I hope you enjoyed National Vinegar Month and it has encouraged you to use vinegar in ways that you (and) I hadn’t realised we could…as you know I discovered Black Vinegar and what a joy that was…I  made my second chocolate cake using vinegar yesterday… I made two sandwiched them together with homemade mango preserve and fresh whipped coconut cream…

It didn’t last long once the hungry hordes set upon it… Next time I will use raspberries for a change but this is my new favourite sponge recipe…and vegan as well and from a non-vegan…

Moving into June we are now the 2nd day of June into the 6th month..where does the time go?

This month is Fruit and Vegetable Month and also Papaya month which means I have decided to merge the two…it makes sense…Lots of fruit and vegetable recipes…

Starting with a Protein Shake…

Those who are regular visitors to my blog known that I buy very little of anything which is manufactured especially if I can make a substitute I like…

I know many people who exercise who take these… So I thought I would do a little research and make my own… Cost-wise it is a no-brainer against the cost of some most Protein powders…I also like to know what is in what I am eating and drinking…I dislike the unknown…

The protein shake is 3/4 cup of liquid and 1/3 cup of your main protein…all will be explained in more detail by clicking the link for the full recipe…

Papaya and Custard Apple Protein Shake…

A beautiful healthy shake…

What about a beautiful Papaya Salsa…

Papaya is classed as one of the worlds healthiest foods and Christopher Columbus likened it to a fruit of the angels…In a salsa?? I made a small bowl to start and was pleasantly surprised.

I used 1 ripe tomato, a cup of papaya, 1 spring onion, a small shallot, a handful of chopped coriander and a cheek of fresh lime. Cut everything up small and mixed together…It was very nice…I also added as an afterthought just a little chilli…It has to be done…haha

Eaten with my flatbreads it makes a lovely healthy little snack.

My next recipe for spicy Rice balls can be made just with rice or with the addition of some ground Pork or chicken…I like both equally although I prefer these without the meat and eaten with a cabbage leaf and some ginger and lime they are sublime a beautiful taste of Thailand.

Red Curry Rice Balls.

Ingredients:

• 500 gms of cooked rice
• 1-2 tbsp of red curry paste
• 3 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp sugar
• 100 gm of fresh coconut
• 1egg

Let’s Cook!

Mix all the ingredients together and with damp hands form into 5cm balls.

Heat some oil in a pan until hot but not smoking and cook the rice balls( in batches)until golden brown 10-20 minutes.

Serve with lime wedges, sliced or diced fresh ginger, fresh herbs( coriander, mint, basil), Fresh chillies and cabbage leaves.

To eat put the ball in the cabbage leaf and add your accompaniments as desired and lots of lime, fold the cabbage leaf around the ball and eat… One of my all-time favourite snacks…

My final recipe is my favourite cauliflower rice…

And all you need is a Cauliflower and an Onion.

A little Coconut oil to cook or other oil of your choice.

Sea Salt and a squeeze Lemon Juice.

Either grate or blitz in a food processor ( but not too fine) you want some texture.

Heat pan and keep pan HOT as you don’t want the cauliflower to steam and go soggy.

Use a tablespoon of Coconut Oil and put in the desired amount of Cauliflower and onion mix.

Cook quickly and then season and add lemon juice.

All in all, it only takes a few minutes to cook….. a bit longer if you are cooking more than one portion but make sure to keep the pan hot.

If you wish to vary the taste you can add 1 tsp of Cumin seeds to the oil before adding Cauliflower if you are eating Indian food.

If you require colour if eating Mexican……. then add 1/2 tsp turmeric to oil and tsp tomato puree.

This is very versatile and just use your imagination and add any herbs and spices that you like.

To store...I make a batch and keep in the fridge for during the week but keep in a glass jar or zip lock bag…I think plastic containers may make it sweat too much…..Enjoy…. and if you are cutting the carbs it is an ideal and yummy substitute for rice and I love rice…… eat it all the time but happily substitute this as I am also a cauliflower lover.

I hope you have enjoyed this first post of vegetable recipes …xx

About Carol Taylor:

Enjoying life in The Land Of Smiles I am having so much fun researching, finding new, authentic recipes both Thai and International to share with you. New recipes gleaned from those who I have met on my travels or are just passing through and stopped for a while. I hope you enjoy them.

I love shopping at the local markets, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetable ones I have never seen or cooked with. I am generally the only European person and attract much attention and I love to try what I am offered and when I smile and say Aroy or Saab as it is here in the north I am met with much smiling.

Some of my recipes may not be in line with traditional ingredients and methods of cooking but are recipes I know and have become to love and maybe if you dare to try you will too. You will always get more than just a recipe from me as I love to research and find out what other properties the ingredients I use contain to improve our health and wellbeing.

Exciting for me hence the title of my blog, Retired No One Told Me! I am having a wonderful ride and don’t want to get off, so if you wish to follow me on my adventures, then welcome! I hope you enjoy the ride also and if it encourages you to take a step into the unknown or untried, you know you want to…….Then, I will be happy!