Posts tagged #kale

Sweet Potato, Baby Kale and Lentil Soup. Seriously AMAZING!

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This soup is SO special. Yes I love vegetables but this soup is so special not because of the wonderful veggies but rather because of the seasoning. It is VERY flavorful and intense, in a good way. This could go down in history as one of my favorite (non pureed) soups. My friend gave me this recipe from Pinterest and I switched it around a tad to make it my own.

 

Ingredients:

  • 3 medium sized sweet potatoes peeled and cubed 
  • 2 cups baby kale (you can use more if you would like!)
  • 1 cup brown lentils
  • 2 tomatoes (vine ripe if possible) chopped
  • 1 medium size onion diced
  • 1 1/2 TBS Turmeric
  • 1 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander 
  • 1/3 tsp cayenne pepper or more if you  like heat!
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbs fresh ground ginger
  • 1 tsp salt (more to taste if you would like)
  • Pepper to taste (adding pepper increases the bio availability of turmeric- helping your body absorb more of the nutrients!) 
  • 6 cups vegetable broth 
  • 1 cup water

Directions

  • Heat the largest pot you have for 40 seconds over medium heat, then add about 2 tbs of EVOO or any other oil you prefer. Warm up oil for another 20 seconds then add in chopped onions and stir for 3 minutes.
  • Add in all the spices including the ginger. Stir for another 2 minutes.
  • Add in tomatoes and lentils. Stir for a minute then finally add in your sweet potato, 6 cups broth, and 1 cup water.
  • Bring pot to a boil, cover and reduce to low, letting cook for about 30 minute. 
  • After about 30 minutes add in your baby kale and let it cook for another 10 minutes.

Comment below and let me know how it goes! Did you make any changes to the recipe?

** If I am going to be eating/ serving all the soup right away I add in all the Kale while cooking (like the recipe says). BUT if I know that I will be reheating it and eating it for the next couple of days then I only add in some kale, and right before I heat up the soup to eat the next day I will add in more fresh baby kale! ALSO, if you do not have kale feel free to use baby spinach, or regular Kale just cut up small.

 

 

Homemade Green Juice. NO fancy juicer needed!

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I was on a mission to make myself a green juice. I do not have a juicer, but that did not stop me. And should not stop you either. Here is an easy way to make a green juice. You will need:

  • blender
  • jelly strainer (I got mine at ACE hardware)

Ingredients:

  • 4spinach ice cubes
  • 2 carrots chopped
  • whole stalk of romaine lettuce
  • 4 leafs of kale
  • 1/2 a green apple
  • 1/2 of lime squeezed
  • 1/4 inch of ginger
  • 1 Cup water
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Directions:

  • add water, spinach ice cubes and blend
  • add romaine lettuce and apples and blend
  • Squeeze lemon juice and add kale. If you feel you need more water to help you mix ingredients, add more :)
  • Lastly add the remainder of your ingredients, carrots, and ginger.

*TIP* Add ingredients in slowly. If you over stuff your blender it will not mix.

Blend until it is a puree.

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Wash your jelly strainer with soap and water. Rinse well. Drape it over a big glass and pour your green mixture. Squeeze the jelly strainer to help reveal your beautiful green juice into your glass.

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The jelly strainer will catch all of the fiber and ruffage from the vegetables and fruit and just give you the straight juices.

*TIP* I found that if i filled the jelly strainer too much it was hard to squeeze and made a mess. In order to prevent this you can squeeze the jelly strainer over a big bowl and then transfer to a glass cup.

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I like my juice COLD. So add some spinach ice cubes, or regular ice cubes to your juice to make it cold. Or stick it in the freezer for a couple of minutes. You want to drink the juice as soon as possible, while the juice is at its maximum nutrient level.

What is your favorite green juice mixture? Let me know if you try this jelly strainer trick!