Quote

"I cannot live without books: but fewer will suffice where amusement, and not use, is the only future object." -- Thomas Jefferson

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Cool Off with a Spritzer Festival!

Spritzer Festival!

Spritzers cool you down, and have great flavor with fewer calories.

Your basic recipe is:

Ingredients:
8oz glass
Ice cubes
Carbonated water
Flavoring
Garnish: Lime slices, orange slices, pineapple chunks, apple slices, and more (optional)

Process:
Fill glass with ice.
Fill glass 2/3rds to 7/8ths with carbonated water.
Add flavoring.
Stir.
Add garnish, your choice (optional).



Ginger Ale Spritzer



Spritzers (Left to Right): Apple Juice, Coconut Cream, Coffee, Grapefruit, Mandarin, Jamaica, Tonic Water, Chocolate Sorbet, Mango, Cola Light, Orange Juice, and Ginger Ale



Not Pictured:
Decaffeinated coffee with a dollop of chocolate sorbet
Ginger Root with a bit of sugar
Grape Juice
Lime Juice
Peppermint Tea
Pomegranate Juice


Other flavor ideas:
Watermelon
Strawberry
Root Beer
Dr. Pepper
Cherry
Lemon/Lime
Vanilla
Guava
Melon
Passionfruit
Papaya


Variation:
Beer Spritzer
Fill glass with ice.
Fill 2/3rds with carbonated water.
Add a bit of beer.
Add a capful of lime juice.






Beer Spritzer


Use your imagination. Make your own Spritzer!


Tuesday, June 23, 2015

My First Chayote Salad

Several recipes I make are made from what I have on hand.

All health and medical sites and my doctor say: “Eat more greens.”

They’re right. While I eat well, I don’t eat greens regularly. If I get a head of lettuce, it’s salads for a week. If I get cabbage, it works better because I can make a skillet dish and freeze some of it. But, it’s hard to avoid waste even if I buy half a head. and I hate waste, so my produce purchases are limited.

Since I have chosen not to go bulk grocery shopping for a bit, I have to rely on what produce the  local tiendas have and that varies day to day.

Today, I wanted to make a pepino, tomato and onion salad. All I needed was a pepino, but, all the tienda had was one green pepper and one chayote.

Green Pepper & Chayote

I have never eaten or cooked a chayote. It’s a lovely looking vegetable and it is green.

So, after researching how to use a chayote, I found I could slice it and eat it raw. So, I made a chayote, tomato, onion, and green pepper salad with a dash of grated carrot and an oil and vinegar dressing.

Small Chayote Salad

1/4 Chayote, sliced
1/4 Green pepper, sliced
1/2 Tomato, sliced
1/4 Red onion, sliced
grated carrot

Place vegetable slices in a bowl. Top with grated carrot.

Oil & Vinegar Dressing
Adapted from: http://simmerandboil.cookinglight.com/2015/05/29/why-homemade-salad-dressing-is-best/?xid=social_twitter+

3 parts Olive oil
1 part Vinegar (Vinagre La Cocinera)
3 turns of Black pepper
1/2 lime, squeezed

In a measuring cup, add oil, vinegar, black pepper and lime juice.
Pour it into a jar with a lid.
Close lid and shake.




Tuesday, June 9, 2015

El Origen Cafe

El Origen is the closest cafe to my departmento.

Plus, they offer Service a Domicilio, so I get a great lunch delivered on Tuesdays!. How lucky can you get?

El Origen's menu has a vegetarian influence. The menu choices are great from stuffed peppers to various chicken or vegetable dishes that are served with vegetable soup, rice, and salad.



Casa Maryposa


If you have never lived in a city, it's great to roll out of bed in the morning and walk to any number of cafes to get breakfast and coffee.

Merida is bustling. More buildings are being renovated as residences, rentals and businesses.

Casa Maryposa is part of these changes. It is a new cafe on Calle 62. The owner, Mary, and her family make all their own recipes from fresh ingredients. It is important to Mary to make food that has the best flavors at reasonable prices. Personally, I love her sweet breads and pies.




Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Smashwords Forum Writers Anthology 2015 -- Seeking Submissions





Muy Sano (Mai Tai) Mocktail

I found this combo of juices delicious.

Muy Sano (Mai Tai)

Ingredients:
Pilsner glass
4-5 Ice cubes
Orange Juice
Pomegranate Juice
Lime juice concentrate
Garnish: a lime slice, or a cherry

Process:
Add 4-5 ice cubes to Pilsner glass.
Fill glass 2/3rds with orange juice.
Fill glass 1/4th with pomegranate juice.
Add one shot of lime juice concentrate.
Do not stir.
Add garnish.