Roasted Tomatoes

IT'S OFFICIALLY SPRING Y'ALL!

I know its been a minute since I last posted but see, we have these lil peoples that sometimes like to visit 'the farm'. 

Not our littles but 'Grand Littles'... Hmm, catchy... 

Remember you heard it here 1st if it becomes a thing.  :)  

So, we've had a few of our grands out sporadically over the past couple of weeks. Assisting this Mimi in getting into the Spring of things... We cooked, we gardened, we explored & hunted, and we painted rocks. We had lazy mornings, some cReAtiVe afternoons, and fun evenings ending late into the night. 

But alas, giggles, grins, and all things 'grand' come to an end as they go back home returning to friends, school and routine ~ leaving the hubs and I to return to our less structured but nonetheless routine as well.

*sigh*

I'm sure some of you can relate that after a couple of weeks of consuming more than our fair share of pizza, mac & cheese, waffles with 

whipped cream, chili dogs, chicken nuggets and s'mores

 

(and more) my body is demanding what it has been lacking: Some healthy! Yes, we ARE those kind of Mimi/Papa's and Yes, I seriously feel like a Weeble...

"🎼Weebles wobble ♪ but ♪ we don't fall down ♪."   

Perusing the isles of the market the other day we spotted some beautiful plump hot-house tomatoes & I just had to have them. 

They screamed to me: "SPRING IS HERE".  

I was hoping to find some inspiration for a light yet filling dinner & here it was.  

Now, I'm not a science guru so don't get all nerdy on me because I'm not 100% sure just how 'healthy' tomatoes are. 

However, 

what I do know is we love them and they are not full of sugar or carbs. 

So in my book - that's healthy enough for tonight! I'll consult Google on the matter later tho. ;)

We made it home with our purchases in hand and a grumble in our stomach. 

It didn't take long to prep & pop these babies in the oven. 

Easy Peasy folks!

Imagine if you can... 

Tomatoes roasting, sizzling in EVOO, complete with garlic, basil, rosemary, thyme and oregano... 

Scrumptious bits bursting with flavor in each mouth-watering bite! 

Just enough tang to get your jaw to slightly clinch initiating your saliva glands into some double duty action. 

AhHaha Yes, you DO know! :)

However, no one eats just tomatoes for dinner! 

Although fresh fruits serve as a delightful snack the hubs requires a bit more substance in his meal 

so these beauties were paired with some polenta to complete our light but yet filling dinner!

Polenta is a dish that originated in Italy. It is a dish of boiled cornmeal that was historically made from other grains. It may be served as a hot porridge/cereal, or it may be allowed to cool and solidify into a loaf that can be baked, fried, or grilled.  

I always use the brand Bob Mills. 

Food for Thought: I originally believed polenta & grits were the same. They are not. 

Polenta is yellow corn while grits are white corn, specifically hominy. 

(Ah ha, that explains my dislike of grits!)

To make this preheat oven to 425 degrees and gather up:

• 4-5 ripe tomatoes, slice & lay out on a sheet pan lined with foil/parchment or a Silpat 
• 2-3 Tbs EVOO to drizzle over all
• 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced & sprinkled evenly over each slice
• Mix together 1 tsp each: Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano and Basil (or use 1 1/2 Tbs Italian herb mixture) and sprinkle over each tomato slice
• Salt & pepper to liking

Roast tomatoes for 30-45 minutes. Plenty of time to prepare the polenta your favorite way and shred some parmesan cheese. 

MMMmmm, Our belly's said "Thank you"!  Do you like roasted tomatoes? Let me know what you would pair with them.

Note to Self: One thing for sure, Grands remind me that I am not as young as I once was but I am as young as I ever will be again! <3

Til Next Time,

Domesticated Rebellion

THRIVING ~ Have you witnessed the testimonies? It's not about weight loss; it IS about feeling better from the inside out! If interested I would love to help you! Sign-up for a free account at https://domesticated.le-vel.com

• DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you click & buy, I may be compensated. So, Thank you!

Italian Vegetable Soup

Vegetable Soup ~ Italian style!

Woo Hoo World ~ I am feeling so much more alive today than I have all year! :) Seriously! (so much so, I remind the hubs of our grands on a sugar high ~ hahaha!) No matter, I am grateful for the energy boost from all the naturalness I've been pushing.

My heart & tummy are happy as I believe we're finally over our yuk bug hump & fingers crossed we

 have arrived on the downhill slope to feeling better!

 

BUT, just to be sure, I'm continuing on with our healthy veggie vitamin 'feel good cuz it's good for you' soup regimen!

While cooking this soup, my home teased me with whiffs of what my imagination believes Lil Italy would smell like!

 MMMmmmMMM #bucketlist

The combination of Italian herbs with tomatoes, onions and carrots marrying together in a single pot - Divine!

Did you know, my recent food love discoveries indicate I could be part Italian?

AhHaHa; not really - but I do absolutely LOVE the mouth-watering tongue tingling combination of Basil and Oregano with Tomato. Anybody else? 

Now, this recipe calls for water. I elected to use beef broth instead. I have fallen in love with the health benefits of bone broth!  You can read up on bone broth by checking out another veggie soup here. Not to mention using broth was also an excellent flavor addition for the ground chuck used.

Since we prefer soups that still provide a 'bite', Ya know, something you can actually sink your teeth into. I left the majority of the vegetables at just 'fork tender'. 

Hearty bites of root veggies co-mingled with small bits of ground chuck all surrounded by a beefy-tomato broth come together for a filling & feel good meal my hungry man enjoyed! 

As the main dish, add a salad or baked potato then call it a day! It's that hearty!

Oh, and let's not forget simple. All y'all know my favorite thing in the wake of my discovery is Simplicity! This is another recipe meeting that criteria. Just a few simple steps and rest is just magic!

Ingredients:

• 4 cloves of minced garlic
• 1 sweet onion, chopped
• 1 small bag of carrots peeled & sliced on angle
• 8 stalks of celery peeled & sliced (I personally prefer the flavor of the celery hearts)
• 4 c beef broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes 
• 1 lg can peeled tomatoes (IMO whole peeled tomatoes have more flavor so I crush or dice whole tomatoes with this gadget)
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1/2 head cabbage chopped
• 3 tsp oregano
• 2 tsp basil
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp fresh cracked pepper
• 2 lbs ground chuck

In a large stock pot, I browned my chuck without draining (there was almost zero fat)

I added in my sweet onion, garlic and all spices. Mix this up allowing it to bloom under a tight-fitting lid on low heat for about 4 minutes -- just enough to start cooking the onions thru -- then toss in carrots and celery -- mix & repeat for another 4 minutes or so. 

Next, add your broth and tomatoes. Replace the lid, cook at a simmer until the veggies are ALMOST cooked to your liking. When they are close, toss in your cabbage, fold into the soup. Cover. Simmer again, but only until the veggies are fork tender including the cabbage. (of course this varies from person to person so adjust accordingly)

I topped mine with some grated Parmesan cheese and paired with some garlic bread.

I owe this tasty soup inspiration to Mary over at barefeetinthekitchen.com ; head over sometime to find some healthy home-made inspiration of your own! 

Another worthy mention: my compost pile is absolutely loving this veggie 'feel good' soup week!  

(full disclosure: we both heart carbs & sugar so it's not been a 100% green goddess goodness week. Y'all come back to see me as I'm saving a sweet treat story for another day!)

Til Next Time ~
Domesticate Rebellion

THRIVING ~ Have you witnessed the testimonies? It’s not about weight loss; it IS about feeling better from the inside out! If interested I would love to help you! Knowledge is Power! Sign-up for a FREE account & information at https://domesticated.le-vel.com

 

• DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you click & buy, I may be compensated. So, Thank you!

Feel Good Veggie Soup

Feel Good Veggie Soup

Hey World ~ do you know what...? I missed Valentines! I mean the 'day' came alright but we didn't celebrate...  :(  Seems our lil home front is being attacked by the yuk bug & its been that way All Year Long! 

First it was me, next the hubs, then both of us. 

Following in our footsteps was our black lab (that was an adventure!), 

then Yay its me ~ and now both of us! 

AGAIN!

Geez, I am so over this already!

Luckily, I have a hubs who takes awesome care of me when I'm down & out. He's pretty incredible on that front - but - when we're both down...

LOL, let's just say it can be challenging! Hahaha; #realtalk.   

Considering we're both 'under the weather' + I might be kinda on the cranky side with zero drive to do anything ~ I'd say it's a 'good ol vegetable soup to the rescue kind of day'! 

A beautiful blast of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in a single pot to revive the soul & internal body!

And ya know what else? 4 steps folks! Easy Peasy! Just the way I like it!

Peel, Clean, Chop, Simmer & Viola! 

Fix & Forget so you can rest kinda dinner!

Fingers crossed ~ hoping to overload our immune systems & kick whateverthehell we got to the curb!

On the flip side, I truly could not have planned for a better day considering it is 22 degrees outside. Perfect for staying bundled up inside with a hot steamy bowl of love that is sure to kick some butt on the germ front!

I know you've been there; I can feel your heads nodding in understanding.  :)

This veggie soup is also known as a 'fat flushing' soup. It's packed with a powerhouse of vegetables that provide a multitude of benefits. My #twofers are simple, not scientific but they work for me, haha. 

1) It's not heavy; meaning I can eat all I want with zero guilt 

2) Not only does it smell wonderful, it really tastes amazing. 

What a concept! Taste good and good for you! #score! 

Check out the original recipe over at SkinnyMs.com or by clicking HERE. 

(such a fabulous site!)

Truthfact: 

Before today, I had NEVER had zucchini in a soup. 

I always thought it would be slimey. I am happily surprised that it is not!

Mix & match what you have on hand to make this your own.  If you prefer something heartier simply add some sausage or shredded rotisserie chicken for a complete stick to your ribs ~yuk~ fighting soup! I'm certain if you're a veggie eater you'll enjoy this medley!

Gather up:

• 4 cups chicken broth (read up on the benefits of bone broth here)
• 1 medium sweet potato peeled and cut into 1" cubes
• 1 diced sweet onion
• 1-2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 zucchini sliced
• 1 celery stalk chopped 
• 3 carrots peeled and sliced
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 tsp fresh cracked pepper
• 1/8 tsp ground allspice
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 can navy beans, drained
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can diced tomatoes 
• 1 tablespoon EVOO (reserve for serving; 1/2 tsp pp)

Add everything to your pot except EVOO. Cover & simmer on your cook top for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until the vegetables are fork tender. I served this with home-made bread. 

A truly satisfying and gratifying feel good dinner that was a snap to put together, 

helped me get in the grub mood as it cooked 

all while getting some much needed rest! 

Plus, we all know there is nothing better than being warmed from the inside out when we feel ~yuk~!

I feel better already!

Til next time ~
Domesticated Rebellion

Butternut Squash Soup - Roasted Style

Let me preface this post with some full disclosure friends: I HEART FRESH VEGGIES! 

Although I am not a vegetarian ~ I am a huge fan of all plant based edibles! ;) LOL

Veggies are my saving grace from food boredom.  I love how they are so forgiving & provide me some versatility in how I cook them. Rather the fry pan, baked in the oven or perhaps some steaming. Maybe grilling on an open flame, even the crock pot or saute -- However you prefer vegetables -- to me, in a word, they ROCK! As does this recipe...

Simple. Easy. And the word that will either scare you away or pull you in..... HEALTHY! A melt in your mouth good kind of healthy!



PSA bonus: This soup is extra healthy (IMO) as there is zero cream and zero butter.

If I didn't make it myself, I wouldn't know it lacked either of these ingredients because it is exceptionally silky smooth. The natural flavors meld together seamlessly to create a sweet but earthy deepness. A taste bud trip that can only be taken on the roasting road.

*YUM*

Isn't it amazing the different textures/tastes each cooking method brings out of each type of vegetable? I could go on and on about my discoveries but I'll save those explorations for another post.

To make this beautiful soup, you simply put all your vegetables together in a roasting pan. The flavors combine while roasting, meaning your oven does the heavy lifting for you.

Another #SCORE!

I roasted together:

• 1 butternut squash, peeled and diced into 1' sections
• 1 large sweet onion chopped into large chunks
• 3 large carrots peeled and chopped 
• Thyme & Rosemary to taste (can use either fresh or dried - don't forget to remove any stems before puree if you use fresh herbs)
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• Dash of Hot Sauce (Texas Pete)
• 3 cloves diced garlic (distributed evenly)
• 3 cups vegetable broth - 1/2c to 1c for puree use the rest for final soup coupling
• 2 TSP EVOO

Peel, cut and clean all of your vegetables.
Combine everything together with oil and spices in your roasting pan then
roast in the oven at 400' until everything is fork tender.

(Personally, I let it all go until the edges began to burn & each morsel glistened with droplets of natural juices making way to the surface.) Ah Yes, slightly crispy outside with tender fluffy insides.

Once cooked as desired, remove from oven and put into a food processor pulsing with just enough vegetable broth until smooth and silky. Once all of your vegetables are pureed, add them to a sauce pan with the remaining broth. Simmer for about 10 minutes tasting and add more seasoning if needed, stir to combine and Enjoy! It really is that easy!

I only tweaked this recipe slightly. And that was by omission of any product called for that I didn't have on hand; specifically sage leaves, celery and red pepper. No matter though, I can tell you it was scrumptious. No guilt. Very Filling. And Very Good For you!

I hope you try it. If you look closely, you'll see I did add cream in a moment of weakness. Don't judge! :)

As always, hit me up and let me know what you think! If you switch it up, do share!


To see the original recipe visit www.aheadofthyme.com or click HERE.

Til Next Time ~
Domesticate Rebellion

THRIVING ~ Have you witnessed the testimonies? It’s not about weight loss; it IS about feeling better from the inside out! If interested I would love to help you! Knowledge is Power! Sign-up for a FREE account & information at https://domesticated.le-vel.com

 

• DISCLAIMER: This post may contain affiliate links meaning if you click & buy, I may be compensated. So, Thank you!