November 7, 2012

Simple Sauteed Cabbage with Carrots



Ever since last year, when we stayed at the Swiss Farm Inn, I've been periodically thinking about the cabbage side dish we had. That might seem strange, but it was delicious!

I really like pepper slaw (the not-creamy version of coleslaw), but haven't eaten much cabbage otherwise. The idea of cooking it & making it the star of a dish never really occurred to me. I finally found myself with extra cabbage, so the other night I cooked it with some shredded carrots.

It turns out that cooking cabbage aids in lowering cholesterol. Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable that is high in Vitamins K & C as well as antioxidants. It's low in calories, so it's perfect for a side dish that packs a lot of punch. I really liked it cooked - it retains its crunch & became a little sweeter than raw cabbage.

We served the cabbage with Kale & Feta Portobello Caps (recipe soon!) & sweet potato fries. Yum!



Simple Sauteed Cabbage with Carrots
Serves 4-6

1 T coconut oil (or olive oil)
1/2 of a large head of cabbage, sliced or shredded
1 carrot, grated
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. black pepper

In a large skillet (mine was cast iron), heat oil until melted. Add cabbage, cooking over medium heat for about 8 minutes. Stir occasionally. Once cabbage begins to soften, add carrots, salt & pepper. Cook another 5 minutes or until cabbage is lightly browned & soft. Season with additional salt or pepper to taste.






November 3, 2012

Tasty Tidbits


We survived Hurricane Sandy with little impact. Aside from a bit of water coming in the north wall of our basement, we were safe & secure. Tink was her typical spastic self, so I'm not sure if she knew there was a storm brewing or not. My parents' cat stopped eating & using the bathroom on Sunday because she was so nervous! She was back to eating again on Tuesday, thank goodness.

Over the weekend, the Bup bottled 2 carboys of wine. I helped a little with the corking & sampling, but that was enough. :-) It was a long weekend for me, as work was cancelled on Monday & Tuesday. I got a lot of things done that I've been trying to find time for, like making curtains for our kitchen windows & refilling/reorganizing my spice cupboard.

Hope your week went well & that everyone in the path of Hurricane Sandy is safe.


Here's what we've been eating in the last week:

Breakfasts
  • Strawberry Banana Smoothies
  • Banana Pumpkin Peanut Butter Bread
  • Whole Wheat Pumpkin Waffles
  • Black Cherry yogurt with honey lentil granola 
  • Bulgur Porridge with dried cherries & crunchy peanut butter
Lunches
  • Leftovers
  • Sandwiches
  • Eating Well's Kale & Potato Hash - This had SO much flavor! The kale/potato combination is definitely a keeper.
  • Baked beans mixed with roasted cauliflower
  • Apples

                                                          [Saturday night pizza!]
Dinners

Sunday:
  • Jessica's Crockpot Bourbon Baked Beans - While these required some advanced prep (soaking & cooking the beans), once they were in the crockpot, the house smelled delicious all day long. I altered the recipe a little: replaced bacon with liquid smoke, used whiskey instead of bourbon, & 1/2 c sucanat instead of 1 c brown sugar. They were plenty sweet with the smaller amount of sugar. I'm sure the flavors also depend a lot on which bbq sauce you use.
  • Angela's Flat & Crispy Cornbread - I've made this before & we love it. It's not your typical cornbread, but it's great for dipping & it comes together quickly.
  • Green Salad
Monday:
  • Maryea's Vegan Chili Lime Lentil Tacos topped with sauteed peppers & onions, fresh tomato salsa, & guacamole - I usually use black beans when we make tacos, so this was a nice change. The lime really added a delicious twist.
  • Green Salad
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Birthday dinner for my father-in-law at Villa Rosa
  • Bruschetta
  • Vegetable Stromboli dipped in Marinara Sauce
Thursday:
Traditional choir night dinner at Mom & Pops' house. 
  • Linguini with Cauliflower
  • Green Salad
Friday:
Bazaar Day at church
  • Vegetarian chili
Treats

October 29, 2012

Cherry Walnut Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies


The best thing to do during a big storm is bake cookies! The warmth of the oven, plus the comforting smell of them baking, makes for a cozy afternoon.


These cookies are full of natural, healthy ingredients. Spelt flour, oats, cinnamon, cherries, & walnuts all add health benefits. Everyone loves eating a cookie & still feeling like they put something healthy into their body!


Enjoy & stay dry. My thoughts & prayers are with everyone as Hurricane Sandy comes through!



Cherry Walnut Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Adapted from Cooking Light
Makes 32-34 cookies

2/3 c (3 oz) spelt flour (or sub white whole wheat flour)
1 1/2 c old-fashioned oats
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
6 T organic butter
2/3 c sucant
1 tsp. vanilla
1 organic egg
1/2 c dried cherries (or sub raisins or dried cranberries)
1/2 c chopped walnuts
1/3 c semi-sweet chocolate chips


  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Mix together flour, oats, baking soda & salt in the bowl of a mixer. Stir to combine.
Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Once melted, watch closely until butter begins to brown. Remove browned butter from heat & add sucanat. Add to flour mixture and beat at medium speed until combined. Add vanilla and egg; beat until blended. Fold in cherries, walnuts, & chocolate. 

Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto baking sheets. Cookies will only spread slightly. Bake for 12 minutes, then remove from oven & cool on pans for 3 minutes before removing. Finish cooling on wire racks.


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