Mexican Red Lentil Soup

If I had to choose one thing to eat for the rest of my life.. It'd probably be this soup. 'Nough said.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup red lentils (rinsed)
1 Tbl coconut oil
2 cloves garlic (minced)
2 stalks celery (chopped)
1 medium sized yellow onion (chopped)
1 red pepper (chopped)
1 can diced tomatoes
3 cups vegetable broth
2 Tbl Chili powder
1 tsp chipotle powder
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 lemons worth or about 1/3 cup lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Toppings:
Chopped cilantro (the more the better....)
Sliced avocado
Cashew sour cream (recipe below)


Process:
Rinse lentils and put them in a small pot. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and leave pot covered. Set aside. in a large pot, heat oil. Saute onion, garlic, celery, and red pepper until all are softened. Add in spices and tomatoes. Dump in the lentils and vegetable broth. Let simmer for 15 mins. Just before serving, stir in the lemon juice. Serve topped with cilantro, avocado, and coarse salt and pepper. Cashew sour cream is a great, tangy addition.



CASHEW SOUR CREAM:

Ingredients:
1 cup raw cashews (soaked in water for 1 hr.)
almond or coconut milk to help blend
lemon juice to taste (around 2 Tbl)

Process:
Discard water and place cashews in a blender. Add just enough milk to get the cashews to blend smoothly. Add lemon juice to taste.


♥ E

Magic Soup

So it has been said that the "chicken noodle soup cure" is a big myth... Well I think there is something to be said for it. But being a vegan, I of course have to put a little spin on the whole thing.

This soup will really open your sinuses and I think it actually makes people feel better. I have a couple of secret ingredients (ginger root and cayenne pepper) that give it the kick that it needs to really get your immune system going and open up those air ways!

Vegetable broth soup:

Ingredients:

1/2 Tbl coconut oil
1 yellow onion (chopped)

2 medium carrots  (sliced into 1/4 inch pieces)

4 stalks celery (sliced into 1/4 inch pieces)

6 cups water

1 Tbl garlic (minced-- about 2 cloves)

2 thumb sized pieces of ginger root 

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (less if making this for children or if you are not a fan of spice)
2 Tbl Italian seasoning

1 1/2 cups garbanzo beans cooked (or 1 can) -- any other white beans would work just fine! 

1 cup finely chopped kale (for garnish)

Process:

In a medium sized soup pot, add the coconut oil, onion, carrots, and celery. Saute over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the water, garlic, ginger root, cayenne pepper, and Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes or until veggies are soft. Turn off heat, carefully scoop out the two pieces of ginger- discard and add garbanzo beans. Ladle into bowls and top with a generous sprinkling of chopped kale. Makes about 6 servings.

If you're looking to make this meal a little bit more substantial, serve over cooked quinoa!

I like to keep my soup in mason jars. Some in the fridge and some in the freezer. Just make sure to let the soup cool before placing the lid on and make sure not to fill the jar too full or it will shatter when it freezes. 

♥ E

Mind Your Peas and Qs

You might see a pattern here... I like soup and I like paprika. Like a lot... :)

Smoky Split Pea & Quinoa Soup

Ingredients: 

1 Tbl coconut oil

1 onion (diced)

1 Tbl minced garlic

1 green pepper (chopped) 

1 bag split green peas, cooked until soft

1 Tbl smoked paprika

1 tsp chili powder 

2 cups vegetable broth

Salt and pepper to taste

2 Tbl lemon juice
2 cups cooked quinoa
Cilantro for garnish (if desired) 

Process: 

In a medium sized pot, saute coconut oil, onion, garlic and pepper until softened and golden. Add cooked spit peas, spices, and vegetable broth. Transfer to blender in batches and blend. Transfer back to pot and heat through. Add lemon juice and quinoa just before serving.

p.s. I know it looks really red, but as I said.. I like paprika.. A LOT!

Makes 6 servings. I store the extras in mason jars. Some in the freezer and some in the fridge. Just remember when storing in the freezer to leave extra space at the top of the jar or your jar will explode. It happened to me just yesterday.... 

 ♥ E

Smoky Sweet Potato Soup

What to do when you have a friend come over and realize that you should probably feed them and you have a couple sweet potatoes that need used up? Sweet potato soup, of course!!!

Ingredients:

1/2 Tbl coconut oil
1 onion (diced)

1 tsp minced garlic

1 red pepper

3 sweet potatoes (baked or steamed and smashed)

1/2 cup coconut or almond milk

1 cup vegetable broth

1 Tbl smoked paprika

1/2 Tbl chili powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Toppings:

lemon juice

avocado

cilantro

Process: 

In a medium sized pot, saute coconut oil, onion, garlic and red pepper until softened and golden. Add smashed sweet potatoes, spices and liquids. Transfer to blender in batches and blend. Transfer back to pot and heat through. 

Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice, sliced avocado, and chopped cilantro.

Makes 6 servings. I generally save 2 servings in the fridge and put the others in mason jars in the freezer. Then I just take them out and let them thaw when I know that I will want one later. 

 ♥ E