Healthy November: Wheat Free Recipes
Don’t these look delish? 😉
I’m not gluten-intolerant but I know a LOT of people are.
Happy (Gluten-Free) Cooking! G
Autumn Hot Drinks
Don’t these look yummy?
What is your fav autumn “warm up” drink?
Mine is hot chocolate with all the fixins’. 😉
Hope you’re having a great week . Hugs, G
Root Veggies! Don’t Ya Just ♥ Them? ;-)
I SURE DO!!! 😉
And here are some of my fav ways to prepare and serve these oh,so yummy “gems” from the fall harvest!Â
Sam’s Famous Carrot Cake with My (NOT Too Sweet) Cream Cheese Icing
My favorite cake, no contest!
Just add dark rye bread and you’re good to go! 😉
One of my fav slow cooker recipes from the Groovy Green Kitchen I.
I make this one a lot. Quick to prepare, hearty and delicious.Â
And, it includes: onions, garlic and potatoes: all fav rooties! 🙂
Kasha and Beet Salad with Celery and Feta
A delish and elegant salad; brimming with flavor!
A twist on traditional lasagna, again from the slow cooker. Hearty and delish!
HAPPY COOKING and AUTUMN!
Harvest vegetable photo, courtesy of FLICKR
Do You ♥ MRS. Dash BUT Want Organic?
I have been using Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning Blend for many years, including adding this blend to numerous recipes in my:
Groovy Green Kitchen cookbooks,
Weeknight Veggie Slow Cooker (Volume 1)Â
and Â
Simply, Super, Supper Soups (Volume 2)Â
It is a versatile, basic seasoning blend that worked well in a number or recipes.
Unfortunately, it is NOT organic and for me, that was definitely a negative, when it came to using Mrs. Dash.
I have been looking for a GOOD alternative that was ORGANIC for a long time and recently I finally found it! 🙂
is a herb and spice company based in Saskatchewan, Canada where I also grew up!
Stop by their site to check out all their certified organic herbs and spices and other fine culinary products. Also, where to buy in your area or online, see the store location and contact pages. Â
I  just ♥ browsing their site!
So many culinary goodies to choose from and ones that I can REALLY feel good about using too. 😉
And, as far as a perfect ORGANIC substitute for Mrs. Dash Original Seasoning Blend, I like:
 Splendor Garden Garlic Herb Seasoning SF (salt free)
It is VERY similar to Mrs. Dash in flavor, color and texture and best of all, all organic ingredients!
Can you tell I’m pumped about finding out about this company? 😉 I really am!
I’ve also tried and enjoyed their: Vegetable Seasoning, All Purpose Seasoning SF and Lemon Pepper Seasoning, so far.
Loved them all too, especially the Lemon Pepper Seasoning.
It has a nice “zing” to it and adds a fresh, slightly citrus note to all kinds of savory recipes.Â
I recently tried the Lemon Pepper Seasoning in my Tangy Barley Buttermilk Soup recipe and it worked great!
This easy, oh-so-satisfying soup recipe is featured in the:
The Groovy Green Kitchen: Simply, Super, Supper Soups,
my new soup cookbook and also in this previous recipe post.
I added some to the soup when it was cooking and also a sprinkle over each serving to add color, just before serving.
Yummy, tummy-satisfying good! 🙂
Happy (ORGANIC and HEALTHY) Cooking!Â
How Do I ♥ Chocolate?
….let me count the ways! 😉
I know there are people who don’t like chocolate but I’m NOT one of them.
I L-O-V-E all things chocolate!!!
How about you? Are you a chocoholic or can you give it a pass?
These days, if at all possible, it’s organic cocoa and chocolate, as my first choice.
You can read more about why choosing organic  chocolate/cocoa is the best way to go here and here.
♥♥
And here are some of my fav chocolate treats, with recipe/review links where applicable:
My Fav Zucchini Chocolate Cake aka “Naked” Cake
And a foodie haiku as a bonus!
Quick and Delicious Chocolate Cupcakes
You can make these in no time at all and again, great with or without frosting!Â
Easy Chocolate Hazelnut Clusters
SUPER EASY to Make and Oh So Good!
Perfect for Valentine’s or any day of the year. 😉
Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate Bars
For instant chocolate gratification, just unwrap and savor!!!
What’s your fav chocolate treat?
Have a Great Day and Happy Baking (if you are) 😉
Product Review: ShaSha Co. Organic Buckwheat Snack (Cocoa and Vanilla) :-)
I’m always on the look-out for new snack ideas that are tasty, filling, preferably all organic and with a good or better than average ingredient/nutritional list. Happily, I found a new snack item recently that fits all that criteria. 🙂
ShaSha Co. Organic Buckwheat Snack(s) are crunchy, not too sweet, filling and have a nice cocoa kick to them too. And the ingredient list is ALL organic, I ♥ that.
I‘m trying to buy organic EVERYTHING these days, 😉 but when it comes to snack items, an all organic ingredient list can be hard to find.Â
Here’s the nutritional info:
I love that organic buckwheat groats are the main ingredient.
Buckwheat is a very healthy food, you can read more about it here, and at many other sites online.
These snacks are also gluten free and IMO, reasonably priced at Amazon for less than $6. for a 170G bag. Considering the organic ingredients, not a bad price at all.Â
I’m going to give some of the other flavors in this snack line a try too. I’ve previously enjoyed the ShaSha Co. Organic Spelt Lemon Snap cookies many times, and they definitely did not disappoint with these snacks either! 😉
Stop by the ShaSha Co. website (they are Canadian!!!) to read about all their other products and many positive initiatives too. 🙂
Happy Snacking, Weekend and Week Ahead!Â
PS: If you have any fav organic and/or healthy snack suggestions to try (sweet or salty) please DO share!Â
Simply, Super, Summer Salads!
“Salad Season” is definitely here again! 😉
Thought this would be a good time to share this recipe post again from the Veggies…archives, featuring 4 of my all-time fav salads.
What is your favorite salad?
Happy Cooking and Weekend! G
For me when it comes to food, nothing says SUMMER like a beautiful, fresh SALAD! 🙂
Here are some of my fav salads from the Veggie archives.
Hope you enjoy one or all of them soon.
Spinach and Mushroom Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
(this post includes some handy tips for salad do’s and don’ts)
(a winner in one of my recipe contests! so delish)
(if you like fresh dill, try this one for sure)Â
Kasha and Beet Salad with Celery and Feta
(from a recent post, in case you missed it. I ♥ this salad!)
—
What is your favorite summer salad/food/recipe?
If you can, do share a link.
Happy Summer, it’s almost here! 🙂
Chickpeas: What’s Not to ♥ ♥ ??
I’m a big fan of chickpeas.
I use them in all kinds of recipes: soups, stews, curries, hummus…
I ♥ their nutty rich flavor and the unique texture they add to dishes too.
And they are sooooooo good for us! 😉
There are many health benefits derived from eating chickpeas, you can read more about that here and here.Â
Slow Cooker Veggie Curry
And to add to this week’s snacks with crudites, crackers…
Fresh Rosemary Hummus
Both recipes are featured in:
The Groovy Green Kitchen: Weeknight Veggie Slow Cooker
Do you like chickpeas?
What’s your favorite way of using them in recipes?
On the Menu: Tangy Barley Buttermilk Soup
It was a perfect “soup day” yesterday, here in BC. 🙂
There was a bit of chill in the air, intermittent drizzle….so I got busy and made a big pot of: Tangy Barley Buttermilk Soup along with some: Sausage, Cheese and Thyme Muffins. What a yummy and oh so satisfying dinner it was! 🙂
I’ve shared the complete soup recipe below, this one is from the Groovy Green Kitchen II: Simply, Super, Supper Soups.
The muffins are from volume I of: The Groovy Green Kitchen: Weeknight Veggie Slow Cooker. They were perfect with this luscious, cream soup. 😉
I hope you’ll enjoy a bowl (or two) soon!
Happy Cooking and Week!
PS: Yes, the cover of the GGK I has been updated.I also did some work on the interior photos to improve the overall presentation. If you have a copy already, an update would be available from Amazon. If you need any further info. about this, just send me an email (see contact page).
***
Tangy Barley Buttermilk Soup
This soup was inspired by a recipe from the first edition of the ground-breaking book: Diet for a Small Planet. My updated version adds garlic and herbs but leaves out the butter.
I also recently “tweaked” the seaonings a bit, adding some from Splendor Garden (certified organic, gotta ♥ that, and they added a wonderful flavor and color boost to the soup). Serves 6.
-¾ C. pearl or pot barley
-3 T. vegetable or olive oil
-1 large (preferably sweet) onion, diced
-2-4 cloves garlic, minced (to taste)
-2 teas. bouquet garni seasoning or GGK Herbal Blend Seasoning (GGK seasoning recipe is in the book)
-1-2 teas. dried chives (to taste)
-¼ – ½ teas. freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
-1-2 teas. Splendor Garden Organic All-Purpose Seasoning SF OR Splendor Garden Organic Lemon Pepper Seasoning
-5 C. vegetable soup stock
-2 C. regular or low-fat buttermilk
-Optional garnishes: finely chopped fresh parsley or chives and/or additional sprinkle of Splendor Garden seasoning blend
Thoroughly rinse and drain barley, set aside.
In a large soup pot, heat vegetable oil over MEDIUM-HIGH heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté for 3 minutes.
Add herbs, black pepper, Splendor Garden seasoning and the barley and stir to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Cover and steam over MEDIUM-LOW heat for 5 minutes to release flavors and slightly toast barley. (Hint: be careful not to burn the barley, stir at least a couple of times)
Add vegetable soup stock, cover and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to LOW and simmer for 30-40 minutes, until barley is cooked but not mushy.
Add buttermilk to soup and simmer for 2-3 additional minutes, just to heat through.
Adjust seasonings if required. Garnish and serve.
Taaa daaa…… My New Cookbook is Now Available! :-)
The Groovy Green Kitchen (Volume II): Simply, Super, Supper Soups
is now available in Kindle and print book formats at: Amazon.com, .ca, UK….
I am SO happy to finally have this cookbook completed. 🙂 And I’m pleased with the results too.
I hope you’ll check it out soon, over at Amazon and if you can, please spread the word too.Â
In the meantime, I’ve got a ton of ideas on the go, for promoting this new book.
And then, it’s on to my next book project, that’s already in progress. 😉
Have a wonderful week!
Happy Cooking and Reading. GÂ
