My Vegetarian Lentil Soup

My Vegetarian Lentil Soup

by Tania Calderón

click on photos to enlarge

Happy New Year!!!! This 2013 will be a very exciting year in the world of food and growing within. Some of you may know I started sprouting a few months back and We've also started a small hydroponic system which will hopefully grow our tomatoes and peppers indoors.

I'm very excited about the new year and all of the new magic it will bring into our lives, and belly. So, today I'm starting off this blog with a simple Lentil Soup recipe.
There are several types of Lentil Soups, they are a great source of fiber, protein, and iron. During the winter I really enjoy hot soup like many others and especially love the smell of my home when food is simmering on the oven for a few hours slow cooking that nights dinner.
This is one I threw together late this morning to cook in my new crock pot.
Since I've only used the crock pot once it's an experiment because I'm using dry beans that I didn't soak the night before hand.

(uncooked) 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium celery stalk, sliced
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and small dice
• 1/2 medium yellow onion, small dice
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• Kosher salt (to taste) 
• Freshly ground black pepper (to taste) 
• 1 quart vegetable broth
• 14-ounce caned San Marzano whole peeled tomatoes in SM puree 
• 1 1/4 cups dry beans (I used 3/4 cup brown lentils, 1/4 cup chick peas, split peas) 
• 1 bay leaf
•  chopped fresh thyme leaves and stems (to taste) 
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar 
• 5 medium large brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in two. 

So let's get started...  

I have an assortment of dry beans that I used although I call this lentil soup because I used more of them than the others. 

I boiled the dry beans about 5 minutes on the stove before adding them to the crock pot.

Then I added my other ingredients in the order listed above. 

(uncooked) 

I'll let that simmer for a few hours and by the time I'm ready for dinner my delicious vegetarian lentil soup will be done. No fuss, and what I like about this recipe is all of the ingredients are simple and in their natural form (unprocessed). 

Here we are 5 - 6 hrs later. 

Bon Appetít! 

(btw Basic Lentil Soup Recipe here By Aida Mollenkamp) 

Tomatoes, Raw Recipes, Enemas

Hello Blog Readers, 

I know it's been some time and do feel a bit guilty for not having shared some updates from the new garden, which by the way isn't growing anywhere near as well as when we had the greenroom in the loft, oh well. I'm still enjoying the the house and the work that we put into creating the space to grow food, as well as our passion for healthy food choices and lifestyle. 

It's already June and tomatoes are abundant everywhere. Even here thanks to special friends Courtney & Landon who shared their beautiful heirloom tomatoes with us. I took this photo earlier today just before slicing into it. It is so delicious, I'll have to make the drive to Pine Mountain from Atlanta for more. 

On another note I've been reading some food blogs and landed on one in particular that I'm really impressed with by Angela & Matt Monarch from "The Raw Food World" who both live a100% Raw Vegan life and have so for years. They are a very sweet couple, and I've enjoyed watching their You Tube Videos learning more about raw food, detoxifying and their life in beautiful country somewhere in Ecuador I think, still not sure but it is beautiful.   

Angela has a nice treat which is an e-book cookbook of raw recipes which I downloaded today and immediately found things that looked good to me, so I thought I'd share. You can find her e-book by clicking on the link below.                                                                The Profoundly Raw Recipes eBook                 This FREE ebook contains a collection of over 35 fabulous raw recipes, contributed by 12 well-known raw food chefs.

While amusing myself watching their videos I found one on Detoxing/Enemas that I really liked. 

For example, in the past I've gone to the health food store and purchased a 2 week or whatever detox cleansing kit that did nothing. Have you? Since watching a few videos and doing my own research,  I've purchased a water bottle kit so I can perform routine enemas at home. It is simple enough and the health benefits outweighed any hesitation I had. Today is day #2 and I'm feeling good. I'm using purified water only. No organic coffee for me. I might try chamomile tea in the future but for now just water. 

If you plan on doing this at home I suggest talking with a professional which I am not :) 

I watched this video below which helped me understand the water bottle.  

I think that's all for now. I've been super busy but I hope to make it back here again soon and share a little more on Growing Within. 

back to nature...

“Remember for just one minute of the day, it would be best to try looking upon yourself more as God does, for She knows your true royal nature.” ~ Hafiz

Photos from our short hike yesterday before breakfast 

through the nearby nature preserve. 

Chickweed Salad

(click image to enlarge, look closely you'll see the flower)

Chickweed Salad 

Over Thanksgiving it was pointed out that I have tons of chickweed (an edible leaf) growing all over the new property. Today I made a salad and threw a bunch in for fun. Free food - who doesn't love that idea? 

Give it a good rinse and there you go. 

Ingredients: 

• red leaf lettuce 
• chickweed
• avocado 
• cilantro
• onion
• green pepper
• sunflower seeds
• shiitake sesame dressing :)

I've learned there are medicinal benefits to eating this common weed. It tastes a bit like corn but I also felt some kick as in a peppery flavor. Well last month Fox News showed a clip from Central Park NYC. with Steve Brill on foraging, and yes chickweed was a part of the many natural plants they found. 

Here's the link to watch: 

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/01/10/health-benefits-chickweed/

 Let me know if you find some outside your door. Don't be afraid to try some. ;)