Have you ever tasted a soup with a depth of flavor that you just can’t explain? Did it have an indescribable richness that you would love to duplicate? Chances are the chef of that soup utilized a secret trick that has become less common ever since boxed and canned broths have become prevalent at the market. Most likely the cook has an important but old-fashioned weapon in his or her arsenal – chicken stock made from scratch. While the sound of this might initially seem too overwhelming or involved, I can assure you that making chicken stock is easier than you think. I dare you to try it just once and you likely won’t be buying boxed chicken broth again. It does take some planning ahead, but it is SO WORTH IT! Not only is homemade stock delicious, it is incredibly nutritious as well. Continue reading Making Chicken Stock is Easier Than You Think
Category Archives: Main Courses
Curried Tuna Salad
This curried tuna salad is the perfect combination of sweet, sour, and salty! It has just the right amount of crunch and sass. We love to serve it on whole wheat bread with arugula and tomato slices. It is also lovely served along side a fresh bowl of orange slices or fruit salad. Perfect for a luncheon or baby shower! Continue reading Curried Tuna Salad
Lemon Garlic Kale Salad
Think your kids won’t eat kale? This super easy Lemon Garlic Kale Salad is a snap to throw together, and has quickly become a family favorite! This is one salad that benefits from allowing the dressing to soak in a little. The olive oil actually helps the nutrients from the kale to be more bioavailable. Use organic lemons and organic kale for a worry-free treat that you won’t soon forget. I can’t keep this one stocked at my house, folks! It is gone as quickly as it is made. If you think your children won’t like kale, this is a perfect recipe to try. My kids couldn’t be convinced to eat kale until they tasted this. Now I have a 17-year-old daughter who can be found sporting an “I LOVE KALE” t-shirt. And this is the recipe that made her a convert! Continue reading Lemon Garlic Kale Salad
Lemon Chicken Quinoa Soup
This Lemon Chicken Quinoa Soup is light, bright, and deliciously satisfying. Loaded with both flavor and nutrition, you can’t go wrong with this one! Our children rarely all like the same meal, but they all give this one an enthusiastic thumbs-up! Start with an organic, pasture-raised chicken and home-made stock. You will be setting yourself up for an incredibly wholesome meal, minus the bad stuff that usually comes with chicken soups. Who really needs MSG in their soup anyway? The tumeric is what gives this dish it’s beautiful yellow color. The addition of quinoa gives a hearty and nutritional bonus. This is truly a delicious, satisfying meal! Continue reading Lemon Chicken Quinoa Soup
Early Harvest Salad
This Early Harvest Salad was a perfect addition to our Mother’s Day celebration. There’s nothing like eating a freshly picked salad 10 minutes after it was growing in the soil! This salad was kindly harvested from the garden by Anthony for an extra special Mother’s Day treat. Sometimes the best salads are the ones where you head to the garden and collect a little of this and a little of that – whatever looks fresh and appetizing. Such was the case with this salad. Continue reading Early Harvest Salad
Curried Chickpeas
These curried chickpeas are a hearty addition to our meal plan rotation. Preparation is quick and simple, and the smell of the sweet curry wafting through the house is a welcome addition on a chilly afternoon. Besides being delicious, it is packed with protein and fiber, and plenty of nutrient-rich vegetables. We like to serve it with steamed quinoa topped with freshly diced pineapple, tomato, and cilantro. For extra heat, you can add more curry paste or a sprinkle of cayenne pepper. This recipe is also an excellent candidate for preparing in bulk and freezing. Continue reading Curried Chickpeas
Bulk Chicken Pot Pie with Mashed Potato Crust
This recipe is not difficult, but it does take a lot of time. I usually divide the prep into two separate days. I make the chicken and stock on the first day. On the second day I make the mashed potatoes and use the stock and chicken from the first day to create the creamy chicken vegetable mixture. Then I assemble the casseroles and freeze. It’s a major investment of time but it yields five 9×13 pans of delicious, quick dinners you can grab out of the freezer and throw in the oven for a yummy, hearty meal at the end of a long, hard day. Continue reading Bulk Chicken Pot Pie with Mashed Potato Crust
Cowboy Beans (Frijoles Charros)
The first time I had these Cowboy Beans I was blown away. They are the perfect combination of hearty, comforting, and tasty! Nutritionally, they are packed with a load of protein and fiber . They even have a hefty bit of veggies added. To keep things as healthy as possible, use organic, nitrate free bacon and chorizo sausage. Even better, use a chicken or turkey version of the bacon and sausage if you can find it (although the flavor will be somewhat different). These beans are absolutely lovely and the most satisfying when served with the suggested toppings. If you want to make this dish even better, pair the beans with Sweet Whole Grain Corn Muffins with Jalapenos. I dare you to try this. You’ll never look at beans the same way again! Continue reading Cowboy Beans (Frijoles Charros)
Organic Chicken Soup from Scratch
This is a delicious, wholesome variety of homemade organic chicken soup that contains nothing artificial. There are no boxed broths or msg-laden boullions involved (will be even better when I can use our own farm-raised chickens). It is truly lovely to indulge in bite after bite of everything that is good and nothing that is not. Although this recipe has many steps and is a two day endeavor, all of the steps are easy. If you try this even once, I am sure it will go to your list of favorites. Continue reading Organic Chicken Soup from Scratch
ColdLife Organics
ColdLife Organics is a weekly delivery service that delivers fresh organic produce to your home or office in the Atlanta area. They also offer a variety of dairy, grains, and pantry items. We recently had the opportunity to sample a complementary box of their fresh produce when we visited the Sub-Zero/Wolf Showroom last month. Take a look at what we received, and then drool over what we did with it! Continue reading ColdLife Organics