Vegetable Noodle Soup

So ya I got.. SICK!…. like….NAILED! After 26 hours of Yoga Teacher Training that for me was a HUGE milestone ( my first TT ever)…I am now resting and eating simple foods. I have made this soup for the past two days and I am convinced that practice is mastery- the more you do, the better  it turns out- this broth is PHENOMENAL.  It’s a simple broth- I didn’t want that tamari or soy sauce taste and I didn’t want bouillon- I wanted that full flavorful taste of asian broths that appear almost clear, nothing floating around in it, nothing to get in the way but this one has the antioxidant, antibacterial crud busting anti-inflammatory fighting properties of Turmeric. The first night I tried making it with garlic and I found that, tho it was tasty, it had that raw garlic taste that to me seemed a little bit overwhelming. Last night I omitted the garlic and stuck with the ginger and onions. I think I am in love. The broth takes less than 10 minutes to make- less even- then I added in beautiful local veggies; Sautéed Kale, sweet potatoes, and some Chipotle Baked Tofu I had in the fridge. You could definitely play with flavors by adding mushrooms or scallions etc- this was me, in the middle of a 27 hour training, sick- and it was 

D E L I C I O U S.

broth

Simple Turmeric Broth for Vegetable Noodle Soup 2016

6c water

½ onion, coarsely chopped

2” fresh ginger, grated

1t turmeric

1t sesame oil

1t pink salt

Put everything in a pot, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Strain the broth through a fine mesh sieve into a large heatproof pitcher (I use my Vitamix container) or bowl. Discard the vegetables. Pour the broth back into the pot and then proceed to add fresh veggies, cooked rice noodles. This is the simplest, clear broth and it is just so easy and perfect for a pick me up or when you are not feeling full force to sip on.

sick-girl-noodle-soup

Vegetable Noodle Soup

3-4c Simple Broth

1/2 steamed sweet potato, sliced

1c Sautéed Kale

Sliced Chipotle Baked Tofu

1 serving rice noodles or vermicelli

1t hot sesame oil

Hot Water for noodles

optional: you could add other veggies; mushrooms, baby corn, water chestnuts etc.

In a bowl, add the uncooked, quick cooking noodles and cover with hot water. Cover and let steam. Set aside.

In a large skillet heat up the olive oil over medium high heat , prepare the Sautéed Kale by sautéing the garlic just until golden brown. Add the salt, red pepper, and then add the kale. With a fork or a pair of tongs, move the kale around the pan cooking the kale until wilted and tender. Remove from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, add little bit of hot water and the already cooked sweet potatoes slices just to heat them through. Set aside.

In the same skillet, heat up the broth and bring to a low boil.

In a serving bowl, place the cooked noodles on the bottom of the bowl. Add the cooked Kale, the sweet potatoes and the slices of tofu. Ladle the broth over to cover.Drizzle in the hot sesame oil. Taste and adjust for saltiness.

Fricken delicious.

Garlic Sautéed Kale with Hot Pepper

satueed-kale

One of my all time favorite go-to’s. I can easily eat a whole head of kale by myself. Make sure the pan is hot before adding your greens. The cook time should be quick-

Seriously super delicious.

Garlic Sautéed Kale with  & Hot Pepper

1 bunch kale, washed, trimmed, and torn into bite size pieces

1 clove garlic, minced

½ Cherry Bomb or Jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced

2T Extra virgin olive oil

1/4t salt

In a large skillet heat up the olive oil over medium high heat and sauté the garlic just until golden brown. Add the salt, pepper, and then add the kale. With a fork or a pair of tongs, move the kale around the pan cooking the kale until wilted and tender. I like to place mine in a bowl with a plate over top so that it continues to steam slightly, makes it even more tender. Serve immediately. Also delicious at room temperature.

Pine Nut Basil Pesto

Basil pine nut pesto

Pesto is a sure sign summer is here, with it’s fresh beautiful taste. Basil also has a whole host of healing properties including anti-bactieral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging as it is filled with antioxidants…..Good news for all of us, and as easy as Pesto! I picked this beautiful bag of basil up yesterday at the local farmer’s market and whipped up this fabulous easy pesto. I ate it over brown rice penne, and I honestly don’t know how it could have been improved upon. #nocheese #noneed

Pine Nut Basil Pesto

1-1/2-2c fresh basil, lightly packed

1/3c raw pine nuts, sprouted if possible

2T sweet mellow white miso

2T nutritional Yeast

1/2c extra virgin olive oil

2 cloves garlic, chopped

½ lemon, juiced

2t brown rice vinegar

Salt and pepper

In a blender, add the basil, oil, garlic, vinegar, lemon and miso. Blend until smooth and creamy. Adjust the seasoning adding more salt, pepper or lemon juice if needed. Pour out into an airtight container- keep in the fridge. Can easily be frozen.

Simple Lentil Soup with Greens

*simple lentil soup with greens

I used fresh local spinach and it could not have been more satisfying. You can strip this soups down to just the onions and garlic and it would still be delicious. The turmeric adds a boost of anti inflammatory and antibacterial properties that we could all use more of and the cumin just makes it taste good. Serve topped with nutritional yeast and cracked black pepper and gluten free crackers or bread. Super fricken yum

Simple Lentil Soup with Greens

Wheat-Free, Gluten-Free

1c brown lentils, washed and drained

1 large onion, coarsely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1-2c spinach, broccoli or other chopped leafy greens

1t turmeric

1/2t ground cumin

1/4t black pepper

1/2t cayenne pepper flakes or 1/2 of a fresh chili or jalapeño

1 vegetable bouillon cube (or 1T veggie broth powder)

2-3T extra virgin olive oil

4c boiling water

1t salt or to taste

Bring 6c of water to a boil, in case you need more

In a large soup pot, add the olive oil and sauté the onions, spices, hot pepper and garlic until golden and soft. Add the lentils, mixing them into the onion mix. Add the boiling water, the bouillon cube (or powder) tamari, and Ume. Bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes. In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add the greens.

Adjust the seasonings before serving.

ESCAROLE & BEANS

*escarole and beans

Served over whole grain toast, GF bread, Paleo bread or GF pasta, this is an all time favorite. Super delicious and simple. Even delicious cold. Serve with raw cold pressed extra virgin olive oil and nutritional yeast….I LOVE THIS DISH.

White Beans with Escarole (Scarole & Beans)

1 bunch escarole, washed, trimmed, and torn into bite size pieces

3 cloves garlic, minced

2c cooked white beans or 1 can (cannellini or baby lima beans)

1/4t cayenne pepper flakes

1/4t ground black pepper

3T extra virgin olive oil

1/2c water

1/2t salt or to taste

In a large sauté pan, add 2T of the olive oil and sauté ½ of the garlic until golden and soft. Add the 1/4t of the salt, black and red pepper, and then add the escarole. With a fork or a pair of tongs, move the escarole around the pan cooking the escarole until wilted and tender, about 3-5 minutes. Remove the escarole from the pan, pouring any cooking juices into a small bowl and set both aside.

In the same pan, add the remaining olive oil and sauté the last of the garlic. Add the beans and sauté for a minute or so before adding the water. Stir the reserved liquid in, bring the beans to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer partially covered for 10-11 minutes. In the last 5 minutes of cooking, add the escarole and cook without a cover, stirring occasionally. Put the lid back on and turn off the heat, steaming for 1-2 minutes before serving

Adjust the seasonings before serving. Serve over rice, quinoa, pasta, or toast.

Sesame Tahini Ginger Dressing

*tahini ginger dressing

This dressing is to DIE FOR! Sooooooooo fricken yummy and easy to make. Tahini offers more protein than milk and plenty of calcium to boot. The ginger has been used in eastern medicine as a natural anti inflammatory and pain killer so after a killer HERO WOD this morning this was the perfect outfit to dress my salad up in. You can feel free to omit or add other flavors to this, I love it on the lemony side. Served over fresh salad greens with avocado is my favorite but it would be delicious as a sauce for steamed veggies or for GF buckwheat soba noodles as well.

Sesame Tahini Ginger Dressing

1/2c raw tahini

1/2c water

1 clove garlic, smashed

1t raw agave or honey

1T rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar

1T shoyu (raw) or tamari (GF)

2T extra virgin olive oil

1/4t pink salt or to taste

1 lemon, juiced

2T sesame seeds

1” piece of fresh ginger

1t hot sesame oil

2T black or white sesame seeds- to be added to dressing after-*optional

In a blender, process all ingredients until smooth. Adjust seasonings for taste. This will set up in the fridge, you can thin it out by adding a bit more water and or lemon juice.

Roasted Spring Asparagus

*roasted asparagus

This winter took SO LONG to break…for me the 1st signs of light are tulips and asparagus- so when I walked into the River Valley Co-Op and saw beautiful bunches upon bunches of purple tipped asparagus, I knew spring had finally sprung. I am of the school that the simplicity of the main ingredient is what makes beautiful food- this is literally asparagus with a touch of garlic, olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper. You can put them on the grill to give an earthy char taste but they are equally exquisite done in a countertop broiler.

1 bunch asparagus- cleaned and trimmed

2T Extra Olive oil

1t pink salt

1/4t black pepper

1 clove garlic, smashed and minced

1/4 one lemon- juice

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

On a small pan or oven proof dish, lay out the asparagus, as thinly as possible. Drizzle the oil over and add the other ingredients except for the lemon. With your fingers, toss the stalks with the  ingredients. Roast for 10-12 minutes or until tender.

Sprinkle with fresh lemon juice and season to taste with more salt and pepper if needed. Serve hot, warm or cold.

Green Juice with Kimchee Brine

*Green juice with Kimchee Brine

I can’t even express how much I love the taste of this juice. It is my go to alkalinizing recovery detox juice. The addition of Beet Kvass, Kimchee or Sauerkraut brine takes this juice to another level of deliciousness- in addition adding a whole slew of vitamins, minerals, and gut loving healthy pro-biotics. SO YUM.

Da Juice

If you are juicing for two, simply double the recipe. I use all organic veggies.

1/2 cucumber with the skin

1 stalk celery

1 small handful of  cilantro

1 small handful of  parsley

1 lemon, peeled

1″ piece of fresh ginger

1 stalk kale with the stem

10 oz. brine or kvass

Pass all of the vegetables through the juicer. Strain into a serving glass and add in the brine.

Drink immediately. On an empty stomach is best.

Buckwheat Soba Salad Bowl

BUCKWHEAT NOODLE SALAD

Sesame Ginger Noodle Sauce

1/4c tamari

1/4c mirin

2t hot sesame oil

1 clove garlic, smashed and minced

1″ fresh ginger, grated

1T water

1T extra virgin olive oil

1t raw agave or honey

1/4t cayenne pepper

1/2 lemon, juiced

Place all ingredients in a jar and set aside. You will not need all of the dressing however it is amazing to have on hand and in the fridge.

Noodles

 1 pound of 100% buckwheat soba

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the soba and cook until al dente. Rinse well with fresh water, then drain and set aside. Toss with oil (olive or hot sesame) to prevent them from sticking.

Salad fixings

1/2 cucumber, julienned

1 small carrot, julienned

2c fresh bean sprouts

1/4c snap peas, julienned

1/2 red pepper, julienned

1 ripe avocado, sliced

2T black sesame seeds

1 stalk celery, julienned

1/4c fresh cilantro, minced

fresh lime or lemon

salt & pepper to taste

Salad prep:

Toss all of the fresh vegetables except the avocado slices with the noodles, Dress with 1/4c of the noodle sauce- more or less to taste. Top with the fresh avocado. Adjust for flavor with salt, and squeeze fresh lime or lemon juice. Serve room temp or cold. Delicious the next day if there is any left over!

Cheddar Cheesy Broccoli Soup

*cheddar cheesy broccoli soup

Cheddar Cheesy Broccoli Soup

1 head broccoli, medium dice, florets and stalks separated

1 onion, medium dice

1c cooked brown rice *optional

1t chipotle powder

1/2t smoked salt or pink salt

1/4t fresh black pepper

1T raw agave or maple syrup

1T coconut or olive oil

4c water

Raw Cheddar Cheesy Sauce

1/2c raw cashews

1/4c water

½ red bell pepper

1t chipotle powder

2T nutritional yeast

1T coconut oil or olive oil

1T mellow miso paste

1t brown rice vinegar

1t ume vinegar or lemon juice

Salt and black pepper to taste

In a blender or food processor, place all of the ingredients and blend until smooth.  This can be stored as a dip, a spread or as a cream base for soups!

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil (if you should need more water)

Soup Base:

In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions with the broccoli stalks until golden and soft. Add the salt, black and red pepper, sweetener and rice if using, sautéing for another 4-5 minutes. Add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add the broccoli florets, reduce heat and continue to simmer until the broccoli has softened and turned bright green.  Turn the heat off. With an immersion blender or in batches in a blender, partially puree the broccoli soup; I like to see some broccoli. Add in desired amount of cheddar cheese cream- 1/4c or more and blend well. Serve immediately with more nutritional yeast.

*Caution: blending hot liquids can be extremely dangerous. Fill the blender only half way and proceed in batches if necessary.