Author: Carma Spence

Carma Spence has been experimenting in the kitchen since she was four years old and loves trying out new recipe ideas. She is the author of Bonkers for Bundt Cakes and Your Perfect Pie, as well as author and contributor to several more non-food-related books. With Carma's Cookery, she is taking her passion for empowering people and blending it with her passion for cooking, gift-giving and entertaining.

Recipes

Healthy Chipotle Chicken Potato Skins

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date January 4, 2017

Photo provided by The Hungry Fan

By Daina Falk

Potato skins are a sportsfood staple. But I’ve got to say—and forgive me for sounding whiny—I’ve been served terrible ones so many times. Why are they so hard to make well? I think part of the problem is that, more often than not, people overcook the potatoes. And then once the potatoes get cold—yuck. Of course, I like this recipe for ’tater skins—it’s my own. But I’ve also opted to use sweet potatoes because I think they’re a bit juicier, they’ve got more flavor, and I find them less starchy. They’re also so much more nutritious than regular potatoes. Add my chipotle chicken mixture on top and you’ll hit your protein quota and enjoy every bite—you’ll need a fork and knife for these!

Ingredients:

3 medium-sized organic sweet potatoes
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 small breasts)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more for seasoning
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced chipotles in adobo
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 cups spinach, wilted (see Tip)
5 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, grated
Plain Greek yogurt (see Tip)
Chipotle hot sauce, optional
Cilantro sprigs, roughly chopped

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Wash the sweet potatoes, and prick them all over with a fork. Brush the skins with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Place in a Pyrex dish or on a baking sheet, and bake them for 50 to 60 minutes or until fork-tender.
Place the chicken in a baking dish, rub with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, and season with a small dash of salt and pepper. Place the chicken in the oven alongside the potatoes, and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, until cooked through. Set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, combine the remaining 1⁄4 cup olive oil, lime juice, garlic, chipotle pepper, oregano, cumin, chili powder, and 1⁄2 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred it with a fork or your fingers. Then combine it with the spinach, and keep warm.
Cut the sweet potatoes in half lengthwise, and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes more.
Increase the oven temperature to 400°F.
Using a spoon, scrape out the insides of the potatoes, leaving only the skin and a 1⁄4-inch layer of potato flesh. (Be careful not to tear the skins.) Return the skins to the baking dish, and brush the insides with the chipotle and herb mixture. Bake for 5 to 10 minutes or until crisp.
Meanwhile, add the remaining chipotle and herb mix to the spinach and chicken, tossing to combine.
Once the skins are done, stuff them with the chicken mixture, top with grated cheese, and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until the cheese has melted and the skins are hot and crisp. Serve topped with Greek yogurt, the hot sauce, if desired, and chopped cilantro.

Friendly Fangating Tip

Feel free to wilt your spinach in the microwave by putting it in a bowl with 1 teaspoon water and zapping it for 20-second intervals. I like to substitute Greek yogurt for sour cream. They taste almost exactly the same, but Greek yogurt is much healthier and lower in fat and calories.

About the Contributor

“Fangating™” expert and celebrity cook Daina Falk, founder of the Hungry Fan®, is author of The Hungry Fan’s® Game Day Cookbook, which includes 165 Fangating™ recipes—including 40 that she collected from Olympians and professional athletes like LeBron James, Boomer Esiason, Michael Jordan and Andre Agassi! Daina merges sports, food and entertaining (including tailgating and homegating) to celebrate and curate game day revelry like none other. Reach her online at www.HungryFan.com.

Tags appetizer, potato

Healthy Living

Reasons Why You Should Be Eating Seafood

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date January 3, 2017

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Seafood is delicious. Well, most of us would agree on that, but, even if you don’t, perhaps you’ve not tried everything there is to try yet. I know from personal experience, that seafood can be daunting, delicious and not your cup of tea all at the same time. But to entice you to broaden your pallet and experiment with seafood, I’ll share this little fact: The majority of seafood comes with huge benefits in terms of health and happiness.

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When it comes to the perfect diet, there is no straightforward answer. In fact, there is no such thing as the perfect diet. What works for one person won’t work for another, and factors such as the amount of exercise, bodily reactions to certain foods, the speed of your metabolism and even genetics all contribute to your overall health. Certain categories of food, however, are almost universally renowned for their health benefits: Seafood is one of these categories.

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Put simply, fish is good for you.

It’s hard to know what on earth we’re supposed to be eating half of the time, but a diet high in different types of fish could make that ever-elusive question easier for you to answer. Fish is one of the healthiest foods on the planet; primarily because it’s pumped full of numerous nutrients that the human body needs to stay fit and healthy. Protein and Vitamin D are key to a healthy, energetic body and fish is packed full of these nutrients.

It’s no secret that the majority of us struggle to get all the nutrients we need on a daily basis. Hectic lifestyles and conflicting information from the media, schools, friends and family mean that we often end up avoiding certain kinds of “complicated meals” because we don’t have time to prepare them, or we have no idea if there’s some hidden negative to even the healthiest of foods.

You almost can’t go wrong with fish. The fattiest ones are the best for you, surprisingly. They’re packed full of fat-based nutrients that you actually need, so don’t let other sources deter you from eating what is actually a very nutritious food. Most people are deficient in Vitamin D, so perhaps it’s time that you weren’t.

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Crab meat offers intriguing health benefits, by virtue of it being low in fat. This makes it one of the healthiest seafood available, and you can get crabs shipped directly to your door if you’ve no idea where to go about finding them (well, unless you like to fish).

A Note for Vegetarians and Vegans: I feel it’s worth mentioning that food such as tofu contains plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, offering very similar health benefits of fish. Of course, it depends on what kind of vegetarian you are. If you’re a pescatarian, then stick with fish, as it does work wonders for your health.

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By eating seafood, you could be avoiding health complications in later life.

As well as offering you all the nutrients you need on a daily basis, consuming seafood such as fish can help you to avoid health issues such as heart attacks and strokes. These diseases and sudden attacks are the cause of preventable deaths each and every year. Something as simple as a small diet change could save thousands of lives. So, if you want a healthy heart, fish might be the route for you.

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Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

This Healthy Eating Worksheet will walk you through the process of creating a healthy eating plan. All you need to do is print it out, set aside some time to complete it, and then fill it out. Then you can create your plan, knowing that you have addressed potential obstacles and came up with some creative ways to handle them.

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Tags fish, seafood

Healthy Living

Juicing Is A Healthy Way Forward: Just Make Sure You Drink The Right Juices

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date December 30, 2016

It may not look delicious, but try eating this much broccoli in one go.

There is nothing more important in life than your health. Everything else, all of the things you hold most dear — they’re important, of course, but cannot be enjoyed and held in the same regard if you’re not healthy. And so, when we know there are things we can do to boost our health, we’re all ears. Am I right?

Don’t get too excited, this is not all you need for a healthy diet.
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The problem is this: Headlines have a way of sticking in our minds when the full details of the main story do not (if we even read them). So, for example, we know that eating fresh salad is good for us. We then make sure there is plenty of fresh salad layered on the greasy burger we have for dinner. Nuts, of course, are packed with essential nutrients. So that candy bar we had last coffee break was healthy, right?

Okay, so those may be bad examples. But there are plenty of headlines that are imcomplete that people take into their minds and start working into their diets. Of course, we are aware that unhealthy food can’t be made healthy by cramming in something ostensibly good for you. But we still get hooked, pretty much every time there is a new health craze.

What Do You Mean, “Craze”?

Well, perhaps that exact word is a little unfair. Allow me to elaborate. When a new diet hits the headlines, the magazine and newspaper editors can be a little bit … selective in how they report it. So the news that bacon contains some beneficial nutrients becomes “BACON CURES CANCER.” Which is weird, because you could be sure you read a story a while back about how it causes cancer.

However, the crazes still hit, and people change their eating habits to improve their health. Often they do this without reading any deeper. So we read that juicing is good for us. We know that fruits and veggies are healthy. We buy a juicer and lots of fresh fruit and veggies – next stop, good health!

Are You Going To Tell Me Juices and Juicing Are Bad?

No, far from it. Sites like juicercruiser.com should certainly be in your browser history. Juicing is, very definitely, beneficial. But that sentence in itself is an oversimplification. You can’t just buy any fruit and vegetable, throw it in the juicer, and drink your way to good health. Getting the right foods in the right balance is essential.

We all know what we like, and what we don’t. So it’s easy to be tempted to buy strawberries, bananas and peaches and think we’ll be much healthier for drinking their juice. In balance, we can be.

It may not look delicious, but try eating this much broccoli in one go.
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However, fruit contains sugar. Most foods do, but fruit usually contains a lot. Too much sugar is awful for your health. So pick one fruit – two, maximum, and juice them with cucumber, kale, and other green veggies. The whole advantage to juicing is that it allows you to consume a wide profile of nutrients quickly. Would you rather drink the juice of three carrots, or eat them raw?

None of this is to knock the health benefits of juicing. Nor is it to say people are gullible for believing it will help. It will, as long as you pick the right recipes. Veggies for nutrients, fruits for flavor. Getting your recommended allowance of fruits and veggies has never been easier – but it’s not going to happen by itself.

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Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

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Tags diets, juices, juicing

Healthy Living Taste Tests

Taste Test: Aloha Greens and Protein

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date December 27, 2016

Aloha offers a variety of plant-based proteins, greens and more.

I’ve always enjoyed having a healthy protein-based smoothie for breakfast. And since being hit by a car in February, my need for easy-to-eat foods that are healthy and nourishing has only increased. Along comes ALOHA, founded in January of 2014 by Constantin Bisanz. Along with his team, Bisanz creates real food products made from simple, pure, sustainably-sourced ingredients, offering accessible solutions for everyone to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

According to the information provided me, his inspiration for founding ALOHA came from studying Ayuryedic medicine in India — a holistic approach to health and wellness centered on the balance of mind, body and spirit — combined with his belief that nutrition is the foundation to overall wellness.

I’ve heard of ALOHA before, but have never tried their products. So, when I was offered a sampling of their products in exchange for an honest review, I jumped at the chance. I was supplied with four of their offerings: Protein powder in chocolate and vanilla, and Daily Greens in original and chocolate. Below I’ve provided my tasting notes and recommendations.

Taste Test Key:

Very Bad – 1 | Bad – 2 | Neutral – 3 | Good – 4 | Very Good – 5

Aloha Daily Greens, Original

I was given three packets of ALOHA Daily Good Greens Food Powder, Original Flavor, to try. I tried mixing it in just water, one of my Slimfast Advanced Strawberry shakes and mixed with ALOHA’s chocolate protein and unsweetened almond milk. In all three taste tests, the greens were not overpowering. They tasted like greens, but not in an unpleasant way.

Overall taste score: 3

Aloha Daily Greens, Chocolate

I was given two packets of ALOHA Daily Good Greens Whole Food Powder, Chocolate to try. As with the original flavor, I first tried it with water only. It tasted like chocolate-flavored water. No greens taste, per se. Then I tried it mixed with ALOHA’s chocolate protein and unsweetened almond milk. The two together gave it a deep chocolate flavor.

Overall taste score: 4

Aloha Plant-Based Protein – Vanilla

I was given two packets of Aloha Organic Plant Based Protein Vanilla to try. I tried the first with just water and the second with unsweetened almondmilk. Both had a light vanilla flavor, reminiscent of lecithin I had as a child. They both had a slightly grainy or powdery texture, as well.

Overall taste score: 4

Aloha Plant-Based Protein – Chocolate

I was given four packets of Aloha Organic Plant Based Protein Chocolate to try. I mixed the first with water only, the second with Slimfast Advanced Chocolate, the third with unsweetened almond mils and the chocolate daily greens, and the fourth with unsweetened almond milk and original daily greens.

When mixed with just water, it tasted like chocolate water and did not satisfy my huger for more than two hours. It pumped up the chocolate factor of the Slimfast shake. When mixed with the chocolate daily greens and almond milk, it made a great dark chocolate shake. And when mixed with original greens and almond milk, it was drinkable.

Each mixture rated anywhere from a 3 to a 5, with an overall score of 4.

Overall Comments on Aloha Products

When mixed with water, all the products were drinkable. None of them tasted bad. When mixed with a flavored shake, the proteins did not detract from the flavor. When mixed with one cup almond milk, the resulting shake was too thick, so you’ll need to mix it with at least 1.5 cups.

I really liked the proteins. They were versatile and highly usable. The greens were OK. I liked the chocolate more than the original, but I still like the greens I’ve been getting from another source better.

In my opinion, if you’re looking for a great-tasting, plant based protein, Aloha is the best I’ve tasted. They are just as tasty as the whey and soy-based proteins I’ve used before.

Who are Aloha products suitable for?

People looking for a tasty, plant-based protein to supplement their diet. If you are trying to avoid soy, Aloha is an excellent option for it is made from hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds and peas. They are non-DMO, vegan and free of soy, dairy and gluten. The products contain nothing artificial.

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Take Charge of Your Health!

Changing your eating habits can be tough. But it doesn’t have to be if you take a little time to think it out and create a plan.

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Tags Aloha, plant-based protein, powdered greens

Cookbook Reviews

Cookbook Review: Decadent Shakes

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date December 14, 2016

My husband and I love to go to old-fashioned 1950s diners and indulge in a decadent shake. Rich chocolate, occasionally with peanut butter or Oreos thrown in, have delighted our taste buds many a warm, lazy afternoon.

But we had no idea that these simple indulgences could be even more decadent than our wildest dreams! Just reading the table of contents for Decadent Shakes: Milkshakes with More left me drooling and ready to try out one or two — diet be damned! As the back cover promises, “These treat-laden milkshakes, dripping in excess chocolate and sweets, evoke a sense of delicious indulgence.”

NOTE: I received a free copy of this book for review, however I am under no obligation to write about it positively or otherwise.

Summary of Decadent Shakes

Who knew making milkshakes could be an art form? Apparently, Matthew, Sara and Brendan Aouad do! Their book Decadent Shakes takes the old dessert-as-beverage standby and gives it some pizzazz and flair. (And probably a bit of sugar shock thrown in!) This beautifully photographed book provides more than 35 recipes for over-the-top, not-your-malt-shop shakes. It also includes decoration (aka presentation) tips and a glossary.

What Worked for Me

The photography is mouthwatering. The presentation of each shake is creative and artful. This is a beautifully put together book with very readable instructions and easy-to-use design. The recipes are clearly divided between what goes into the shake and what is used for the presentation, so you can just make the shake and consume, if that is your preference.

What Didn’t Work for Me

I have a bias for cookbooks with easy to use bindings, which is why I prefer them to be either spiral or binder bound. This is a typical hardback book, so you may have a challenge keeping the pages open without breaking the binding, especially with recipes near the front and back of the book.

Recommendation

This book can make an excellent gift for those “arm-chair chefs” on your list. You know the type … they actually read cookbooks, but rarely use them. Also, people who love milkshakes or creative food presentation will enjoy this feast for the eyes. And, of course, anyone who wants to expand their milkshake-making expertise, can’t go wrong here.

Rating for Decadent Shakes

Specs

Format: Hardcover, 7.2 x 0.6 x 9.4 inches, 120 pages
Publisher: New Holland Publishers (September 19, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1742578691
ISBN-13: 978-1742578699

Pick up your copy on Amazon.com here.

Tags Desserts, milkshakes, shakes

Cooking Techniques Tools of the Trade

The Truth Behind A Smarter, Stress-Free Kitchen

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date November 18, 2016

Picture sourced by GaborfromHungary

A kitchen is more than the source of a hundred lovely meals. It’s more than a place for you to experiment with all the (fantastic) recipes you’ll find here. It’s a hub of family activity and a tool for everyday use. So it demands a certain level of care. A smarter kitchen owner is a cook that has to worry a lot less. Let’s get deeper into it.

Picture sourced by GaborfromHungary

An inspiration board

When you start truly enjoying food, you start coming up with ideas of your own — that’s what kitchen creativity is all about. You’ll make a recipe and think “it might need a little more of this.” Having a chalkboard (or white board) in the kitchen can be a great way to jot down your little hints of inspiration. On a more utilitarian note, it can also be a great place to make notes of groceries you need to pick up the next time you head out to the store.

Take care of your equipment

If you put a lot of thought into your choice of kitchenware, you’re probably spending quite a bit on them. (Or maybe like me, you got them as wedding gifts!) Yet wear and tear can have an effect on just about anything. To keep your food at its best, make sure your equipment is at the same level. Make sure you’re cleaning and repairing non-stick cookware with baking soda and water, then vegetable oil. Ensure you know what’s supposed to go in the dishwasher and what demands a bit more attention. Use knife sharpeners from places like Cut It Fine to make sure your utensils are in proper order.

Smarter storage

How many times have you threatened to pull your hair out over looking for one thing or another in the kitchen? If you’re truly wild about cooking, you will quickly realize that your storage isn’t enough. A few cupboards full of stuff isn’t the smartest way to store your food and equipment. Instead, think about making a few DIY storage changes to the kitchen. The spice rack is only the beginning of it. For instance, consider fitting a magnet onto the wall for your most commonly used tools like knives. Or a sliding rack for pots and pans rather than stacking them all atop one another. (Keep an eye out for full articles about better storage ideas. I’m moving soon and will be coming up with some fun ideas for my new home … and will share them with you!)

Avoiding the nightmare cleanup

A clean kitchen is something even a novice cook knows to cherish. After you’ve spent all that time cooking and enjoying a meal, you really don’t want to have to tidy everything up after. Get someone else in the house to do the dishes, but make sure any mess made while cooking is taken care of. The best way to do that is to tidy as you go. As soon as you’re finished with one ingredient, quickly wipe away the mess. When you’re done with a chopping board, rinse it. Deal with the mess you make in short, easy-to-handle bursts. That way you’re not cleaning up a whole kitchen after the work you’ve already done.

Your kitchen sees a lot of use. It takes a lot of time. But if you’re willing to put the work in and make a few changes, you can cut down a lot of that time. You’ll spend less cleaning, less organizing and more on actually making some gorgeous food.

Tags efficiency, equipment, kitchen care, storage

Taste Tests

Taste Test: Dark Chocolate Napolitains by Bouchard Chocolate

Post author By Carma Spence
Post date October 18, 2016

Dark Belgian Chocolate Bouchard Chocolate Overview

Summary

Dark chocolate Napolitains by Bouchard Chocolate are made from 72% cacao. They are not too bitter, not too sweet and, when intact, smooth. These bite sized chocolates carry a rich, dark chocolate taste that bitter sweet chocolate lovers will thoroughly enjoy.

Caveat: I received a sampling of these chocolates in exchange for an honest review. Unfortunately, the samples I received were a mixed bag of variably damaged chocolates. Some were so heat damaged they were powdery. Others were melted and a few were close to pristine. Regardless of the state in which the chocolate found itself, it tasted good. Which, I believe, is the sign of a quality chocolate.

Price: Variable, depending on size package. Available at Cost Plus World Market and other purveyors of fine chocolates.

Learn more at www.BouchardChocolate.com.

Who Are Bouchard Chocolate Dark Chocolate Napolitains Suitable For?

If you love dark, barely sweet chocolate, these are your chocolates. Because they come in individually wrapped, bite-sized packages they make great snacks and, perhaps, gifts. I could totally see these laid on a pillow or on a silver platter as a welcome gift for a guest!

Overall Thoughts

Despite the heat damage of the chocolates I received, they tasted really good. I love dark chocolate — the darker the better — so these really satisfied. I could taste the quality not only in the flavor of the chocolate, but also in the texture. They were smooth — not grainy as some lesser quality chocolates can be — and had a rich, complex flavor, even when damaged.

Video Review

Tags Bouchard chocolate, chocoloate review, dark chocolate