Eggplant and Buffalo Casserole in a Slow Cooker

Inspired by Tasty Memories

This is the second time I've made this meal inspired by an African recipe that was feature on Tasty Memories (link above).

I changed it up a little, and I think this time I nailed it!

As always, the ingredients are best if fresh, local, and organic.

What you need:

• 1 lb Buffalo meat
• 1 medium or large eggplant
• 1 medium zucchini
• 1/2 sweet, yellow onion
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/2 golden raisins
• 6 oz tomato paste
• 3 oz water
• Spices (paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper) to taste
• Olive Oil

What you need to do:

• Rough chop your onion and add to a skillet with some olive oil on low-medium heat.  Sweat them out for a bit.
• When the onions have become translucent, add in your buffalo meat, and lightly brown it.
• Add in the spices and stir
• Add the tomato paste and water, stir, and allow it to reduce
• Slice your eggplant and zucchini into thin circles
• Toast the eggplant and zucchini in a skillet with olive oil on medium heat.  Simply allow the veggies to become golden on each side and then sit aside on a plate.
• Going back to the reduced sauce, add the raisins and walnuts and give it a quick mix.
• Time to layer the ingredients in the slow cooker.  Spread a layer of the sauce on the bottom of the slow cooker, then layer the eggplant rounds, and then the zucchini layer on top of that.  Repeat as needed.
• Keep the slow cooker on low to medium, and the meal will be ready to be eaten in 2 to 4 hours.

Fabulous.

I would love to know if you make this recipe!  Please leave a comment or photo below!  

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Coffee Dehydrates You...NOT!

I've been told time and time again that I must be in a constant state of dehydration because I drink coffee and tea (which are caffeinated).  Everyone from yoga students to family members have yelled "diuretic" in my direction more times than I can count!

So, is it true?  Is coffee and tea a diuretic, and is it dehydrating you at an alarming rate?

Short answer:  No.

Long answer:  Studies suggest that if you are a person that consumes caffeinated beverages on a regular basis, then drinking a cup of coffee or tea is the equivalent of drinking a cup of water. 

However if you do not normally consume caffeinated beverages, the coffee or tea would equate to 2/3 cup of water.

This doesn't mean that you can cut out all water from your diet and replace it with coffee!  The body needs its clean, clear water!

What it does mean is that the next time someone says that coffee is a diuretic that is making you dehydrated, you can be well informed and suggest they look at other studies indicating otherwise, because they are out there!

Happy Water Tallying!

*While this information is pretty well known, I collected this information via the Mayo Clinic and via studies by Dr. Grandjean.

Easiest Sweet Treat EVER

Love strawberries?
Love honey?
Love Greek yogurt?

PERFECT!

Get out a coffee mug.  Fill it half way with strawberries, and then cover it with Greek yogurt.  Top it with honey, and BOOM!  You are Finished!!!

Stuff Yo' Face!

2 Ingredient Protein Pancake!

I saw this recipe on Blogilates.com and never tried it.  But this morning as I was experiencing crazy cravings for pancakes, I remembered this recipe!  It is really easy, clean, and gluten-free.

What you will need:

•  2 eggs
• 1 banana

Really...

That's all you need, but if you have a sweet tooth, you might need honey or maple syrup.

Chop up the banana, and put it in a bowl.

Add the two eggs.

Mash and Mix!

Pour the mixture into a non-stick pan.

(This recipe made four pancakes for me!  A little goes a long way!)

TADAAAA!  Add maple syrup or honey for a touch of sweetness and enjoy!

This recipe contains roughly 250 calories and 13 grams of protein!  NOTHING BUT WINNING!

Click here to see photos of the entire cooking process!

Quick & Easy Almond Snack

Like almonds?  Want to dress them up a bit?  EXCELLENT!

photo from www.123rf.com

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

Whole Almonds
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
Salt (to taste)
Bay Leaves (2 to 3)
A Cookie or Baking Sheet
A Brown Paper Bag

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO DO:

Preheat your oven to 325
Spread your whole almonds onto a cookie sheet
Bake for 10 to 15 minutes

Once the almonds are toasted, immediately put them into a brown paper bag and add the olive oil, bay leaves, and salt, and shake!

Then, you can pour your fancy almonds into a dish and serve like a champ!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Garlic

Brussels Sprouts.  They are green.  They are delightful!  And, we all love them!

photo by lifeasiknowitv1.wordpress.com

Okay.  That last part may not be completely true.  But I think the Brussels sprout hasn't been given its fair chance at being the center piece of a meal.

The Brussels sprout is a good source of vitamin-C and vitamin-K, and it is often ignored at the dinner table despite its cute, baby cabbage look!

 In an effort to bring the Brussels sprout to your table, I'm sharing with you my Roasted Brussels Sprout with Garlic recipe.

What you will need:

• 1.5 to 2 pounds of Brussels sprouts
• 4 tablespoons of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
• 1 to 4 tablespoons of roasted garlic (depending on how much you LOVE garlic)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

What you will need to do:

• Preheat the over to 425.
• Wash your sprouts and slice them into halves lengthwise.  Dump your sprouts into a bowl and add the olive oil and roasted garlic, and toss covering your Brussels in all of that oily, garlicy goodness!
• Spray your cookie sheet with a non-stick spray (I like to use olive oil spray or non-stick aluminum foil) and spread your sprouts evening with the round side down.
• Cook for 20 to 30 minutes.
• When they are tender and golden on top, salt and pepper to taste, and enjoy! 

If you try this recipe, take a photo and post it on Twitter with #MyFoodMyFriend!  And join the conversation with other foodies for recipe swaps, Monthly Missions, and more by clicking Join The Conversation above!

Questions and Comments are welcome!

Happy Cooking!
 

What's in Barbara's Juicer #3-BUNNY BLISS

photo from transitionnorwich.blogspot.com

We're talking about carrot juice!

You can dress up your carrot juice a little  by adding an apple or cucumber to the blend, but I prefer to have my carrot juice straight up!

Straight carrot juice is almost milky in texture and has a surprisingly rich taste. 

Perfect liquid breakfast!

Serve it over ice if you feel fancy!

How do you like your carrot juice?  Leave a comment below to share your carrot juice recipes!