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White Bean and Kale Stew 
Serves 4

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This adaptation of a Tuscan dish is a filling nutritional powerhouse packed with fiber, iron, vitamin C and vitamin A. It’s even more delicious the next day, after the flavors have deepened.

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1⁄4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
5 cups (packed) thinly sliced kale (about 1 large bunch)
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 cups vegetable or chicken broth, organic boxed or homemade
1 teaspoon dried basil, or 1 tablespoon fresh
1 teaspoon dried thyme, or 2 teaspoons fresh
1 pound white beans (cannellini), cooked and drained (dry beans are cheapest)
1 pound finely diced tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil and grated Romano cheese (to garnish)

1. In a large heavy pot, heat olive oil, garlic and red pepper over medium heat for 1 minute. Add kale, vinegar and broth; bring to boil. Reduce heat; add basil and thyme. Cover and simmer until kale wilts, about 7 minutes. Add beans and tomatoes with juice. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

2. Ladle stew into shallow bowls. Drizzle with a bit of olive oil and pass the grated Romano cheese.

Berry Breakfast Quinoa 
Serves 2

1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
1⁄2 cup soy or cow’s milk
1⁄2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen and defrosted
2 teaspoons maple syrup, if desired

The Incas called quinoa “the mother grain” and considered it sacred. Easy to cook and packed with fiber and all of the essential amino acids, this crunchy whole grain makes a delicious hot breakfast. Cook a little extra and add it to soups and stews for an inexpensive protein boost.
 
1. Place raw quinoa in a fine mesh sieve and rinse under cold water for about 1 minute, stirring gently with fingers. (It’s important to rinse quinoa because it’s naturally coated with a bitter-tasting compound.) Place quinoa and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover pot and lower heat. Let quinoa simmer for 12 to 15 minutes. Cooked quinoa looks fluffy and translucent.

2. To serve, place 1⁄2 to 2⁄3 cup cooked quinoa in a bowl. Add milk and berries, then drizzle with maple syrup. 

Leslie McGrath Taylor is a Connecticut-based poet and holistic health counselor who helps people improve their health through lifestyle shifts and good nutrition. 

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Comments

  • Rebecca 7/29/2009 8:47:32 AM

    Thanks for the article, but I'd like to hear more specifics, too...organic foods are much more expensive because they reflect the actual cost of farming. Foods made with corn and soybeans (and it's in everything whether you think so or not) are heavily subsidized by the government and so the final product is much cheaper to the consumer...and less healthy.

    I use a lot of eggs (I have 4 laying hens) as a protein source in omelets and quiches. Mixed with vegetables/herbs from the garden there is a huge variety of options. I also use the eggs to make my own pasta with locally grown flours. I use sourdough starter to save on yeast for bread and pizza dough. Another trick is to bake a large range fed chicken (5-6 lbs.) and use the meat for several days in pasta dishes, chicken salad, soups and pizza. It's amazing how far a whole chicken can go and the flavor of a range fed chicken is much more satisfying. Good luck!
    http://www.greenat50.com

  • Dawn 5/8/2009 10:31:47 PM

    This is a great article, but it neglects to mention that fresh fruit like blueberries out-of-season (which is most of the year in northern areas - try getting fresh produce in the winter, unless you've grown it yourself and frozen it!) and grains like quinoa aren't exactly cheap in most areas. Unless you have the cash on hand to buy in bulk and know where to shop (and it's certainly not at the much-touted whole foods stores, at least not here - they overprice everything!), you won't find a good deal on many healthy foods. I know - we have been buying white rice and using old black beans because the few dollars' difference between white and brown rice adds up fast when you're already struggling to stay in the black.

    Where are the articles on how to survive off rice, beans, organic peanut butter and homemade bread? This has some good tips for families looking to cut back on extravagant meals, but it'd be nice to see some tips for those of us who cut back a long time ago and still crave some variety.

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