Peanut Butter Banana Pancakes

Here is a really healthy and tasty recipe that I make for my girls!  They are great for breakfast and keep well for a high protein snack throughout the day!

These pancakes are gluten and refined sugar free and they taste delicious.

Only 3 ingredients...Ready?

1)  3 large pastured eggs

2)  2 tablespoons of organic peanut butter

3)  1 large ripe banana

Mix all ingredients with a mixer and ladle onto your favorite griddle!

I usually add a tablespoon of chia seeds in the mix and I have been known to top with a homemade cacoa pudding (healthy as well)!  Will post on the chocolate topping soon.

Cheesy Smokey Chicken Stuffed Peppers

Roasted chicken basted with grass fed butter and seasoned with herbs and salt is one of my favorite dishes, however my husband is not a big fan of chicken :(.

So when I make a roasted chicken, I have to make a really great tasting dish with the leftovers that incorporates some of his very favorite things.

Today I made my version of stuffed bell peppers.  It is a cheesy smokey version that includes a whole red pepper, black rice, onions and portabella mushrooms.  The smokiness comes from adding the final seasoning of Smoked Serrano sea salt on top of the melted cheesy goodness.  

1) Dice 1 small onion and 10-12 button portabella mushrooms, saute all ingredients in raw grass fed butter or coconut oil.  Once translucent, add the diced chicken and chopped broad leaf parsley.

2) Cut a large pepper (Green, Yellow, Red or Orange) and layer the bottom with some cooked rice (your choice, we chose black rice).

3) Finish filling up the pepper with your chicken and vegetable mixture.  

4) Place in a deep dish pan and add 1/4 cup of water to the bottom.  Drizzle your peppers with a bit of extra virgin olive oil and cover and bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes.

5) Pull out and cover with fresh, natural grated cheese (we choose extra sharp cheddar).  Place under the broiler to melt.

6) Plate your dish and add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, few sprigs of fresh parsley and season well with Smoked Serrano Sea Salt.

Husband was happy...and is changing is mind on the whole chicken thing!

Coconut Mussel Soup Elevated with Ghost Pepper Sea Salt!

We love everything from the sea!

Fresh local seafood is a beautiful whole ingredient that should be harvested from open waters versus farming operations.  Farming operations tend to over crowd increasing waste.  Increased waste causes disease and hence the need to use antibiotics.  Also, a lot of farming operations use grains or corn to feed which is not their natural source of food.

I came across a bag of fresh mussels and had to make a savory broth to bathe them in!

I started by heating small diced onions and garlic in a large pan of grass fed butter.  Once they turned translucent I add the the mussels and a cup of white wine.  I steamed them for about 8 minutes.

To the sauce I added a 1/2 cup of heavy cream and 1 cup of coconut milk.

I added chopped fresh basil, sumac and to add some spice to this coconut goodness I add a decent amount of Ghost Pepper Sea Salt!!!  Perfection...

Introducing Ghost Pepper Sea Salt!

One of our newest blends at Old City Salt's and one of my personal favorites is the Ghost Pepper sea salt.  

This sea salt blend is made with one of the hottest peppers in the world, the Naga Bhut Jolokia or more commonly known as : Ghost Pepper, Ghost Chili Pepper, Red Naga Chili or Ghost Chili.

This sea salt blend is for those wanting a spice that will heighten the foods flavor with an added kick of heat.  Made from pure, unrefined sea salt and the Naga Jolokia pepper, this salt has a spicy hot flavor that is without compare. 

The heat in this sea salt blend will linger slowly, but not painfully throughout your meal.  It pairs very well with chicken, ribs, chili, salsa, fajitas and more! 

Check out our blog for some really simple elevated dishes using Ghost Pepper sea salt!

Order a sample for $3.50 at www.oldcitysalts.com or click on our blog's banner image to be taken to our store!

Key Lime Pudding!

This is healthy, raw and packed with nutrition!

I felt like having something light, creamy, slightly sweet and tangy...so I made my version of key lime pie pudding.

Mix all of the following into a blender, nurtibullet or vitamix:

1)  Two ripe avocados
2)  1/3 cup of fresh lime juice
3)  Two tablespoons of coconut oil
4)  Two tablespoons of raw organic honey (or desired)
5)  1/2 cup of kefir (or plain yogurt)

Blend and place in your favorite dish!  I added a sprinkle of chia seeds and a side of goji berries for an added super antioxidant charge!

It was delicious and my children devoured it!

Fresh Endive Apple Dressed Salad

Have you tried endive?  It's delicate, fresh and all wrapped up in a nice little leafy package!

They are compact and you will need to pull apart the leaves and either keep them whole or dice (we like the whole presentation).

Use 2-3 endives.  Wash the leaves and toss in a bowl, add one organic diced organic apple (we used gala).  For additional fresh herb flavor chop up a bunch of large broad leaf parsley and add to the mix.

The dressing is a homemade honey Dijon vinaigrette.

Mix up the following:

1) 1/2 cup of all natural Dijon mustard.
2) 2 tablespoons of raw organic honey.
3) 2 tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar.

Mix up the dressing and toss all ingredients in the bowl to coat all ingredients.  Put on your favorite plate and add a slice of bread or two!  We added Vanilla Bean Sea Salt as seasoning...it compliments the honey Dijon very well.

Simply Elevated Poached Egg and Local Vegetable

Poached eggs are one of my favorites!  They are so easy to make, they taste divine and clean up is a cinch!

To make heat up a pan full of water and add a tablespoon or two of vinegar to the water, this will help the egg seize up when it hits the water and stay more compact.

Gently heat on medium until the egg yolk appears the desired consistency.  I like mine to be a little bit runny.

The sauce on this dish was made by taking 1/2 cup of cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a couple of dashes of hot sauce all combined into a blender.  Add water to thin to your desired consistency.

I was lucky enough to have fresh broccoli just picked from my friends garden.  What a perfect side!

To finish I added Smoked Serrano sea salt because I don't cook with any type of salt and want to save that for last!

Tomato, Basil, Mozzarella Bites!

Easy recipe...

Most important thing with this appetizer is to obtain the freshest, local ingredients possible.

We obtained fresh local tomatoes which actually make this dish without any other ingredients....

Then add the freshest handmade mozzarella cheese, fresh grown basil and a splash of aged balsamic glaze.

The element that pushes it over the edge is the Aged Balsamic sea salt that adds that crunch and flavor elevation that only natural sea salt can do!

Simply Elevated Deviled Egg and Thai Ginger Sea Salt!

Looking for an elegant appetizer that is easy to make, delicious and nutritious?

Try this stunning appetizer!

Start by boiling several pastured eggs about 5 minutes so that the yolk is still a little runny.  Take them out and cool before slicing in uniform pieces.

Arrange on a platter and top them with a piece of smoked salmon.  Put a dollop of creme fraiche (we added a little bit of hot sauce to ours) and finish with Thai Ginger sea salt!

Simply Elevated Butter!

Butter is a must at our house...but the butter must be organic and grass fed because we don't want to miss out on all of the CLA (conjugated Linoleic Acid) goodness!

Here is a simple way to elevate this butter to use as a spread on your favorite toasted bread, spread on your local fresh roasted vegetables or wherever else you see fit to add this delicious goodness.

Here we go....

1)  Soften the grass fed butter
2)  Add your favorite Old City Salts sea salt blend:  Sun Ripened Tomato, Spanish Rosemary, Ghost Pepper, Smoked Serrano or Thai Ginger
3)  Blend and apply to food!

Vegetable Egg Frittata Simply Elevated!

I love Sunday mornings and making this really delicious, gourmet looking meal that looks like I slaved in the kitchen, but is really quite quick and easy.

To start you need a one large saute pan.  Heat up with  coconut oil or grass fed butter.  Saute your favorite, local grown fresh vegetables.  I used peppers, onions, tomato and spinach.  

Once wilted throw in your beaten egg mixture (pastured eggs preferred).  Cook on low to medium heat to set the eggs.  When a little liquid egg is on the top throw a couple of chunks of your favorite cheese. We used soft brie.

Place your saute pan in the oven and broil to cook the top and melt the cheese.

Let cool, a minute or so before diving in!  I like to cut into triangles and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.  The family then chooses their salt of choice to finish this dish off right!  Hubby chooses Ghost Pepper sea salt, while me and the girls go for Sun Ripened Tomato sea salt!  All had a good meal!

p.s. No salt was used in the cooking of the meal.  We save that for the finishing, which cuts down on our overall salt intake and when we do consume it is an natural sea salt blend full of healthy minerals.

Kicked Up Coleslaw!

Love this healthy raw side!  

Pick up a nice organic head of either purple or green cabbage.  Pick one that is firm and leaves are in good shape.  The stem on the bottom should not be black or rotten.

Remove outer leaves and rinse.  Thinly slice cabbage in strands and toss in a large bowl.  

Make a really simple dressing with a cup of homemade kefir (or plain yogurt), two tablespoons of raw organic honey and two tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar - mix well!  Add dressing to the bowl of shredded cabbage and garnish with chopped cilantro and sliced jalapenos.

To 'Simply Elevate' this dish add a sprinkle of Thai Ginger sea salt for the final seasoning!

Bone in Beef Shank Stew and Aged Balsamic Sea Salt

Bone in Beef Shank stew!!! So nourishing, so rich and so tasty!

Purchase a large bone in beef shank (I used two).  Sear each side in a large pot or cast iron pan.  Once both sides are seared add to a large stock pot and cover with beef broth and a couple of splashes of red wine.  

I add in large chunks of pan seared carrots and onions.  Throw in a couple of sprigs of rosemary.  Cover and cook in the oven at 275 degrees for at least 3 hours.

All the components of the soup are melded together after 3 slow hours of lingering in the broth at that temperature.  Laddle out into a bowl and drizzle with a little bit of organic extra virgin olive oil and finish with Aged Balsamic sea salt to heighten all the flavors.

The Spanish Rosemary sea salt would work well with this too!

Walnuts Covered in Caramel Sauce and Thai Ginger Sea Salt!

Organic walnuts covered with a homemade caramel sauce and finished with Thai Ginger sea salt!

In a sauce pan combine 1/2 cup of raw organic honey and 3 tablespoons of unsalted organic butter.  Heat up  ingredients and stir constantly until the color and texture is achieved.

Pour in organic walnuts into the sauce and then on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper to cool.  Prior to cooling completely sprinkle with Thai Ginger sea salt or Espresso Brava for an additional bit of flavor!

Spanish Rosemary Sea Salt!

The word Rosemary is derived from the Latin words ros (dew) and marinus (sea). 

Rosemary is actually a bush perennial that grows in abundance in the Mediterranean area ( Spain, Italy, Portugal, Southern France, Greece and North Africa as well as in isolated areas of Turkey, Lebanon and Egypt). It is one of the most common aromatic wild plants of the Mediterranean landscape, especially in rocky limestone hillsides adjoining the seaside.

Our Spanish Rosemary is an all natural sea salt that packs a punch of flavor and brings you that fresh  from the 'Herb Garden' experience.  

Rosemary is one of the most commonly used herbs in Italy especially for roast lamb and kid. Italians have a passion for rosemary and you will see it in many of the true Italian recipes. If you go to an Italian butcher shop and order lamb they will include several sprigs of rosemary with the meat. Rosemary is discreetly used in French, Greek or Spanish cooking. 

A perfect pairing with roasted potatoes, it will make this simple dish extraordinary.  Be creative and add Spanish Rosemary sea salt to any dish to give it heightened flavor and that fresh from the garden flavor.   A little goes a long way...

Uses: Roasted vegetables, meats, salads, pasta, bread dipper (w/olive oil)

Ingredients: Sea salt, Rosemary

4 oz for $13.99 or 1 oz for $3.50  

http://www.oldcitysalts.com/product_p/SpanishRosemary.htm

Espresso Brava Natural Body Scrub

Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening!

The smell of this blend will awaken the senses and stimulate blood flow. Our coffee scrub is made with real ground coffee infused into high quality sea salt. Coffee has been a very popular ingredient in natural facial and body products because the caffeine in the coffee offers benefits for the body. Ground coffee with caffeine is a natural exfoliant and promotes the appearance of smoother looking skin. Caffeine can help to distribute the body's fat cells and reduce the formation of cellulite. Save money and purchase a bag of pre-blended high quality coffee and sea salt. Make your scrub unique by adding your own high quality base. This will give you flexability in changing your scrub for different effects.

 

SOME SUGGESTED USES:

 

1) Avocado - The nutrients in avocado are abundant: Vitamin A, C, E, iron, protein, potassium as well as its natural and organic emollients. Avocado is the perfect skin food which nourishes your skin inside and out. Avocado is especially appropriate and highly recommended for dried-out skin and eczema. With its rich substances easily penetrating into your skin uniformly and rapidly, you can feel your skin becomes smoother also immediately after each application. Scoop out one half of a ripe avocado and mix in one half cup* of espresso brava sea salt. Apply the natural coffee sea salt scrub to wet or damp skin. This is best done in the shower so that it can be rinsed off after it is applied.

 

2) Honey - There are many amazing properties of honey and they are truly amazing for the skin. Use 1/2 or 1 cup* of Espresso Brava Sea Salt Scrub depending on the amount of salt scrub you are looking to make. Add enough of your favorite natural, preferably raw and organic, honey until it is thoroughly combined with the Espresso Brava Sea Salt. Transfer the mixture to a lidded plastic container. Scoop generous amount of the scrub with your fingers while you are in a warm shower. Rub the mixture vigorously over your body using large circular motions. Rinse and pat your skin dry gently, do not rub.

 

*NOTE: This are suggested amounts... please feel free to adjust the amounts to your individual needs and likes. 

Spaghetti Squash Quick and Easy Side!

When my 6 year old tells me this is better than pasta...I have to call this Spaghetti Squash Supreme!

We have moved to a gluten free diet so having this be better than pasta was a really big thing!

Not only better tasting, but very healthy!

Split and roast a large spaghetti squash in a large pan with about 3/4 cups water.  Put spaghetti squash face down and cover.  Cook for about 30-40 minutes at 375 degrees.  

Pull out of oven and remove strands with a fork.  They should not be mushy, but keep the integrity of the strand.  Pile on your plate, drizzle with a good quality organic extra virgin olive oil and finish with Sun Ripened Tomato sea salt for the perfect crunch and burst of tomato flavor!

Salted Parmesan Crisps

Looking for a chip with only two ingredients?

You have found it!  These are simple, tasty and fast!

Use as a snack by itself, as a meal topper or as a base for your favorite spread!

Find a good quality aged Parmesan cheese (no fillers or fake stuff).  Shred a good portion and then dollop out about 2 tablespoons portions on cookie sheet covered in parchment paper.

Broil in oven...watch closely.  They are done when they start to turn light brown.  

Pull out, cool and sprinkle with your favorite gourmet blended sea salt!  We used Spanish Rosemary, Sun Ripened Tomato and Ghost Pepper!

Broiled Lobster Tail with Blood Orange and Vanilla Bean Sea Salt

This was a treat!  

This is so simple and so easy to make...plus it is a really fabulous treat you can make for yourself or a loved one.

Take a lobster tail or several and baste it with coconut oil.  Cook at 425 degrees for 10-15 minutes.  It will turn opaque.  Drizzle with drawn butter and squeeze a bit of blood orange onto the tails.  Plate and finish with a sprinkling of Vanilla Bean sea salt!

The vanilla bean pairs so well with the delicate seafood and blood orange butter!  Enjoy...

Chicken Glazed with Honey and Smoked Serrano Sea Salt

This chicken was so easy and so tasty!

First, we purchased antibiotic and free range chicken legs...if you can get from your local farmer even better!  

Arrange in a pan and bake covered for about 30 min. with coconut oil.  Once cooked, uncover and crisp up the skin.  

Remove chicken legs and smother in organic raw honey...put under broil to heat up the honey and then remove and sprinkle with Smoked Serrano Sea Salt or for the more daring Ghost Pepper Sea Salt!

We paired ours with roasted cauliflower.  Enjoy!

Pan Seared Scallops with Vanilla Bean Sea Salt

This dish is straight from the seas!  Yes, Sea Scallops that have been 'Simply Elevated' with Vanilla Bean Sea Salt!

These scallops are called 'colossal' for a reason!  I bought them fresh, not frozen, and made sure they were completely dried before cooking.  

I heated up a cast iron pan with coconut oil and seared them on both sides...do not overcook.  I placed them on top of a mango/butter puree and added some freshly cooked asparagus.

Amazing!  Quick! and Delicious!  The Vanilla Bean sea salt goes so well with seafood!