Pumpkin Coconut Soup...seriously AMAZING!

I really surprised myself how a little bit of coconut milk and cayenne pepper can brighten up this soup-it was realllllly delish!
I started with oil in a stock pot, added chopped garlic, chopped celery,chopped carrots and green onions and cooked until fragrant-don't burn the garlic! Add stock or water and use hand blender to puree until smooth. Add 1 cup of pumpkin puree, more stock or water, some herbamare and dash of black pepper. Add 1/4 cup of coconut milk and some cayenne pepper and let simmer for 20 minutes! Serve with brie and toasted hazelnut and raisin bread-a perfect lunch!

Veggie Burger...not only for Vegetarians!

So I decided to try one of these vegiie burgers to see how they taste. The nutritional value is great on these...no additives, fillers etc all natural. Now they don't taste like a beef burger, if that's what you are going for forget this, but if you want to eat something light and healthy and still get the hamburger feel with the bun and all the fixings then it will be a great meal! I feel good eating this way sometimes, I make sweet potatoe fries and it's a party!!

Quinoa...grain of the Goddess!!

This is my favorite quinoa w/ raw vegetable dish or salad.

Rinse the quinoa in warm water for about 15 minutes and then rinse and strain. Boil 2 cups of water for 3/4 cup quinoa, add quinoa and reduce heat on low and close lid and let cook about 15 minutes.

Cut up some veggies:

Red peppers, green onions,celery,mushrooms and zucchini...whatever you have will do.

I add fresh parsley, garlic, herbamare, olive oil.

As a salad just add lemon juice!

Sweeeeet Potatoe

This little sweet potatoe is filled with Vitamin A and C, maganese,fibre and beta carotene. They contain antioxidants and are anti-infammatory.

This is baked in the oven for about 1 hour, you can add a bit of butter and cinnamon, and nutmeg or 5 spice mix which is my new favorite!

Inside out pasta shells

Sometimes you don't have the time to stuff every jumbo pasta shell witha spinach and cheese mixture so this is an easy dish with all the great stuff!

Small pasta shells

2 cups spinach leaves chopped and steamed

tomato sauce (olive oil, garlic,salt....however you like it)

ricotta cheese (some nutmeg mixed in)

parmesan cheese

Cook the pasta, steam the spinach and add the spinach with tomato sauce-sprinkle some parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Eggplant stack

So simple but so flavorful!

Slice eggplants into rounds, place on tray sprayed with Pam and roast until tender-sprinkle some herbamare,oregano and garlic salt. I use fresh tomato sauce(season as you wish), spinach leaves and feta or any cheese you like. Make your stack and just heat up in oven for a minute to warm up-so elegant!

Cranberry oatmeal

What to do with cranberries??...add them in your oatmeal of course...not only with turkey anymore!

Chicken fajitas

A family favorite in our house, this is really a meal with all the fixings at hand.
Chicken breasts sliced into strips
Peppers sliced (red,green, yellow etc)
Onions sliced long
Seasoning-herbamare
Whole wheat tortillas
Toppers:
Sour cream
Sliced avocado
Salsa or sliced tomatoes
In a large fry pan, add some oil and cook chicken until opaque. Add all peppers and onionadd some water if too dry, add seasonings. Let cook until almost tender. Fill your tortilla with the mixture and toppers, roll and enjoy!

in the raw!

I try to eat my veggies raw as much as possible because you really get all health benefits. Did you know by cooking veggies you lose 50 % of it's nutritional value....I know CRAZY! So when you can, snack on fresh veggies and fruit and always make a side dish of anything raw with your meals.

Here I had mushrooms and cucmbers, added parsley, apple cider vinegar, some olive oil, garlic and herbamare. Use dill if you have so fresh!!

Soups On!

This is not a homemade soup I have to confess, but I added some lentils and water to canned "Soupe aux Pois" and it was yummy!!

Presto Pasta al Forno...

What a comfort food anyday of the week! I like making a fresh italian sauce from diced tomatoes, olive oil, garlic,dried basil, green onions and herbamare. I let simmer and add in fresh parsley. Cook pasta as usual-al dente!

Grate your favorite cheese I love strong aged cheese or mix a few ....parmigiano, aged cheddar, mozzarella, havarti etc.

Place in an oven dish and let broil just a few minutes until cheese starts to get a little brown on top-don't burn!!

Pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes

Try these little johnnie's they are a treat on a week-end breakfast and share with the ones you love-or not...just freeze the extras.

1 cup flour and 1 tsp baking soda or Pancake mix

1 cup oatmeal (microwave oats in water 1 min)
1 egg

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup pumkin puree (I used canned)

1 tbsp ground flazxseeds

cinnamon

chocolate chips

I put ingredients except chocolate chips in blender for smoothness, cook as usual in pan or griddle!

a little goes a long way...

All you need is a handful a day and you will get all the benefits of these antioxidants and also selenium, magnesium, Omega 3, iron, fibre and some protein. Include walnuts, almonds, brazil nuts and pumkin seeds. Grab and go!

Baked squash and Apples

I didn't know what to make of this idea I had but it turned out great! The house smelled like Pumkin pie- yummy!

Cut up squash , sprinkle with 4 spice mix (cinnamon, ginger, all spice and nutmeg)

Bake in oven 20 min and then add apples until tender.

Pitted Dried Prunes...give them a try!

Just in this bowl alone with the dried prunes, walnuts and pumkin seeds you are getting a good source of nutrients and essential minerals and omega's and it tastes AMAZING! This the an important time of the year to help build a strong immune system with all the viruses going around. How are you helping yourself? For me food is my medicine of choice!

I love my food to have texture and many flavors.

I use oatmeal (oats in boiling water), add chopped dates, walnuts, pumkin seeds and cinnamon and anything else you like...sometimes I add flaked coconut, dates and almond or peanut butter. Can you feel the love in my tummy!!!