Eating | a free spirit life

Day #21: It’s All About the Food (& give-away!)

Posted on November 21, 2011 by a free spirit life in eating, giving

A special thanks today goes out to Kelly for hosting the Clean Food Challenge this past week. I did it! I went a whole week without eating gluten or dairy. Granted I don’t eat much dairy to begin with, so that one was really easy for me. But, gluten – not so much. I would take a good piece of freshly baked bread over just about any other food. Maybe, just maybe, even over dark chocolate.

I cook gluten free for my family, but usually hide away some whole grain or sourdough bread just for me. So I was very excited to see giving up gluten wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. Granted, it was just a week. However, I am committed to keep my home gluten free. Sure, I may have a bagel or pastry from time-to-time. But I really like how I feel off the stuff.

I noticed at the beginning of the week I felt really, really hungry! So I had to make sure to plan ahead. And towards the end of the week I noticed there was a moment when I found out some disappointing news and my first reaction was to want to go eat something, ya know, like a chocolate croissant with a frothy latte. That’ll make me feel better. I resisted. I passed on the pastry (although I did still stop for a dairy-free latte). I sat with the feelings and they soon dissipated. That was pretty cool. It was a good reminder to watch the next time I reach for food in an emotional state. Maybe if I stop feeding that hunger with gluten I might discover something new about myself.

Another reason I’m so thankful for this past week is that it really got my creativity going in the kitchen. We tried different green smoothies each morning (which has now become second nature). I made egg salad and instead of bread we used cucumber slices. Instead of toast we had brown rice cakes with apple butter. Other snacks included roasted pumpkin seeds, celery with almond butter, popcorn, and nut crackers with hummus. For lunches I made corn tortilla tacos, home-made gluten free pizzas and this raw vegan broccoli salad (so good).

What I learned is that eating this way takes time and commitment. And since I continue to work on slowing down, it’s probably a really good practice for me.

It’s been far too long since I’ve shared one of my creative-in-the-kitchen recipes. Since black beans are a staple in this vegetarian home, I’m sharing today one of my favorite soup recipes. It was a good filling option for us this week.

Black Bean Cilantro Soup (vegan & gluten-free)

2 cups of dry black beans (soak for 8 hours)

OR 4 cans of cooked beans

1 T olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

5 garlic cloves (minced)

4 cups of veggie stock

OR 4 cups of water & 2 veggie bouillon cubes

1 1/2 cup sliced carrots

1 T red wine vinegar

1 T cumin

1 T chili powder

4-8 drops of liquid smoke (optional)

3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

salt and pepper to taste

Cook your beans according to the package (I use a pressure cooker). If using canned beans – drain and rinse them. Heat up the olive oil in a large soup pan and saute the onion and garlic for a few minutes. Add the carrots, cumin, chili powder, and a little salt. Stir to mix the flavors. Then add the beans and broth OR water with bouillon cubes. (If you are wanting this to be fully gluten-free, make sure to get a gluten free broth or bouillon.) Cook on medium and then turn down to simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Just before eating, stir in the cilantro and season to taste with salt and pepper. This meal goes great with a salad or gluten-free cornbread. You can also top it with green onion slices or vegan cheese.

Would you believe that these brownies are made with black beans? I’ve wanted to try these for a while now as I’m a huge fan of sneaking in healthy food wherever possible. And I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. They are really good and you can’t taste the beans at all. I used this Whole Foods gluten-free flourless brownies recipe.

And a big thank you to all those wonderful chefs (like Gluten Free Goddess and Elana’s Pantry) for making up new, delicious vegan and gluten-free options that make eating healthy and working through food allergies much easier and delicious!

Your Personal Reflection: Who in your life has been a positive influence on your health and wellness path? Take a moment and share your thanks with them today.

And speaking of food…

The lovely, talented and super authentic Susannah Conway, is giving away this print, Cupcakes of Happiness, to one lucky reader. This Polaroid is featured in her Polaroid book coming out in May. It may not be gluten-free, but we can dream…

For your chance to win – simply leave a comment on this post. Tell us what you are thankful for in this moment. I’ll announce the winner on Wednesday!

End Your Summer With Ice Pop Joy

Posted on August 31, 2011 by a free spirit life in eating

Hard to believe summer is coming to an end. And although September is near, it still feels like summer around these parts. It’s hot and humid, and I have a constant craving to be outside as much as possible! So I think I can still get away with posting about a really cool book I discovered by Anni Daulter called Ice Pop Joy.

This beautiful book offers a collection of healthy, organic ice pop recipes that are super yummy and so fun to make.

Ice pop photos from Anni Daulter’s website.

The recipes include foods you would expect to see in a homemade ice pop – like strawberries and blueberries, and foods you may never think to use – like kale, kidney beans, walnuts, and quinoa! There are recipes for veggie pops, yogurt pops, herbal tea pops and more.

What I love about this book is it offers suggestions on how to introduce healthy foods your kids usually say “ewwww” to. There are so many recipes to choose from that everyone in the family will find one they love. I especially enjoy “Granola Goodness,” which includes rice milk, bananas, vanilla flavored granola and wheat germ.

Kestan loves the “Blackberry Swirl” which has blackberries, lemon juice, banana, agave and yogurt.

For someone who doesn’t like giving her kids sugar, I feel so happy when I see them eating an ice pop that has spinach and kale mixed in! Now, when I make a green smoothie in the morning I add the leftovers to the ice pop molds – easy, delicious and soooo good. (They are great for teething babies, too!)

Anni offers suggestions in her book on safe ice pop molds. I’ve been using the stainless steel molds and they work great.

I found this book to be such an inspiration all summer long. And I know I’ll be referring to it year round because we are ice pop over-joyed!

Your Personal Reflection: What’s your favorite summertime treat?

Nourish Your Mornings

Posted on March 21, 2011 by a free spirit life in eating

I’ve been in a bit of a cooking rut over the last few weeks. This kind of happens to me when a new season comes along. Last Monday it snowed and I vowed that would be my last pot of chili until next fall! By the next day it was nearly 70 degrees and I couldn’t even get myself to eat the leftovers.

My husband and I spent some time together at the bookstore over the weekend. We love to grab a bunch of magazines and hang out in the coffee shop. He reached for house and design magazines while I was drawn to the cooking ones. And after an hour of sifting through them, I felt reinvigorated to get creative in my kitchen.

In the last few days I made a southwestern salad with avocado-lime dressing, soba noodle salad with ginger-peanut dressing and tonight we are having black bean and toasted corn soft tacos. (All recipes from Vegetarian Times‘ special Quick & Healthy 30-Minute Meals magazine.)I’ve got kale chips in the oven…oops…is that what I smell….?

Ok…I’m back and happy to report the kale chips aren’t burnt and actually taste really good!

After beginning the green smoothie challenge on Sunday, I’ve changed up my morning routine a little. I start each day with one large green smoothie. And then a few hours later I have a late breakfast. Here’s an easy, healthy and super yummy egg scramble that I made up yesterday.

Vegetarian Egg Scramble
2-3 eggs
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup chopped spinach
1/4 cup diced red pepper
salt & pepper to taste
fresh avocado (optional)
whole grain English muffin (optional)
(I used an organic spelt muffin.)

Scramble your eggs like you normally would. I don’t use much dairy in our house so I mix a little almond milk in with my eggs. Right after adding the eggs to the skillet, add all the other ingredients (except avocado). Season with salt and pepper to taste. Top the egg mixture on a toasted English muffin. Yum…

And this little guy can’t get enough green smoothies! He was sick yesterday and his cold is completely gone. He’s rarely sick and never stays sick for long, but man, I’m sure the smoothies aided in his speedy recovery.

If you would like to join us for the green smoothie challenge, read my last post for details.

Your Personal Reflection: How do you nourish yourself at the start of your day?

(I took these photos today after feeling inspired by Darrah Parker’s photo class going on at the Wish Big E-camp. So many creative beings in the world…(like YOU)!

Seeing Green

Posted on March 20, 2011 by a free spirit life in eating

I wanted to send you a little green today as we invite the first day of spring our way! Woo hoo. I know so many of you are ready for this time of year, and even though it may not be spring where you live, no matter what season it is, I’m sure you can feel the energy that comes from change.

Many of the past Inside Out explorers and me are starting a green smoothie challenge today. We signed up here where we’ll receive free inspiration for the next 14 days. Then, we’ll share how we feel on our private class community. I did one of these last year and I loved the way it made me feel. (Talk about energy…)

If you’d like to join us, sign-up to receive the daily emails from the Green Smoothie Challenge site. Then, simply enjoy one green smoothie, preferably for breakfast, (and using organic produce if possible) for the next 14 days. You can share how you feel on my Flickr Free Spirit Knits group page – upload photos there and join the discussion!

Here’s the smoothie I started with today. Don’t be scared – it’s so good! (And my 3 year old loves it, too.)

Green Banana Smoothie

6 large romaine leaves

2 bananas

2 cups of water

Put all the ingredients in a high-powered blender until smooth. Drink and enjoy!

Ready…set…green!

Your Personal Reflection: In what ways can you welcome the new change of season into your life?

Reminder: The Wish Big E-Camp starts tomorrow! Are you ready to kick your spring into high creative mode? No art experience necessary. Check it out here.

And come back for a visit on Wednesday as I have a very special Free Spirit Spotlight interview to share with you!

Choosing to LIVE FULLY NOW

Posted on February 10, 2011 by a free spirit life in being, breathing, eating, growing, living, loving

Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.

~Henry David Thoreau

Happy February! Um…where did January go? Seriously, I know it’s such a bore to repeat the phrase, “Time is flying by!” But, man seriously, time IS really flying by!

As promised I’m here to share some words about big changes I’m making in my life…and although I don’t really feel like I’ve got quite a grasp on how to explain them…well…I’m gonna try.

After a month of listening more, journaling more, painting more, and reflecting more, (as well as stumbling, making mistakes and taking on too much), I’ve noticed some messages in my heart that are ready to manifest – and those messages have inspired me to prioritize my intentions for this new year.

Intention #1:

To Live Without

My quest last year to Reduce Clutter; Create Space has helped shaped my new mantra for this year - To Live Without. I get a magazine each month called Living Without, and it shares tips and inspiration around living a gluten-free, dairy-free lifestyle. I have to admit I’ve never liked the title. It sounded so depressing to me. Who wants to “live without?” I mean, come on, isn’t that kind of limiting? I want to live life to the fullest (and eat pizza) – shouldn’t I get to have it all?

And then it hit me. I’ve always had an issue with lack. That I knew. But, I kinda thought I was over it. I mean, I used to think I wasn’t good enough, or that I didn’t make enough, or that I didn’t have enough. I couldn’t possibly start teaching, coaching, making art, or writing because I didn’t know enough. You get the idea.

So the phrase, Living Without, was actually bringing up old feelings of lack for me. I also think it’s probably why I have a hard time staying within my weekly grocery budget and continue feeding my Whole Foods addiction, because I want to prove to myself we now indeed do have enough and I’ll never have to live without again.

But…something has changed. My year of reducing clutter has helped me get to this moment, where I not only am embracing living without, but I’m feeling happier and freer with less. And I’m actually starting to experience a whole new meaning of wealth that goes way beyond a dollar amount.

So this year I’m letting go of more stuff (mental, emotional and physical junk), so that I can expand beyond things and allow space for the infinite possibilities that await.

Intention #2:

Build Foundation – One Step at a Time

The fourth session of my Inside Out e-course ends this week. And while I ask the explorers in class to dig deeper and dream bigger, it’s only fair that I do the same! It’s the first class I’ve led while having two children and I have to say, the transition of working from home with a 3-year-old and a 4-month-old has had its set of challenges…to say the least. There are days when I think I’m crazy for trying to manage a career and mommy-hood. But, again, after trial-and-error over the last month (and some tears), here’s what I’m learning…

I need my creative outlet and connection to community just as much as I need to stay home with my children right now. I also know that I have to continue striving to be present during both. When I work, I need to focus on work. When I’m with my children, I need to focus on my children. It’s that simple. HA…simple? Yay right. It’s anything but. Yet I’m willing to try, explore, fumble and discover ways that work best for my family and me.

So I am looking at this year as a time to build foundation - for my family and my career. I’m choosing to stay home with my children while they are so young because I want to be fully present with them during these foundation years. This will require that I learn how to simplify my lifestyle even more, and find the balance that allows me to have dedicated work time during my week. When I try to work around the children I feel crazy, frustrated and irritable. As a creative person with more ideas than there are hours in the day, this is going to be a challenge for me. But I know that I must be patient, and that what I really need right now is space. This is a precious stage in my life and my children won’t be young forever.

Intention #3:

Sacred Kitchen – Sacred Life

I’m reading a book that is changing the way I prepare, eat and think about food. It’s called The Sacred Kitchen: Higher Consciousness Cooking for Health and Wholeness by Robin and Jon Robertson. They have reminded me that my energy goes into the food I cook. So if I’m cranky and resentful because I have to make dinner, then that cranky energy will pass on to my family through the meal I’ve prepared. It’s a fact that we have to eat every day so why not look at making dinner as a celebration? I also really love exploring my creativity in a whole new way through cooking.

I am determined to stay within my grocery budget, eat organic, wholesome food and explore new recipes, as well as make my own! I went ballistic on my kitchen this past week and cleaned out the pantry, fridge and all the cabinets. I donated every last bit of plastic and items I never use. I’ve been reading about canned foods and have switched to dry beans, and I’m now on a mission to digitize my recipes on my iPad so I can eliminate the paper and cookbook clutter, too.

Working to create a solid foundation in my kitchen seems to compliment conscious living in all other aspects of my life, and if nothing else, it just feels so darn good.

Intention #4:

Return to Stillness

I took a great e-course during the month of January called Picture Winter with Tracey Clark. Each day I received a new photo prompt that inspired me to look at things in a new way. One assignment was to capture an everyday household item. The example in Tracey’s photo was her coffee maker. It got me to really pay attention to the items I use the most throughout my day. Then I captured this picture.

NO…this is not a household item I use every day! In fact, it has been sitting in the corner of my bedroom just waiting for me. It quietly speaks to me at night…”come sit on me…be still…enjoy this quiet time after a long, busy day. I’m here for you.” And I quietly reply back, “I’m too tired tonight. Tomorrow…I’ll sit on you tomorrow.”

The household item that I use all the time is my iPhone, and in capturing this photo I had to be honest with myself and ask, “If I can find many times throughout my day to check Twitter, Facebook, and my email, then why can’t I find just 5 minutes to sit on my meditation pillow?”

And that’s when the shift for this new year started to manifest in a much greater way. I’m making shifts like this one, taking time for meditation every night (although I still fight the “I’m too tired” excuse), and checking my phone WAY less, so that I can eliminate the chaos, clutter and insanity!

And you know something? I realized that our society does not value “downtime.” We look up to and respect the people who do it all, have it all – the type-A, multi-taskers, go-getters, over-achievers, moneymakers, breadwinners, jet-setters. Meditate? Do nothing? Just be? Live in the present? Rest? Slow down? Live without? It may not be what mainstream America values, but I think there’s value in stillness, and by god, I’m gonna try my best to get me some.

So with one small step at a time, I am embracing the authentic parts of me – the creative-entrepreneur-wanna-be-painter-art-maker-yoga-pants-wearing-zumba-dancing-breast-feeding-baby-wearing-mommy-loving-married-loving-dark-chocolate-eating-coffee-drinking-Modern-Family-watching-e-course-making-soul-searching-sacred-kitchen-making-deeply-connecting-stillness-craving-living-without-foundation-building and willing to make mistakes along the way.

Yes, life is moving by at a rather rapid pace, and I don’t want to miss a thing. I believe life is worth LIVING. I’m choosing to take steps every day to live it to the very fullest. And I’m pretty convinced now that I don’t have to do more, be more, and have more to live a full life.

Most importantly, all this deep reflecting has helped me prioritize what’s truly important to me. I’m choosing to live the life I want to live NOW, and whether it’s cooking in the kitchen, teaching a class, picking up toys, sitting in stillness, or playing in the snow – I’m gonna have fun doing it.

Are you with me?

Your Personal Reflection: What small steps can you take, starting right NOW, to fully experience YOUR life?

Snow Days & Cookies (& winners announced!)

Posted on January 21, 2011 by a free spirit life in eating, playing

Snow!

And more…

snow!

We’ve been playing in the snow a lot these past few weeks. And with snow days comes making soups and baking cookies. I’ve been experimenting with more gluten-free and vegan cooking and I have some yummy soup recipes I want to share with you. Until then, here’s a really good gluten-free, vegan chocolate cookie that I think you’ll like.

Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Bites
2 1/2 cups of gluten free flour
(I use Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Mix)
1/2 t salt
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 cup all natural peanut butter (optional)
2/3 cup agave
1/2 cup sunflower oil
1 T vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Then, mix the agave, sunflower oil and vanilla together, and pour into the dry ingredients. Mix for about two minutes until the ingredients are combined. Finally, add the chocolate chips. Form small balls and place directly on a cookie sheet. I bake these at 350 degrees for 7-9 minutes. At 7 minutes I check them and press them down with the back of a spoon to flatten them while warm. Then I bake them for another minute or two.

I love these cookies because they are simple, very low in sugar and everyone in my house can eat them.

And for a kid who doesn’t get to eat dairy and eats very little sweets, well, you can see these cookies make him very, very happy!

Your Personal Reflection: What kind of fun are you having this winter?

And…the winners of Megan’s “Rooted” e-course are…

Angela of Peach Coglo

Trisha of Miscellany

(Megan will be in touch with you soon!)

A Celebration of Motherhood

Posted on September 20, 2010 by a free spirit life in connecting, eating, loving, mothering

The most important thing she’d learned over the years was that there was no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one. -Unknown

I’ve been reading the book, Birthing From Within, in preparation for the upcoming birth of my second baby boy. There are many wonderful suggestions I love in this book, but one in particular spoke to me recently. Author, Pam England, talks about how our culture is very baby centered when it comes to birth, and we’ve lost the spiritual connection to the mother.

With the first pregnancy, we are thrown several showers, given many gifts and everything is so new and exciting. This time around, although still new and exciting, I’m so much busier with my toddler and time just seems to fly by much more quickly. There have been no parties, showers or celebrations planned – until a few weeks ago.

I was talking with my mom and sister about wanting to have some sort of recognition for this baby and birth, and that’s when our “Celebration of Motherhood Afternoon Tea Party” was born. (Thank you mom and Lins!)

We invited many of our special women friends to come celebrate being a mother, to honor their own mothers, and to take time to recognize our new little baby who will be born in the next few weeks.

Each woman was asked to bring a bead, along with a quote, blessing or story, about being a mother. These beads will be strung together to create a special mother necklace for me! The beads I received were absolutely beautiful – some hand-made, some natural stones, all with special meaning and love.

The group of women was intimate and we all shared stories, tears, and laughter. My mom opened the celebration by reading a poem.

Then we all acknowledged how nice it is bringing women together, especially mothers, to simply enjoy being present and taking time to honor the cycle of life.

We shared how my mom’s mother passed away in March and how I had the privilege of being by her side when she took her last breath. I held my grandma’s hand, while pregnant, reflecting that here my baby has yet to take his first breath, and my grandmother will soon take her last.

For those of you who are pregnant, or know someone who is, I encourage you to throw a special celebration honoring birth and mothers in your life! It’s so special, memorable and will fill up your heart (and your babies) beyond measure. (This type of celebration doesn’t have to be reserved just for pregnant mamas!)

Ideas on How to Host “A Celebration of Motherhood” Tea Party

*Create an invitation inviting the special women in your life

*Invite everyone to bring a bead with quote or blessing (be clear that no other gifts are necessary)

*Provide small snacks, desserts, hot and cold tea

*Have a bowl of questions that your guests can read aloud. This is a great way to get the conversation and sharing going. Example questions: What was your favorite meal your mom made when you were a kid? Share a memorable or funny story about your mom. What was one thing you learned about yourself when you became a mother?

*After eating, sit in a circle and give your guests a chance to share their bead, blessing or quote. Have them string their bead or place it in a small bowl and pass it to the next person.

*End by giving each woman a small gift – we gave out yellow roses – a symbol of friendship, joy and wellness.

Cucumber Dill Tea Sandwiches

Mix one container of cream cheese with 2 t dill. Let sit in your fridge for a few hours before spreading. Using small pumpernickel bread in squares, spread the cream cheese mixture, top with thin cucumber and sprinkle lightly with dill.

Egg Salad Tea Sandwiches
Hard-boil 9 eggs and let cool. Peel eggs and smash with a fork. Mix with 1/3 cup mayo, 1/3 cup plain yogurt, 1/3 cup dill pickle relish. Spread on soft wheat bread (with crusts cut off.) Cut the sandwiches into small triangle shapes.

Try a fresh hummus and veggie platter.

And of course, offer plenty of desserts! We had fresh custard fruit tarts, soft pumpkin bars and chocolate cookies.

Enjoy the cards…

Enjoy the beads and sharing…

My friend, Dana, gave me 100% natural beads that she grew in her backyard! They are actual seeds from a plant called Job’s Tears. They start out green and then become solid when they are ripening, while deepening into many different patterns and shapes. They have a hole in the middle that can be used for stringing and have been around since 2000 BC. Dana thought they were perfect for me and our new baby because these beads represent the beginnings of a new life.

Enjoy the special quotes and stories…

And enjoy the blessing of motherhood – one of life’s greatest gifts – even when your kids are sad and grumpy!

Your Personal Reflection: Take some time this week to honor a mother in your life.
*****
Here’s a letter from my dear friend, Jennie, written to my new baby boy.

September 16, 2010

Dear Baby,

I am writing to tell you a little about your lovely mother. While I am sure that you already know her well from inside her belly, there are a few things I would like you to know.

You are one of the luckiest babies in the world. In addition to being kind, loving and patient, your mother inspires people to enjoy life and find true happiness. I know that I am not alone when I say that I am privileged to be a part of her life.

As a great friend and guide, she will tenderly support and encourage you to find your way in this world. She will listen to you with her heart and brighten your day when you are down.

You mother is pure sunshine.

Love you and can’t wait to meet you,

Jennie

Got Tomatoes?

Posted on August 25, 2010 by a free spirit life in eating

Reducing our grocery budget continues to go pretty well and I sure have enjoyed the abundance of tomatoes, peppers and fresh basil from my garden. Here’s another super-yummy, super-healthy, super-fresh recipe to wet your appetite. Please note that I am not very specific on my measurements. I want to encourage you to experiment and have fun discovering your creativity in the kitchen!

Red Pepper Basil Spaghetti Sauce

15 (or so) roma tomatoes (or any tomatoes you like)

1 can of tomato sauce

4-6 garlic cloves, minced

1-2 T olive oil

1 red pepper

1 T (or so) red wine vinegar

1/2 large onion chopped

handful of fresh basil leaves

dash of red pepper flakes

salt & pepper to taste

grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

pasta of your choice (we use gluten-free)

Prepare your ingredients – chop onions, red pepper, basil, chop and seed tomatoes, and mince the garlic. Heat olive oil on medium heat. Saute the garlic and onions first, then add the red pepper.

After three to four minutes add the tomatoes and tomato sauce. After two to three minutes add the red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste. Add the chopped basil leaves.

Let the sauce cook down for two or more hours until it’s the consistency you like. If you aren’t eating it right away, prepare an ice bath for the sauce before refrigerating.

Serve with your favorite pasta and top with grated parmesan cheese. YUM.

Your Personal Reflection: Are you having fun being creative in the kitchen?

My Garden is Flourishing (and new recipes!)

Posted on August 6, 2010 by a free spirit life in eating

We have gobs of fresh-from-the-garden vegetables over here, which happens to be perfect timing since we recently cut our monthly grocery budget. Starting seeds in late March and planting our garden at the beginning of June has really paid off and brought a lot of joy to our family.

Enjoy, for a moment, the sexiness of these organic, freshly picked beauties!

Sticking to one of my tips for meal planning on a budget, I continue to find ways to use similar ingredients in a variety of meals. Here are a few easy ideas…

Basil Cucumber Tomato Salad

handful of fresh basil

4-5 medium cucumbers

4-5 small tomatoes

2 T (or so) olive oil

2 T (or so) balsamic vinegar

dash of salt & pepper

Peel the cucumbers. Before cutting, take a fork and draw lines with it down the length of the cucumber. Do this all the way around. This is a tip I learned from my husband, who learned from his grandmother, and it helps the cucumbers fully absorb the dressing (plus it just looks pretty). Slice the cucumbers as thinly as you can. Chop (and seed) the tomatoes. Chop the fresh basil. Mix in a bowl. Add your oil and vinegar to your liking – enough to coat the salad. Add salt and pepper to taste. Let sit for 4-6 hours. This salad is good for a few days and is SO yummy fresh.

Summer Tomato Feta Pasta Salad

1 package of pasta

handful of fresh basil

3 medium cucumbers

2 cups of cherry tomatoes (or tomatoes of your choice)

2 T (or so) olive oil

2 T (or so) balsamic vinegar

dash of salt & pepper

1/4 cup feta cheese

Cook any pasta you like according to package (I used this one). Rinse, drain and let cool. Mix sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper – adding more oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to taste. Toss with chopped basil and feta cheese. Refrigerate and eat when cold. Enjoy.

Your Personal Reflection: Feed your soul with fresh foods of the season and notice how good you feel!

Creative in the Kitchen with Baked Falafels

Posted on July 28, 2010 by a free spirit life in eating

So I’m starting to get this meal-planning-on-a-budget thing down. I’m having so much fun being more creative in the kitchen. This week I made a yummy taco salad with black beans, carrot soup and falafels. This homemade falafel meal is so delicious, light and cooling for the summer. I created it by being open to play (and possibly failure!) while experimenting with the ingredients I had. It worked out great so I just had to share.

Baked Falafels with Fresh Hummus & Cooling Cucumber Sauce

For Falafels:

1 15 ou can chickpeas

1/2 large onion (finely chopped)

2 garlic cloves (minced)

2 t cumin

2 T unbleached flour

salt & pepper to taste

(serves 3 – double recipe for more servings)

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mash until you get a thick consistency. I actually used my Vita-mix which gave me almost the consistency of hummus. It was a little creamier but either way will work.

Use a spoon to make the balls and place on a plate. Flatten slightly. Lightly brush olive oil on both sides and place on a cookie sheet. Broil each side until light golden brown (about 3 minutes on each side.)

Cooling Cucumber Sauce

1 small cucumber (peeled and finely chopped)

1 6 ou plain yogurt (I used coconut milk yogurt to make this non-dairy)

2 t mayonnaise

1 T fresh dill

salt & pepper to taste

Mix all the ingredients for sauce together and place in fridge until ready to serve. I made a salad with fresh lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden and topped with the cucumber sauce. Save some extra to dip the falafels in.

Serve with my Fresh Hummus and the rice of your choice.

(I used jasmine rice and cooked according to package.)

This was yet another yummy meal using the beans I bought in bulk (and veggies from my garden) and they have provided several delicious meals. More recipes to come! (Did you see my black beans and rice recipe from a few weeks ago?)

Your Personal Reflection: Let yourself be creative in the kitchen and see what you discover!

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a free spirit life

Day #21: It’s All About the Food (& give-away!)

End Your Summer With Ice Pop Joy

Nourish Your Mornings

Seeing Green

Choosing to LIVE FULLY NOW

Snow Days & Cookies (& winners announced!)

A Celebration of Motherhood

Got Tomatoes?

My Garden is Flourishing (and new recipes!)

Creative in the Kitchen with Baked Falafels

Starts July 8th!

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