This Dairy Free Creamy Sausage And Greens Soup is so cozy and comforting and flavorful…
It’s finally turning into spring here on the North Fork. Finally. At least it feels that way on some days. Yesterday we were unwrapping the outdoor furniture and sitting in the sun. And we were grilling and drinking cold beer. Today it’s wet and cold and windy. So, while yesterday was a grilling today, today is a soup day. And it’s a creamy, cozy kind of a soup day that feels like it may even need hot chocolate to complete the warmth theme.
Honestly, since we bought The Harvest Inn, I cook a lot more breakfast foods than I do other foods. Well, we are a bed and breakfast, so I guess that makes sense. I wonder if there’s any way to create a breakfast soup… hmmmmm definitely food for thought. I’ll have to decide whether that’s just too weird. But if there are breakfast pizzas and breakfast tacos, why not soup…?
Admittedly, I’m a huge soup fan. Almost any soup is a good soup in my book. Okay, that’s a lie. I hate a runny, tasteless soup… but who doesn’t? This is the opposite of a thin flavorless soup. It is so creamy. And you get so much flavor from the sausage. You can use whatever type of sausage you like here. Like spice? Grab some chorizo or spicy Italian sausage. If you want a flavored chicken sausage, go for it. Have it your way.
I’m also a sucker for anything that’s both creamy and dairy free. Bring on all the dairy-free cream sauces… as long as they don’t taste dairy free. I’m also a huge fan of loading up my soups with dark greens. Gimme all the greens. Well, you get the picture… I love this soup for lots of reasons.
We all need to thank Nisha at Rainbow Plant Life because she came up with he original recipe for this amazing soup.
Here are some of the great healing ingredients in this soup:
I use cauliflower for breads, crusts, rice… everything. It can be used in so many forms… and, it’s really good for you. In Chinese medicine we use it to aid in digestion and help with constipation. One of the things I find most amazing about this cruciferous vegetable is it’s ability to help with age-related memory loss (My menopausal friends will appreciate this benefit!). It contains a healthy amount of Vitamin B, Vitamin K and Omega-3 fatty acids and can help fight cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cauliflower also helps the body with detoxification and with reducing inflammation. So, as far as I’m concerned, the more the merrier.
Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….
Bone broth is filled with bone marrow and essential fatty acids — these things promote optimal brain health. It also contains glycine, which is an amino acid that helps with memory, concentration, stress, and focus. You can make your own bone broth, but you don’t have to anymore. Bone broth is now available in tons of markets. It helps reduce inflammation and strengthen the bones. It’s also great for your skin, hair, and nails. This is a great thing to use for a quick soup base, or to just sip on during the day. Sometimes I’ll have a hot cup of bone broth first thing in the morning for a quick healing pick me up.
Leeks are known as “grass from the sun”. They are especially beneficial when the whether is still warm but starting to turn cold, or still cold and starting to turn warm (Spring and Fall). They are great for the liver and at helping the body relieve itself of toxins. Leeks are also good at helping constipation; they help the body rid itself of toxins in the digestive tract.
It is true that spinach contains iron, but it’s this vegetable’s lesser-known qualities that really hold my admiration. Spinach contains a substance that helps eliminate prostate cancer. It’s also great for your bones and also for memory loss. Diabetic patients may find that eating spinach helps combat excessive thirst and can even be good for night blindness. Spinach can inhibit the body’s ability to absorb calcium, so calcium-rich foods should be avoided when eating this leafy green.
Cashews are really a multi-tasking nut. I use them all the time so I say it all the time: Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts. Most of the fat in cashews is unsaturated and is made up of oleic acid; this is the same acid that is found in olive oil, making these nuts a heart-healthy choice. I use cashews in cream sauces and faux cream soups.
This Dairy Free Creamy Sausage And Greens Soup is cozy, warming, and so easy to make.
Ingredients
2 leeks, thinly sliced and cleaned well
salt and pepper
7 garlic cloves, smashed
3 link sausages, casings removed (any kind you like)
2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp dried red pepper flakes (or to taste)
6 cups chicken bone broth
1 cup raw cashews
20 oz cauliflower florets (I used frozen)
2 cups fresh spinach (use more if it will fit in your pot) (Feel free to substitute and dark leafy green)
Instructions
Heat oil over medium heat in soup pot.
Add leeks, seasoned with a little salt, and saute until softened a bit.
Stir in garlic cloves, thyme, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Sauce for 1 minute.
In a small skillet, cook the sausage until browned, breaking up with a wooden spoon. Set aside.
Add bone broth, cashews, and cauliflower to the leek mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
Bring to a slight boil, then lower the heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the cauliflower is soft.
Transfer the leek mixture to your blender and blend until smooth. This may have to be done in 2 batches. Note: remove the lid from the blender and cover with a clean dish towel, making sure to hold the towel tightly to act as a lid, so the steam can escape and you don't burn yourself.
Pour the soup back into the pot and stir in the cooked sausage and the spinach. Heat over low heat and stir until the soup is hot and the spinach is wilted.
This Healthy Babaganoush recipe is fresh, smoky, creamy, and just plain delicious. This will become your new go-to dip for barbecues, picnics, and everything in between.
Eggplant is one of my favorite vegetables. And eggplant dips… well, I just love them. I guess that’s why babaganoush has always been a go-to dip for me. But, I never used to make it myself. I’d buy it at a Mediterranean restaurant or a deli, or wherever I could find it. For some reason, I had no problem making my own hummus, but when it came to making a Healthy Babaganoush, I never gave it a second thought.
And then I tried it.
And it was awesome.
And I saw how easy it is.
Really. It couldn’t be easier. Roast the eggplant. Put everything in the food processor. Whiz it up. Done. Sooooooo good…
Everyone needs an easy go-to dip in their cooking repertoire. This is it. There are only a few ingredients and the processor does the heavy lifting… and it’s good for you!
My sister-in-law’s family used to own a restaurant and they made the best babaganoush. So every time we’d go to their house, I would hope that there would be a big bowl of this creamy eggplant dip on the table. Sometimes I lucked out lo and behold it would be there. I’m not sure why I never attempted to make this on my own… usually, if I like something I make it myself, especially if it’s something simple. This dip always tasted so good that I guess I never realized how easy it is to make it myself. I feel like I have a big “L” on my forehead for not having realized this until now. Oh well, better late than never.
So, don’t be like me… make it now. You won’t be sorry.
My favorite thing to dip in this Healthy Babaganoush is big fat homemade sourdough croutons — I almost always have these on hand. And radishes… it’s so good with radishes…
In Chinese medicine, we use eggplant to help reduce inflammation, lessen pain, and smooth your digestion. Isn’t it awesome when healthy food is actually really delicious?What an awesome way to use food as medicine.
Here are some of the healing ingredients in this Healthy Babaganoush recipe:
In eastern medicine, eggplant is added to the diet when there is pain in the body because it’s great for relieving pain and reducing swelling. It’s especially good to eat eggplant when you are experiencing some nasty digestive issues. It relieves stomach pain, helps with dysentery, diarrhea, and painful urinary conditions. Eggplant has also been used topically to treat frostbite and canker sores… talk about a multi-tasking vegetable…
Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….
Sesame seeds have many great nutritional benefits. They are an anti-aging food. If you have backaches, hair thats graying way too fast, ringing in the ears, weak knees, blurry vision or general weakness, go for the sesame seeds; just sprinkle them on everything. Long ago in China, sesame seeds were ground into honey to form a paste and was taken as a medicine to counter old-age and weakness. Black sesame seeds are a Chinese herb (Hei Zhi Ma). Black foods, in Chinese medicine, are knows as longevity foods. This recipe uses tahini sauce, which is a paste made from sesame seeds and oil (I buy this read-made in a can or a jar).
Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels.
This Healthy Babaganoush is the creamiest, most deliciously smoky eggplant dip -- and it's so easy to make.
Ingredients
2 medium eggplants, sliced in half vertically
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
juice of one large lemon
¼ cup tahini
salt, to taste
⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil, plus 2-Tbs to rub on the eggplant prior to roasting
pinch of cumin
pinch of smoked paprika (or traditional paprika), optional
chopped cilantro or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 450°F or 425°F if using a convection setting.
Rub the cut sides of the eggplant with the 2-Tbs oil.
Place the eggplant, flesh-side down, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast in the oven until very soft, about 50 minutes.
When soft, scoop the eggplant flesh into a food processor.
Add the rest of the ingredients (except the paprika) into the processor with the eggplant. Whiz it up until creamy, but not watery. I like to leave a few small chunks in mine.
Sprinkle the top with paprika and cilantro or parsley.
Spoon it into a pretty bowl, and enjoy with croutons, bread, or veggies.
These dairy free cheesy sweet potato fries will make you smile from ear to ear. They are perfect as football food, for a casual dinner party, or just as a treat because you deserve it!
If I had to pick one food that makes me happy every single time, I think it might be fries. Any type of fries — traditional fries, sweet potato fries, crispy fries, not-so-crispy fries, curly fries, spicy fries, cheese fries… well, you get the picture. I’m a little obsessed with fries.
Years ago when my friends and I would go to the diner after a night of partying, my order would almost always include a big plate of French fries with gravy. To me, there was nothing better. And just because I am a lot more health conscious now, it doesn’t mean that I don’t indulge in fries. These Dairy Free Cheesy Sweet Potato Fries take me right back to that diner.
I have made platters of dairy free fries and nachos more times than I care to admit. I’m a sucker for so many variations of this diner food. Each version has its pros and cons. Okay, maybe that’s not really true — I can’t really think of any cons…
This particular recipe is inspired by Paleo Running Momma. The credit for this delicious cheese sauce with the perfect texture goes there — many thanks Michele!
This cheesy gooey platter of deliciousness is perfect for football Sunday. I mean, just imagine how good this will be next to a bowl of chili or a platter of chicken wings. In my house, we don’t wait for Sunday though. We’ve been having them here with family dinners whenever I get the urge. They are easy to make and are a big crowd pleaser. In fact, the next time I have some people over for dinner, I’m planning to make a triple batch of these and put them out on the coffee table with a bunch of forks and just let everyone chow down while I’m getting dinner together in the kitchen.
The cheese sauce here is made from cashews. Cashews are really a multi-tasking nut. I use them all the time so I say it all the time: Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts. Most of the fat in cashews is unsaturated and is made up of oleic acid; this is the same acid that is found in olive oil, making these nuts a heart-healthy choice.
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Here are some of the great healing ingredients in these Dairy Free Cheesy Sweet Potato Fries:
Sweet potatoes are good for your digestive system. They can be good for both constipation and diarrhea. These orange gems also help rid your body of excess water, are good for breast health, help people with diabetes and actually can help ease night blindness. In olden times, it was common in China to rub mashed sweet potatoes on poison insect bites to remove the toxins. I haven’t tried this, but if you see me looking a tad orange, this will be why…
Cashews are really a multi-tasking nut. I use them all the time so I say it all the time: Cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts. Most of the fat in cashews is unsaturated and is made up of oleic acid; this is the same acid that is found in olive oil, making these nuts a heart-healthy choice. I use cashews in cream sauces and faux cream soups. I also love cashew yogurt… this is one of the greatest inventions since sliced bread…
Basil has anti-viral and anti-bacterial capabilities. It also is good for settling your stomach, and it’s good at lessening the symptoms of the common cold and its accompanying cough. Basil is a spiritual herb — the scent actually calms you; you can boil some in a pot and let the aroma fill the air, you can just leave some around the house, you can toss a bunch in your bath water (I love to do this), or you can use an essential oil with basil to get some great calming effects.
Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels.
These dairy free cheesy sweet potato fries are so delicious. I love to put out a huge platter and just hand everyone a fork to dig in -- no plates necessary!
Ingredients
1 cup raw cashews
juice of 2 lemons
6 Tbs warm water
5 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 tsp garlic powder
2-1/2 Tbs nutritional yeast
generous amount of sea salt, to taste
1 very large sweet potato, cut into fries (no need to peel it; just scrub it well)
2 oz thinly sliced pepperoni
big handful fresh basil leaves
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450°F.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, toss the sweet potato fries with 2 Tbs oil and season with salt and pepper.
Spread them out on a single layer on the baking sheets, trying not to crowd them.
Place in the oven and roast for 15 mins. Flip them over with a spatula, and roast for an additional 10 mins or until they are just cooked through. Switch the oven to broil and broil for about 3 mins or just until the top tray starts to color, then switch the trays so the bottom tray is under the broiler and broil about 3 mins, being careful not to burn them.
Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce: In a blender, combine the cashews, lemon juice, water, garlic powder, nutritional yeast and salt and pepper to taste. Blend until silky smooth.
Transfer the fries to a platter. Arrange pepperoni and basil among the fries.
Pour the cheese sauce over (using as much as you like; be prepared to have some leftover sauce for another use).
This Dairy Free Creamy Cauliflower Bone Broth Soup is creamy, delicious, and healing! It’s topped with crispy spicy chickpeas and fried herbs… oh my!
I’m so happy that fall is in full swing here in New York City. The leaves are changing and they are just gorgeous. Every time I go outside, I’m engulfed by amazing vibrant reds and yellows and oranges. It makes me happy. And, it makes me crave soup.
The other day, I came inside and my head was still filled with all of these bright autumnal colors. I threw open the windows, let the crisp air inside, and I set about making a healing pot of soup.
I find it amusing that with all of these hues in my head, the soup I ended up creating is so deliciously devoid of bright colors. I just love the creamy whiteness of this dairy free creamy cauliflower bone broth soup. There’s something about it that’s just so calming. It’s as smooth as velvet, with such a pleasant mild flavor, that I just can’t seem to get enough of it.
One of the favorite combinations is a smooth creamy soup base that’s topped with some really flavorful and textured toppings. So, I topped this delicate soup with some bold spicy crispy chickpeas and some fried herbs. OMG… this is truly mouth watering.
One of the simplest ways you can make your soups as healing and as flavorful as possible, is to use a good quality bone broth in place of traditional broth or stock or water. Of course you can make your own homemade bone broth, but these days there are so many awesome pre-made bone broths on the market, your healing pot of comforting soup can be ready in no time at all. (See the recipe below for the bone broth I used in this soup recipe.)
As a wellness/health coach here in Manhattan, I teach many of my clients to use cauliflower for breads, crusts, rice… everything. It can be used in so many forms… and, it’s really good for you. In Chinese medicine we use it to aid in digestion and help with constipation. One of the things I find most amazing about this cruciferous vegetable is it’s ability to help with age-related memory loss (My menopausal friends will appreciate this benefit!). It contains a healthy amount of Vitamin B, Vitamin K and Omega-3 fatty acids and can help fight cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cauliflower also helps the body with detoxification and with reducing inflammation. So, as far as I’m concerned, the more the merrier. And, as in this soup, it makes an awesome substitute for cream!
I love to customize recipes for specific health concerns. Let me customize a skillet recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. So CLICK HERE to be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation… I’d love to create a soup recipe that addresses your specific needs!
This soup will help keep you youthful inside and out. Read this article to learn more foods you can add into your diet to help keep you young and healthy — there are lots of great recipes in this article too!
Here are some of the awesome healing ingredients in this recipe for Dairy Free Creamy Cauliflower Bone Broth Soup:
Bone broth is filled with bone marrow and essential fatty acids — these things promote optimal brain health. It also contains glycine, which is an amino acid that helps with memory, concentration, stress, and focus. You can make your own bone broth, but you don’t have to anymore. Bone broth is now available in tons of markets. (See the recipe below for the awesome ready-made bone broth I used in this soup recipe.) It’s sold in boxes just like chicken or vegetable broth. The glucosamine in bone broth can reduce inflammation and strengthen the bones. It’s also great for your skin, hair, and nails. This is a great thing to use for a quick soup base, or to just sip on during the day. Sometimes I’ll have a hot cup of bone broth first thing in the morning for a quick healing pick me up.
Cauliflower helps digestion and is great to eat if you are experiencing constipation. It can help with age-related memory loss and it contains a healthy amount of Vitamin B, Vitamin K and Omega-3 fatty acids and can also help fight cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cauliflower also helps the body with detoxification and with reducing inflammation.
Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….
Onions are great for your immune system; they are a natural antihistamine. In the winter, I eat lots and lots of onions… I guess I should feel sorry for the people close to me! Recently, I recommended that a patient with bronchitis put sliced raw onions in her socks when she went to sleep… she woke up so much better; they actually can rid the body of bacteria. (I know I’ve told you this before, but it really is awesome!) Onion is a superhero in the food world!
Chickpeas actually help calm the spirit. They relieve anxiety and soothe irritability… it kind of makes you realize why hummus is so popular…
Parsley has been shown to reduce tumors in the lungs and to neutralize the effects of carcinogens, including cigarette smoke. It is high in vitamins A and C, and is good for your heart. This herb is also a natural breath freshener. So, if you have a chance to use more than a few sprigs as a garnish, go for it.
Sage is great for your digestion, especially if you have loose stools. It’s also good for memory loss and for Alzheimer’s.
If you make this Dairy Free Creamy Cauliflower Bone Broth Soup, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.
Line a rimmed baking tray with parchment paper and spread the chickpeas out on it.
Drizzle about 2 tsp oil onto the chickpeas. Sprinkle on the smoked paprika, chili powder, chipotle chili powder, and turmeric. Toss until evenly coated.
Place the tray in the oven and set your timer for 10 minutes. Check the chickpeas. If they are not crispy yet, stir them up and put them back in the oven, checking them every 5 minutes so that they do not burn. They are done as soon as they are a bit crispy.
Remove them from the oven and set aside.
In a large stockpot, heat 1 Tbs oil.
Add the onion. Season with salt and pepper.
Saute over medium heat until beginning to soften.
Add the cauliflower.
Season again with salt and pepper.
Add the bone broth.
Stir.
Cover and cook over low heat, until the cauliflower is softened, and a fork can easily be stuck through the center of one of the larger pieces. Mine took about 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat 2 Tbs oil in a small skillet. Add the sage leaves, and let fry about 30 seconds or until crisp. Remove to a paper towel with a slotted spoon.
Next, add the parsley leaves and let fry until crisp. Transfer to the paper towel.
Transfer half of the cauliflower onion mixture to your blender. Cover the blender with a clean dish towel and hold it tightly over the top. Blend until completely smooth. Transfer the blended mixture to a bowl and then blend the rest of the soup. Taste the soup and season with salt and pepper if necessary.
Make one of these meals each day this month, and you will be a new person… food really is medicine! Scroll down for 30 quick meals to heal you this month. Let’s get cooking and you’ll see how much more energy you will have, how your digestion will improve, how you will sleep better, how your mood will be lifted, and how your health conditions will start to melt away…
Each one of these meals will heal different conditions in your body and each one can be on the table in 30 minutes or less. If you commit to making one meal each day for 30 days, you will be on the road to looking and feeling healthy and youthful.
Do you remember when you used to have the energy to want to do so many things? Remember when your skin was glowing and healthy? Remember what life was like before you had those chronic aches and pains? Let’s bring those days back. Just one meal a day will put you on that track… after that you will want to add in more meals… the possibilities are endless!
I’m on a big customized-recipe-creation kick right now… let me customize a recipe for you that will work for whatever’s going on in your body now… I’m such a geek that I really do get excited about doing this. I’ve got a quick healthy meal with your name on it… So CLICK HERE to be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.
When I tell you that this creamy mint avocado pasta sauce is amazing, I really mean it. The avocado makes it creamy. The flavor of the mint can be as strong as you like, or it can just peak through. And, if you make this dish with grain-free pasta, it’s one of the healthiest comfort foods around. It’s like happiness in a bowl — ugh, did I really just say that…?
Mint boosts your immune system and avocado is great for your digestion and your skin.
The simple sauce is made by pulsing the ingredients in a blender very briefly. It’s a cold sauce. And it is the most delicious and refreshing sauce you will ever have.
Oh, and did I mention that the sauce only has 4 ingredients? Yup, it’s like when you eat a great meal in Italy, and everything tastes so simple and fresh. This is just like that. Fresh and simple. Fresh tomatoes. Fresh garlic. Oil. Vinegar. Done.
Salmon is great for your blood, for anemia, and for energy. Tomatoes are great for your digestion.
Soup still hits the spot even when the days start to get warm. This instant pot spring vegetable soup is perfect for those days — it will boost your immune system and make you feel good!
This soup is especially satisfying because it contains buckwheat groats that mimic pasta. Buckwheat helps lower blood pressure and is good for some intestinal issues.
4. Paleo Beefaroni
If you liked beefaroni when you were a kid, you will love this healthy grownup Paleo Beefaroni.
Beef is good for swelling or edema in your body and it can be good for bloating too. Tomatoes are good for your digestion.
This healthy soup really is comforting. And it’s healing. It’s one of those soups that lets you actually feel the energy seeping into your body as you eat it. Really, you can.
White beans give you energy and calm your mind. Kale is filled with vitamins and minerals, including calcium.
The noodles here are made from butternut squash. This squash is good for your heart and your digestion. Shiitake mushrooms help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
This vegetable noodle lo mein is the perfect recipe to try out your favorite type of veggie noodle. You can even mix it up and use a few different kinds here. This tastes better than Chinese takeout and you won’t feel bloated or tired after you eat!
This Baked Lemon Cod is delicious. And, it’s simple. There’s no sautéing involved. There’s no flipping of delicate fish. There’s no complicated sauce. But it is truly delicious.
Fish is a great thing to eat when you feel like you need more energy. Cod, in particular, is good for your heart. Lemon peels are great to detoxify your body and to smooth your digestion.
9. Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal
Oats are good for your digestion. Walnuts are considered a Chinese herb that treats constipation. Honey gives you energy and quiets coughs.
This recipe is warming, comforting, and can be customized with whatever ingredients you like.
10. Shaved Brussels Sprouts And Apple Salad
I’m kind of a freak about leftover salad. I love almost anything straight out of the fridge as a leftover. Except salad. I just hate it when it goes all wet and limp. Enter this salad… it’s even better leftover the next day. The Brussels sprouts stand up so well to the creamy dressing that there is no ick-factor involved. This makes it perfect to make for a crowd because you can make it way in advance. This is just awesomely easy and convenient.
Brussels sprouts are an anti-cancerous vegetable and they are also great for weight loss. Apples are good for your heart and your digestion.
11. Zoodles With Creamy Avocado Pesto
The avocado makes the pesto so creamy and it’s so easy to make. It’s a really pretty green… And the noodles are made from zucchini… deliciously creamy and healthy.
Zucchini calms your mind. Avocados are good for hot flashes and for your heart. Basil calms your mind and boosts your immune system.
This is a warming and comforting vegan dish… and nobody will miss the meat.
Sweet potatoes are good for your digestive system. They can be good for both constipation and diarrhea. These orange gems also help rid your body of excess water, are good for breast health, help people with diabetes and actually can help ease night blindness.
It really is true that an apple a day is a good thing. Apples help to strengthen your heart. They are also good for your digestion and they can help eliminate mucus when you have a cold.
This tomato pomegranate salad is beautiful, simple, delicious, healthy, and easily customizable with the ingredients you have on hand.
Tomatoes are good for your digestive system. Pomegranate seeds nourish the blood. In Chinese medicine, we know that many illnesses and conditions are caused by the body making poor quality blood. Pomegranate seeds are great at helping the body make good quality blood. They are also good to combat diarrhea, anemia and incontinence.
14. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
I used grain-free almond tortillas to wrap up these sheet pan chicken fajitas. And I added turmeric to the spice mix. And lots of scallions. Yup, this is not only delicious, but it’s healing too!
Chicken is a healthy protein to eat when you are feeling weak. Bell peppers can help relieve that bloated feeling in your stomach.
15. Buckwheat Ramen Soup
Ramen soup is so delicious, but if you eat grain-free, you can’t have traditional ramen. I used buckwheat ramen noodles in this soup; buckwheat is a seed, not a grain.
Buckwheat helps lower blood pressure and it’s good to stop diarrhea. Ginger is great for your immune system and for your digestion.
This recipe is great on 2 different fronts. First, there’s the pesto. OMG — this is sooooooooo good! And, it takes only 5 minutes to make. Next, there’s the beauty and deliciousness of the grain-free pasta made from chickpeas. Well, this is nothing short of genius!
Arugula boosts your libido and cools your body down. Chickpeas calm the spirit.
Slow-roasting this fish at a really low temperature keeps it so tender, juicy, and fresh tasting.
Parsley is considered an anti-cancerous herb. And, it freshens your breath! So, if you get a chance to use it for something other than a garnish, I say go for it!
Salmon is great to nourish your blood and can help with asthma.
Wild salmon is a great thing to add into your diet to help increase your athletic performance — this fish can help reduce aches and pains in your muscles and joints, and it’s a good source of iron.
Lemons help detoxify your body and they are great for your immune system.
As an added extra benefit, this salmon makes for awesome leftovers.
Zucchini cools your body off and makes you feel better during those hot days of summer. It helps your body release excess heat and it will make your mind feel more calm.
In Chinese medicine, we use tomatoes to aid in digestion and to help detoxify the body. They are also good to combat excess cholesterol, lessen inflammation and curb asthma. Tomatoes can also quench thirst, and they can help fight some kidney infections. This recipe uses both fresh and sun-dried tomatoes.
This chicken is crispy. The outside layer actually crunches in your mouth, but the chicken itself stays so moist. And, the coating mixture… it’s so easy to make and it contains superfoods to heal your body. Ummmmm…. what are you waiting for? You’ve got to try this one!
This is one of my most popular recipes — make it and see why! And, make sure you make extra because this chicken is great sliced up on salads or sandwiches too.
21. Buckwheat Sweet Potato Arugula Salad
Let me tell you, rather immodestly at that, that this salad is incredible. It hit all it’s marks. The buckwheat is chewy. The sweet potatoes are warm and sweet. The tempeh tastes like unexpected little pieces of smoky bacon. The spinach and arugula are refreshing. The cherries are tart. The dressing is tangy. The pecans are crunchy. Okay, enough praises. But you’ve got to make this!
Buckwheat is a seed, not a grain. It is great to eat if you have diarrhea. It also helps lower blood pressure, stops some types of sweating, and has a good amount of vitamin E, and has antioxidants that can help fight cancer and heart disease.
Arugula boosts the libido and helps cool the body down.
Fish is great to eat if you feel like you need more energy. It’s also helps with diarrhea and hemorrhoids. I used cod for this recipe, but any firm fleshed sturdy white fish would work great. Cod, like many fish varieties, is good for the cardiovascular system; it helps protect against heart attacks and strokes and helps regulate blood pressure.
Turmeric is actually a Chinese herb (Jiang Huang). It is great for reducing inflammation throughout the body. If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, try turmeric. It can help relieve menstrual pain and some other abdominal pains but, if you are pregnant, ask your doctor before you eat too much turmeric.
23. Simple Fresh Vegetable Soup
One of the things that I tell my clients is that if you make a big pot of healthy soup at the beginning of the week, you will have no reason to grab unhealthy snacks when you come home famished.
This vegan soup contains lots of fresh vegetables to heal you.
This dish is especially great because the zucchini noodles are mixed with buckwheat noodles, so in the end, this slurpy and spicy pasta dish tastes like real pasta.
Zucchini cools your body off and makes you feel better when you are feeling hot. It helps your body release excess heat and it will make your mind feel more calm.
Buckwheat is great to eat if you have diarrhea. It also helps lower blood pressure, stops some types of sweating, and has a good amount of vitamin E. It also contains antioxidants that can help fight cancer and heart disease.
Almost all meatballs are awesome. But these meatballs are extra awesome. They are made with pork and infused with some traditional Vietnamese flavors. They are bit-sized, juicy, mouth watering, amazingly flavorful meatballs.
Pork strengthens the digestive system, helps with constipation, and can moisten a dry cough and other dryness in the body. It’s also good to strengthen your qi and give you energy.
I like to put these meatballs on top of cauliflower rice. Cauliflower contains a healthy amount of vitamin B, vitamin K and Omega-3 fatty acids and can help fight cancer and cardiovascular disease. It also helps the body with detoxification.
27. Paleo Fettuccine Alfredo
This is a grain-free pasta dish made with a dairy-free cream sauce… and it is the most delicious and creamy pasta you can have.
The sauce is made with cauliflower, which helps fight cancer and is good for your digestion.
Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body.
There’s nothing easier than a sheet pan dinner. And this one is awesome!
Shrimp are high in protein and low in calories, so really, they are a pretty good thing. In Chinese medicine, shrimp are actually recommended as a food to promote longevity because they nourish the kidneys, and in Chinese medicine, the kidneys are the key to life. Shrimp are great to boost libido, lessen some lower back pain and weakness, and they can help new moms with lactation.
Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better.
I used a grain-free pasta and the creamy cheese sauce is made with potatoes and carrots… yum!
This one will make you smile as you eat it. There’s just something about this that feels so decadent… but the sauce is made from healing veggies.
30. Lemon Pesto Fish Filets
This recipe is so easy, and you can use any thin white fish that you like.
Fish is great to eat if you feel like you need more energy. It’s also helps with diarrhea and hemorrhoids. I used cod for this recipe, but almost any fish would be delicious with this preparation and creamy mustard sauce. Cod, like many fish varieties, is good for the cardiovascular system; it helps protect against heart attacks and strokes and can help regulate blood pressure. It’s also very low in calories… so have a nice big piece!
Lemon peels contain calcium, potassium and vitamin C. Lemons are good for your stomach, they help detoxify your body, they balance your pH and they act as an antibacterial. If you have a sore throat or a cough, go for lemons to make things better. Lemons are great for quenching your thirst, and, in China, many years ago, hypertension was treated by drinking tea made from lemon peels.
If you make this any of these 30 quick meals to heal you this month, please be sure to let me know in the comments below. I love hearing how you like a recipe, and I love to answer your questions! If you make it, be sure to take a photo and tag me and post it on Instagram.
It’s my hope that you will enjoy these meals and the way they make you feel so much that you will move onto eating this way more and more often. I’d love to help you out, so CLICK HERE to be taken directly into my calendar to sign up for your free phone consultation.
And, be sure to click on the individual recipes for more health information about each ingredient used.
https://kitchenofyouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/creamy-mint-avocado-pasta-horizontal-overhead-6146.jpg8331250Stacey Isaacshttps://kitchenofyouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/mainlogo@2x-e1524021900779-180x180.pngStacey Isaacs2018-08-06 05:15:492018-08-21 13:50:5630 Quick Meals To Heal You This Month
I’m going to be honest: most of my life I was not a big mint fan. I could never understand how people liked mint chocolate chip ice cream so much — to me, the mint ruined the deliciousness of the chocolate chip. Mint tea?… ewww…. And, I would always choose any other candy over the pretty red and white candy canes of winter. Funny how things change. And boy have they ever! Mint is awesome! And it’s recipes like this creamy mint avocado pasta that make me wonder what was wrong with me all of those years ago…
When I first started studying Chinese medicine and I fell so in love with all of the herbs, Mint (Bo He) quickly became a go-to healing herb for me. It is amazing in it’s abilities to fight colds, boost the immune system, and settle your stomach. But, it wasn’t until I started experimenting by adding mint to my recipes, that a true love affair bloomed.
A few weeks ago, one of my neighbors asked me if I wanted some fresh mint from her garden. Well, duh… of course I did. So I gratefully took a whole bag-full, and made tea and chocolate mint shakes, and this awesome pasta sauce. I probably should have shared the big bowl of it that I made but we ate it all before that ever happened. I guess there’s always next time…
So, when I tell you that this creamy mint avocado pasta sauce is amazing, I really mean it. The avocado makes it creamy. The flavor of the mint can be as strong as you like, or it can just peak through. And, if you make this dish with grain-free pasta, it’s one of the healthiest comfort foods around. It’s like happiness in a bowl — ugh, did I really just say that…?
Here are some of the healing ingredients in this creamy mint avocado pasta:
Mint is a Chinese herb called Bo He. It’s one of the best things to fight a cold, sore throat, or fever. It’s also good for some abdominal issues too, like bloating, nausea, and some stomach pains. Mint also helps cool of the body in cases of heatstroke, so stock up in summer!
Avocados are one of my favorite foods, both for their health benefits and because they taste great. In Chinese medicine, some practitioners recommend avocados to raise the sperm count. I like them because they are good for anemia, dry skin, palpitations, constipation, and hot flashes due to menopause.
Hemp seeds are a superfood. They are high in protein, easily digestible, and contain a full complement of amino acids. They contain disease-fighting phytonutrients that are good for your blood, immune system, tissues and skin. Hemp contains a specific fatty acid that acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It also helps balance hormones, making it a great choice to fight the symptoms of PMS. This super seed is also good for your liver and your brain.
Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc…. In this recipe, the garlic is left raw, so it’s effect and taste is magnified… so don’t use as much as you would if you are making a recipe with cooked garlic.
Limes help to regenerate fluids, so they are great to combat any dehydration symptoms that sometimes can accompany alcohol consumption. They also contain a lot of vitamin C and they can actually help energize you.
This pasta sauce is amazing! It's so healthy, and it's raw -- just put the ingredients in your food processor or blender, cook your pasta, and you're ready to go!
Vegan parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top (optional)
Instructions
Cook your pasta according to the package directions, making sure it's al dente.
Drain.
Meanwhile, make the sauce by putting all of the remaining ingredients (except Parmesan) into your food processor.
Whiz it up until it's creamy.
Toss the sauce with the pasta.
Sprinkle with Parmesan if you like.
Enjoy!
3.5.3229
https://kitchenofyouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/creamy-mint-avocado-pasta-vertical-overhead-6155.jpg1000677Stacey Isaacshttps://kitchenofyouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/mainlogo@2x-e1524021900779-180x180.pngStacey Isaacs2017-08-11 08:53:262018-05-06 22:31:05Creamy Mint Avocado Pasta
Pizza is almost always the answer… and this paleo pizza margherita is a healthy and delicious answer!
Yes, I eat pizza! In fact, I LOVE pizza! I always have loved pizza and I probably always will love pizza. I remember in college (many moons ago…) ordering pizza with EBA (everything but anchovies) and actually sitting there and eating an entire pie by myself. This used to surprise people because I was a skinny 5-foot tall girl who looked like I ate like a bird. But nothing could have been farther from the truth.
Fast forward to today. I’m well into my 50s and I try not to eat dairy or grains. But there is no way I’m giving up my pizza. So I have experimented with soooooooo many vegan cheeses, substitutes for cheeses, grain-free pizza crusts, vegetable pizza crusts… you name it and I’ve tried it. And, believe it or not, I have been having some truly awesome pizzas! Even with my dietary restrictions, pizza is still one of my favorite foods.
This pizza is dairy-free and grain-free. I know, if I told that to people before they took a bite, I would have to deal with that face. You know the one — that pinched look by the mouth and that roll of the eyes; that they-know-they-are-going-to-hate-it-but-will-try-to-be-a-good-sport-look.
So, I made this awesome pizza, put it on a plate and set it on the table in front of people who where watching TV in my living room. I came back in a few minutes and it was gone. Smiles all around. You’ve got to try this paleo pizza margherita — it’s delicious, healthy, crispy, gooey, and everything a pizza should be. And don’t be afraid to customize it anyway you like.
Here are some of the healing ingredients in this pizza:
The crust I used is made from coconut flour. In Asian medicine, we use coconut to strengthen the body, reduce swelling, and stop bleeding. Coconut kills viruses, bacteria, and parasites. It’s good for all types of infections and viruses in the body, including the flu, bronchitis, tapeworms, urinary tract infections, and herpes. And perhaps most importantly, it helps you keep your mind sharp and it makes it easier for you to focus. This crust is pre-made from Cappello’s and it really does have the texture and taste of traditional pizza crust (see the recipe below for where to buy it).
Basil has anti-viral and anti-bacterial capabilities. It also is good for settling your stomach, and it’s good at lessening the symptoms of the common cold and its accompanying cough. Basil is a spiritual herb — the scent actually calms you; you can boil some in a pot and let the aroma fill the air, you can just leave some around the house, you can toss a bunch in your bath water (I love to do this), or you can use an essential oil with basil to get some great calming effects.
In Chinese medicine, we use tomatoes to aid in digestion and to help detoxify the body. They are also good to combat excess cholesterol, lessen inflammation and curb asthma. Tomatoes can also quench thirst, and they can help fight some kidney infections.
Hot peppers contain more vitamin C than any other vegetable and they are good at fighting off the common cold. So, if you like spice, as I do, use a generous amount of whatever hot peppers you like. I actually placed a bowl of fresh sliced hot peppers next to the pizza when I served it so my guests could top their pizza with them if they liked spice. I also sprinkled a generous amount of dried hot red pepper flakes on mine. The main component of hot peppers is capsicum. Capsicum actually works with your body and mind to make you feel happy. It’s also good for reducing swelling and can relieve arthritic joint pain. If you have high blood pressure, check with your doctor before eating too many hot peppers because they can actually raise the blood pressure in some people.
This paleo fettuccine alfredo is so creamy and decadent tasting — shhhhh… it’s dairy-free…
Okay, so I think I really am obsessed with all of the grain-free pasta’s on the market now. I just can’t seem to get enough of them. Here’s another post of a recipe that is so awesome and so satisfying even for the biggest pasta lovers out there (and I’m one of them)! I think I’m officially a Cappello’s junkie — it’s the best grain-free fettuccine out there!
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I was in a yoga class early this morning. I know I’m supposed to “be present” in the class, but my mind kept going to what I was going to cook for dinner. This delicious paleo fettuccine alfredo was born during a downward dog.
I make faux cream sauces every chance I get. Sometimes I use cashews, sometimes coconut, sometimes some scary ingredients that never get posted here because they taste scary too. This cream sauce is made with cauliflower and it is totally blog-worthy!
So, now we have a grain-free pasta with a dairy-free cream sauce. My kids would run out of the room screaming if they heard I was serving this for dinner. But, don’t judge me or this recipe until you try it… it is awesome! And honestly, I would serve it to any guest in my house. Okay, so maybe I wouldn’t be up front about the ingredients until after they licked their plates clean…
There are great thing in this paleo fettuccine alfredo:
In Chinese medicine we use cauliflower to aid in digestion and help with constipation. It contains a healthy amount of Vitamin B, Vitamin K and Omega-3 fatty acids and can help fight cancer and cardiovascular disease. Cauliflower also helps the body with detoxification.
In Asian medicine, nuts are known to be good for your brain, heart, skin and reproductive system. Almonds are particularly nutritious. They are a good source of protein and they give you energy. And, they are gluten-free. Almonds will help relieve a cough and asthma and are also good for constipation. So, if you use a grain-free pasta made from almonds, like I did, you get these amazing nutritional benefits too! This fettuccine is made from almonds and the cream sauce has almond milk in it.
Nutritional yeast gives things a cheese-y taste without using any dairy and it adds amino acids and Vitamin B, iron, zinc, and selenium to your diet. Nutritional yeast is a complete protein and also contains fiber, so it’s a really good thing!
Garlic is amazing in its antiviral and antibacterial capabilities. Garlic is actually a Chinese herb (Da Suan). It’s used to kill toxins and parasites and also to reduce swelling in the body. It’s what I call a great “A” herb: anesthetic, antibacterial, anti fungal, antioxidant, antiviral, etc….
This will satisfy you pasta craving... the sauce is creamy and the pasta tastes like delicious traditional fresh pasta... but nothing's as it seems here... so healthy!
9 oz fettuccine (I used Cappello's grain-free fettuccine)
Instructions
Heat the oil in a medium pot over medium heat.
Add the garlic and stir until starting to brown.
Pour in the almond milk and add the cauliflower.
Season with salt.
Bring to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer, cover and cook until the cauliflower is soft, about 15 mins.
Let the pot cool a little bit, then pour the contents into a blender. (Note: when blending hot items, hold a clean dish towel tightly over the top of the blender instead of using the blender's cover -- this will allow the steam to escape so you don't burn yourself.)
Add the nutritional yeast and the lemon juice to the blender and blend the mixture until it is silky and smooth.
Cook the pasta al dente. Drain.
Put the pasta back into the cooking pot and pour in some sauce. Toss, adding as much sauce as you like.
