Skinny Bitch: Chicken Salad

I am flipping through a copy of "Skinny Bitch in the Kitch" by Rory Freedman and Kim Banouin. Skinny Bitch is a New York Times best selling no-nonsense, tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating crap and start looking fabulous.

I am liking the recipes in the book, talk about kosher soul! Long story short, the recipes in the book are vegetarian/vegan so by default it is kosher. There is a little something for everyone, very creative recipes. Here is a yummy chicken salad recipe from the book. Nosh on..~Shoshi

Chicken Salad

• 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon coarse nutritional yeast
• 1/2 tablespoon agave nectar
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 2 cups chopped or shredded vegan chicken strips or chunks (thawed, if frozen)
• 1/4 cup halved (quartered if large) seedless red grapes (optional)
• 1 celery stalk, finely diced
• 1/4 small red or white onion, finely diced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
• 6 to 8 slices vegan whole-wheat bread


In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, lemon juice, yeast, agave nectar, salt, curry powder and pepper. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, grapes (if using), celery, onion, and parsley. Add the mayonnaise mixture to the chicken mixture, tossing gently.

Spread the chicken salad on 3 or 4 slices of bread, top with remaining 3 or 4 slices, and serve.

Eating Organic..things that make you go hmmm!

Are you supporting your local farmer's markets and buying organic food? If not here are ten food reasons why you should. From The Green Guide.


1. Potatoes.
Mashed potatoes are delicious and worth the calories, unless they're laden with pesticides or have been genetically-modified.
When genetically modified, potatoes impair the immune system and shrink the brain, liver and heart.So, mash a clean, real, organic potato and forgo the new-fangled monstrosity.

2. Strawberries. Enjoy them while they are in season from local organic farms or buy frozen organic strawberries from your local whole market.

3. Rice. Domestic rice is splattered with mega-doses of pesticides, and now, the chemicals companies are producing "pharm" rice used to produce and store pharmaceuticals. Buy organic rice where you can find it and store it in an airtight container. It stores very well.

4. Green and Red Bell Peppers. Super sources of Vitamin C, but wrought with pesticides. Buy organic, or, better yet, grow your own. Seeds of Change has a plethora of organic seeds, and pepper plants prove to be a hardy bunch!

5. Got Milk? We hope not, at least, not from conventionally raised cows. Today's commercial brands are loaded with antibiotics and growth hormones. Make sure your milk and other dairy is from organically-fed cows without the extra rBST, rBGH and antibiotics.

6. Corn. Corn is typically not a scale tipper when it comes to pesticide residues. But, take into account that 75- 90% of all domestic corn has been genetically-modified, that the average American eats 11 pounds of it, that most cooking oils include corn oil, and that most everything is sweetened with corn syrup, and suddenly, buying organic corn and corn products, makes more than a little sense. Eat local organic corn in season and freeze some for later, or, leave some kernels to dry, and plant them in the spring.

7. Bananas. This tropical favorite has a short window of ripeness and a very long distance to market (quick, how many local banana farms does your town have?). All of which adds up to a lot of heavy chemical dousing along the way.

8. Green Beans. Over 60 different pesticides are used on green beans. Even beans used in baby food have been found to be contaminated.

9. Peaches. Nothing beats a peach. Until you realize that they often have the highest rates of illegally-applied pesticides. Isn't that just peachy . . .

10. Apples. A decade after the dangers of Alar were exposed, apples are still soaked in pesticides. Put only organic apples in your pie.

Nosh on,
~Shoshi

Strawberry and Cilantro Butter

The summer is flying by, I say this because my nephew started school today. Already!

Before the summer is completely gone, do something fun with summer fruits and veggies. You don't have to just use them for salads, you can turn them into delicious flavored butters to put on all your kosher soul food.


Here are two of my favorite..strawberry and cilantro.

Nosh on,
~Shoshi

Strawberry Butter:

1 lb. (4 sticks) sweet butter, softened
3/4 c. finely chopped fresh strawberries
3-5 tbsp. powdered sugar


Combine all ingredients in blender or food processor with steel knife. Whip until light. Mixture makes approximately 2 1/2 cups of strawberry butter.


Cilantro butter:

1/4 pound softened sweet butter
1/4 cup fresh cut cilantro

Whip cilantro and butter together until smooth and creamy, there it is quick and easy!

Cucumber, Tomato, Red Onion, and Feta Salad

Yesterday I was at the Farmer's Market in Harlem and I made a kick ass salad. It was so delicious, it could be that all of the veggies were fresh, fresh, fresh..

The ingredients in the salad were:

Cucumbers
Tomato
Red Onion
Feta Cheese
Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil

Trust me this is fabulous, make the salad to taste. Since it's summer all of the veggies are in season which makes this even more delicious!

Drop me a text @729669 at my Say Now account. Leave me your comments, recipes, etc.. My food column "Raw Adventures" is back this month in Brown Eyez Magazine, stay tuned for more info..

Nosh on,
Shoshi
www.lusciouslifestylediva.com

Kentucky Derby Pie

Oh, my good friend and her hubby are coming to NYC for a month. We were going to have a shindig for his b-day, but it turns out their roof won't be ready. I still think I want to make him something special and I know just the thing...

Derby Pie! He is from Kentucky and what could have more soul in it than a Kentucky Derby Pie, packed with fudgy chocolate and nuts. I think I will make a fresh whipped cream to go with it(store bought is fine). Now that is kosher soul at it's finest. D~Lish!

The recipe is below...nosh on..nosh on!

~Shoshi
Luscious Lifestyle Diva

Kentucky Derby Pie

Ingredients:
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Light corn syrup
4 Eggs
1/2 cup butter -- melted
1 cup Chopped pecans
1 cup Chocolate chips
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 tablespoons Bourbon (adds a kick, but optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F.

Combine sugar, corn syrup and eggs in mixing bowl. Beat at low speed until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredients and pour into a 9" unbaked pie shell. Bake 45-50 minutes or until set.

Shoshi's Peach Sundae

Hey kosher foodies,

Did you eat alot over the 4th of July weekend or what. I know I did. Between the barbque and cookies, I think I gained more than a few pounds. It's time to scale it back a bit. Below is a quick and easy recipe with peaches, ricotta, and pecans that I like to call a Peach Sundae..nice, low cal, easy to make, and simply yummers.

So, if you are in the NYC area, I will be at the Grassroots Farmer's Market, on 145th & Eddgecombe, next Saturday (12th)from 11:00am to 1:00pm doing a cooking demo with organic veggies and fruit. If you are in the area stop by and say "Shalom".

Nosh on,
Shoshi

Peach Sundae

1/2 cup of skim ricotta
1/4 cup of pecans, chopped
1/4 peaches, sliced
1 tablespoons raw honey (optional)

Grab a small bowl, put in peaches, top with ricotta, then pecans, drizzle on the honey. Get to noshin'

Cilantro Lime Rice

I just got my Everyday Food issue for April and there are some great recipes! To keep the Mexican food theme going, I’ll be sharing a recipe for cilantro lime rice. I know not everyone is a fan of cilantro (referred as coriander)…..you either love it or hate it. I happen to love cilantro all the way from the smell to the, OH so yummy taste!

By the way I was named a Maven for 2008 on ThisNext (the link is on the side of the blog).I am number one at the moment in kosher food. Holla! Make sure to check my list. If you have any suggestions for my list or things you want me to review drop me a line at shoshi@yolandashoshana.com


Nosh on,
Shoshi


Cilantro-Lime Rice

1 cup of long grain white rice
Kosher salt
½ cup of fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons of lime juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove


In a medium saucepan, bring 1 ½ cups water to a boil. Add rice and a ¼ teaspoon of salt; cover, and reduce to a simmer. Cook until water is absorbed and rice is tender, 16 to 18 minutes.

In a blender, combine cilantro, lime juice, oil, garlic, and 2 tablespoons water; blend until smooth. Stir into cooked rice and fluff with a fork. Now eat, drink, and be merry!

Kosher Soul Coming Your Way

I hope your new year has gotten off to a fabulous start!

So, mark your calenders, some funky fresh kosher soul food is coming your way.


September 29th- The Last Supper Arts Festival in Brooklyn @ Hope Lounge, 8:00pm
I will be one of the culinary artist for the event. My piece will be "Savory Harlem Schmear". Long story short, it will be a fabulous spread on sweet cornbread. It will be a salute to some of the cultures that have lived in Harlem (African Americans, Jews, and Latinos). Yum!

October 16th-The Casserole Party in Brooklyn @ Brooklyn Label, 8:00pm
The Kosher Soul Team ( aka as little 'ole me) will be making a casserole that will make you want to slap your mama ( as we say in the south)...

And till November 6, up at the Grassroots Farmer's Market in Harlem ( 145th @ Edgecombe) every other Saturday, doing some cooking demos from around 10:00-1:00pm..Come by and say hi

L'chaim,
Shoshi, the Luscious Queen of Kosher Soul Cuisine
www.yolandashoshana.com
www.myspace.com/yolandashoshana

Spring Food Lovin'

I went to a birthday barbecue in the BK (aka Brooklyn) over the weekend. Here I am sitting in the shade, doing my best to be glamorous.

I love the spring/summer time in NYC, it is time for outdoor eating and entertaining. Coming soon I will share some recipes (yes, think potato salad and beyond..) and fresh tips for entertaining. Yum!

This coming Wednesday I will be all ghetto, as in The Ghetto Gourmet(www.theghet.com). The Ghet is a wandering supperclub with fabulous food and community. The event is sold out, but dinners pop up all the time so check the site for info. Maybe one day we will meet while kickin' it ghetto style!?!?!

Kosher Soul T-shirts

Happy Cinco De Mayo! I am at home having margaritas and nachos which are totally hitting the spot.

I got inspired the other night and decided to set up The Kosher Soul Gourmet online store. You can get a funky fresh shirt or apron for yourself or to give as a gift. To check out the goods: www.cafepress.com/koshersoul

And I would also like to thank everyone for the fabulous feedback on my newsletter Kosher with Soul. I love hearing from all of you, keep your comments and thoughts coming.