By Paulette Callender –
The Spice and Tea Exchange (https://www.spiceandtea.com/)
Mint Melon and Cucumber Smoothie
The popular combination of cucumber and melon is paired with Marrakesh Mint Tea for a cool and refreshing smoothie. Drink this healthy beverage to help consume extra servings of fruit and vegetables or simply to enjoy a sweet, hydrating drink.
INGREDIENTS
2 Tbsp. Marrakesh Mint Tea (contains caffeine)
¼ cup Lemon Sugar
3 cups honeydew melon, chopped
1 ¼ cups English cucumber, peeled & chopped + 4 slices for garnish
16 fresh mint leaves
3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
3 Tbsp. light agave nectar or honey
PREPARATION
Prep Time
30 mins.
Total Time
33 mins.
Cook Time
3 mins.
Yield
3-4 glasses
BRING 1 cup of filtered water to a boil. Remove from heat and let sit 1 min.
ADD 2 Tbsp. Marrakesh Mint Tea and steep for 3 mins.
STRAIN liquid through a fine mesh strainer to remove tea leaves and sediment. Discard used tea leaves.
PLACE tea liquid in refrigerator until chilled.
COMBINE chilled tea, melon, cucumber, mint leaves, lime juice, and 1 Tbsp. agave or honey into a blender and puree until smooth.
PLACE 2 Tbsp. agave nectar in a small shallow dish. Pour Lemon Sugar into a separate dish. Dip rim of glass in agave nectar, then dip and twist the rim into the sugar to coat.
POUR smoothie carefully into glasses, filling just below the sugared rim.
CUT a slit halfway through cucumber slices and place one on the rim of each glass.
Chicken Wraps 3 Ways
INGREDIENTS
For Coastal Blend Seasoning Chicken Wrap:
4 tsp. Coastal Blend Seasoning (From The Spice & Tea Exchange)
½ cup of buttermilk
½ cup of mayonnaise
6 hard-boiled eggs
2 Tbsp. yellow mustard
Juice of half a lemon
2 flour tortilla shells
grilled chicken breast, cut into thin slices, as desired
2 parchment paper sheets precut
twine, as needed
Optional Garnishes:
cucumber, thinly sliced into matchsticks
matchstick carrots
butter lettuce, shredded
For Fiesta Taco Seasoning Chicken Wrap
4 tsp. Fiesta Taco Seasoning (From The Spice & Tea Exchange)
½ cup of buttermilk
½ cup of mayonnaise
2 flour tortilla shells
grilled chicken breast, cut into thin slices, as desired
2 parchment paper sheets precut
twine, as needed
Optional Garnishes:
sweet grape tomatoes, sliced in half
avocado, thinly sliced
sliced cheese
For Rustic Garden Ranch Spice Blend Wrap:
4 tsp. Rustic Garden Ranch Spice Blend (From The Spice & Tea Exchange)
½ cup of buttermilk
½ cup of mayonnaise
2 flour tortilla shells
grilled chicken breast, cut into thin slices, as desired
2 parchment paper sheets precut
twine, as needed
Optional Garnishes:
cucumber, thinly sliced into matchsticks
matchsticks carrots
red cabbage, shredded
gala apple, thinly sliced into matchsticks
Preparation:
To make Coastal Blend Seasoning Chicken Wrap
1. MIX Coastal Blend Seasoning with buttermilk and mayonnaise and mix until well combined.
2. ROUGHLY chop hard-boiled eggs and transfer to a medium bowl. Mash slightly with a fork to break up yolks.
3. ADD boiled eggs, mustard, and lemon juice to coastal dressing and stir until eggs are evenly mashed and dressed.
4. SPREAD a large spoonful of egg salad onto flour tortillas.
5. ADD sliced chicken, and optional garnishes to wrap and fold over.
6. PLACE prepared wraps on parchment paper and roll up tightly, tie with twine and slice wrap in half.
To make Fiesta Taco Seasoning Chicken Wrap
1. MIX Fiesta Taco Seasoning with buttermilk and mayonnaise and mix until well combined.
2. SPREAD a large spoonful of dressing onto flour tortillas.
3. ADD sliced chicken, and optional garnishes to wrap and fold over.
4. PLACE prepared wraps on parchment paper and roll up tightly, tie with twine and slice wrap in half.
To make Rustic Garden Ranch Spice Blend Chicken Wrap
1. MIX Rustic Garden Ranch Spice Blend with buttermilk and mayonnaise and mix until well combined.
2. SPREAD a large spoonful of dressing onto flour tortillas.
3. ADD sliced chicken, and optional garnishes to wrap and fold over.
4. PLACE prepared wraps on parchment paper and roll up tightly, tie with twine and slice wrap in half.
Zahtar Chickpea Salad
Fresh jalapeño, lemon, and Zahtar Spice Blend create this Middle Eastern fusion of flavors. This zesty dressing is tossed with toasted chickpeas, crispy greens, cucumber, and crunchy farro for a salad that’s both fresh and full of inviting flavor!
INGREDIENTS
2 tsp. Lemon Sugar
¼ cup Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ tsp. Lemon Verbena
1 ½ tsp. Zahtar Spice Blend
1 tsp. Vik’s Garlic Fix! Spice Blend
Florida Sunshine Spice Blend , to taste
1 medium jalapeño, seeded and chopped
2 Tbsp. lemon juice (1 medium lemon)
1 cup farro
15 oz. can chickpeas drained, rinsed and dried
1 Tbsp. butter
2 cups coarse chopped hearty greens, such as kale
1 medium cucumber, sliced
PREPARATION
Prep Time
30 mins.
Total Time
35 mins.
Cook Time
5 mins.
Yield
2-4 servings
PROCESS jalapeño, Lemon Sugar, and lemon juice in a mini food processor until jalapeño is finely minced. With the processor running, slowly add Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Mix in Lemon Verbena and Zahtar Spice Blend and let flavors bloom about 15 mins.
COOK farro according to manufacturer’s directions adding Vik’s Garlic Fix! Spice Blend to the water.
SEAR chickpeas in butter until chickpeas start to pop and take on a golden color.
COMBINE farro with the chickpeas, greens, and cucumber. Add about half the prepared dressing and toss. Add a few grinds of Florida Sunshine Spice Blend to taste; serve with extra dressing on the side.