Easy Red Lentil Soup

One of our favorite recipes is from my good friend Byron Elton. It fits right in with the J.J. Virgin way of eating and is so delicious! Here's the recipe:

Serves 8

• 2 cups of red lentils, rinsed

• 8 cups of water or vegetable stock

• 1 large onion, diced

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and minced

• 2 stalks of celery, finely chopped

• 2 carrots, finely chopped

• 1 tsp each of ground cumin, turmeric & paprika

• Sea salt and pepper to taste

• Avocado and fresh lemon juice for garnish

Directions:

1. Wash lentils. Combine them with water or stock and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat

and simmer until lentils are tender. Seasonwith sea salt and pepper to taste. I like to use

four cups of water and four cups of vegetable stock.

2. Meanwhile, saute the onion, garlic, celery and carrots in the olive oil over a low heat until

transparent. Add the spices, stir thoroughly and add mixture to the lentils.

3. Add fresh lemon juice and avocado chunks just before serving.

4. Garnish with parsley, paprika and yogurt, if desired.

5. Say a blessing on the food and remember to credit Byron for the recipe

Thai Chickpea Curry with Coconut Rice

One of the goals for this page is to collect great recipes that fit in with out new way of eating. We found this recipe on the How Sweet It Is blog and made a few minor changes. It's great to know that things can be so delicious and nutritious! 

 YIELD: SERVES 2 TO 4

TOTAL TIME: 30 MINUTES

©2013 How Sweet It Is. Design by Purr

ingredients: 

coconut rice

1 1/2 cups jasmine rice
1 1/2 cups light canned coconut milk
1/2 cup coconut water
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon salt

chickpea curry

1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil

2 leeks, cleaned, trimmed + sliced

1 red pepper, sliced (more if you like)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

2 1/2 tablespoons red curry paste

1/2 cup sugar snap peas, cut into thirds

14-ounces coconut milk

1 1/2 cups cooked chickpeas

3 tablespoons freshly torn cilantro

Coconut Rice

Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat and add rice, coconut milk, coconut water and salt. Stir, then bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and let cook for 15-18 minutes, until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork, then stir in coconut oil 

Chickpea Curry

While the rice is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the coconut oil. Stire in the leeks, red peppers, salt and pepper and stir to toss. Cover and cook until the vegetables have slightly softened, about 5 minutes. Add in the garlic, ginger and curry paste and stir to coat. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in the peas and coconut milk Increase heat and bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Stire in the chickpeas and cilantro and cook for 5 minutes more. Taste and season additionally if desired.

Serve immediately with the coconut rice! 

Taken and adapted from How Sweet it Is Blog  http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/07/easy-chickpea-curry-with-coconut-rice/

A New Way of Eating...

I had a friend share with me this book during one of our morning walks.  It was during a usual conversation about how frustrated I was with my weight.  I have been struggling my whole life.  I have tried everything (more about that later).  However nothing seemed to work.  I was starting to believe that I had no willpower, and that I was destined to struggle and that I would never be able to understand my body.  So being the good friend she was she offered advice in a loving way – being a typical person I told her “no thank you”.  I was sure that I could do it.  I had heard everything.  I would figure it out and keep plugging along.  After a while I realized that there were times in my life when people had asked for advice and I feel like I had something that would help.  But alas, being human we all want to just try doing the same thing over and over and expect a different result, we don’t want to change anything (that my friends is the definition of insanity…)  So, I decided to read her book out of courtesy to her.  Well, hold on my friends… this book has become a life saver.  I was able to drop 15 lbs so far and I have more energy than is normal.  Some of my disorders about my relationship with food are slipping away… so here is the book.  I want to share it.  I want to tell everyone about it.  It makes so much sense, I have been slowly learning all of these things over the last few years or a lifetime but now here it is in a book- it makes it easy to do it makes it easy to pass on.  When you first read it you think wow – she is taking everything out of my diet..

However I feel exactly the opposite, I now feel like I have more options – by taking out the seven foods she list – she has opened up a whole new world.  On this blog right now, I want to share with you some practical ideas on how to integrate these things into your own life for you and for your family.  So far everyone that I have shared it with has had results like weight loss and feeling better.  I hope to share your story as well.  

This is a new blog but if you want more ideas I have a facebook group called “shannonmymom” and that is where we have been uploading ideas and recipes.  If you ask to join I will add you.  This has become a big family and community project.  I want you to be part of the revolution.

Here we go…
shannonmymom