Sunday Nourishment...

 

"A good meal soothes the soul as it regenerates the body."

Frederick W. Hackwood

Find a meal this Sunday homemade or bought that will sooth your soul...

Tuesday "Try"... Salmon

 A busy day calls for a simple and quick meal. So I had this can of Wild Caught Salmon on my pantry shelf. I opened it up and mixed together some salmon patties.

Then I already had a kale salad made up in the refrigerator, so I made a a sauce of mayo, dill and lemon juice to put on the salmon patties... magic! Dinner is served in no time.

Salmon Patties

1 15oz can wild caught salmon

1 egg

2 Tb. mayo

1 tsp. mustard

1/4 cup finely cut onion

1/2 cup shredded carrots

1/4 - 1/2 cup of bread crumbs

1 Tb. fresh squeezed lemon juice

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

salt and pepper to taste

Sauce

2-4 Tb. Mayonaise

1/4 -1/2 tsp. dill

1 Tb. fresh squeezed lemon juice

Mix all ingredients together - form into patties and fry in small amount of butter and oil.

Add any other spices that you like - tailor them to your taste. 

Don't be afraid to "play with your food"

Sunday's Nourishement...

 

"You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpiece - just good food from fresh ingredients."

Julia Child

Cooking a meal doesn't have to be hard. And complicated doesn't necessarily mean better tasting. Some of the simplest dishes can offer nourishment and good taste. So when you plan your next meal make something that brings you joy with  fresh ingredients. A simple salad or sandwich can be all you need for a meal.

Saturday "Supper"... Turkey Tetrazzini

     

     http://www.rachaelraymag.com/Recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/budget-recipes/turkey-tetrazzini-2

    Tomorrow my oldest son is coming over ( he usually comes a couple times a month) and I always cook a meal for him to take home. So the first thing I do if I didn't have a meal from the day before that was a double recipe to share, I check my cabinets, refrigarator and freezer to see what I have that I can make.
     What I found today was some frozen turkey and in my cabinet, a box of spaghetti, cream and/broth in my refrigerator, put it altogether and the idea came to me... Turkey Tetrazzini. Next step is to "Google" other peoples recipes and see what ingredients they use.  Traditionally this recipe uses mushrooms and my son is not a fan, so this is when you take a recipe and tailor it to your families likes and dislikes, and what you have around your house. I will probable substitues peas and carrots instead of mushrooms because that's what I have and a lot of the other recipes I saw used that.  Also some of the recipes called for using milk, cream or stock. So I will pick from those choices and use what I have.
       The link above is just one of the many recipes for Turkey Tetrazzini, Don't be afraid to play with your food, some of the best dishes come from experimenting and/or mistakes!

Wednesday "Word"... Zinc

 

 http://www.drweilblog.com/home/2011/6/20/are-you-getting-enough-zinc.html

 Zinc is another good mineral to help the immune system during this season of colds and flu. Here are some foods that have Zinc to incorporate into your meal planning this month.

Nuts

Beans

Mushrooms

Flounder and Sole

Cooked Oysters

Wheat Germ

Spinach

Pumpkin Seeds

Red Meat

Chicken

Pork

Eggs

Lentils

Quinoa

Cheese (Swiss, Cheddar, Mozzarella)

And YES even Dark Chocolate

Love ourselves back to health...

        Getting ourselves to a healthier place, starts with self-love. We cannot "will" ourselves better, it is with gentle and loving kindness towards ourselves that things will begin to shift. We don't need to go looking for the new diet that claims to have all the answers, we don't need to clear out the cabinets and buy all organic and healthy foods. The change and shift will happen, one moment, one choice at a time. Each day brings with it a new beginning, and if yesterday we were not so kind to ourselves, then the awareness will help us try again. Our health is not a destination, it is a life long process of loving and learning. A chance to offer self love through the food we choose and the food we give to others.
        Here are three steps to guide you along and as always, if they don't speak to you, use what does. Self-Love comes in many forms!
 
        First Step:
~ Bring awareness to the food your eating. Not by judging if it's good or bad for you, but enjoy - the color, the taste, the smell. Be aware, as you chew, without distractions, for one meal or one snack.

        Second Step:
~ Be thankful for the abundance of choices and places you are able to purchase food.

        Third Step
~ Remember when your cooking ( no matter what it is) to cook it with a loving intention.

This is a journey of a lifetime... journey with me as we explore how we can " Love ourselves back to health"

Tuesday "Try"... Okra

Okra

A friend gave me some okra from her garden last year and I have to say I'd never really eaten fresh okra before then, and only knew of the slimy stories that come along when someone mentions the word "Okra." So when I was at the farmers market this past Saturday, I saw this okra and it was so beautiful AND organic. Okra is typically green but don't be afraid to try the same food in a different color. I just bought a few to play with and try something new with it ( now that I have fond memories of eating okra). I found a simple recipe... Just wash and cut the okra in slices.

Then cook some onion, diced fresh garlic, cumin, and red pepper flakes in oil ( I used some homemade beef broth I'd just made a few days ago. More about that in another post to come) until slightly done.

Then put the sliced okra in with the onion mix and continue to cook until the okra in tender as you like it. I left it slightly undercooked. I didn't want it to be to mushy. It was really really good. A nice summery side dish to add to any meal. I can see where this dish could have a lot of different spices added to it, depending on what you were pairing it with. Don't be afraid to play with your food!

If you would like help reading labels, shopping and/or making meal planning easy contact me athttp://www.wholefood-living.com/contact.html

Tuesday "Try"... Conscious Eating

Try and pick one meal in your day that is not distracted by, TV, cell phones, phone calls, emails, reading, or even conversations and try to consciously eat that meal. Pause ~ take a moment to really look at the colors, smell the aroma that rises up from your plate, feel the work and care that was put into preparing it ( even if it was yourself). Bring your awareness to each small bite and consciously chew and taste your food. Feel the appreciation for the abundance that this meal is on your table and take a breath before the next bite.

Just give it a "try" ~ One meal ~ one try...

Tuesday "Try"... Re-purposed Lasagna

Re-purposed Lasagna

My oldest son comes to visit a couple times a month ( when were lucky!) and I always send him home with a homemade meal. So when I'm anticipating his visit I am on the search for what to make. The great thing about my son Matt is he has always been my "Mikey"... He'll eat anything.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYEXzx-TINc ( here is the commercial where the reference comes from). I look around to see what I have, what is leftover that others don't want, what I have in the freezer , or just one of his favorites. I found this large piece of lasagna in my freezer. I made it for my other son but he said it was to dry and didn't like any of the options I offered to revive it. So... I thought what can I do with this? How the ideas come to me sometimes I'm not sure, but I think some are from trail and error, some are from just playing with my food over the years and some come from what I've seen others do. With this idea, my kids were questioning my sanity a little, but I thought what have I got to loose. No one was eating it anyway ( I couldn't eat it because it wasn't gluten/dairy free).

What I did was not let it defrost all the way so when I cut it, it would hold the shape and not fall apart.

I then proceeded to batter it with egg and bread Italian bread crumbs. I fried them in a small amount of organic Spectrum shortening in a pan. 

Just long enough to brown on both sides. These could be baked as well.

Then I put the pieces in a baking dish and poured some spaghetti sauce over the top and sprinkles cheese on. Baked it for about 15-20 min in 350 degree oven. I could not taste it ( not gluten/dairy free) but both my son's loved it.

I hope this inspires you to play a little with your food and see what you come up with. Don't forget to share!

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