Ginger Syrup and Homemade Ginger Ale

While replying to a HCG Forum post, Ginger Ale was brought up....and along came this!  Ginger is so good for you- known for indigestion, upset tummy, morning sickness, encouraging gallbladder function and decreasing inflammation. 

Perfect for the holiday (and flu) seasons coming- Great for ginger ale, dressings, marinades, stir fries, etc..!

Homemade Ginger Syrup
6 inches of ginger

2 tsp stevia, powdered or liquid

2 cups water

Slice the ginger.  In a medium heavy saucepan, combine the stevia and the water over medium heat, stirring until dissolved. Add the ginger pieces.

Simmer over medium heat for 1 hour if you’ve sliced your ginger very thin, and at least twice that if you’ve cut your ginger larger. (Check on them occasionally to make sure they aren’t drying out and that the water isn’t evaporating too quickly.)

When the ginger is done (it will be soft), remove with slotted spoon or drain through a mesh strainer. Let the ginger syrup cool, then refrigerate. If you want a thicker ginger syrup, continue to cook over medium-low heat until it reaches the consistency you want.  Makes about 1 1/2 cups ginger syrup.  Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. 

To make homemade ginger ale:  add 2-4 tablespoons of ginger syrup to a large pint glass. Top with seltzer or sparkling water.  Add a lemon slice and sip happily.

Tea Tuesday!

It's Tea Tuesday!  Calming, refreshing...pure, sigh with me here- "ahhhhh..."  I highly suggest sipping this while doing your Detox Bath.  Chamomile calms, cucumber flavors and refreshes.  Don't forget to cut 2 slices for your eyes ladies!

Chamomile Cucumber Iced Tea

6 Chamomile Tea Bags
2 cucumbers-peeled, seeded and sliced into long spears
sweeten with stevia to taste

In large heat proof bowl or pan steep 9 C boiling water with 6 tea bags for 4-5 minutes. Discard bags. Sweeten with stevia while still warm.  Let cool.  In pitcher place cucumber spears. Pour cooled tea into pitcher. Let sit a few hours up to let the cucumber flavor infuse.  Serve over ice.

Faux-tisserie Chicken

Everyone loves a great rotisserie chicken.  Flavorful and moist right?  This recipe turns out wonderful in the oven.  Full of fancy flavors despite such easy prep and cooking. Easy to the max!  Shreds very nice for leftover salads and stays really moist with great flavor thanks to my best ever Seasoned Salt recipe.  I hope you all had a chance to make it!  If not, you can use any seasoning salt but make sure it is sugar and starch free.  I have been using this seasoning salt for awhile even before HCG, it is a copy recipe and is wonderful!

Faux-tisserie Chicken
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 C water
few TB of Seasoned Salt
black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Sprinkle bottom of glass baking dish with seasoning salt, lay chicken on top.  Sprinkle with more seasoning salt and black pepper.  Pour water around chicken (not on top) on bottom of the pan.  Bake uncovered for 1 hour.  Remove chicken from oven and measure out 3 ounces for your meals. 
Note:  Add asparagus last 15 minutes in between the chicken breast to get nice roasted flavor too.  Shred and serve over lettuce. 
Phase 3:  Add butter on top of each chicken and use any cut/ skin.
Bonus!  My kids love this chicken and that is why I always make 2 pounds at a time....but any amount will work.


Hoping this Friday finds you with a great weekend ahead!

Broiled Grapefruit

No cute pics, just an easy recipe to have for dessert tonight. Simple and wonderful.  Have a great day all!

Broiled Grapfruit
1/2 Grapefruit
1/2 tsp powdered stevia or 1/4 liquid stevia
2 pinches Ginger Or Cinnamon, Or To Taste

Wash the grapefruit and cut it in half. Use a small paring knife to cut around the outside of the grapefruit. Top each half with stevia, using the back of the spoon to rub it into the fruit. Sprinkle with ginger or cinnamon. Broil for 3 minutes, or until grapefruit is warm and caramelized in places. Serve warm and share the other half or save for lunch tomorrow.

Seasoned Salt

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  I wanted to post a recipe that has been a part of my kitchen for awhile now, it is actually a copy-cat recipe of another popular Seasoned Salt.  It is "Tastefully" and "Simple" to make.  Yes- it is a mock Tastefully Simple Seasoned Salt recipe!  Everyone loves a good copy to  something great.  This is just that.  I actually like this one better than the one I used to buy at $8.99 a bottle.  For Phase 2 and 3 of this HCG diet we need to be careful of many spices too.  Many have added sugar, MSG and cheap starchy fillers.  Especially spice blends and mixed spices with salt. 
*If you are salt sensitive, leave out the salt for your own version of a great all-purpose mock up of Mrs. Dash.  Hint hint, you may need a seasoned salt for future recipes!

Best Ever Homemade Seasoned Salt
10 TB Medium to Coarse Ground Sea Salt (Celtic Sea Salt is the best!)
4 TB Parsley flakes
5 tsp Hungarian Sweet paprika
1 tsp dried Thyme
1 tsp dried Marjoram
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Curry Powder
1 ts. dry Mustard
1 tsp Onion Powder
1 tsp Celery Seed
1 tsp dried Oregano
1/4 tsp Dill (weed or seed is fine)Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined or put all ingredients into a blender/ food processor & blend until all combined.  Place seasoned salt in a jar, Parmesan cheese shaker or Tupperware type container and use often!

Tea Tuesday

It is Tuesday and I am drinking yet another cup of tea.  I have become very much 'into' my tea drinking during Phase 2.  There are so many variations and flavors.  I wanted to share this with you during the fall time.  Not so much a recipe but some of my favorite combinations.  I have a couple cups a day and definitely savor the good flavors of each one. 

Hot Apple Cider
1 bag of Orange Yerba Mate
1 bag of Celestial Seasoning Apple Cinnamon Spice

Sweeten with 5-10 drops Vanilla Creme flavored or plain stevia.
Optional- Add in your daily allowance of 1 TB of milk.

Chocolate Raspberry
1 bag Chocolate Yerba Mate
1 bag Raspberry Hibiscus herb

Sweeten with 5-10 drops Chocolate flavored or plain stevia.
Optional- Add in your daily allowance of 1 TB of milk.

Island Tea
1 bag Stash Coconut Peach tea
1 bag Strawberry herb tea

Sweeten with plain stevia and squirt of lemon.

French Cherry
1 bag Bigelow French Vanilla tea
1 bag Celestial Seasonings Very Cherry Berry tea

Sweeten with Vanilla Creme or plain stevia.
Optional- Add in your daily allowance of 1 TB of milk.

Directions for all:  Boil your water in a tea kettle. Pour over the 2 tea bags and steep for 5-8 minutes. 


That is it for today.  Just a few ideas to help you enjoy some of my favorites today!