Herbs de Provence

From southern France, this dried version of Herbs de Provence, uses lavender flowers which was apparently a new addition in the last few decades. It's a very aromatic herbal blend to add to your herb and spice cabinet. We've been using it on our popcorn. It's delicious. You'll need this special blend in the recipe for Tiffani's Raw Herbed Stuffed Mushrooms.

Herbs de Provence

 



1 Tablespoon dried thyme
1 Tablespoon dried basil
1 Tablespoon dried rosemary, crushed
1 Tablespoon dried tarragon
1 Tablespoon dried savory
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried lavender flowers
1 bay leaf, crushed (optional)

Combine all ingredients. Store in an airtight container away from sunlight. Makes about 1/3 cup.

Some Thoughts: Blessings and Whole Foods Provision

When my family's diet comes into conversation with a stranger, I start thinking about my blessings. One such encounter happened recently while I was with my children and we were doing some shopping for my parents.

On this day we were in a discount grocery store and I was doing the usual checking labels and prices. I was talking with the children as usual and we were about ready to check out when someone commented to us that they were glad to see we were considering the prices and ingredients in our food before we bought our groceries.

They initiated a conversation about healthy foods. This person mentioned gmo foods and other raw food topics, along with some documentaries that I might find interesting. I told them about our vegan diet and this blog. They seemed happy to hear it. I was glad to have connected with a like-minded person.

I write because it's one way to share my recipes as well as to remind me of where I've come. I may forget the blessings otherwise. I write to show the many possibilities that a vegan diet can and does hold for those seeking to find healthy ways to prepare food. I hope that I've helped others find the "road" to a healthier life.

I realize the term "vegan" conjures up different ideas for many people. Really, we eat a whole foods, plant based diet. Since we are what we eat, I prefer to eat in a way that I know will produce health for me and my family. I am also blessed to have a husband and children that have been so easy to please.

I really like to use the whole food approach because there are so many things that work together in foods, still being discovered, that help to heal. You can go and find vitamin this and vitamin that, a specific amino acid here, and isolated mineral this and that there. In whole foods, you get all the synergistic nutrients working together to balance each other the way God intended they should do. He is the Creator after all. He knew what our bodies would need. He is Jehovah Jireh, "the Lord Who provides" and we can trust that is what He will do for us.

I am also reminded of the passage in I Peter 3, from verses 15 and 16: "...in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,  keeping a clear conscience..." I know this is speaking of our life in Christ, but I can't help seeing it with new eyes when I consider my conversation with this stranger in the store. People are always ready to listen to someone who is gentle and respectful. This person was just that. I hope that my words were a testimony to this person as well.

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

The shadows are coming sooner in the evening now. With the fall in full swing as the leaves turn beautiful colors ... and a little warmer weather right now, to be thankful for before it turns cold again, I am reminded of certain foods. Pumpkin is one of those.

I've always liked the memory I have of eating pumpkin spiced ice cream, in my pre-vegan days. It was at a pumpkin festival I went to in my college friend's hometown, back in the day. This comes pretty close to that memorized flavor. I'm still great friends with her and I still love the flavor of these spices combined with pumpkin. You can find the original recipe here.

Pumpkin Spice Smoothie

2 cups non-dairy milk (or use a handful of nuts/seeds w/water up to 2 cups)
1 Tablespoon chia seeds (helps thicken)
1 cup unsweetened pumpkin puree
2 Tablespoons maple syrup*
1 frozen ripe banana
2 teaspoon cinnamon**
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger**
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg** (I used 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg)
pinch salt

Blend well in a good strong blender until creamy. It'll be done in less than a minute. Makes slightly more than 4 cups. Two batches of this recipe fit into my Vitamix container, enough for the whole family to enjoy.

* - You may substitute another sweetener if you like.
** - Or you can use about 3 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice to replace the 3 spices listed above.

Coconut Vanilla Mango Ice Cream

What do you do when your electric 6 quart ice cream maker doesn't sell in your yard sale? You make ice cream, of course! I was glad it didn't sell, but I hadn't used it for a while. So when I came across some bargain priced organic coconut milk, I knew what I had to do. An extended family gathering made a perfect reason to whip up some of the homemade variety and share. I told my children, only when Papa is home, can we bring it out of the freezer to enjoy some more.

I made a full batch (a full 6 quarts, my capacity for our ice cream maker). I'll share the amounts I used for the entire batch. Adjust as needed for your use. I based my recipe on one I found over at The Nourishing Gourmet (essentially, I made three recipe's worth with added mango).

Coconut Vanilla Mango Ice Cream

10 and 1/2  cups coconut milk
1 cup honey
6 Tablespoons homemade vanilla extract (recipe coming soon!)
2 pounds frozen mango chunks (about 6 cups)

In batches, I blended the ingredients together in my Vitamix and poured it all into the ice cream maker's metal canister and followed the directions for the ice and rock salt to process it into ice cream. It took an 1 hour for it to freeze. Then I put it all into containers and put into the freezer to harden.

We served it the next day. Good stuff. I used ice that wasn't crushed, so it came out the consistency of snow, but it was still delicious and creamy because of the coconut milk. Next time I will just pulse blend the mangoes into the mix to keep it in small pieces instead of pureeing it. I think it would have a bigger mango flavor that way. Also, when adding the vanilla, I'm going to stir it in instead so there are larger vanilla bean flecks.

I think my daughter likes it. =)

 

 

Split Pea Soup

 I remember when I first "went" vegetarian back in 1996. I didn't know what to do with recipes like split pea soup. Why? What was I going to do for the ham or bacon flavor? It seems almost laughable now, but it was a real challenge for me at the time. I love split pea soup. Over the years, I've tried other things like "bac'uns" (soy tvp based vegetarian "bacon" bits) - which we loved, and I couldn't see how we'd live without, to liquid hickory smoke. But I've come across something that redefines good split pea soup...Yes, in my opinion.

Two words: chipotle pepper or smoked paprika. Ok, maybe four, but who's counting? If you like a little spicy on the side, use a whole chipotle pepper as a "floater" in the soup, like you would use a whole bay leaf. The only people that are going to get a spicy bite are those actually eating the pepper. My daughter had her bowl minus the chipotle pepper and didn't think it was spicy at all. But my husband, son and I all enjoyed a little spice from breaking up the chipotle pepper in our bowls. So good. Next time, I'm going to put at least two peppers in the soup. If you want it smokey without the spice, try adding smoked paprika powder instead. Now you're talking!

Feel free to puree the soup, but I like to skip this step, leaving it stand just the way it is. My son likes to have it chunky this way. Hey, with fewer dishes, I won't complain. =)

Split Pea Soup

 

 

1 pound split peas, sorted and rinsed

3 quarts water (more for thinner soup)

5 carrots, chopped

3 onions, chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

3 stalks celery, chopped

1 - 2 dried whole chipotle peppers (a smoked jalapeno pepper)

1/2 teaspoon ground celery seed

1 teaspoon dried basil or 1 Tablespoon fresh basil

1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 Tablespoon fresh thyme

1/2 teaspoon salt

a little freshly ground black pepper (1/4 teaspoon maybe?), to taste

 

optional:

1 potato, diced

1/2 cup other veggies on hand, as desired

1 bay leaf

 

Start by getting your water and split peas going to a boil on the stove in a good sized kettle (I used my 5 quart "dutch oven" pot). When it has reached a boil, turn down to medium heat. Meanwhile, chop up the carrots, onions, garlic and celery and add to the soup pot as you go. "Float" the dried chipotle pepper in the soup like you would a bay leaf (which would be added here too, if you want to use a bay leaf). Make sure to leave the chipotle pepper whole, unless you want the entire soup pot to be spicy!

 

Cook at least 30 minutes, test to check if split peas are soft and add more time if needed. If you like pureed split pea soup, here's the place to do it, before adding the herbs. Turn down to a simmer, add the seasonings, salt and ground pepper. Cook another 5 minutes, then turn heat off. Remove and reserve the chipotle pepper (discard the bay leaf, if using). Move off the hot burner and serve. Add bits of the chipotle pepper to the bowls of those that request their soup a bit spicy.

 

This can easily be done in a crock pot on low for 4-6 hours. Add seasonings in the last 30 minutes.

 

We enjoyed this with homegrown cherry tomatoes and sliced avocado on the side. Afterward, we rinsed our bowls out for some homemade vegan ice cream for dessert! Oooo...Aaaah! Recipe coming soon.



My Pantry List

This is in response to a long overdue post I had promised my cousin (I didn't forget!). In thinking about what I stock in my pantry, I realize that it changes with the seasons and various discounts I find. I include what I usually have on hand in fresh produce as well. We try to eat a lot of raw foods, so you'll see that reflected here.

Greens are listed separately because they are so important. I rotate the greens for breakfast smoothies, but I always try to keep salad lettuces on hand for other meals. I don't usually have all these greens at the same time. Right now we are still using kale (Lacinto and Red Curly) and Swiss Chard from our garden.

Following is a general list that you should feel free to adapt to your situation. These are what I thought of today (I will try to update as I think of others). I rarely have all these things at the same time. I buy as I can and try to watch what is in season and on sale. Please see additional notes at the bottom of the post.

Seeds and Nuts

• Almonds (for homemade almond butter)
• Sunflower Seeds
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Sesame Seeds & Tahini (sesame seed butter)
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Hemp
• Chia
• Flax (dark and light)
• Cashews
• Coconut, shredded (unsweetened)
• Seeds for Sprouting (alfalfa, mung bean, etc.)

Grains

• Brown Rice
• Wheat/Rye/Spelt Berries (to grind fresh into flour)
• Rolled Oats (Old Fashioned)
• Popcorn (kernels for popping)
• Quinoa
• Whole Organic Corn (for grinding into cornmeal)
• Millet

Legumes, Dried (organic preferred when sprouting legumes)

• Split Peas
• Lentils
• Black Beans
• Pinto Beans
• Garbanzo Beans (Chick Peas)

Vegetables

• Carrots
• Onions (and Green Onions)
• Sweet Potatoes
• Cabbage
• Celery
• Garlic
• Tomatoes (fresh and sun-dried organic)
• Bell Peppers 
• Hot Peppers (fresh and dried)
• Ginger Root
• Winter Squash (Butternut, Acorn, Pumpkin)
• Peas (frozen)
• Sweet Corn (frozen)
• Broccoli
• Beets
• Cucumbers
• Zucchini

Greens

• Romaine
• Leafy Lettuces
• Spinach (fresh and frozen)
• Mixed greens
• Kale
• Collard Greens
• Swiss Chard
• Dried Teas: Peppermint, Spearmint, Chamomile
• Fresh Herbs: Parsley, Cilantro, Basil, etc.

Fruits

• Lemons
• Apples
• Bananas
• Berries (frozen)
• Raisins, organic
• Dates (Pitted and also Medjool)
• Avocados

Sea Vegetables (Seaweed)

• Nori (for "sushi" wraps)
• Kombu (makes beans more digestible)
• Wakame (for miso soup)
• Kelp, powdered (in my Spices list)

Sweeteners

• Honey (local)
• Maple Syrup (local)
• Green Stevia, powdered (in my Spices list)

Oils and other condiments:

• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Nama Shoyu (raw soy sauce) or Coconut Aminos
• Olive Oil, extra virgin, organic
• Coconut Oil, extra virgin, organic
• Mustard
• Salt (we like "Real Salt")
• Vegetarian Formula Nutritional Yeast
• Miso
• Carob Powder
• Homemade Vanilla Extract (recipe coming soon)
• Dried Herbs and Spices

Occasionally:

• Pasta
• Tofu/Tempeh
• Tomato paste
• Yeast (for baking bread)
• Arrowroot (for thickening)
• Figs
• Home canned tomatoes
• Mushrooms (fresh and dried)
• White Potatoes
• Pineapple
• Young Coconuts
• Other fruits in season
• Other vegetables in season

I go to discount stores and find other foods that we can enjoy periodically. Sometimes I'm able to find things that I normally use at a much better price, but selection may be very spotty. I find that if I check in now and then at places I'm going by anyway, I can sometimes get a very good deal. My standard is buying ripe bananas (with brown spots - I use them for smoothies) at a deep discount for only 19 cents per pound at a local grocery store I frequent. Sometimes there are even organic bananas marked down for the same price. Keep an eye out for deals and marked down produce. We buy a lot of it and it pays to check.

Note about wheat/gluten and soy: We have been eating wheat free for about one year now. I don't stock any wheat, rye, spelt, wheat based pastas, or yeast (not wheat, but I wouldn't use it anyway) because of this. I include it here to show what you may need if you use wheat/gluten based products. We also eat very little soy, but do include it occasionally (I never use TVP or soy oil). Because of these two reasons, I never buy pre-made meat analogs, as it seems that 99% of these products contain one or both, wheat and soy.

I try to include recipes on this blog that give you alternatives to pre-packaged (read: marketed to vegetarians) "alternatives" out there. Vegetarian offerings in stores have come a long way in the last 20 years. There is still so much to be desired if you consider the sensitivities and allergies that people have these days. Making things yourself tastes better when it's homemade and it's usually cheaper, but not always. At least you know what's in your food this way!

I hope this list gives you an idea of how I do things at our house. Your list may look very different than mine. Make it yours.

Raw Cauliflower "Popcorn"

Cauliflower went on sale this week and I thought of this idea I'd seen floating around on the internet. It's a good thing I had three heads of cauliflower to work with! We polished this off with some baby carrots and pitted dates for a nice raw supper tonight. Pass the cayenne!

Raw Cauliflower "Popcorn"

1 head cauliflower, washed and cut/broken up into small pieces
olive oil
salt or seasoned salt
nutritional yeast (not raw, but often used in raw cuisine)
other seasonings, as desired

The only directions you need are simple. In a bowl, drizzle the olive oil over the cauliflower. Add in the seasonings and stir well until evenly coated. You can vary this with your choice of seasonings. The only thing that is standard with the recipe is the cauliflower. It was very much like seasoning the usual corn variety of popcorn. Except there is no popping happening. Eat right away or see below for a dehydrated version.

Food dehydrator option: Mix up as usual, making sure not to over season. Put onto dehydrator trays and dry until desired, about 8-10 hours. The flavor will be much more concentrated when you do this as opposed to how it tasted freshly mixed before dehydrating. This option makes it even more crunchy.

Almond "Groundnut" Stew - West African Style

While living in Ghana, we enjoyed many new flavors and tried some new dishes. We often made many of our own stews without meat at home so we could enjoy what was common there. A West African meal, groundnut stew is surprisingly good. We enjoyed this last evening with two friends, one was vegetarian and one was not. They both really liked it.

My version is vegetarian and uses almond butter instead of the typical peanut butter (aka, "groundnuts"). It puts unique flavors together that our American palettes don't understand... until we taste it. Most often served with steamed rice, it is also very good with boiled medium ripe plantains (a type of banana that is cooked). For toppings, you may also put out other fresh chopped tomatoes, green onions, coconut (etc. - like for curry condiments). Slices of avocado or banana, on the side, would be enjoyed by those more sensitive to the spiciness of this dish.

The three flavors, that were often used together in Ghana, are hot pepper, fresh ginger, and garlic. These are the stars in this stew, along with tomatoes, onions and, of course, almond butter (or more commonly, peanut butter). It is my recommendation that you use only "natural" peanut or almond butter without sweeteners or oils or other ingredients. I made my own almond butter just before I added it to the stew last evening (2 cups whole almonds in the food processor, about 10 minutes, makes about 1 cup almond butter).

Almond "Groundnut" Stew

1 Tablespoon oil (I used coconut oil)
2 cups chopped onion (red is more authentic)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon peeled and minced, fresh ginger root (about 10-12 grams)

cayenne pepper to taste (or chopped fresh hot pepper, to taste)
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated, if possible)
1 teaspoon chili power (optional)
2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes (or use canned tomatoes)
1-2 eggplant, chopped (optional)  *called "garden egg" in Ghana
1 green bell pepper, chopped (optional)
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
1/2 cup natural peanut butter (or almond butter)

More optional ingredients: (add with tomatoes)
10 whole okra
1/2 cup chopped sweet potato

In a large saucepan, saute onions, garlic and fresh ginger in oil for a few minutes. Add seasonings. After a minute or so, add in tomatoes, optional vegetables, salt and water. Simmer for 20-30 minutes. In a separate bowl, or larger-than-needed heat proof measuring cup (I use a 2 cup glass liquid measuring cup), mix peanut butter (or almond butter) and about another equal part of hot liquid from the stew (I use a ladle to get some from the pot) together with a whisk. When mixed well, add it slowly to the pot and simmer another 15 minutes or so. Adjust salt and seasonings as needed.

This would make a good choice for a crock pot meal and will be very freezer friendly after it has been cooked and cooled.

Date Pecan Treats

This is the other treat I took along to our family reunion. Chopped and mixed together, this can give a whole new flavor combination that people would not expect. I often put these morsels out next to the Truffles and let people decide for themselves.

Date Pecan Treats

3/4 cup pecans, chopped
1/2 cup pitted dates, chopped
1/2 teaspoon orange (or lemon) zest, fresh or dried
pinch of sea salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 Tablespoon maple syrup

Put all ingredients into food processor. Pulse until you have an even texture, not paste, but very small "crumbs" that will hold together into a ball. Roll into bite size pieces and place onto a dish and put into freezer to stay firm until ready to serve.

My son made these and they turned out well. If you notice an oiliness when you make these, that's normal. It's the oil from the pecans. I can hardly make these without pulsing just a tad too long and oiliness results. Not bad, just more slippery, but oh, so good!

Tahini Fudge

I recently attended a family reunion in Virginia and took some of this (similar to Simple Fudge) along to share. It was a hit, along with Truffles and another recipe, Date Pecan Treats, I'll share later. It is best a day or two after it's made, so plan accordingly. Enjoy!

Tahini Fudge

1 cup tahini (sesame seed paste/butter)
1 cup carob (or cocoa) powder
3/4 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla (optional)

Optional mix-ins:
coconut
granola
nuts

Mix together well. The mixture will be a bit like thick frosting. Put into a small flat pan in the freezer and chill for a few hours (up to 24). Cut into bite size pieces and place them separately onto another dish and return to freezer until ready to serve. You'll lick your fingers, these are so good (and gooey!).

Lasagna Bake

I've been trying some gluten free products lately. Some good, some ok and some I should stay away from if I'm going to continue my emphasis on whole foods and avoid overly processed foods.

Recently I tried some wide noodles made from potato. This was my first try at cooking these and I decided to try them using a recipe on the back. I've also been using some tofu again now and then. Seeing as how I needed to make it vegan (it called for cheese and eggs), I made some changes.

I'm pleased with how it turned out. It's made like the no-boil recipes for lasagna. You might be able to substitute other gluten-free noodles for this recipe, although you'll have to experiment and find what works for you. Please read the recipe thoroughly before gathering all your ingredients.

"Tastes Like Lasagna" Bake

1 recipe "stedda ricotta"
1 Tablespoon ground flax seed mixed with 3 Tablespoons water
1-10 oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
3 cups tomato sauce (like spaghetti sauce)
1-9 oz. package gluten-free wide potato noodles
1/2 cup water

In a bowl mix together the "stedda ricotta", ground flax seed (already mixed with water), spinach, oregano, salt and pepper. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

At this point have all of your ingredients ready. You should have the spinach/"ricotta" mix (divided in half), nutritional yeast, tomato sauce (divided in half), dry noodles (also divided in half), and 1/2 cup water ready. I used a 9"x 13" pan, you can use a smaller pan for a taller finished product if you like. Oil your pan now (I used coconut oil and a little olive oil together).

Layer in this fashion, spreading evenly after each addition:
1/2 spinach/"ricotta" mix
1/2 dry noodles
1/2 tomato sauce
2 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
1/2 spinach/"ricotta" mix
1/2 dry noodles
1/2 tomato sauce
Pour the 1/2 cup water around the edges.

The recipe says to cover tightly with foil. Since I don't use foil, I covered it with a cookie sheet instead. Bake for one hour or until bubbly. Let stand for a few minutes before cutting.

Enjoy. Pass the crushed red pepper, please! =)

Curry Powder

I made this curry powder recipe after using up my current supply of store-bought curry powder. The only ingredient I had to buy was fenugreek seeds. I easily found it at my natural foods store with their bulk spices. I got just enough for two recipes worth since I won't be using it for anything else currently.

Stores that have a get-your-own bulk herbs and spices are great for being able to do this without spending a lot of money to try it. I like being able to have a variety this way and it's more authentic too.

Curry Powder

1 stick of cinnamon, 3 inches long, or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
10 cardamom pods or 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
8 whole cloves or 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3 teaspoons cumin seeds or ground cumin
2 teaspoons peppercorns or 1 teaspoon pepper (I used less)
2 teaspoons coriander seeds or 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon turmeric
3 teaspoons fenugreek seeds or 2 teaspoons ground fenugreek

If using whole spices, combine all ingredients, except cardamom pods and coriander seeds. Grind and sift cardamom pods and coriander seeds separately, then add to other spices and grind in a blender or electric grinder. If using ground spices, mix all together. Store in airtight jar. Makes about 1/4 cup.

Hot Curry Powder: Add 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper to mix.

I had both whole and ground spices, so I measured them as called for and then put everything in the grinder for one last go round.

Chili Powder

I love making new herb and spice blends. The freshly ground spices give my kitchen a nice aroma for awhile. I'm having a little fun today making my own chili powder. I used to buy it ready made, but realize that as I run out, there's no reason I can't make my own. I've been making my own seasoned salt for years, why not this?

It's easy and you'll ask yourself the same question. Why don't I make this myself?

Chili Powder

2 Tablespoons cumin, ground (or whole, see note)
2 teaspoons crushed red pepper or 4 dried hot chili peppers, ground (see note)
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons garlic, granulated
2 teaspoons onion, granulated
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Note: You may use whole seeds for the cumin. If grinding the dried hot chili peppers yourself, you will want to remove the seeds (or at least most of them) beforehand, or the mixture will be too hot.

Combine all ingredients, except crushed red pepper (if using), in a grinder or blender (a personal blender works too). Grind until mixture is a coarse powder.  If using, add in the crushed red pepper only by stirring it in (do not grind together). Use in recipes as needed.

Hummus Dip

Just recently my daughter and I attended a "Keepers at Home" group that we are part of through involvement with our local homeschooling group (and co-op).  The mothers take turns each month teaching useful skills to the girls to "keep" their future homes. It is a privilege and honor to do this. And it's fun to participate with your daughter and learn something fun like making a quick and colorful scarf by using hand knitting! =)

Recently I was able to take a turn doing what I love. I had an evening of making, tasting and learning all about simple healthy vegan foods. The girls watched as I made some things and talked about the foods. Then they also got their hands into it by making some things with me. And who can forget the tasting! We sampled a few things that I know they won't forget. And I mean that in a good way! =)

Our evening included making (and eating!) hummus. The following recipe is the one I followed (and improvised with). It can be found at simplyrecipes.com. You can also use this as a spread or salad dressing for any number of things. This is a nice creamy dressing that replaces the ever present ranch style dressings/dips that are always around at potlucks. Take some of this hummus along with some raw veggies, next time you are invited for a potluck meal! =)

Hummus

2 garlic cloves, mashed and minced
2 15-oz cans (about 3 to 3 1/2 cups) garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
2/3 cup of tahini
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of salt
ground cumin, to taste (my addition - optional)

In a food processor, combine the garlic, garbanzo beans, tahini, lemon juice, 1/2 cup water, and olive oil. Process until smooth. Add salt (and cumin, if using), starting at a half a teaspoon, to taste. Makes about 3 cups. Add more water, a little at a time, if it's thicker than you like.

Serve with sliced up vegetables. We used sliced cucumber to taste test, the evening I did this for the group. You can use: zucchini, cucumber, carrots (try slicing these on the bias for longer, bigger dippers), bell peppers (any color), thinly sliced raw sweet potato, celery (I love celery this way!), jicama, broccoli, cauliflower, grape tomatoes, etc.

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus: add a small amount (1 to 2 tablespoons) of roasted red peppers to food processor along with salt. Start with a small amount, tasting and adding more if desired.

This hummus can also be used as a spread on breads for sandwiches...with some veggies, makes a great sandwich! Thin with water, as desired, for a nice salad dressing.

Flavor it how you like, with any number of your own variations. There are so many things you can do with hummus. Be creative and have fun.

Tip: If you use warm beans, you may find the hummus to come out smoother.

Veggie Stuffed Bell Peppers

We had a dinner tonight that I just had to write about. Normally I am not a stuffed pepper sort of person. I really don't like green peppers all that much. But a recent bunch of discounted green peppers at the store the other day prompted me to look through my recipes once again.

I have a recipe that I improvised from like crazy (as usual!) and I love the result. So here is my version, gluten and grain free, in fact.

Veggie Stuffed Bell Peppers

3 (medium to large) green peppers
1 cup frozen corn (thawed)
1 cup mixed frozen vegetables (ours had corn, peas, green beans, & carrots)
1-2 cups cooked beans (I used chick peas)
1 cup your favorite fresh salsa (or more, as needed)
a few dashes hot sauce (optional)
6 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
dried oregano, to garnish

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

First, wash and cut in half, through the stem, the green peppers, trimming out the seeds and white ribs. In a pot, boil some water to quick cook (blanch) the peppers for about 5 minutes. Remove, drain and set aside into a baking dish when cooked.

Mix the corn, veggies, and beans together. Now you are ready to assemble. Making sure the blanched peppers are laying on their sides, open side up, stuff with the veggie & bean mix. Then, layer each with the fresh salsa (mixed with the optional hot sauce). Next, a tablespoon of nutritional yeast goes on top of each pepper half. To garnish, I put dried oregano on top (like I do with homemade pizza). Put into oven for 20-30 minutes until heated through.

Makes 6 servings as a side dish, 3 as a main dish. I made double the recipe and it fit my 9"x13" casserole nicely.

My Kitchen: A Tour

I have been writing this blog since 2008 and sometimes you'll see some of my kitchen layout in the photos. We are currently in our fourth house since I started blogging.

One tip I have is to make sure that you arrange your kitchen in a way that works for your household. Mostly that would mean how you organize within your cabinets and drawers, etc. Many times we overlook how to use wall space effectively and don't think about what else goes on in the kitchen, beside food prep and eating. I recently realized that how I keep my kitchen will ultimately help or hinder my progress to eating healthy and keeping my family together to eat meals. Keeping it in order will help to make sure we eat more in our home than away. Staying on top of your current food inventory means you'll always have what you need to prepare good food.

We recently made some changes in our kitchen to make it more user friendly. Since we rent, all the wall changes were approved by our landlady before we did them. She allowed us to take down the wallpaper that was up on the wall by the sink and over the counter. We painted the wall instead and removed and painted where there had been wall border about halfway around the kitchen.

I finally have some photos of my kitchen for you. Our kitchen is about 13' x 10', not including the pantry.

Over the sink are hooks for towels. I intend to get something for putting next to it (empty wall right now), which will be right in front of the person washing dishes (maybe a mirror in a "window" type frame?). My son gave me some plants for my "clock" shelf. I put misc. decorations/unused kitchen items on top of my cabinets.

My husband made and  installed a "nail board" for utensils and measuring cups/spoons under the upper cabinets! You see my knife block and cutting boards in the corner. When I have beans cooking in a slow cooker, they are on the counter to the right. We have a cut-out under the counter, next to the sink, which is where we keep our trash can. The lower cabinet under the sink houses my slow juicer, Vitamix, food processor, and water purifier. I like putting things away to have a clear counter to work on (you can never have enough counter space, right?). There is a window to the right.

Here's how my spice cabinet is currently arranged. I also store my mortar and pestle, honey, coconut oil, etc. here. This is in the 3rd upper cabinet from the sink.

This is a new shelf I use for fruits and vegetables. In the boxes on the bottom shelf, there are nuts (in the shell) and dried beans that I picked up on sale. My stove is to the left.

My (closed) pantry off in its own little "closet" type room. The upper cabinets hold food and food containers. The bottom cabinets hold my stainless steel stove top cookware, misc. gadgets and gallon jugs of vinegar. I have two drawers between the upper and lower cabinets which hold other misc. lesser used hand held gadgets, chopsticks, silpat mat, etc. in the left and storage bags, parchment paper to the right. You can see our coats and hats hanging up on the right. There is a window to the left that looks out onto the back porch. I also have a wooden bench under the window. In the foreground, you can just see my stove and food dehydrator to the right. The back door is to the left.

Pantry opened! This is how it looks at the moment. Top shelf: mostly empty jars, extra lazy susans (turntables), extra slow cooker, extra canning lids/rims. Second shelf from the top: (gifted!) home canned food, more nuts and dried beans, rolled oats, oil and vinegar, misc. bottled foods. Second shelf from the bottom: canning jars in 1/2, 1, 2, and 2 1/2 cup sizes, freezer containers, vegetable spirooli (a raw noodle maker/slicer), misc. containers. Bottom shelf: nuts (shelled), nori and other seaweed, kelp noodles, quinoa, oil, carob powder, glass containers, extra herbs and spices in bulk, coconut oil, herbal tea bags.

This is our 30" x 30" (36" high) table that we use for a true eat-in kitchen. I love that it enables us to eat right in the kitchen. During non-meal times, it's used much like an island. It sits 2 1/2 inches higher than our kitchen counter. The fridge is behind, in the corner. To the left of the photo is a window which brings us back to the counter (second photo in this post).

Energy Bites

We've been snacking on these sweet morsels lately. They are popular at our house. If anyone knows me, they know that it's difficult for me to follow recipes to the letter. I'm always changing things out, probably because I didn't have the exact ingredients on hand.

So in usual fashion, I substituted similar items to achieve the desired result. I found the basis for my version here. Following is my "chocolate covered cherries" version. Easy to mix up. No further cooking or heat is used. Enjoy.

Energy Bites

1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup almond butter
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
3/4 cup sunflower seeds, made into a coarse meal
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup dried bing cherries, chopped
1/4 cup dried goji berries, crushed/chopped
1/4 cup carob powder
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a bowl with your hands. Cover and chill for an hour or so. You may find using a tablespoon or two, more almond butter will help to keep it together. Roll the mixture into balls about 1 inch in diameter. Store in fridge, or for longer than a few days, in the freezer.

Options: You could use raisins for the dried fruit. Peanut butter could be used instead of almond butter. Remember to be creative and use what you have and add here and there as desired. It's your creation! =)