From the mind of L… An Ode to Soups

I am a huge fan of soups. HUGE. Not the canned, condensed, $0.49 version from a convenience store. A rich, flavourful, hearty soup that you always burn your tongue on because the aroma is too much; you simply can't wait. Soups warm the soul amidst the chilliest of temperatures. Soups CAN be filling and a source of complete nutrition.
I love soup. In the cooler months, I ensure I ALWAYS have soup on hand. Right now I have 3 varieties in the fridge: potato and leek (bought), Turkey chili, and without further ado…

Sweet P & P Soup (Potato & Pear!)
I made a batch of this on Sunday – it'll last me the full week, no problem. Serves 6-8.
Ingredients:
1 onion
2 sweet potatos
2 carrots
2 pears
2 stalks celery
1 tbsp ginger
6 cups water
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 vegetable bouillon cube
1 tbsp olive oil
3 bay leaves
Salt and pepper

 

Directions:

• Peel & chop vegetables/pear
• Sauté onion, olive oil and minced garlic for 5 minutes over medium heat
• Add ginger, sauté for 2 minutes longer
• Add water, chopped vegetables/pear, bay leaves & bouillon cube
• Bring to boil
• Reduce heat to medium-low & let cook for 25-30 mins (or until vegetables are tender)
• Remove bay leaves
• Puree with immersion blender (or transfer to a standing blender once cool)
• Season with salt & pepper

 

from the mind of L... K's Visit & Clean Tacos

Hello!

My sister K just left from a Toronto vacay. It was so nice! K was here for about 4 days; lucky American students get almost a full week off for Thanksgiving. We had a lovely time - lots of sweat, eats, shops, sleeps, drinks.

I took Friday off from work. We leisurely slept in, sat for a long coffee at Starbucks, went for yummy lunch, got pedicures, went shopping, and finished off at Bier Markt where N met us apres work.

While K was here, we also got to see my Dad and my aunt/uncle/cousin. Lots packed in to her short trip, but it didn't seem overwhelming or too busy at all. And for me, I can't believe it's only Saturday as I write this! Another full day off tomorrow (with some work....)

One great thing about K's visit, is that she got me back into running. K runs at least 5 times / week as she is  a Nike ambassador & training for various half/full marathons. On Friday AM we went for a quick 3 mile jaunt; today we woke up again and went for a longer route. While I do tend to run at least once/week, I want to get out more. Waking up at 6am and going outside in the dark/cold is NOT my forte (I'm fine at a hot yoga studio, however!) - but I really got "re-motivated" to just do it... I feel so better starting my day with a run.

Anyway - N is studying his face off for an exam next weekend. I offered to make him whatever he wanted for dins. Fajitas are on the menu! (Typically his fave).
I'm making standard chicken for him & mushroom in collard wraps for me (so much eating out lately... need some greens in my diet).

I made a homemade taco seasoning that is CLEAN - you can feel fresh & nourished with this seasoning - no "-ites" and mucky unpronounceable ingredients.

I made a jar for repeated usage. I would use about 1 tbsp per serving when cooking.

Clean Taco Seasoning:

Combine...

4 tbsp chili powder
2 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp italian spice blend (oregano, basil, thyme, rosemary)
1 tbsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp smoked sea salt
1 tsp regular salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp potato starch (to help with thickening)

I chopped up some button mushrooms, onions & added portebello / oyster mushrooms, & sauteed until succulent-ly soft with about 2 tbsp of seasoning.

I then added chopped veggies, hummus, guac, sprouts & rolled up all the goodies in fresh collard wraps.

Yum!

In other news, my warm veggie soup made the top 3 on Healthy Vegan Friday #18 !!! Woohoo! I was happily shocked :)
I'm going to post my clean tacos next. 

Happy Weekend All. 

From the mind of K...Nike Comes to DC!

Happy weekend everyone!

I haven't had the best week running wise, but got back into it today. Baltimore weather has really been messing with me - I ran in shorts today! Hard to believe shorts can be worn in November...

L and I have officially signed up for the Nike Women's Half Marathon in DC this coming April! I am actually the Johns Hopkins Ambassador for Nike, so have been getting as many people as possible to sign up for this race. It has taken place in San Francisco every year since 2004, and this year they are coming to DC! Best part: every participant gets a Tiffany necklace at the finish line. I'm just so thrilled for L to come to DC, and my two friends from PEI are coming as well! I wish it would hurry up and be April already! If anyone is interested in registering, you can sign up here.

I've been testing my skills in the kitchen, and have perfected a healthy version of yams. Thanksgiving in America is approaching, so the stores are filled with holiday food. I absolutely love the holidays - almost too much. I also think it's completely doable to not over-eat. You can still indulge without gaining 5 pounds! The trick is to try everything - then leave it at that. Usually when I tell myself I won't eat the desserts, I end up breaking this promise and go way overboard.

I'm off to a jazz concert tonight, but will be back next week with more running and food tricks!

K

from the mind of L... Lows, Stress & Getting B.O.T.

Getting back on track.

So many posts to write, so little time.

Work and my life in general has been quite hectic. Between working 12+ hour days, working for ECC on the sidelines & going to networking events in the evenings makes squeezing time here & there tough. I haven't been working out as much as I would like; I've been eating out a lot; I started drinking coffee again. Sighhhhh. This all came to a crashing halt last Friday: after a culmination of SO many take-out food mixtures, resulting from going non-stop for 24 hours, my body crashed. The same pains I had last Christmas came back - a sharp, sharp pain in the pit of my stomach rendering me the inability to walk, talk, or really function in any capacity. I felt this pain coming Friday afternoon at my desk, after my team and I went out to Villa Madina, whereby I inhaled a Shwarma (shortly after devouring Tim's for breakfast, brownies for a snack, and a competitor's chicken taste test). I was quickly reminded how weak my stomach is. In the car ride home (I shouldn't have been driving) my pains got progressively worse - I could hardly breathe and consequently fainted when I reached my driveway. Friday night was spent in bed, and the rest of the weekend ingesting soup and PLAIN bread/crackers. I'm back to normal -- but wow -- needed that sign from my body to make better choices and reduce stress levels. (Hence, I just practiced yoga for the first time in a week - I feel amazing. Crazy how a one hour class can cure the mind, body and soul).

Anyway, I literally chucked ingredients into a pot to make this soup on Saturday - my fuel for the week. The ingredients are simple; the lentils provide protein. Work never ceases to "not" be crazy, but I find that having the right food choices prepared makes me feel better and more energized (plus, no stomach pains).

Vegetable Soup
Yield: about 8 servings (6-8 cups)

Ingredients:

2 small yellow onions, diced
2 garlic cloves, diced
5 celery stalks, diced
1 package of frozen veggies (I used a mixture of carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans for a classic veggie soup mixture - but anything goes!)
1/2 cup corn kernels
2 handles torn spinach
2 bay leaves
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground thyme leaves
1/2 tsp paprika
sprinkle of cayenne pepper (depending on the heat)
1 cup dried red lentils
1 can diced tomatoes
1 Campbell’s container of vegetable stock

Directions:

• Prepare chopped vegetables
• Pour 1 tbsp olive oil into deep pot on medium heat
• Sauté onions and garlic for 5 minutes
• Add celery - sauté for another 5 minutes
• Add spice mixture
• Add everything else, except spinach
• Simmer for at least 30 minutes to allow lentils to cook and flavors to absorb
• Add spinach & salt, pepper to taste
• Serve hot; Store leftovers in refrigerated mason jars

Large pot required.



Board games for the sick.

I have so many more Fall soup recipes to share. In due course!

Cheerio.