Category: Blog

Sausage, Kale, and Cannellini Bean Soup

MeganLeave a comment
Hi there!  As the weather starts to take a nose dive into cooler temperatures we find ourselves getting out our fall and winter apparel.  Nothing says fall like a great hearty soup to remedy the shift in seasons!  This hearty soup is jammed packed with vitamins and minerals to power through your day.
If you have family coming over or maybe you are tailgating to watch your favorite college football game this hearty soup is an easy must have dish! Can you spot the super food in this soup???  
If you guessed kale then you are correct!Some of the health benefits of kale include:

  • Carontenoids and flavonoids-2 superstar antioxidants which protect cells against oxidative damage by free radicals in the body.
  • Omega-3 fatty acids which help to regulate the body’s inflammatory process.
  • Vitamin C-water-soluble antioxidant serves many vital functions in the body’s cells.
  • High in Vitamin K- kale contains a huge dose of potassium which is vital for production of proteins that strengthen bone composition! Vitamin K (potassium) also prevents calcium build-up which can lead to cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and atherosclerosis.
  • Cholesterol lowering-kale can help lower cholesterol and increase the ratio of healthy cholesterol
  • Fiber- which helps you feel fuller longer and basically helps 
Ingredients:
* 3-4 cooked chicken sausage (cooked)
* 1 c. carrots (peeled)
* 3/4 c. celery
* 1 cup of sliced mushrooms (fresh if possible)
* 3 cloves of garlic
* 1 small onion
* 1 bunch of kale
* 1 tsp. dried oregano
* 1 T. fresh rosemary
* 1 T. dried parsley
* 1 (15 oz.) can of cannellini Bean beans drained and rinsed
* 2 zucchini
* 4-8 c. chicken broth, low sodium
* 1-2 T. of olive oil
*1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
* 1/2 c. Parmesan cheese
* salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions:

  1. Turn on stove add a little bit of olive oil to the pot
  2. Dice onions and garlic and add to the heated pot with the red pepper flakes and stir. Once translucent turn heat down.
  3.  Chop celery and carrots and zucchini and add to the pot and stir occasionally.
  4. Add, parsley, rosemary, oregano, and stir into pot.
  5. Add cooked chicken sausage to the pot.  If Sausage is not cooked, cook in separate pan.  Then add it to the pot.
  6. At this point you can add shredded Parmesan cheese
  7. Once carrots are almost cooked start adding your chicken broth
  8. Add sliced mushrooms and chopped kale to the soup and keep soup on low heat
  9. Stir in Cannellini beans and add salt and pepper and additional parmesan cheese. Taste for any additional seasonings.

**To make sure it’s gluten free make sure sausage and broth are gluten free.

Edamame Noodles with Meat Sauce and Brussels Sprouts

MeganLeave a comment

You eat with your eyes first and foremost.  This dish is a colorful take on normal spaghetti and meat sauce.  These noodles are certified organic, vegan, kosher, and gluten free, and have become a staple in our household.  

I also use certified organic grass-fed lean beef.  Again, not that you have to go strictly organic, but I prefer as much organic food and produce as possible.

I pair this meal with Brussels Sprouts sautéed on the stove with olive oil a little pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt and black ground pepper!

Picture

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound of Organic lean beef
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic
  • 1/2 to 1 small onion
  • 1  28oz. can of organic diced tomatoes
  • Edamame noodles or regular noodles (the amount will vary)
  • 1 bag of Brussels sprouts
  • 1 Teaspoon dried basil, oregano and parsley (if you have fresh herbs that will work too)

Directions:

  1. Dice onions. Add some olive oil to the bottom of the pan and put diced onions on heated pan.  Then add your chopped garlic on top of the onions (this is done so the garlic doesn’t over cook and burn). By adding olive oil you are adding a little bit of (healthy) fat this helps to prevent the meat from sticking and burning in the pan.
  2. Once onions are translucent add your ground beef  and make sure it is thoroughly cooked
  3. Add can of diced tomatoes and add the basil, oregano, and parsley
  4. Season with salt and pepper
  5. In a pot add your water to the pot to cook your noodles.

 

Optional:
For this meal I paired the spaghetti with caramelized Brussels Sprouts.

  1. Rinse and chop ends of the Brussels Sprouts
  2. In the same pan or a separate pan add some olive oil to the bottom
    Add Brussels Sprouts to the pan and make sure they are evenly distributed on the bottom of the pan to cook evenly.
  3. I like when the Brussels Sprouts begin to caramelize which really brings out the delicate sweetness. Make sure to cook them until they are browned not burnt so stirring every 10 minutes can help avoid any catastrophe!

Enjoy!!

Decorative Design November 2016

MeganLeave a comment

Looking for an easy way to bring festive cheer to your home?? 

One of the best ways to add a little sparkle is to use mercury glass, which can make any room ready for the holidays! 

Here is an example of how you can switch out your greens or floral arrangements for each season and for each holiday. 

I have a simple decorative tray, where you can get pretty much anywhere, and I added three mercury glass vases to the tray to give this decorative piece balance.  Just mixing and matching pieces and finding your decorative flare can be fun, especially when you can reuse these same pieces throughout the year!   

This idea is great for fall and can be used into Thanksgiving.  I used this design to add warmth for the season on our coffee table. 

When transitioning from one holiday to the next I love when I can get additional use out of decorations.  I used the exact same tray and vases but I changed out the sunflowers with branches of evergreens and holly berries.  I love when I find pieces that are universal!