Two fried eggs served alongside buttered toast with their drippy yolks. Just enough salt and pepper atop inviting me for another taste. My first meal after returning home from the hospital with my firstborn. Bean and bacon soup with far too much sodium gingerly biting down. Sitting in my bed watching tv, and being nursedContinue reading “Whole 30 Approved Kale, Apple, & Carrot Salad with Creamy Cashew Dressing”
Tag Archives: vegetarian
Loneliness to Solitude to Healthy Sweet Potato Chips
Ben & I are doing another round of Whole 30. The second time around isn’t really that hard. I didn’t feel like I was kicking a habit (mentally or physically) like last time. If anything, I’ve simply been a little bored with it this time. I think this is partially due to the boredom, whichContinue reading “Loneliness to Solitude to Healthy Sweet Potato Chips”
Lime Roasted Sweet Potatoes
We just returned from a family getaway. Ben had planned a surprise adventure for our family for the earlier part of January. Unfortunately for us, we needed to reschedule to do a bit of a tornado hitting his work staff all at once, leaving Ben to tend to work. We stayed on Discovery Bay between Sequim & Port Townsend. The place we stayed had a kitchen, so it made meals so much easier and healthy. There was also an indoor pool, which Tayers thought was the “big adventure,” and whenever we drove somewhere she would cry out, “I want to go on the big adventure!”
Our family time was relaxed, filled with laughter, reflection, and many joyful moments. It was the probably the best family vacation we’ve ever been on (and I hope many follow suit). We also experienced some breathtaking sunrises (the kind you wake up just to make sure you don’t miss it). 
I played my guitar, read, and wrote a personal mission statement, as well. This little break helped clear my head, refocus and evaluate who I am and what I, Kamille, am called to do in this life. It was good, so very good and yet so simple too. It’s kind of like these Lime Roasted Sweet Potatoes. They aren’t fussy, pretty straightforward and simplistic. Yet, sure to dance on your palate in such a way, which leaves you looking forward to the next time you get to eat them. I have some great things in store for Evangitality this year and I hope you will continue to join me or better yet, add to the discussion:)
A Year Ago: Banana Macadamia Praline Scones
Lime Roasted Sweet Potatoes (printable recipe)
Ingredients:
2-3 lbs sweet potatoes, scrubbed & peeled, chopped into 1/2 inch cubes
2 tsp coconut oil
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup cilantro, fresh and finely chopped
Zest of one lime
Juice of one lime
Directions: Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with parchment and put the sweet potatoes in an even layer on top. Add the coconut oil and thoroughly coat, using your hands, the sweet potatoes. Sprinkle with 1 tsp of salt. Roast for 20-25 minutes.
While the potatoes are roasting, combine lime juice, lime zest, additional 1/2 tsp salt & cilantro. Once sweet potatoes are done, transfer to a serving bowl and pour the lime/cilantro mixture over them while hot. Gently mix to combine and serve.
Paleo Day 2: Spinach Salad with sauteed shiitakes & subdued garlic
If only garlic started with an “S” then I’d have won for alliteration. It’s only day two and at this rate, not sure if posting everyday for the next 28 days is possible; however, let’s give it a shot (not going to try too many firsts here). Last Wednesday at my little gym, my coach Emilie led the “chalktalk” on this upcoming “Lean & Green Challenge,” where she laid out the ground rules, fears & ideas to rally the troops in to complete the mission. Challenge: “no grains, dairy, sugars, legumes for 30 days.” Well, that’s not TOO bad–right?!
But it got me thinking about the various people who have gone Paleo and never looked back. Their phrases were sung to the melody of “the hills are alive.” And the thing is, they didn’t have those looks that you can easily call out in a crowd as a bluff. They really were holding an ace high straight flush and want to lead as many people to the goods who will willingly follow. So, just in case you’re not following, after the 30 days, they didn’t want to go back. They didn’t want to go back to gluten-filled goodness, rice cakes (oops how did that get there), cream in their coffee, or a place where the beer flows like wine. Mostly, people didn’t want to go back to the gluten, because it affected their systems; however, seeing as half of my recipes here consist of that little beauty–I can’t help but get a little sad. To think of Christmas without having Vetekrans, a blustery Autumn weekend having Pumpkin Pecan Scones, or enjoying a getaway with my friends with Homemade Oreos. Seriously, never again (insert sad face).
As for day two–it’s close to over and I should be reporting to sleep duty. What I do know is this morning Ben did wake up to “nutty wife syndrome” (didn’t say it wasn’t coming), tonight was easier than last, and maybe, just maybe I won’t miss all of the said above items and long for this simple Spinach Salad (one can dream right). Sweet dreams friends!
A Year Ago: Pear, Apple, Cranberry Crisp
Spinach Salad with sautéed Shiitakes & Subdued Garlic (printable recipe)
Ingredients:
A whole bunch of washed, dried spinach (preferably pre-washed)
8 oz shiitake mushrooms, stems cut off and sliced
1-2 Tb almond oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tb olive oil
salt
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
freshly ground pepper
Directions: In a large bowl, put your spinach in it. In a medium saute pan and on medium heat, heat almond oil. Add the mushrooms and stir occasionally. Once they have gotten nice & sautéed, then add a pinch of salt. Put sautéed mushrooms atop the spinach.
With the same pan, add the olive oil (on medium-low heat) and add your minced garlic. Stir around and keep all the garlic simmering in the oil. You DO NOT want it to brown. Your simply simmering out the garlic to soften both texture & flavor (1 -1 1/2 minutes). Add a pinch of salt to garlic. Empty onto the mushroom & spinach.
Spread out the thinly sliced mushrooms atop. Drizzle a bit more olive oil (not too much) & grind some pepper.
Coconut Ginger Butternut Squash Soup
Starting Monday, Ben & I will be joining our gym’s call to partake in the “Lean & Green Challenge.” Before I divulge into what it entails, let me say that I can already imagine the expression on your face as you continue reading. And I’m actually looking forward to it (in some respects). It is a Paleo eating style, which means we will be eating as Paleolithic people. You got that? Okay, well, it means we only eat lean meats, vegetables, limited fruit, nuts & seeds and good fats (olive oil, coconut oil, nut oils, nut butters, etc). That means we will not be eating any grains (containing gluten and gluten-free), dairy, sugars, or legumes (yes peanuts are a part of that).
I, of course, prefaced it with what we can eat, because most people upon hearing what we can’t eat automatically ask, “Well, what CAN you eat?” The next question, “Kamille, why are you doing this? What does this mean with baking?” Good question! Ben and I have been looking at our Family Mission (reading this great book) and our top priority is getting our family healthy. Ben joined Jogo in March, me in August, my mental health turned for the worse and we want more from life. Friends & co-Jogomates have testified the goodness of doing Paleo. How aches, pains, intestinal problems, weight around the gut, etc went away after following a Paleo food lifestyle (Robb Wolf), along with regular cardio-exercise. So really, I would have to ask myself, “Why wouldn’t I join the “L&G Challenge?”
And about baking…well, to be quite honest, I haven’t really wanted to bake much these days. Maybe it’s a mixture of exercise, lack of time, demands of family? And maybe I’m just burnt out. What I am excited about is loving my family in these next 30 days by preparing & cooking food that will be good to their body, help me menu plan (for once anyway) and most likely have a tighter rein on the food budget. Plus, we have a 1/2 a cow in our deep freezer, so here’s to using it. One of my recipes is this soup, which puts a twist on an Autumn classic. The coconut is subtle enough, which is why I didn’t use a whole can (but you certainly could) and plays on the creaminess known to the butternut squash. The ginger adds bite & spice to make it come a bit alive. Stay tuned as our family embarks on this adventure, and hopefully share a recipe or two:)
Coconut Ginger Butternut Squash Soup (printable recipe)
If you want to substitute the water for warm chicken broth, go right ahead, because it would add a greater depth of flavor to it.
Ingredients:
2 butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 small onion, roughly cut into large dice
extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt
1/2 cup coconut milk
3-5 cups water
2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp finely grated ginger
Garnish options: olive oil, kosher salt, red pepper chili flakes, cilantro
Directions: Preheat oven to 425. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Place butternut squash & onion on parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil, mix around with hands, sprinkle a bit of salt on top. Roast for about 30-35 minutes, check the squash (a fork should pierce right through).
Add the roasted squash & onions in batches to the blender. Add 1/4 cup coconut milk and about 1/2 cup of water. Put a towel on top of the lid to avoid getting burnt by the steam. Blend until completely pureed. You most likely will need to add more water along the way. Continue doing this, until all the squash/onion mixture is pureed; as well as, the coconut milk is gone.
Transfer the puree to a large pot and bring up to medium heat. Add more water, 1/2 cup portion at a time, until you get the consistency you prefer. Add ground ginger & freshly grated ginger (using a microplane zester). Add salt to taste. If you need a bit of acid, then squeeze in the juice of 1/2 a lime–taste and if you think it needs the other 1/2–go ahead and add it.
Ladle into bowl, drizzle a bit of olive oil on top, along with red pepper chili flakes, some cilantro and a pinch of coarse salt.
The Family Meal (Roasted Tomato & Red Pepper Soup)
There is so much research showing how important it is to eat together for meals. I understand that eating every meal together is not completely feasible, so maybe it’s making a goal for one meal a day. Granted, I don’t have teenagers or any after school sports during this stage of life. However, I think I hold it so dear, because growing up we didn’t have regular “check-in” time during a meal (meaning every member of the family sat together). I love how Ben regularly asks the girls, “Girls, I forgot to ask (insert enthusiasm), what was your favorite part of the day?” Tayers will routinely announce, “OH..HUCK! (as in a character from Strawberry Shortcake).” But you know, it’s not about dinner being intricate or fanciful; rather, it’s simply about being present to feed both the body & soul.
I wish you could come into our home to share a meal with us, because contrary to mislead beliefs, we rarely have exquisite platings. Typically, it’s fairly humble and sometimes a flop (with a very humble husband still eating it). If there’s something I want to impart to you in the kitchen is take risks, expand upon what you know, but do it with little steps. And if there’s another thing I want to impart is take advantage of what the farmers are growing, because it most likely tastes REALLY good.
Tomatoes. They’re still abounding here in western WA and you don’t want to pass them up. My girls love tomatoes, as do I, and we all love a good tomato soup. Growing up I hated tomato soup, because you only found in a white & red can labeled Campbell’s (Could it get any worse?). So in my infinite 8 year old wisdom, I deduced that all tomato soup was evil (as were those sad little Circus Peanut Candies). Then, I grew up and tried a different tomato soup, come to realize I had it partially wrong. Not all tomato soups are created equal (I was right about the Campbell’s brand). This tomato soup is fairly straightforward & easy. You won’t see if featured on 30 minute meals, due to the roasting time alone, but well worth it. You can choose to serve it a la rustic (less smooth & without pressing it through a sieve) or a bit more refined (pressing it through a sieve), but it’s entirely up to you. Whatever you do, I hope you sit down, give thanks for even the simplest of meals, breathe in deep for this moment you’re given, and do with those people you love most:)
One Year Ago: Day One & Two of Culinary Intensive Course
Roasted Tomato & Red Pepper Soup (printable recipe)
Please don’t be afraid of salt here. Salt is like the focus button on a camera, it is there to enhance the flavor. A tomato in season is going to be great; however, when you add a bit of salt to it…it’s WOW factor increases exponentially. Use however, much water you think you need to create the consistency, which suits your fancy.
3 lbs heirloom tomatoes
Handful of sungold tomatoes
1 red bell pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
sprinkle of unrefined granulated sugar
sprinkle of kosher salt
2 tsp unrefined sugar, evaporated cane juice
1 tsp kosher salt
1-1 1/2 cups water
freshly grated parmesan cheese
crack of fresh ground pepper
light drizzle of olive oil
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut heirlooms into quarter slices, while leaving the sungolds as is and put on tray. Quarter the red bell pepper & place on sheet as well. Drizzle the olive oil over the nightshades (tomato & peppers fall in the nightshade family), then sprinkle with salt & sugar. Roast for an hour.
Transfer everything, even the oil, to a food processor. Process until smooth (45 seconds to 1 minute). Taking a fine meshed sieve or food mill, pour some of the pureed mixture through to strain the seeds & skin pulp. Take the strained soup mixture and add 1/3 cup at a time to create the right consistency for you. I used 1 cup of water. Then, added a little bit more sugar & salt to make the tomato flavor pop. Heat on the stove top. Garnish with freshly grated parmesan, cracked pepper, & light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
Peach Pico de Gallo
The trees around here tell me that Autumn is on the move. However, in Bellingham it is known that summer doesn’t fully start until the Fourth of July and sticks around till end of September. Today would prove otherwise. But, I’m not letting it get to me and trying to make up for so much lost time in the kitchen this summer. Peaches, nectarines, apples & plums are in abundance. In fact, you can still get strawberries, blueberries & raspberries at Joe’s Garden (oh how I love thee). Not to mention the nightshade vegetable/fruit family abounding everywhere.
And since we’re leaving to Vegas this week for my sister-in-law’s wedding, I needed to do something with the tomatoes & peaches before I left. A peach pico de gallo sounded wonderful. I think it was two summers back we would buy this mango-peach salsa from Costco & simply loved it. It was more on the sweet side, not as much spice, but perfect for grilled chicken, salmon or even better…scrambled eggs. My version is less sweet and it tastes like a pico de gallo should–fresh. You can up the spice factor however you like. It takes me to the beaches of Mazatlan where my grandpa lives, except this time I’m older and can drink a beer with it. Enjoy!
P.S. We got our camera in the mail this week (must use the word “our,” as I’ve already said “my” once–OOPS!) & I love it!
Peach Pico de Gallo (printable recipe)
Ingredients:
1 medium sweet onion, diced
1 large red pepper, diced
1 jalapeno pepper, minced (the heat is in the inner white spine, so you can remove that to make it less hot)
6 hothouse tomatoes (Joe’s Garden), diced
1 1/2-2 lbs peaches, chopped & skinned
pinch of salt
juice of one lime
Optional: If you want more heat, add more jalapenos.
Directions: This is relatively easy to make. The work is done with a sharp chef knife, cutting board and bowl. Cut, dice, chop, etc and put it into the bowl. Mix together, taste for flavoring & add more of what you think you need. Eat with chips, serve on eggs, chicken, salmon, fish tacos, cod, halibut. Add a mango if you like.
Beet Salad Done Right!!
I’ve been suffering from a bit of writer’s block. In college when it came time to write my history papers I would fumble & fumble with the introduction. And that’s how it’s been feeling when I sit down to write a new post. I can’t seem to find just the right words to begin. But, in a way, it’s exactly how life is going in the here & now. Take breakfast for instance. It’s 8:00 and I’m actually showered & ready, so breakfast should be a snap. Not quite. When I came downstairs I found my “risen bread” to be not so risen, but quite fallen. I didn’t want to waste it, so I began thinking what I could do instead.
Then, insert two little girls under the age of four asking for, “Mama, can you put Shortcake Swing on?” Me: “Yes! (still looking baffled at my dough). And since I didn’t move in .milliseconds I was asked the same question again. Then, Tayers needed her boots on like sissy. Oh, but my hands were sticky, so go and wash, help with said boots, then back to dou…oh wait, there’s dirt all over the floor. Find broom. Another question asked of me. Me wondering if I had something I was doing in the kitchen. By the time I got back the dough was sticking to the board. Eventually, I made a sad excuse for a breakfast pizza (eggs cooking on top, dough a bit soggy [because it was intended for bread in the first place]); however, the girls didn’t seem to mind.
Oh, what I also forgot to mention was the time when we finally ate…oh about 9:15. Because what ensued from the time I started to the time I finished, well, I have no clue at this point in the afternoon. I do know that I lost my marbles at one time with a bit more boisterous mama (some call it shouting) saying, “I need to think! Out of the kitchen…get out of the kitchen!” I think I was the one who needed an immediate time out and my apologies & reminding myself in front of the girls how we are to “use our words.” That’s what my introductions to posts feel like. My life at present is like the first time I learned to drive stick, a whole bunch of jerking stops not knowing how (or if I should) to begin again.
But you know, I find a bit of solace amidst of all this (granted, it’s almost 8 hours later). As I was picking up the toys, hats, shoes from the floor for the umpteenth time I thought of the people without kids (whether it be the barren, the empty nester, etc) and how this mere “inconvenience” is full of life. Our home is full of non-stop chatting, laughter, cries, music, movement & breaths. The silence is more than appreciated & needed, but there’s something about that little voice after nap, which gladly says, “Hi Mama!” There’s something about it all that I wish I could stuff it into a bottle so it never fades. It’s contentment in these little things, that makes a Monday feel like a Friday. This little salad does just that. The acidity from the marinated beets, sweet licorice blend from the fennel, and the creaminess from the avocado. You could eat it by itself or put it on top of salad greens.
A Year Ago: Superlative Chocolate Chip Cookies & Cabbage-Apple Salad
Beet, Fennel, & Avocado Salad
This salad can be eaten without salad greens, or with. I found a good washed kind from my Farmer’s Market (had kale, mustard greens, herbs, bibb lettuce). Be sure you don’t throw out your beet greens. You can either saute them up with a little minced garlic, olive oil & salt for later. Or, chop them up to use as part of your salad greens for this here salad.
(printable recipe)
Ingredients:
1 bunch of beets (if you can get a variety sold at a Farmer’s Market–that would be optimal)
4-5 small fennel bulbs (or 2 big ones)
2 ripe avocados
Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
Kosher Salt or Sea Salt
Olive oil
Mixed Greens
Directions: Chop the beet greens off (save them for later use by steaming or cut up & put as part of your salad). Scrub the beets, but no need to peel them. Thinly slice them using a mandoline. Put them in a bowl and pour enough raw apple cider vinegar to cover them. Allow them to marinate for minimum 2 hours. Once your beets have marinated (I marinated mine for 3 1/2 hours), drain them & if you want to barely rinse them, go ahead.
Slice the fennel with the mandoline (think thin as well). Put them in a ice water bath, then transfer them to a salad spinner to get the water out. The ice water bath shrinks the fennel, allowing it to be crunchy.
Transfer the beets & fennel into a bowl. Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil on top, sprinkle with salt & cubed avocados as well. Lightly mix with your hands. Place a portion on top of mixed salad greens. Drizzle with a little bit more olive oil and you’re good to go.
Sugar Snap Pea & Mint Risotto
The long-awaited summer has arrived (granted it could go away by next week, because this is the Pacific Northwest). Ben says Memorial Day is the official unofficial start of summer (in theory), while the reality of high temps, constant summer & glorious outdoor water play dates begin after Fourth of July. Our plans for the day include: sunscreen bodies, water, smoothies & bare feet. I don’t want to be doing much when it comes to cooking over the stove top, so please forgive me for this recipe on a week like this, which cries for salads, quick sandwiches, and anything cool.
But, I made this while the weather was partly sunny and I had a plethora of some of the best sugar snap peas I’ve tasted. We have this little garden/farm, Joe’s Garden, which is quintessential Bellingham. Bouquets of sweet peas in early summer, lettuce heads the size of three grocery store kind ($1.25) and a cornucopia of bounty come August (eggplant, tomatoes, summer squash, basil, potatoes, peaches, etc). The sugar snap peas had just been picked and we brought home a bag. They were crunchy & sweet. A week later they was still some left in my fridge and they had not lost their crunch–amazing. If you live in Bellingham and you’ve never been–you must go. If you’re coming from out-of-town, do yourself a favor and stop by.
I had to use these snap peas along with the abundance of mint we have to make a risotto. My friend Lindsey puts little ideas in regards to food of what I should make and then I set to the task. We had a similar risotto using sugar snap peas, but it used a basil cream. I really felt the addition of mint would be more refreshing, and it didn’t fail me. Take advantage of the small season of sugar snap peas by eating a couple on the way home and making this risotto.
Sugar Snap Pea & Mint Risotto (printable recipe)
1 vidialia onion with greens, chopped
2 garlic cloves
2 Tb olive oil
1 Tb unsalted butter
2 cups arborio rice, risotto
1/2 cup dry white wine
5-6 cups vegetable broth
1/2 – 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
kosher salt to taste
3/4 -1 cup sugar snap peas, cut into thirds
1 -2 Tb freshly chopped mint
Directions: Put vegetable broth in a small pot & heat. You will want it to be warm when you add it to the rice for later. Put a lid on the pot to keep it warm.
In a large pan, heat oil & butter on medium heat. Add onions & garlic, saute till fragrant and onions softened, about 4 minutes. Add a pinch of salt & mix. Add the arborio rice and stir to coat. Cook for about 30 seconds while stirring. Add the white wine and stir. Once the rice has absorbed the wine, add one cup of vegetable broth. Stir and allow the rice to soak up the broth. Continue adding one cup at a time and allowing the rice to soak it up. This will take about 25 minutes. When you have about 1 -2 cups left of broth, add the sugar snap peas.
Taste throughout to see how much salt you need. The rice should be a little al dente. Remove from heat and add freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano & stir. Add the chopped mint. Taste & see if you need more salt. Serve straight from the stove. Garnish with more Parmesan & mint.
Host as Guests and “Fried” Potatoes with Kale & Onion
I came across the following quote months ago and saved it in a file. As I came across it today it got me thinking…
Good hosts discover the divine mystery in hospitality—
that as they welcome strangers, they are themselves beloved
guests of God’s grace.
Is it really true that hospitality is more for the host than for the guest? While in Ellensburg for Thanksgiving we get free movie passes, which is about the only time we go to the movies ($9.00 for a movie!). We saw “The Blind Side,” which is based upon a true story. Aside from being an exceptionally great film (seriously, it was a mixture of wonderful & horrible–the kind of horrible that makes you realize life isn’t pretty), there were many moments I got choked up & cried. The Blind Side” depicts the story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential (synopsis taken from here).
Leigh Anne Touhy, the mom, took Michael in as her own. What she was doing was saving him from the plane crash of a life he would have if he stayed in the projects. However, she realized was Michael was in essence saving her. He as the guest caused her to rethink a family history of racism, status in the elite, and safety living on the right side of the tracks. She needed him maybe more than he needed her. Grace.
It’s too easy to view a stranger or guest as a project. To think that my “love” and “generosity” will change the person & I’ll feel better about myself. Except, what I find in the end is that even in the midst of what seemingly is a “good deed,” ends up becoming a grace revealed. This morning’s breakfast reminds me of a grace revealed as a modest, yet appetizing goodness. It is fit for a king in more of backdoor sort of way.
“Fried” Potatoes with Kale & Onion (printable recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 small yellow onion, cut in thin half moons
- 3-4 rather big Yukon Gold Potatoes, cut into quarters, then thinly sliced
- 2-3 Tablespoons olive oil/canola oil mixture
- 1-2 Tablespoons sea salt
- 5 leaves black Kale, rib cut off & cut leaves into bite-sized pieces
- 2-4 Tablespoons water
Put 1 Tb of oil into pan over medium heat. Heat oil for about one minute, then add onion slices. Add about 1 teaspoon salt to onions. Cook until the a bit of browning occurs on the onions. Add thinly sliced potatoes, along with 1 more Tb of oil.
Stir occasionally to avoid sticking or burning (if you need to add more oil, do so). Add 2 teaspoons of salt. You’ll cook the potatoes for about 15-20 minutes.
Add the kale, along with 3 Tablespoons water. Stir around and cook without a lid for 30 seconds. Then, put a lid on top of potatoes & kale and cook for an additional 2 minutes or so. The lid is creating steam, which will in return steam the kale. My lid goes directly on top of the potatoes as it is smaller than the rim of the pan.
Remove from heat, add salt to taste & pepper. Serve by itself, or it you’re like my daughter…with ketchup.
Backdoor Hospitality 