Minestrone

With the fall nip in the air, it's hearty soup season! Bummer part? Not being able to use milk, cheese, cream, or meat. The cook inside me pretty much huddles in a tiny corner and sobs at the thought of no broccoli cheddar soup...But..I have to put my big girl pants on and get over what I can't use and learn recipes with what I can! This recipe actually makes me not miss my other fav soups so much. Chock full of nutrition, with a thick slab of fresh bread, this soup really hit the spot tonight for me! 

I'll be completely honest, though. My kids started bawling when they came to the table and seen this. "It looks SO GROSSS mom!!" "I will DIE if I have to eat that!!" But, we have the two bite rule. So, the shuddered and braved through bite one. Apparently, they decided it wasn't complete poison because they ate it ALL. Aerro very honestly let me know it was NOT his favorite but that it wasn't completely disgusting and both the big kids said they would eat it again. ;-) I rewarded them with two cookie balls each. I was so proud of my trooper kids for eating all their food. 

Vienna? Yeah. She had seconds. And thirds. Looks like it is best to start eating healthy when kids are little!

Minestrone 

1 sweet potato
4 celery stalks
1/2 sweet onion
2 roma tomatoes
1 bell pepper (I used yellow)
10 baby or 2 regular carrots
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 large kale leaves
Handful of mushrooms (optional)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon fresh chopped oregano
2 quarts organic vegetable broth 
1/2 box Rotini pasta (I like VitaSpelt Rotini)

 See all those pretty vegetables?? I love the colors!  

Scrub and chop all vegetables into small cubes.
Dump into crock pot with vege broth.
Cook on low for 7 or so hours.
Add the rotini.
Cook on high for a half hour or until the noodles are cooked. Stir once or twice so noodles cook evenly. Salt and pepper to taste.

 That's it! Super easy, healthy, and tasty! 

The Beauty of Raw Oats

Three little bowls lined up in a row...

Bursting with the goodness my children love, you know!

Topped with raisins, almonds, cranberries, coconut, and honey

the good news is, on a budget, it doesn't cost that much money! 

 It is soaked and raw, meaning better nutrients, doesn't need to be cooked! Once you try it, I am confident, you and yours will be hooked. :-)  

Raw Oats

Old fashioned rolled oats (not instant or steel cut)

Almond, rice, hemp, coconut, or dairy milk

1 tablespoon honey per 1/2 cup oats

Toppings: Our Favorite

Cinnamon+Apples

Blueberries+Vanilla

Cocoa Powder+Honey+Banana+Chocolate Chips

Blackberries+Maple Syrup 

Almonds+Cranberries+Raisins+Coconut

Dump oats in a seal-able container. Cover with milk choice about an inch over oats. Stir in honey. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Adjust sweetness in the morning if you want. Top and enjoy! 

Vegan Lentil Burgers/ Kale Guac Salad

--->Why Plant Based<--- 

I won't lie. 

Five years ago if you presented me with a recipe for Lentil Burgers I probably would have gagged a little bit and told you you were something of a health freak.

Well.

Now, I'm the something of a health freak on occasion. 

And you are probably the same way I was. Looking at this recipe like..."Right. Lentil Burgers. I'm sure they are just deeeeeelicious...not!" I mean everything about these just screams extremest! Not that there is anything wrong with extremest. I just have never been one and had many preconceived notions currently being torn down about said types of people.

And today, yes today, I became one of those. I made Lentil Burgers. Made them, served them, and nobody puked them up. Avoni gagged, but that's ok. Slowly, she will learn to try new things ;-) 

Craig? He said it was THE best Plant Based meal I have made yet. I blushed..and giggled..and kissed him a few times. 

I am posting the photo from the website I got them from. Their photo is way better than mine. Daylight savings...gets dark way before dinner and well, no more natural lighting! 

These guys served with the following salad and some Spicy Sweet Potato Fries is like an ultimate meal. 

Vegan Lentil Burgers (original recipe post)

1 1/2 cups water to use for:

1/2 cup lentils, rinsed and drained

2 cups water to use with:

1 cup brown rice

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 medium red onion, chopped

2 red bell peppers, seeded, deveined, and diced

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon chili powder

Whole-grain flour

8 whole-grain buns

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a medium saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil. Add the

lentils, reduce the heat, and cook until beans are softened, about 15

minutes. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, in another medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a

boil, add the rice, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the rice

is just tender, about 40 minutes. Drain and set aside.

In a sauté pan, sauté the garlic, onion, and peppers until lightly browned.

In a large bowl, combine the lentils, rice, and vegetables. Add the

salt and chili powder and mix well. Add a bit of flour to hold the

mixture together, if needed. Form into burger-sized patties and place

on a parchment lined baking sheet or press into a loaf pan.

Bake burgers on 350 until slightly firm, about 15 minutes.

Kale Guacamole and Lime Salad

Kale

Guacamole

a good squirt of lime

Simple! Wash, dry, and shred kale. Place in a decent sized bowl. With your hands, mix some prepared guacamole into the kale until it's the right taste ratio for your liking. Drizzle with lime juice. Mix again. It's pretty much a add and taste until it's how you like it deal. Let me tell you, though...guacamole paired with the slightly spicy kale is amazing, not to mention the zing lime gives it! 

Best served on Ezekiel Sprouted Grain Buns, loaded with lettuce, vegan provolone, guacamole, and tomato! 

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries

I live in the Northwest. here, we have the best "fast food" joint in the nation. It's called BurgerVille. For so many, it's almost a cultish obsession. There isn't one where I live, but when we go to Vancouver, first stop: BurgerVille. It's just a given! One thing I miss about not having it nearby (although it's probably better for me in the long run) is not being able to eat unlimited sweet potato fries when they are in season. Such a weak spot for me!! 

But, well, it now appears I can actually fulfill that craving myself. 

Sweet Potato Fries. Slightly spicy with just enough sweet. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Addicting.

And...healthy! For real. 

Sweet potatoes are literally bursting with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants (goodbye wrinkles! ). Whole Food's considers them an ultimate health food. I mean, hey...any reason to make a favorite food seem more appealing is fine by me! 

Typically, we eat some form of dip with our fries but not with these! They are delish just plain. 

Spicy Sweet Potato Fries

3 sweet potatoes

1 tablespoon your choice of oil

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch (a must! they make the fries crispy!)

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp paprika

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 450. Scrub potatoes but don't peel them. Slice into thin fries. The thinner, the better in my books. More crisp! 

Place in bowl. Add the oil, cornstarch, and seasonings. Toss to coat thoroughly. Place not touching on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 15 minutes. Turn. Bake another ten. Keep an eye on them as you don't want them to burn. If by this point they aren't crispy, turn your oven on broil and watch closely until the fries are crisped. 

Vegan Pumpkin Cranberry Cookies

--->Why Plant Based<---

With this new plant based/ vegan diet, I am going to need plenty of quick go-to snacks on hand! 

Preparing foods without eggs or oil is a new thing for me. I have been baking without refined sugar for a few years now, but no oil or eggs? 

Today I made this recipe. Hardly any different in texture or flavor than my other oat cookie recipes so that makes me very happy!! 

A delightful tasting cookie that is healthy as well, fairly bursting with pumpkin and cranberry. It is a perfect fall treat. 

Vegan Pumpkin Cranberry Cookies

1 1/2 cups oats

1 cup oat flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp cloves

1/4 cup honey

2/3 cup pumpkin puree

2 tsp vanilla

4 tablespoons water

1/2 cup cranberries

Mix dry ingredients, save for cranberries. In a separate bowl, combine wet. Stir both together. Add cranberries. Place in rounded tablespoons on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake for 9-10 minutes on 350. Cool completely before storing in airtight container. 

Vegan Mexican Couscous w/ Corn Tortilla

---> Why Plant Based<---

A new recipe invented in my kitchen the other night..

We have a whole new food journey ahead of us and this was recipe one.

The kids and I are going partial plant food based diet (vegan-ish) and Craig is going full plant based for health reasons.

I know have an entirely new challenge ahead of me!

For never cooking this way in such a strict manner(think no meat, dairy, limited added oils, no refined sugars), I think recipe one turned out extremely well.

We didn't choke it down; the meal was actually enjoyed. Score one!

Vegan Mexican Couscous

1 cup Mediterranean couscous blend 
1 3/4 cups water
------------------------------------------
2 cups prepared brown rice
1 can black beans, drained
1 cup corn
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1 green pepper, chopped
3 tablespoons lime juice
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
Salsa to desired consistency
salt and pepper to taste

If using Mediterranean couscous blend, prepare  by boiling the water, adding couscous, covering, and simmering on low for 17 minutes. Remove from stove and fluff with fork. Very similar to cooking rice. I don't have regular couscous so I don't know the water/time needed to cook that. 

Mix cooked couscous with rice in a large bowl. Add all remaining ingredients and combine VERY well. I added some salsa to the mix until it didn't feel dry. Top with chopped cilantro if desired. Serve hot as a dip for chips, wrapped in a tortilla as a burrito, or in a hard shell taco. We had ours with salsa and guacamole. 

Making Hard Shell Tacos, oil free

The coolest trick I used the other night was making my own taco shells out of our organic corn tortillas. Being Craig is staying away from oils, most all recipes are out as far as preparing corn tortillas. But, what I did, is dry heat each corn tortilla until soft and then drape over my oven racks like so, baking for 8ish minutes on 350. Perfect hard taco shells and no added oils! 

(photo off bing)

Whole Wheat Graham Crackers

Because I try to home make the majority of our foods, I made these up for the kid's afternoon snacking and they loved them! Easy enough that this'll most likely become a staple in our house, now! They make my entire home smell SO yummy, too. 

Aerro, Avoni, and Vienna had fun poking all the holes into them! With them being sticks, they are perfect for dipping. The kids experimented with different dips. Strawberry cream cheese and peanut butter with honey mixed in were their favorites.  

Whole Wheat Graham Crackers

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups regular flour

1/2 cup, packed dark brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup cold butter, cubed

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup water

Combine first six ingredients in a food processor. Add cubed butter until crumbly. Mix in water and honey until a dough forms. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness on parchment paper. Cut into shaped and prick holes in tops. Place about 1/4 inch apart on parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake on 350 for 15 minutes. Cool completely on cooling racks to help them crisp up. 

Super easy, super delicious! 

BBQ Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Orange Glazed Carrots

A new family favorite here in our home, this meal was scarfed down in moments. Some days it's like pulling teeth to get my kids to eat something healthy. True story, my son upon seeing this did all sorts of convulsions and gags, looking at his plate like it was regurgitated who knows what.

In true Calvin and Hobbes style, this is exactly what Aerro looked like. 

And then he had a bite. (We have a 2 bite rule on any and everything in our home.) His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. Direct quote. "WOW! This is ACTUALLY good! I got to tell Avoni (who was still in her room at the time)! AVONI, AVONI!!! THIS CHICKEN IS NOT DISGUSTING!" Thanks for the vote of approval, Aerro. :-)

And so, I will post the recipe. I also turned the meal into a cold layered sandwich wrap and a grilled pita pizza (minus the carrots) with mozzarella added the next day. All ways were reviewed well!

Link To BBQ Chicken Recipe

Rice Pilaf  by Peggy Seppala

1/2 stick butter

1 cup rice

2 cups water

1 tsp (or 2 cubes) chicken bouillon

Melt butter in saucepan. Add rice and cook on medium until golden colored. pour into 8x8 pan or pie plate. Bring water and bouillon to a boil. Pour over rice. Bake, covered, at 350 for 30-40 minutes.

Glazed Orange Carrots by Donna Suomi

1/4 cup cranberries (I did not use)

1 lb baby carrots, sliced thin

1/2 tsp salt

2 tablespoons sugar (I used brown)

1/4 cup chicken broth

1/2 tsp orange zest (I used freshly grated)

1/4 cup orange juice

1 tablespoon butter

black pepper

Bring cranberries, carrots, salt, 1 tbsp sugar, chicken broth, orange zest, and orange juice to a boil in a large, covered skillet. Simmer about 5 minutes. Uncover and increase heat to high and boil about 1-2 minutes. Add butter and remaining sugar. Cook until carrots are tender and glazed a light golden color, about 3 minutes. Season with pepper and serve. 

Chicken Pot Pie, Biscuit Style

This chicken pot pie came together as a spur of the moment craving fix. Maybe it's fall creeping into my families minds, or maybe it's the need for something creamy and hearty, whatever it was, this filled all cravings. :-) It also reheated well in the oven. Yes, Craig went back for seconds later on in the day. Score there! I didn't feel like mixing up a pie crust so instead, I just did biscuits. I used my pepper jack biscuit  recipe but subbed the pepper jack for sharp cheddar. Make sure the dollops are small or else the centers might be a bit gooey. 

Chicken Pot Pie, Biscuit Style

*recipe makes 1 9x13 or 2 pie plates*

1 bag frozen mixed vegetables

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup flour

2 minced garlic cloves

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp sage

1/4 tsp pepper

2 cups chicken broth

3/4 cup milk

1 Tbsp chicken bouillon granules (I like Better Than Bouillon brand)

2 cups cooked and cubed potato

3 cups cooked and shredded chicken

Biscuit Mix

1 cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp each cream of tartar, sugar, salt, pepper

1/4 cup cold butter

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar

1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Cut in cubed butter using a pastry blender until mixed throughout and crumbly. Stir in cheese and milk until a dough forms. 

In saucepan, melt butter and add onion. Cook until onion is tender. Whisk in flour and then add broth, milk, seasonings, and bouillon. Whisk until thick and bubbly for 2 more minutes. Stir in veg and chicken. Bubble again. Pour into 1 9x13 or 2 pie plates. Make biscuit dough. Drop by small spoon fulls on top. Bake on 400 for about 20-25 minutes or until biscuits are golden. 

Monthly Meal Plan

I was asked by some friends to post my monthly meal plan for this month. I've never actually done a meal plan this organized before, but beings I thrive on schedule, I think this'll make life a whole lot easier! Beings I have all my beef, pork, and chicken in my freezer already, it made the cost way lower. This will (hopefully!) feed my family of five with leftovers if I planned it out correctly! many of the recipes are already on my blog.

I borrowed the idea from this amazing woman (link) and while hers is so much more neatly written, mine will work for me ;-). Until I get a chance to type it up in a word program, that is!

This doesn't include side dishes. Say for instance corn is on sale, I'll grill some up...or make a different side if I feel like it. This is mainly the rough idea of what I will make. I also embrace the possibility that I might find something fabulous on Pinterest between now and then that I simply must make. That is where being flexible comes in. 

Monthly Meal Plan

WEEK ONE

mon tues wed thurs fri sat

muffins/grapes        pancakes/sausage  french toast          yogurt/banana skillet hash        eggs/bacon/waffles

TLC/cheese             frozen yog pops      pretzels/dip            granola bar        apples/ pbutter   100cal snak

ckn tenders/dip       pizza bread           hot dogs/carrots   grilled sandwiches   mac&cheese       quesadilla

taco shells/salad     baked mac/salad   enchilada/salad   scalloped potato/ham   potato chowder   bbq pork

WEEK TWO

mon tues wed thurs fri sat

pancakes/eggs        oat squares/fruit      yogurt/banana           egg/toast/bacon      french toast       skillet hash

popcorn                   raisins/graham    baked cheese sticks        granola bar          apples/pbutter       100cal snak

grilled cheese/soup   chicken salad   pb/banana sandwiches       pita pizza              snack plate          grilled burrito

meatballs/potato       chicken chili        pulled pork subs            broccoli beef            steak salad     mongolian beef/veg

WEEK THREE

mon tues wed thurs fri sat

waffles/applesauce pancakes/bacon oatmeal/raisins yogurt/banana french toast eggs on toast/sausage

frozen yog pop pretzels/pbutter popcorn grapes crackers/cheese 100cal snak

ckn tenders/dip/veg grilled cheese baked mac french bread pizza pb honey sandwich (leftovers)

grilled burrito/salad baked ckn/sides mexi stuffed peppers meatball casserole broc/cheese soup (eat out)

WEEK FOUR

mon tues wed thurs fri sat

muffins/fruit oatmeal/fruit pancakes/eggs skillet hash french toast/fruit bfast quiche

frozen yog pop granola bar honey popcorn baked cheese sticks oat cookie apples/cheese

hamburgers pbj/veg ckn tenders pizza bread baked mac taco salad

spaghetti/salad baked ckn wings roast beef/veg bbq chicken/potatoes pita pizza steak/lettuce wraps

Color Code 

BREAKFAST
SNACK
LUNCH
DINNER

Cinnamon Roll Pull Apart Bread

Some times my bread isn't eaten right away, so I typically make it into croutons. Today was not so. Instead, I whipped up this little culinary magic! It lasted about ten minutes. That's how much my family loved it! 

I can't wait to experiment with different flavor combinations! I'm making an orange glaze next time. Tossing in some chopped apples. Or how about something savory? Hmmm.... ;-) 

Cinnamon Roll Pull Apart Bread

Loaf of bread, not cut 

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp cinnamon 

~Cinnamon-Sugar mix~

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

 ~Glaze~

Powdered sugar, thinned with milk until glaze consistency 

Melt butter and stir in honey, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Cut bread halfway down , both ways.
Gently pull apart and drizzle with honey/butter mix.
Sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mix.
Wrap in foil.
Bake on 350 for 20 minutes.
Drizzle with glaze.
Enjoy!

Grilled Sandwiches

I went to the Farmer's Market last Friday and found a favorite local bakery booth. When I'm not in the mood to make more bread (so far, made 12 loaves this past week) I like to get theirs. Mostly because they do all these specialty round breads. Vegetable Feta, Garlic Onion, Parmesan Basil, on and on. Fabulous bread! 

I figured I'd post this recipe because it's another family favorite and super easy to whip up on those days where cooking doesn't exactly sound fun! 

Once again, as with many of my posts, it isn't an actual recipe..just an idea to get you started. :) 

This week, I chose the Vegetable Feta which isn't as scary as it might sound to some! 

It had just the right amount of garlic, a few little artichoke hearts, some chopped onion, and a smattering of feta throughout...So, cut in half so you have two rounds...or two half rounds 

I forgot to take a photo of what I layered so here it is : homemade mayo mixed with avocado and tiny bit of pressed garlic, sliced turkey breast, thinly sliced tomato, some bacon, and fresh whole milk mozzarella slices. Wrap entire sandwich in foil.

Then comes the "squashing" part. Put a cutting board and about 5lbs weight on top of sandwich to press it down for about ten minutes or so. If you are using a hard bread, you will need to add about 15 more minutes to the time. This makes it almost panini style. 

Once that is done, you can either bake it on 350 for about 15-20 minutes OR grill for around ten. Either way, what you end up with is totally amazing! Crispy on the outside, gooey and everything else good on the inside. A perfect summer meal! 

Vanilla Extract

My incredible cousin Glenda who live in Malaysia came to the states recently and she came bearing gifts. Vanilla beans directly from Bali! I knew they were good beans when I could smell them through the double wrapped-sealed in a ziploc bag packaging. 

Of course the first thing I made was vanilla extract. It's a pretty basic ratio. 15-20 beans per 750mL of 80 proof alcohol (bourbon or vodka). The more pricey the alcohol, the better quality the extract. In other words, Monarch just isn't going to cut it, sorry! 

Directions are simple. Slice beans down the center, put into bottle, seal, shake around daily for a week, and then weekly for a month or so. I let mine sit for about 6 months before using though some people say they use it as soon as six weeks. It takes some time, but it is SO worth it! 

The rest of the beans are going to make my yogurt taste amaaazziinnggg! Thanks, Glenda! 

Broccoli Salad

So, I posted this recipe right when I first started the blog but the whole post annoyed me whenever I went back to it for the recipe. The photo was unappetizing and it was just a bad post. So, now, I revamped the recipe making it healthier...That's what I'm all about, you know? 

I prep the actual salad separate of the dressing and just put dressing on right when we eat. That way, it doesn't get soggy after a day! I LOVE this served in salad boats or wraps. Perfect as a side for BBQ!

Broccoli Salad

5 cups chopped broccoli

3/4 cup golden raisins

10 strips bacon

1/2 cup sunflower seeds, not roasted

1/2 red onion, chopped small 

~Dressing~

1/2 cup plain yogurt (the yog adds a kind of tang to the dressing..if you don't like that, use mayo)

3 tbsp honey

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Combine salad ingredients. Make dressing. Toss well. 

Hard, huh? :) 

All the pretty ingredients!!

All mixed up and ready to eat...super yummy! 

Breadless Lunch

So, I know people are all into going grain-free, gluten-free, carb-free, sugar-free, food-free, eating-free, etc.. (humor on the last few, folks) but I believe in all things in moderation. I won't stop eating grains or breads, I may limit the consumption, but I am not an extremest one way or the other! Phew. That being said.....

I actually LIKE not eating bread all the time! I mean, who wouldn't when you can whip up these little bite size pieces of divine?? 

First off. I HIGHLY recommend everyone in the world getting a Marttiini knife. I mean, sure, I'm proud of being a Finn and all, but even if I wasn't, I'd rave on this knife. You want to talk about literally paper thin tomato and cucumber?! My mom just brought it back from the Motherland and gifted it to me. I may never stop cutting up veg again! I sliced two cucumbers and 3 tomatoes..for no real reason. Just because it was FUN! 

So, on to my favorite breadless lunches. They aren't really recipes, per se, but just awesome combinations.

First off, this beauty. 

butter lettuce, soft swiss cheese wedge, cucumber, and tomato

Then, I made these little darlings fairly bursting with flavor! 

cucumber, roasted garlic and red pepper hummus, tomato, and feta cheese

The final one was this..

greek yog chicken salad topped with mozzarella

And, well, with so many little dudes made up, I couldn't help but eat them all. In one sitting. With a very large bottle of sparkling VOSS water..because that's how I roll!