Most days, I find asparagus doesn’t need more than a simple steam or roasting, and usually my first inclination, but for Passover, I wanted something special. Something with a bright spring color, light enough to make room for the ridiculous amount of food I prepared, make ahead, and of course, better be delicious. With all the beautiful asparagus at the market, a velvety smooth soup was the obvious choice – spring flavors in a bowl!
Butternut Squash + Pear Soup (gluten free, dairy free, nut free, paleo, vegan optional)
Much of October has been about recipe-testing breads, cookies, and other carbs, furthering our journey with a grain-free (Paleo) diet in hopes to further improve Michael and Ely’s (my twin boys’) gut health as mentioned in my last post. This new venture of baking is challenging, to say the least – it’s a good thing I’m stubborn and armed with a good playlist ready to get my mixer in motion (cue the wonder woman music right about now).
Butternut Squash Red Lentil Soup with turmeric + ginger
This soup has been simmering on my stove about a half a dozen times now. Substantial and hearty in all the much-needed ways a soup should be, especially this time of year — and fully capable of taking away those winter blahs. It’s been something I’ve been meaning to share, yet needed to take a long moment of pause just before 2016 came rolling in. You know how life sometimes has you going off the beaten path? Yeah, that.
Kabotcha + Kuri Squash Autumn Soup
It’s November! Over the weekend, I have been a busy bee compiling my notes and jotting down my sweet and savory recipe ideas for Thanksgiving and I can’t wait to share them with you! Oh, the decisions … the best kind in life. This is my favorite time of the year to push my hectic life aside to enjoy the moments … loved ones, traditions, reflecting on the good things in life … and with that good food.
Hearty Vegetable and Bean Soup
I’m sure you’re feeling the winter chill (who isn’t? — especially the east-coasters who have been hit with lots of snow), and could use a big bowl of some hot soup filled with tons of filling veggies, if so, then this recipe is for you.
I made this for my three younger boys who got the flu, one after the other. First my thirteen year old, then my youngest twin (who decided to eat his brothers’ half-eaten toast that was sitting in his room), and eventually his twin who wanted to comfort with kisses – when I saw him laying next to his brother watching TV and hugging him I knew we were not done with this just yet. It breaks my heart when my kids are sick.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Soup for Dinner, Halloween Style
Autumn is upon us, and what’s better than a soup and sandwich, especially when the day is filled with errands and after-school activities. It was hectic, but no rest for the weary, as the question “What’s for dinner?” confronts me.
To de-stress (and get a laugh) I spontaneously threw a little fun into dinner with my old Halloween cookie cutters. I had to dig way back under other stuff that I don’t see for a year, you know those cabinets. That took longer than it needed to, but it’s a good thing I had soup in the fridge. Ginger Apple Carrot soup is what I made Monday to use up some of the apples I had bought last week due to a strong urge for apples that I couldn’t conquer. Costco had a sale on organic apples in three varieties, so instead of the orchard I went to Costco to pick some apples. Costco was much closer.
Light Clam Chowder + Bread SRSLY product giveaway!
Update: Creative recipe winner has been chosen! All your recipe ideas using Bread SRSLY dinner rolls were so creative, gosh it was hard to choose. Look out for more giveaways coming soon!
I am excited to reveal that the winner is … Kimberly’s breakfast strata! I thought the use of the dinner rolls filled with all those yummy strata ingredients would be delicious with the flavor of sourdough for brunch.
Easy Beef Stew {gluten free, dairy free, soy free, paleo}
With the beginning of the cool season I like to make stew – making use of those “what do I make with this?” cuts in my freezer. What is fall with a comforting stew?
For my beef stew recipe, I chose three cuts – eye of round, chuck, and shank cross-cut, all moderately priced cuts that go well in stews. I braise the meat after coated in coconut flour (recipe is paleo), then it all simmers in the oven for 1 1/2 hours. What you get from these very chewy cuts is the most tender meat that pulls apart without a knife. Did I mention how easy this stew recipe is? Or how you can freeze half of it? Oh yes. I know you have a lot to do. And Halloween is coming up…
Chicken Soup with Matzoh Balls
I just love a good chicken soup, with “matzoh” balls. My version of “matzoh” balls are gluten free and dairy free, which you would not be able to detect, according to my family and friends. This is a menu staple during the Jewish Holidays and of course when it begins to get chilly. This soup with the gluten free raisin challah dipped in, or on the side, is soooo good. We eat round challah for Rosh Hashanah to symbolize the circle of life into the new year. There is something so soothing, and therapeutic, yet traditional at the same time about having a good bowl of chicken soup. I will post our beautiful Rosh Hashanah dinner from last night tomorrow. I used a whole chicken instead of cut-up pieces because the extra bones add more flavor to the stock. Oh and if you don’t like matzoh balls, add some cooked noodle pasta or rice for an easy, flavorful meal…enjoy!
Broccoli Soup
This broccoli soup is so easy to make that it will become a regular at your table. It has a creaminess you would find in a dairy-based soup, but without the cream. We don’t need cream here! I love how the flavor of broccoli comes through with a bit of sweetness from the leeks. Gosh, this was so yummy. If you like croutons add them in. We like raw pepitas on top for some crunch as well as its’ high levels of zinc and magnesium.