Red Bean Hummus

Adapted From: http://www.sheknows.com/recipes/red-bean-hummus


Serves: 4

1 (15-oz.) can dark red kidney beans, rinsed
Zest and juice of a lemon
1 small garlic clove, chopped
1 small jalapeno pepper, chopped (about 2 teaspoons) -less if you don't want it too spicy
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped parsley
1 heaping Tbsp. Sunflower seed butter
2 Tbsp. olive oil
Course Himalayan Salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients into a food processor,or blender and puree until smooth.

Pizza "Pig in a blanket" dog

Inspired by: Pizza and Corn dogs

First I want to share with you how I became inspired by, coming up with this recipe. We all know there are two main foods everyone seems to love, and they are of course "Pizza" and "Corn dogs". As this is one of the most consumed foods topped in America. Therefore I became inspired by, both of these's foods and now I am bringing you a much healthier version of the two-(Pictures will be coming soon). * Note: you can even make this with breakfast sausage, or even vegetarian sausage.

Serves: 10

1 pkg. (16 oz.) Hot dogs
1- 3/4 (10 oz.) pkg. refrigerated biscuit dough
1/4 c. - 1 Tbsp. Tomato sauce
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 lb. Mozzarella cheese
1/8 tsp. Freshly grounded pepper
1- 3/4 Fresh basil, torn
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes





Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. roll biscuit dough out and spread tomato sauce, cheese, oregano, basil, red, and ground pepper.

3. Cut the dough into crescent style, then wrap the hot dog around to form a piggy in the blanket.

4. Bake in preheated oven until biscuits are brown, for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Money Saving Tip Tuesday

Welcome to another edition of Money Saving tips.
In this edition I will be sharing some cool tips that won't break your bank, and will keep you smiling from ear to ear all the time.
Once again thank you for sticking around for, this Third edition of money saving tips for this February edition. I will be bring you different money saving tip's daily on saving cash in your wallet, every Tuesday. This week on money saving tip's Living Better Cafe wants to, help you save more cash in your wallet than ever before. This week I will be giving you a Money saving recipe, yes! making delicious meals within side the comfort of your home, or wherever you maybe can also save "YOU" Money!

So therefore why not see what you may have laying around in you're pantry, or cupboard. I hope you have these Items within arms reached. I know I did, when I was preparing for my lunch for school and to tell you the truth it was quite "Deliciosio" (Spanish for Delicious) for those who may not understand. In the picture is enough for one person. But, in this recipe it serves 12.


Cheesy Potato salad

3 lbs. unpeeled Idaho potatoes
1/2 c. diced onions* (if you are allergic, just do not add in)
1/2 tsp. Course Himalayan salt
1/4 tsp. Cayenne pepper
1 c. Red split lentils
1 c. Sliced celery
1 1/2 c. Cheese Creations Double Cheddar sauce


Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add Idaho potatoes, and cook until tender but still firm, for about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and chop into 1 inch cubes. Place in a medium bowl.

2. Measure the lentils into a strainer or colander. Pick over and remove any shriveled lentils, debris, or rocks. Thoroughly rinse under running water. Place lentil in a medium saucepan, and bring the water to a rapid simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a very gentle simmer.

3. Cook, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes. Add water as needed to make sure the lentils are just barely covered.

4. In a small bowl, whisk together Cheese sauce, onions, salt and pepper. Pour the mixture over the potatoes, and mix together with Celery and Lentils. Cover, and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours before serving.

Hot out of the oven... Energy Drinks

Adapted from: http://www.doctoroz.com

From : Lindsey Duncan, ND, CN and Keri Peterson, MD

*Note:Please continue to read this blog article.

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. Your saving money while eating the way you want in a healthier way.

Welcome to Hot Out Of The Oven food news, I have yet another edition of food news coming straight from no other source but, Living Better Cafe of course. As you have read through many editions of (H.O.T.O), since I have started this food news addition. You have became more wiser about what you buy,and place into your mouth. While I am very happy to continue to keep "Hot of the oven" going as much as you keep enjoy reading it every Monday. In this third February edition I will be spilling out the facts of Energy Drinks, and is it really good for your health.


Everyone needs a little boost of energy every now and then. But, did you know that energy drinks are dangerous to your health? Yes! energy drinks are one of the fastest growing beverage here in america.They promise to make you more aware, active and rejuvenated. Yes, energy drinks hold up to their primary goal- which they reduces sleepiness and make you more alert. While at the same time energy drinks are weighting you're health down, with a very costly price tag. Energy drinks can cause significant and insignificant side effects. Just like, everything else we consume in our daily lives. But the fact of the matter here is, are really safe energy drinks truly safe for you in the long run?

That's is why, I am here to break it down to you, and help you better understand the truth behind the label. You're probably wondering how will I break it down to you? Why it's quite simple here.

Let's begin talking about formulations

Energy drinks come in all different sizes. Need we going into? Why Of course yes. Bottles, shots, powder, all sorts of sizes you name it. When it comes to quenching your thirst truly matters to you. But, I hope that when you are choosing a beverage, you are being self conscious of what you are drinking.

Bottles/ Cans

These drinks are premixed and ready for you to grab up, and drink. Just be aware of the serving sizes because many bottles can equal up to two serving size or more; especially if your planing on gulping down the whole bottle, and now your getting more than a double amount of the ingredients on the label.

Shots

These energy drinks come in pocket sized. people typically purchase these when they want a quick dose of energy, and they chug it down all in one go. When you chug down theses drinks, they will hit you hard and fast and will only last up to 5-6 hours.

Powered

Like the bottled or canned varieties, they can be sipped more slowly.


Ingredients

Like most energy drinks contain a combinations of caffeine, B vitamin, sugar and other herbs.

Caffeine

This is the main key ingredient that puts the word "ENERGY" in energy drinks. That's where I draw my concerns here because of people with multiple medical conditions. Plus the amount of caffeine that is inside the beverage it's self. Energy drinks can at lease hold up to 80 to 500 mg per serving. The safest amount of caffeine daily is 200 mg.

Many of these energy drinks hold not only high caffeine levels, but they also combine them with other herbs that contain caffeine, such as guarana and yerba mate. Plus, keep this in mind that these drinks can hold up multiple servings in one bottle a lone.

In higher portions, caffeine can have many disadvantage. Especially in excess amounts, caffeine can cause the following. Insomnia, Jitteriness, Palpitations, Rapid heart rate and elevated your blood pressure. Caffeine also can cause dehydration because it has a diuretic effect.

There are some people who can build up a tolerance to caffeine as well. while over time, some people may find themselves needing an extra boost to help them throughout the day can achieve the same effect.

B Vitamins

In this group of 8 vitamins plays a variety of roles in cell metabolism. Some of these drinks have massive amounts of B vitamins. But, here’s the thing: B vitamins will not boost your energy unless you are deficient in them. Most of us get all the B vitamins we could possibly need in our diets. While the majority of B vitamins are not toxic when consumed in excess because they are water soluble and any excess is just excreted in the urine. That is except for two of them:

Having too much of vitamin B 3 (niacin) which can cause a flushing of the skin, stomach upset, blurred vision or liver inflammation. Some shots have 150% more than the maximum recommended dose of 35 mg daily.

Having too much of B6 (a dose greater than 500 mg /day) which can cause nerve damage, tingling and numbness in arms and legs.


Guaraná and Ginseng

Guarana is a natural energy booster, which is a natural caffeine that comes from a red small rounded fruit. Guarana containing up to 8% caffeine, which is about 2.5 times the amount found in coffee. This red rounded fruit also contain theophylline and theobromine, which counters the over-stimulating effect of caffeine and makes it ideal for long-term use to boost energy.

Ginseng is extracted from the root of the ginseng plant, ginseng has been found in studies to boost brain power – but you would need at least 200 mg to reap this benefit, which most drinks don’t contain. "Cautions" this plant has shown to interact as with blood thinning drugs.

Now comes the real true factor in energy beverages, and that of course is the "Sugar".

If you are a fan of any energy drink out there, you must have paid a very close attention to the nutritional facts. And if not then did you know that just about one can along has about 14 teaspoons of sugar! Yes, you heard me correctly which is more then the recommend doses. Sugar is what spike up our blood glucose levels. Sugar can also cause some people to gain weight, especially if they consume to much. Therefore weight gain comes from consuming too much sugar in some people.


I've covered the basic scenario on energy drinks. But, there is one other factor that I want to make you aware of, and that is of course the Side effects of these drinks.


Palpitations / tachycardia
Tremor / shaking
Agitation / restlessness
Gastrointestinal upset
Chest pain / ischaemia
Dizziness / syncope
Paraesthesia (tingling or numbing of the skin)
Insomnia
Respiratory distress
Headache
Allergic reaction



* SPECIAL NOTE:
As I am not a professional/certified doctor, or nutritionist. But, I do want to say as a patient of many medical issues myself. That I would use safety precaution when thinking about grabbing up a energy drink. Why I myself would blend together some fruit's and vegetables and call it my energy booster.


Thank you once again for sticking around for "Hot Out Of The Oven" I am so happy to see you every Monday reading my post. I really enjoy seeing the amount of people it has reaches. Please do not forget about "Coffee Talk" every Friday, and you can also catch it early right after it recorded.on YouTube on my channel. consider to subscribe I would appreciate it a lot!, Happy Journeys to living Better!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPyyQumJqlu5_7gJIHqW0Jg

Breakfast Meatloaf

Adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/33137/breakfast-meatloaf/

If you thought you could not have meatloaf for breakfast think again.

Serves: 8

1 lb. Ground breakfast sausage
1 c. Texture soy protein
1 c. Milk * (Dairy free milk)
3 Eggs* (Egg replacer)
1 Bell pepper,chopped
1/2 sm. Onion,chopped
2 Celery stalks, chopped
1/2 (10 oz.) pkg.frozen spinach, or fresh spinach, chopped
1/2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
1/2 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
1/2 tsp. Ground sage

Direction:

1. preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 8 x 11- in loaf pan.

2. In a large glass mixing bowl, blend together sausage, soy protein, milk, and eggs until blends come together well. Mix in bell peppers,onion, Celery and spinach. season with cayenne, rosemary and sage. place mixture into prepared loaf pan.

3. Place loaf pan into preheated oven and bake for 1 hour, or until the center is firm and juices are clear. Allow to stand for few minutes before serving.

Vegan Coconut Pudding

Adapted from:  https://silk.com/recipes/chocolate-pudding

Nothing can come close to "Homemade" pudding, especially when it's healthy and not filled with a lot of additives you have not clue about.

Serve: 8

1/3 c. Shredded coconut
3/4 c. Powdered coconut sugar*
1/4 tsp. Himalayan salt
1/4 c. cornstarch
3 c. Coconut milk, except Light
3 Tbsp vegan margarine
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

*Note:

To make your own powdered coconut sugar, using a coffee grinder. process to the finest setting.


1. Blend together Coconut, sugar, salt and cornstarch into a saucepan and mix until incorporated well.

2. slowly add in coconut milk, whisking continually so the mixture does not become "Lumpy". Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat while whisking continually.

3. Lower the heat to a simmer, cover and simmer gently for 8 to 10 minutes, until the pudding begins to thicken.

4. Remove saucepan from the heat, and whisk in the margarine, plus vanilla extract.

5. Pour into a glass bowl with a lid, and allow to chill before serving for at least an hour, or so.

Coffee Talk..... Episode 8

www.livingbettercafe.blogspot.com/coffeetelevision

On episode 8 of Coffee Talk, I will be discussing on "Benefits of Cinnamon"

If you enjoy watching Coffee Talk and think someone you know can benefit from this, consider "sharing" because it's not only helping you it can help others as well.