the book that changed my life

[I ♥ iPhone pics]

"Nutrition goes beyond calories and food groups. Our bodies have the ability to heal themselves and our food can facilitate that power."  Yes, I'm quoting myself (I can do that, right???).  How about Hippocrates?  Ever heard of him?  Of course you have!  This is my favorite quote of his: "Everyone has a doctor in him or her; we just have to help it in its work. The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well. Our food should be our medicine. Our medicine should be our food."

I went off to college with the intention of becoming a doctor, or something.  I ended up with a B.S. in Health Science, a minor in Biology and an emphasis in Health Promotion & Lifetime Wellness.  I took several courses dealing with the human body, and I loved every.single.one.  But no textbook taught me what I knew to be true.  And then I came across Paul Pitchford's book, Healing With Whole Foods: Asian Traditions & Modern Nutrition.  I lovingly refer to it as my food bible :)

This book also played a key role in my marriage.  True story!  Once I read said book, there was no going back...  My roommates and professors alike were concerned with my "quackish" beliefs.  I even had a quasi boyfriend at the time who thought I was borderline sacrilegious, all because I experimented with brown rice syrup and drank copious amounts of green smoothies.  Oh, and not going to the doctor for common ailments = dangerous.

A friendly admirer (Brad) took me out for my birthday (not the pseudo BF).  Over our dinner conversation we talked about what we wanted for Christmas.  I sheepishly and quickly mumbled the name of the book.  Because that's all I wanted; the school library was tired of me hoarding it... I braced myself for the oncoming scorn that never came.  Not only had Brad heard of this book, but his own mother owned it!  I wasn't crazy.  I was NOT crazy!  Poor pretend boyfriend never had a second chance after that fateful night ;)

I love food.  I love my body.  I love this book.  And I love my husband.  *B

Soup Sans Cheese (aka. Cheesey Cheeseless Soup)

This soup is smooth and creamy, without the dairy.  It's naturally nutritious, and deceivingly delicious :)

Ingredients:

• 5 medium-small russet potatoes, cut into 2 inch chunks -or- 1 2lb bag of country style hashbrowns (frozen/rehydrated)
• 3 smallish carrots, cut into 2 inch segments -or- 1 can carrots, drained -or- 1/2 lb carrots (frozen/rehydrated)
• 1/2 onion, chopped -or- 1-2 T. dried onions
• 6 c. water
• 1 c. milk (DF works fine)
• 2 T. chicken bouillon (MSG-free please!)
• 1/2 c. white beans, drained & rinsed (opt)
• 1/2 c. sweet potato puree -or- pumpkin puree
• 4 T. butter (1/2 stick)
• dash of nutmeg
• dash of paprika
• salt & pepper, to taste
• 1 small bag frozen vegetables, Normandy style (redhydrated in chicken broth)
• 2 handfuls of shredded rotisserie chicken -or- 1 can chicken, drained (opt)

Directions:

1. Place potatoes, carrots and onions into large soup pot.  Add water, then add salt until water tastes salty.
2. Bring to a boil, and cook until veggies are tender.  Add bouillon, then (s)mash potatoes and carrots.  Blend with a hand mixer until smooth.  Reduce heat to simmer.
3. In a food processor, add sweet potato puree and white beans and process until smooth.  Add puree blend to soup.  Blend with hand mixer until smooth.  Add spices and stir.
4. Add frozen vegetables and chicken and heat through.  Garnish with shredded cheese and green onions.

This is perfect for those avoiding or limiting dairy.  It looks and tastes cheesey!  But if you're wanting to cheat, you can top your bowl with a handful of cheese and only feel slightly guilty ;)  Change up your mixings and fixings and slurp to your heart's content!  *B

Roasted

[recipe]

freeze your greens

[source]

It is still March, right?  I haven't gone and missed all of April or anything...  Well, in honor of the month o' green, I thought we'd start our first Tipsy Tuesday talking about everyone's favorite green: spinach!  Oh, you don't like spinach?  How unfortunate.  Because it really is worth your liking :)

Now, my little family "likes" spinach.  I love it in a salad, my husband tolerates it, and my children (loudly) acknowledge its existence.  I love it in soups, and I love it steamed.  My husband tolerates it in soup, and he only likes it steamed if bacon is involved.  My kids like love bacon.  So why do we buy the huge bag of spinach from Costco?

More often than not, we drink our spinach!  I'm addicted to green drinks.  And my husband/offspring?  They love it!  Seriously.  Both of my kids request green drinks.  And when they hear my blender whirring, they start doing little happy dances.  I love that they love it, almost as much as (if not more than) the drink itself.  I'll be sure to post a recipe soon, alongside a pic of some of the cutest green mustaches you've ever seen ;)

So, back to the freezing.  If you've ever had good intentions of eating your greens, and end up buying them in bulk, only to find out that it's not so easy eating that huge bag of spinach before it goes bad, then you're not alone.  Been there, done that.  But, there is a solution!  Freeze those leaves.  Here's what I do: Stuff two HUGE handfuls of spinach into one freezer bag.  I get about 10 freezer bags' worth of frozen spinach out of one large bulk bag.  Pop them into the freezer and they're good to go, all fresh and ready for all those yummy soups, drinks and the like.

Going green has never been cooler.  *B

Beth tested, and approved

This post is for you, dear cousin and loyal reader of mine :)  I have gone through and removed any recipes I have not personally tried.  I hope that helps you sleep better at night...  Thanks for having such confidence in me and my culinary skills!  *B

Meal Plan: 3/21 - 3/27

Mexican Monday: Tortilla Soup topped with avocado chunks

Oriental Tuesday: Peanut Satay w/ tofu & cilantro

Twisted Wednesday: Pancakes w/ strawberry-banana syrup & whipped cream

Authentic Thursday:  Noodle Cheese w/ peas (thanks Ash!)

TGIFriday: Mini Pizzas & green drinks

Super Saturday: DATE NIGHT

Special Sunday:  dinner with the folks... my daddy's bday :)

So far, Candra has been my go-to-gal... and she's pregnant!  She puts me to shame, planning AND freezing her meals.  So let me know if you're interested in linking up, too.  Because I have a vision!  *B

my plans on planning

Perhaps you noticed yesterday's post was lacking some vital information: my meal plan.  Oh, you didn't notice?  This is the second time in six months you've visited my blog?  Right.  So it's just me then.  Well, that's a relief!  That means what I'm about to propose will probably influence/excite me more than you, whoever you are...

I've been planning my meals based on themes for the past who-knows-how-long, and with much success!  No, I do not always stick to the plan.  But I don't stray too far from the planned genre du jour either.  It's been nice knowing that at least something in my life is somewhat organized, and I don't have to play the dreaded "what's for dinner" game unless I'm feeling peckishly frisky.  And so I've decided to bring a little planning into my posting!  And I'm ok being the only one excited about it ;)

Meal Plan Monday

Tipsy Tuesday

Wordless Wednesday

Food-for-Thought Thursday

Feature Friday

I'll now be sharing my meal plans with the world wide web on Monday rather than Sunday.  Anyone still interested in linking their meal plans OR recipes, let me know and I'll bring the link-up back.  Tuesday will be used for sharing any kind of kitchen tips/tricks, including healthification suggestions and the like.  We'll see how Wednesday works out, but I'd like to have some kind of picture posted (because this poor blog is seriously lacking in photos).  Whether that photo is taken by me or found elsewhere on the internet will depend entirely on where the wind blows that day.  Thursday will be recipe day.  Either made-up recipes by yours truly, or adaptations of others' (aka. healthified).  And Friday.  Friday is fun day!  Friday is the day I'll feature blogs, recipes, products, books, etc.  It's the day I'm most excited about :)  I can share/show off all my fancy kitchen utensils, cookbooks, etc.  Yeah, baby.

So be excited!  Or not (see last sentence of paragraphs #1-2).  *B