Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Potato Soup

Yum
It is frigid here in Northern Utah.  All I really want is soup lately, I have a harder time convincing my family of that (they aren't huge soup fans), but this one is definitely fantastic and not too bad to whip up on a cold evening.


It's basically my Clam Chowder, minus the clams and clam juice.  So, yeah, easy-peasy, and definitely warming on a cold winter night.

This post was shared on Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Allergy-Free Wednesdays, Whole Food Fridays, and Gluten Free Fridays.

Potato Soup

4 strips of bacon, cut into 1" pieces
1/2 cup minced onion, about 1/2 small one
3/4 cup diced celery
3/4 cup diced carrots
2 cups cubed potatoes
4 cups chicken broth (I used Imagine brand low sodium)
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup+ 1/6 cup millet flour
2 cups non-dairy milk
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste, if needed
1/2 teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste, if needed

Fry bacon pieces in a large saucepan until crispy.  Remove and drain on paper towels, then crumble.  Add vegetables to bacon drippings and cook for 3 minutes. Add in chicken broth, cover and cook over medium heat until tender, about 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in another saucepan, heat oil over medium heat.  Whisk in millet flour until smooth.  Whisk in nondairy milk and stir constantly until thick and smooth.  Stir the milk mixture into the soup. Heat through, but do not boil.

Stir in vinegar and season with salt and pepper and add in the crumbled bacon.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Weekly Menu (1/13/13-1/19/13) --with 6 small healthy meals a day

Yum

Finally after two weeks of no baskets, we got a Bountiful Basket this week (happy dance!):
  • apples
  • asian pears
  • bananas
  • oroblanco (cross between a pomelo and a grapefruit)
  • strawberries
  • oranges
  • carrots (including purple ones) :)
  • brussel sprouts
  • sweet red peppers
  • cherry tomatoes
I also have:
  • kale
  • spinach
  • lettuce
  • cauliflower
  • onions
  • celery
  • red potatoes
  • russet potatoes
  • garlic
  • clementines
  • frozen berries

This week for kids' breakfast and lunch:

For the Kids:

This week for school lunches:
  • PB&J on Udi's bread
  • Schar crispbread with pepperoni and cheese
  • Glutino Pretzels with Peanut Butter
  • carrot and celery sticks with almond butter
  • clementines
  • applesauce
  • chips or crackers
  • milk

For me and dinners, too: 

Sunday:  
  • 1st breakfast (5am): green smoothie (kale, berries, banana, etc)
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): hard boiled egg and clementine
  • morning snack (9am): cashews and dried cranberries
  • lunch (11am-12pm): ham sandwich (on teff bread) piled high with veggies
  • afternoon snack (3pm): veggies and hummus
  • dinner (5-6pm): 
    • Oven roasted turkey
    • mashed red potatoes with gravy
    • roasted brussel sprouts and cauliflower
    • green salad
    • strawberries
Monday:
  • 1st breakfast (5am): 1/2 oroblanco, cashews
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): a scrambled egg with spinach, onion, and red peppers
  • morning snack (9am): apple slices topped with almond butter
  • lunch (11am-12pm): leftover turkey and roasted veggies
  • afternoon snack (3pm): carrots, celery, cauliflower, and red peppers with hummus
  • dinner (5-6pm): 

Tuesday:
  • 1st breakfast (5am): 1/2 oroblanco, hard boiled egg
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): green smoothie (kale, berries, banana, etc)
  • morning snack (9am): asian pear, cashews
  • lunch (11am-12pm): leftover soup and green salad
  • afternoon snack (3pm): veggies and hummus
  • dinner (5-6pm): 

Wednesday:
  • 1st breakfast (5am): 1/2 oroblanco, cashews
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): sauteed spinach, onions, and red pepper with a scrambled egg
  • morning snack (9am): clementine, cashews
  • lunch (11am-12pm): leftover gorditas and salad
  • afternoon snack (3pm): carrots, celery, peanut butter
  • dinner: 
Thursday: 
  • 1st breakfast (5am): 1/2 oroblanco, hard boiled egg
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): green smoothie
  • morning snack (9am): veggies with hummus
  • lunch (11am-12pm): leftover enchilada casserole and salad
  • afternoon snack (3pm): cashews, dried cranberries
  • dinner: 
    • crepes
    • ham (and/or leftover turkey) and eggs
    • mixed fruit and peanut butter
Friday:
  • 1st breakfast (5am): celery and carrots with peanut butter and raisins
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): brussel sprout hash
  • morning snack (9am): apples with almond butter
  • lunch (11am-12pm): leftovers or a big salad
  • afternoon snack (3pm): veggies with hummus
  • dinner: 
    • tomato soup (I mix in extra veggies and turkey into mine)
    • grilled cheese (with daiya cheese) sandwiches
    • sliced apples
Saturday: We are getting a 1/4 beef (which we're splitting with my brother)...I'm so excited to have some high quality beef!
  • 1st breakfast (5am): leftover brussel sprout hash
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): clementine, hard boiled egg
  • morning snack (9am): carrots with hummus
  • lunch (11am-12pm): leftovers or a big salad
  • afternoon snack (3pm): cashews, dried cranberries
  • dinner:
    • steaks
    • baked potatoes
    • green salad

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Whole Grain Gingerbread Pancakes

Yum
I know Christmas is over, but you know what, I still like gingerbread whether it's Christmastime or not.  So, we made gingerbread pancakes the other day, just because.  And they were fantastic!  Honestly I was eating them straight up without anything on them, and they taste just like gingerbread.

But I have to say, they are also fantastic topped with applesauce...I mean really fantastic, so fantastic we ate our way through all the applesauce in the house.  I'm pretty sure applesauce will now be my go to topping for pancakes, I love it!



This post was shared on Gluten Free MondaySlightly Indulgent Tuesday, Gluten Free Wednesdays, Allergy Free Wednesdays, Whole Foods Fridays, Allergy Friendly Fridays, and Gluten Free Fridays.

Gingerbread Pancakes
1 cup dairy-free milk
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 egg
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons molasses
1 1/2 cups GF oat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
2 tablespoons coconut oil, softened.

Directions
In a small bowl mix together milk and lemon, let stand for 5-10 minutes, then mix in egg, honey and molasses.

In a separate bowl mix together the dry ingredients, and pour in the wet ingredients.  Whisk together to remove any lumps. Mix in the coconut oil until smooth.

Pour about 1/4 cup scoops of the batter onto a heated griddle.  (I have an electric griddle that I heat to 325-350F).  Once the bubbles form and start popping on the top of the pancake, flip and cook the other side for 1-2 minutes. Makes 8-10 pancakes depending on their size.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Weekly Menu (1/6/12-1/12/12)...now including 6 small healthy meals a day

Yum
No Bountiful Basket again this week (I really am missing them), but I do have:
  • apples
  • clementines
  • bananas
  • various frozen fruits (berries, peaches, pineapple)
  • celery
  • carrots
  • mushrooms
  • avocado
  • tomatoes
  • fingerling potatoes
  • red potatoes
  • russet potatoes
  • onions
  • garlic
  • lettuce
  • kale
  • spinach
  • cauliflower

This week for kids' breakfast and lunch:

For the Kids:

This week for school lunches:
  • PB&J on Udi's bread
  • Schar crispbread with pepperoni and cheese
  • Glutino Pretzels with Peanut Butter
  • carrot and celery sticks with almond butter
  • clemenines
  • applesauce
  • chips or crackers
  • milk

For me and dinners, too: I'm trying something new, well, not really new.  I am a grazer, always have been, but I'm trying to eat healthier with my 6 little meals a day.  I drink water before and after every meal as well.  But, I thought maybe I'd list what I'm doing for my meals and I'd be better about sticking to it, and hopefully get my family converted to eating this way, too.


Sunday:  
  • 1st breakfast (5am): nothing, I'm fast the first Sunday of each month as part of my religion
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): nothing, still fasting
  • morning snack (9am): nothing
  • lunch (11am-12pm): nothing
  • afternoon snack (3pm): nothing
  • dinner (5-6pm): 
    • grilled chicken topped with avocado and tomato slices
    • roasted fingerling potatoes and cauliflower
    • green salad
Monday:
  • 1st breakfast (5am): celery and carrots with peanut butter and raisins
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): a scrambled egg with spinach and mushrooms
  • morning snack (9am): apple slices topped with almond butter
  • lunch (11am-12pm): leftover chicken, cauliflower and green salad
  • afternoon snack (3pm): carrots, celery, cauliflower, and mushrooms with hummus
  • dinner (5-6pm): 

Tuesday:
  • 1st breakfast (5am): hardboiled egg and a clementine
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): green smoothie (kale, raspberries, blackberries, a banana, almond milk, and ice cubes)
  • morning snack (9am): carrots, celery, cauliflower, and mushrooms with hummus
  • lunch (11am-12pm): leftover soup and green salad
  • afternoon snack (3pm): ham and lettuce wrap with avocado and tomato
  • dinner (5-6pm): 
    • Chili (I thicken ours with a roux made from millet flour and canola oil)
    • baked potatoes
    • green salad

Wednesday:
  • 1st breakfast (5am): celery with peanut butter and dried cranberries
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): sauteed kale, onions, and mushrooms with a scrambled egg
  • morning snack (9am): clementine, cashews, and kale chips
  • lunch (11am-12pm): leftover ham and bean soup and salad
  • afternoon snack (3pm): carrots, celery, cauliflower, and mushrooms with hummus
  • dinner: 
    • Chicken Pad Thai
    • Salad
    • Clementines
Thursday: 
  • 1st breakfast (5am): hard boiled egg, clementine and kale chips
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): green smoothie (kale, raspberries, blackberries, a banana, almond milk, and ice cubes)
  • morning snack (9am): carrots, celery, cauliflower, and mushrooms with hummus
  • lunch (11am-12pm): leftovers
  • afternoon snack (3pm): cashews, dried cranberries, and kale chips
  • dinner: 
    • honey oat pancakes topped with applesauce
    • bacon
    • hashed veggies (carrots, onions, mushrooms and kale)
    • hash browns
Friday:
  • 1st breakfast (5am): celery and carrots with peanut butter and raisins
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): hardboiled egg, sauteed kale, tomatoes, and mushrooms
  • morning snack (9am): apples with almond butter
  • lunch (11am-12pm): leftovers
  • afternoon snack (3pm): mushrooms and cauliflower with hummus
  • dinner: 
    • tacos (taco salad for me)
    • apple slices
Saturday: 
  • 1st breakfast (5am): hardboiled egg and sauteed kale and mushrooms
  • 2nd breakfast (7am): leftover pancakes with applesauce
  • morning snack (9am): carrots with hummus
  • lunch (11am-12pm): leftover taco salad
  • afternoon snack (3pm): cashews, dried cranberries, and kale chips
  • dinner: 
    • pizzadillas (pizza quesadillas with homemade tortillas)
      • toppings include mushrooms, spinach, olives, pepperoni, etc.
    • green salad

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Teff Sandwich Bread

Yum
I have a new favorite flour...it's teff.  I love the earthly flavor and the many nutrients in it.  I decided it was time to make a sandwich bread with it, and I'm really in love with it now.  I've eaten half the loaf and am considering eating the other half once I'm done writing this post.



 Really, this bread is soft and chewy and makes a FANTASTIC sandwich bread.


This post was shared on Slightly Indulgent TuesdaysAllergy Free Wednesdays, Gluten Free FridaysWhole Food Fridays, Allergy Friendly Fridays, and Gluten Free Monday.

Teff Bread
1 1/4 cup warm water
1 tablespoon yeast
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup teff flour
2/3 cup potato starch
2/3 cup tapioca starch
1/3 cup almond flour
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon guar gum
2 teaspoons (1 pkg) gelatin
2 egg whites

Directions:
In a small bowl mix together water, yeast, honey, oil, and vinegar.  Let sit for 3-5 minutes or until yeast is dissolved and beginning to proof.

In a mixing bowl, stir together dry ingredients.  Add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients and mix on low speed until combined.  Add in the egg whites.  Once combined, mix on high speed for 3-5 minutes.

Grease a medium loaf pan. Spoon the batter into the pan, smooth the top with wet fingers or a wet spatula. Cover and let rise in a warm, humid environment for 20 minutes. (If you are like me and live in a dry, cold environment, do the following:  heat a very wet tea towel in the microwave until it is piping hot.  Quickly open the microwave, place the loaf of bread inside and place the hot towel on top and shut the microwave again.  It should stay warm and moist in there for 20 minutes.

As the bread is rising, preheat the oven to 400F.

Bake for 50-60 minutes, covering with aluminum foil after the first 10 minutes.  After 50 minutes, check the internal temperature of the bread.  It is done when it reaches 205F.

The bread will last a couple of days on the counter/in the fridge.  If you don't plan on eating it that fast, slice it and freeze it.