GOOD LIFE Living Well: December 2014

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

New Year's Eve Menu Prep In photos, carrot and chickpea spread; black eyed pea and kale soup; coillard, mushroom and rice soup; butternut squash and white sweet potato stew; collard and potato curry; cheesecake and pumpkin pie.

Black eyed pea and kale soup

Butternut squash and sweet potato stew will be served with polenta triangles

Collard Greens

Cooked carrots, orange bell peppers, chili peppers, peanut butter, fresh orange juice and cooked chickpeas, process and spread on lavosh/cracker bread

Fresh, all natural cheesecakes

previous 2 the collard, black eyed pea and potato curry

pumpkin pie


The curry will be served with steamed brown rice.

In America's South, black eyed peas and collard greens signal good luck in the New Year.
Here I have combined them in soups, spreads and curry.
Unlike other pulses/legumes, they do not need soaking before use, just rinse and drain then add to any boiling soup/stew.
They also cook very quickly, if they are over cooked they release their skins.

Happy New Year

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Deconstructed Lasagna with roasted vegetables and other delights menu prep for tomorrow in photos

Parsnips, eggplant, yams and carrots for the roasted vegetable de-constructed lasagna

The filling cooking for the stuffed cabbage, use beans, tempeh, any vegetable selection saute in oil, add spices and seasonings, cover with stock or water and cook for 30 mins. until most evaporated and add breadcrumbs. Allow to marinate overnight then stuff the cabbage leaves and bake.

Remove the stem of the cabbage and boil in water with salt and baking soda until tender, cool under cold running water, allow to cool and drain.

Roasted yams, parsnips, carrots, onions, eggplant, tomato sauce

Fresh apples cooked in cider for the apple-berry pie

Fresh tomato sauce

Organic Bananas for the banana-walnut breads

Stuffing the cabbage leaves

The fresh tomato sauce is the base for both the lasagna and the cabbage rolls

Strips of cooked lasagna are cut in half and filled with roasted vegetables and placed seam side down in sauce filled pan

Arrange more roasted vegetables around the sides

Cover with cheese and bread crumbs, will be topped with more tomato sauce and baked at client's home

Previous 2 the banana-walnut loaves, dense banana flavor, these loaves are meant to be sliced very thin and spread with either soft butter or cream cheese; these are NOT cakes.