Spiced Cherry PieBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodThe amount of time I've spent thinking about this pie before I actually decided to follow through and bake it to perfection is cumbersome. Even before quarantine we've managed to re-watch multiple seasons of The Great British Bake Off. The show is relaxing, it makes me hungry and seeing how genuinely kind British people are in a competition is astounding. Another benefit of the show is that it makes me think about potential recipe ideas and what I would do if I was there in the tent contemplating if I have the best flavor combinations or the stress of a "soggy bottom."
I created this recipe to give you the taste of fall with spices such as ginger, cinnamon and cloves. I cut back on the amount of sugar in the pie filling because I felt as if the spices help bring out the flavor of the cherries in a fresh and pleasurable way. I personally enjoy cooking with fresh ingredients vs. canned. This recipe will do well in the summer months between May to August when the fresh cherries are in season. You can choose to purchase pre-made pie crust for a faster and easier result or you can follow my pie crust recipe below. I understand the difficulty of making the perfect pie crust and this is an area I feel like I have to build up my skills.
Nutrition Tip*
It takes time, patience and practice to become a great baker or home cook. Start by practicing one new recipe per week. Ask yourself after each new recipe, what would I do different next time and how can I make this my own? Store the recipes you like in a recipe box, notebook or on a word doc for later use. Lemon Loaf Cake with Raspberry SwirlBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodI know I'm a dietitian but I have to confess... In college my go to breakfast every morning was a Starbucks grande cinnamon dulce latte with soy milk, an extra shot of espresso and one lemon loaf cake. #whitegirl #ASU #sundevil4life Going to Starbucks was a ritual my father and I shared ever since middle school. Every morning, we would get in line, order our drinks, get a pastry and then he would drive me to school. Now that I'm married and based off society standards, an official adult, I realize how expensive certain things are and I genuinely believe I can prepare better coffee and tasty treats at home on my own. I have made this recipe multiple times in order to get it absolutely perfect. The raspberry swirl provides an additional burst of sweetness to your taste buds and trust me you won't be disappointed in the end.
Nutrition Tip*
Do you get sweet cravings? I know I do, especially after dinner or when I'm sad. This happens to many people and I wish I could say that there's an easy way to stop this from occurring. My main advice is to ask yourself, what do you truly want? Are you craving chocolate but you're trying to not eat the chocolate cake in the fridge so you eat a box of skittles instead? Then, after the skittles are you still craving chocolate so you cave and have an extra large slice of cake? We've all been there... Eat what your heart truly desires, be mindful of your portions, eat slow and enjoy your favorite food in that moment in time. The more we try to push out our cravings the stronger they can become. Maybe next time you'll eat one small piece of cake or 2 dark chocolate Hershey's kisses. Food is meant to be enjoyable. Break the cycle by being mindful of your choices and if you mess up move on and try it again. You and your cravings are not a lost cause.Cod with Habanero Mango SalsaBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodI usually try and aim for fish in my diet at least 2x per week not only for the lean protein but for the healthy omega-3s. My husband is not a big fish eater and this has always been a struggle. However, with the right topping and seasoning to enhance the flavor of the fish, we're on a positive path of getting more in our diet that we both can enjoy. I created this recipe simply because mangos are in season and they were on sale at the store. I was tired of our same old fish go-to recipes and wanted to give this one a try. Most of our recipes use a lot of spice. Being born and raised in the southwest, we're accustomed to spicy dishes on a daily basis. If you prefer a more mild salsa, you can swap out the habanero for a poblano, Anaheim, Cubanelle, or banana pepper. The mango salsa also pairs well with tortilla chips, quesadillas, and fish tacos.
Nutrition Tip*
Create your meals around seasonal, fresh produce vs. the protein. In the standard American diet, we tend to focus on the meat and not enough on the produce. Meat and seafood are available all year long. Who knows how long it's been since they were first prepared and packaged. If you want tasty fresh meals, choose produce that's in season and pair it with your protein of choice. This not only helps you get more plants in your diet but choosing fruits and vegetables in season is often more nutritious, affordable, stronger in flavor, and sustainable. Deciding to eat more locally grown produce and protein sources are both beneficial for the environment and for your local community as well. Raspberry JamBy Kristin and Alex- Two Peas in a PodMaking jam has been around for centuries and something I personally have only recently started to try out. This raspberry jam recipe is so simple and uses basic ingredients with fresh raspberries, lime juice and sugar. There's no additional pectin required because the raspberries contain a natural form of pectin which helps solidify the jam. This recipe makes enough jam to fill 1 small 16 oz mason jar. It only lasts about one month but you can utilize it in many different ways. You can add 1 tsp of jam to plain Greek yogurt for a light snack, pair it with brie and crackers for a fancy appetizer, mix it with your favorite dessert such as my Lemon Loaf Cake with Raspberry Swirl for a delightful treat or naturally spread it on toast with butter. Give it a try and let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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