South Indian-Style Vegetable Curry

South Indian Style Vegetable Curry

courtesy of Green Shakes and Giggles.  

Click above for recipe to this deliciousness.  

Food

We've made some food changes around here this month involving decreasing or eliminating refined sugars and flour.  For us this means less white rice, pasta and potatoes.  I have also increased my awareness and vigilance regarding processed foods, artificial sweeteners and colors.  For the most part, we have simply focused on more meat, vegetables and fruit.  I have used almond or coconut milk sometimes but have not completely taken dairy away from my children.  They have been good sports with the dinners that have been presented to them lately.  And they have been champs about downing green smoothies every single morning.  Here are a few things that we have eaten this last week that are worth repeating at our house:

Sweet Potato Sauté (nominations for a better name are currently being accepted.  My original title, "sweet potato hash," was vehemently opposed by the Mister).

Sweet potato, peeled and diced
Organic chicken breakfast sausage (Sprouts)
Spinach, stems removed, ripped in smaller pieces
We just cooked it all together on the stove until sweet potatoes were soft and spinach was wilted.  Seasoned with rosemary, sage, salt and pepper it was a hit with everyone!

Salmon Salad (I am not good at naming my food!)

Salmon patty (frozen section at Costco)
over a bed of greens, corn, green beans topped with a creamy cilantro dressing and slivered almonds.

The kids had the salmon with corn and green beans on the side.

Texiquinoa Salad

This one comes from Annie at Green Shakes and Giggles.  I have found myself eating a lot of that food lately.  She and Ann are helping me find that healthy food can be oh, so delicious!  My kids didn't love this one as it was served, but found they liked it better warmed up... so we served it as a hot dish and added the avocado before eating.

We've roasted vegetables and garbanzo beans, eaten eggs loaded with veggies and tried buckwheat pancakes and whole wheat waffles.  If you have anything delicious we need to try, send it my way!!

Rainy Day Sweet Potato Soup

We have very few afternoon and evenings where we don't need to be anywhere and therefore I seldom have a good chunk of time to spend on dinner prep.  I love Mondays for this reason... zero after-school obligations.  I had a different dinner plan set for today but then it started raining and we switched it up.  

The original recipe came from Green Shakes and Giggles, which, if you haven't visited, you are missing out on delicious healthy food!  However, I forgot to grab lentils earlier this week and after two stores today, I wasn't dragging kids in any others.. so we improvised.  This is what we came up with tonight.

Rainy Day Sweet Potato Soup

Family-Sized

One red onion, small diced
4 medium carrots, small diced
4 stalks celery, small diced 
1 cup sweet potatoes, small diced

1 can of kidney beans, rinsed and drained

About 2 leaves kale, ripped/chopped small (de-stemmed)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 Tbsp. unrefined coconut oil (or preferred cooking oil)
2 bayleafs
1 t rosemary
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
Salt

Put coconut oil in pot and saute red onion, carrots, celery, and sweet potatoes on medium heat until soft (abt. 6 minutes).

Add kale and garlic cloves.  Saute for a couple of minutes until kale wilts.

Add beans, broth and water.  Add bayleafs and rosemary, and simmer for about 20-30 minutes.  

At this point, I removed the bay leaves and pureed the soup in two batches.  I did this because I knew my children would receive it better, but I ended up loving the creamy texture it gave the soup.  

Cooper said it needed something crunchy and we didn't have any soup crackers, so we added some chopped pecans and it was a great addition.  Perfect for a cold, rainy day.

Granola

When I was younger and living at home, my mom would make granola and it was delish.  I went through it quickly every time she made it.  I have never been a fan of store-bought cold cereal, there are very few I like so this was a treat, to have something so good available for a quick breakfast or snack.  

I don't remember the specifics of that recipe, but I think it was similar to many others in that it had great stuff in it, but it was also high in sugar.  A while ago I fell in love with F&E's vanilla almond granola and then TJ's version, both great, but very sweet and high in sugar content.  I've been eating very limited sugar the past couple of weeks and while I'm seeing the results I want and love what I'm eating, I needed more options!

Mom and Dad sent this recipe... Dad eats a very low-glycemic diet and found this winner.  

GRANOLA

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup chopped pecans

2 cups slivered almonds

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup pumpkin seeds  (I used pepitas)

1/2 cup agave nectar

1/3 cup almond butter

1/3 cup canola oil

Pinch of sea salt

*I added coconut flakes to half of my batch.  We are a household divided...

Mix in a bowl.  Spread on cookie sheet and bake at 250* for 1 hour, or until light brown.  Stir every 20 minutes.  

*Mom's note:  make sure the almond butter is mixed in very well or it will be chunky.  

My entire house (the ones with a full set of teeth) have approved with mouths full... Denten made me label mine (with coconut) and promise not to touch his half.  I made no such promise.  it's a winner!  Enjoy!  And if you have any delicious low-in-simple-carb dishes I should try, send them my way!