Chilled Avocado Soup

The Avocado tree is native to Mexico and Central America...

The vitamins and minerals contained in this recipe can do everything from speeding cell turnover (to reveal healthier skin underneath) to protecting skin from the sun's damaging rays. Get plenty of moisturizing vitamin E from the avocados. Not only does vitamin E ease dry skin, but studies show it also may reduce free radicals and protect against damaging UV rays. Cucumbers are a great source of silica which, as a precursor to collagen, can help fight wrinkles. 

I like to serve this soup in individual glasses as a delicious appetizer. Sprinkle with a little dill and sprouted pumpkins.

Soup
In a blender, mix the following ingredients:

• 3 medium avocados, peeled and pitted and perfectly ripe
• 1 large cucumber, peeled and cut into smaller pieces
• 1 cup cold water (start with 1/2 cup; you can always add more)
• 3/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup packed mint leaves
• 1 small garlic clove
• Salt to taste

Pour in individual glasses and chill for a couple hours.
If you have no time to chill, lower the water content and replace with ice cubes.

Sprinkle Options
Chives, dill, mint & dehydrated pumpkin seeds, roughly chopped.

Inspired by Green Kitchen Story

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♥Chérie Du Vin

Fast Food Solution

by Paige Donner

WHAT BETTER TIME THAN SUMMER TO

1. EAT HEALTHIER

2. SPEND LESS TIME IN THE KITCHEN

3. TRANSFORM YOUR BODY TO FANTASTICALLY FABULOUS

With these three goals in mind, is it any wonder then that Fast Food Solution caught my eye in a big way?!

North Americans spend more time watching Cooking Shows than cooking their own meals!

I just had to see what these guys were all about… So I've dived right in, ordered up the program (a humble $37 as a Beta launch price) and am learning from Nick and Gen, two young Canadians, how to eat healthy, cook my own meals in 15 minutes or less and spend less than $5 per meal.

Wowzaaa!!!

Where have you been all my life?! Is all I can say.

The coursework is abundant and I've only just started on their integrated platform of videos, MP3 downloads and PDFs (including cheat sheets with rich visuals).

So check back with me in a few weeks once I've worked through some of the recipes in my own kitchen.

But for starters, the support is terrific, their layout is SUPER user friendly, and they've sliced and diced all the information down into very bite-sized and digestible pieces.

Plus, here's a few stats from their website. (Now you don't want to be one of those TV-watching, overeating porkers do you?!)

Just as guilty as the 100 million folks who are subscribed to the Food Network and watch endless hours of Top Chef, Hell's Kitchen and other epic cooking shows every single day.

The numbers don't lie…

The average American watches more than 5 hours of TV every single day, but spends a mere 27 minutes cooking food.

and check this out…

Every single week, a whopping 89.7% of the US adult population
– 228 MILLION people — is getting scammed at the grocery store.

In plain English…

Everyone who is trying to eat healthy is basically WASTING $123.91 and 41 minutes every single time they visit the supermarket.

Why? Simply because they end up buying the wrong foods, and falling for the clever marketing tactics and fattening
traps that the Global Food Conglomerate has set up in every aisle.

We know it's hard to believe.

But if you buy any of the foods below, the food companies have already found an easy way into your wallet…(read more on Fast Food Solution).

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♥Chérie Du Vin

Flora Springs Winery (St. Helena) Summer Movie Night Series

(sponsored post) 

 

Flora Springs Announces Summer Movie Night Series

 

St. Helena, Calif. – Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards has announced the return of its popular Summer Movie Night Series at The Room starting with an August 16^th showing of the movie Cement Suitcase. 

The Series will continue with two more dates, September 20^th and October 18^th, and fans of the winery (and of the movies!) are invited to help select films for those dates on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

Each Flora Springs Summer Movie Night Series begins with live music in The Room's Vineyard Courtyard overlooking the western vineyards and hills of St. Helena. Attendees can bring their own picnic or reserve a table by pre-ordering a Vineyard Courtyard Picnic or Flora's Dinner Pail, with many options all featuring delicious wine country fare. Flora Springs wines will be available to purchase by the glass or bottle. Movies are shown in The Room's comfortable Rooftop Lounge where fans can enjoy a selection of classic movie candy and a popcorn bar. General admission price is $20.00. Food and wine prices vary. The Room, Flora Springs' popular St. Helena tasting room is located at 677 St. Helena Highway (Hwy. 29). More information and tickets are available at https://www.florasprings.com/events/ 

Summer Movie Night Series Details:

Dates:                   August 16 (Cement Suitcase), September 20 (movie tba), October 18 (movie tba)

Time:                     6:30pm – 8:30 pm

Place:                    Flora Springs The Room, 677 St. Helena Highway, St. Helena, CA

Admission:          $20; food & wine prices vary

 

About Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards

Founded in 1978 by John and Carrie Komes and Julie (Komes) and Pat Garvey, Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards is located at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains in the northwest corner of Napa Valley's Rutherford appellation. Named after John and Julie's mother, Flora, and for the natural springs on the winery property, Flora Springs has been a family affair through three generations. As both artisan winemakers and growers, the family is committed to the traditions of fine winemaking and the responsible stewardship of its 650 acres of vineyards. Today, ninety percent of Flora Springs' red wines are sourced from its organically-farmed estate vineyards.

 

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♥Chérie Du Vin

White Strawberries - The Originals

by Paige Donner

La Freizh, La Freizh!!

A young, impassioned wild strawberry producer - gariguette in French - named Julien Héliès has launched a limited production of White Strawberries.

Did you know strawberries were originally WHITE?!

You might not have known that 300 years ago, when strawberries were first imported to Europe from Chile, they were white berries.  But they were. 

That was back in 1714 when, after two years of travels around South America, the explorer, Amédée Frezier, arrived back in Marseilles with 5 plants from Chile he brought with him of these white strawberries. One of these was planted in the botanical gardens of Brest. 

A bit larger than a wild strawberries found in the woods and hinting of a taste of pineapple amidst their delicious sweetness, this limited and very confidential production can be found by contacting the strawberry grower/agriculture cooperative directly at Saveol.com where you can also read more about the history of the strawberry in France and around the world. 

Personally I am waiting with bated breath until I see some of the Parisian chefs, or any international chefs, serve these up, fired simply by their fruitful - ; ) - imaginations. 

Saveol.com 

Local Food And Wine

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♥Chérie Du Vin