MFP CHOPPED!

Chocolate Balsamic Roasted Beets:

1 Pound red Beets
3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
½ Cup Balsamic Vinegar
¼ Cup Sugar
¼ Cup cocoa powder
½ Teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ Teaspoon Salt

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Trim and peel the 1 pound of red beets, reserving the beet greens. Then cut the beets into wedges.
3. Rinse the greens, remove the large stems and set aside to dry.
3. Place the beets in a small baking dish, cover with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, mixing them so that all slices are coated.
4. Cover the dish with tinfoil and bake the beets for about 45 minutes, or until a knife can easily pierce the largest piece.
5. In a small sauce pan, combine 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup of both sugar and cocoa, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Warm it over a medium heat until the mixture combines and thickens.
6. In a small saute pan, add the chopped beet greens along with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook it over a medium-low heat just so that the greens wilt.
7. The beets should be done by the time you have finished the chocolate-balsamic glaze and cooked the greens. Remove them from the oven, letting cool slightly. Then toss them with the glaze.
8. Serve the chocolate & balsamic roasted beets over the beet greens.

Stolen from: http://cookingstoned.tv/recipe/chocolate-balsamic-roasted-beets/

You didn't say it had to be healthy sooooo.......Peel and half a vidalia onion, crosswise. Cut the ends off just enough so that they sit level when set on the cut ends. Scoop out about an inch and a half from the middle, about a half inch or so deep. Place a tablespoon of butter and a beef boullion cube in the hole. Wrap in foil and bake or grill until the onion is tender, about 30 minutes. Tastes like french onion soup!

Why would you not consider this onion to be healthy ? I eat a diet based on natural whole foods and consider both onions as well as butter to be natural and healthy. I would probably leave out the beef cube, because of the salt and add some summer savory or fresh marjoram.
Great and simple recipe btw.....!

It's a french toast smoothie using avocados... It doesn't taste like them at all, I promise! I don't even like avocados.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1277510-french-toast-smoothie

Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
Throw away.
Order pizza.
Bask in your victory.

Probably not what you were thinking of, but I keep buying strawberries to see if I can make my own gelatin from strawberry juice, but I keep eating the strawberries before I can try it.

I know it will work, just a matter of deciding whether or not it is worth it depending on how much juice my juicer makes from the strawberries, and how much sugar I'd have to add to make it sweet enough. But the recipe to make your own gelatin desserts from juice is right on the package of Knox unflavored gelatin.

If you do want east low cal French onion soup, make up a big batch of caramelized onions and season them with fresh thyme and a little sherry. Freeze 1/2 cup servings in baggies. For instant French onion soup, put a frozen block in a cup and then cover with canned beef broth and microwave. I used to bring a few baggies to work and keep them in the freezer, and if keep a can of broth in my desk.

Probably not what you were thinking of, but I keep buying strawberries to see if I can make my own gelatin from strawberry juice, but I keep eating the strawberries before I can try it.

I know it will work, just a matter of deciding whether or not it is worth it depending on how much juice my juicer makes from the strawberries, and how much sugar I'd have to add to make it sweet enough. But the recipe to make your own gelatin desserts from juice is right on the package of Knox unflavored gelatin.

Ball makes no sugar needed pectin. It is really easy to use. I made blueberry jelly (refrigerator jelly) by boiling some frozen blueberries with a little water, adding a spoon of the pectin, boiling it for a minute, and then pouring it into a jar. It was really good.

Arugula wilted with balsamic- this is stupid easy
Take about 3/4 pound fresh arugula
Put in hot pan with a mist of olive oil on the pan
Stir until wilted and lightly chard in spots
Toss with a small amount balsamic ( I use 1/2 capful)
Serve with a poached soft egg on top if desired
Sometimes I add a touch of sriacha, too

If you do want east low cal French onion soup, make up a big batch of caramelized onions and season them with fresh thyme and a little sherry. Freeze 1/2 cup servings in baggies. For instant French onion soup, put a frozen block in a cup and then cover with canned beef broth and microwave. I used to bring a few baggies to work and keep them in the freezer, and if keep a can of broth in my desk.

Dang, I'm going to be making this. Sounds totally addictive. You could even add a teaspoon of butter and a little Parmesan or Gruyere!

Your best recipe (s) using spring produce!

Apricot
Artichoke
Arugula
Asparagus
Avocado
Beet
Carrot
Fennel
Leek
Peas
Radish
Rhubarb
Strawberries
Turnips
Vidalia Onions
Watercress


........GOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Your post made me chuckle, because at least ten of the sixteen things listed are not spring produce....at least in this hemisphere.....might be different in Australia.
I find it amazing how speedy transport and shipping as well as green house cultures have us believe that summer and fall produce are actually spring vegetables.

They are all spring or late winter in AZ. Can we add chard?
Summertime produce-tomatoes, basil, garlic, squash ( or spring), cowpeas, Lima beans, corn and okra. Summer is pretty tough to grow much in AZ. Fall, winter and spring are quite productive.