Red Velvet pancakes

Serves: 4

3/4 c. All purpose flour
1 3/4 tsp .baking powder
1/2 tsp. Himalayan salt
1 1/2 tsp. Organic granulated sugar
1/2 c. + Tbsp. Milk
1/2 egg
1 Tbsp. + 1 1/2 tsp. Butter, melted
2 Tbsp. Unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. Red food coloring
1 tsp. Vanilla extract


Directions:

1. Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, cocoa powder into a bowl; beat in the egg, vanilla extract, red food coloring.
 Blend it together well ( until the batter has small lumps).
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2. Heat a lightly greased pancake griddle over medium high heat.
Cook until you see bubbles slightly form around the edges are dry.
Then flip over, and cook until brown on the other side.

BENEFIT ALERT:

* Can cut your rate of heart disease, and cut the death rate of heart-attack survivors.

* can help decrease the risk of stroke.

* can decrease blood pressure, including in pregnant women.

* has the potential to improve kidney function.

* caffeine in cocoa can protect your skin against sun damage and skin cancer.

* can increase cognitive function and may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

* can relieve stress.

* help with weight loss.

* can relieve coughs almost as well as codeine.

Gluten Free Cheddar chive biscuits

Serves: 3 dozen

2 C.  Gf biscuit mix ( I prefer Bob red mill)
2 1/4 C. Shredded cheddar cheese
1 C. ( 2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
 1/4 + 1 tsp. Chopped fresh chives
3 C. Milk


Directions:

1.  Preheat the oven to 400.

2. In a large bowl, combine biscuit mix, Cheddar cheese, butter, and chives Stir in milk. Drop batter Tbsp. onto prepared cookie sheet.

3.  Bake for ten minutes or until lightly golden color.


BENEFIT ALERT:


Chives serve a very good source of benefits for your health.

* They Improve your heart health, which may reduce the risk of plaque buildup in arteries. 

* Which reducing stiffness in the blood vessels and decreasing blood pressure.

*  Great for bone health.

* Help protect against cancers in the breast, colon, prostate, ovaries, endometrium and lungs.

* And oral cancers.

* chives may alleviate a stuffy nose and colds, plus ease an upset stomach and flatulence. And stimulate digestion and treat anemia.

Carrot Coconut Soup

Serves: 4

1 Tbsp. Olive oil
1tsp.  Crush red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp.  Cumin
1-1/2 Tbsp. Chopped fresh cilantro
 1/2 tsp. Grated ginger
 1  onion, chopped
 1 clove garlic, minced
 3 lg carrots, peeled and chopped
3 1/2 c.  Coconut milk
 1 1/2 veggie broth
2 Tbsp. Lemon juice

 Directions:

1 . Heat oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Stir and cook the chili paste, cumin, and 1 1/2 Tbsp. of cilantro until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the ginger, onion, and garlic; cook until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.  Place the carrots into the pot with the onion mixture and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

2.  Pour the vegetable broth and coconut milk over the cooked vegetables. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. 

3. Add in the Lemon juice and stir,  puree the soup using either food processor or a blender.

4. Serve warm garnish with carrots sticks and coconut flakes. (optional)

*BENEFIT ALERT:

Coconut milk is  good for several health benefits. 

* Has many minerals, vitamins and electrolytes such as calcium, potassium and chloride.

*  Is a dairy free alternative to those who are lactose intolerant and are also allergic to animal milk. This milk is also nut free, soy free and gluten free.

*  Help the body fight aging, low vision and low bone density.

*  Also aids in digestion and is also used as a laxative. It can also be a remedy for urinary and kidney problems.

*  Good for the health of your skin and hair.

Blueberry cobbler pizza

(Adapted & inspired by: Guy Fieri - Guy Fieri food)

*if you have peanut allergies omit

Serves: 8-12

1 c. Quick rolled oats
2 Tbsp. Organic brown sugar, firmly packed
2 Tbsp. Unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 pinches of Himalayan salt
1/4 tsp. Ground cinnamon
1 10-oz. Pizza dough
1 21-oz. Blueberry pie filling
1/4 c. Freshly chopped peanuts *
1/2 c. Mascarpone cheese, at room temperature

 Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 400.

2.) In a medium sized bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, butter, 2 pinches of salt, plus the cinnamon and mix with fingers until blended combined well. Add the peanuts and mix gently.

 3.) Stretch half the dough into 1/2 inch thick 11 inch round. Place onto a greased pizza pan.

4.) Spread half blueberry filling over the pizza crust. Top with the half of the oat mixture. Bake for 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown, and the blueberries are bubbling.

 5.) Garnish the pizza with a dollops of half of the Mascarpone cheese. 

6.) Cut pizza into slices and enjoy!


* Benefit Alert

Eating blueberries are powerful superfoods. They’re rich in nutrients, antioxidants and phytochemicals which help prevent (and, in some cases, reverse) the effects of aging, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer.

Spinach pie egg rolls

(Inspired by: Spinach Pie)

Serves: 8

1/4 c. Crumbled feta cheese
1/4 c. Swiss cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp. Cayenne pepper
3 c. Roughly- chopped fresh spinach
1 c. Diced onion
1 Tbsp. Fresh parsley, chopped
8 egg roll wrappers

Directions:

 1.) Cook and drain spinach.

2.) In a large to medium sized bowl, blend the spinach, onions, swiss cheese, crumbled feta, parsley, salt and pepper, mixing well.

3.) Building the egg rolls, placing a Tbsp of filling in the center of the egg roll wrapper. Then trace the edges with water to seal it.

4.) Bake at 350 for 25 minutes or until lightly golden brown.


* Benefit Alert

Eating spinach include improving blood glucose control in diabetics, lowering the risk of cancer, lowering blood pressure, improving bone health, lowering the risk of developing asthma and more.

Ginger orange tea

Serves: 6

Ginger root, about 4-in long
2 c. Water
2 Tbsp. Lime juice
 2 c. Orange juice
 2 Tbsp. Honey

Directions:

 1.)  Peel and slice the ginger root into small pieces, using a grader.
Put them in a pot with 2 cups of water and just barely boil.

2.) Remove the pieces out.

3.) Add the orange juice, lime juice, honey, and stir as  you want your honey to mix in well.

4.) Enjoy!

* BENEFIT ALERT

Ginger helps with the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, cough, menstrual cramps, arthritis and muscle pain.

Hot out of the oven..... Food Preservatives

* Please continue to read this blog article.

Note: Living Better Cafe is bring you Fresh out of the oven news, that you're going to love. That no other blog source will ever take you close into the story. I say more good reasons to love L.B.C, not only are you revising original recipes. You're also making them more healthier for you, while saving money in the long run.

Let's just face it: we all tend to go ahh! for something that is quite tasty looking.
Just to pleases our taste buds, but we are not truly thinking clearly....Are we?
Okay if you literally took the time to answer this question, then "TWO GIGANTIC THUMBS UP".
Please don't let me be the only person who reads the back of the package, when shopping for food.
When you come across a word you  "NEVER" heard of before do you become astonished?, Or do you just toss it in your chart and proceed to continue on with your shopping? . I always follow this rule of thumb, like anyone else who is just as curious as me. I bet your wondering now what I am talking about.....well I will let that marinade for a bit. Okay I hope we are both on the same page, I mean reading the back of the package.
 When I say  preservatives are some type of food additives added to food to extended shelf life. So it does not cause food to break down, and become spoiled quickly. Mold, bacteria, and yeast can cause food spoilage and are found practically everywhere we breathe in air. Researchers believe preservatives have changed eating habits and food production patterns more than any other food additive. Now I want send you on a positive journey to the safety points in food preservatives, and then leave you with the myth factors.

~ Positive aspect

Ascorbic Acid: An essential nutrient "Vitamin C" found naturally in fruits and veggies, ascorbic acid is an antioxidant that helps protect the body from free radicals. Ascorbic acid is used to help prevent food spoilage in a wide range of products from cereal to beverages. 

Taurine: Is an amino sulfonic acid, but it is often referred to as an amino acid, a chemical that is a required building block of protein. ” A “conditional amino acid” can be manufactured by the body, but an “essential amino acid” cannot be made by the body and must be provided by the diet.

Nisin:  Is a natural antimicrobial agent with activity against a wide variety of undesirable food borne (pathogenic) bacteria. Is a peptide which is produced by the food grade dairy starter bacterium Lactococcus lactis. Extend shelf life
and cost  on saving for food processors. Reduce the temperature of the heat processing, shorten the time of the heat processing.Protect against temperature abuse of chilled products during storage and distribution, in certain cases use ambient instead of chilled condition for storage and distribution.

Aspartame:  A very common artificial sweetener.

Now when it comes to the Myth of different foods I technically leave that out of the food equations.
Because that is where everyone has their own opinions on what bad. So with that being said I want to hear your views on these questionable Preservatives.  

* Sulfites

* Sodium Benzoate

* Nitrit

* BHA/BHT