Sloppy Lentil Joes, Potato Wedges, Tabouli Salad, Baked Falafel, Hummus and Pita Bread

I am eating the weeds!

I was very happy to see the backyards dandelion patch is sprouting up with a good covering of young dandelion leaves. Each year, I look forward to that dandelion patch . Its like a gift from God. The leaves can be eaten in salads or steamed and served as a side dish or dried for dandelion loose leaf  tea. Dandelion tea tastes very good and even better with a bit of vegan honey. Dandelion tea is a benefit for your body because it purifies the blood and cleanses the bodies system. Dandelions are amazing.

WEATHER UPDATE:
SPRING IS HERE!

As I drive around Albuquerque, I see the purple plum trees in full bloom along with the snowball trees. Its a beautiful sight to see. Spring is in the air and I'm looking forward to some hiking and biking. I'm enjoying this March weather. The days have been ranging 65-70 degrees with light wind and sunshine. I just could not ask for better weather.

That's Amusing:

 True Life Story. As you know, I have written before that Rob my neighbor has roosters and chickens in his yard. Sometimes, I see them in the road but they pretty much stay in Rob's yard. A couple of days ago, I came home to see two giant roosters across the street in Henry's yard. I said, "Oh no, Rob's roosters have wondered away". I grabbed some oats from the kitchen and went across the street and fed the roosters trying to lead them back over to their yard. I had no success as they would not budge. I went home. I looked out later and they were gone. The next day, I spoke with Henry and he wanted to know if I called the police on him for having roosters. I laughed, I told him , "No, I love roosters". I also told him I tried to move his roosters to a new home! We had a good laugh. Henry said, "That explains the oatmeal". There is a lot of crowing going on in the mornings and afternoons around here. I don't mind.


Garden Planning:

Well, Im at it again, planning out what I will plant out in the back yard for my container garden this growing season. I cant just harvest dandelion leaves. LOL. I just do not want to plant traditional seeds, but I guess its best to grow what you eat. Maybe, I should stick to the basics. I save many different kinds of seeds and I have heirloom seeds too. I should use what I have and not start buying weird seeds. I am still considering mushrooms. If I can find a good price on a mushroom kit then I will give it a try. I think the Grands would love to see some mushrooms grow.


PET UPDATE:


Currently, The pets that I have consist of a sweet bird, a mean cat, a giant fish, a big goldfish, a tetra fish, and a happy turtle. All the guineas have expired. Its very sad and I miss them, the three amigos. As Raven says, "They lived a good long life and enjoyed a lot of carrots and celery". 

" Mean Missy" is a hog! LOL. She has been eating at my house and Chuck's house. Chuck feeds all of the cats in the neighborhood. He has a big pan on his porch and he fills that each day. He also puts a handful of cat food up on the side ledge of his house for Missy. Chuck says that she is mean to the other cats so he feeds her separate. I dont know why she is so mean. She needs to work on being nicer. LOL.



Housekeeping Made Easy:

Stain Remover ( Shout)

• 2/3 cups Dawn Dish Washing Liquid
• 2/3 cups ammonia
• 6 Tbsp baking soda
• 2 cups warm water

Mix everything together and pour into a squeeze bottle. 

TO USE: spray on stains normally. Let soak few minutes. Chocolate stains take a little longer. Rub fabric together.  

*** This works and you can save a huge amount of money by making stain remover at home.***


Sharing Bookmarks

 









 Sci Fi Fun Facts
11 Science Facts that Seem Like Science Fiction.
Internet Alarm Clock
For the PC Geeks - Best VPN Providers for 2015


Weird videos I watch on the Internet:

Waffle Vs Pancake

Will it Cereal?

I'm continuing to encourage my family and friends to give up some fatty foods and try eating healthier foods, such as more greens, potatoes and legumes. Why not give it a try. You will see a healthy change in your body and feel better too.

Sloppy Lentil Joes

This is a very good recipe. Serve it with a side salad or bake up some potato crispy wedges on parchment paper. Hold the pickles. :)

3 1/3 cups water
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 ½ cups dried lentils
1  15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon rice vinegar and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Place 1/3 cup of the water in a large pot.  Add the onions and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally until onions soften slightly, about 5 minutes.  Add the chili powder and mix in well.  Add the remaining water, the lentils, tomatoes, and the rest of the seasonings.  Mix well, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook over low heat for 55 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Season with salt and pepper as needed. Serve on whole wheat buns.

 Bake wedges on parchment paper at 350* for 15 minutes on each side for crispy goodness.

Tabouli Salad

1 cup uncooked bulgur
2 cups boiling water
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 cucumber, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
6 green onions, chopped
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
½ cup chopped fresh mint
½ cup lemon juice
fresh ground pepper to taste
Place bulgur in a bowl and pour the boiling water over it.  Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.  Transfer to a colander to cool and drain. 
Meanwhile, prepare the vegetables and place the in a separate large bowl.
Combine the drained bulgur and vegetables.  Add the lemon juice and pepper to taste.  Mix well and chill before serving. 

Serve tabouli with pita bread, falafel and a side of hummus and that will make a beautiful Mediterranean lunch.

* Bulgur is a cereal food made from the groats of several different wheat species, most often from durum wheat.

Baked Falafel

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 tablespoons of fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon coriander
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
salt and pepper

Some people add 1 tablespoon of tahini sauce but I never seem to have that ingredient in my kitchen. I do add a tablespoon of dried fenugreek leaves (smells like curry powder). You could also add crushed red pepper flakes or jalapeno powder.

Combine ingredients in a food processor and blend well. Shape into ping pong size balls and place on an oiled cookie sheet. Bake at 350. Bake for 15 minutes, turning halfway through cooking, then bake for another 15 minutes.

Serve in a pita pocket or on top of salad. Dress with vegan ranch dressing or Tahini sauce. 

 Tahini Sauce

¼ cup tahini
2 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, pressed
2 Tbsp water
Dash of salt (optional)

Place all ingredients into a bowl and stir. Serve over baked Falafels.

Hummus

Ingredients
* 1 1/2 cups cooked garbanzo beans
* 2 large cloves garlic, peeled
* juice of 1/2 lemon
* 1/2 cup soft tofu
* 1/3 cup of warm water
* salt

Preparation

Add to food processor garbanzo beans, garlic, lemon juice, tofu, water, and salt. Process all ingredients. Adjust salt to taste.

How to make pita bread.

Going Back in Time

Mushroom Rice Pilaf, Split Pea Soup, Potato & Spinach Bake, Speghetti O's, Paul's Pasta & Sauce, Pesto Pasta Salad, Jamaican Sweet Cornmeal Porridge

Spring seems to be on its way.  This means that I will be able to start some garden prepping which will provide some good photos and some possible amusement. I know your excited about that. Right? LOL. So, expect some exciting photos soon.  I sure hope that this year many people will try to grow vegetables and herbs at home. Last year, I grew vegetables in containers. I wish that I had larger containers but sometimes you have to make due with what you have. If you don't have room for a backyard garden, I recommend a container garden. This year, I want to try growing plants that Ive never grown before. I would love to try growing mushrooms. I saw Shawn, from the Horticultural Channel, post some mushrooms he had grown. I think he used a mushroom kit. They looked great. Greens wise, Im looking forward to growing some giant green beans this year. How about you? What will you grow?

Onward with Healthy Foodie Stuff!

Vegan News

How do you get your protein?

Protein and calcium come from hundreds of plant-based sources. Here is a list of 10 high-protein vegetables that you can add into your life for more energy and to help create vibrant health naturally.
Peas, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Sprouts, Mushrooms,
Brussel Sprouts, Artichokes, Asparagus, Corn.

How do you get your omega 3 fats? Flax seed, walnuts, and hemp seeds are good plant sources of omega 3 fat.

Here is another helpful list of food items that should be in every kitchen.
Avocados, bananas, barley, brown rice, beans, chickpeas, jarred tomatoes and jarred tomato sauce, leafy greens, dried pasta, flax seed meal, fortified cereal, frozen fruit, jarred fruit, hummus, non-dairy milks, nut butters, nutritional yeast, oatmeal, pita bread, raw almonds, raw walnuts, seasonal fruits and veggies, soy sauce, tofu, tortillas, veggie patties, whole wheat bread.

Don't Forget to Eat the Greens
Go Green!

I recommend preparing at least five small side salads to keep in the fridge to add to meals during the week. If your salads are ready made to go then you are more likely to eat some fresh greens with your meals.

Whats Cooking?

Rice is nice.

Rice and nutrition: A serving of rice contains no fat, cholesterol, or sugars, according to nutrition information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 







Vegan Mushroom Rice Pilaf

by Le Tour de Plants

Ingredients

♥ 3 cups water
♥ 2 cups basmati rice
♥ 1 cup vermicelli
♥ 6 dried mushrooms, ground
♥ 1 onion
♥ ¼ cup sliced almonds (optional)
♥ Salt and pepper to taste
*Amounts are approximate. Adjust a little here are there as needed.

I would definitely serve this rice pilaf as a main dish with a side of sweet peas and some hot naan bread. Yummy.

Did You Know?

Dried peas have been a staple of the human diet since prehistoric times. Peas have been found in archeological digs in Egypt, Asia, and Rome. A single cup of cooked dried peas in your daily diet provides 65.1% of the recommended daily fiber. They also provide a good amount of protein, two B-vitamins, and several important minerals. Peas also include isoflavones, which are helpful in reducing the risk of breast and prostate cancer.


Vegan Split Pea Soup
From Jenny Sugar, POPSUGAR Fitness

Ingredients
2 1/4 cups green split peas
5 celery stalks, sliced
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, minced
8 cups vegetable broth
1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

1. Wash and drain the peas, removing any stones.
2. Pour the peas, celery, onion, garlic, and veggie broth in a big pot with the top on. Bring to a boil then lower to simmer, cracking the top open slightly.
3. Stir occasionally, cooking on low for 2 hours. Add the diced sweet potatoes and cook for another 20 to 30 minutes or until the peas are soft and the soup looks creamy. Season with salt and pepper, and enjoy!

Potato and Spinach Bake
This recipe is adapted from Susan Voisin's site.

1 medium red potato, cubed into 1/2-inch pieces (can be left unpeeled)

1/4 cup cooked chickpeas
1/4 cup bell pepper, chopped
1 Tbsp red onion, chopped
2 crimini mushrooms, chopped

1/2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped
1 Tbsp fresh basil leaves, chopped
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp paprika
pinch cayenne
salt, pepper to taste
1 handful fresh spinach

Preheat oven to 350* degrees. Prepare a sheet pan with parchment paper. Combine all of the ingredients, except for the fresh spinach leaves, into a large bowl and mix well. Pour out onto the parchment paper lined pan and spread the mixture out evenly. Bake in oven for 30 minutes turning the vegetables half way through baking time. It's done when you can put a fork easily through a potato. At the end of the baking time cover the potato mixture with the fresh spinach leaves and let cook for a minute or two until wilted.


Broccoli and Non Cheese Sauce Bake

Preheat oven to 375* degrees. Place the broccoli in a baking dish and cover the broccoli with the non cheese sauce. Bake for 20 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy. Non Cheese Sauce is found in Nana's Top Recipes. Click here.


Sprout Wraps
Wrap it up!


Sprouts are real 'Life Vitamins, Minerals, Proteins, and Enzymes. Their nutritional value was discovered by the Chinese thousands of years ago.

Raw on $10 a Day posted this terrific recipe for sprout wraps. www.rawon10.com



Make Spaghetti O's at Home

These healthy Spaghetti O's by Katie are easy to make at home. 

Recipe Link for Spaghetti O's.

High Carb Paul Cooks

Pasta and Mushroom Sauce

Pasta and Mushroom Sauce by Paul.

Artichoke Pesto Pasta Salad

From FatFree Vegan Kitchen

Recipe here.

How to Steam Asparagus.

Get that cooking asparagus info right here.

Jamaican Sweet Cornmeal Porridge

4oz fine cornmeal

Pinch of salt

1 cup coconut milk

3 tbsp vanilla extract

Sugar to taste

2 cups of water

Dash of nutmeg

Dash of cinnamon

Mix the cornmeal in 1 cup cold water until smooth and creamy and set aside.

Bring the remainder of the water to a boil and then add the cornmeal mixture slowly stirring briskly with a spoon while you add the cornmeal.  Add a pinch of salt and allow the mixture to simmer for 15 minutes on a medium flame, constantly stirring so that no lumps form. Add the coconut milk, vanilla and grated nutmeg to your taste.  Simmer for a further 5 minutes.  Sweeten to taste with sugar and serve hot.

Whats Baking?

This past week left me enjoying and making homemade  bagels for myself and friends. I had always thought they were hard to make and best left to the big bakers but I gave it a try and found bagels to be easy to make and fun. I usually just put orange marmalade an the bagels but there is also a terrific vegan cream cheese that can be made at home to compliment the bagels. Bagels made me miss cream cheese which is ultra fattening. Non the less, I missed it. In my efforts to pair up my bagels with some goodness, I searched the Internet for a cream non-cheese that taste good. I finally came across Leanne's site which provided me with the goods. Vegan Cream Cheese is a terrific alternative to dairy cream cheese and it taste great too.  Leanne Vogel posted a recipe for Vegan Cream Cheese on her Healthful Pursuit's site.

Vegan Cream Cheese

Rice Pudding with a Twist
Meyer Lemon Rice Pudding

 Recipe is from Taste Love & Nourish's site.

Ingredients

3 cups vanilla almond milk
1/2 cup jasmine rice
3 tablespoons sugar
juice of one Meyer lemon
zest of two Meyer lemons
additional almond milk for serving

Directions

In a medium saucepan, bring 3 cups of almond milk to a light boil. Stir in the jasmine rice and the sugar. Cover and bring the rice to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Continue to simmer lightly for 30 minutes or until most, but not all, of the milk is absorbed. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the Meyer lemon juice and the zest. Serve warm or cold with just a bit of almond milk poured over the top.
Serves 4 to 5

 
How to make oat milk.


 
Going Back in Time

 

Chickpea Curry, Burmese Tofu, Red Beans & Rice, Potato Balls, Vegan Tacos, Baked Rice Pudding

Power Foods

Grains and Legumes

People who partake in a plant and starch-based diet lose, effortlessly, on average, a half a pound of excess body weight daily
(with very little daily exercise). 

Why are beans good for us? 
Click here.

 


Examples of populations of trim people 
living on starch-based diets include:

People from the Middle East eating platefuls of chickpeas and rice.

Africans with diets of beans and grains.

The people in Peru living on potato-based diets.

New Guinea mountain people with 90% of their diet from sweet potatoes.

The farmers in central Mexico living on corn tortillas, beans, and rice. 

Asians from China to Thailand thriving on rice-based diets.

Good to Know 

Save money by eating mostly plants. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and grains typically costs 20 percent less than a diet that revolves around meat. From a practical point of view, a thrifty veg-first strategy will take you into a wonderland of inexpensive, protein-rich, and easy-to-store dry beans and peas. If you cook a batch of beans a week, you’ll have the makings for burritos, veggie burgers, salads and soups, all for pennies a serving. Try different kinds: Beans and peas come in a huge range of shapes, colors, sizes and textures. When you find one you love, set some aside to grow in your garden.




Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are one of the most perfect foods. Hearty and light at the same time, they're satisfying on their own and also pair well with a range of dishes.

Creamy Curried Kale and Chickpeas

Check out this rice and chickpeas recipe from Susan Voisin's blog . I have made this recipe with spinach in place of kale and it turned out great. Click here for the recipe. Delicious.

How to cook dried chickpeas.

Pumpkin Chickpea Curry

Do you enjoy savory curried pumpkin? Here is a pumpkin, chickpea and curry recipe from Fresh Find's site. Click here to view recipe.

How to Make Burmese Tofu

You can add turmeric and salt before cooking the chickpea mixture. 

Burmese tofu is awesome served cold in a fresh salad.

Packed with protein, fiber, folate (vitamin B9), magnesium, potassium and a number of other health promoting nutrients, red kidney beans are a true super food.

Easy Red Beans and Rice

Check out this amazing rice and red beans recipe from Susan Voisin's blog.
Click here for the recipe. Yummy.

Did you know that dried beans can be cooked and frozen. They will keep in the freezer for up to a year. Cooking a large batch of beans and freezing them is healthier and you can skip the chemicals from canned beans.

Potatoes in their purest cooked form with no oils, no cream and no butters make the potato an excellent source to nourish your body with important vitamins. Potatoes contain vitamin B6 and a good source of potassium, copper, vitamin C, manganese, phosphorus, niacin, dietary fiber, and pantothenic acid.

Potato & Spinach Balls

Bake these on parchment paper and they will brown beautifully. No oil is needed for this recipe.

 Ingredients

3 big Potatoes 

2 or 3 cups of Fresh Spinach

3 cloves of Garlic, diced
1 tbsp Basil
2 tbsp Chives
2 tbsp Parsley
1/2 tsp Cumin

3 tbsp vegetable broth

Cook the potatoes and place in large bowl. Combine fresh spinach, diced garlic and 3 tablespoons of vegetable broth into a nonstick skillet and steam cook these items for 3-4 minutes until soft. Chop up all the herbs or use dried and combine those with the potatoes. Combine all of the ingredients in with the potatoes and herbs and mash well.  Form into small balls and place on parchment paper. Bake in preheated oven of 350* for 15 minutes each side until golden brown.

Glazed Baked Sweet Potatoes

Terrific for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

• 3 ¹⁄₂ tablespoons brown sugar
• 4 cups diced sweet potatoes or 4 cups yams
• ³⁄₄ teaspoon cinnamon

These are easy, delicious, sweet, gooey, and better yet: super healthy! These could practically be dessert they are so good! This will be the easiest yam dish you ever made.

Get the recipe baking instructions here at food.com.

Loaded Guacamole Vegetarian Tacos

from Soup Addict's blog

Click here for this great recipe.

Unfried Black Beans

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked black beans
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 3/4 tsp salt (optional)
• 1/8 to 1/4 cup water (only as needed)

1. Put beans and spices in food processor. Process 15 to 20 seconds.
2. Scrape down the sides as needed and process until beans are smooth, add water as needed.

  

Corn Tortillas

      Ingredients:

• 2 cups masa harina flour (corn flour)
• 1 cup water
• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt

1. Mix flour and salt, then add warm water.
2. Knead until a soft dough forms, adding more water or flour as needed.
3. Tightly wrap dough in plastic wrap and let sit for 10-30 minutes.
4. Divide dough into about 16 balls, about 1/2-inch in diameter each.
5. Place each ball between 2 sheets of plastic wrap or waxed paper and roll into 5-inch round using a rolling pin, heavy flat-bottomed pan or tortilla press.
6. Heat an large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
7. Cook tortilla until stiffened, about 30 seconds; turn for 1 minute or until it is lightly browned, then turn to the first side for 30 seconds.
8. The cooking time for each tortilla should be less than 2 minutes, do not cook until crispy.

Bajan Beans Dish

Bajan Beans is a Caribbean inspired dish. A wonderful and healthful combination of beans, rice and vegetables.

          Ingredients:

1 onion, chopped,
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 green pepper, chopped
1 sweet red pepper, chopped
1 habanero chile, diced small
3 cups vegetable broth
1 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
3 zucchini
1 cup brown rice
2 1/2 cups small cooked white beans
1 cup frozen corn
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped


Bring the onion, garlic, green, red and habanero peppers and 1/2 cup of the vegetable broth to a boil in a large pot. Simmer 10 minutes or until the vegetables are softened. Add the remaining vegetable broth, tomatoes, and rice. Return to a boil and simmer covered for 15 minutes. Add zucchini and simmer 30 more minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in the beans, corn, and cilantro and heat through, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.


 Basic Vegetable Broth

Ingredients:


• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1 potato, chopped into large chunks
• 1/3 cup mushrooms, chopped in half
• 3 cloves whole garlic
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 8 cups water
• dash salt and pepper
Place all ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for at least an hour. Strain out the vegetables and remove the bay leaves. This broth can be used as a base for soups, gravies and more.
 Note: Avoid using broccoli or cabbage when making this broth. Stick to the above basic vegetables and your broth will always be great.


Burrito Bowl







Check out this fantastic recipe for Burrito Bowl from the Holy Cow Vegan blog.

Click here for recipe.

Faux Cheese Sauce

Ingredients

• 1/4 c Nutritional Yeast
• 2 Tbsp rice flour* (wheat flour can be used instead)
• 1/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• salt to taste (I used 1/2 tsp)
• 1/4 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1 c plant milk (I use rice or unsweetened almond milk)

1. In a medium sauce pan add all dry ingredients and place on medium heat.
2. Stir with a whisk as dry ingredients are heated and begin to toast. Don’t let them burn!
3. Once they are warmed and begin to be very fragrant (again, not burnt) add the plant milk and whisk often.
4. Once sauce becomes thick remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes.

Baked Rice Pudding
From Dr. John McDougall's Newsletter



Ingredients:


3 cups cooked brown rice
1 ½ cups soy or rice milk
1 cup raisins
3 teaspoons brown sugar
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
dash cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Combine all ingredients in an oven-proof pot. Heat to just boiling. Remove from heat, stir and place uncovered in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle top of pudding with a light dusting of coconut sugar and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

 

 

How to make soy milk at home. 

Horchata (Cinnamon Rice Milk)

Ingredients:

1 cup long grain rice, rinsed
2 quarts water
1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup white sugar


In a large saucepan, combine rice, water and cinnamon stick. Set aside for 3 hours. Then  bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Allow to cool. Puree rice mixture in a blender until smooth. Strain through cheesecloth or a fine sieve. Flavor with vanilla and sugar to taste. Chill, and serve over ice.

 

Get healthy and eat your greens.

GOING BACK IN TIME