Sweet Potato Pancakes May 18, 2013

Sweet Potato Pancakes

Sweet Potato & Buckwheat Pancakes

with cinnamon & walnuts

Sweet, nutty, nutritious, and crave-worthy.  Plan ahead for this recipe–you will want the cooked potato to have time to cool in the fridge overnight or for several hours.

Ingredients
Makes 1 hearty serving that can be eaten by one or shared by two

– 2 small sweet potatoes (choose smaller, or long and narrower potatoes for easier microwave baking)
– 1 1/2 tbsp 100% buckwheat flour
– 2 cage-free eggs (or one egg + 3 tbsp 100% egg white)
– Dash of cinnamon (to taste)
-light dash of salt
– 1 tbsp chopped walnut pieces

– 1 tsp 100% maple syrup (for topping)
– 1 tsp olive or canola oil to lightly grease pan

Method

1) MAKE AHEAD: Rinse sweet potatoes well and poke each several times with a fork. Place in microwave-safe dish with 2 tbsp water and microwave on high for 4-6 minutes until potato feels soft and well-cooked when poked with a fork. Place cooked potatoes carefully (they will be hot) in a closed container in the fridge overnight or for several hours until cook.

2) Remove  skin from cooled cooked potatoes and place flesh into a large bowl. Mix in all ingredients (except walnuts, maple syrup, and oil). Mash and mix the ingredients well until smooth then stir in walnuts.

3) Grease pan lightly with olive or canola oil and heat pan to medium-high heat. Carefully spoon out batter onto pan and press with metal spatula to flatten into pancake shapes. Allow batter to lightly brown on one side (about 1 minute) then flip and cook other side. Reduce heat when you add the second batch or if batter starts to brown to quickly.

4) Serve immediately with light drizzle of pure maple syrup. Top with additional walnut pieces if desired.

Broccoli Chickpea Soup May 12, 2013

Broccoli & Chickpea Soup topped with sun-dried tomatoes

Broccoli & Chickpea Soup
with olive tapenade & sun-dried tomatoes 

Ingredients
Makes ~8 servings 

Essentials
These ingredients make up the core of the soup
2 lbs broccoli crowns
1 lb cooked chickpeas
1 quart reduced-sodium vegetable broth
1 large yellow onion
6 cloves garlic
2 tbsp olive oli (to saute onion & garlic)

Additions
These are the additional ingredients I used and recommend but feel free to taylor them to your taste
1/2 fresh avocado
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
Spices to taste (I used 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper & a pinch of paprika)

Garnish with sun-dried tomatoes & olive tapenade 

Method

1) Chop & saute onion & garlic in olive oil at medium heat until slightly browned

2) Combine all remaining ingredients (except the garnish) into large cooking pot and blend until smooth using an immersion blender (aka hand blender). Once blended, heat soup in large pot on stove top on high until reaching desired temperature. Stir well.

3) Pour soup into serving bowls and top with sun-dried tomatoes & olive tapenade. Store remaining soup in sealed container in fridge for up to one week or freezer for longer storage (anything beyond a week). If you don’t think you’ll have the garnish ingredients the next them you serve the soup, add them to the soup before storing in fridge or freezer and allow them to mix in so their flavors aren’t missing from your next serving.

Cherry Cocoa Almond Smoothie April 20, 2013

Cherry Cocoa Almond Smoothie
with vanilla extract & creamy almond butter

Indulge & be fit! Cater to your cocoa craving with this lux fruity creation.

Ingredients

-3/4 cup frozen dark cherries (preferably without added sugar)
– 1 small frozen banana (peel & freeze the night before)
-1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (not “Dutch” processed-if possible as this makes for a milder flavor but strips out some antioxidants)
– 1 tsp almond butter
– 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (less for a thicker smoothie)
– 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Method

Peel and freeze the banana at least 4 hours in advance. If you make smoothies often, keep some frozen ready to go.

Blend ingredients until smoothie and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Naturally dairy-free, gluten-free, & soy-free. For a nut-free version swap the almond butter for 1 tsp coconut oil and use coconut milk instead of almond milk. If you’re subbing in coconut milk, opt for the carton variety found in the refrigerated grocery store aisle rather than the higher-fat canned variety.

Mighty Matcha Morning Smoothie January 26, 2013

Mighty Matcha Morning Smoothie
with banana & almond 

Ingredients

-1 large sliced frozen banana (peel, slice into 3-4 pieces, & freeze the night before)
-3/4 tsp matcha green tea powder
-1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
-1 tsp soaked chia seeds (optional)
-5-6 slices raw, rinsed white mushrooms (just under 1/4 cup)
-1 tsp chopped frozen spinach (optional)

Method

Blend until smooth. Enjoy creamy & cold.

The consistency will change dramatically if you use a fresh unfrozen banana. I very highly recommend using a frozen one for this recipe to achieve the creamy texture. Buy a bunch of bananas, allow them to ripen (they should have “freckles” and smell sweet), peel them, break them into 2-3 inch pieces and freeze them for a creamy, delicious smoothie starter. I usually use about 1/2 to 3/4 of a banana in a given smoothie but in this recipe you’ll need the whole fruit since it is the star of the smoothie (along with the matcha of course).

Chia seeds can be a fun smoothie addition bringing extra nourishing protein & fiber. Just be sure to soak them overnight in water so they won’t be too crunchy and affect the smoothie’s texture. I just added a teaspoon of the soaked seeds here (so a portion of that teaspoon was water). I soak about 2 Tbsp. and keep this to use throughout the week in a sealed glass container in the fridge.

Black Bean Salsa Verde Tacos January 25, 2013

Black Bean Salsa Verde Tacos
with avocado, grapefruit, & lime

After a long cold day, there are some nights when–as much as I love to cook–I really just want to pull something healthy and tasty out of the freezer to heat and enjoy. With high salt, additives, and other less than optimal ingredients in most frozen meals out there, I decided to make my own.

Pictured here are two of my own black bean salsa verde tacos from freezer to hot-on-my-plate in 3 minutes. Topped with fresh avocado slices.

Make your own!

Ingredients
Makes 12 tacos (6 servings)

-12 small corn tortillas
-3/4 lb dried black beans (soak overnight or at least 4 hours)
-2/3 cup frozen corn
-squeezed juice of 1 fresh lime
-1 fresh avocado or your favorite guacamole
-3/4 cup tomatillo salsa
-fresh cilantro to taste (unless you hate cilantro–some love it, some hate it)
-squeeze juice of 1/4 fresh grapefruit (optional)
– 1/2 scoop PlantFusion Unflavored Protein Powder (optional)

Method

1) Rinse beans and soak overnight (or at least 4 hours). Drain soaked beans and bring beans to a boil (using enough waters to cover the beans) then simmer for 1 hour until soft. Rise cooked beans and drain water.

2) Combine cooked beans and all remaining ingredients (except tortillas) in large bowl and blend with an immersion blender.

3) Take a few tortillas (3-4) at a time, moisten with just a few drops of water, and microwave for 30 seconds to soften. Scoop approx 2 tbsp of your puree into each softened tortilla so that it is full but can still close.

4) Wrap filled tortillas in wax paper to prevent from freezing together or space them out so that they do not touch within sealed tupperware that can be used in your freezer. Freeze tacos immediately to keep them fresh.

5) Take out your delicious tacos as desired, remove all wax paper, and heat on a microwave-safe ceramic or glass plate for 2-3 minutes until fully cooked.

6) Enjoy! I love to top them with fresh avocado or fresh tomatillo salsa.

Pure Delicious Pecan Pie December 29, 2012

Pure Delicious Pecan Pie
with dates & fresh ginger 

Creamy, pure, & simple

I have moved this recipe to my new website! Find the recipe here. 

Savory Potato Apple Soup December 16, 2012

Savory Potato-Apple Soup topped with a twist of black pepper and chopped ambrosia apple pieces.

Savory Potato-Apple Soup
with lemon & garlic

Mellow yet tangy–potato & tart apple pair playfully in this cozy soup. Serve it hot topped with fresh chopped apple slices. I suggest using an apple with a sharper, tarter flavor such as an Ambrosia or Jazz apple. Granny Smith would work as well (just avoid a purely sweet apple such as a Red Delicious).

Ingredients
Makes 6 servings 

-~1 lb potatoes (red new potatoes or small russets will work fine)
-3 Tart apples (such as Ambrosia or Jazz)
-4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
-Juice of 2 fresh lemons
-10 garlic cloves (peeled & chopped)
-3 shallots (peeled & chopped)
-2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar (If you don’t have this, add 1 Tbsp brown spicy mustard instead)
-Pinch of cloves
– 2 Tbsp olive oil (use for roasting potatoes & sautéing garlic)
-1/2 cup water
– 2 Tbsp chopped green onion (optional)
-Pinch of rosemary (optional)
– Salt & pepper to taste (as topping–not mixed into soup)

Method

1) Preheat oven to 350°F. Rinse and chop potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Place chopped potatoes in a large baking tray with 1 Tbsp olive oil. Mix well so that all pieces are coated in the oil. Bake for 40 minutes or until tender at 350°F, stirring every 10 minutes.

2) While potatoes are cooking, peel and chop garlic & shallots. Place on saucepan on stove top and sauté in 1 Tbsp. olive oil, stirring frequently until ingredients have browned slightly. Add a few spoonfuls of your vegetable broth as needed to keep ingredients moist rather than adding more oil.

3) Rince and chop 3 ambrosia apples. Reserve 1/2 apple chopped for soup topping. Add the rest into a large pot on the stove top along with the 4 cups of vegetable broth and 1/2 cup water. Add in all remaining ingredients to your soup pot (other than ingredients reserved for topping), and bring to high heat. Add in your garlic & shallots.

4) Carefully remove roasted potatoes from oven and add to your soup pot. Reduce heat to low. Using an immersion blender, blend all ingredients until soup becomes smooth.

5) Serve hot with chopped apple pieces on top. Add a pinch of salt and pepper on top as desired. Store extra in the fridge to use within the next few days or in the freezer to de-thaw and enjoy weeks or even months later!

Enjoy! Note, I did NOT peel the apples or potatoes because I felt they enhanced the soup’s flavor and texture (and added fiber!). Apples and potatoes are part of the “Dirty Dozen” so these are good items to buy organic.

Buckwheat Banana Gingerbread December 9, 2012

Rich Buckwheat Banana Gingerbread

Buckwheat Banana Gingerbread
with walnuts & fresh ginger

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups Arrowhead Mills Organic Buckwheat flour
1 1/2 Tbsp fresh grated ginger
1/3 cup molasses
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 ripe bananas
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1 cage-free egg
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp non-dairy milk (I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Method

1) Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine ingredients (all except buckwheat flour, nuts, & ground spices) in large bowl. You can use a mixer or a hand blender to mix the fresh grated ginger in well with the other ingredients.

2) Mix in the flour and spices until all ingredients are well blended. Mix in nuts using a large spoon (or sprinkle chopped nuts on top of bread batter in pan).

3) Pour mixture into bread pan and bake at 350°F for 40-45 minutes. Test the bread with a toothpick of fork to make sure that full baked.

This was a really fun bread to make. I was craving gingerbread and have been wanting to try something that would complement buckwheat flour (a gluten-free alternative to wheat–which is actually not related to buckwheat despite their similar names–with a distinct nutty taste). Gingerbread & buckwheat paired beautifully together. I really wanted to try this with applesauce but only had bananas on hand so decided to give them a try. Not bad and makes a great bread for those who would enjoy a more complex flavor than traditional banana bread but with some of the light banana sweetness. Enjoy!

Curried Cauliflower Soup November 26, 2012

Curry powder & fresh ginger heat up the flavor in this warming soup.

Curried Cauliflower Soup
with ginger & chickpeas

Ingredients

-1 quart reduced sodium broth (vegetable or chicken)
-1 cup cooked chickpeas (or one can drained & rinsed)
-1 1/2 cups sliced tomatoes or grape tomatoes
-1 head cauliflower (separated into florets)
-2 yellow onions (to sauté in 1 tbsp olive or canola oil)
-1 tbsp fresh grated ginger
-2-3 tbsp curry powder (to taste)
-1 tsp lemon juice (or juice or 1/2 fresh lemon)
-1 tsp black pepper
-salt to taste (do not add until serving)

Tip: Store some leftovers in the fridge & some in the freezer for future easy, healthy meals!

Method

1) Peel, chop, and sauté  onions in a large pan with 1 tbsp olive (or canola) oil. Stir frequently. When onion slices begin to brown, add 1/4 cup broth and reduce heat.

2) Rinse and separate cauliflower head into florets. Add florets to skillet with onions and add broth to moisten as needed. Stir frequently and allow florets to soften.

3) In a large pot on the stove top, bring remaining broth to medium heat and pour in contents from the skillet (onions & cauliflower). Add all remaining ingredients (except salt) and blend using an immersion blender.

If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can pour contents into a regular blender and carefully transfer back to your pot. Do not put hot contents in a regular blender–instead blend ingredients with broth before transferring to your large pot and heating. 

You want to blend until the florets are smooth but so that the soup still has some texture to it (it doesn’t need to be puréed).

4) Serve hot & enjoy! Add a light sprinkle of salt on top of poured soup when it is ready to serve.

Flourless Spiced Butternut Squash Mini Pies October 3, 2012

Spiced butternut squash mini pies sprinkled with cinnamon.

 This post has moved to my new blog: purefitlosophy.com

Warm Rosemary Olive Oil Bread May 23, 2012

Whole-Grain Rosemary Olive Oil Bread made with Organic Spelt Flour

Warm Rosemary Olive Oil Bread
with Organic Spelt Flour & Honey

Adapted from the recipe on the package of Arrowhead Mills Organic Spelt Flour.

Ingredients

-1 Package of Active Dry Yeast
-1 Cup Warm Water
-2 Tbsp. Dried Rosemary Leaves
-2 Tbsp. Honey
-2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
-1 tsp. salt
-3 1/2 cups Arrowhead Mills Spelt Flour

Method

Active Time: About 20 minutes
Total Time: About 1 hour and 45 minutes

While this recipe is easy to make, you will need to plan at least an hour and a half for it to rise and bake. No bread machine needed!

1) Combine warm water, yeast, honey, rosemary, and olive oil. Stir in salt and 1 1/2 cups Spelt Flour. Beat well for a few minutes until ingredients are well mixed.

2) Cover with a damp cloth (I used damp paper towels) and leave dough in a warm place for 30 minutes.

3) Add remaining flour, mix well, and knead by hand. Set aside again (I placed my dough at this point in a pie tie that I had coated with olive oil) in a warm place for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

4) Bake for about 30 minutes until brown. Serve warm. Delicious with a little olive oil, butter, or coconut spread to add to each slice.

Tip: If you are cooking for one, slice half the loaf and place the sliced half in your freezer so you can use some later in the week (or even a later month). When you are ready for a slice of your homemade bread, take the slice from your freezer, microwave for 30 seconds, then toast in a toaster, toaster oven, or lightly oiled pan on the stove.

Mustard Dill Potatoes April 3, 2012

Brown spicy mustard, fresh dill, and roasted garlic add lots of flavor to this savory side dish.

Mustard Dill Potatoes
with garlic and olive oil

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook time: 45-60 minutes

Ingredients
4 side dish servings

-6 medium red potatoes (also called new potatoes) rinsed and quartered
-1 medium sweet potato rinsed and cut into large bite-sized slices
-2 tbsp olive oil
-6 cloves garlic, minced
-1/4 cup fresh dill leaves, rinsed (or 3 tbsp dried dill leaves)
-1/4 cup brown spicy mustard

Optional extras–not necessary to enjoy this dish but they add an extra boost of nutritional benefits– Add one or two of these extras to the dish if desired: dash of turmeric, dash of cayenne pepper, dash of ground black pepper, 1 tsp red wine vinegar.

Method

1) Preheat oven to 375°F. Rinse and cut potatoes into large bite-sized quarters. Peel and mince garlic. Toss 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/8 cup fresh dill leaves, minced garlic and potatoes in a bowl to mix.  Prepare baking tray by coating with 1 tbsp olive oil.

2) Add tossed mixture to tray and place in oven to roast at 375°F for 45-60 minutes until potatoes are slightly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, shaking tray or stirring ingredients with spatula ever 15-20 minutes.

3) When potatoes have reached desired crispness, carefully remove from oven and place in serving bowl. Combine 1/4 cup spicy mustard and remaining fresh dill. Stir well. Add more mustard or dill if desired.

Delicious when served hot or cold. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Cloud 9 Icebox Chocolate Pie March 21, 2012

Cloud 9: Who knew tofu and chocolate would pair so well?

Cloud 9 Icebox Chocolate Pie
with creamy tofu & almond crumble crust

No one will guess your secret ingredient to lighten up this slice of chocolate indulgence–at least no one who hasn’t already used this secret ingredient in her own kitchen: tofu.

Ingredients
Pie Filling
–   1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Vegan chocolate chips if  going dairy-free. Carob is a different flavor but not healthier–just different.
–   1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
–   1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
–   1 package tofu (calcium-fortified, organic)
–   1/4 cup almond milk

Crust
–   1 & 1/3 cup almond meal
–   2 tbsp olive or canola oil
–   2 tbsp brown sugar
–   2-3 tbsp warm water (more if needed)

**Nut-Free Version: Use a whole-wheat or spelt frozen pie crust and soy or regular milk instead of almond milk in the filling to go nut-free (instead of dairy or gluten-free). The frozen or ready-made whole-wheat pie crusts can serve as a quick , healthy version if you are not serving to gluten-free guests.

Method
Almond Crumble Crust
1) Preheat oven to 350°F.
2) Mix almond meal, oil,and sugar in medium bowl or right in the pie pan. Add water 1 spoonful at a time, as needed, until mixture becomes slightly moist but not watery.
3) Smooth mixture to form thin crust, covering bottom and sides of pie pan.
4) Bake for about 15 minutes at 350°F and set aside to cool. To speed up cooling process you can place baked almond crust in the freezer or fridge while you make the filling.

Icebox Chocolate Pie Filling
1) Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe ceramic bowl for about 1 minute and 30 seconds at power 80% in the microwave or in a saucepan on your stove top, stirring frequently.
2) Combine ingredients, including melted chocolate, in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
3) Pour well-blended filling into pie crust and allow to sit and “form” in fridge for a least an hour before serving. Store in fridge.

Soy Side Note: While I do think that tofu is often way overused as a go-to vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free ingredient, I can’t deny that it serves this recipe beautifully. (For a vegan protein fix, try pairing complementary proteins instead of using soy daily. Yes, tofu is made out of soy.)

Green Bliss Smoothie March 16, 2012

Green Bliss Smoothie
with pineapple, banana, and spinach

Ingredients

-3/4 cup frozen pineapple chunks (unsweetened)
-1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach
– 1/2 ripe banana (fresh or frozen)
-3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond breeze (or coconut, or soy milk)

Method

Combine ingredients in your blender. The frozen pineapple and spinach are key for the texture. For a thicker smoothie use a frozen banana half (use fresh instead for a “less-spoon-required” version). Blend until smooth. Make sure the spinach is well blended so you do not end up with noticeable pieces in your drink.

Flavor Profile

The sweet flavors of the pineapple and banana make this a perfect green smoothie for green smoothie beginners. Pineapple dominates the flavors in this blend. If the thought of frozen spinach in your drink sounds daunting you will be pleasantly surprised by the mild flavor of the leaves which can rarely be detected past the sweet fruit flavors.

Nutrition Highlights

Sip this for breakfast and you will be one serving (1/2 cup) closer to meeting your choosemyplate.gov minimum 2.5 recommended daily cups of vegetables and 2 servings closer (1 cup) to meeting your minimum daily recommended 2 cups of fruit! The drink is packed with Vitamin C (over 70% of the DV), Fiber (24% DV), Folate (36% DV), and Vitamin A (beta-carotene form from spinach).

Use a calcium-fortified almond milk (or soy) to reach nearly 1/3 of the DV for calcium.

Cocoa Walnut Brownies February 12, 2012

Cocoa Walnut Brownies with Dark Chocolate Chips. I cut free-form hearts out of this batch for Valentine's Day.

Cocoa Walnut Brownies
with dark chocolate & olive oil

Rich in cocoa flavonoids, fiber, and monounsaturated fat, these brownies are a power-packed mix of ingredients blended into chocolate-lover’s perfect dessert. This recipe is an adapted version of Whole Foods Flourless Brownie Recipe.

Ingredients
-1 can or 2 cups cooked/drained of rinsed Black Beans
-3 large cage-free eggs
-1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
-1/2 cup brown sugar
-1 tsp honey (optional)
-2 tsp vanilla extract (real, not imitation)
-1/8 tsp salt
-1/3 cup olive oil, plus 1 tbsp to grease pan
-1/4 cup almond flour or white whole-wheat flour
-1/3 cup chopped walnuts
-1/2 cup 60% or darker chocolate chips

I used small broken off pieces of a 85% dark chocolate bar. Most people with a lactose intolerance can tolerate chocolate that is above 70% dark in small quantities without discomfort. You can also purchase dairy-free chocolate chips.

Method

1) Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease baking pan with olive oil (the Whole Foods Recipe recommends an 8-inch pan).
2) Combine all ingredients (except for chocolate chips and walnuts) in a large bowl and use a blender, food processor, or hand blender to blend these ingredients until smooth.
3) Stir in chocolate chips and walnuts. Pour mixture into baking pan and bake for about 30-35 minutes until brownies reach desired consistency.

Hot Cocoa that Loves You Back February 4, 2012

Rich, warm, drinkable cocoa so good you won't believe how good it is for you!

More Love Hot Cocoa
healthy twist on a cozy classic

Leave the packets behind. Artificial sweeteners, additives, who needs them? Ok, the “just add water” kind is great for camping but this choc-full-of-nutrient blend is almost as easy to make. A cup does wonders to satisfy those persistent chocolate cravings without gulping down hefty doses of saturated fat, sugar, and calories.

BREW IT
– 4-5 tsp unsweetened Cocoa Powder (alkali-free if possible)
– 3/4 cup Almond milk or Coconut Milk (or a mix)
-1-2 drops of Real Vanilla Extract
-Dash of cinnamon & nutmeg (optional)
-1/8 tsp Stevia powder OR  1/2 tsp Honey

In a microwave safe ceramic mug (no metal), spoon in cocoa powder then add almond or coconut milk. Add remaining ingredients except for honey–if you are using this instead of stevia–which can be added at the end. Stir ingredients and microwave on high for 1 minute and 30 seconds. Carefully remove mug and stir well.

Cherry Zucchini Smoothie January 27, 2012

Smoothie: Equal parts frozen cherry and fresh peeled zuchini with a small tang of lemon zest.

I have moved this recipe to my new website! You can find the recipe here: http://purefitlosophy.com/?p=25 

Carrot Cinnamon Smoothie January 22, 2012

Carrots Smoothie- topped with Cinnamon & Ground Flax

Carrot Cinnamon Smoothie
with Strawberry & Mango

Ingredients
Serves 2

-4 oz 100% carrot juice
-3 large frozen organic strawberries
-1 fresh banana
-1/2 cup almond milk
-1/2 cup frozen mango chunks
-1/2 tsp cinnamon
-dash of turmeric

Garnish
-dash of cinnamon
-pinch of ground flaxseed
-a few carrot shreds (optional)

Method

1) Blend until smooth.

2) Top with ground cinnamon and ground flaxseed.

Nutrition Highlights: This smoothie is high in Vitamin A. Carrot juice is lower in sugars than many fruit juices and is used as an accent to the fruit and calcium-containing almond milk. Cinnamon and turmeric have valuable anti-inflammatory properties, adding to the health value of this smoothie without tarnishing the refreshing taste. Turmeric pairs well with sweet and tangy mango and cinnamon pairs well with the the radiant carrot flavor.

Spiced Up Split Pea January 19, 2012

Picante Split Pea Soup topped with Ancho Chile Pepper and Daiya Vegan Cheddar Shreds

Picante Split Pea
with tomatillo & jalepeño

This is not your ordinary split pea soup. Adjust the heat to your desire by adding more or less of the hot peppers. Heat it up by the mug-full to satisfy your hungry. A mild soup get’s a little kick of savory flavor with the addition of some salsa verde. I used Trader Joe’s Salsa Verde with tomatillos and jalepeños here and have also made it using Trader Joe’s organic Tomatillo & Rosted Yellow Chili Salsa. Both were delicious and kept the soup quite mild.

Ingredients
Approximately 8 servings

-1 lb dried green split peas
-1 large yellow onion (chopped)
-1 12oz jar Salsa Verde
-4 green tea bags
-2 small organic yukon gold potatoes
-Approx. 8 cups water
-1 tsp or more Ancho Chile Pepper to taste (or Cayenne)
-3 gloves garlic (minced)
–Daiya Vegan Cheddar Shreds (topping
Methods
Total time Approx 1 hour, Active Time Approx 30 minutes

1) Add 8 cups water to large pot and boil on stove top. Turn off stove once water has reached boil. Add 4-5 green tea bags and allow to brew for 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, rinse split peas and potatoes and begin to chop onion and garlic.

2) Remove tea bags, add rinsed split peas and cubed organic potatoes (about 3/4 cup cubed potatoes). Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium high heat and allow to simmer for 4o minutes. After 25 minutes add remaining ingredients: chopped onion, garlic, salsa verde, and chile powder to taste. Skim off the foam while cooking.

3) When split peas and potatoes become soft, turn off stove. Using an immersion (hand) blender, blend ingredients until smooth. Serve hot topped with a dash of chile pepper and a pinch of Daiya cheddar shreds.

Store in the fridge for up to a week or stash some in the freezer for up to 6 months. Nutrition Highlights: High fiber, high protein.

The Best Black Bean Soup January 10, 2012

Simple ingredients. Simply delicious.

The Best Black Bean Soup
with zesty salsa & avocado

They say black is slimming. When it comes to black beans these high-fiber, high-protein, low-calorie legumes can certainly do a body good. It won’t matter however, when you taste your first spoonful of this simple, natural combination of flavors you won’t need any further convincing.

Ingredients
Makes 8 Servings

-1/2 lb dried black beans
-4-5 green tea bags
-1 cup of your favorite salsa
-1 bunch fresh cilantro
-1 large yellow onion, chopped
-2 tbsp olive oil
-1/2 ripe avocado
– 2 tsp cumin powder
-1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
-juice of 1 lime
-1/4 cup oat bran (optional)
Topping
–daiya deliciously dairy free mozzarella style shreds
-Baked blue corn chips
-1/2 ripe avocado (divide into slices)

Methods
1. Overnight: Rinse dried beans and soak overnight (or for at least 4 hours) in large saucepan.

The next day...After soak, drain most of the excess water. You will lose some water-soluble nutrients in the water but you will also lose some of the raffinose (type of sugar found in beans) that causes the discomfort known to give beans their nickname as “the musical fruit.” The majority of the nutrient quality will remain and your guests will thank you for this measure.

2. In a separate pot, bring 3 cups water to a boil. Once the boil is reached, turn off the burner and add 4-5 green tea bags. Cover pot with lid and allow to steep until very strong (for at least 15 minutes- but leaving the brew longer is even better).

3. In a large pot, combine brewed green tea (remove tea bags) and beans and add water until beans are totally covered. Bring beans to a boil and reduce to a simmer, cooking for approximately 1 hour until beans are soft.

4. Chop onion and add to large saucepan with 2 tbsp olive oil on medium high heat. Stir frequently until onions brown to a caramelized state (but do not become black and burnt).

5. When beans are soft, reduce heat to low and stir in cilantro leaves from one bunch, caramelized onions, 1 cup salsa, cumin, cayenne pepper, oat bran (optional), lime juice and 1/2 ripe avocado. Using an immersion (hand) blender, blend ingredients until smooth.

Serve hot. Delicious topped with baked corn chips, daiya dairy-free “cheese” shreds, and a few small avocado slices. Keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for months. Freezer tip: If freezing, use containers that will hold only a few portions each for easy future dining.

Nutrition Highlights: This 100% vegan dish is packed with nutrients and extremely filling despite its low-fat, low-calorie profile. Black beans are an excellent source of several vitamins and minerals including folate, iron, and magnesium. The green tea is high in antioxidants which help protect cells against damage (including both heart damage and wrinkles). This soup is an ideal dish for helping to lower cholesterol; The beans and oat bran are very high in soluble fiber- the type of fiber that can bind to cholesterol carrying molecules in the blood and help remove these molecules. The avocado, which adds a delicious creaminess to the soup body, is high in monounsaturated fat- the “heart-healthy” type of fat that helps to raise HDL levels and lower LDL levels.

Buckwheat Soba Noodles with Peanuts & Lime December 29, 2011

Buckwheat Soba Noodles with Crunchy Peanuts & Fresh Lime

Buckwheat Soba Noodles with Peanuts &  Lime
with red cabbage, broccoli, carrots, & mint

Don’t get stuck in a whole-wheat pasta rut. While whole-wheat is certainly a step up from refined pasta for Italian pasta dishes (whole-grains are higher in fiber  and nutrients), Buckwheat soba noodles are a delicious alternative to use as a base for the fresh flavors of Asian cuisine. Buckwheat–despite the misleading name–isn’t actually related to wheat. (In fact, it’s more closely related to Rhubarb!) Buckwheat soba noodles high in protein, antioxidants, and are naturally gluten-free, but check labels carefully to make sure that wheat was not also added to the noodles if you have a wheat allergy.

Ingredients
-Buckwheat soba noodles (about 2 oz per person)
-Fresh broccoli
-1 whole large onion
-4 cloves fresh garlic
-1/4-1/3 head of fresh red cabbage shredded
-2 large carrots shredded
-2 fresh limes
-2 tbsp Terkiaki sauce (reduced sodium if possible)
-4 tbsp your favorite Peanut Sauce
-3/4 cup blanched, shelled (unsalted) peanuts- to add to taste on top of individual portions
-3 tbsp canola oil
-Fresh mint leaves (optional)
-Sesame seeds (optional)
-4 oz Protein–lean meat, tofu, or seitan– fully cooked and sliced very thin

Methods
1) Place protein in a sealed container or bag with 1-2 tbsp marinade and leave in fridge for 20-30 minutes. Cook meat or vegetarian protein (tofu or seitan work well) as desired using some of the peanut sauce or terkiaki sauce as marinade. For tofu or seitan, you can easily add these to a stir-fry pan and cook with 1 tbsp oil. For chicken, you can bake thinly cut chicken breast slices for about 30 minutes at 350°F. For beef (lean and 100% grass-fed), use stir-fry cut strips and cook in stir-fry pan the same way you would cook your tofu.

2)  Begin boiling water in large pot for pasta, following the soba noodle’s instructions on the package (cooking instructions vary by brand and number of servings). Chop onion into fine pieces and add to large stir-fry pan with canola oil. Cook on high heat, stirring frequently. Mince garlic and add to pan, reducing heat to medium.

3) Chop, shred, and slice remaining vegetables and add these to pan stirring frequently. (Add broccoli last). After approximately 5 minutes add in terkiaki and peanut sauce.

4) Once water has boiled, add pasta and cook according to directions on box. Once cooked, strain pasta and combine in large bowl with cooked vegetables. Slice 1 lime and squeeze juice into bowl. Mix well. Slice remaining lime to add a slice as an accent to each plate so that guests can enjoy as desired.

5) Serve hot. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and sesame seeds and top with 1-2 tbsp peanuts. Pairs well with green tea.

South meets Southwest: Black-Eyed Peas & Lime-Seared Steak Soup November 15, 2011

Black-Eyed Peas & Collard Greens meet Cilantro & Lime

This soup combines elements of the traditional southern black-eyed peas and collard greens soup with southwestern flavors of cilantro and lime. I traded the traditional pork or bacon of the “Hoppin’ John” for some lean cut 100% grass-fed beef marinated in fresh lime juice. The meat here is used as an accent flavor; the black-eyed peas are the stars of this dish. Enjoy throughout the fall and winter but bookmark this dish for January 1st. The recipe makes a wonderful New Year’s Eve dish as black-eyed peas are celebrated by many as a “lucky” food to begin the new year.

Black-Eyed Peas & Lime-Seared Steak Soup
with collard greens & cilantro

Ingredients

• 1 & 1/2 cups dried black-eyed peas
• 1 cup frozen chopped collard greens
• 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
• 9 cloves fresh garlic
• 2 shallots chopped (optional but suggested)
• 0.5 lb 100% grass-fed stir-fry beef strips
• 2 large handfuls of fresh cilantro
• juice of 2 fresh limes
• dash of cayenne pepper

Methods

The Night Before: Rinse 1 1/2 cups dried black-eyed peas and soak in a large pot for at least 4 hours. I normally leave the beans to soak covered overnight. Place fresh 100% grass-fed beef, sliced thin in a zip-lock bag or container with a full lime’s worth of lime juice. Store in the fridge overnight.

1. Strain soaked black-eyed peas and add to large pot with about 4 cups water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and allow to cook for about an hour stirring occasionally.

2. In a large stir-fry pan, begin searing lime-marinated beef at medium heat.  Crush and chop garlic into thin slices and add about 3 of the 9 cloves to your pan with the beef. Toss in a few rinsed fresh cilantro leaves as well. If you have the optional shallots, chop these and add to your pan. Add 1/4 cup of your vegetable broth (I love Pacific Natural Foods Organic Vegetable Broth- low sodium) to the pan and cover, stirring occasionally for about 15 minutes or until beef is fully cooked.

3. When black-eyed peas have cooked (after simmering for about 60 minutes) strain, rinse, and return to large pan with the remainder of your 4 cups vegetable broth. Bring heat to medium high. Rinse 2 handfuls of cilantro (also known as coriander) thoroughly and add to your soup pan. Also add  1 cup frozen chopped collard greens, the remaining garlic, and the lime juice from the second lime.

4. Stir in beef and spike with a dash of cayenne pepper.

Amply provides enough to serve 4.

Mushroom-Parsley Soup November 4, 2011

A surprisingly refreshing mushroom soup. Accented by the flavors of fresh parsley, lemon, and cloves. I used 2 boxes Baby Bella and 1 box white mushrooms but any variety would work.

Mushroom-Parsley Soup
with black lentils and cloves

Yet another delicious soup to keep you warm this season! This recipe is an adaptation of this recipe from Jamie Oliver’s Member Recipes. Mushrooms, onions, and garlic are all wonderful immune-boosting foods. Parsley adds a refreshing complement to the flavors and a blast of immune-boosting vitamin C. Black lentils turn this soup from a tasty side dish to a filling meal, and are a remarkably good source of iron.

Ingredients
-3 10 oz boxes of mushrooms
-2 large onions
-1/2 cup dry black lentils
-1 cup chopped fresh parsley
-3 cloves garlic (crushed & chopped)
-1/2 tsp grated ginger (or thinly sliced)
-2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
-2 cups water
– 1/4 tsp cloves
-4 tbsp whole wheat flour or almond powder
-2 tsp lemon juice
-2 tbsp olive oil (or canola)
-2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
-Pinch of salt and pepper to taste

Note: You will cook the lentils in a separate saucepan so have two pans ready.

Methods
1. In your smaller pan, add 1/2 cup dry black lentils and 2 cups water. Heat to boiling and then reduce to a simmer and cook for at least 20 minutes. The lentils will cook while you prepare the rest of your soup. Add more water (or vegetable broth) if needed.

2. Chop onions and add to large saucepan (deep enough to hold at least 5 cups of volume) along with olive oil and heat to medium-high heat. Stir frequently. Immediately chop and crush garlic and add to pan. Wash mushrooms (removing dirt with a damp clothe or paper towel) and cut into small pieces. Add to saucepan and stir frequently.

3. While mushrooms, garlic, and onions cook for several minutes, prepare remaining ingredients. Wash and chop parsley, ginger, and thyme. Add remaining soup ingredients and stir well. Add your cooked black lentils as well.

4. Using an immersion (hand) blender, blend soup lightly until it reaches a smooth consistency but still has some texture from the mushrooms.

5. Serve hot and garnish with fresh parsley. Delicious when served with crisp garlic bread. Enjoy!

Zucchini & Fennel Soup October 29, 2011

Zucchini & Fennel Bulb offset Onion and pan-seared Tomato complemented by a spalsh of Lime

Zucchini & Fennel Soup
with fresh lime & pan-seared tomato

Fall and winter in New England are ripe for soup season. The first frosty weekend blew in to Boston this week (including our first snow sighting). Time to get cozy- and try some new soups!

Ingredients (adapted from this Bon Appétit recipe)

– 1 whole onion, chopped
– 1 whole fennel bulb, chopped
-1 whole zucchini, chopped
-2 tbsp olive oil
– 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
-1 whole tomato, chopped
-2 cups brewed green tea (no sugar)
– 1 fresh lime
– pinch of fresh  thyme (optional)
-dash of salt & pepper

Methods

1. Chop onion, fennel bulb, and zucchini and add to large saucepan with 1 tbsp olive oil set at medium heat.  To save time you can chop the three veggies in that order and add them to the pan as they are chopped. Stir frequently to evenly cook added ingredients.

2.While onion, fennel, bulb, and zucchini are cooking, chop tomato and add to a separate pan with 1 tbsp olive oil and a few fresh thyme leaves (optional).

3. Once fennel and onions become translucent, add in thyme and squeeze in the juice from one fresh lime. Stir and pour in 1 cup of low-sodium vegetable broth.

4. While ingredients are cooking, brew 2 cups of unsweetened green tea. (You can just fill a mug with boiling water and a green tea bag, allow the tea to steep for a 2-3 minutes, add to the pan and repeat.

5. Reduce heat to low and, using an immersion (hand) blender, blend ingredients together. If you don’t have an immersion blender you can transfer the mixture to a regular blender to blend then pour back into your large pot in stages. Add in your dash of salt and pepper to your blended soup.

6. Finally, pour into bowls and garnish with fresh fennel greens and the pan-seared tomato. Serve hot.

Time Saver Tip: Fresh, Fridge, Freeze. Fill your bowl (and others to be served) with hot soup to enjoy fresh. Immediately place a couple of extra servings in a microwave-safe container and put away in the fridge. The remaining soup can go in a freezer/microwave-safe container and stashed in the freezer for a later meal. Be sure to label and date!

Dairy-Free Spiced Butternut Squash Pie October 9, 2011

Butternut just keeps getting better & better.

Dairy-Free Spiced Butternut Squash Pie
With Ginger Snap & Crisp Wheat Crust

So I’ve  found a yet another use for the wonderful butternut squash I’ve been getting from the farmer’s market this season: PIE. I adore the smell and taste of spiced pumpkin pie and have made it for Thanksgiving every year but I haven’t ever tried it with other squash. I was determined to make my own butternut squash pie from scratch for the first time last week so that I could bring some with me to NYC as a gift. As an added culinary challenge,  this pie needed to be dairy-free. Most recipes use sweetened condensed milk so I wondered whether the flavor would suffer at all from this omission.  I found that some recipes suggested replacing the milk with vanilla soy milk or coconut milk. Coconut milk tends to be the creamiest of  milk alternatives so I opted for this replacement. Banking on the natural sweetness of the cooked squash, I cut the sugar added to only about 1/3 of what the recipes suggested. Using a combo of Light Coconut Milk (less fat than the original) along with a splash of almond milk, vamping up the cinnamon and throwing in a tbsp of flaxseed powder -I just couldn’t help “healthifying” the recipe. Having used much less added sugar & fat than recipes suggest, I was a bit nervous when I took the first bite.  I MISSED NOTHING.

Aromatic cinnamon & nutmeg mixed perfectly with the sweet squash complemented deliciously by the snappy ginger crust. This pie was a true slice of heaven. Try it for yourself!

Ingredients
Makes TWO pies. This pie is so good, you’re going to want the extra one.

2 whole butternut squashes (I used pretty large ones, they were about 3lbs each)
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp fresh or frozen ginger (Optional. Note: Powdered ginger will not taste the same. If us use it, don’t use more than 1/4 tsp)
1/4 tsp salt
5 cage-free eggs
1/2 cup reduced-fat coconut milk
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (You can use all almond or all coconut if you prefer)
1 tsp vanilla extract (Optional. I didn’t have any and my pies did not miss it. If it’s not the real stuff, don’t bother)

Ginger Snap Crust Blended with Olive Oil & Whole Wheat Flour

The Crust
Makes 2 crusts

– 1 bag 365 brand (Whole Foods)  Ginger Snaps (or any without dairy- some brands are made with butter)
– 1/2 tsp cinnamon
-Dash of nutmeg
-3 tbsp olive or canola oil
-4 tbsp whole wheat flour

Methods

Preheat oven to 350 ° F. Wash squash and slice into halves and quarters and place on baking pan with a splash of water. Cover with tin foil and bake for about 1 hour until tender. While, the squash is baking, prepare the crust. Put the dry ingredients for the crust together in a food processor (or blender) and blend until the become a pretty uniform powder. Add the oil and blend. Smoothly pat the crust in place in your pie pans.

When squash has cooked, put the crust in the oven (same temp) to bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pans after 10 minutes and pop them in the freezer to cool.

Meanwhile, time to make the filling. Using a spoon or fork scrape out all of the flesh of the squash into your food processor or blender. Save the seeds in a container to roast them later for a great snack. You will probably need to blend in batches if you are making a large batch. It doesn’t matter how much of the other ingredients you put into each batch because you will mix them all together in a large bowl once blended. Just make sure that all of the ingredients get blended into the mix.

Take your fully-cooled pie crusts out of the freezer and pour in the filling. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. Place pies in the oven and bake at 350°F for 50-55 minutes. Remove baked pies and allow to cool (preferably by a cool open window) for 2-3 hours. Serve and enjoy!

Plantain Coconut Berry Smoothie November 7, 2010

 

Plantain Coconut Berry Smoothie: Fresh plantain (ripened to sweetness), unsweetened coconut milk, frozen strawberries, blueberries, mango, and a spoonful of spinach.

Plantains are an excellent source of potassium (even more per gram than a banana), vitamin A, and vitamin C. When allowed to ripen for several days, they can become very sweet and be used like a banana and eaten raw. Plantains are also commonly used like a potato when they are less ripe, and make delicious chips, and tasty baked dishes.

Unsweetened Coconut Milk adds a delicious creamy, tropical taste to smoothies and is a great way to reduce added sugars. Check the label of the carton before you buy and look for the variety with 0g of added sugar and that is fortified with vitamin D and calcium. While coconut milk does contain some saturated fat (5g/serving), research has shown that the type of saturated fat found in coconuts, medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) may be processed differently in the body than the saturated fats that are present in animal products.  The brand of coconut milk that I bought was also fortified with vitamin B12 (providing 50% of the daily RDA), making it a very good choice for vegetarians and vegans who may be lacking B12 (usually only found in animal products) in their diets.