Butter Beans and Greens

I enjoying making new recipes. This one is inspired by several different recipes recipes I found online. My search began with an interest in finding additional ways to enjoy BUTTER BEANS. I love how butter beans melt in your mouth. They are a comfort food for me. I wanted to find a way to add texture and flavor to the beans to create a dish. 

I started with dry beans and re-hydrated them. You can start with canned beans and drain and rinse them. 

Ingredients:

1. 6 Garlic Cloves - smashed and diced
2. 1/2 cup onion - diced
   
3. 3 cups of Kale/Spinach/Chard  - diced
4. Sun dried tomatoes (2 whole then diced or 3 TBSP of diced)
5. 1 can of tomatoes (I used fire roasted with garlic)
6. 2 cups of butter beans
7. 1 TBSP Italian seasoning
8. 1/2 TBSP crushed red pepper
9. Olive oil (just enough so nothing sticks to the pan)
   

Serve: add parmesan cheese and/or cooked pasta

Instructions:

1. Add the olive oil, sun dried tomatoes, garlic, and onion to the pan. Cook until the onions are translucent. 
2. Add the spices and the tomatoes. Stir to combine.
3. Add the greens and cook until wilted. Reduce heat.
   
4. Add the beans so they absorb the flavor. 
5. Cover for about 10 minutes.  Stir gently and turn off.
   
6. If you want a "runnier" dish, you can add an additional can of tomatoes. 
   

Kale, Chickpeas, and Tomatoes

My garden is producing quite a bit of lettuce, chard, and kale right now. As a result, I searched for recipes to use the bounty from my garden in new ways. I came across a recipe for Chickpeas and Kale in Spicy Pomodoro Sauce. 

I modified the recipe and made it my own based on the ingredients I had on hand and personal preferences. My dish features the KALE more than the original. It leaves the ingredients chunky and with a variety of textures.

 

Ingredients:

• 6 cloves of garlic (diced and crushed)
• 1 14 OZ can of diced tomatoes  (either with garlic or italian herbs)
• 3 cups of diced kale
• 2 cups chickpeas
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 1/2 tsp caraway seeds
• olive oil (so nothing sticks to the pan)

Instructions:

• Saute the garlic and onion in oilve oil until translucent
• Add the caraway seed and warm for a minute or two
• Add the diced tomatoes and stir to combine
• After a few minutes add the kale and chickpeas
• Cook until kale has softened to your liking 

Serve with rice, gluten free pasta, or gluten free bread bread 

You can add some shredded mozzarella or Parmesan cheese (I prefer Violife Vegan Cheese) to the dish as you serve

Cauliflower ... I Can't Get Enough ...

I began by slicing in half THREE LARGE cauliflower florets. I sprinkled them with olive oil and paprika and baked them in the oven (preheated to 350) for about 30 minutes. NOTE: I put them on non-stick aluminum foil for easy clean up ... and no need to add extra oil).

I love finding ways to incorporate cauliflower in my diet as it is high in fiber and Vitamin C as well as it contains folate, potassium, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin K.  

Chia Pasta from SOW,  Seeds of Wellness

I love to use Chia Pasta! There are a variety of gluten free pastas on the market and this one stands out for its texture, flavor, and nutritional value. It is a nutrition boost to any meal! Chia seeds contain 45 times more protein than chickpeas, 10 times more omega 3s than salmon, and 4 times more iron than spinach. If I have the opportunity to increase the nutritional value of a meal without sacrificing taste,  I will not think twice! SOW Pasta is an easy addition/substitution into any pasta meal!

Paprika Baked Cauliflower Chia Pasta

Ingredients (serves 2):

• Three large cauliflower florets (about FIST size)
• paprika
• olive oil
• 2 cups frozen corn
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1/2 cup diced onion 
• 2 cloves garlic smashed and diced
• 3 cups SOW Chia Pasts

NOTE: If this is your first time trying SOW Chia Pasta, perhaps replace 1/2 of the pasta you normally use with SOW Chia Pasta. 

Instructions:

• Prepare cauliflower florets as noted above
• Satue onion and garlic in just enough olive oil so it does not stick to the pan
• Once translucent, add frozen corn and crushed red pepper. combine and reduce heat to warm corn kernels.
  
• Boil water and prepare pasta
• Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water. Add pasta and pasta water to the corn, onion, garlic mixture. Stir to combine. 
• Once most of the moisture is gone, dice the roasted cauliflower and add to teh pasta to warm the vegetable. 

 

Serving Options

Sprinkle with black pepper, Chia oil, or cheese (vegan option) or your choice.