November 12, 2012: Broccoli soup recipe

It's pretty much winter now (in my book). Soups are great for winter but the wrong soups are bad for your body, nutrition-wise. I prefer to make vegetarian soup and vegan soups at best. I found a great recipe for broccoli soup. I love cream-based soups just like the next guy, but heavy dairy doesn't sit well with me. I prefer to use vegetable broth-based soups instead.  I found this recipe off of the America's Test Kitchen webiste, so all the props to them. My husband LOVES this soup and this is my second time making it. It's great for my 17 month old too. I started introducing her to soups at about a year old. Soups are great for babies. Easy to eat and especially nutritious!

The recipe (tweaked by me)

2 T butter (I haven't tried it with oil. I usually sub oil for butter but I had some on hand)
1/4 t baking soda
about 2 lbs broccoli ( I used the frozen organic Cascadian Farms)
a pinch of cayenne
2 cloves garlic
2 handfuls of organic spinach
1 onion
2 cup organic vegetable broth
about two cups of water
about a cup of fresh Parmesan
about a cup of extra sharp cheddar cheese

Total cost of soup: about $8 (if organic)
Servings: at least six large portions



Sautee butter in dutch oven. Allow butter to melt. Add the diced onion, garlic, and cayenne. Stir and let simmer for about 6 minutes. Add 1 cup of water, baking soda and broccoli and let broccoli cook until fragrant. Add 2 cups of broth plus one more cup of water with the spinach. Allow spinach to wilt.  Cook for a few minutes.

Take everything and put into a blender and blend. I had to halve mine into the Ninja. I added some cheese to each half. Put everything back into dutch oven and simmer for a few minutes. Add extra cheese if desired. Enjoy!

November 6, 2012: Matar Tofu recipe

My family, including my baby, love Indian food.
Going out to an Indian restaurant can be expensive, even at the cheapest restaurants when you're on one income. I've created an indian dish at home that rivals Matar Paneer, but is made with tofu instead of the paneer (cheese). I did however use organic whipping cream. You could probably substitute that and use coconut milk instead.

Here is my recipe:
Before you get anything started, you will want to cook up about 2 cups of brown basmati rice. I have a rice cooker, so this takes a little over 1/2 hour.

1 onion diced
2 cloves garlic
about 1 T real ginger
1 package of tofu diced into small squares

Put the above ingredients into a food processor except the tofu. Add about 1/4 cup water until the mixture is 'slush-like'. Sautee the onion slush in a pan with about a T of grapeseed or olive oil along with the tofu. When one side of the tofu is browned....

1 1/2 T coriander
1 t turmeric

Add these ingredients into your slush. Let simmer for about 2 minutes until fragrant.

Add one can of crushed tomatoes into the mixture. Stir and let simmer for a few minutes.

1 1/2 T garam masala

Add the above ingredients to the tomato mixture.

Stir and let simmer for awhile.

1 bag of organic peas

about 1 cup of organic heavy whipping cream

Add the above ingredients to your pan.

Add the rice and enjoy.  Below is a photo of the finished product, without the rice.

November 1, 2012: Being thankful and traditions: Challah recipe

We as Christians have a lot to be thankful for. Our salvation alone is enough to make us weak at the thought that we deserve anything else.

I think during this season all of us can lose sight of what our daily living should be-not just during the holidays.  One of the reasons I am writing this post is to entertain the thought of the most simple things that we may take for granted.

I often times in my prayers, under my 'thankful' category, write to God how I am thankful for my eyesight, the ability to walk and to hear. I am thankful that I am healthy, I have a head of hair and that I can use my arms.

Take some time today to think of the most obvious and basic abilities you have. Remind yourself each day that you are truly thankful for these gifts and that there are many people who do not possess them.

Sometimes, as we do this, the problems and struggles we encounter seem trivial and do not hold much value. Being content and joyful is an art that we must practice. We are depraved sinners after all, and our only strength comes from Him alone.

Traditions

Meanwhile, during the holiday seasons, it may be fun to focus on the silly stuff too, to lighten your mood and help with any bouts of depression during the sunless days. My family started a tradition for the holiday season starting in December. Next month, every Saturday we will make challah. Challah is a Jewish bread that is made before Sabbath (I hope I'm getting this right).  The bread is braided while reciting Hebrew prayers as a reminder for the priests that would atone for the sins of the people.  Instead of reciting Hebrew prayers, we say a prayer thanking Jesus for saving us and paying for ours sins once and for all.

Below is my challah recipe. I find the bread to be rather tasteless and boring...so I make French toast with it.

3/4 c water
2 t yeast
1 1/2 T honey
2 eggs
1/4 c olive or grapeseed oil
3 c  bread flour
1 1/4 t salt

I add the yeast and the honey together.  In a separate bowl, I mix the egg and oil together. In another bowl, I add the flour and salt. I combine everything together. I let the dough rise for 1 hour covered in the sun or a warm place.  I then braid the bread using three strands on a pizza stone covered with parchment paper.  I let the the braided bread rise for another 45 minutes. I bake the bread at 350 for about a 1/2 hour. I do brush the bread with an egg yolk for that glossy finish.

Enjoy!