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Awesome Food Bloggers Healthy Living Secrets – Andalusian Garden Gazpacho and a Guest Post by Annapet

8 August 2011 32 Comments

Andalusian Garden Gazpacho soup

The AFBHLS series is opening up new pathways for me to interact and make some wonderful foodie friends from across the globe. The number of mails and DM’s on Twitter that we exchange could be a good parameter to judge how cordial relationship the food blogger community share among each other. The enthusiasm with which all of them readily share some of their most precious moments of life & ways of healthy living in spite of their busy schedule is commendable.

Time to bring in another Awesome Food Blogger with Their Healthy-Living Secrets, and this time it is a gorgeous lady Annapet from ‘The Daily Food Palette’. This shy & humble food blogger mom is enjoying life in her glorious forty plus, her ‘about page‘ on her blog speaks a lot about who she is 🙂 In her own words, “I am terrible talking about myself, I find that I do not open up readily. I am trying!  If each day is a visit to a therapist, I’ve paid a lot already and shared very little. But I am happy if my experience is in any way inspiring to others”.

Annapet and I have been sharing and following each others blog and tweeting along for quite some time. Her blog is an ode to her Filipino foodie community, the gardener and a wonderful cook in her. When I asked her to send some snippets of her life, this is what she shared “To keep things simple, I am an American of Philippine ancestry =).  When people actually ask why I look a little different, it may be the mix of Spanish-Spanish-Basque [de los Santos-de la Cruz-de la Cruz-Vergara] on the paternal side and Chinese-Portuguese-Spanish [Laus-Sapao-Santos-Cristobal] on the maternal side.  Uniquely and proudly PINOY!  At home I prepare traditional Filipino and Spanish dishes.  We go out on average twice a week and that’s a toss between our other favorites:  Japanese-Indian-Chinese”.

And if you can call all that simple please explain it to me as well 🙂

One of her real life experiences which really inspires me is her determination to contribute to the society by donating blood. In her own words, “I’m a little person. I stand 4’11” and weighed 98 lbs most of my adult life [and other than allergies, quite healthy].  Knowing our blood banks are in short supply, I’ve always wanted to donate blood.  Although I fear needles, I worked up the courage to sign up at the blood drive [our parish holds one every six months].  I got turned away.  I need to weigh at least 110 lbs.  That was January 2009″.

“By July 2010, I beefed up to 110 lbs and finally donated my first pint of blood.  For more information on Blood Centers of the Pacific, please click here.  For the Red Cross, please click here“.

Let me take you to a mini tour of her blog, look at these gorgeous Macarons she baked, just perfect. I am yet to get such happy feet for mine 🙁

Tree-Nut-Free Macarons

Tree-Nut-Free Macarons Pic courtesy Annapet

Another delightful bake from Annapet with Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins  and this muffin is only 180 calories – streusel, butter, and all!

Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins with Cardamom-Pecan Streusel

Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins with Cardamom-Pecan Streusel Pic courtesy Annapet

A peep into the haven of a passionate gardener! Below is bean bush Royal Burgundy with Japanese Black Trifele tomato and Gertrude Jekyll, a David Austin rose.

My garden   Pic courtesy Annapet

My Garden Pic courtesy Annapet

I leave you to have a peek into the life of this gorgeous lady Annapet…

food blogger and recipes

Annapet from The Daily Palette

Hello, everyone!  Greetings from the sunny small town of Corte Madera, just 12 miles north of the big cosmopolitan city by the bay, San Francisco!  You have no idea how ecstatic I am to be a guest here on Lite Bite to share with you my Healthy-Living Secrets.  

To this day, writing about me continues to be a struggle.  Fortunately, my son volunteered to help extract some information and we both came up with a short list how this 40-year old stays fit.
 

My Healthy-Living Secrets;

  1. With two (2) Golden Retrievers, walking at least twice a day for 30 minutes takes care of my aerobic exercise.
  2. Gardening for at least an hour or two also keeps me active and happy!  Truth to be told, I can tend the garden ALL DAY!
  3. Water and tea keeps me hydrated throughout the day, and although I love wine, I only enjoy a glass or two of wine during dinner on occasion.  When I splurge, coconut water it is!
  4. Although I find great enjoyment learning charcuterie, I only eat meat sparingly.
  5. Fortunately, I also do not have a sweet tooth, and prefer savory treats like nuts and cheese.  I love to snack on fruits!

Andalusian Garden Gazpacho

Andalusian Garden Gazpacho

Andalusian Garden Gazpacho Pic courtesy; Annapet

Ingredients

(Adapted from here)

  • 2 slices of bread
  • 1 pound tomato
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 green bell pepper, reserve half for garnish
  • 1/8 tsp. cumin
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp. white wine vinegar (or sherry)
  • 1/2 cucumber for garnish
  • 1 small onion for garnish
  • 1 Avocado for garnish

Directions; 1. Break the 2 slices crust-less bread into chunks and soak it in water to cover until softened.

2. Remove cores from the tomatoes.  Cut the tomatoes into chunks and puree in a blender or food processor.  Press the juice and pulp through a sieve, discarding the bits of skin and seeds.

3. Squeeze the water from the bread and place it in a blender or food processor with the garlic.  Blend until smooth.

4. Add the tomato pulp, green pepper, cumin and salt.  With the blender running, add the oil in a slow stream.  Blend in the vinegar and some of the 11/2 cups cold water.

5. Place the gazpacho in a pitcher and add the remaining water. This makes about 2 ¼ cups gazpacho.  Serve immediately or chill until serving time.

6. To serve, divide the gazpacho between two (2) bowls.  Place each of the garnishes (finely chopped green pepper, cucumber, onion, tomato and avocado) in small bowls.

 

Andalusian Garden Gazpacho

Andalusian Garden Gazpacho Pic courtesy; Annapet

A few notes:
  1. Black Cherry, Jaune Flamme, and Sun Gold tomatoes are the sweetest tomatoes growing in my garden this year.  However, combined they do not make red gazpacho.
  2. Reduced the olive oil to 1 tablespoon, and salt to a pinch.  Of course one may add more or skip it entirely.
  3. Used ripe jalapeno pepper without seeds.  Of course one may use pepper of choice.
  4. Make 9 appetizer shots.
  5. For Nutritional facts, please click here.

Thank you, Sanjeeta kk for having me over!

Thanks Annapet for bringing in such a refreshing and appetizing soup. I love the beautiful vibrant color of it, and with bread and veggies in it this will make a perfect wholesome meal.

I like your economic and very healthy way of  aerobic exercise of walking with your pets, my pup is just 30 days old and shall wait for a few more days before my aerobic lessons to start 🙂 I too love gardening which besides being a gratifying hobby is a terrific way to keep one mentally and physically fit.

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32 Comments »

  • Annapet said:

    Dear Sanjeeta,

    Thank you very much for welcoming me here, and for being unbelievably patient waiting for tidbits of info while I was away on assignment over the weekend.

    Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

    Sincerely,
    Annapet

  • Baker Street said:

    So glad to see Annapet here. The soup looks perfect. Can’t wait to try it.

  • sayantani said:

    thats a very good informative post. thanks for introducing Annapet to us and thanks annapet for this authentic garden soup

  • Christine said:

    Beautiful post. Glad to have learnt more about Annapet who is an amazing and kind lady who knows how to encourage people. She is the 1st person who posted a comment on my blog and she gave me strength to continue and do better.
    Thanks Sanjeeta for sharing and very happy to have met you today!

  • Alan Cooke said:

    That soup looks incredible! With so many HOT days left this summer, I’ll be trying it soon! Thanks for a great recipe 🙂

  • Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. said:

    great post and to learn more about her! She is lovely and great looking recipe

  • Junia @ Mis Pensamientos said:

    i love gazpacho. i am totally bookmarking this recipe. avocado with gazpacho whoohoo!

  • From Spain With Love: Andalusian Garden Gazpacho [Guest Post on Lite Bite] | The Daily Palette said:

    […] the Andalusian Garden Gazpacho recipe, please visit Lite Bite by clicking here.  You may […]

  • Soma said:

    A beautiful post from a lady with a beautiful personality!

  • Yuri said:

    I really like you both and it makes me happy seeing Annapet guest posting here 🙂 gazpacho is the perfect summer food, refreshing and full of good-for-you nutrients. I must admit I have garden envy every time I see Annapet’s photos on Twitter… it’s amazing how we all interact and learn from each other, doesn’t matter if we live at opposite sides of the globe. Hope we can all meet some day!

  • kankana said:

    This series of yours is amazing and Annapet is such a gorgeous lady and I drool everytime i visit her blog and see those gorgeous pictures! This gazpacho is such a perfect treat for summer.

  • peachkins said:

    beautiful gazpacho!

  • Kiran @ KiranTarun.com said:

    Great guest post Sanjeeta! Love that gazpacho recipe. The only ingredient I am missing it avocado. Gotta make some in this sweltering summer 😀

  • A Canadian Foodie said:

    How timely – and how stunning – the photos, the writing – the story… what a wonderful friendship. Love the healthy strand you are taking on, Sunjeet! Great idea. I cannot wait to whip this up in my Thermomix. YUM!
    🙂
    Hugs,
    Valerie

  • carolineadobo said:

    I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Annapet last year. She is a charming, gracious, warm-hearted lady and now add inspiring to that list, too. 🙂

  • latha said:

    nice one thanks for sharing

  • penny aka jeroxie said:

    I had the pleasure of knowing Annapet too 🙂

  • Joanne said:

    It was so fun learning about Annapet and seeing all of her delicious food! Great post!

  • Deeba Rajpal (@vindee) said:

    I’ve never made a gazpacho before, and I’ve never been as tempted at this beautiful post. Thank you for having Annapet over… this is certainly a great idea Sanjeeta!

  • Jayasri said:

    wow lovely Gazapacho, I had seen this in a book never thought of trying it and I need to look into it!, lovely series sanjeeta, just saw this on twitter, lovely post Annapet!, your Macarons, muffins and gardens are stunning too..

  • chinmayie @ love food eat said:

    I like my soup hot so I am yet to try gazpacho… Every time I see a beautiful gazpacho I tell myself that it’s time I make it but never get around to actually making it. Now I think it’s time…
    Great post!I really enjoy reading about all these lovely bloggers 🙂

  • Sia said:

    Bright, summery and gorgeous is the word for this Gazpacho recipe!

  • Bonnie from sweet Life said:

    great post I enjoy learning more about bloggers. Thanks for sharing, the gazpacho looks wonderful!! love the color!

  • Elizabeth of AsianinAmericamag said:

    What a wonderful guest post ! Enjoyed the whole read, about Annapet’s health tips, food choices and especially the Gazpacho recipe. Thanks for sharing ! I enjoyed this site of Lite Bites and will surely be back more MORE Bites !

  • foodwanderings said:

    So well done Sanjeeta. Love this quality series. Very impressed with you and the job Annapet has done here. Gorgeous recipe and photography and mostly the content. Love seeing you both, my friends teaming up here. Somehow I missed the first post in this series so am heading over…

  • Faith said:

    Thanks so much for introducing us to Annapet! What a delicious and healthy recipe — such a beautiful gazpacho!

  • Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen said:

    It looks so amazing! I have never had gazpacho like this before. It is so beautiful!

  • Anita Menon said:

    A beautiful post indeed. An entirely unique of introducing a fellow-blogger. I got to know so much about Annapet.

    The soup looks beautiful

    Heading over to Annapet’s blog right now.

  • Tanvi@Sinfully Spicy said:

    Annapet is the most jolly blogger I have ever met- Her energy & humour is over the top- So glad to have met her. The gazpacho looks perfect for summer brunch- on my try list now!
    Thanks ladies for the wonderful post!

  • Angie@Angiesrecipes said:

    I must try that garden Gazpacho!!! So pretty, fresh and delicious!

  • Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal said:

    Love your guests posts and wow, what beautiful recipe and I am simply drooling over that delicious looking Gazpacho 🙂

  • Annapet said:

    Thank you everyone for the warm welcome here and for the gazpacho love. Over the days I’ve been visiting your pages and getting you know you a little bit, too.

    I have Sanjeeta to thank for that. My sincerest thanks, and what a wonderful experience it has been! Here’s to friendship and blogging!

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