Blueberry-Banana-Orange Frozen Yogurt

1c - 230g Chobani whole milk plain Greek yogurt
1c - 150g frozen blueberries
1 sm. Mandarin orange
1 sm. - med. banana
a pinch of salt
1-2t± vanilla bean paste
1-2T raw organic honey

Combine everything -blending well on high- in your blender jar. If the ingredients don't move initially, wait a while until they thaw, but don't add any juice or milk. This 'ice cream' freezes rock hard as is, but would be even more solid with additional liquid.**

Blueberries and bananas seem to be the perfect base! Every frozen yogurt I've started this way has turned out so well, and this combination is excellent. . .Lin
**this is best after about 4 hours of freezer time

Lemon-Banana Frozen Yogurt

3/4c plain whole milk Greek yogurt

1 lg. banana - peeled 😉

1 lg. lemon - UNpeeled !!

2-3T organic raw honey

Chop the lemon, remove any seeds, then put all the ingredients in your blender jar and blend on high a minute or two.

The flavor of the banana is overpowered by the lemon, but it adds good texture. Freeze in a 1 pint container for about 4 hours. If it's in the freezer much longer, put it on the counter for a while to soften it to a scoopable consistency. These fruity frozen yogurts are a very flavorful and healthy ice cream alternative. . .Lin

Orange-Pineapple-Coconut Frozen Yogurt

I was organizing my freezer today and found a forgotten quart size ziplock of frozen pineapple. I decided to experiment but didn't pay a lot of attention to amounts. I'm blogging this in hopes of refining the details in the future when I attempt to duplicate it. So, for now, weights and measurements are in the 'best guess' category.

1 whole Cutie mandarin

2-3T raw organic honey

8oz. frozen pineapple

2T lemon juice
1-2t pumpkin pie spice
1c± whole milk plain Greek yogurt

1/2c canned coconut milk or coconut cream

~ ~ the thick kind that has to be spooned -not poured- out of the can

Cut the orange into little chunks, with the peeling on, into your blender jar. Add everything else and blend until smooth. Freeze in a 16oz. container.

Homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt freeze rock hard. Put the container on the counter a half hour or so before serving to soften it enough to scoop. . .Mmmm, the bright flavors of this were just perfect and although this is frozen yogurt, it tastes more like a fruity sherbet-sorbet. . .Lin

A Simple Spicy Lemon Immunity Tea

This is a good one for cold symptoms or to drink on a daily basis as a healthy hydrating hot drink.

Pour 6-8 cups of cold fresh water into your very clean Mr. Coffee. I use mine alternately for coffee, tea, cacao and herbal tonics to help with viral symptoms. If you clean it well after each use, it's always ready to go with whatever you're craving.

Put a filter into the basket - preferably an unbleached brown paper filter. Add the following to the pot:

6-8 whole cloves
1 big cinnamon stick

a big pinch of whole peppercorns

a good shake of powdered cayenne

a 1" chunk of fresh ginger - sliced thin
1 lemon - juice and outer peel

Hit the ON button and let it run through. Don't overheat it or it'll turn bitter. Pour a mug, turn it off and remove from the heat. Until it's gone just pour and heat one cup at a time. . .Lin

Delicious Sweet Potato 'Cookie' Bites

I came across an inspiration recipe for these online and was intrigued. I've changed several ingredients to make a healthier version. This goes together quickly and is really good. If you can find smaller diameter sweet potatoes, this would make a gorgeous little tray of appetizers. I'm thinking especially pre-dinner, while the turkey is roasting on Thanksgiving or Christmas, or take them to a friend's party on New Year's Eve.

2 sweet potatoes
toasted sesame oil
Everything Bagel seasoning

6oz. cinnamon-craisin goat cheese
raisins - enough to top each 'cookie'
pecan halves (1 on each cookie bite)
honey to drizzle over the top

Preheat your oven to 375°. Scrub and clean up the skin, shaving off any bad spots, on the sweet potatoes. Cut the ends off the unpeeled potatoes and slice the rest into about 1/2" slices. Drizzle a cookie sheet generously, that has sides, with toasted sesame oil. Rub each side in the oil, flip them over and sprinkle with the Everything Bagel Seasoning. Roast for about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, slice the goat cheese log into as many slices as you have sliced sweet potatoes. (I kept 5 small ones plain to give to my dog, Oliver, mashed with a bit of hot water and dry food for several of his next afternoon feedings) Poke with a fork to see if they're done. Don't let them get mushy, but they shouldn't be too crispy either. Remove from the oven and let sit for just a few minutes. Put the goat cheese slices on and use your thumb to push it in place. Next lightly push on about 5 raisins to each 'cookie' then push in a pecan half. Drizzle all of this with some good quality honey.

Mmmm, these are SO good, warm or cold. . .Lin

Fruity Broccoli Salad

Whisk together this dressing in a medium bowl or casserole dish:

2/3c olive oil mayonnaise

1/4c white Balsamic vinegar

a big sprinkle of black pepper

a small sprinkle of garlic salt

1T honey

Add the the broccoli and apple, cut into bite size pieces, then sliced-chopped onion. Stir in the pecans and craisins and fold together with a silicone spatula.

8-10oz. broccoli florets

1/2 lg. purple onion

1 Envy apple

1/2c craisins

3/4c chopped pecans

Refrigerate this before serving. Leftovers, if there are any, will keep several days, covered, in the refrigerator. This salad is great with anything, or just by itself. You could also add a cup or so of roasted, cut up chicken if you'd like. . .Lin

Cranberry-Pineapple-Berry Yogurt Smoothie

In a blender jar combine equal amounts of frozen fruit. . .

mixed berries, pineapple, cranberries

1c plain, full fat Greek yogurt

1c+ cold filtered water

1T local organic honey

1t-1T pumpkin pie spice

Blend well, adding more water if needed.

This type of smoothie is great as a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner on a busy day. It's also a good bedtime snack or a healthy 'anytime snack,' when you find yourself creating something sweet. . .Lin

Cinnamon Honey Butter

4oz. salted butter

2-3T local honey

½t ground cinnamon

Heat the butter, just enough to melt. Stir in the honey and cinnamon. Chill, stirring occasionally to keep everything suspended and blended. Store in the refrigerator. Spread on toast,  muffins, use as a topping for mashed sweet potatoes, or mix with hot steamed carrots, just prior to serving. . .Lin

Another First-Thing-In-The-Morning Drink

1 lg. juicy lemon

1-2t organic honey

1lg. pinch of cayenne pepper

1med. pinch of ground black pepper

2-3 cubes candied ginger - diced

While bringing some fresh cold water to a boil, assemble ingredients.  Juice the lemons and remove the seeds.  Pour this into a BIG mug, ( * my favorite) along with a couple cut pieces of the lemon shell.  Add the remaining ingredients.  Pour hot water over all, stir and let stand, a couple times.  This drink is full of great healing properties.  The lemon, while topically and naturally acidic, turns ALKALINE in your stomach.  We all need a more alkaline diet.  Disease thrives and grows in acid!

The honey has a trace of B Vitamins necessary for out bodies to digest sugars.  LOCAL, organic is wonderful if you have any sort of inhalant allergies, since the bees are gathering the pollen to make their honey from the very plants you may be allergic to!  The principle incorporates the same science as allergy shots.  Small introductions can often bring about reduced sensitivity to those particular allergens.  Cayenne pepper stimulates your body's circulation, reduces acidity, will detoxify your body and lower cholesterol.  The little sprinkle of black pepper more efficiently activates the healing-restorative powers in the cayenne.

Ginger...ahhh, the ginger!  I love the flavor of it.  Many people laud it for it's anti-nausea, stomach-settling properties.  Personally, since it has to pass through the esophagus to reach the stomach, it doesn't always work well for me, and I often get heartburn from it.  Give it a try though, it works well for most people.  If you don't like it in this drink, chop some up and add it to your next stir fry with a spoonful of crunchy peanut butter and minced garlic for a great Thai Chicken Stir Fry.  Hmmm. . .this may be my idea for 'what's for dinner' tonight!  Here's wishing you a Very Healthy, Cleansing start to your day 😉 . . .Lin

Another Great Smoothie!

1/2 lg. banana

1sm.-med. carrot

1c frozen strawberries

1-2T lime zest - optional

1/2 to 3/4c plain Greek yogurt

3/4c pure pomegranate juice

1T local organic honey

1T fresh ground cinnamon

Combine everything in a blender, on medium or high for a minute, and it's ready!  I keep hearing wonderful, healing and anti-viral information about the Honey-Cinnamon combination.  I forgot to put it in initially.  Tasted it, then remembered - it was a very nice addition. . .Lin

SuperFood Smoothie

1 med. banana

1 to 1-1/2 c frozen fruit

3/4-1c plain Greek yogurt

pure pomegranate juice

a little organic honey

Combine all in a blender, pour and drink.  I've found a frozen fruit mix I just love, sold at Walmart.  I'ts their Great Value brand, "Cherry Berry Blend" consisting of cherries, blueberries and strawberries.  A wonderful antioxidant, healthy fiber-filled combination.  I used to buy one that had blackberries instead of cherries, but all those blackberry seeds are obnoxious.  This is so nice.

You might not need it, but I recommend adding the honey.  It's good for a little natural sweetness and the more you read about this wonderful bee-product, the more you'll want to be including it in your diet anywhere you need a little burst of something sweet.  Honey is a very healthy sweetener.  All these ingredients are amazing.  If you have a little time, do a nutritional search on each of them and. . .prepare to be awed. . .Lin

Cherry-Berry Yogurt Sorbet

3c plain Greek yogurt

3c frozen cherry-berry mix

1/3c organic honey

Put all the yogurt, half the berries and all the honey in the blender.  Pulse and blend until smooth.  Pour half into a medium plastic bowl.  Add remaining fruit to the blender, blend again until all the fruit is incorporated.  Pour into the bowl.  Stir together until both batches are combined.

Freeze, stirring every half hour for the next 2 hours until it reaches serving consistency.  Any leftovers will freeze very hard.  Each half cup serving is under 100 calories with 0 fat.  A good ice cream alternative. . .Lin