Quick and Easy breakfast

1/2 cup hominy, uncooked
flax seeds
dates, diced
honey
cinnamon
salt, to taste

I added 1/2 cup hominy to 3/4 cup water (milk alternatives would give it a creamier flavor but I didn't have any).  I sprinkled the cinnamon in and stirred.  Put it in the microwave on high for 5 or so minutes, and stop it every once and a while to stir.  Add the dices dates while it's cooking to soften them up.  Stir in some flax seeds. Add salt to taste, and then drizzle with some delicious local honey.

Questions to ask ourselves as we are putting things into our cart at the store

Have you ever looked at the list of ingredients?  What are they and are they healthy for our bodies? 
Where did this product come from and how far did it have to go to get here? 
What kind of packaging does it come in and is it biodegradable or recyclable? 
Dig a little deeper and question how was this food grown? Was it done in a sustainable way? 
Did it pollute the groundwater, deplete the soils, cause harm to the humans in contact with it or near it?
Ask yourself how are the workers treated who plant the crops, harvest it, and process the product that finally ends up on the shelf. Are they given fare wages? Are they putting themselves at risk handling it? 
How much energy is used to produce it? 
How much do we spend on it and if it’s cheap, where are all the hidden costs? 
Who’s paying for it, the earth, the animals, and/or all the other people behind the curtain?

my favorite minimal effort meal :-)

1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 cup diced tomato
1 can artichoke hearts, drained
1 cup pumpkin, cubed
2 cups callaloo, chopped
1/2 soya mince
1 cup whole wheat pasta
salt to taste

Cook pasta and set aside

Saute onion and garlic, then throw everything else into the pan and let it simmer with a lid.

Toss in the pasta and serve!

Easy Rice & Lentils

    1/2 medium sized onion, diced
    2 cloves garlic, crushed
    2 tablespoons oil
    1/2 cup rice 
    1/2 cup lentils 
    2 cups water
    1 medium tomato, diced
    1 cup chopped Callaloo
    1/4 cup coconut milk
    Curry powder, Cumin,and Salt to taste!!


1. Add the rice, lentils, and water. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to low and simmer for about 30-35 minutes, or until all the water is gone and the rice and lentils are tender but not mushy.  


2. Saute onion and garlic in the oil in medium sized pot, until golden.  Add in tomatoes, callaloo, and spices and simmer with coconut milk.


3. Mix it all together et voila!

Chickpea Lentil Soup

2 T olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 T fresh ginger, minced
1  can crushed tomatoes
3/4 cup dried lentils
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
6 cups water
1  can chickpeas
2 T fresh lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste


In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat oil. Add the onion and garlic. Cover and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, lentils, turmeric, ginger, cumin, salt, pepper, and cardamom. Add water, cover, and cook until lentils are tender, about 45 minutes.  Add chickpeas and cook uncovered for 10 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice. 

White Bean Spread

2 cups cannellini beans
1 small onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves of garlic, pressed
1 T lemon juice
2 T EVOO
salt to taste

Puree the beans in a food processor, adding water if necessary.  Saute onion and garlic in oil until lightly browned.  Add onion and garlic, lemon, and EVOO to the pureed beans and mix thoroughly.  Adjust thickness with water.  Add salt to taste.

Yummy Gazpacho!!!

1 lg. can vegetable juice
2 lg. cucumbers, chopped
2  lg. christophines, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
1/2 pkg Lipton onion soup - dry
1T Worchestershire
1/4 c red wine vinegar
1/2 t garlic powder
3 dashes tobasco
1/2 t celery salt

Mix and chill.