Tuesday 27 March 2012

Healthy Meatless Dinner Recipes

I've started cooking with dried beans, quinoa, soy products & brown rice.  I love it because I can be as creative as I want and in the process turn out beautiful, hearty, healthy & yummy rmeals.
Here are two of my recent favourites. 
 

Chickpea Curry

Soak chickpeas in water overnight. or 12-16 hours.  Rinse then cover peas with cold water & a dash of salt. Cook for 2 hours

  • 1T olive oil
  • 1/2 small onion chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 inch ginger, grated
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp coriander
  • 1/2 tsp tumeric
  • 1.5 c cooked chickbeans
  • 1c bean cooking liquid
  • 1 c snow peas or edame peas
  • 1 c shredded cabbage
  • 1c chopped canned or fresh tomatoes
  • 1/2tsp garam masala
  • 1c cooked quinoa
  1. Saute onion, garlic, cabbage and ginger in oil till softened & browned. 
  2. Add spices, tomatoes, chickpeas & liquid from chickpeas. 
  3. Add peppers & sown peas, cook till softened.  Stir in the quinoa.
  4. Heat through.  Serves two.  Add extra veggies, etc to feed more folks.


Tofu Veggie Stirfry



     

  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1/2 small onion chopped
  • 2-3 garlic cloves crushed & chopped
  • 150 g medium tofu, cut in pieces
  • 1 slice ginger chopped or grated
  • 1/8 c soy sauce or to taste
  • hot sause to your taste
  • 2 fresh or 1 c canned tomatoes
  • 1/2 medium zuchinni, sliced on the angle
  • 1/2 bell pepper chopped or sliced
  • 1 c shredded cabbage
  • 1 c cooked quinoa or brown rice
 Saute onion, garlic,ginger & tofu in oil till browned - approx. 5 minutes.
Add veggies stir & steam till desired softness.  Season with soy sauce.  Add hot sauce or jaleppeno pepper as desired.
Sir in qooked quinoa or rice.   Serves 2.

Well I hope you like eating healthy as much as I do.   Sometimes instead of tofu I'll brown chopped chicken breast with the onions, etc......hmmm.   I'm not a vegetarian, but I do feel better since I've started eating meatless meals 3 or 4 times a week.  I've also noticed I have less craving for sweets ( my weekness) and I'm losing weight without even trying - especially in the stomach area!!   What's not to love?!


Crocheting

Work on the black afghan for my daughter is progressing.  She didn't want anything holey so I'm using stable stitches that produce a thick fabric.  I've always wanted to do a highly textured blanket.
Pics to come.



Saturday 24 March 2012

This and That

Sheesh, I haven't posted in so long!! Went to Cuba, loved the country!! Beautiful sand, beach & people.  Things didn't go so well though...................let us just say I'm single again.   That's ok though. I am used to being on my own.  I have finally lost 6 lbs!!!  No more late night snacks.
Finished my black & white print dress in time for my trip - no pic yet.  It's comfy & cute.  I was happy with it.   Started another dress but did not finish it yet.  Have not got back into sewing yet.
I haven't been doing too much - came back to find out my ei ran out.  So, I`ve  been appling for jobs & looking into retraining. I have lots of experience but nothing on paper.  At my age, you need both!!

My new hair colour - by mistake...but it`s growing on me.

 It`s getting really long. I plan on cutting it and donating it.  But now I`m curious to see how long it will grow!  Definitely need a trim though.  It`s been over a year.
 I`ve been making extremely yummy healthy food lately.  This dish consists of one chicken breast sliced up , fried with onion, garlic & olive oil till almost done.  Then I added snow peas, shredded cabbage & yellow pepper.  I used Chipolte sauce for the seasoning.  Then I stirred in some prepared brown rice & quinoa.  Hmmmm, it was delish!!!! 
 This is where I want to live!!  Lovely pink apartment - just so long as it is in Mexico!!!!
 Another yummy, healthy stir fry.........this time no meat, just veggies.
 I took a pic of my green onions before chopping them up & freezing them (as seen on Pinterest).  I just love this pic!!!!  It speaks to me!  Just wish I still had Picassa to crop, etc. 
 This is my beautiful baby daughter Jo & her handsome prince on St Paddys Day.  I think he may be the one.  How exciting!!  I do still believe in love even though it may never be mine.
 Self bought flowers - they lasted for two weeks!! Gerbana daisies.
 Hair previous to the mistake.................I will get around to finishing the walls soon!  God..I need Picassa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 My new clogs - they seem really narrow - only $50.  I think I will have to get them stretched or wear them bare foot. for the summer.
My old, very comfy clogs from Value Village!!  I need to wear two pairs of socks with them to keep them on my feet. 

Back to normal soon I hope. Oh, I did start an afghan for my Jo.  Will post pic when I have gotten more done on it.