Tomato Soup with White Beans and Pasta

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/4 tsp. dried oregano
• 2 15 oz cans diced tomatoes (I used seasoned--you can use one with chili peppers if you want more of a kick)
• 28 oz. low-sodium chicken broth (I used 28 ounces of water and added an envelope of dry soup mix)
• 1/2 cup small pasta
• 1 15 oz. can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
• Salt and pepper
• 2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS:

1. Warm oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Add oregano, stir once, then add tomatoes with juice and chicken broth.  Bring to a boil.
2. Add pasta, stir, and cook until just tender, about 8 minutes.  Stir in beans, lower heat and simmer until warmed through, about 5 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.  Stir in parsley and serve, drizzling each portion with additional olive oil if desired. 
3. Can sprinkle a little cheese on the top before serving, if desired.  (We used parmesan--yummy!)

*The serving size on the recipe said it served 4 so I quadrupled it.  I now have a mountain of soup.  We could probably eat it for a week, so I would say that it probably really serves 6-8. 

Most all of the kids really liked it and the grown-ups all really liked it too!

Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tbsp milled flax
6 tbsp water
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup walnuts (optional)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until smooth.  Beat in flax and water, then stir in vanilla.  In a separate medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture just until blended.  Mix in the quick oats, walnuts and chocolate chips.  Drop by heaping spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets.  Bake for 12 minutes.


This one is another favorite at our house.  So yummy!  You'd never guess they're whole wheat cookies!  I found the basic recipe on All Recipes.com but tweaked it by substituting in some healthier ingredients.

Blueberry Banana Pancakes

I made up this recipe this morning and it was so good!  The kids couldn't get enough and they are so filling and nutritious!  We ate them without syrup, but one could add Grade B maple syrup or whatever other healthy alternative.  It is Dairy free/Egg free/Sugar free and Gluten free.

1/2 c. flax seed (ground in blender)
1/2 c. buckwheat (ground in blender)
1/2 c. Gluten Free oats (ground in blender)
1 c. brown rice flour (or regular whole wheat flour could be substituted)
1 can of coconut milk
2 T. coconut oil
2 t. baking soda
1 t. sea salt
1 t. organic vanilla
1 t. xanthan gum (not needed if using regular flour)
2 mashed bananas
1 c. frozen blueberries

Mix altogether and add water to get the desired consistency.  Cook on griddle with a little coconut oil.  Serve.  Makes about 30 medium pancakes.

Avocado Melt Panini

4 sliced sourdough bread
8 sliced mozzarella
1 avocado, mashed
1 slice red onion ring, halved (I'm not a fan and I didn't use onion)
1 Roma tomato, sliced thin
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
Extra virgin olive oil

Layer each slice of bread with 2 slices of mozzarella.  Evenly distribute the mahed avocado, onion, tomato, and cilantro on two of the slices of bread. 

Close the sandwiches and lightly drizzle the outside with olive oil.  Grill on a panini press for 5 minutes or until mozzarella is completely melted.

*I don't have a panini press, so I just brushed each side of the bread with olive oil and grilled it in a pan on the stove (Grilled Cheese style).  It was really tasty.  Loved it coupled with the homemade tomato soup.

Tomato and Avocado Soup

• 1 28-oz can whole tomatoes with juices (I used diced tomatoes pre-seasonsed with basil, oregano, and garlic)
• 1/2 cup plain soy milk (you could use regular or almond or whatever you like)
• 1 small leek, cleaned and chopped (didn't have one, so I left it out and it turned out fine without)
• 10 leaves fresh basil
• 1 Tbsp. light brown sugar
• 1/8 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock
• 1/2 medium ripe avocado, seeded and diced.

Combine the tomatoes, their juices, soy milk, leek, basil, brown sugar, salt, and pepper in a food processor or blender.  Pulse until thoroughly combined.  Slowly add the vegetable stock until your desired consistency is reached.

Transfer the soup into a medium saucepan and wamr over medium heat for 15 minutes.

Divide the avocado pieces evenly in four bowls, ladle soup into each bowl, and serve hot.

*I made this for the first time tonight and I'm pretty sure my Campbell's soup days are completely over!  It was super quick and easy and really tasty.  I think that using the preseasoned diced tomatoes made it really yummy.  We coupled it with the grilled cheese, tomato and avocado sandwiches and it was a really delicious meal.

Vegetarian Bean and Barley Vegetable Soup

1/2 onion, diced
2 ribs celery, diced
2 carrots, diced
any other vegetables desired, 1/2 cup each (we put in some corn and green beans)
2 Tbsp. oil or margarine
8 cups water or vegetable broth
1 cup pearled barley, uncooked
1 cup pinto or white beans, pre-soaked if dry
1/3 cup tomato paste or crushed tomatoes
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. celery salt (optional)
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp oregano or Italian spice mix
1/2 tsp thyme
1 tsp onion powder (optional)
2 large bay leaves

In a large soup pot, sautee the onions, celery, carrots and any other vegetables for 3-5 minutes.  Add vegetable broth or water and all other ingredients and bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium low.

Allow to simmer for at least an hour, stirring occasionally, until barley is soft and somewhat fluffy.  Add more spices to taste and emjoy!

Ted made this the other night.  It was super yummy.  You could add any other spices or vegetables you like.

French Toast

1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1 tsp nutritional yeast flakes
Pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup coconut milk (the canned kind - in the Asian food aisle)
6 to 8 slices of favorite whole grain bread

Mix dry ingredients (flour, nutritional yeast flakes, salt, nutmeg, cinnamon) into bowl.  Stir in coconut milk until well blended.  Dip slices of bread into batter on both sides.  Place on pre-heated oiled griddle and cook until golden brown (3 to 5 minutes).  Repeat on other side till golden brown.  Serve with fruit, pure maple syrup, etc.

 Recipe taken from:  "Original Fast Foods" by James & Colleen Simmons

**We weren't too sure if we would like this recipe, but it turned out delicious!  Definitely a favorite at our house ... our kids can never get enough of it and we have to always double the batch!!