Garlic Refried Black Beans!

I love tacos! 

My Husband grills chicken every Sunday for our lunch tacos throughout the week!  This week I experimented with red cabbage instead of the usual green cabbage. It is heartier and I had to let it sit for a day in lime juice and honey. BUT it adds a power crunch and I love it!  If you want more great recipes sign up for my newsletter right here ----->>> http://eepurl.com/Kg7Zn 

Garlic Refried Black Beans

2 Cans black Beans rinsed and drained

½ Head of garlic roughly chopped

3 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 teaspoon Cumin

1 Teaspoon Turmeric (Anti inflammatory properties)

2 tsp Sea Salt

½ tsp pepper (optional)

¼ Cup Liquid. (water or vegetable broth)

DIRECTIONS:

Add Olive Oil to a hot sauce pan

Add Garlic as soon as you add EVOO.  (This will allow Garlic to better infuse the oil)

Cook garlic just until brown

Add 1 Can of  rinsed Beans.  Stir and then Mash the hell out of them.

Add 2^nd can of rinsed beans.  Mash lightly

Add Liquid.  (Add more if needed but make sure you mix well and add sodium if too bland after you add liquid.)

Herbed Chick Pea Snackers

Herbed Chick Pea Snackers

I finally found a way to pack flavor into whole chick peas!  This recipe will knock your socks off!  I love when I hear from you guys that you tried the recipe!  Please, please let me know if you try it, I’m eager to know how you like it! 

I use this recipe as a side dish or even just some little snackers  to have around the house. 

Ingredients:

1 Can Chick Peas (Garbanzo Beans) drained and rinsed

2 – 3 tablespoons chopped Parsley

2- 3 Tablespoons chopped cilantro

1 tablespoon chopped garlic

2 tablespoons sliced green onion

3 teaspoons salt

Pepper to taste

1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Lemon (optional)

In a cold pan, add the EVOO and garlic.  Turn heat to medium low.  

Allow garlic to become fragrant and then add Parsley, cilantro, green onion and salt.  Let cook for 2 minutes on medium heat.  Add Chick peas.  Allow to cook until peas are soft and greens are cooked well.  Remove from fire, add to a serving bowl and garnish with cilantro and parsley.  Drizzle Lemon on top if desired.

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Vietnamese Porridge

Healthy Winter Recipes to Brighten Your Spirits.

I’m so excited to share these recipes with you!  As you receive the recipes, keep an open mind.  I believe food should be an experience, a topic of conversation and nourishment for our minds and bodies.  The recipes to follow in this series of emails will have ingredients that you may have never heard of before but I encourage you to allow yourself to experience this with your friends and family. 

Most of the recipes will have options for ingredients because I want you to be the creator of something special and choose what works with you and your lifestyle.  For example, most all recipes can be made vegan if not already.  Keep the methods of preparation the same but play around with the spices and additions! 

Healthy Winter Recipes  - Vietnamese Porridge

www.yourfitnesssgirl.com

Chao Ga – Vietnamese Rice Porridge

I wonder if I had not married a Vietnamese man, would I ever have been introduced to Vietnamese Rice Porridge.   It’s not your fairy tale ‘Goldie lox and the Three Bears’ kind of porridge.  This meal is one of my all-time winter favorites and allows me to get in a plethora of veggies while warming up my belling on a cold day. 

It’s delicious and while rice based, it’s not as many carbs as you may think.  Give it a go and as you create the recipe, think about ways you can change it up to best suit your taste buds! 

Ingredients :  Serves 4 – 6

1/3 Cup Rice:  Long grain, red or brown

5 Cups Liquid: Water, chicken stock or vegetable stock. 

1 Chopped White Onion

2 Fingers of peeled Ginger

2 tsp salt

OPTIONAL: Protein options: Chicken, mushrooms or shrimp

·       Rinse and drain the rice.  Add liquid and rice in large pot and bring to boil over high heat.  Then turn the heat to medium low, partially cover the pan and let the rice bubble for 5 minutes.  This loosens the starch and blends the water and rice.  Stir rice and turn heat as low as possible.  Add onion and ginger and let simmer for about 1 hour. 

·       NOTE:  Add more liquid (at the very beginning) if you want a more soup like porridge.  If you prefer your porridge to be more creamy, look cook longer

Garnish – The Magic!  NOTE:  I use a LOT of veggies but find the combination that works best for you! Add the garnish just before you eat your porridge!

Chopped Green Onion

Minced Ginger (fresh and spicy.  This garnish completes the dish so give it a try!)

Fresh Cilantro

Fresh Bean Sprouts

Splash of Fish Sauce

Jalapeno

Siracha Sauce

Braggs amino acid