Kiwi Shrimp Salad 猕猴桃虾沙拉

This simple tropical salad is light, tangy, refreshing and healthy. It's perfect for your 7 days soup diet or cleaning eating life style. Shrimp can be cut into bite sizes or serve as whole. Trick to make the tender shrimp is to place hot shrimp into icy cold water, also will give your shrimp a pretty pink color.

Simple ingredients:

• 6 large shrimps, peel off the shells
• 2 kiwi, peeled and cut into cubes
• Others: ginger, salt, vinegar, sesame oil, and water for boil the shrimps

Easy to make:

1. Place some ice cubes with water and set aside.
2. In a small pot, place enough water to boil the shrimps. Add pinch of salt and few slices of ginger in the water and bring to boil. Place peeled shrimps in the boiling water for few minutes until cooked (curled and turn light pink). Remove cooked shrimps from boiling water and place in the icy cold water right away.
3. After shrimps chilled, place in a mixing bowl with cubed kiwi. Sprinkle some salt, drizzle some vinegar and sesame oil. mix up and ready to serve.

Kiwi is king of all fruit. It contains 120% of daily value of vitamin C and only 45 calories in one kiwifruit.

7 days Soup Diet

No exercise and low calorie diet for just 7 days. Lose weight up to 14 pounds. If you want to lose more weight, you may start again after 2 weeks breaks. All natural and inexpensive.

Simple ingredients:

• 1 can diced tomato, plus 2 can water (use the same can)
• 1/4 of a large head cabbage, cut into bite size
• 2 medium carrots, cut into bite size
• 3 mushrooms, sliced (or 1 small can sliced mushrooms)
• 1 Tbsp. Tom Yum paste (instant hot and sour paste that may purchased in Asian grocery stores)
• Optional: chopped green onion, bell peppers, zucchini, winter melon, radish, celery, ginger or/and hot chill pepper to your taste

Easy to make:
Place all ingredients in a medium pot and bring to boil. Turn the heat to medium and cook until all vegetables turn soft. Drop some sesame oil before serving.

Tips:

• No salt or little salt in this soup. Tom Yum paste will give enough flavor to this soup. Chill pepper will make the soup more delicious.
• No alcohol, no starchy food and vegetables,  and no sugar food during 7 days, such as rice, noddles, bread, avocado, potato, melons, etc.
• No soda and juice. Drink lots of water. Tea without sugar is ok.
• The more soup you eat, the more weight you will lose. When you feel hungry,eat soup. You may cook a big pot of soup and refrigerate them. I like eat soup freshly made daily.
• If you have craving for sweet, eat a low sugar fresh fruit, such as apple or pear after the 3rd day. Have a low sugar protein drink mixed with skim milk or water, or drink a glass of carrot or veggie juice. Or just take a nap to get over the craving...more sleep is good.
• If you are carving for protein, after 3rd day, you may eat two egg whites for breakfast, 4 oz. lean meat for dinner, such as lean steak, chicken breast or white fish.
• Basically, the 1st and 2nd days are detoxing. Depending on how bad your body condition, I have experienced headaches and fever. It's okay to take some medicine to help you get through those two day. I felt much better after 3rd. I have lost 12 pounds after 7 days. The hardest part of this diet is the 1st three days. I have given up many times on the 2nd day since I love food so much. But the week that I stayed with it, it works!
• Always consult with your doctor before you start any diet. If you get to stressed at beginning days, it's okay to give up and start later again. Life is too short...dieting should make you happy! Don't make your life harder just because of dieting.
• After you are successfully complete these 7 days diet, you will have more energy and more happier. Also you will change your eating habits and enjoy eating clean.

3-ingredients Roulade with Cream Cheese Filling

This roll cake is made from 3-ingredients cake with 3-ingredients cream cheese filling...no eggs...easy to make. It can be used ice cream or gelato. Gelato is Italian style ice cream and will give the cake a velvety texture. You may use any of your favorite ice creams or fillings to make this roll cake. 

For the cake:

• 1 pint (1 1/2 cup) chocolate ice cream
• 1 cup cake flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. Baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a parchment paper on a jelly roll baking pan or cookie sheet. Lightly spray with no-stick cooking oil.

Leave the ice cream at room temperature until melt. Add cake flour and baking powder. Whisk until well blend and no lumps. Pour the batter on the baking pan and spread with a spatula. Bake for 12-15 minutes until a toothpick come out clean. 

Roll the cake sheet while it is warm. Set aside or in the refrigerator until cool. Then, open the cake roll, spread cream cheese filling over and roll it back to a roll. Leave in the refrigerator for about an hour before cut into slices.

 For cream cheese filling:

• 1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar (more or less to fit your sweet tooth)
• 1/2 stick (4 tbsp.) butter, at room temperature
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

Mix all ingredients with an electric mixer until well blend and creamy. Set aside in the refrigerator until ready to use. If you like to have less filling, you may use half of this recipe for one roll cake only.

Fudge Brownies

These brownies are made from cake flour and cake flour. Always taste better after overnight.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted and cool
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup flour 
• 1 cup cake flour
• 1/2 coco powder
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted

Make it...

1. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add vanilla and eggs. Mix until well blend. Add the rest of the ingredients. Continue to mix until well blend to creamy batter.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly spray a bottom of 9x13 baking pan. If you like it with walnuts, place a layer of half walnuts on the bottom of the baking pan. Pour the batter over and flatten with a spatula.
3. Bake for 30-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool before cut into squares.

For nuts lovers: you may fold in some chopped nuts in the batter before baking.

3 ingredients Cake

Yap! Only 3 ingredients! I can't believe it turns out so goooood...velvety, rich, soft and so easy! I will make again and often...I find this recipe and adopted from http://kirbiecravings.com/2013/08/3-ingredient-chocolate-cake.html

Super simple ingredients:

• 1 pint gelato/ice cream (I used Belgian Milk Chocolate Gelato), about 1 1/2 cups
• 1 cup cake flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

Super easy to make:

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare and spray with oil two 6 x 2.5 loaf pans, or line parchment paper under the pans.
2. Leave Gelato at room temperature until almost fully melted. Pour into large mixing bowl. Add in flour and baking powder. Either by hand or using a stand mixer, mix until no flour lumps remain (use a whisk if mixing by hand). Pour into two loaf pans. 
3. Bake for about 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Note: I used other flavor gelato/ice cream to make this easy cake, too. They are all GOOD. If you have a sweet tooth, add 1/4 cup sugar into the batter.

I use the same batter, baking with a jelly roll baking pan for 15 minutes. Roll up with a soft towel and let cool. Then, add cream cheese filling to make a roulade. Refrigerator for one hour, then cut into slices to serve.

Cream cheese filling:

• 1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 stick butter (about 4 Tbsp.)
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Mix with an electric mixer until creamy. Set aside and ready to use.

Caramel Popcorn Cookies

Another easy and simple cookie recipe. If you like it sweet, you may add more sugar to it. But I like it less sweet with a little salty...so that I can eat more :)

Simple ingredients: (makes 24 cookies)

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup caramel popcorn, roughly chopped

Easy to make:

1. Cream the butter and sugar together with a stand mixer or an electric hand mixer. Add vanilla extract and egg, blend well until creamy. Fold in chopped popcorn.
2. Add flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until just blend.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line parchment paper on cookie sheets. Scoop about 1 Tbsp. cookie dough and drop on the cookie sheet(s) with 1-inch apart. Sprinkle some salt on the top of the cookie balls.
4. Bake for 12 minutes or turn lightly brown. Remove from oven and chill on cooling rack.

Easy Baklava (reduced sugar)

Store brought baklava always very sweet. I enjoy the nutty texture, but not too sweet...less sugar, better for your health, too. I used 5 phyllo sheets for each layer. If you like more crunchy of phyllo, you may double the layers of phyllo sheets.

Ingredients

For the filling:

• 1 cup almonds
• 1 cup raw or roasted walnuts
• 1 cup raw or roasted pistachio
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 1 package of phyllo sheets, thawed (2 packages in one box)

For the syrup:

• 1/2 cups honey
• 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

Make it...

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place the almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and sugar  into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, but not pasty or powdery, approximately 15 quick pulses. Set aside.
3. Trim the sheets of phyllo to fit the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch metal pan. Brush the bottom and sides of the pan with butter; lay down a sheet of phyllo and brush with butter. Repeat this step 4 more times for a total of 5 sheets of phyllo. Top with 1/3 of the nut mixture and spread thinly. Layer 5 more sheets of phyllo with butter in between each of them. Repeat with another 5 sheets of phyllo, butter, and remaining nuts. Top with 5-8 sheets of phyllo brushing with butter in between each sheet. Brush the top generously with butter. 
4. Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove pan from the oven and cut into 28 squares. Return pan to the oven and continue to bake for another 20 minutes or until golden brown. 
5. Remove pan from the oven, pour the cooled syrup evenly over the top of the baklava, allowing it to run into the cuts and around the edges of the pan.

Make the syrup while the baklava is baking in the oven. Combine the honey, water, sugar, and cinnamon in a 4-quart saucepan and set over high heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar has dissolved. Once boiling, boil for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and let cool.

Allow the pan to sit, uncovered until completely cool. Cover and store at room temperature for at least 8 hours and up to overnight before serving. Store, covered, at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Optional: dust some powdered sugar for decoration before serving.

Easy Almond Cookies

There are many Almond Cookie recipes. But this is the EASIEST and healthier recipe that I comp up with. Almond is one of the supper food and I like to eat everyday. This is a fun and tasty way to eat more Almonds.

Simple ingredients: (makes 16 cookies)

• 1 block (1/2 cup) butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 egg white, at room temperature
• 1 cup cake flour
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder (optional)
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda (optional)
• 1 cup sliced Almond
• 1 cup dry cranberries

Easy to make:

1. Cream butter and sugar with a stand mixer or an electric mixer until well blend. Add vanilla and egg white. Blend well. Add flour, cake flour, baking powder and baking soda, mix until just blend. Fold in Almond and cranberries. Leave in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line parchment paper on cookie sheet(s). Drop about 1 Tbsp. size cookie balls on the cookie sheet(s), 1-inch apart. Bake for 20 minutes. Cool in the cooling racks. 

Optional: drizzle some chocolate or dust with powdered sugar for decoration.

Easy Pickled Cucumber Ribbons

Simple, easy and quick to make...Sweet and sour...light and healthy side dish for your meal at anytime.

Simple ingredients:

• 6 pickled cucumbers
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup any white vinegar, such as apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar

Easy to make:

1. Mix sugar and vinegar in a large Mason Jar (or other kinds of jar with cover). 
2. Cut the cucumbers with a vegetable peeler into thin slices like ribbons.
3. Place the sliced cucumbers in the jar. Soar and cover for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Cheesecake Cookie Bars

Made with cookie dough and layer of cheesecake in the middle. Easy and delicious...don't eat too much at once, even I know you can't help it to have more.

Simple ingredients:

• 2 packages of refrigerated chocolate chips cookie dough, at room temperature
• 1 package of cream cheese (8 oz), at room temperature
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, at room temperature
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Tips: you may substitute with other cookie dough, such as peanut butter cookie dough, sugar cookie dough, white chocolate macadamia cookie dough, or home made cookie dough.

Easy to make:

1. Line a parchment paper in a 8x8 metal baking pan, lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.
2. Place 1 package of cookie dough on the bottom of the pan. Flatten with your hand or spoon evenly to fit the size of the pan.
3. In a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar together with an electric hand mixture until smooth. Add egg and vanilla, beat together again until smooth. Pour the cheesecake mixture over the cookie dough in the pan.
4. Use your hands to form "clumps" from the other package of cookie dough, smoosh it together and flatten them out. Place the teaspoon-sized clumps onto the top of the cheesecake batter.
5. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Bake for 30-45 minutes until the top turns lightly golden brown.
6. Chill in the refrigerator overnight or at least for a couple of hours until firm before cutting into squares.