After that article, I received numerous requests to provide ad hoc posts sharing some of my made up recipes, particularly meals that easily can be taken to work and a dessert option from time to time.  After getting my produce box delivery, I decided to go with a funny theme of a mashy kind of food and dessert, just in time for winter.  For the convenience part, which many have asked for, I allowed a couple somewhat processed foods, that is the two that would generally take the longest to cook if made from scratch.  For the dessert, I decided to keep it super simple.  

Keep this in mind…..make sure you go for savory, if it tastes so good, it does not matter how “healthy” it is (aka, kale, squash, etc.).  For me, as I embark this healthier way of life, I try to think of the long term and the enjoyment.  I love savory foods, so I try to go for savory most of the time.  Start researching spices, veggies and such (e.g., garlic, lemon/lime, etc.) that help make food savory and tasty, and use that to help make the “healthy” food go from boring to irresistibly delicious.  

For meat eaters, grill or bake a light colored meat, and add mix in with the rice at the end with the kale.

The food…..

2 packets of Seeds of Change rice, Caribbean Style Rice flavor (I chose this flavor to help with the savor…like my rhyming skills?)

1 spaghetti squash

Half a bunch of kale

1 large zucchini

1 large squash

1 can of Eden Organic Red Kidney Beans (or 2 handfuls of raw kidney beans)

Locally grown, large cherry tomatoes

Sea salt

A few pieces of garlic

1/2 of 1/2 of an onion (make sense? haha)

The cooking part

• Cut very small the onion, cilantro and garlic
• Cut into 4 or 6 pieces the cherry tomatoes, squash and zucchini
• Boil the spaghetti squash (cut into two halves, then boil in water), spoon out the seeds, and spoon out the “spaghetti” and also boil the brocoli
• Add less than a table spoon of olive oil in a boiling pot and turn heat to medium
• Once hot, add the onions, garlic, cilantro and tomatoes
• Once simmered (like 2-3 minutes), add the rice (I did not microwave the rice, but you could)
• Add the can of beans
• Cook on low-medium for about 10 minutes, taste, if needed add a dash or two of sea salt
• Add broccoli, squash, zucchini and “spaghetti” squash and stir for about 30 or so seconds.  Also get another taste, to make sure it is savory enough. If not, add a dash more of sea salt.
• Cook on low another 10 minutes
• Add the kale last and let simmer another 5 or so minutes
• Top off serving with grated cheese, avocado or cilantro

The mushy, yummy dessert 

 

The cooking part

• Wash and cut into 6-8 pieces the sweet potatoes, leave the skin on and boil in water until soft
• Transfer sweet potatoes in bowl and mash
• Add chopped pecans, walnuts, raisons and vanilla
• If you want add brown sugar, I don’t, because it is too sweet for me
• Serve about 4 oz.’isn and 1/2 cup of frozen greek yogurt

Now I like to make my yogurt and I need to perfect the “churn” effect to make it more like ice cream.  My sweet friend brought over an organic made local frozen yogurt in the picture, and although tasted just as good as mine, it gives that “ice cream” comfort effect.  Hope you all enjoy, for me, I got lunch for the week already ready to go. Dang, I am organized for once in my life!

• Seeds of Change – www.seedsofchangefoods.com
• Eden Foods – www.edenfoods.com
• Maine Sea Salt Company – www.maineseasalt.com