2013.
Michelle prepared some easy breakfast recipes and cookies recipes for the holiday season.
The first recipe is a Parfait with Dried Fruit Compote.
Strawberries with Orange Ricotta Cream
June is strawberry season. Michelle shared a dessert made with strawberry just in time for the season.
This Strawberries with Orange Ricotta Cream is a breeze to make and is a great way to serve up summer berries.
From mnn.com:
- 1 cup of strawberries provides 150% of your Vitamin C.
- 1 cup contains 3 grams of fiber
- contains potassium and folate important for bone density
- may protect against cancers
REMEMBER: always wash your berries well.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup low fat vanilla yogurt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups quartered strawberries
Source: from Cooking Light
Makes 4+ servings
Raspberry Rose Water Sorbet
For dessert, Michelle prepared a Raspberry Rose Water Sorbet for the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club.
You can substitute the raspberry with strawberry.
Ingredients
- 2 pints fresh raspberries, or 24 ounces frozen, unsweetened raspberries, thawed
- 1 1/2 cups simple syrup, or to taste
- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon rose water
Simple Syrup
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
Source: Celebrate! by Sheila Lukins
Makes 4 cups
Fruit Pizza
Michelle shared her mon’s Fruit Pizza recipe in the South Arm Older Adults Cooking Club. This recipe incorporates a variety of fruit in it. The recommended daily intake of fruits and vegetables for older adults is 6 servings.
This recipe is a great way to encourage kids to get involved in the food preparation as they can help to decorate it. Michelle’s kids have lots of fun doing it.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 1/4 cups flour
Cheese Layer
- 8oz cream cheese (light or regular), room temperature
- 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Glazed (if desired)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar, or less
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Fruit Layer
- Peel and slice a variety of colourful fruit; strawberries, grapes, blueberries, canteloupe, mandarin oranges, etc
Frank brought the pineapple and cantaloupe to share. Thank you, Frank.
Impossible Cardamom Apple Pie
Michelle harvested some apples from her apple tree and Chris also brought some apples to share at the South Arm Cooking Club Seniors. Michelle came up with this simple apple pie recipe with a twist, i.e. using cardamon instead of cinnamon which is usually associated with apple pie.
Apple is the original superfood which is rich in phytochemicals which have health benefits to cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, weight management and bone health. There goes the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”.
Michelle served this Impossible Cardamom Apple Pie with some homemade vanilla ice-cream.
Ingredients
- 3 to 4 apples
- 1/4 teaspoon cardamon (or cinnamon)
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg
- 1 cup unbleached flour
Source: Mintgreeapron.blogspot.com
Tips: use freshly grind cardamon for a more pronounce flavour