Easy Meatless Potato Stew

Growing up with Lebanese food , I did not appreciate it much. I just wanted to eat fried chicken, fries, steak, bread and sweets. 
I remember my mom used to tell my dad "they don't eat anything"~ They=my sister and I , later my brother.  It is not like she would eat anything, we were like mothers like daughters.
So my dad used to reply " don't force them, they will eat when they are hungry. It is not like they are going to starve." So we were never encouraged or even forced to eat vegetables. My sister and I hated onions so bad that my grandmother had to cut them so tiny when she was cooking. Guess what!??!? We would pick them, it is like we had microscopic vision.
Right now , I LOVE Lebanese food and I appreciate everything about it to the point that I am cooking it ? I am plant basing it too ;) I know it is not a word !
Let's get to the recipe....

 

Ingredients:

•  1 small carton/box of baby bella mushrooms ground in small tiny pieces ( I used a handheld food processor)
• 1/2 onion cut in small pieces
• 6 red potatoes peeled and cut in cubes
• 3 ripe tomatoes blended in a blender
• 2 tbsp. of avocado oil
• salt/pepper to taste
• 1-2 tsp. of cinnamon ( you can add more if you like)

 

Method:

• Heat oil , add onions. Sautee the onions until golden.
• Add the mushroom and the seasonings, continue sautéing for about 10 minutes.
• Add the potatoes, sauté for few minutes so the potatoes are covered with the seasonings.
• Add the blended tomatoes, adjust seasonings if needed.
• Add more water to cover all the ingredients.
• Bring to boil on high heat then simmer for at least 45-55 minutes.
• It might need to simmer more, adjust to whatever suits your taste buds. 

Serve over white , brown or wild rice. You can also enjoy over quinoa.

Try the recipe and share with me in the comments below or share on social media using the hashtag #bzhealthymama.

As some of you may know that I am a student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studying to be a health coach . I'm learning about how food, diet, and lifestyle have a tremendous impact on our overall health, happiness, and well being . Not only am I learning how to improve my life , I'm also learning how to help clients look better, feel better , manage stress, and reach their health goals. I'm able to start seeing clients. If you would be interested in sitting down with me or skyping for about an hour to discuss your health , message me (@bzhealthymama@gmail.com)so we can schedule your free health history consultation appointment.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

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Gluten free vegan pancakes

Who does not like pancakes? 

I love them but I can not make them from scratch. I used to buy the packages organic ones but they were not gluten free. I tried many recipes that did not work for me and my family.

Then my friend Nathalie made a recipe using simple ingredients so what I did is I just added hemp milk and made my own measurements. 

The pancakes worked and they turned out more like crepes but we all loved them. Since I only cast iron skillet, the first pancake did get stuck to it even with plenty of oil!! Then it worked like a charm and I was able to make a mini stack LOL 

Here are the ingredients:

One cup brown rice flour

1/2 cup tapioca flour

1 mashed ripe banana

1 tsp aluminum free baking powder

1 cup hemp milk

1 tsp carob powder ( optional)

Mix the dry ingredients then add the banana and the hemp milk, mix all together.

Grease the skillet with oil of choice , heat up and pour mixture ( I used a ladle which is the spoon you use to pour soup) when it bubbles ( usually 3 minutes) turn over and cook for few minutes.

Repeat the process. 

Sprinkle chocolate chips, cacao nibs and sweetener of choice. 

Enjoy :)

Please try the recipe and comment below how you liked it.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies

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Easy quinoa salad

Hey everyone :)

I did not even hear about quinoa until recently maybe about a year or a little bit more ago. 

I tried it for the first time and LOVED it. It is filling and light and it does not bloat you . 

Sometimes when you eat too much rice or pasta it feels heavy not with quinoa. 

Later I found out that quinoa is an ancient grain that existed long long long ago , I just did not know about it but now everyone knows about it lol I am serious!! Lebanese people dont cook quinoa and I havent heard of it before. When my mother in law was visiting in 2013 , she knew about it. So I guess it is "healthy" and "trendy" to eat quinoa now ;) That is awesome though coz it is super awesomely delicious , yum yum :)

So here are the ingredients:

1/2 cup of quinoa- Cook it according to the package and set on the side to cool.

1 large cucumber cut up in small pieces 

green onions cut up small

fresh mint ( 2-3 leaves)/cut up pretty small 

Not pictured and not addded could have been cilantro and parsley , next time. 

For the dressing:

Juice of one lemon

oilive oil or avocado oil ( to taste, I think mine was about 1tbsp)

sea salt to taste 

Toss all together ....can't get any easier than this ! Decorate with thyme and olives 

Enjoy :)

Please try the recipe and comment below how you liked it.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

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Easy simple plant based meal: Collard greens tofu pasta

My motivation

I always say in most of my posts, if I can do it ANYONE can. I did not like cooking ! I used to follow a recipe and more than 100% of the time I would mess it up. My husband would have to come add some of his magic and fix it or I would simply discard it and go somewhere to eat.

Not anymore, ummmm ok fine sometimes my husband still adds his magic touch;)

Anywho, my kids motivated me to cook for them. I wanted them to be healthy and eat homemade so if I don't make it how will it be homemade? I can't keep buy organic and not cook. 

The more I cooked, the more I liked it and I started experimenting !

So this recipe below is an experiment and guess what ???!!!! My husband LOVED it and he did not have to add anything. He did not even add salt BOOYA

I did not know what to name it so if you have a better name for it, please comment below ;)

Ingredients:

1 bunch of collard greens

1 bunch of cilantro

1 leeks 

1 block of tofu 

1 tbsp liquid aminos

salt and pepper to taste

grapeseed oil

pasta of choice

Method:

Cook pasta according to the package and set aside.

Chop collard greens , cilantro and leeks. Drain the tofu block, dry it with paper towels then cut in cubes.

In a large skillet, heat up a little of grapeseed oil ( 2 tbsp approx). You can use any oil you prefer I just like to use grapeseed oil.  

Then add the collard greens, cilantro and leeks. Saute for few minutes, then add salt, pepper and liquid aminos. Continue sauteing for about 3-5 minutes. Then add the  tofu and saute all together. 

Then add 1/2 cup of warm water, mix everything, cover and simmer. Simmer until the greens are wilted. Occasionally check and mix the mixture.  

It's ready ;) Pour over pasta or rice, whatever you wish. 

As will all my recipes, please feel free to substitute or add. You can add mushrooms, other spices, etc...

Please try the recipe and comment below how you liked it.

Thank you so much for reading my post, please feel free to comment and share with your friends and family. 

Please share with me what works for you and your family.  

Follow me on Instagram , tmblr, and twitter: @bzhealthymama;http://www.instagram.com/bzhealthymama

Facebook: Healthy Mamas, Healthy Babies

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