Gluten Free Raisin and Spice Pretzels

Adapted from: http://www.yummly.com/recipe/GF-Soft-Pretzels-1037560?servings=5&unitType=imperial

If you love Pretzels which Living Better Cafe knows you do, this recipe is perfect for you.

Serves: 5

2 c. Blanched Almond Meal Flour
3/8 eggs, beaten
2/3 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp.- 3/4 tsp. Raisins
1/8 tsp. Ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 1/4 Tbsps. Margarine
3 3/4 Tbsps. Coconut Flour
1 1/4 tsps water
coarse salt

1. Blend together eggs, vanilla and raisins inside of a small mixing bowl; cover and let sit for about 1 hour. Add the almond flour, salt and margarine together and mix until incorporated well. Into the mixture, pour and mix the beaten eggs. your dough should be very wet.

2. Add in 1 Tbsp. of coconut flour and mix until incorporated well. Allowing the mixture to sit for about a minute as the coconut flour takes a bit of time to absorb. You are looking for a dough that can be easily kneaded, yet will not stick to your hands. Add 2 more Tbsp. of coconut flour, your dough should look like the texture of play-doh.

3. Allow the dough to rest for about five minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F. Gently grease a cookie sheet.

4. Take a hunk of dough about half the size of a golf ball,and roll the dough under your hands into a long skinny pencil about the length of a pencil.

5. Once you have a piece of dough the size of a golf ball, continue to roll it thinner and thinner until it is about twice as long.

6. Be VERY gentle when lift the long skinny piece of dough to the cookie sheet. Twist it carefully into the shape of a pretzel – or shape them into whatever shape you want.

7. Place the pretzels in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Beat the remaining egg and add 1 teaspoon water.

8. Remove the pretzels from the oven. Turn the oven up to 400°F.

9. Turning all of the pretzels over and you will see that the bottom is nicely brown in color. This is actually the top of your pretzel! Lightly brush with the beaten egg and sprinkle with coarse salt.

10. Return to the oven for 5 minutes more.

Viewer Questionnaire

Hello Follower,
It is I Katrina Smith, the Creator of Living Better Cafe and Living Better Cafe Presents..... Coffee Talk. I am so glad you all have chosen to stick around because it show you really enjoy feeding your soul's, and living inexpensively. Living Better Cafe is running a questionnaire, and want to hear from you. Please consider taking the time and leave your views in the comment's below.

Happy Journey's to living Better,
Katrina Smith

Mock Shrimp Salad

Adapted from: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/16859/moms-shrimp-macaroni-salad/

Serves: 8

1 c. Macaroni noodles
1 Tbsp. Finely chopped scallions
1 Tbsp. Bell pepper, chopped
1/2 c. Celery, chopped
3/4 c. Plain yogurt
1/4 c. Sweet relish
3/4 c. Prepared mustard
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tsp.Celery seeds
1 tsp. prepared horseradish
2 oz. Surmi Imitation shrimp (you can use shrimp,if your not allergic)
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
Fresh cracked black pepper (To taste)

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil with salt, add in the noodles and let cook until the way you like it; drain well.

2. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine scallions, bell pepper, celery, yogurt, sweet relish, horseradish, parsley, celery seed, pepper flakes,black pepper and shrimp. Fold the macaroni into the mixture. Cover and chill at least 3 hours, or until ready to serve.

Asian Pasta Salad

Asian Pasta Salad With Oyster Sauce Dressing

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 Second edition of money-saving tips for this April 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!
Yes, once again I am bring you an inexpensive recipe that, I know will keep you and you're wallet happy. I just want to share with you that it, really all depends on where you shop for all the ingredients.

"I know, I know, I know" what your thinking.Living Better Cafe is at it again, posting up Ramen recipe's. Why if that's what you were thinking. Some people do not know how versatile Ramen is, and it's inexpensive to. Therefore, Living Better Cafe motto " is to living inexpensively, and healthy with keeping food sensitivity at bay".

Serves: 1

1 pkg. Ramen Noodles
1/2 c. bean sprouts, chopped
1/2 c. Bok Choy, chopped
1/2 c. Crushed peanuts (more for garnish)
1/2 Tbsp. plain yogurt
1/2 Tbsp. Mustard
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 c. water

Directions:

1. Boil 2 c. water in a small sauce pot. Add noodles (I like to separate the noodles) because it makes it look like you have more. Cook for 3 minutes or how ever you like it, stirring occasionally.

2. Remove from heat, and drain the water. Then add in cold water to stop the cooking process and drain. Add in bean sprouts, Bok Choy,peanuts,yogurt,mustard and both pepper.



Oyster Sauce Dressing

Serves: 1

1 Tbsp. - 1 tsp. Vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. - 1 tsp. Water
1 Tbsp. Oyster Sauce

Directions:

1. in a small mixing bowl, combine oil, water and Oyster sauce together.

Administrators corner:

I want to share a little story about myself here, which I know seem to be a little out of the loop. But, do not worry it's about food. You know when your little and your parent's or someone much older then you makes a meal for you, and you have to eat what is fixed. Well this story is about younger me but, I will not go into much detail because of how sensitive some people maybe about food. While younger me tried eating bean sprout's and me being a younger child, at the time my younger child imagination vision something quite different. So, now as an adult I am still not fond of eating them because of the taste. But, I still carry that vision with me even though I know how good Bean sprout's are.

Bean Sprouts which is as called "Mung Bean Spouts", are loaded with good source of Vitamin "C" Protein and Fiber.

Hot Out Of The Oven..... Hominy

Adapted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nixtamalization

*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 become 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 First April edition.

This last April edition of Hot out of the oven, Living Better Cafe wants to help you understand " What is Hominy"? well as the creator of this awesome inexpensive food based blog. I will be helping you understand more clearly what is Hominy? as there are quite a few of clueless people still out there. Living Better Cafe will help those who have the slights idea to, What Hominy is? and where did it come from?

I will be laying out the history of hominy, and the beneficial factors of this grain based food. Well some of you may have seen a bowl of grit's, or some of you may not know what is grit's? once again it all relates back to Hominy. Hominy is a dried kernel which has been treated with an alikali called nixtamalization. Now nixatamalization is typically referred to a process for the preparations of maize (Corn), or other grain, in which the grain is soaked and cooked in an alkaline solution, mainly limewater, and hulled.

The alikali called nixatamalization has several benefits over unprocessed grains: it is more easier to ground; as its nutritional value does increase, its flavor and aroma are improved; and mycotoxins are reduced. The lime and ash are highly alikaline: which the alikalinity helps dissolution of hemicellulose, the major glue-like component of the maize cell walls, and loosens the hulls from the kernels and softens the corn.

Hominy is used in a lot of food's.such as Tortilla's, Grit's, Taco's, and Masa is the dough used to make corn tortillas ( along with other thing's). Not to confuse you but, you use can not make Masa with regular cornmeal. You can even add Hominy into soups, as it's more so popular in Mexican stews, called Posole. You can also find hominy in a can, or you can just make hominy yourself just by using dried corn kernels.

Like I have mention before about the benefits that hominy has. Hominy does have a very good source in a lot vitamins and minerals. Like, protein, Potassium, Iron and Magnesium. While the other vitamin's and minerals that is in hominy is very low count. But, they should not discourage you from eating this grain.

I am coming very to the end about Hominy. But, I want to make sure you hear about the good health benefits. Question? is Hominy good for you and why? Why yes it is because it's low in calories. Therefore, if you had only 1 cup of hominy, you would have a total of 119 calories within just that one cup. And this amount is lower then any other grain you may eat. For instant, if you have 1 cup of the not so good for you rice (White rice). That 1 cup will only provide you with 242 calories, now if you were to swap out the white rice for hominy then you would save 861 calories weekly. Now I am not a math scientist, I just did my research that's all.

Hominy is also low in fat, which make it a good choice if your planing to go on a low fat diet. While hominy is also low in carbohydrate. So, if your looking to go on a low carb diet hominy should be on your list of food to add into your diet plan.

High in fiber is a another benefit hominy has, and let not forget about that 1 cup measurement here. Let's take that measurement cup and fill it up each, you would have 4 grams of fiber in your cup. That enough to help you lose weight because it simulates satiety. Fiber plays a very good role in many different ways, as it helps lower blood sugar levels, help with digestions issues and get this helps with lower cholesterol levels.

Hominy is beneficial in low sugar content, if your looking for a grain with less sugar. Now Hominy has just one down sides to it, and that is the sodium factor it has a high level content. Therefore, if you do choice this grainy vegetable opt out salt. Especially, if you have health issues that revolve around salt intake.

Living Better Cafe Announcement:

If you have are a follower of Coffee Talk, do keep an eye out for what's coming very soon. Yes I am the creator of Living Better Cafe Presents......Coffee Talk, and I have been super busy with this BIG SURPRISE! that I will officially announce again coming very soon. So, if you haven't hit the "Like" button on Coffee Talk. Do consider because you do not want to miss out. here at www.facebook.com/coffeeoneonone And do not just keep this surprise to yourself "Share" it with family,friends and coworker.

Waffle Supreme

Adapted From: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/17681/belgian-waffles/

Inspired by: Grilled Cheese

This is not like any other waffle you have ever tasted.The inspiration of a grilled cheese plus more, then you ever thought of.

Serves: 4

Waffle
1/2 (.25 oz.) Pkg. active dry yeast
2 Tbsp. Warm milk
1/4 c. Organic sugar
1 1/2 egg yolks
3/4 tsp. Course Himalayan salt
1 tsp. Vanilla exact
2 c. all- purpose flour
1 1/2 egg whites
1 1/3 c. - 1 Tbsp. warm milk
1/4 c. - 2 Tbsp. Margarine, melted and cooled to lukewarm

Waffle Directions:

1. In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in a 1/4 c warm milk. allow to stand until yeast becomes creamy, for about 10 minutes.

2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks, 1/4 c warm milk and the melted margarine. Stirring in yeast mixture, sugar, salt and vanilla extract. Stir in the remaining 2 1/2 c. milk alternating with the flour, ending with the flour. Beat in the egg whites until they form soft peaks; folding into the batter. Cover the glass mixing bowl tightly with plastic wrap. allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, for about 1 hour.

Waffle Filling
6 oz. Chorizo Sausage
1 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions:
1. Crumble the sausage into a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until evenly brown. Set aside.
2. Waffle assembly: Add cheese and chorizo to the waffle, and top with the waffle.
3. Place waffle on a griddle pan, until the cheese melt.

Oriental Thai Pasta Salad

Oriental Thai

Thai Beef 

Serves: 1

1 pkg. Ramen Noodles
1 - 2 Tbsp.Peanut Butter (Chunky or Creamy)
1- 2 piece(s) garlic clove,chopped thinly
1 pkg. Oriental seasoning package * (If making Thai Beef use the Beef Seasoning Package)
2 c. water
Directions:

1. Boil 2 c. water in a small sauce pot. Add noodles (I like to separate the noodles) because it makes it look like you have more. Cook for 3 minutes or how ever you like it, stirring occasionally.

2. Remove from heat, and drain the water. Then add in cold water to stop the cooking process and drain. Add in Peanut Butter, seasoning package and garlic. Stir until well incorporated, and serve.



Living Better Cafe Tip:

Ramen seasoning package's come in handy for other meal purposes also.

* Adds flavor to homemade soups,stews, Sauce's
* Making your own marinade
* Add flavor to other dishes as well. But, do pay close attention to the sodium content. 800 mg within one package alone, and 33% Daily Value.


Note:

Sorry if your looking for the Asian Pasta Salad with Oyster sauce dressing. Consider checking Asian Pasta Salad.