My breath stinks!!!!! And I love it.

FOOD TRUTH: If you love garlic as much as I do....make this!!!!...and thank me later. And oh yeah, you're welcome!

And if you're not a fan here are but 5 reasons you might wanna reconsider. Then grab a pack of mints and get on board!

1. Boosting Immunity to Fight Disease. Garlic is rich in vitamin C and potassium. It also aids in the digestive process.

2. Garlic Naturally Reduces Your Blood Pressure. Thanks to the unique way in which garlic is able to affect the smooth muscles of the arteries and therefore cause them to relax and dilate, garlic can directly lower your blood pressure naturally.

3. It Beats Antibiotics in Fighting Common Illnesses. Got a cold? Two words: GARLIC TEA!
Listen, don't ewww! Add a little lemon, ginger, honey and drink up!
You're welcome!

4. It Effectively Combats Cancer
Garlic enhances the production of what is known as hydrogen sulfide. This increased production is effective in preventing the development of cancer — particularly prostate, breast, and colon cancer. Garlic smothered lamb chops anyone?!!

5. It Can Detoxify Your Body.
Containing multiple sulfur-containing compounds, garlic is able to stimulate liver enzymes responsible for removing toxins from the body. Get you some!

So here is a recipe of all recipes that'll defiantly kick up any salad, sauce, stew or..... just your breath!
But it's so good that you won't even mind the foul odor of your own breath.... with your mouth closed!

Devine Garlic Dressing

- 2 cups Nutritional Yeast Flakes
(You can find this product @ Whole Foods Market in the white "pay by weight" bins. They're also sold in tubs in some markets. And of course, there's also Amazon dot com.)
- 1 1/2 cup Water
Brags Liquid Amino (to taste)
- Healthy hand full if Garlic
- Vegetable,Grapeseed, Olive or Canola Oil.

In a blender, combine nutritional yeast flakes, water, garlic and a little liquid amino. Blend, taste, add more liquid amino, blend taste. Repeat until you're satisfied.
Now continue to blend.
As you're blending, it'll sound something like a small construction site and a cyclone will appear at the center of the mixture. Don't be alarmed!
Add a slow stream of oil as you continue to blend.
Gradually, the cyclone will begin to close. When it does completely, you're done! Easy!

The beauty if this dressing/sauce (besides its healing properties - duh!) is that it can be used in many ways!
- use as a dip for fresh vegetables
- a base for sauces
- added flavor to a pot of stew
- a base marinade for fish, chicken, beef and tofu.
- blend in reconstituted sun dried tomatoes and strain ( or leave it chunky), for a different flavor.
- you can also add chili peppers and fresh basil. Delicious!
- thin and add puréed blueberries or balsamic vinegar for an awesome salad dressing.
- INSERT YOUR OWN CREATIVITY HERE!

Oh, and don't forget....

- EAT WELL

THROW BACK THURSDAY

Growing up in South Florida was a treat. We ran free, protected from the worlds perceptions by year-round summers. We were clueless, that by national standards, well....we weren't that well off. Not quite poor.... But the latest pair of guess jeans or LA Gears were not an option. Back then school shopping happened at J Byron's or Zayre's!

And though we didn't quite qualify for food stamps, our house was not immune to the standard block of government cheese that melted perfectly into sandwiches or generously into Mom's mac and cheese. And something about that generic brand, black and white labeled peanut butter jar tasted oddly familiar. Kinda like...fresh peanuts! We'd picked and roasted our share, to be sure!

Our corn didn't come from Libby. But oft times we'd run through fields of the stuff, chomping on its starchy goodness with Dad. And though Grandmother worked our little fingers sore, "shelling peas", its natural goodness was a welcomed (stolen) reward.

By America's standards, we weren't rich. Grandmas preserves wasn't labeled by a national brand. Canned peaches were,....well....canned peaches that were canned in the kitchen. Even pecans weren't as simple as buying a bag from the local market! There was a nutcracker, a bag for trash and countless hours of back and forth family banter while cracking and snacking.

There were trips to the peach, apple and blueberry orchards. And every breed of mango was readily at our disposal. Sometimes we'd climb and stay up in a neighbors tree half the day. Coming down only to clean off the sticky sweetness beelining to the bends of our elbows.

There were banana plants, avocado trees, cumquat, tamarind, grapefruit, tangerine, orange, sea grape and even ackee trees.

And though Vicks or TheraFlu weren't always available, there was an abundance of aloe plant around the yard. Later, we were introduced to "searcy", another medicinal plant imported from Jamaica.

No. We weren't rich by America's standards. But we had a rich life!

Do something rich for yourself today!! Don't by it. Build it!

- create a garden. If you don't know how, consult with local experts. I just discovered an awesome organization right here in my backyard. www.lagreengrounds.org

- there's something sensationally gratifying about making my own juice. I know exactly what's in it. Back then we had that orange hand contraption and an orange tree. Today there are fancier versions of juicers. Find an inexpensive one from amazon...and seriously....no really! ...it can change your life!!

- Jams and preserves are fairly easy to make. You can pretty much create a sugary spread out of anything. And the better part is that you get to control the sugar content. Or even substitute it with honey or stevia. I recently made spicy pepper jelly. Mint, orange, mango, rhubarb, lemon.... Be creative.

- nothing says rich like a lifted pinky while sipping a cup of tea. Try drying your own leaves to create a personalized blend. I've done it with rose petals! Divine.
You can use other dried flower petals, fruit peel or raspberry leaves. Of course mint is always a favorite.

There are plenty we can do to get back to living "rich" by our own definition! Have any other awesome ideas...please share!

- EAT WELL

SPRING-SICLES

FOOD TRUTH: Ever have a
store-house in your neighborhood that sold "freeze cups" or "Lilly dillies"? (I know! It goes by another name, where you're from).
In Ft. Lauderdale we called the "freeze cups". And my dear mother, instead of paying for them from a neighbor, would make them for us. In fact, it was the only time we had an unnatural juice in our home (or than an occasional vat of sunny d - yuck).
True story: Once, without consent, my sister polished off an entire batch of Freeze Cups. I guess it wasn't enough sugar/juice, since they were made in the tiny mouthwash rinse cups!
Well, not long after her binge, my mother discovered the melee. We were summonsed to answer "who dunnit"?!!! The rest of us genuinely shrugged, clueless as to what happened. But my dear sister. Puppy dog eyes. Sincere sadness on her face. And with sticky lips and a KoolAid red pouty mouth!....denied any wrong doings! ...to the very last swat of the belt on her behind! Lesson learned. Brush before lying.

Well, we're grown now. So we can have all the freeze pops we want. In fact, make them for friends. While you're flipping and basting things on the grill this spring, the crew can enjoy your frozen delights. But go grown & sexy!

A few tips:
- Please. No KoolAid. And no styrofoam or mouthwash rinse cups. I found a simple Popsicle mold at a Dollar Tree. For a cooler one, check out amazon, target or Walmart.

- For healthier versions of a nostalgic fav, try apple, carrot, acai juice or add pomegranate seeds to its juice before freezing.

- "Simply" has a refreshing and delicious line of juices. From raspberry/mango to lemonade. Add lemon zest, raspberries or mango chunks before freezing.

- Crushed cucumber is delightful in lemonade. It's the perfect treat for an in-house spa day with the girls.

- I once shared a recipe for a "Grand Mimosa"! Put it in a pop and add a little orange zest for flare. Mojitos make great frozen treats too.
-jellied ginger candies, sour patch kids or edible flowers are a great surprise too.

- juice up some watermelon and add julienned mint. Perhaps a little rum or vodka #wink.

- green tea w/ honey or ginger is nice and light. Or even your moms sweet Georgia/church tea will freeze into a spring treat.


Recipes:

Chipotle Raspberry Cocktail

Raspberries
Chipotle spice
Mescal
Sugar
Lemon juice

Blend all ingredients except mescal. Stir in mescal. Pour into molds. Freeze and enjoy.

Blueberry Mojito Pop

Blueberries
Lime or Lemonade
Sugar
Lime juice from 1/2 - 1 lime
White Rum

Blend all ingredients except rum. Stir in alcohol. Pour into molds. Freeze. Enjoy!

- Relax Dine Indulge