Baba Ganoush with Sweet Meyer Lemon twist - a healthy Dip

How and Why To Cook Dry Beans in the Instant Pot

One of the benefits of owning an Instant Pot is the ease and health benefits of cooking your own  dry beans as opposed to the downside of using canned beans which I will explain.

Low Carb Tomato "Cauliflower Rice" Soup

Roasted tomatoes, sweet carrots, and hot pepper to taste, makes a delightful soup that is sure to warm you up on a damp chilly day.

Healthy and Easy

This delicious rich orange soup is easy to make and provides an excellent variety of health building nutrients, antioxidants and vital fiber! For the record it's vegan, parve, nut free, soy free and gluten free as well- perfectly allergy friendly!

Shirataki Noodles- no calories and tastes great

If you haven't tried Shirataki noodles, run don't walk to your nearest supermarket for a package of these delicious no or low calorie noodles! 

They are found in the refrigerator case next to the tofu. That is because some of these packages are made from tofu and some are made from white yams!

New York City Candy Sculptures and Hot Chocolate

The 22 degree temperatures didn't stop me from strolling around Manhattan the day before Thanksgiving. The change in temperature encouraged a lot of coffee and hot chocolate drinking by both the locals and the tourists. I noticed organic coffee shops springing up throughout Manhattan.

My 40 minute walk began at Penn Station, progressed towards Bryant Park on 42nd Street and eventually towards Central Park. Along the way to my son's appartment, I passed all the newly decorated store fronts all ready for the holidays!

Macy's Window

Scroll down for additional photos!

Healthy Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful and enjoy good health. A healthy lower fat meal is a good start.

I'm making 5 plant based recipes (all gluten free of course) that can accompany the turkey or be eaten as the vegan meal.

Dazzling Thanksgiving Salad

Dazzle your guests with this beautiful healthy salad that I made for Thanksgiving with greens, red onions, pomegranate seeds, and slivers of roasted acorn squash.

I recently tasted this fabulous salad at a friends' house. It looked like a side dish, but she called it a salad! Maybe because it served at room temperature which is great for freeing up the host from last minute heating. I enjoyed all the flavors of fall in this one salad.

Acorn Squash Seeds -Easy and Tasty

Do you discard the seeds from the acorn squash? - Don't-

The seeds from any kind of winter squash can be roasted in the oven and are delicious and nutritious.
Learn how to make your own tasty seeds!

Roasted Garlic Bulbs For Taste and Health

Have you ever had roasted garlic in an Italian restaurant? Amazing Right?

Unlike raw garlic, roasted garlic is soft, mild tasting, and creamy. It is delicious eaten alone, spread on bread ( gluten free of course), added to pasta ( gluten free) or vegetable dishes.

It's really easy to make and makes a beautiful interesting presentation when served as a bulb!

Wordless Wednesday- Professionally Carved Pumpkins

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday!

My neighbor is a professional pumpkin carver- 
His work is amazing! He does them all by hand!
Take a look at these amazing carved pumpkins!

Lip Smacking Butternut Squash Soup- Instant Pot

The combination of butternut squash, sweet organic carrots, and tart green apple produces a bright orange lip smacking fall soup.

The temperatures dipped to 35 degrees last night making it truly soup weather. I hosted a family dinner for my brother in law and sister in law who were visiting us from Florida .

Badass Affirmations and Real Life Mindfulness- Book Reviews

The holidays are around the corner and if you are thinking about stocking stuffers, these are two pocket size books that you will get a big bang for the buck. Anyone who is into self care and self help books would appreciate these helpful uplifting guides.

I am a firm believer in taking time for self care. Prevention is the best medicine.

Creamy Parsnip Soup- Instant Pot or Not

Are you familiar with the parsnip? It is a root vegetable that looks like a carrot but is white.
It's loaded with nutrients and tastes mild and delicious especially in soup. It is sold in a bag in the produce isle of the supermarket.

I but them in the supermarket in a bag

I frequently add a parsnip to soup recipes to give a soup a little extra sweetness, but this is the first time I actually made a parsnip soup. It's a nice soothing comforting creamy soup.

Turn Acorn Squash Into A Soup Server

If you are looking for a good idea for Thanksgiving, look no farther.
Acorn Squash and mini pumpkins make beautiful decorative serving pieces for fall holidays!  This delicious server is easy to make-

Colors of Joy : A Woman's Guide for Self Discovery- Book Reveiw

A few years ago, I came across a blogger who shares many of my beliefs about healthy lifestyle. I've enjoyed reading her blog, interacting with comments, and becoming blog friends. Nancy is the author of the book Colors of Joy and the blog Colors 4 Health.

Roasted Chestnut Mushroom Soup

Looking for something a little different for the holidays? Chestnuts are in season, and they make a rich tasting holiday soup! It's definitely something unique that will delight your family and friends. I plan to make it for Thanksgiving! Bags of chestnuts are available in the supermarket this time of year and the recipe is easy.

My Lentil Soup Hack

Sometimes I just don't have the energy, desire, or time to wash, trim, and chop up vegetables for a homemade soup. Yet, I still want a nourishing bowl of soup that is homemade. This is a quick and easy hack to substitute for chopping veggies. Of course, I used my Instant Pot- as I always do- but you can use the stovetop too.

Beware of Organic Produce- Scary

Yesterday while shopping in the supermarket, I picked up the package of roasted chestnuts that I saw  was labeled USDA organic. As I continued to shop, I began to wonder which country my roasted chestnuts were from.- I was shocked when I read on the back that they were USDA organic from China. CHINA?????? 

Braised Red Cabbage, Apple, and Walnut Side dish

Looking for a simple but healthy fall side dish? 

I was craving red cabbage today and now that it is fall, I didn't feel like eating it raw.

I decided to make a simple side that was colorful, healthy and delicious. 

Instant Pot Acorn Squash and Apple Soup for fall

It's official! It's fall and I am eager to start enjoying the beautiful seasonal produce in my soups!
Gala apples and acorn squash are two favorites that are key players in this light autumn soup recipe. 

Author Interview Benjamin H. Berkley- In Defense of Guilt

I just finished reading this suspenseful novel with a very interesting twist. The attorney becomes the person being judged and the judge turns into G-d. It's a novel that makes us think twice about recognizing our own behaviors and being confronted with facing our own imperfections.

The following is an Interview with Benjamin H. Berkley- author of his new novel In Defense of Guilt

Carrot Ginger Soup with Lime

Are you a ginger lover like me?

Carrot ginger soup is one of my favorites, and now that I can make it in minutes in the Instant Pot it is easier than ever- ( of course I included directions for the stove top as well)

Instant Pot or Not Cholent- Vegan and GF

If you like beans, you will LOVE this amazing vegan cholent/chulent recipe that is made with a mixture of pinto beans, red kidney beans, and navy beans. The Instant Pot transforms an ancient recipe into modern times.

Chulent or cholent is a old traditional Sabbath day meal that has been made for centuries by observant Jews. (Cholent recipes can be traced back to 1180 in Vienna). 

Before the invention of electricity, the town baker had a big oven that he would keep burning through the Sabbath which started Friday at sundown and ended Saturday at sundown. Since it was forbidden to light a fire on the Sabbath, the townspeople would bring a crock of beans to the baker's oven before sundown on Friday and let it slow cook to eat as their Saturday hot Sabbath meal. 

The word cholent is thought to be derived from the Medieval French word "chaud" meaning hot and "lent" meaning slow. Thus a slow cooking hot meal.

Before cooking in the Instant Pot filled about 1/4 of the 6 quart pot

After the invention of electricity, people started using slow cookers to make their cholent or would leave their oven on a low flame all night to cook their chulent/cholent for the Sabbath day meal. 

Jews from different countries developed variations of the recipe using chickpeas or a variety of different beans, meat, eggs, dumplings, chicken etc. Almost every country has their variation of cholent. There are probably as many cholent recipes as there are cooks. 

Indian Cholent may contain turmeric, cardamom, lentils, and chicken. 

Italian Cholent may contain rosemary, brisket, potatoes, and cannelloni beans.

Polish Cholent may contain potatoes, flankin, a variety of beans, garlic, paprika, and dumplings

Eastern European Cholent may contain barley, potatoes, butter beans, brisket, and garlic

Vegetarian Cholent may contain sweet potatoes, potatoes, dumplings, a variety of beans

I make a vegan version that is absolutely delicious and because I am not " religious, " I make mine ahead of time in the Instant Pot!!!! Of course you could use the slow cooker and cook it for 8 hours. You might need to add more water for the slow cooker. 

Ingredients: 

3 cloves garlic, chopped

olive oil spray 

1 large onion sliced into 1/2 moons 

2 large organic carrots, sliced into thick slices 

10 whole baby portobello mushrooms , halved

1 teaspoon of ground ginger ( not fresh) 

1/2 teaspoon of Trader Joe's 21 Salute ( salt free seasoning mix) 

1 teaspoon of Himalayan salt 

1/2 teaspoon of cracked pepper

3 cups of vegetable broth ( I use Tabatchnicks or Whole Foods 365)

2 cups of water( or an extra cup if needed to cover the beans) 

1 pound total of dry bean mixture ( pinto beans, red kidney beans, navy beans) * see note below

Directions: 

Spray bottom of the Instant Pot with olive oil spray. Add onions and garlic and sautee until onions become soft. Add beans, carrots, mushrooms, ginger, 21 Salute, salt , pepper, vegetable broth, and water. Cancel the saute function and press pressure cook for 50 minutes. Make sure the steam knob is closed. When done cooking, allow steam to release naturally according to manufacturer's directions for about 30 minutes. When done, remove lid and serve.

chulent mix of beans

My Notes: 

1. Many supermarkets carry pre-made bags of cholent bean mixture in the kosher foods section. 

2. There is no need to soak the beans for the Instant Pot 

3. If you prefer to soak the beans overnight, pressure cook for 25 minutes 

4. This really tastes amazing if you like beans

5. You could make this in the Instant Pot before the Sabbath and keep it on warm until after sundown on saturday. 

6. ** Beware- some cholent mix packages contain barley which is not gluten free- read the ingredients

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Sharing on Souper Sundays where anyone can share a soup, salad, or sammie.

Easy Banana Bread Loaf- GF

How many times have you had too many overly ripe bananas and had to do something with them quickly? Sometimes I slice and freeze them, and sometimes I make this delicious banana loaf.

Why I Visited A Dietitian

Why I visited a dietitian at our local supermarket? 

I consider myself fairly knowledgeable when it comes to nutrition. After all, I have an undergraduate degree in health education, a graduate degree in higher education, with a certification as a nutritional consultant (ND).

However, with all the hype on what to eat and all the books and blogs that range from Paleo to Vegan, I was beginning to want some straight down to earth new ideas!

Gluten Free and Vegan Jewish Apple Cake

Do you love Jewish apple cake? 
This gluten free Jewish apple cake is moist, easy to make, and delicious! It is very allergy friendly as it is egg free, dairy free, gluten free, soy free, and nut free as well and it does taste good!!

Victory Garden Soup and a Review of Food Fight by Tanya Steel

Today I'm serving up a bowl of delicious Victory Garden Soup that I made from one of the recipes in Tanya Steel and National Geographic's new educational book, Food Fight, intended for kids 10 +.

Easy Gluten Free Bundt Cake

This is one of the easiest gluten free (vegan) cakes I've every made. The recipe was given to me by a vegan friend.

I mixed the simple ingredients by hand in a large bowl and just poured the batter into a greased bundt pan. It literally took me less than 10 minutes prep and then 25-30 minutes to bake the cake.

Mango Peach Summer Salad or Salsa

My good friend Vicki made a fabulous mango peach salad and brought it to a Friday night dinner at my home. She usually brings guacamole, but she wanted to change things up a bit.

Vicki and my grandkids

Vegan Breakfast Idea | One Point on Weight Watchers

What does a vegan or someone gluten sensitive eat for breakfast?

That's a good question, and I have a great suggestion- Apple rings (slicing the apple through the middle) are fresh, healthy, delicious and no points of Weight Watchers. I use the apple as my base for this delicious breakfast.

Chilled Zucchini Corn Lime Soup- Instant Pot or Not

Corn and zucchini are at their peak right now in late Augut, and the duo are sensational in this light summer soup which can be eaten chilled or warm.

I cook the soup in my Instant Pot and then blend the it with an Immersion blender.  ***If you do not have an Instant Pot (link to Amazon), follow my stove top recipe at the bottom of the page. ( But what are you waiting for? Instant Pot's make cooking a breeze). This recipe is vegan, oil-free, and gluten-free.

Spiralized Summer Vegetable Medley

I love the rich golden colors of this spiralized vegetable medley. It's as beautiful as it is healthy.

Yes, I'm using my spiralizer again! 

It takes only minutes to spiralize vegetables using a spiralizer. I spiralized zucchini, beets, and sliced red onion and tossed them in a large skillet in a little olive oil spray with same salt, pepper and ground turmeric.

Spiralized Vegetable Salad With Zucchini and Beets

Looking for a creative way to serve your vegetables?  Spiralize them and make them into a salad. 

I spiralized zucchini and beets for this colorful salad and placed them over fresh spinach leaves.

The flavors mingled beautifully, and it was light and easy to eat. 

WW Bagels- GF and Easy

Have you ever made bagels? I hadn't, but this interesting recipe is so fast and easy, I now make them all the time. It calls for only 3 basic ingredients that are mixed in a bowl with a fork.

They are low in calories and very popular with those following Weight Watchers.

I make a gluten free variety which probably doesn't rise as well as using a regular glutinous flour, but they are still amazing. If you are not gluten free, the original recipe calls for self rising flour.

Bake in the oven for 20 minutes
It takes 5 minutes prep and then 20 minutes to bake in the oven.
They are outrageous when eaten freshly baked.

Because I divided my dough into 12 , my bagels are mini. Perhaps I should call my version mini rolls instead of bagels or maybe bagellas!

Regardless, they are absolutely delicious and are made from these 3 simple ingredients: 

1. Gluten Free Flour

2. Baking Powder

3. Greek yogurt 

The first time I made them, my husband ate the entire batch within a few hours. Yes, he ate too many but he said they were amazingly good! ( he is not gluten free and loved them) . 

You can make the bagels any size you want. The recipe can make 4 large bagels or 8-12  small bagels.

As you can see in the photo, I sprinkled them with sesame seeds. I also sprinkled them with coarse Pink Himalayan salt. In addition, Trader Jo's sells a seasoning mix called the everything bagel which works well too.

I used Bob Mills all purpose gluten free flour which is a garbanzo bean based flour. I think it gives the bagels are rich flavor and a nice texture.

If you are a Weight Watcher, this entire recipe is a total of 12 points. Divide by the number of bagels you make and that will tell you the points per bagel.

You don't have to be watching your weight to enjoy these fabulous little breads. I hesitate to call my version bagels because they although they look like a bagel, they taste crunchier and and different.

I taste tested them on some friends and there were no complaints and no bagels left over. 

If you are gluten free and looking for a treat- these are great!! 

If you are not gluten free, you will still love them too. 

Have you made the WW recipe for these bagels? Do they taste and cut like a bagel? Just curious what you think

My first video attempt-WW Bagels

Ingredients: 

1 cup of gluten free flour (I used Bob's Red Mill )

2 teaspoons of baking powder (I always use aluminum free) 

1 cup of plain Greek yogurt

Directions:

Pre heat oven to 400 degrees

Mix flour and baking soda together. Add Greek yogurt, stir with a spoon and mix until absorbed. If the dough is sticky, you will need to wet your hands to work with it. Otherwise break off 4 balls. Roll each ball and use your finger to make a whole in the middle. Place on a cookie sheet that has been covered with parchment paper. In addition, I sprayed my parchment paper with olive oil spray . Place each bagel on the parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes or until each bagel is golden and bottoms are browned.

** these will last for 4 days in refrigerator- however, always heat them before you eat them otherwise they don't taste very good. Heat them in the toaster or the toaster oven- microwave makes them rubbery. 

My Notes: 

1. Be sure that your baking powder is not expired

2. You can substitute self rising gluten free flour for the flour and baking soda

3. If you are not gluten free, you can substitute regular self rising flour
4. They taste best when they are first made.
5. They keep in the refrigerator for about 4 days, but will need to be warmed up to eat them.
6. They taste best reheated in the toaster not the microwave.
7. Be careful on exact measurement for the Greek yogurt - It is a sticky dough
8. Wet your hands if you need to.. 

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