Creamy Butternut Squash Stew

Posted on by under Main Dishes, Recipe Box

And winter lingers…

I don’t know about you guys but I’m about ready for this colder weather to move out of Spring’s way! I try to be grateful for the life that The Lord has given us so let’s find the silver lining: it’s still soup weather! I do love a good soup now. I love whipping things up with different ingredients and I’ve made this one a few different times but this one is my favorite- so I’m sharing it with you! This is a creamy and simple yet hearty soup that hit the spot with the cold hanging out for a little bit longer. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups Chicken Broth
  • 1 cup Water
  • 1-2 cups cubed and roasted Butternut Squash (Depnding on how thick you would like it. I used 1 1/2 cups.)
  • 1/2 lb Ground Beef
  • 1 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
  • 1 tsp Rosemary
  • 1 tsp Sage
  • 1 Tbsp. Salt (divided)
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp paprika

Directions:

  • Combine the chicken stock, water,  pre-roasted butternut squash, tomato paste, and 1/2 tbsp salt in a saucepan and bring to a simmer.
  • Once that has begun to simmer, take it off of the burner and use an immersion blender to blend it up to your desired consistency.
  • Put back on the burner to continue simmering
  • Cook down the ground beef and about halfway through add the rosemary, sage, 1/2 tbsp salt, pepper, and paprika.
  • When the beef is finished add it to the butternut squash mixture.
  • Top with green onions, crushed red pepper, or caramelized onions!

Enjoy!

~Jess

Green Goodness Skillet Salad

Posted on by under Main Dishes, Recipe Box

I have the luxury to be able to go home on my lunch hour everyday. I love being able to do this because it presents a challenge for me: What can I cook and eat in an hour? Sometimes I eat leftovers, but I also like to get creative with the things I have. I’m on day 16 of doing the Whole 30 program with a fabulous and encouraging group of friends. It has been a challenging, but very rewarding experience! I tell you this because this program has been a challenge to get creative with meat, veggies, fruit, and good fats including nuts and seeds.

I had a few things in the fridge but I wanted to make something different than just throwing it all on a plate. So, I mixed it all up in a skillet and added a few fun things! I think this could be a very versatile salad and add different types of vegetables. I don’t really think you could go terribly wrong with that! Also, there’s not a dressing with this. There’s so much flavor I didn’t think it needed any! But,if you wanted one, throw together an easy one with equal parts olive oil and lemon juice with a dash of salt and pepper. So, here it is: Green Goodness Skillet Salad!

Green Goodness Skillet Salad
Ingredients:

  • About a Cup of Cooked Roast Beef (I think chicken or pork tenderloin would work well here too)
  • 1/2 Cup of Cooked Green Beans
  • 1 Cup of Greens ( I had Dandelion Greens on hand but any greens would work here!)
  • 1/2 of an Avocado
  • 1/4 of a Tomato
  • Handful of Almonds
  • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:

  • Add the roast beef & green beans to a skillet (may want to add a Tablespoon of Coconut Oil here) and heat through on medium heat
  • Add the greens to wilt a bit, and stir to not burn. Add a bit of salt and pepper to taste (chances are you’re not going to add a lot since the roast beef and green beans are already cooked)
  • Sprinkle the crushed red pepper flakes to add a bit of heat! Feel free to leave this out or add a lot if you like a lot of heat!
  • Toss in the almonds, tomato, avocado, and sprouted greens
  • Give it a good stir and Ta Da! Your easy Green Goodness Skillet Salad

Variations:

  • Add a few radishes for an extra kick
  • Mushrooms sound fabulous in this dish, I think I’ll try that next time!
  • Apple chips would add a hint of sweetness with the heat

Let me know how you made your Green Goodness Skillet Salad! I would love to hear from you guys!

~Jess

My Very First Farmshare!

Posted on by under Uncategorized

I have to say; this made me a very, very happy lady. I have been researching CSA’s and Farmshares for several months now. First of all, I wasn’t really sure of a very good way to research this sort of thing. I mean yeah, I know what a Farmer’s Market is. But buying into a co-op and get incredible produce on a regular basis and on a system? Very foreign to me. I can’t tell you how many of these I researched. Not that there aren’t good ones out there, I just wasn’t having much luck with what I was looking for as a beginner. I quit looking for a little while and one day a very good friend of mine pointed me in the direction of Urban Acres Farmstead in Dallas, TX. One of the cool things about this place is they deliver to multiple different locations around the Metroplex and one of them happens to be about 10 minutes from where I live (I am all about convenience!) The other very cool thing about this place is that it is a group of people working towards making local, organic produce easily accessible to more people! I love that. And geez, look at that box I got. Isn’t it gorgeous!

So, let me break down how it works: When you sign up you will pay a $50 yearly membership. That may sound like a lot up front, but it’s totally worth it when they’re bringing it to a more local spot for you to pick up. Then you will pick your share. They offer three different sizes: small, medium, and large shares. You can also add local, organic, grass fed meats, eggs, local coffee, local honey, and homemade granola to your share. You’ll place your order and it can stay that way for as long as you like and won’t have to change it. It’s on an automatic order for every other week pick up. You won’t have to think about it! You’ll get an email when the order is placed, you’ll get another email on the Wednesday before your pick up on Friday or Saturday of that week with what’s in your share. What’s super cool about that too, they take the time to tell you where your produce came from, how it was grown, how to wash/store your produce, and recipes for them! Once again, totally worth the $50 membership fee when they take all of the guesswork out of it. Please do yourself a favor and at least go check them out! You can do that….HERE!

In several different posts I’ve talked about eating as few things in boxes as possible, if you do eat pre-packaged items the fewer the ingredients the best, “clean” ingredients and organic when possible. The easiest way to fulfill at least the limiting pre-packaged items is to, well, just stop buying them! I realize this is very difficult and takes some practice. I would like to challenge you to find ways to use other natural ingredients to change up your routine. Experiment! Don’t be afraid to mess up and make something not all that appetizing and don’t stop until you just love it! And let me know how it goes. I would love to hear from you! The biggest lesson that I have learned on this journey, especially going gluten free, was to not replace everything that you’re used to eating. It can be very difficult, frustrating, and expensive. One of the biggest frustrations I had was sandwich bread. Hello lettuce wraps. There are, however, some ways to make substitutions. Enter: zoodles! (Zucchini noodles). By buying into this farmshare, I am getting local and organic produce, helping out local farmers, and I didn’t even have to go to the grocery store! It saved me a ton of time and it’s not expensive. I’m thinking of coming up with a week by week elimination plan so we can help each other ditch the processed stuff! Comment to let me know your thoughts about it and if you would like to see something like that!

~Jess

P.S.~ I have to give a shout out to my awesome husband who picked this up for us at our pick up location. He also is the one who gets all the credit for this beautiful photo. You might should also check out his photography skills here: Clift Fotos

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Apple Crumble for Two

Posted on by under Recipe Box, Sweets

So, it’s officially fall. I have lots of favorite things about fall: I got married in the fall (and it was gorgeous btw!), the cool air, wearing boots and scarves, the COLORS. Goodness the colors. I am in constant awe when the seasons change of God’s creativity in the colors He uses, the perfect timing of it all, and please watch a sunset turn into a big Autumn Moon. “They Speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty – and I will meditate on your wonderful works. ” Psalm 145:5.

I want to make all things pumpkin, fall colors, boots, scarves, and did i say pumpkin? Well, as much as I love pumpkin, I also love a good, fresh, crunchy apple. You can make just as many fun things with apples! I was craving something sweet the other night and came up with this. Enjoy this with a cup of apple cider on the porch enjoying these cool evenings!

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Ingredients:
Start with the apple mixture:

  • 1 Medium Red Apple (I personally like Gala, but any will do)
  • 1 Tbsp. Honey
  • 1 Tbsp. Cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt

Directions: 

  • Core the apple and cut into about 1/2 inch pieces
  • Pour the honey, cinnamon, and salt over the apples
  • Mix until well covered (the honey will soften when you stir for a few minutes)
  • Let sit while mixing the crumble

Ingredients:
For the Crumble:

  • 1/4 Cup Coconut Flour
  • 1 Tbsp. Tapioca Flour
  • 1 Tbsp. Coconut Oil + 1 Tsp. for ramekins
  • 1/4 Cup Water
  • 1 Tsp. Vanilla
  • Pinch of Salt

Directions: 

  • Pre-heat oven to 350F
  • Grease 2 ramekins with 1 Tsp. coconut oil
  • Mix the rest of the ingredients thoroughly with your hands
  • Split the apples between the two ramekins
  • Top with equal amounts of the crumble mixture
  • Bake for 40 minutes

Enjoy!

~Jess

Sweet Summertime Sauce

Posted on by under Recipe Box, Sauces

I just love a good sauce. Especially one without extra sugar, fillers, or names I can’t pronounce! That is probably the biggest lesson I have learned in changing my diet. If you’re going to buy things in a can/jar/box please read the labels. We are already bombarded with so many toxins and pollutants in our environments that our bodies have to process, why intentionally put something in your body to add to that? This is one huge reason why we are so tired and run down. If you think about it, since our bodies are having to process all of these unnatural things, they are working overtime to filter everything we weren’t made to process. Let’s give ourselves a break and pay more attention to what we’re doing to ourselves. I promise. It will be worth it in the long-run.

Ok- off of that soapbox! I’ll write a separate post on my thoughts on food, reading labels, why I think it’s important, and why I believe in it.

Now, on to this sweet sauce! I made this to go with my Coconutty Chicken Tenders, but I feel positive it would go well on lots of other things. Use your imagination and let me know what you put it on!

untitled-18Ingredients:

  • 1 Cup Fresh Pineapple
  • 1 Cup Fresh Mango
  • 1/4 Cup Coconut
  • 1/4 Cup Red Bell Pepper (If you want a kick to this, use any pepper you like!)
  • 1Tbsp Fresh Grated Ginger

Directions:

  • Blend the pineapple, mango, ginger, and coconut in a food processor or blender until it’s the consistency you like.
  • Add the bell pepper and pulse until grated and incorporate
  • Add a dash of salt to bring out the sweetness
  • Simmer in a saucepan for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally

Enjoy!