How to Eat Papaya Without Holding Your Nose

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Does the smell of papaya make you hold your nose and run away as far as you can? I too would wince at the smell. But a couple of months ago, I joined the ranks of the papaya eaters, and now can eat it without the slightest gag.

 

The Health Department at our church was holding a 5 week health and fitness program in advance of the yearly free health fair they hold for the community. Rosemary, the health leader and an RN, presented samples of a different fruit and its benefits each evening after the fitness program. One day it was papaya. Immediately I told her that I detested the pungent odor of the papaya to the point of excluding it from my diet. She said,”Don’t worry, just give it a try. I think you will like this one.” She opened the container filled with beautiful ripe papaya. To my surprise, I did not wince, or reach for my nose or run away. There was no awful pungent odor. I made a comment about how it didn’t stink. She said that she had squeezed some lime juice over the papaya pieces. I reached for a piece and popped it into my mouth. It was delicious and free of the gross sweaty-socks smell. Now I actually buy papayas, and limes to squeeze on top of course. And I am glad that I can enjoy this nutritious fruit.

Have you ever tried making vegan desserts?

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Have you ever tried to make vegan brownies, cakes or cookies?  Well making these baked goods without eggs can be tricky. Even if you use a commercial egg replacer and follow their directions, it may not come out as you expect. I’ve been looking for alternatives for eggs and found that there are different options depending on what you are making. These include bananas, flaxseed meal, silken tofu. There are pros and cons to each.

bananas :

pros- adds a good source of potassium, adds Vitamins A, B, and C, calcium, magnesium, 2g protein and 4g fiber.

cons- will add banana flavor to your recipe which may not be desirable

flaxseed meal/water mixture:

pros: binds cakes well; adds Omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants, B vitamins, and is low in carbohydrates

cons: you can see the flecks of the seeds in you dessert

Silken tofu:

pros: blends smoothly; works well in puddings, mousses, ‘cheese’cakes

Cons: may add a slight amount of sodium

I like to use the flaxseed/water mixture for cakes and brownies.  3 tablespoons water to 2 tablespoon flaxseed meal works well to replace a whole egg. This seems to work better than the commercial egg replacer in that with the commercial egg replacer, my cakes fall apart. The water/flax mixture seems to bind better than the commercial egg replacer. If you are making a light colored cake, use a lighter colored flaxseed meal. Mix the flax ‘egg replacer’ and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes while you gather and prepare the other ingredients in your recipe. This allows the water the soak into the flax meal and thoroughly wet it so that it will be somewhat sticky for binding when you are ready to use it. When putting your recipe together, use 3 tablespoons less water than is called for. Your recipe may be slightly thicker, but it should come out with a similar texture.

If you are new to vegan cooking, there are many websites that offer information. It is best to use tried recipes with descriptive results. Or if you have time, try a recipe several days ahead to be sure it will come out properly when you will be serving it. Happy baking!

Bridal Shower Dress

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Over the years I’ve been a jeans and T-shirt wearer, but recently I’ve been wanting to wear dresses. My closet is basically devoid of casual everyday dresses. This year I am remedying that one dress at a time. This calls for a couple of maxi dresses, some sundresses and sheaths and a few other pieces sprinkled in in an effort to waken my dead wardrobe.

Here is the first maxi dress, Simplicity 2219 which was made to wear to a bridal shower. To break up the flower pattern and add visual interest, I sewed a pink velvet double ribbon trim around the ‘v’. It gives a retro 1940′s vibe to the dress. It is made with a rayon lycra and is very comfortable to wear. I like the ruching on the top. In the end though, this one may be shortened to just below knee length. What do you think?