Posts from Michelle
Posts from Michelle
Cabbage Soup Diet : really, cabbage? – ugh
Last week or so, I mentioned that I’d gone to the local farmers market and one of the things I brought back was an enormous cabbage. Now, you know I had to do something with it. One evening we made fish tacos, which require coleslaw – yum. But that doesn’t take much. I had previously considered stuffed cabbage, but that head was bigger than MY head – and not as many tender leaves. So, I took the biggest knife I had and cleaved it in half. Still gigantic! I called my Mom and she said she’d love to have half. I’d told her of the coleslaw I had planned and that I might add it to a soup. She said, “Oh, cabbage soup is really pretty good.”
Wait isn’t there a ‘Cabbage Soup Diet’? Google it! Why yes, there is. As I read through the recipe, I thought, “Heck, this is just a veggie soup – nothing special here.” By nothing special means, nothing ‘diet’ about it, so the guys might even eat it. (NOT !) Ok, I’m game. I drug out my biggest pot, an armload of veggies and set to work.
This came together so fast and smelled so good – I highly advise trying this. Even if you aren’t on a diet, it’s just good and healthy.
Cabbage Soup: You’re gonna be healthy or else!
Step 1:
1/2 Head of Cabbage, chopped
2 Yellow Onions, chopped
2 – 3 Garlic cloves, chopped
2 Green Peppers, chopped
2 cans Diced Tomatoes, chopped
3 Medium Carrots, chopped
1 – 10oz container of Mushrooms, chopped
3 or 4 long stalks of Celery, chopped
1 – 48oz Can or jug of V-8 Low Sodium juice* (or veggie broth)
and the seasonings listed below
Step 2:
Chop the onions, celery, carrot, garlic and sweat them in the soup pot. No, you won’t need oil, these veggies will have plenty of juice in them as it is. After they’ve had their head start, add the tomatoes, and V-8 (or broth).
Step 3:
Toss in that cabbage and mushrooms. I used two different kinds, white buttons, and baby bellas, since I had them from another recipe. I like Baby Bellas because the give a meaty flavor to things. So I used half and half. (Yes, I know we just lost Terry – he hates ‘shrooms)
Step 4:
Add the seasonings. When I looked up the recipe I saw a slew of tasteless diet versions. Then there was a lady touting her own blend of spices for it. Hmmm. What could it be? Well, I can’t wait to order it, and I know that somewhere they have to post the fine print. I looked it over and came up with this…
Seasonings:
½ tsp Garlic Salt
¼ tsp Onion Powder
1/8 tsp Tomato Flakes (or minced sundried’s)
½ tsp Paprika
1/8 tsp (or a pinch) Cayenne Pepper
2 tsp Nutritional Yeast
OK, ‘nutritional yeast’? Well, the pre-packaged mix listed ‘yeast extract’. Which is Vegimite or Marmite. Neither of which I’ll find locally, at least I don’t think so. We don’t have a big enough Australian contingency here to warrant ‘Vegimite Sandwiches’ being on any menus. However, I do have nutritional yeast here. It’s like vegan fairy dust. It’s hard to describe, but it makes things taste ‘cheesy’ – which is never a bad thing. It’s cheap and easy to find at any health food store. Go get some.
Step 5:
There is no step 5 ! You’re pretty much done. – Cover it and let that cauldron simmer for a couple hours on low. Don’t add salt to it. We’re going for low salt, diet friendly eats here. If you have ‘Spike’ seasoning (a no-salt veggie alternative) add it to your bowl as needed.
Let it cool, ladle into containers. Set a couple in the fridge, and stock the rest in the freezer for later.
Forget that Lean Cuisine, add a salad and some saltines – not Fritos! – and this is so low cal and healthy I can’t even calculate it !
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CPK Salad : What to do with that quinoa
Last week or so I posted a little ditty about quinoa, what it is and how to cook it, etc. One thing most people do with it is to add it to a salad. One of my all-time favorite salads is at the California Pizza Kitchen. Called ‘Quinoa & Arugula Salad’, it’s just as advertised,…only better. This is a light tasting salad with enough protein punch to carry you for hours. Since I’ve mastered the quinoa,…let’s make some.
CPK Salad; copycat
Step 1
Gather some quinoa to cook up, and asparagus to steam.
Check that post from last week on making that quinoa!
Step 2
Clean up that asparagus. Bend the end of one until it snaps, then use it to measure where to cut the rest in one whack.
Step 3:
Steam the asparagus. I used a steamer on the stove , but you can use the microwave. To be honest, I let mine cook too long – busy taking photos! Unless you shock them in ice water while they’re cooked, but crunchy, there will be ‘carry-over’. That means mushy veggies. Don’t do it ! Respect the ‘grass.
Step 4:
The Dressing.
CPK serves theirs with a champagne vinaigrette. Most online recipes have a slightly different variety, but I’m going full blown copycat here. I love this salad! Why are they so far away !? (the closest CPK is more than an hour drive for me)
My Champagne Vinaigrette:
3 Tbl Champagne Vinegar
1/2 Tbl Dijon Mustard
1/4 tsp Oregano, dried
3 Tbl Olive Oil (the good stuff! – I even used a Meyer Lemon infused version )
1/8 tsp Pressed Garlic (like the tiniest clove from the inside-smashed)
2 or 3 dashes of Hot Sauce
1 1/2 tsp Honey or agave
Get it together and whisk to combine. The mustard will help emulsify the mixture.
The Salad:
OK, so as a salad, it’s a make as you like deal…but here’s what I did.
On a big plate of arugula mix (I love those baby green mixes), drizzle with some of the dressing and toss. Then sprinkle on about a 1/4 cup of cooked quinoa, 1/3-1/2 cup steamed asparagus, 4 or 5 pieces of sun dried tomato, chopped, a sprinkling of feta cheese AND some red onion*.
* Note: How to calm down an onion. Ever get those salads and the onion could take your head off? Yeah, me too. Well, at CPK they don’t – why? Are they pickled? No,…it’s a head-slappingly simple trick. Slice the onion thin first, let it float in a little ice water while you put together the rest of the salad. Ta-da! Onion taste that won’t leave you with ‘onion breath’.
That’s it – my CPK Salad – enjoy!
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