Quick and Easy Please
Posted: June 19, 2012 Filed under: Least Amount of Ingredients Recipes | Tags: beans, blog, Brown Rice, healthy food, low sodium, medical conditions, quick and easy meals, Rice, Vegetable broth, Vegetables 2 Comments »As you know, I believe that a healthy diet can solve (or at least significantly help) numerous medical conditions, but unfortunately not all of them (dangit). I’ve recently been dealing with some medical issues that are taking up a large portion of my time. With that said, I’ve had to scale back a little on blogging. :/
I’ve decided to shift my Vitamin De blog a bit and focus (even more) on healthy, quick and easy meals. At first, I thought this would only interest other’s that are going through illnesses, but then I realized it applies to anyone that just doesn’t have the time to make elaborate meals.
I need your help! I don’t have a lot of energy (right now) to spend all day in the kitchen so my main priority is to make my breakfast green smoothie. I’ve gone a few days without and it just made me feel worse. I’ll be looking for lunch and dinner recipes that have the least amount of ingredients possible or any other efficient kitchen tips.
Example:
Vegetables: I will be buying packaged or pre-cut whenever possible/affordable.
Beans: I will be using low sodium canned beans (rinsed in cold water) instead of soaking dried one’s.
Rice: I’ll be using Microwavable Minute Ready to Serve Brown Rice single servings instead of making a full pot.
Vegetable broth: I’ll be using low sodium broth instead of making my own (even though Wendy’s recipe is awesome).
Your help will be much appreciated!
*I will definitely post to my blog when I can and I will continue to share information that I come across on www.facebook.com/devitamin
*When possible, I’m going to try to post my medical journey and some stories I’ve written in the past. You can find this information at www.de-light12.com. In the upper right hand corner of that page, you will find the “about me” section and also, the link to follow my blog via e-mail. Come hang out with me!
Thanks for your patience and understanding. I’m convinced we can be healthy without spending all day in the kitchen! Let’s do it!
-Vitamin De
Crock-Pot Stock and Edible Flowers
Posted: May 1, 2012 Filed under: Beauty & Hygiene, Crock-pot, Fitness, Thoughts | Tags: Beauty & Hygiene, Edible flower arrangements, Fitness, Foam roller, Friends, lip repair, Lips, Vegetable broth, Vegetables, veggie stock 4 Comments »FOOD
By now you probably know that I’m a big fan of quick easy meals with the least amount of ingredients. I also like to take as many short cuts as possible in the kitchen and while grocery shopping and still stay true to my healthy lifestyle. With that said, when my friend Wendy e-mailed me a recipe for homemade vegetable stock, I was a little hesitant at first even though I’ve been skeptical of store-bought broth. Then I noticed the words “slow cooker” and instantly jumped on board. Below is the exact message she sent me.
I came across an easy recipe for homemade veggie stock. You make it using your own left over and older veggies. Just keep the parts of veggies that you don’t use while cooking (i.e. first layer of onion, ends of carrots and celery, cucumber peels, ends of lettuce, etc.) Keep a large freeze bag and just put all the scraps in the bag. When the bag is full, put them in your slow cooker and cover with water. Cook for 8 or more hours. Strain well. Done. I just did this and got about 8 cups of veggie stock to use for other recipes. It smelled so good; we almost ate it like a soup!
I started “collecting” my left over veggies on Sunday, so hopefully this coming weekend; I’ll be able to try it. Thanks, Wendy! :)
BEAUTY
Aquaphor Lip Repair is rated (goodguide.com) 7.5 (out of 10) overall and a 10 for health, which means this product doesn’t have any ingredients that raise health concerns. I’ve been using this for a couple of years now and wear it almost daily. Have you ever noticed that some lip balms actually make your lips drier? Not this one. Aquaphor keeps your lips kissable. 
FITNESS
Have you ever tried using a foam roller? http://www.amazon.com/Foam-Roller-6-x-36/dp/B000Y4W9VA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1335812083&sr=8-5
A foam roller is a long cylinder made of foam that is usually three feet long and six inches in diameter. Your body weight is used to provide pressure when lying or sitting on the foam roller. Rolling your muscles along the foam roller help break up adhesions that form on your muscles, much like a massage would typically do. The foam roller, which is ideal for using on hard to reach areas, provides more relief and benefits than simple static stretching might. –livestrong.com
When I injured my hip (IT band) one of the personal trainers at the base gym recommended I use one and it became a lifesaver. Here are a few examples of how you can use a foam roller.
http://www.shape.com/fitness/foam-roller-release
INSPIRATION
My friend Jayme (see more about her below) bought me this awesome plaque. I have it hanging in my kitchen and it seriously puts a smile on my face every time I walk in there. It’s nice to have friends that accept you for exactly who you are. I’m fortunate enough to have more than a few of these friends and hopefully, you do to.
BONUS
If you live in the Mildenhall/Lakenheath (England) area, JAMS Sweets & Treats (Jayme) makes beautiful edible flower arrangements, cookies, cupcakes, breads, pretzels, donuts, whoopi pies and is available for party planning and decorating. She is so creative, talented and all her work is done to perfection. For more information you can contact her at: jamssweets@gmail.com
The he said/she said soup
Posted: March 29, 2012 Filed under: Soup | Tags: Black pepper, Lemon juice, Lentils, red pepper flakes, Sea salt, Spinach, Vegetable broth 2 Comments »My husband loves this soup. Me, not so much. But that doesn’t mean it’s not good. I just need more zing, pizzazz or maybe more substance. I don’t know. You may love it, you may hate it. Either way, let me know what you think.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup lentils (rinsed)
4 cups organic vegetable broth
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Juice of one lemon
Sea salt and black pepper
Spinach leaves
DIRECTIONS
Place lentils, broth and red pepper flakes in pot. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce heat to simmer. Simmer covered, stirring occasionally, until lentils are soft (about 30 minutes, depending how soft you like your lentils.) Add more broth if soup seems to thick. Add lemon juice and spinach just before serving. Taste and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
A great marriage is not when the ‘perfect couple’ come together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.
– Dave Meurer
Picture: In Georgia, 2003.
Recipe: Spark People. I’ve slightly revised it.
Quinoa recipes
Posted: March 14, 2012 Filed under: Pasta, Potatoes and Quinoa | Tags: chili powder, Garlic, Mushrooms, Olive oil, Protein, Quinoa, quinoa recipes, Spinach, Vegetable broth 2 Comments »Did you know that Quinoa is a complete protein?
With that said, I’m always on the lookout for easy, quick Quinoa recipes. Below are two that I think you will enjoy.
Spanish Quinoa
Ingredients:
1 cup dry quinoa, rinsed, drained and patted dry
2 cups vegetable broth
½ cup organic tomato sauce
2 teaspoons chili powder
Crushed garlic
Directions:
- Place a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the quinoa and toast until grains are slightly golden brown, around 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add broth, tomato sauce and chili powder and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 25 minutes.
- Remove from heat, fluff with a fork and season with salt and pepper before serving.
Slightly revised from Peas on the Side.
Quinoa/veggie salad
Ingredients:
2 handfuls red bell peppers strips
1-handful garlic cloves
2 handfuls mushrooms of your choice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1-cup quinoa
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1-tablespoon balsamic vinegar
2 cups spinach leaves
Directions:
Put peppers, mushrooms and garlic in a large zip lock baggie.
Pour olive oil into bag, secure zip lock and shake ingredients together.
Empty contents of bag onto a large baking sheet.
Place in pre-heated oven (400 degrees) for 30 minutes until veggies seems tender.
In the meantime, cook quinoa-according directions on package.
Whisk together tomato paste and balsamic vinegar in a small bowl.
Place roasted veggies, spinach and quinoa in a large serving bowl and stir in the dressing.
Serve warm and enjoy!
My friend (G.S.) sent me this recipe but after I revised it, I deleted where the original came from. My apologies to the creator!
*It’s Wednesday, have you hugged your kid today?
(My dad says this to us all the time but for everyday of the week) :)
Photo by: myspacecomments.com
SOUP for BREAKFAST
Posted: February 2, 2012 Filed under: Detox, My own recipe creations, Soup | Tags: Apple, Carrots, Cinnamon, Maple Syrup, Nutritional Yeast, Sweet Potato, Sweet Potato Soup, Vegetable broth, vita mix Leave a comment »Actually, you could make this soup for lunch, dinner or a healthy snack, but I personally think it should be called “Breakfast of Champions.” My husband and I had it last Sunday morning and we felt quite satisfied (okay, we were full). I made this “sweeter” than my Indian Sweet Potato Soup. http://devitamin.com/2012/01/02/my-indian-sweet-potato-soup/ which makes it perfect for breakfast.
INGREDIENTS
1 medium Sweet Potato
1 medium Apple
Handful of Baby Carrots (I used thawed out frozen baby carrots)
1-2 teaspoons Cinnamon
1/8 cup of Maple Syrup (raw organic, if you can find it)
2 tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
2 cups Vegetable Broth (organic, low sodium, if you can find it)
Pecans (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Place all ingredients in high-speed blender (Vita-Mix) or a food processor.
If using a Vita-Mix blend for around 6 minutes on 10 and high-speed.
If using a food processor, blend until smooth and then warm soup in a pan.
Sprinkle pecans on top (optional).
Buon Appetito!
*Sweet Potatoes: Oldest vegetable known to man. High in fiber and rich source of antioxidants.
*Cinnamon: Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol. Cinnamon is known to have a regulatory effect on blood sugar and it has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.
*Nutritional Yeast: http://devitamin.com/2012/01/08/nutritional-yeast/
Slow and Steady recipe
Posted: January 10, 2012 Filed under: Crock-pot, Detox | Tags: baked potatoes, Brown Rice, chili powder, Crock-pot, Detox, Garlic, Potatoes, Slow-cooker, Vegetable broth, Vegetables, Wild Rice 4 Comments »Whether I’m “detoxing” or not, I try to eat only one warm meal a day (the rest are raw) and with winter here, I love to use my slow cooker (crock-pot). I found this recipe yesterday and I can’t wait to try all different variations of veggies and grains.
Ingredients
One to two cups of dried beans, peas or lentils
Two to three cups of sweet or baked potatoes
Two to four cups of low sodium vegetable broth
Seasonings of choice
Optional: Quick cooking veggies such as tomatoes or green beans
Optional: Brown or wild rice or quinoa
Directions
- Place one to two cups of dried beans, peas or lentils at the bottom of slow cooker.
- Add two to three cups of sweet potatoes or baked potatoes.
- Add two to four cups of liquid such as low sodium vegetable broth.
- Season with one to two tablespoons of dried herbs and spices such as oregano, cumin, chili powder or garlic.
- Cover and cook for four hours on high heat or eight hours on low heat.
- Optional: With one hour to go add tomatoes or green beans. Anything that cooks faster than the above ingredients.
- Optional: With one hour to go, you can add cooked brown or wild rice or cooked quinoa.
*Revised from: Oxygenmag.com
