Tag: lunch

Brussels Sprouts and Avocado Salad for Breast Health

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Brussels sprouts can be one of those, either you love them or you hate them. The truth is if they are done right you might just fall in love with these little sprouts that remind you of mini cabbages.

Actually brussels sprouts are in the cruciferous family such as cabbages and cauliflower. They hold a big punch in nutrition as well. In fact, many studies have shown that cruciferous vegetables such as arugula, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale are rich in sulforaphane – one of the primary phytochemicals (protective compounds found in plants) that helps prevent cancer.

Recent studies from the Linus Pauling Institute, which was supported by the National Cancer Institute, suggest that sulforaphane can selectively target and kill cancer cells while leaving normal cells healthy and unaffected.

Here are two more reasons why you should incorporate brussels sprouts into your diet:

• They lower cholesterol ~ brussels sprouts have bile acid binding properties, meaning they stick to cholesterol and help guide it out of the digestive system, so it’s not absorbed in the blood steam.

• They help reduce Inflammation ~ brussels sprouts are high in antioxidants, which protect cells from free radical damage and help reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammation in the body is a leading cause for most degenerative diseases and aging. I really believe you should enjoy your food and eat as many healing ingredients as possible. I hope you enjoy this recipe and remember to always Set the Table with Love.

Brussels Sprouts and Avocado Salad

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, plus 1 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 1 pound brussels sprouts, cleaned, trimmed and leaves separated 2-tablespoons raw walnuts 1 avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, and cubed 2 tablespoons cranberries, for garnish.

Instructions: Whisk together lemon zest and juice and mustard in a bowl. Add oil in slow nice and steady streams, whisking until emulsified. Next, season with salt and pepper. Clean the brussels sprouts and cut off the bottoms. Cut the brussels sprouts in halves and pull the leaves apart. Add the leaves, cut halves and walnuts into the dressing bowl. Toss the brussels sprout leaves and walnuts. Gently stir in avocado cubes, cranberries and season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.

 

Brussels Sprouts and Avocado Salad

What’s Trending in Food? Savory Yogurt and Turmeric/Curry Chickpeas and Greek Yogurt

Published on by Life with Lisa Washington2 Comments

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Roasted Red Curry Chickpeas, Yellow Chickpea Spread over Greek Yogurt

Fashion!! We are always looking for what’s hot on the runways. So, I will indulge that side of us, for just a moment; Retro is the thing this season, designers are getting their inspiration, once again from the 60’s and 70’s, but just an essence of the era, from high waist and wide- legged pans, to wide brim hats and Boho frocks. If you ask me, Boho frocks will always be in, I am just saying.

Okay, back to food. The big thing now, that’s trending in food, is savory yogurts and turmeric. We have seen yogurt topped with granola, coconut, chocolate chips, honey, etc., etc. But we are also, seeing this trend of topping and mixing yogurt with savory ingredients. Now in Ayurvedic medicine ( an ancient medical system of India, which take a holistic approach to healing)has been mixing yogurt with savory ingredients as a common practice to healing, especially using turmeric. It is known to provide many health benefits, one in particular is to help with anemia. Turmeric is also the main ingredient in yellow curry, hence the curry recipes I am sharing with you today.

So, I decided to take on this trend and make a healthy dish using yogurt and turmeric. This recipe is high in protein, to be exact, it packs a whopping 27 grams of protein. It is also great for digestion, because of it’s high content of probiotics. As well as, being high in potassium and b12, which provides lots of energy and good nerve health.

This recipe is super easy, high is vegetarian based protein and full of flavor. Enjoy.  Remember to eat on purpose as you Set the Table with Love.

Side note: In this dish you are making the chickpeas two ways, roasted and also as a spread over the yogurt.

Ingredients:

1 can organic chickpeas, rinsed and drained, you will use this one can, for the spread and for the roasted chickpeas, so divide the chick peas in half. Set the other half aside and prepare the roasted chickpeas first.

7 0z. greek yogurt

2 tbsp of chopped red bell pepper

mint and lemon zest as garnish

For the Red Curry Roasted Chickpeas

Half of the chickpeas

1 tbsp of olive oil

1/2 tbsp of red curry powder, more or less based on your preference

1 tbsp of  no salt garlic herbal seasonings

sea salt and cayenne pepper to taste

Direction:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
Blot chickpeas with a paper towel to dry them. In a bowl, toss chickpeas with olive oil, and season with red curry powder, no garlic seasoning and sea salt and cayenne pepper, to taste.  Spread on a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until browned and crunchy.

Ingredients :

For the Yellow Curry Chickpea Spread

The remaining chickpeas

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tbsp yellow curry powder, less or more based on your preference

sea salt to taste

Directions:

Add everything to a food processor and process until smooth, you may need more oil, if you like your spread thinner.

How to plate:

Add greek your to the bottom of your plate. Top with Yellow Curry spread first, then roasted chickpeas, than add garnishes and drizzle extra virgin olive oil over top the entire dish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RAW Green Pea Mint Hummus with crudités

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I love peas! I love hummus. Well here is the result of those two desires, my new love. This wonderfully refreshing Green Pea Mint Hummus. I used my Go Raw Sprouted Super Simple Seeds and made the base of this creamy yumminess. This hummus makes a great alternative to the regular chick pea version. One reason I love the recipe is because it’s lower in carbs and high in protein, because of the sprouted pumpkin and sunflower seeds and the seeds being sprouted makes this a very digestible treat, loaded with enzymes

It is great on veggies, as a spread or you can add it to raw veggie pasta with a little olive oil for a nice lunch or dinner.

Enjoy and Set the Table with Love.

RAW Green Pea Mint Hummus
RAW Green Pea Mint Hummus

Ingredients:

Raw Green Pea Mint Hummus 

2 cups peas
1/2 cups Go Raw Sprouted Super Simple Seeds
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp.  lemon juice
1 garlic scape (or 1 small clove garlic)
1/2 tsp. sea salt

In a food processor first process the seeds until you get a crunchy corn meal consistency. Add the other ingredients in the bowl of a food processor and process until mostly smooth. If needed, add a bit of water until you get the hummus consistency that you like.

Cut up your favorite veggies and serve. 

I used: radishes, red bell peppers, yellow and orange carrots

RAW Green Pea Mint Hummus
RAW Green Pea Mint Hummus

Southern Girls ~ Gluten Free Stuffed Cornbread with Spicy Mexican Beans

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Today I spent time with my friend Melissa. We both are true southern girls, so we love ourselves some cornbread. I made two versions of this recipe. One vegetarian and one vegan.  They both were very delicious. We talked about our childhood, birth order, being girls, southern 🙂 and how much we both love dessert. You know of course I had to have dessert, so I made this Vegan Nice Dream using my Go Raw Apple Cinnamon Sprouted Granola. Now remember to scroll down, that recipe with be at the end of this blog post.

Okay, back to the cornbread. The cornbread is sweet and the beans are spicy, an awesome combination. I topped the beans with cheese, and some cilantro and added fresh tomatoes all around the whole dish. I hope you will share this with your family and enjoy it as much as we girls did. Well till next time. Set the Table with Love.

Talk to you later, YA’LL. 🙂

cornbread
Southern Girls ~  Vegetarian Gluten Free Stuffed Cornbread with Spicy Mexican Beans a

CORN BREAD RECIPE Vegetarian                                                 

Wet Ingredients

2 large eggs, lightly beaten, at room temperature

( For VEGAN VERSION USE ONE FLAX SEED EGG (1 tablespoon ground flax seeds + 2 tablespoons water)

1 cup unsweetened Almond Milk

1/2 cup Organic Cane Sugar

1/3 cup Olive oil

Dry Ingredients

1/2 cup Bob’s Mills Tapicoa Flour

1/2 cup Bob’s Mills Sorghum Flour

1/4 cup Bob’s Mills Brown Rice Flour

1 cup Bob’s Mills GF Cornmeal

2 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Xanthan Gum

1 tsp Sea Salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease cast-iron skillet. Set a side.

2. In a large bowl, beat the wet ingredients with an electric mixer on low speed until well blended.

3. In a separated bowl, whisk together dry ingredients until thoroughly blended. Gradually, with a blender on low speed, add in the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients until the mixture is thick like cake batter. Spread evenly in the cast-iron pan.

4. Bake 25-30 minutes, or until top is firm and edges are lightly browned.

5. Remove from oven and set aside.

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Southern Girls ~ Gluten Free Vegan Stuffed Cornbread with Spicy Mexican Beans 

Spicy Mexican Beans

INGREDIENTS:

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 cup onions, diced

1/2 cup red bell peppers, diced

1 can organic dark kidney beans

1 can organic pinto beans

1 tbsp William Sonoma Apple smoked herb rub ( optional)

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp smoked chilis

1 tbsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp turmeric

2 tbsp vegetable broth

Sea salt and black pepper to taste

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped, for garnish

4 campri tomatoes, cut in fours, for garnish

1 cup of grated white cheddar cheese for the vegetarian version as a topping, 1 cup of vegan cheddar cheese for the vegan version as a topping

Directions:

Add olive oil to a deep sauce pan on medium high heat. Add onions and red bell peppers, cook for about 3 minutes. Add beans and stir. Add spices and stir until beans are coated with the spices. Add 1 tbsp of the vegetable broth, turn the heat down to medium. Cook for 4-5 minutes more adding the rest of the vegetable broth. Cook on a low heat for another 7-8 minutes, until beans are a little tender but still have a firmness.

Remove the cornbread from the cask iron pans, by flipping them over into a plate. The bottom part should be face up.  Scoop the middle of the cornbread out, about 1 1/2 – 2 inches down. Keeping the bottom in tack. You need to just scoop out enough to allow a space for the beans. Add the hot beans into the hollow of the cornbread. The beans need to be hot to melt the cheese, so if you need to warm them up some, do so. Once they are heated up, add the cheese on top, and the cilantro.  Add the quartered tomatoes around the entire dish, if desired.

Buffalo Sauce Cauliflower Pizza with a Vegan Ranch White Bean Spread

Published on by Life with Lisa WashingtonLeave a comment

Okay who doesn’t like pizza?  Who doesn’t like spicy buffalo sauce? Okay who doesn’t like Cauliflower? Alright put your hands down. LOL. 🙂  I love cauliflower. So, I was craving something spicy and pizza at the same time. I have heard of Buffalo wing pizza before, I think on television or saw it on a menu once, but buffalo sauce pizza. Hmm… How can we go Vegan or Vegetarian on this one?

I went Gluten Free Vegan on this recipe. It was super simple.  Now this recipe maybe spicy or not for you, so go with the level your GUT can take.

I used a pre made Gluten Free Vegan Pizza crust, that I found at Sprouts. This pizza crust  is in the section of their pre made meals and cheeses. I can not remember the name, but it is the only Gluten Free Vegan pizza-crust in that section.

Well here is what you will need and maybe a glass of water. Nah… That would not help anyway, according to food scientist, maybe some coconut water?

Enjoy!

Buffalo Sauce Cauliflower Pizza with a vegan Ranch Style White Bean Spread

Buffalo Sauce Cauliflower Pizza with a Ranch styled White Bean Spread

1 -2  pre made small pizza crust, drizzled with a little olive oil

2 Tbsp. olive oil 

2 cups cauliflower, chopped into florets ( you may have some left over, but the pizza crust come in a package of two)

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. paprika

1 /2 cup Louisiana  hot sauce or more.

Preheat the oven to 425°F.
In a large sauce pan.  Add the olive oil on medium low heat. Add the cauliflower and sauté until slightly tender, about 2-3 minutes. *NOTE: It will have to bake in the oven and that cooking time will get the cauliflower more tender.

Add the paprika and garlic on to the cauliflower and stir until all of the spices cover the veggies. Lower the heat and add the 1/2 cup of Louisiana hot sauce.  Stir the hot sauce into with the veggies, so it will coat the cauliflower completely. Here’s where your taste buds must take over. Give it a taste. See if you need more heat. Add more hot sauce according to your preference. *NOTE: If it’s too spicy, add just a little water at a time to decrease the heat. Keep the heat on, so the water can cook out of the cauliflower, if you decided to add it.

Once the cauliflower is drenched in hot sauce remove it from the heat, set aside.

Next:

Vegan  Ranch style White Bean Spread

1 can organic white beans

1 tbsp olive oil and 1/2 tsp  sea salt to seasoning the beans.

For Vegan Ranch flavoring

2 tbsp almond milk or coconut milk, unsweetened and original flavor
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tsp dried parsley
1 tbsp  apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice
1/4 tsp dried dill

Drain and Rinse the beans. Add the olive oil to a sauce pan. Add the beans and sea salt. Cook on a medium heat for 5 minutes. Stirring the beans. Remove from the heat, allow to cool down. Once cooled.  Add the beans to your food processor with all the rest of the ingredients, until very smooth. Taste to see if you need more salt or black pepper, you can also use cayenne pepper.

Next, add the bean spread to the lightly oiled pizza crust, spread it out evenly onto the crust.  Secondly, add the buffalo sauced cauliflower to the top of the white bean spread.  Nestling the cauliflower into the spread. Bake in the oven on 425 for as long as your pizza crust directions has instructed you. I cooked mines for 15 minutes. It is best to buy a pre made crust, because your toppings are already cooked.  If your pizza crust is frozen, allow it to thaw out before adding ingredients, so your ingredients do not burn before your crust is done.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and hey get adventurous and add your own twist to it. Try a Tuscan Pizza with veggies and a sundries tomato bean spread.

Set the Table with Love. 🙂

Homemade Flatbread, Roti, Tortilla? Hmm.. You decide

Published on by Life with Lisa WashingtonLeave a comment

Other day my family wanted to eat cajun flatbread pizza. It is really yummy. It’s basically sautéed onions, cajun sausage, spicy barbecue sauce and sharp cheddar cheese. Unfortunately, we did not have any flat bread. My hubby was about

to go and run out to the store and buy some, when I yelled, Stop!!! As though he was committing a crime. I will make the flatbread from scratch in my Super “Mama” Hero voice. LOL

Very easy! The funny thing is when I posted it on Facebook my friend from India asked me, “Is that Roti.” NO! It is Flat bread. My friend who is spanish asked me, “Is that Tortilla?” NO! It is flatbread. But hey it can be whatever you like.

Here is the recipe. This is a no yeast flatbread.

Enjoy! Remember to Set the Table with Love.

Italian Herb infused Flat bread

  • 1 3/4 cup  organic all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 cup vegetable shortening
  • 3 cloves, crushed garlic, Finely crushed
  • 1/2 tbsp Italian herb blend ( I used a blend with a grinder, to get bigger chunks of herbs) optional
  • 1/2 cup hot water

See those bubbles.

Preparation:

Sift the flour, salt, and baking powder to a mixing bowl. Add the shortening and garlic, and work into the flour with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.Pour in the hot water and stir with a fork to combine. Pour mixture on a lightly floured surface and knead with your hands for about 3 minutes to form a smooth, soft dough. * Tip ~ If the flour get’s sticky add more flour to the dough, just a little at a time, until it is not sticky anymore. Put it back into the bowl, cover with a towel and let rest 20 minutes.Divide the dough into 6 balls, and roll between your palms of our hand until you have a soft smooth ball. With a rolling pin, roll out each ball of dough into a thin circle about 1/8-inch thick.

Preheat a dry cast iron or non-stick pan over medium-high heat.  Place the flatbread in the hot pan and cook for one minute, or until small air bubbles appear. Flip over and cook for another minute. Flip again for about another minute. During this last flip you will notice the bread puffing up,  this is what you want to see. You also want small charred spots to form on the bread as well.

Remove immediately from the hot pan onto a platter. You are ready to enjoy your flatbread, roti, tortilla? But never the less, Enjoy. They can be kept warm in the oven if you are not serving them all at once.

On this flat bread I added some olive oil, butter lettuce, walnuts and shaved parmiagiana reggiano and cracked black pepper and a dash of salt.  Of course my men folk added the spicy cajun ingredients. I also use this recipe to make wraps and tacos.