So, mint… yeah, I’m still obsessed with it. I devoured every single one of the mojito bites I made last week and desperately needed another minty treat to munch on. I’m also loving on pineapple right now and had the idea to toss it in mint in an effort to get more of both of those things into my face. I added lime juice, zest, and sugar to make a bit of a sweet syrup and the results are fantastic!

I totally made this for myself with no intention of putting it on the blog, but it was so tasty that I just had to share it. I had some of it alongside a quesadilla for lunch yesterday and it was a perfect match. It’s so refreshing and summery, fantastic served cold to beat the heat.

And it only took a few minutes to put together.

Do you know how to break down a pineapple? I know it looks intimidating but it really only takes a minute to do. Just take a large sharp knife and slice off the top and bottom, then stand it on one of the ends and slice down the sides to remove the last of the scaly exterior, making sure to remove all of the brown parts. You’ll be tempted to not cut in too deep in an effort to get more pineapple, but don’t – you really need to remove all of the brown pitted parts, they’re not pleasant to eat. Then just cut the fruit off the core. I slice down one side of the core, then rotate and slice down again, leaving 4 large pieces. Again, don’t cut too close to the core, it’s too fibrous to eat! You can then chop the fruit into whatever size pieces you want. Sounds like a lot of work, but it really only takes a minute.

Pineapple with lime and mint

A simple snack of fresh pineapple with herbs and citrus.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 small pineapple
• 2 tsp. sugar
• the zest and juice of 1 lime
• a handful of fresh mint leaves (chopped fine)

Cooking Directions

1. With a large sharp knife, slice the top and bottom off of the pineapple. Stand the pineapple up on one of the cut ends and slice the sides off, making sure to remove all of the brown bits.
2. Cut the pineapple off of the core in 4 large pieces and chop into bite-size pieces.
3. In a large bowl, combine cubed pineapple with sugar, zest, juice, and mint. Stir to combine and allow to sit for 30 minutes in the refrigerator before serving.
4. Store any remaining in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

I managed to eat an entire pineapple by myself last week, so I don’t see this lasting very long in my house. That’s ok though, I still have half a bag of fresh mint to use up, so I’ll just have to buy another one and make more!

I asked you guys on my Facebook blog page yesterday what foods you’re craving lately, too. Looks like basil is a theme for many of us. I’m personally hooked on Thai basil at the moment, but I do use sweet Italian basil quite a lot too. In fact, I have some plans in the works for using both types of basil in a few different recipes that should appear on the blog in a few weeks. I think I feel a new obsession coming on…

What is your current favorite fruit?

What do you like to pair basil with?

May 17, 2013 Alayna Discussion, Recipes 5 comments

I seem to develop a new food obsession every couple of months. I went through a period of intense and insatiable grapefruit lust a few months ago – there was nothing more delicious in the world to me than a ripe grapefruit at that time, and I ate one almost every day. Right now I’m in a berry bubble. If you haven’t noticed, berries have appeared on my blog a lot recently, and it’s because I’m absolutely obsessed with them nearly to the point of dependency.

My craving for berries is nowhere near over, but I’m starting to feel the intensity ease up a little now that the initial excitement from all this newly seasonal fruit has settled some. And right on cue, a new craving has emerged: Mint. Guys, I’m losing my mind over this stuff right now.

The beautiful spring weather we’re having right now in Georgia (on the days it isn’t pouring down rain, at least) has me wistfully dreaming of sipping cocktails on patios in the sunshine. It won’t be long now before the bully that is summer in Georgia comes to scare away this brief moment of fair weather, replacing it with a beatdown of searing sun rays and suffocating chokehold of humidity. Of course I’m exaggerating, but only a little.

Anyway, we’ve been too busy for cocktails on patios lately, so I’ve been entertaining myself by recreating the flavor of one of my favorites at home, one that just so happens to feature my food obsession of the moment. Mmmmmmmojitos!

The mojito is a mixture of rum and club soda, flavored with the refreshing additions of lime and mint that have been muddled with sugar. The flavor is so clean and crisp with the herbal aromas of lime zest and mint leaves scented throughout. The sugar never fully dissolves, and instead soaks up the other flavors, making for a sweet and flavorful sip with lots of texture.

These mojito bites are made with nothing more than nuts, dates, lime, mint, and agave to sweeten. I’ve rolled them in sugar to recreate that gritty undissolved sugar you get in the bottom of the glass – my favorite part. And guys, they really do taste like mojitos! It’s a perfect replica! Sans booze, of course.

I’ve been keeping these in the refrigerator so I can enjoy them cold, just like a cocktail. Every bite is a burst of fresh mint and lime, and I especially love getting to lick the minty sugar off my fingers afterwards.

For a clutch of poppable minty snacks to curb your own cocktail cravings, follow these easy steps…

Raw vegan mojito bites

All the flavor of the classic summertime cocktail with none of the hangover.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Yield: Makes 22 to 24 bites

Ingredients

• 1 cup raw unsalted macadamia nuts
• 1 cup raw unsalted cashews
• 3/4 cup chopped dates
• 3/4 cup fresh mint leaves
• 4 tbsp. fresh-squeezed lime juice
• the zest of 2 limes
• 1 tsp. raw agave nectar
• pinch salt
• white sugar for rolling

Cooking Directions

1. In a food processor, pulse together nuts until small. Add dates and pulse to combine.
2. Add in mint, juice, zest, agave, and salt. Process until a paste is formed.
3. Pinch off small bits of the paste and roll into balls. Roll balls in sugar.
4. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Best part: No hangover!  Second best part: No straw clogged with mint leaves! Third best part: No giving yourself a headache trying to suck the mint leaves up through the straw! Fourth best part: No deciding it might work better to blow the mint back down the straw and having half the drink explode out of your glass as the mint shoots out of the straw like a cannon!

Just me? Ok.

Oh, and they’re completely raw and vegan too. Nifty!

What flavors are you craving right now?

What cocktail would you like to have in a bite-sized treat?

May 13, 2013 Alayna Discussion, Recipes 17 comments

Thank you all for the incredible response I’ve received to the news of my cookbook, The Japanese Pantry, finally going on sale. It feels really good to hear that so many of you were excited about it and had been anticipating it for some time. And thank you to each of you who have already purchased a copy or intend to soon. Every sale feels like a validation that I’ve created something interesting and worthwhile. I’ve been very hypercritical of every recipe, every story, every photo that went into this book because I know that I’m still a novice at this and have so much to learn. Already, as I plan for the next two (yes two!) books that I have in mind, I see ways in which I can improve upon this first endeavor and produce something even more informative and beautiful next time.

I thought today I’d share a recipe from the book that’s incredibly easy to put together. These crispy “popcorn” edamame were so good that even though I nailed the recipe the first time I made them, I ended up making another test batch “just to be sure.” I might have eaten the whole batch in one sitting.

From the book:

“We all love crunchy snacks. For some it’s crispy chips, for others it’s crackers, and for still others only a bowl of buttery popcorn will do. But all that carb-laden junk food is just that – junk. It’s hard to find a healthy snack that satisfies the craving for salt and fat without busting your gut. These crunchy roasted “popcorn” edamame come close. They have all the crispiness of a potato chip and are endlessly poppable, but contain just a scant teaspoon of oil. The delightful texture and bright flavor will have you snacking happy.”

And here’s how simple they are to make…

I love that edamame (young soy beans) are found in almost all major grocery stores these days. They are a really tasty snack food that even children love, despite resembling other less yummy green vegetables. This is one Japanese ingredient that has definitely made its way into the mainstream. Maybe someday kids will be snacking on pickled plums instead of candy too. Seriously doubt that one though.

February 4, 2013 Alayna Discussion, Recipes 19 comments