Orange Fennel

I made this also when my friend came yesterday. Have to use those oranges.

I bunch fennel, washed, most of tops cut off, (tops went into my broth bag, and then into the freezer)
1-Cut fennel into large bite size pieces. Put into sprayed glass pan.
2-Crush a couple of teaspoons of Anise seeds over the top of fennel ( will give you more of a licorice taste)
3-Cut a large orange into large pieces ( with peel on) and mix with fennel.
4-I took a small orange and squeezed some of the juice over above.
5-Sprinkle with EVOO.
6-Bake at 425 for about 50 min.

This is quick and easy. Also tastes really good.

Orange Sherbet in Orange cups

Oranges, oranges and more oranges. I just joined a food co-op. I picked up the produce on Saturday, and their where two bags of oranges in my box.

Would you know,I just bought a bag of oranges just a couple of days before!!!

What am I going to do with all those oranges?????

I had my friend, in for lunch on Monday, then another friend, on Tuesday.

You know me, I am always experimenting. This is what I did for my Monday friend.

Directions:

1. I washed, dried, and then froze 4 large whole oranges in my freezer for about 3 1/2-4 hours. ( I would not freeze the oranges any longer than that.)
2. Remove oranges from the freezer.
3. I cut the ends off the orange, ( don't cut in too far, only want to get the very end of the orange) so that they would sit nice on a plate.
4. Then I cut the oranges in half.
5. I scooped the frozen pulp out of the oranges with a spoon, and put in the food processor.
6. I added about 1/3 cup of Vanilla Soy Milk, about a cup of frozen banana's, sliced, a couple of large scoops of frozen Orange Concentrate (undiluted) about 1/3 cup of water.
7. I processes this mixture in the food processor, until it was the consistency I wanted. (like soft serve ice cream)
8. Add more water or bananas as needed.
9. I added more bananas, more concentrate and water, to the proper consistency
10. I then added about one teaspoon of orange zest and about 1 1/2 teaspoons of coconut extract.
11. Continue to process in the food processor.
12. I put the "sherbet"back into the frozen orange shells, and sprinkled a little orange zest over the top.
13. Then I put the oranges, filled with "sherbet" back in the freezer while we ate our meal. Of course this was our dessert.

I did the same thing for my Tuesday friend, except I drizzled choc sauce over the orange and plate before serving.

Chocolate Sauce:

I put chocolate chips in a measuring cup ( about 1/2 cup) with about 1 1/2 teaspoons EVOO.

Put in microwave for about 2 minutes on medium heat. Stir mixture, drizzle over the orange and plate.

My Monday friend had a really good dessert, But my Tuesday friend's dessert was even better.

The picture above is not what I served. I took the left over chocolate sauce, and basically just poured it over the " sherbet" after my friend left. I put it in the freezer and dug it out for the picture. The actual serving was much more attractive.

I will make this many more times, especially with summer coming up. It is going in my perminent files.

Just a note, if frozen for a period of time, it will get really hard. Give time for it to thaw, before serving.

My Monday and Tuesday friends, are my forever friends-just in case you wondered.

It's fun being creative and see what you come up with!!!! yes, Go for it!!!!!

.

What a Trip!!!!

Dr. Kay Theyerl and yours truly just came back from 3ABN. We where on their world wide television program for an hour, Thursday evening, March 25th-"10".
Dr. Hanz Diehl and John (from the station) interviewed myself on how CHIP turned my health around. Of course Dr. Kay was their to add her expertise. How I thank her for all of her involvement in the program. The second half hour, Pat, a lady of 73 from Rockford shared how she won over a thousand Gold Medals, yes I said a thousand in Senior Olympics.
I hope to sign up for senior olympics in our area. I will have to live to be 300 years old to attain what Pat has accomplished The last half hour Dr's. Kay and Hanz Diehl where able to answer call in's from the public. Calls came in from the Netherlands and all over the country.
On Wed.we drove to Rockford Ill. and stayed over night in Jody and Frank's beautiful home. Leaving early on Thursday Jody drove us to West Frankfurt Ill. to be on the program. Prior to being on the program, Dr. Diehl treated us to a fabulous meal in a Chinese Restaurant. The food kept coming and coming. What a treat!!! Especially when you don't have to pay the bill.
We where then taken to some adorable cabins on the grounds of 3 ABN. Just down my alley, as they had a Victorian flair to them.
After the recording, (what a beautiful set they had, for recording, again a Victorian flair) we went back to our cabins for hopefully some much needed sleep.
After a early morning breakfast, we where on the road for the long trek back,
I am so thrilled, that we had the opportunity to do this, as I am praying many life's will be changed because of what we did.

Sweet- Sour Citrus Salad

I have been asked for more recipes on my blog. This one I got from Mary, my bike riding friend.
It is really good.

1 large pink grapefruit, peeled and sectioned-cut sections in half
1 large navel orange, peeled and sectioned-cut sections in half
1 small red onion-sliced into rings
1 Tablespoon honey or Agave Nectar
1 large red bell pepper, sliced julienne
1/3 cup of honey or Agave Nectar
1/4 cup Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar, with mother in it
2 teaspoons poppy seed
2 teaspoons grated onion
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt-optional
1 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
4 cups mixed salad greens

Directions:
1-Sprinkle grapefruit and orange sections with 1 Tablespoon of sweetener.
2-Add red pepper and red onion.
3-In blender, combine sweetener, lemon juice, salt, mustard, grated onion and lemon zest until blended.
4-Pour over fruit.
5-Add salad greens-toss to coat.

Serve immediately
You can prepare the salad ahead- add greens just before serving

**To section orange and grapefruit:
Cut ends off of the fruit, cut around the outside of fruit, to remove peel.
Pull off membranes, cut sections in half.

Fox River State Trail

My friend Mary and I rode this trail last August "09".
Last week Thursday March 18-"10" we rode the trail again.
We parked in Greenleaf by the large gray, Grain Silos and rode to downtown Green Bay, round trip it was about 33 miles.

Last year we traveled around WI riding many different bike trails. We have come to the conclusion that this is probably the best trail around.

Starting in Greenleaf, the bike trail consist of a crushed lime stone trail that will take you through several miles of beautiful farm land. As you continue down the trail you will come upon black top which for the most part runs all the way to Green Bay.
As we continued our journey towards DePere, between the trees we could see many deep ravines on either side of us. I was so hoping that we would see deer feeding along the winding brook.
As we proceeded through a business district, we where tempted to stop at restaurants that where beckoning us to come in and eat. The aroma from the restaurants was tantalizing. We continued along our journey as we had packed our favorite picnic lunches. Me, with my healthy food, and Mary with her ground bologna, and ground pickle sandwiches, which she absolutely loves. Her sandwiches didn't tempt me at all.

The trail is a delight too ride as it is so nice and wide. Four bicycles would be able to travel four abreast.
What a treat to see off to the right, on a cement wall, life size paintings depicting our history of travel, starting in the Victorian years to modern day travel. How I enjoyed this, as I am a lover of the Victorian era. So much to learn from this period in history.
As we came closer to Green Bay we where greeted with weather that was approaching 65 degrees. The Green Bay area is breath taking. With the Fox River to the left, we could enjoy the ducks out on the water, and many, many fishermen trying to get their catch for the day. To the right where large mansions, up on the hills. What a sight to see! We where able to enjoy so many more of the homes this time, as the trees where not cloaked with their garments of greenery.
As we traveled closer to Green Bay, we where once again traveling through business district. We found ourselves on a beautiful, winding red brick path that veered around many business areas.

As we continued along the trail we where able to enjoy many large metal sculptures along the way. Our journey, continuing down the bike trail, brought us to a tunnel which upon arriving on the opposite side, we found ourselves in down town Green Bay.
WOW!!! We did it!! Now we just have to ride back!!!

This bike trail is enjoyable not only for the interesting and beautiful scenery, but also the availability of bathrooms along the path, benches to sit on if needed, even a Gazebo to have a picnic lunch. Oh yes, and as you approach DePere, their will be a gas station off to the right, (almost on the trail) in case you forgot your water, or have to attend to more important matters.
It turned out to be again one of the most enjoyable bike trails that we have taken in the last two years.
I sooooo look forward to biking the trail again in April, and many more times this year. Next time we travel this trail we hope to start at Forest Juntion and travel to Green Bay.
If you love bike riding you should consider giving this trail top priority. If you do I am sure you will agree with me, that it is on the top of the list of bike trails to visit.