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No bake... Coconut Ball Dessert

I love desserts like many, many people do.
I especially love cake. Birthday cake,
chocolate cake, vanilla cake, graduation cake,
holiday cake, retirement cake,
the occasion doesn't matter.
Cake is cake. Right!?!

I loved baking cake so much one year
that my family banned me from making
cakes. Yes, banned me from making cakes.
Crazy right!?  What kind of messed up family
is that right!?   Well, I will say that they were
4 layered cakes with pies baked inside them
and such. A little extreme I guess.

I will happily say that I'm allowed to make
cakes now especially during holidays. Yay!

I must want to eat some cake I guess
because today I wanted to share a no-bake
coconut ball snack dessert.
.... not a cake... go figure!?!!

When you are cooking for immediate
family that have special diets-
it's definitely not easy.
In my family we have both Celiac and
Diabetes that I have to consider when
cooking. Yep, that's right-
both sugar free and gluten free. Yikes!
Most food is not too tough
but when it comes to desserts-
it's definitely not an easy task.

Here is a no-bake dessert snack that is both
Gluten free and sugar free.  :)





recipe:
~ 3 cups of unsweetened shredded coconut
~ 6 TBSP of coconut oil
~ 1/4 cup of sugar substitute  (20 TBSP)
    ( I like stevia because it's made from
     a natural plant--- called stevia)
~ 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
~ sprinkle of salt

gently blend all the ingredients together using
a fork or spoon and roll into balls
or whatever shape you think you'd most enjoy.

You don't have to refrigerate them
to harden or anything...
but you can if you'd like them a little chilled.

You can also garnish them with chopped nuts
or sunflower or even sesame seeds if you wish!



Zestfully,  Let's Cultivate Food

Easiest yogurt pops EVER!

Take your favorite yogurt.
Scoop it into little cups or little popsicle trays
and freeze.  Now, talk about easy.
When you are ready for one...
all you have to do is turn it upside down
and say abracadabra...
or run some hot water on the side of the one
you want to snack on until it easily falls out.
(20-30 seconds or so)
I like to add some more fruit of whatever the flavor is...
My favorite is adding smashed bananas into the strawberry
banana flavored yogurt.  Add some banana, yogurt, banana
and yogurt.... you get the idea.

​
Keep it cool,  Let's Cultivate Food

Watermelon Lemonade!

Watermelon is perfect for summer.
Everything about this drink screams out.... summer!

From the color to the refreshing watermelon to the chilled
sweetness of the watermelon and slight tartness of the
lemonade combination- you can't go wrong with this drink.

Again, it's SO easy to make.  Your family and friends will be
so impressed that they'll look at you twice!

Let me share with you not only how easy it is to make
watermelon lemonade but a few simple tricks that will
really WOW your family and friends as well.

First start off with some cut watermelon.
You can purchase a whole watermelon or you can purchase
already cut watermelon in a clear container from the supermarket.
There's always a debate which is cheaper...
whether to buy the whole watermelon or to buy it already cut.

If you were to literally analyze the weight of the inside, red,
edible portion of the watermelon compared to the price per
pound of a whole watermelon...

THEN.... buying already cut watermelon is more often than
not cheaper simply because most people are going to throw
away the whites and rind of the watermelon which is a huge
portion of the watermelon that accounts for the extra $ per pound.

Anyways,  take some cut watermelon cubes and throw it into
your blender and blend it for about 30 seconds. Yup, that's all it takes.
Make sure you add a little bit of water, maybe about a 1/4 cup -
otherwise it might not blend/mix well.

If you wish to have the watermelon not as pulpy- feel free to run
the blended watermelon through a strainer.  Otherwise,
just add your blended watermelon to your choice of lemonade.
I often prefer Crystal Light lemonade but feel free to use any kind
that floats your boat!

Before you blend all your watermelon cubes, take some of it
(depends on how many people you will be "chilling" with)
and place the cubes into a cup or bowl and throw it into the freezer.

As you serve your summer watermelon lemonade--
you can drop some of the now frozen watermelon cubes and use it
in place of ice cubes. Using the actual watermelon as frozen cubes
will not only keep it more flavorful and enjoyable but it will also
not water your drink down!  Your friends will truly be impressed!

If you add a little wedge of watermelon or lemon or even mint as
a garnish... it looks really nice as well.

Cheers to summer drinks!,  Let's Cultivate Food

CATERING menus

Not only do occasions these days seem endless

but so are menus for catering.

What is your occasion?

Does your occasion or party have a theme?

Is your occasion a bridal shower?

A baby shower? A graduation party?

A holiday party? A retirement party?

An office function? A super bowl or fantasy sport party?

Regardless of the occasion-

Let's Cultivate Food would not only happily cater 

your event but we love themes and making the food

personal to the occasion or person.

We even make food signs relating to the occasion

and or the food often using food puns even!

Below are a few of the most relished menus.

We can personalize any of the below menus

along with substituting items and or creating

special diet menus as well.

Members of the Let's Cultivate Food team

have diabetes, are gluten free and vegetarian

so we're experienced on a daily basis

if you need to take that route!

MOST POPULAR MENUS:
(Menu options also change with seasons)

HORS D’OEUVRES   

Individual cups of Veggie Crudite with homemade sriracha mayo

Caprese Skewers

Let's Cultivate Food's Dumplings with homemade soy and duck sauce

Shrimp Cucumber Avocado appetizer

Chicken Satay skewers in a Thai peanut sauce

ASIAN FUSION FLAIR 

Spicy pork belly mango slaw lettuce wraps

Mac and cheese stuffed egg rolls with sriracha sauce

Exotic veggie stir-fried rice with pineapples

Fresh raw spring rolls

Chicken Tikka Masala

TACO BAR PAR-TAY 

Ground Beef with 12 spices

Shredded BBQ Chicken

Greens (chiffonade romaine and cabbage)

Guacamole, Salsa, Sour cream, shredded cheese, 

Flour and corn wrappers

Taco spring rolls

TUSCANY FLAVORS

Meatball sub on a stick

Classic Caesar salad with croutons and homemade dressing

Sun dried tomato & roasted pepper crostini

Stuffed Shells with a homemade marinara sauce

Rigatoni with arugula and veggies tossed in red sauce

AMERICAN PICNIC

Loaded Potato Salad with bacon and shredded cheddar

Grilled Cheese bites

Seasoned Killer Corn 

Muffaletta sliders 
      (ham, salami, pepperoni, provolone, olive salad, hot peppers)

Homemade coleslaw

Please email for pricing, 

detailed  information on the food items, 
possible substitutions and any questions!

email: letscultivate@gmail.com

What is Balsamic Vinegar made of?

I've been told that in Italy- where true Balsamic Vinegar
comes from-  it isn't used as an acidic ingredient for salad dressings
like it is here in the USA.  They use it more as a condiment on
grilled meats and of course drizzling on strawberries.

There are 3 different kinds of balsamic vinegar. 

Aceto balsamico tradizionale,  commerical  and lastly condimento. 

The Aceto balsamico tradizionale is the most pure and true for it is 

heavily regulated and takes on the underlying flavors of the wooden 

oak or chestnut barrels that the grapes are stored 

in after it is pressed into vinegar. Oh, by the way--- 

balsamic vinegar is boiled down sweet white grapes.  

This type was even used for medical purposes back in the day.

The mass marketed commercial balsamic is not aged like the 

aceto kind.  Many times the commerical type is labeled 

balsamic vinegar of Modena and a pinch of brown sugar is added 

to every cup of vinegar. 

The last type called condimento is kind of the in between 

one where it's not as  expensive as the Aceto but a higher quality 

than the commercial kind. 

  

                                   

The biggest difference between wine, wine vinegar and 

balsamic vinegar is that the grapes are pressed into make 

balsamic vinegar before the grapes start to ferment like the way 

it is before making wines.

Balsamic vinegar is really good when you mix a few drops 

with olive oil to smear your good, earthy and crusty bread 

into along with your flavorful soup and adding garlic to it is 

also another flavorful option.

​
Zestfully,  Let's Cultivate Food

Benefits of cucumbers.

Most of us know that veggies are good for us.
Even if you don't know much about each specific
type of vegetable or fruit-
we usually consider them to have vitamins
that are good for us and are healthy for our bodies.

Have you ever noticed that there are a lot of
lotions and creams with cucumber fragrances
or extracts?   Spas will often slice cucumbers
and have them infused in water as well.

Well!, there is a reason for this.

The most common cucumbers that we are familiar with are 

the regular American cucumbers,

the long (usually individually wrapped) English cucumbers

that have less seeds in them 

(often used in sushi because it can be used as one long piece)

and the shorter, plump cucumbers that are called Kirby cucumbers 

that are often made for cucumber kimchi in Korean cuisine 

and then there are also pickle cucumbers that are pickled 

to make pickles. There are these round cucumbers also that 

are not as common and have a thinner skin and therefore

not as flavorful and crisp like most cucumbers are. 

And now on to the benefits of cucumbers!

1.  Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you
      need on a daily allowance.  One cucumber contains
      vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium,
      Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.


2.  Although it might not be the norm-
      eating a cucumber mid-day can provide a great pick-me up
      that can last hours in a healthy way rather than grabbing
      a soda or another cup of coffee.


3.  Have you ever notice when you take a hot shower-
     the mirrors fog up?  Well, try rubbing a few slices
     of cucumber along the mirror and it will help eliminate the
     fogging along with providing a spa like fragrance!  Win, Win!


4.  Do you have some  unwanted in your garden?
      Take a few cucumber slices and add it to an aluminum pan or foil.
      The natural chemicals in the cucumber react to the aluminum
      that garden pests don't like while we as humans can't detect.


5.  Especially since it's summer and pool and beach season-
      do you have some cellulite that you don't care to show?
      Rub a few cucumber slices in the problem area and the
      phytochemicals in the cucumber will help the skin (collagen)
      to tighten while you are at the pool/beach for the afternoon.


6.  Eating a cucumber before going to bed will help avoid a
      hangover or a terrible headache the next day.


7.  Cucumber slices will also do things like polish your shoes
      (a greener way to clean) or if you don't have shoe polish on hand.
      It also helps repel water off your shoes.


8.  When you are out of WD 40 and need a quick fix for the
      squeaky hinge- you can rub it along the problematic area.


9.  Are you about to have a business meeting or about to
     meet someone and you don't have any gum or mint?
     It's not that you would have slices of cucumber in
     your purse or pocket but for informational purposes-
     placing a slice or 2 of cucumbers on the roof of your mouth
     for about 30 seconds or so- the phytochemicals will
     kill the bacteria responsible for causing bad breath.


10.  If you are looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets,
     sinks and stainless steel- take a slice or 2 of cucumber and
     rub it on the desired surface- not only will it help bring
     back shine  and not leave streaks but it will be good on
     your hands and fingernails while you clean as well.







Who said you don't learn something new everyday,
Let's Cultivate Food

Asian Market ingredient and product tour!

Grab a friend and join me in my Asian Market TOUR!

You will learn what's REALLY in soy sauce, wasabi sauce,
the difference between fish sauce and oyster sauce
and information on 30+ ingredients and products.

Have you ever gone to a restaurant and favored a dish
and always wanted to make it at home?
You've even gone to the extent of looking that recipe up online
and have a recipe but aren't sure what's what once you
arrive at the Asian supermarket?
Maybe because many of the brands are written in Chinese,
Korean or Thai?... or you just aren't sure which brand is better
and more importantly healthiest for you.



Here is another opportunity to come learn about some ingredients
and products.  It'll be indoors with cold blasted air conditioning
so you've got nothing to lose!

The 3 dates that are available are:
Friday July 17th from 7-8:30 pm
Thursday July 23rd from 7-8:30 pm
Saturday Aug 1st from 11-12:30 pm

Oh! and don't forget you must sign up and register
so that there are enough spots/spaces and
so that I can prepare your free Goodie bag of goodies!

Link to REGISTER  and link for MORE DETAILS

Find your ingredients,  Let's Cultivate Food

Seasoned Corn.

Sauteing corn for a side dish is always great especially in these
warmer months where you can grill it on an outdoor grill.

Using fresh corn on the cob is best for the best flavor.
You can use 2-3 cobs for 2 people. All you have to do is just take a
knife and slice the kernels right off the cob into a bowl.

















With a little butter, (I like to use butter made from olive oil)
-add the kernels of corn into the pan.

As the corn is starting to cook up, add a sprinkle of Old Bay season salt
and a handful of chopped cilantro. Even if you don't care for cilantro...
when the cilantro cooks up with the corn, it blends in really well
and you don't taste the distinct flavor of cilantro that some people dislike.
Lastly, add a little drizzle of vegetable or chicken stock to bring
all the flavors together. This corn is great with ribs and coleslaw
or any other entree actually. If you wanted to grill the corn
on the cob- you can certainly do that as well.

​
Grill it up,  Let's Cultivate Food