Red Potato Fries in Coconut Oil

Ingredients:

Red Potatoes

Coconut Oil

Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Slice your potatoes evenly

2. Heat pan with small amount of coconut oil

3. Place in oil flat on one side

4. Cook side until golden brown

5. Flip

6. Cook until other side is golden brown

7. Eat your heart out!

Over the weekend I bought a bag of small red potatoes. Wanting to indulge, I decided I wanted from fries! With little olive oil left, and not wanting to buy more any time soon, I dug into my coconut oil. I actually use it as a makeup remover and moisturizer, but I'm happy I tried it out with these fries! It gave it a subtle sweetness.

Lazy tip: Slice with a mandolin or counter top slicer, that way you get even pieces and don't have to worry about slicing off a finger. Just make sure to use the safety guard so you don't hurt yourself!

Cauliflower Puree with Gravy

Ingredients:

Cauliflower Puree:
1 head of cauliflower
1 tsp paprika
1 clove garlic - smashed
1 cup canned beans, white or chick pea
Salt, Pepper to taste

Gravy:
Veggie broth
Whole wheat flour
1 clove garlic - smashed
Any veggies you may want (I used mushrooms & white onions)


Directions:
1. Thoroughly wash cauliflower
2. Bake in oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes
3. Break apart, put in food processor with salt, pepper, paprika, beans, and a smashed garlic clove
4. Process until at desired texture

Gravy:
1. Put all ingredients, except flour, and simmer 10 minutes.
2. Turn off heat and add flour until desired thickness is achieved

Eat your heart out!!!!

Great with Seitan as a faux meat & potatoes dinner

*Lazy tip - start your gravy after you put the cauliflower head in the oven. Double duty saves time! While it roasts, get your simmer on. Add flour and let gravy thicken as you process the puree. The two will be ready at the same time for you to enjoy!

Quinoa with Pineapple

Ingredients:
Quinoa - cook to recipe
Red onions, chopped
Pineapple, chopped into small pieces
Cilantro to taste
Lime juice to taste

Directions:
1. Cook the amount of Quinoa you would like. I cooked a big enough batch to keep for a side for lunches & dinners throughout the week
2. Once cooled, mix in the other ingredients to taste.
*I love red onion and cilantro, so I added more than some may like!
3. Eat your heart out!

For dinner, I had it as a side to faux honey bbq wings. The mix of the bbq sauce with the sweet, island pineapple and cilantro was a great mix!

My Nonna said she read somewhere to toast the Quinoa before cooking, to keep it from going soggy.
I researched and found some great info on it here:
*Dry roasting quinoa in a pan or in the oven, before cooking will give a toasted flavor
*Before cooking, the seeds must be rinsed to remove their bitter resin-like coating, which is called saponin. Quinoa is rinsed before it is packaged and sold, but it is best to rinse again at home before use to remove any of the powdery residue that may remain on the seeds.

Lazy tip: Cook a big batch of plain Quinoa on Sunday to store for the week. Then, add whatever you like when you're ready to eat!

Mexican Style Bulgar Wheat

Ingredients:
(To make a big batch)
1 1/2 cup bulgar wheat
1 cup Textured Vegetable Protein
1 can black beans
1 can corn
1 can diced tomatoes (I used Rotel with green chiles- for SPICY! If you don't want spicy, stick with plain diced tomatoes)
chopped Cilantro to taste

Directions:
1. For the amount listed above, bring 3 cups water to boil. Add 1 1/2 cup bulgar wheat, cover & simmer 5 minutes.
2. Turn off heat, add 1 cup Textured Vegetable Protein.
3. Stir. Let sit 10 minutes. Stir, stir stir.
4. Stir in canned items & cilantro.
5. Eat your heart out!

This is like a spicy taco, without all the fatty stuff and with lots of healthy stuff! Healthy carbs, protein, and veggies in a fast and yummy meal. Eat it as a side or as a full meal... I had it for dinner and it is waiting for me in the fridge for lunch at work!

I saw bulgar wheat at the store, never heard of it, picked it up and found some interesting stuff here.
*Rich in "B" vitamins, iron, phosphorous and manganese
*Natural whole grain food because no chemicals or additives are used in processing the product
*High in fiber, low in fat!

*Lazy tip: Canned ingredients! The bulgar wheat & tvp take so fast to cook up, buy the time you open your cans, it is ready to be mixed and eaten.