International Recipe Contest Winner

This recipe was submitted by Ms. Claire Rogers from Trinidad & Tobago. Claire has always loved cooking. She has been cooking since she was 9 years old. She says:

“I still have my first recipe (Nestle) recipe book. Even back then I knew how as a child to improvise and do ingredient substituting. My mother had every confidence in me and allowed me to have full expression. Reading and understanding recipes was a natural for me.

I have been doing catering on a part-time basis. I have won at least three trophies and first prize monies in candy contests. I have been a judge at cooking contests. I live for attending food fairs and any event where food is served, so that I have every opportunity to observe. I have had hopes to become a personal chef one day. Whenever you talk about an event, I always think about the food side of it, which people initially overlook. My question is: will there be food? (not that I love my belly, but that’s just automatic.)

I am the family chef. I have been preparing special Christmas foods over the years when people place orders to have specialty foods prepared. I have catered for large events and special occasions. I love to give food gifts — bread baskets, candy, you name it – food-wise. I am presently compiling my recipes for launching at least three cookbooks. I enjoy researching food and food products. I welcome an opportunity to travel to international food fairs. (Maybe in the future you will offer this as a prize?) I like exploring food packaging materials. I think I am an ‘all-rounder’ – no weak areas in the cooking (believe it or not). I seem to particularly like salads (and of course desserts).”

International Recipe Winner

Claire works for Triple Delight Services in Trinidad & Tobago. Claire you are the international recipe contest winner for this week! Thank you Claire. It is definitely fun, fast and healthy. Pumpkin is one of the super foods and it is always good to include a super food into dessert. You can make pumpkin juice with a juicer.

Spicy Peanut-Pumpkin Pudding

(Serves 4)

1 cup evaporated milk
¼ cup light brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
¼ tsp. salt
1 c. pure pumpkin juice
1/3 c. cornstarch
1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter

1.    In a 1 qt. saucepan, combine milk, sugar, vanilla and salt.
2.    Bring to a boil.
3.    Combine pumpkin juice, cornstarch.
4.    Reduce heat to low temperature and with a wooden spoon, pour in the last mixture, stirring constantly, until it thickens.
5.    Turn off heat and stir in the peanut butter.
6.    Allow mixture to cool somewhat, and pour into a dessert mold.
7.    Cover with plastic wrap and chill until set.
8.    Invert the mold onto the center of a plate, loosening the sides slightly with the little finger.
9.    Decorate with fruits, and whipped cream.

Enter The Worldwide Recipe Contest

We are looking for recipes from around the world. Do you have a favorite recipe that you would like to submit to our ongoing recipe contest? The criteria for a recipe is that it has to be fun, fast and healthy. Claire’s fits that bill all the way around. Send in your recipe with a brief description of yourself and a picture if you have one. Deb@debbixler.com

Related Links
Recipe Carnival
International Contest Winner

Hidden Sugars Are Killing Us!

Did you know?
•Americans consumes about 41.5 pounds of high fructose corn syrup per year!*
•Sugar is more than 15% of an average adult’s calories. *
•Sugar is more than 20% of teen calories. *
•Americans consume about 20 teaspoons of sugar a day. * (usually in the form of hidden sugars)
•Chemically-created sugars are addictive.

High Sugar Diets Cause Health Problems

There are many health issues caused by excessive sugar intake are: increased risk of heart attack, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, kidney stones, increased blood pressure, and more.

We Are Addicted To Sugar

Totally eliminating sugar from your diet all at once can cause cravings and emotional withdrawal symptoms. Start by making small choices daily to watch for processed sugars in your convenience foods, you can gradually cut back on your families man-made sugar consumption. I am sure that your cupboards are full of sugary foods. Start to read your ingredients lists and avoid buying manufactured products with hidden sugars. Hidden sugars include: dextrose, maltose, rice syrup, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, fructose and more. Generally if it ends in a –ose, then it is sugar. You can take small steps to reduce hidden sugars in your whole families meal plan. Everyone will be healthier and you will have fewer sugar cravings.

Say NO! To Hidden Sugars

When you say NO! to high fructose corn syrup and other hidden sugars, then manufacturers will stop using them. Money talks–Buy products without hidden sugars so that manufacturers get the message.
* United States Dept. of Agriculture Statistics

A Diet Program That Works

Lose Weight With High Fiber Diet

Fiber has two types: soluble and insoluble. Both are important for different reasons. Soluble fiber dissolves during digestion and is absorbed into the body. Insoluble cannot be absorbed. Most fiber-containing foods have a combination of both. Both types of fibers have benefits.

Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber includes pectin, gums, etc. and are found most in legumes, oats, fresh and dried fruits, vegetables and more. Soluble fiber stabilizes insulin levels and helps control cholesterol. It also aids in the absorption of vitamins and minerals, as well as improves your immune system.

Insoluble Fiber

Insoluble fiber on the other hand, keeps things moving along, as grandma used to say, or in other words keeps you regular. Insoluble fiber is found most in seeds, vegetables, nuts, bran, some fruit skins, wheat germ and some whole grains. Insoluble fiber includes lignans, lignins,(flax seed is high in this compound) and cellulose.

Lose Weight With Fiber

There is no miracle for weight loss, as most people hope for. Although fiber probably comes as close as possible to being the answer to weight loss. Fiber keeps you full, controls blood sugars, and burns calories during digestion. Thousands of years ago, man ate about 100 grams of fiber per day. Most average Americans eat only 4-11 grams per day. It is no wonder that the laxative industry is so successful!! Other benefits of eating high-fiber grains, vegetables, fruits and nuts include anti-aging properties from antioxidants, anti-cancer properties, and a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals.

• Do you want to stabilize your blood sugars?
• Do you want to lose weight?
• Do you want to poop regularly?
• Do you want to increase your metabolism?

The answer is to eat more fiber. Fiber really can be the miracle cure-all that everyone is looking for! Eat real food, not processed food to feel better and maintain an ideal weight.

I like Jonny Bowden’s book. Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., C.N.S. talks a lot about the benefits of fiber in your diet to reduce cravings. His book The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth has a philosophy similar to mine. Anyone who is looking to study more about fiber would benefit from his wisdom.

If you prefer a program that is delivered to you gradually with accountability to a coach, then the WOW! Six Weeks To The New You healthy living program would be a good choice. This is a 6-week coaching class that guides you to reduce your weight by 1.5 pounds per week the natural way through a high fiber diet. Not only does it provide step-by-step gradual changes, you also get a personal coach guiding you through the process.