Easy, Tasty Oatmeal

Oatmeal has a bad wrap! Most people view it as boring and bland.  Not only is oatmeal extremely healthy with loads of fiber but with the proper recipe it is easy to make and super yummy. I make a pot full and leave it in the fridge.  Then for breakfast in a rush, I just zap it in the microwave for a minute with a little milk and there you go, a healthy homemade breakfast in seconds.

Cooking Time: 15 minutes Servings: 4

Ingredients

4 cups 1% milk

1 tsp cinnamon

1 cup pitted and chopped dates or 3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 cups old fashion oatmeal

 

Cooking Instructions

1.      Put milk, cinnamon and dates in a thick based pot turn heat on medium and bring milk to a boil.

 

 

 

2.    Add oatmeal, turn heat down to low and let oatmeal simmer for 10 minutes.

3.    Once oatmeal is at the desired texture remove from heat, let it cool for a couple minutes and serve.

  

Vegan Crockpot Chili

As a parents we are always busy, running from one obstacle to another.  Whether you are a stay-at-home dad, an executive mom, or a homeschooling parent; we just cannot keep up with all the demands and delights of parenthood, not to mention cook a decent meal.  So in an effort to provide my growing children with a healthy diet and appetizing food, I began to embrace my crockpot.  In effort to live up to my dreams of feeding my family a clean cuisine in the shortest amount of time possible I came up with this vegan recipe.  We couldn’t get enough of it, and I made extra so there was enough left over for lunch for a couple days too.  If you are using dried beans instead of canned remember to soak them 24 hours in advance.  Dried beans are cheaper with less salt, chemicals and preservatives than canned beans.

 

Vegan Crockpot Chili

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Servings: 10-12

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 medium onion chopped

4 cloves of garlic minced

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon flaked basil

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

2 cups of dry kidney beans soaked overnight or 2 cans of organic PBA free kidney beans.

2 fifteen ounce cans low sodium tomato sauce

1 cup red or orange sweet peppers chopped (red or orange so the family will not know they are there)

Directions:

1.       Put olive oil in a skillet and sauté onions, garlic, cumin, basil and black pepper until onion start to lightly brown.

2.       In your crockpot, put the beans in first, then the tomato sauce and onion mixture then combine.  Finally put the peppers on top.  Cover the crockpot and turn to low if you want it to be ready in 8 hours or more.  Set to crockpot to high if you want it done in 4 hours.

3.       Once it is done, stir in the peppers and serve with a side of rice or crusted bread.  Most importantly, add a salad or some roasted vegetables as a healthy side.

 

Harvest Your Own

Walking down the streets of our neighborhood is like strolling through the different sections of a botanical garden. Lucious green lawns and flower beds more colorful than a rainbow are the reward of the hard work of the tireless gardeners. As I walk through the neighborhood, I frequently stretch my neck in hopes of getting a look at a vegetable garden here or there but unfortunately they are far and few between. But when I do get a glimpse at one, a bigger smile spreads across my face. 

All plants are beautiful and serve a purpose in this world but my favorite plants are those I can eat. We plant a vegetable garden every year and each year we get better and more courageous, willing to experiment with new varieties. Vegetable gardening is not only fun but it is healthy for more reasons than you think!

First off, it is a great work out. If you garden properly, it is not strenuous. In fact it builds strength and stamina. Whenever I garden the next day my legs are soar from all the squats I did mindlessly getting done to dig, plant, pick and weed. My arms get a great work out from all the lifting and digging. And I get some heart healthy walking from going back and forth from the garden to the garage, kitchen or wherever I have to go. 

In addition to the work out, gardening encourages people to eat more vegetables and fruits especially kids. Children get excited about the peas, green beans, lettuce or whatever they grow in their garden making them more willing to try new foods. 

Finally, it also a fun productive way to spend time with the family. It gives everyone a sense of accomplishment of what the family did together. Children like to show off their gardens to friends and family which help build self-esteem in their abilities to reach goals. At the end they have something to show, enjoy and share after all their hard work.  

There is still some time to start your own. Build a family with healthier bonds and bodies, now get out there and garden.