Farro Porridge

I have a love affair with farro. This tiny grain came into my life and has stolen the #1 spot over steel cut oats, oatmeal, and rice pudding. Farro is a nutrient dense alternative to wheat and is low in gluten. It also has more protein than most traditional grains which helps keep you statisifed longer.

Farro can be used many ways- as porridge, in soups as a side dish, risotto, farro pasta and more. 

This quick farro porridge with berries is a new favorite in our household.

 (Sorry about the poor photos, I just snapped them quick with my camera phone)

Ingredients

1 cup cracked farro

(If you can't find cracked farro, feel free to also buy whole farro and place in a food processor for about 5 minutes or until powdery with some chunky pieces)
3 cups water
a few pinches salt

Add-in:2+ Tbsp maple syrup
1/2 cup milk or creamer (for pouring over top as desired)
1 cup sliced farmer's market organic berries
1/2 cup crushed raw walnuts
other: additional berried, dried fruits, spices like cinnamon, vanilla..

 Directions

1. Add farro to dry soup pot - over high heat. Allow grains to toast in dry pan for about a minute. Tossing around a bit.
2. Add in water and salt.
3. bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes. If you simmer covered with a lid be sure to monitor closely - as farro can bubble quite rapidly - spilling over the pot. NOTE: this method is for cracked farro. Whole grain farro will take longer to cook.
4. When farro has reached a cooked consistency, add ingredients like maple syrup and spices.
5. Serve in a bowl with milk or creamer poured over top - I like a nice amount to loosen the cooked farro.
6. Add berries and walnuts - and anything else. Serve!

This was the final product and it was delicious. I added in maple syrup, crushed walnuts, fresh organic blueberries and a splash of almond milk.

Source: kblog.lunchboxbunch.com

Japanese inspired "hot dogs" & wasabi fries

I am a huge fan of Japanese food, all I need are some cucumber (Maki) rolls, a seaweed salad and some edamame and I am good to go. When I recently read the new issue of VegNews they had a recipe called "Negimiso Veggie Dog & Wasabi Oven Fries" that made my mouth water.

It looks like a strange combination but trust me it was delicious and simple to make.

Veggie Dog
Serves 4
Miso Sauce

• 1/4 cup of hot water
• 2 TB white or yellow miso
• 2 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp arrowroot powder

Hot dogs

• 1 tsp vegetable oil (I used EVOO)
• 2 cups of thinly shredded green cabbage (I am not usually a fan but it made the dish)
• 2 long hoagie rolls (use a hearty bun than a hot dog bun)
• 4 large veggie dogs (I used FieldRoast- see comments below)
• 2 scallions (optional)

Directions

1. For the miso sauce, whisk together all ingredients until smooth over medium-low heat, and stir constantly for 3-5 mins until thick and smooth. Remove from heat and cover.
2. For the cabbage, heat oil in a pan and stir fry cabbage until crisp, about 2 mins. Transfer to a bowl and set aside
3. Cook hot dog according to package directions

Wasabi Oven Fries
Serves 4

• 4 cuts of russet potatoes, scrubbed, and sliced 1/2" thick
• 2 TB peanut oil or veg oil
• 1 TB wasabi powder
• 2 TB aonori seaweed flakes (you can also used dulse)
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp rice vinegar (I used mirin)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss potato slices with oil and spread in a single layer on the pan. Roast for 20 minutes, then flip fries. Roast for another 4-8 mins until crisp.
2. In a small bowl combine seaweed, wasabi, sugar and salt.
3. Remove fries from the oven and sprinkle with the rice vinegar and toss. Then sprinkle the wasabi mixture above and toss again. Serve immediately.

** I tend to shy away from all "fake" meat and enjoy hearty whole foods instead. When I saw this tasty recipe I decided to go on the hunt for a real substitute and ended up trying Field Roast- frankfurters original (they have many varieties). I am so happy with my choice, they even smelled like hot dogs and were a perfect addition to the recipe above.

Here is a blurb from the company- At Field Roast we believe “real” is better than fake. That’s why our old world-style vegetarian frankfurters are made using the simple tenets of good cooking, real ingredients and uncomplicated techniques. Fresh garlic, fresh onions and our own traditional blend of spices make the difference.

.....I think I may be making this recipe again tomorrow :)

Its official.......

we're moving!!

This has been a long time coming, for those of you who don't know my story, my husband and I put our house on the market in Sept 2009..... ummm now its now May 2012!?! For years we endured living as "tenants" in our own home.. No toaster, no family photos, cleared counter tops, no coffee maker (although I don't drink coffee so no loss for me) and hours I mean hours sitting in the car with the dogs while our house showed. To put it in perspective from this past August we had over 500 showings, sometimes 9am on Saturday - 5pm, in which we couldn't shop or go out and have fun to kill time because we had two dogs. Lets just say I wouldn't wish any of this on anyone! But enough of the past memories because our house sold and we move out in 23 days..... YIKES!!!

So that's why I have been MIA lately. Lots to do especially since we found another home that is perfect for our little family and we will move into at the end of the month. Bear with me while we make this life transition.

In the meantime I will be spending hours on pinterest and lots of daydreaming (huge vegetable gardens that I will plant, waking up to sunshine in the county, building a personal shelf made for my dehydrator, waking up to fresh juice (since we won't have to worry about rushing around to clean for another potential buyer to come through) and cooking incredible healthy meals in our new kitchen). Our new place already feels like home!

Be honest with yourself

(Photo taken from Pinterest, source unknown)

Lots of things have been going on in our household . I am sure you noticed something was up with the lack of blog posts lately.  I promise everything will be back to normal soon and I hope to have some wonderful news to share :)

Stay healthy! Also if you have any questions that you would like answers to, remember you can always email me at gethealthy@healthy-addicton.com or leave a comment post below.

Chai Tea

Lately, I have been loving the sweet and spicy taste of chai tea lattes! Since this little cup is filled with sugar is definitely an occasional treat. That being said I was on a mission to find an option that I could make at home and contained less sugar.

While in whole foods I found Oregon Chai, they have a few options but the slightly sweet was perfect for me. Mix 1/2 cup of chai with 1/2 cup of almond milk and you have the best morning/bedtime sweet treat! 

Main Street Vegan

Have you ever been sad that a book ended and you couldn't keep reading? The Penguin Group just sent over a new book Main Street Vegan by Victoria Moran that captivated me the whole way through. At first glance I thought 300+ pages about veganism... yikes, this is going to be tough to get through. They always say never judge a book by its cover because I could not put this book down! I am obsessed....possibly one of my favorite books ever!

I had heard Victoria Moran's lectures and had the opportunity to hear her speak at the Take Back Your Health Conference in northern Virgina last year. I have to tell you, this woman left a lasting impression in my life. Victoria is a very kind individual; glows from the inside out and gives off a sense of calmness when speaking. Her non-judgement approach to those who are not vegan was well translated into her new book.

To be honest, when I first opened the book I thought it would be like most vegan books on the shelves that preach, judge and share vivid details of animal treatment. Although that is okay, this book was nothing like I expected. Much like her lectures, this book was easy to follow, entertaining and encouraging. Take me for example. Yes, I thoroughly enjoy eating healthy, and eat vegan often, however I still consume animal products purchased from a local farm. That being said it was like this book was written for me, the average person walking down the street looking to refine their eating habits and live a healthier lifestyle.

The book Main Street Vegan spoke about different ways to consider how we go about our everyday lives. Have I ever really stopped to consider the treatment of the animals I viewed for entertainment at the local circus or weekend rodeo? This book provides baby steps for those individuals who want to make a change or even those who just want to learn about the vegan lifestyle.

Each chapter starts with a quote and ends with a delicious, budget-friendly vegan recipe you can try for yourself or share with others.  It is so well written that you start reading and then look at the clock to realize an hour has passed. Throughout this book you will learn how easy it is to make the transition to become vegan in all aspects of life if you choose to do so.

I can't recommend this book enough (as you can tell from my never ending blog post). It's perfect for that everyday person who wants to live a life of kindness, happiness and health. Remember, like me, you do not have to be vegan to truly enjoy this great read.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS- Main Street Vegan hits shelves April 26, 2012.

Before you leave I had to share this great recipe from the book!

Chocolate Mousse

• 1/2 cup pitted Medjool Dates (place in a bowl with enough water to cover, leave for 10-30 mins, drain and use immediately)
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
• 3/4 cup mashed avocados (about 1.5 avocados)
• 1/2 cup plus 2 TB unsweetened cocoa or carob powder
• 1/4 cup water

1. Place dates, syrup and vanilla in a food processor and blend until smooth
2. Add avocados and cocoa powder and process until creamy (may need to scrap down sides)
3. Add water and process briefly

**You can even freeze this recipe for up to 2 weeks.... can we say YUM!!

Kale Vegetable Soup

So remember that soup I told you about last week? Well it turned out AMAZING, and we have been eating it daily. Not only is it extremely filling but it also has such great flavors. All from a little recipe that I ripped out of WebMD while at the dentist office... haha!

Makes 6 (but seriously it could serve a lot more)
Ingredients

• 1 TB EVOO
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large red pepper, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups of red potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 cup carrots, chopped
• 6 cups of kale (about 1 bunch), stemmed, and coarsely chopped
• 1 16oz can of low sodium cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 14.5oz can petite diced fire roasted tomatoes, undrained
• 4-6 cups of low sodium chicken stock (I used 6)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 TB vinegar (sherry or wine) (optional)
• 1 TB chopped fresh rosemary (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook 5-7 minutes until lightly browned; add red pepper, carrots and garlic; saute 5 minutes
2. Reduce heat to medium. Add potatoes, kale, beans, tomatoes, chicken stock, salt and pepper; simmer until potatoes are tender about 10-15 minutes (when I made this soup it needed to cook a lot longer. Just periodically check the tenderness of the potatoes to know when its done).
3. Add additional water or stock if mixture becomes too thick. Before serving stir in vinegar and garnish with rosemary. (I skipped this step)