On Smoked Paprika and Better Hummus

Girls, I am in LOVE with smoked paprika.  I've seen it in a bajilionty recipes and always just subbed regular paprika (which I'm pretty sure tastes like nothing anyway).  Well.  No more.  I found my bottle at Brookshire's and have been going to town with the stuff ever since.  It's great on roasted cauliflower, sweet potato "fries", in chick pea "burgers", in chili, in a lentil stew...I even sometimes snitch a little straight from the jar.  Ridiculous?  Perhaps.  But amazing! Anyway, I definitely recommend giving it a try.

Tangentially related, I have discovered a new method that (for me) makes homemade hummus substantially more delicious.  Most recipes call for draining a can of chick peas and then blending them up with various quantities of lemon juice, tahini, garlic, and olive oil.  This makes a fine hummus,  but somehow there is always a flavor missing or maybe it's an after taste that isn't quite right for me.  I dunno.  So here's my new method.  After I drain the chick peas, I sauté them for a few minutes in a bit of olive oil to soften and toast them.  The effect produces a much richer taste, I think.  Especially when I add a generous sprinkle of SMOKED PAPRIKA while they cook.  Then I proceed as normal.  SO good.

Wonder Pot - Eh?

I guess these are a thing now? Looks good

http://www.budgetbytes.com/2013/05/italian-wonderpot/

Italian Wonderpot

 

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Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

15 mins

Total time

25 mins

 

Total Cost: $6.52

Cost Per Serving: $1.09

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 4 cups vegetable broth $0.52
• 2 Tbsp olive oil $0.32
• 12 oz. fettuccine $1.33
• 8 oz. frozen chopped spinach $0.79
• 1 (28 oz.) can diced tomatoes $1.73
• 1 medium onion $0.43
• 4 cloves garlic $0.32
• ½ Tbsp dried basil $0.07
• ½ Tbsp dried oregano $0.07
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes $0.02
• freshly cracked pepper to taste $0.05
• 2 oz. feta cheese $0.87

Instructions

1. Add four cups of vegetable broth to a large pot. Break the fettuccine in half to make stirring easier later, and then add it to the pot. Also add the canned tomatoes (undrained), olive oil, frozen spinach, onion (thinly sliced), garlic (thinly sliced), basil, oregano, red pepper, and some freshly cracked black pepper.
2. Make sure the ingredients are submerged under the liquid, place a lid on top of the pot, and then turn the heat on to high. Allow the pot to come up to a full, rolling boil over high heat then remove the lid and turn the heat down to medium.
3. Allow the pot to continue to boil over medium heat, without a lid, for 10-15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir the pot every few minutes as it cooks to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom, but avoid over stirring which can cause the pasta to become sticky and mushy. The pot must be boiling the entire time.
4. After the pasta is cooked, crumble the feta cheese over top and serve.

Homemade Larabars (the ultimate snack)

German-Chocolate Fudge Bites

(credit goes to chocolatecoveredkatie.com)

(Makes 10-14 balls)
(I always double it)

3/4 cup pitted dates (I like Sunmaid, because they are softer.) (120g)

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/16 tsp salt

2 tbsp cocoa powder (or raw cacao powder) I omit this, I think they are good sans cocoa if that's possible
 
2 tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut (You can buy this at The Food Emporium in Shreveport)

1/3 to 1/2 cup raw pecans (I do half walnuts for the omega 3 adavantage)
 
optional: feel free to add some chocolate chips


Blend all ingredients together very well. (I recommend using a food processor.) Squish the dough together. (I transferred the dough to a plastic bag then smushed it together in the bag. It’s much less messy this way!) Roll into balls, cookie-cuttered shapes, or bars… or you can even use it for a pie crust!

Then I keep it in the fridge. They firm up a little and don't feel oily this way. 

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/chocolate-covered-recipes/fudge-baby-mania/

Her website offers TONS of variations so you have have fun with it.

Snacks

This needed it's own post. :) I have so much to learn from you guys.

• We do a lot of nuts and dried fruit, 

• or just apple or orange slices. 

• Popcorn is always good (we pop our own and so control the toppings). 

• Salsa is good with cucumber slices instead of chips. 

• I love cornbread muffins, 

• pumpkin bread, 

• banana bread, or 

• healthy muffins. 

• I love chocolatecoveredkatie.com for healthy versions of some of my favorite treats that can load up the calories if I make them with butter, oil, or whatever. Her recipes are usually quick to make. 

• I love her oatmeal pancakes too. Those types of snacks will keep me satisfied for 2-3 hrs if we are on the go or I just need something quick. They freeze well too. 

• A "man" snack we like is a combo of nuts and seeds (pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, cashews, etc). They are great raw and you can buy them in bulk at sunflower market. Pumpkin seeds that are already husked are much easier to eat, are high in protein and fiber, and can be very filling. 

• Like sometimes instead of carrots and celery, 

• we have cucumbers and peppers, 

• or tomatoes and olives. 

• Dry cereal is easy and tasty--especially granola.

Here are some quick meals I feed Kellan:


Breakfast

• 1. Oatmeal with canned coconut milk (I like Thai Kitchen brand. I just open it and put it in a mason jar in my fridge and add it to stuff he eats). I also add hemp seeds for omega 3s.
• 2. Oatmeal, stir in peanut butter or almond butter. 
• 3. Green smoothies: 1 c almond milk/orange juice, 1 banana, 1 c frozen fruit, 1/2-1 c spinach. 

snacks

• 1. larabars
• 2. vegan chocolate mousse (great alternative to pudding, I’ll add the recipe)
• 3. PB&J sandwich
• 4.Target carries “happy puffs” that are great and easily portable. Made with really good ingredients and they added dehydrated veggies like kale or sweet potato.

easy meals

• 1. refried beans stirred into tomato soup (I like the kind the comes in the box from Pacific.) So good and "creamy"!
• 2. baked beans with baked (or microwaved) sweet potato cubed
• 3. avocado with refried beans
• 4. coconut rice (use canned coconut milk for up to 1/2 of the liquid when you cook rice. I’ll send you the recipe.) Serve with black beans or green peas (Kellan loves peas and they count as a legume!)
• 5. Split pea soup
• 6. Frozen veggies microwaved (a softer option and still have a lot more nutrients than canned), and sliced olives
• 7. Chili
• 8. Whole wheat pasta (just cook it and eat it like a finger food—usually pretty good source of plant-based protein and whole grain).
• 9. Hummus (Kellan would eat this straight from the spoon!) or mix into pasta or dip with bread.

Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate Mousse




1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup fortified soymilk or other nondairy milk

1 package (12.3 ounces) low-fat silken tofu

1 teaspoon vanilla extract



1. Place the chocolate chips and soymilk in a microwave-safe bowl and
microwave for 1 minute. Let rest for 2 minutes. Alternatively, place
the chocolate chips and soymilk in a double boiler over gently simmering
water. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the chips are melted.


2. Transfer the chocolate chip mixture to a food processor or blender.
Add the tofu and vanilla extract and process until smooth.


3. Stored in a covered container in the refrigerator, leftover Chocolate
Mousse or Chocolate Mousse Pie will keep for up to 3 days.

*I always make sure that the tofu is "non-GMO". It's a great way to sneak in more plant-based protein. This is filling too. Just make sure to wait a full 24 hours before serving.

-By Charity Lighten
(one of the whole food mommies)

Snacks

Okay girls,

Let's talk snacks that are healthy and filling. Kendall loves his snacks, he loves chips and salsa and he's always opening the fridge and pantry to see what he can snack on.

A couple years ago we tried to make hummus in our blendtec- major failure, it just doesn't work and it burned up. I told him now that I have a food processor we needed to try it, but he was convinced it couldn't be done. So yesterday I made some, and he LOVED it, he incredulously asked me- "how did you make this?" Like I had traded my soul for hummus recipes.

So!- Do you have any hummus recipes you love? And what's your other go to healthy snacks?