My Foodie Call

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  • Monthly Archives: February 2014

    • Healthy Fruit and Protein Snack Wrap

      Posted at 8:00 pm by myfoodiecall
      Feb 27th
      Yup, those are green grapes.

      A sweet snack (or lunch).

      Remember my post about Ezeikel Bread? Guess what. Food for Life (the Ezekiel bread people) make other stuff besides bread, like these wraps.

      If you forgot what sprouted grains are better than whole wheat, go back and read the link above.

      Sprouted Grain Tortillas

      Of course you do not have to use Ezekiel Tortilla. If you are just starting your health journey, start small and buy straight up whole wheat tortillas. Still be delish. :).

       Try this yummy dessert-snack-breakfast-could be a meal recipe by following these directions.

      Make your spread. It's easy don't sweat it.

      Make your spread. It’s easy, don’t sweat it.

      Grate your apple. Or fine chop it if you are on a time crunch.

      Grate your apple. Or fine chop it if you are on a time crunch.

      Plate your tortilla.

      Plate your tortilla.

      Your spread.

      Spread your spread. Profound, I know.

      Add your apple.

      Add your apple.

      Then some sliced grapes and drizzled honey.

      Then some sliced grapes.

      Wrap it.

      Wrap it.

      Arrange in pretty stack on plate so people think you worked hard.

      Cut and arrange in a pretty stack on a plate so people think you worked hard.

      Healthy Fruit and Protein Wrap

      Ingredients

      For the spread:

      • 6-7oz  silken firm tofu (Eyeball it. Don’t stress on it being exact. It’ll still work.)
      • 3 Tbs. natural peanut butter (No Jif, Skippy or any of that other nonsense. Your peanut butter should just be peanuts. And maybe some salt.)
      • 1 tsp chia seeds
      • 3 Tbs. Honey
      • 2 tsp cinnamon

      1) Mash it really good OR process in the food processor until creamy (what I did)

      For the wrap:

      • 1 package sprouted tortilla (or whole wheat tortilla)
      • 2-3 apples, shredded or fine chopped (I used granny smith, but use what you have!)
      • 1 cup seedless grapes, halved
      • 6 halved red seedless grapes

      1) Spread tofu/peanut butter mixture on tortilla.

      2) Place grated apple and grapes on top.

      3) Roll up tortilla, folding in sides as you go.

      4) Slice and serve.

      Kids can easily help with this one too.

      Kids can easily help with this one too.

      Posted in Desserts, Meatless mealtime, Snacks | Tagged chia, peanut butter, tofu
    • Slow Cooker Pineapple and Vegetarian Chicken

      Posted at 8:00 pm by myfoodiecall
      Feb 25th
      Pineapple Chicken minus the Chicken.

      Pineapple Chicken minus the Chicken.

      You know I am all about fast meals without too many steps or ingredients, right? Here is another one.

      Try this.

      Take some frozen pineapple chunks.

      Take some frozen pineapple chunks.

      Slice some onion.

      Slice some onion.

      Buy some frozen green beans.

      Buy some frozen green beans.

      Add all three to your slowcooker.

      Add all three to your slow cooker.

      Cook for a few hours.

      Cook for a few hours. 

      Grab some of this.

      Grab some of this.

      Pile it on top. Slow cook again

      Pile it on top. Slow cook again.

      Pile it on some rice and done.

      Pile it on some rice and done.

      Slow Cooker Pineapple and Vegetarian Chicken

      • 4 1/2- 5 cups frozen pineapple chunks
      • 1 small onion, sliced
      • 2- 8 oz packages Chicken-Less Chicken (or other vegan kind)
      • 3 teaspoons all-purpose seasoning
      • 1 teaspoon sea salt
      • 4-5 cups frozen green beans (not the short, cut ones…full length!)

      Directions:

      1. Pre-spray the slow cooker so that you have an easy clean up.
      2. Layer 1/2 the pineapple, all the onion and then top with the green beans.
      3. Sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoning and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
      4. Spread the rest of the pineapple on top of this, then add grean beans and then top with the rest of the seasoning and salt.
      5. Cook on low for 2 hours.
      6. Mix contents. Add Chicken-Less Chicken.
      7. Cover and cook again on low for 3 to 4 hours.
      8. Serve over brown rice.
      Posted in Meatless mealtime | Tagged brown rice, vegetarian chicken
    • Veggie Sliders with Polenta Buns

      Posted at 8:00 pm by myfoodiecall
      Feb 23rd
      These are not hard.

      A veggie burger with a corn meal bun for a change of pace.  These are slider-sized. Can you tell?

       

      Veggie burgers can be tricky. You really need to be careful with your ingredients, the wetness factor and the overall cook time otherwise you have a mess on your hands that no one will eat. I speak from experience. 

      It all started with this. One baked sweet potato.

      It all started with this. One baked sweet potato.

      I peeled and mashed...

      I peeled and mashed…

      Used this.

      and used this…

      And added it to my sweet potato mash.

      And added it to my sweet potato mash.

      Add some oats to help bind.

      Added some oats to help bind.

      Added some chopped onion to amp up the flavor.

      Added some chopped onion to amp up the flavor.

      And some minced garlic...

      And some minced garlic…

      Have you ever made a flax egg?

      And your egg. ..Have you ever made a flax egg? See how it is kind of stringy like an egg?

      And then my flax egg to further bind this up.

      This helps make everything stick together.

      Next some cottage cheese...

      Next some cottage cheese…

      And parsley.

      And parsley…

      Mix, mix.

      Mix, mix.

      Dollop.

      Dollop.

      Yes, it's kind of chunky, but it works.

      Yes, it’s kind of chunky, but it works.

      Next my "non-bread" bun inspiration

      Next my “non-bread” bun inspiration.

      Slice and bake.

      Slice and bake.

      Again. Not hard.

      Double decker with optional cheese slice in between.

      Veggie Sliders with Polenta Buns 

      Ingredients:

      • 1 medium sweet potato, baked (I do this at 400 for 45 minutes, a day beforehand so that there are not too many steps on the day we will eat. Can’t have that.)
      • 1-12 oz package Beef-less ground beef (or vegetarian crumbles)
      • 1/2 cup oats
      • 1 medium onion, fine-chopped
      • 3 cloves garlic, minced
      • 1 flax egg (or you can do 1 large egg, but try the flax egg: Add 1 tablespoon flaxseed meal to 3 tablespoons of water, whisk it, and let it sit for 30 minutes)
      • 1/2 cup fat-free cottage cheese
      • 1/2 cup fresh parsley, fine-chopped
      • 2 teaspoons agave nectar
      • 1 teaspoon salt
      • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
      • 1 pre-cooked tube of polenta
      • sliced cheese (optional)

      Directions:

      For the Sliders:

      1. Preheat the oven to 375°F
      2. Prepare a large baking sheet with non-stick spray or parchment paper.
      3. Pull skin off of cooked sweet potato mash it.
      4. Add the beef-less crumbles, oats, onion, garlic, flax egg, cottage cheese, parsley, agave, salt, and pepper.
      5. Mash and combine.
      6. Shape the mixture into mini burger size (sliders) and place them on your prepared baking sheet.
      7. Bake the sliders for 30 minutes. Flip them. Bake for another 15-20 minutes.
      8. Remove from oven and set aside.

      For the Polenta Buns:

      1. Set the oven to 350 degrees.
      2. Thin slice the polenta into rounds and arrange them on a prepared baking sheet.
      3. Bake for 20 minutes, flip and bake for another 10 minutes.
      Again. Not hard.

      Try me.

      Posted in Meatless mealtime | Tagged sweet potato, vegetarian
    • The Goldfish Cracker Taste Test: Whole Grain vs. Regular

      Posted at 8:00 pm by myfoodiecall
      Feb 22nd
      IMG_4161

      Could you taste the difference?

      So one of the My Foodie Call kids complains because I buy the Whole Grain Goldfish.

      “Why can’t you buy the normal kind?” 

      I hear this a lot.

      I argue with him incessantly that both Goldfish crackers really are the same. They taste the same and Whole Grain Goldfish are still plenty junky, promise.

      Yes,  I fully acknowledge on this blog, that yes Whole Grain Goldfish are NOT good for you. Not healthy.

      But in this fast food world, when a mom is to conform, what is a mom to do??

      Pick the lesser of two evils.

      The Whole Grain Goldfish.

      Can you tell which is regular and which is whole grain?

      Could you tell which is regular…

      and which is whole grain?

      and which is whole grain based on taste?

      Decided to stop this long-standing argument  in its tracks and conduct an experiment. Enough of the complaining and let’s see if they really taste so different, shall we?

      Super top secret. Mr. Foodie Call pointed out that I should not have let people see the actual crackers. True. I never said my test wasn't flawed.

      Super top-secret Goldfish cracker bowls. Mr. Foodie Call pointed out that I should not have let people see the actual crackers. True. I never said my test wasn’t flawed.

      After trying one from each bowl, I told them to write down which cracker is REGULAR: 1 or 2.

      Let’s see how well they do…

      The testing began.

      The testing began. 

      We even had a neighborhood friend over who only eats regular and  swears he'll know the difference.

      We even had a neighborhood boy over who only eats regular and swears he’ll know the difference.

      Even Mr. Foodie Call jumped on the taste test.

      Even Mr. Foodie Call jumped on the taste test…

      and he did the back and forth thing several times. Serious stuff.

      and he did the back and forth thing several times. Serious stuff.

      The votes are in.

      The votes for "regular".

      Remember they are supposed to write down which number they think is “regular”. If you look closely, the top two votes are for #1 as the regular cracker and the bottom votes claim that it’s number #2.

      Who is right?

      Number 1 it is.

      Number 1 is the regular Goldfish cracker. Hmm…

      What does this mean?

      That  the two boys bottom votes picked the wrong Goldfish and did not know the difference.

      Smirk.

      However…there is more to this story.

      Although I did admit that Whole Grain Goldfish are hardly healthy, check this out…

      Upon closer inspection I couldn't believe that there was pretty much zero difference in the nutritional content of the two. Whole grain has a tad more fiber. Hmm. Looks like I got played as well.

      Upon closer inspection I couldn’t believe that there was pretty much zero difference in the nutritional content of the two. Whole grain has a tad more fiber. Hmm. Looks like I got played as well. 

      Not caring. A little more fiber is better than nothing. Whole grain it is.

      Posted in Random stuff | Tagged kids
    • Build-your-own: Greens and Grains Veggie Bowls

      Posted at 8:00 pm by myfoodiecall
      Feb 20th

      So I belong to this really awesome lunch group called the Taste and See. Basically the Taste and See is just a group of women  that meet once a month in someone’s home to prepare and cook incredible plant-based meals. The lunches are held from 11:00 AM- 1:00 PM, and really…we just learn from each other and eat a great meal.

      That simple. I am not sure about you, but I eat on the go WAY too much. Sitting an eating a lunch with awesome people and good conversation should be a top priority. I am working on this….

      Furthermore, the relationships that I have developed through the Taste and See have been so rewarding and to eat great food together? Bonus.

      As mentioned, this lunch group only meets once a month and we keep it simple. 11:00 AM-1:00 PM. Each menu is different, brainstormed and  decided upon a few months in advance, and then ingredients are divvied up so we can shop, and then create kitchen mayhem.

      We cook, sit, eat, leave. Good food, good conversation. Love it.

      If you live in the Charleston area, take a break and come join us. http://www.totallyfit.org/totally-fit-programs/taste-and-see/

      The point of today’s post?

      Right in line with the adult Taste and See, we felt the need to get the kids in the kitchen for their own Taste and See. Whether they want to or not. 🙂 It’s all fine if mom is eating healthy but to try to execute that on the home front? This is a whole different ballgame. Especially with the junk food forces at school and soccer shenanigans working against us. So the mission for the Kids’ Taste and See was to keep it simple, get the kids cooking, and possibly open some eyes to wholesome, plant-based foods.

      Alas, the Taste and See 2. Same deal, 11:00 AM-1:00PM, except not monthly…baby steps.

      This past Monday we had our third Taste and See 2 (woot woot), and it was fun, fast and all hands were on deck.

      On the menu? We did a “Build-your-own” Greens and Grains Veggie Bowl. Check out a few pictures from our day, and if you scroll through, you will see the actual menu further below.

      IMG_4177

      Cooking up some broccoli and cauliflower. We try to get the kids to do as much as possible, although parents are around to help and guide if need be.

      Dicing some avocado.

      Slicing some avocado.

      My little lady hard at work.

      My own little  tall lady hard at work.

      Older kids were assigned the more difficult cutting, like carrots, while the younger ones did the leafy greens.

      Older kids were assigned the more difficult cutting, like carrots, while the younger ones did the leafy greens.

      Making the peanut sauce. This one was my favorite!

      Measuring and whisking up the peanut sauce. This one was my fave!

      These were put together by the younger kids.

      These were put together by the younger kids. There was a job for everyone.

      IMG_4190

      Pick your green, pick your grain. Pretty self-explanatory. Purposely did not include brown rice in our assembly line. Why? Most kids do just fine with rice. The point is for kids to venture out and possibly explore farro…

      Really the possibilities are endless with this. We kept the options some what minimal so that we could stay within our time constraints and not have mom's buying too many ingredients.

      Really the possibilities are endless with this. We limited the options so that parents didn’t have to take out a second mortgage to afford their ingredients.

      The crew. Ready to divide and conquer.

      The crew. Ready to divide and conquer.

      Okay, so a couple of things on the pictures. There are not near as many as I would have liked for various reasons.

      For example, I had to shoot home because I forgot to bring one crucial ingredient for one of our sauces, miso paste. Womp Womp…Also regarding the pictures. Although the boys do not appear to have helped at all in the prep, it’s because while I was home getting the miso, they had been there, done that. By the time I got back with the stuff they were way beyond their kitchen duties and practicing their zip-lining skills out back of the house.

      Another thing. I kind of attacked the food when I got back so no end result Grains and Greens Veggie Bowl picture. Forgive me if I post our exact menu??

      Kids Taste and See 2-

      February 17, 2014

      Grains and Greens Bowls

      (main course)

      Choose your greens:

      • Organic Romaine Hearts (1 package, chopped)
      • Organic Spinach (1-5 oz package, chopped)

      Choose your grain:

      • Whole Wheat Couscous (cook according to package instructions)
      • Farro (cook according to package instructions)

      Choose your vegetables:

      • Broccoli (1 head, chopped and lightly cooked)
      • Cauliflower (1 head, chopped and lightly cooked)
      • Sweet potato  (2 lb. bag cooked and cubed)
      • Carrots (1 package long, chopped and lightly cooked)
      • Red peppers (2, seeds removed, and fine-chopped)
      • Cucumber (2 peeled and fine chopped)
      • Avocado (2, cubed)

      Choose your protein:

      • garbanzo beans (1 can organic)
      • black beans (1 can organic)
      • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
      • 1/2 cup pepitas

       Sauces

      1) Ginger-sesame Sauce

      • 2 cloves garlic, minced
      • 4 tsp toasted sesame oil
      • 1 tsp fresh ginger
      • 2 tsp white miso
      • Juice of 1 lemon
      • 2 tbsp soy sauce
      • 2-4 Tbsp Honey, to taste
      • Approximately 1/4 cup both water and extra virgin olive oil (until you reach desired consistency and taste)

      Whisk together until well incorporated

      2) Peanut Sauce 

      • 6 tbsp natural smooth peanut butter (melt it a bit if too hard)
      • 2 cloves garlic, minced
      • 2-4 tsp ginger, grated
      • 2-4 tsp soy sauce, to taste
      • 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
      • Add water until you reach desired consistency

      Whisk together until well incorporated

      Dessert

      Walnut Oatmeal Date Balls

      Ingredients:

      • 12 Medjool dates, pitted
      • 2/3 cup old fashioned oats
      • 1 cup raw walnuts

      Directions:

      1. Place all ingredients into a food processor and pulse until everything is blended together and a thick batter forms
      2. Roll batter into balls and refrigerate until ready to eat

      http://www.pbfingers.com/2012/03/04/walnut-oatmeal-date-balls

      Drink

      Raspberry Zinger Iced Tea with Stevia

      • 1 box Celestial Seasonings raspberry zinger tea bags
      • Stevia

      Pour 8 cups boiling water over eight tea bags in a heat-resistant container. Steep 4 to 6 minutes and remove tea bags. If desired, add sweetener while tea is hot. Add 4 cups cold water and chill.

      Posted in Meatless mealtime, Random stuff | Tagged avocado, beans, broccoli, kids
    ← Older posts
    • You missed a call?

      • Make friends with…Bean Pasta.
      • Whole Wheat Flax ‘N Apple Muffins
      • Small changes…Eat what’s in season.
      • Whole Wheat Broccoli Mac N Cheese
      • What I pack my kid.
    • Categories

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      • Pancake Day
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      • What I pack my kid.
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  • dial in to your health

  • The Stuff

    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Make friends with…
    • Meatless mealtime
    • Pancake Day
    • Random stuff
    • Salads, Soups, and Sides
    • Small changes
    • Snacks
    • What I pack my kid.
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