I'm a Grandma!!!! :) Love this little girl!

oh my goodness... I've been craving Taco Soup... something I've missed... found a recipe for non meat version, and made my own tweaks of course! Everyone loved it! Even my daughter who doesn't usually like beans! Next time, I may add a few more veggies, like diced zucchini.

Taco Soup

1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can pinto, drained and rinsed
1 can black eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1 can mayocoba beans (or any white bean), drained and rinsed
1 can fire-roasted tomatoes
2 small cans tomato sauce
2 no beef broth cubes (or vegetable)
4 cubs of water
Black pepper, to taste
2-3 tablespoons taco seasoning, to taste
Several drops Liquid Smoke
1 cup of frozen corn

I added this when it needed more flavor! I'll measure next time!
2 dashes of cumin, chili powder, ancho chili powder, and parsley. 

Use the water and no beef cubes to make broth.
Line a Dutch oven with a little no beef broth, add the onion and cook until the onion has caramelized slightly. Add the garlic and cook a couple of minutes more.

Add the beans, tomatoes, and tomato sauce plus 2 tomato sauce cans of water. Pour in the rest of the vegetable broth, then the seasonings and Liquid Smoke. Stir and taste for seasoning.

Bring to a boil, lower heat to medium, cover and cook 20 minutes, until done. Add corn a few minutes before done.

I had rice/quinoa cooked earlier, so I put a 1/2 a cup in my bowl and threw some kale on it, and heated in the microwave. 
Serve the soup over rice/quinoa mixture and kale. Yum!

Blog, blog, here, blog, blog, blog there! haha. It's been a busy summer! Helping with interviewing, having a new puppy, and becoming a Grandma are the toppers! (well, becoming a Grandma was at the very top!!!) In between the busyness, I've been trying to blog and add recipes to Dr. Carney's Website https://www.starch-smart.com/, but admittedly have not added as many as I thought I would have by now! Today I re-purposed a group on FB that I created to now encourage plant based eating and potlucks in our area! https://www.facebook.com/groups/372740702832746/

Fo Reals Life is a website that has some really great recipes one. A few I have tried, and many more I plan on trying!
Eating Plant based does not mean that you can not have Creamy! This Creamy Spinach Jalapeno Dip is great as it is, but I am thinking of trying to put some artichokes in it next time! Great with vegetables, HEB Multi grain rice crackers, and your favorite chip.
While it has jalapeno in it, it was not spicy since we did not put any of the seeds in it. If you like spicy, then add some seeds!

http://forealslife.com/blog/creamy-vegan-spinach-jalapeno-dip

Veggie Stew With Dumplings

Stew:
    2 teaspoons vegetable stock concentrate
    1 cup boiling water
    1 teaspoon Herbs de Provence (rosemary, thyme, marjoram, summer savory, basil, sage and tarragon)
    1 teaspoon oregano
    2 tablespoons olive oil
    1 cup turnip, peeled and diced
    1 cup onion, chopped
    1 cup carrot, diced
    1/2 cup celery, sliced
    1 clove garlic, minced
    2 bay leaves
    1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
    1/2 teaspoon rosemary
    1/2 teaspoon basil
    2 cups water
    5 teaspoons tamari
    2-3 potatoes, peeled and chopped
    1 cup frozen peas
    2 tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water
    salt and pepper, to taste

    Dumplings:
    1 cup all-purpose flour
    2 teaspoons baking powder
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/4 cup parsley, chopped
    1/2 cup nondairy milk (I use soy)
    2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:

1. For stew,  blend first four ingredients and set aside. Sauté turnip, onion, carrot, celery, bay leaves, rosemary, basil, garlic and parsley in oil for 8 minutes.

2. Add water, broth mixture, tamari and potatoes.  Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add peas, continue cooking another few minutes. Remove bay leaves.  Combine cornstarch and water, add to stew, and stir until thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

3. For dumplings, sift dry ingredients together then add parsley. Mix milk with oil and add to dry ingredients (just stir until moistened). Drop mixture by tablespoonfuls onto stew. Cover and cook for 15 minutes (Do NOT lift the lid!)

I should have warned you guys that it (this recipe) has a lot of ingredients and looks lengthy. But I swear it a snap to make!

     Well, it has been quite some time since I posted on this blog. With time comes change. Eating plant based has been a bumpy road. While I know it's the healthiest way to eat for my body, old habits die hard, and eating too many vegan convenience products aren't really that healthy either. This year I decided not to make a New Years resolution, because let's face it, do we really ever keep them for long? I knew I needed a change however, so I decided this year needs to be about me! I was drained, physically and spiritually. 2013 was quite a year for our family and while it had it's ups, it had it downs too, and I knew that I could not continue to take good care of my family in the shape I was in. I know God is wanting me back in the game too. Back to do His work! You certainly are not useful to yourself, to your family or to The Lord if you aren't physically and spiritually fit! It was time to listen to my doctor and get to being serious on this plant based/starch smart road. So on January 2nd I weighed in at home and at school. (254 lbs... wow, did I just type that... I don't like to mention my weight) I always like a good challenge... so Biggest Looser on our campus was a bonus motivator! I lost about 7 lbs in the first 2 weeks! I was on a roll and determined to stay there! Then I saw a challenge at Elite BodyWorks, and decided another motivator couldn't hurt, and it would jump start my exercise. It was a 3 week challenge, and while I knew it was good, I didn't plan on spending the money to stay... but, well, when it works it works! I convinced my hubby that it was working for me, the trainers, the exercise and the accountability. My health was worth the cost not to have the cost of medical problems later. He's even working out their with me now! Yes, the man who hates the gym, does not mind working out there! They say loosing weight and getting fit is 80 % diet and 20%.... I tend to agree with that statement.... but will have to add for me it's also relying on the The Lords Strength 100% to keep my on track!
    When I first started this blog, I was determined to find, tweak and create recipes that would satisfy. Since then my idea of satisfaction has changed a bit. While I still want the flavor and comfort of good old home cooking, I am being much more careful on the fat content, and the substitutes I put into the recipes. Early on things like Tofuti sour cream and Veganaise became a staple in our house. And while they make recipes taste great, I am learning to take those out, and create healthier, and plant strong substitutes, or leave out the fat content of them all together, and create flavorful recipes without them, or very little of them. So bear with me as I begin to update recipes and add wonderful new favorites that are both yummy and healthy for you! You actually DO NOT need all that fat to create tasty meals!
oh...and update... Since January 2nd I have lost 32 lbs! Gained, muscle, lost many inches and feel sooo much better! I'm in the process of cleaning out my closet and getting rid of the clothes that are way to big! I'm not where I want to be yet, but I will be!!! New bathing suit (I think I can retire my 6 year old, to big bathing suit), here I come! I'll begin posting recipes again soon!

    I pray you find the strength and wisdom to be Motivated2Wellness with me!