This is a quick treat for these hot summer days:

1/4 medium chilled watermelon
1 peeled and segmented lemon
4 cubes of ice
1 tsp. cherry baking extract* (see notes below)

Remove seeds from watermelon and chop into chunks. Crush ice and lemon together, may need to add a bit of water. Add the chunks of watermelon a bit at a time as well as the cherry extract and blend till the consistency of a smoothie. Garnish with lime wedge or mint sprig if desired.

*Variations: If you prefer, you could substitute vanilla or orange extract in place of the cherry. I’ve never tried it like that, so if you decide to experiment, please let me know how it tastes.

IMPORTANT: NEVER use imitation vanilla. It may taste fine, but one of its main ingredients is Propylene Glycol, aka car antifreeze! While it may not be as toxic as other forms of antifreeze, why would you put this in your body? Also, Propylene Glycol is irresistible to pets, but it also kills them. So put pure vanilla in your food, and throw out the imitation vanilla garbage.

I have to admit that I haven’t tried this and I am posting it because it sounds interesting. I’ve heard that raw sauerkraut is very good for you because it’s an excellent source of lactobacilli, vitamin C and other nutrients. Make sure to read the label and avoid any that contains nitrites, nitrates or amines. (I just checked the sauerkraut selection at Safeway.com, and it appears that the canned versions are free of preservatives, and the refrigerated type contain chemicals like Sodium Benzoate and Sodium Bisulfite.)

4 cups sauerkraut - rinsed and drained
1 cup seedless raisins, any variety (use organic if possible)
2 cups applesauce
1/2 tsp caraway seeds
1/2 tblsn butter (optional. May also use olive oil instead)

Mix all ingredients and put them in a greased large (3 1/2 quart) slow cooker. Put on lid, and cook on High for 2 to 3 hours, or low for 6 to 8 hours. Serves 4 to 6 people.

Some people, reading my last few posts, may think I’m a vegetarian, or that I’m trying to convince people to eat less meat. The truth is, I love many forms of meat and don’t plan on giving it up anytime soon. Having said that   here’s a great alternative to using ground beef for hamburgers:

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons vegetable broth OR low sodium V-8 juice
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
4 large portobello mushrooms

Combine the liquid with all the ingredients EXCEPT the mushrooms in a large resealable plastic bag.

Remove stems from mushrooms, wash and pat them dry with a paper towel.

Place mushrooms, in a single layer, in the marinade. Press out excess air and seal bag. Marinate at room temperature for at least one hour, turning every 15 minutes.

Adjust your broiler’s cooking rack 4 inches from heat source and preheat broiler. Spray broiler pan with vegetable cooking spray.

Place mushrooms on broiler pan. Broil, turning often until tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. Watch carefully, especially the first time you cook them. They’re easy to make, but don’t trust your timer, its better to gauge the results on your eyes, not on the clock. Some people like to serve these whole on a bun, while others prefer to slice them thinly. This recipe makes 4 servings about 80 calories a serving and less than 200 mg of sodium per serving.

Note: You may want to sprinkle them with a just a bit of parmesan cheese while they’re broiling, but if you do so, you may also want to lessen the amount of salt you use.

If you’re thinking of taking the plunge and trying meat substitutes, Amazon is having a big sale on canned Loma Linda and Worthington products. You can save 35% when you buy any eligible Loma Linda or Worthington canned foods  if you use the promo code LOMAI234. Earlier today, I ordered the canned fat free Diced Chik, although it seems to be sold out now. The starting price for 12/12 oz cans was $40, and with the promo code, my final bill was $26, which works out to about $2.17 a can. (In comparison, I just checked at Safeway.com and Valley Fresh Chicken Chunk White - 10 Oz is $3.50, on sale at their site.) It seems to me, that value-wise, the Loma Linda/Worthington brand holds its own against any other prepared entree, whether its real meat or a substitute.

I’ve never tasted the “chicken” variety, but I have eaten the Loma Linda Redi-Burger, and would do so again gladly. It contains 87% less fat than beef burgers and its made with grain protein and rice flour. It doesn’t quite taste like ground beef, although the consistency is similar. I think it tastes best when it’s crumbled up, fried and added to something like stuffed bell peppers, or maybe sprinkled with cumin and used in tacos. It may be an acquired taste to eat it plain, but I think it tastes great when its used like ground beef and added to dishes like pasta, soups or even enchiladas.

Hmmm… going back and looking again… those Worthington Veja-Links look interesting to me. One of the reviews says “They only have 50 calories each, and 3 grams of fat, only 0.5 grams of that is saturated. They have 0 cholesterol and 0 trans fats.They only have 180 mg of sodium.” A case of 12 is 45.45, but with the discount, the price becomes 29.58 or about 2.50 for a can of nitrate free vegetarian hot dogs.

One of the best things about ordering from Amazon is that the shipping is free after spending $25 or more, so that means the delivery guy uses up his gas, and not me. The only downside I can think of is that it is a gamble to buy 12 of them at a time. I mean, if no one likes them, then I’m stuck with 11 cans of food that can’t be used. Then again, if they don’t taste good to us, I guess I could donate them to the local food pantry or something similar.

(Oh, here’s an idea: If you want to try this brand, but are hesitant about getting stuck with a case, look for their brand on the organic food aisle at your local grocery store. I’ve heard that Wal-mart sometimes has it in stock, as well as Krogers/Fry’s, so grab yourself one can to see if you want to order 12 at a time.)

For me, considering how much I liked the Redi-Burger, I am willing to take a risk to find out how the Veja-Links taste. Look for an update and a review as soon as the UPS guy shows up.

Kroger and Nebraska Beef have announced a recall of beef products. The recall was announced after federal investigators revealed that Nebraska Beef products were linked to an E. coli outbreak in Michigan and Ohio. Kroger sold some of the Nebraska Beef products in their stores and has posted important recall information. Kroger’s recall is quite extensive and it involves items in more than 20 states.Make sure to visit their site, read the information carefully, so you can find out which of their products are involved.
The stores that are part of Kroger’s chain include Baker’s, Cala Foods, Bell Markets, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry’s Food and Drug of Arizona, Fry’s Marketplace, Gerbes, Hilander, JayC Food Stores, King Soopers, Kwik Shop, Loaf ‘N Jug, Owen’s Market, Quik Stop, Pay Less Food Markets of Indiana, Quality Food Centers aka QFC, Ralphs, Scott’s Food of Indiana, Smith’s Food and Drug, and Turkey Hill of Pennsylvania.

Nebraska Beef Ltd has expanded the recall to include all 5.3 million pounds of meat it produced for ground beef between May 16 and June 26, and federal regulators have blasted the company for being responsible for the outbreak.