Oatmeal!!!!

I was cooking oatmeal one day and I am sure that my kids were commenting about how much we ate oatmeal. At that point it occurred to me that we didn't have so eat the SAME kind of oatmeal!!! I thought about muffins and how many kinds there were. So I thought I would share this week the different combinations that we now love in our home. :)

Blueberry Almond

1 1/2 Cup Water

Pinch of Salt

1 Cup Old Fashion Oats

Stevia to taste

2/3 Cup Fresh or Frozen Blueberries

2 tsp. Almond Extract

Place everything in a pot and boil till done.

Serve and

Top it off with Slivered Almonds

Orange Cranberry

1 1/2 Cup Water

Pinch of Salt

1 Cup Old Fashion Oats

Stevia to taste

1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries

3 Drops Doterra Wild Orange oil or

1 Orange juiced and Zest

Banana Nut

1 1/2 Cup Water

Pinch of Salt

1 Cup Old Fashion Oats

Coconut Sugar to taste

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1 Large Smashed up Banana or Sliced

1/4 C Chopped Pecan or Walnuts

Apple Cinnamon

1 1/2 Cup Water

Pinch of Salt

1 Cup Old Fashion Oats

Coconut Sugar to taste

1/2 tsp Cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg and Mace (Optional)

As much Apple as you like chopped I like to use Granny and Gala or Fuji

Top it off with  Chopped Pecan or Walnuts

Peaches and Cream

1 1/2 Cup Water

Pinch of Salt

1 Cup Old Fashion Oats

Stevia to taste

Slice up peaches

Add some Coconut Cream Mix and enjoy

You can also do this with Strawberries

Lemon Poppy Seed

1 1/2 Cup Water

Pinch of Salt

1 Cup Old Fashion Oats

Stevia to taste

1 tsp Lemon Extract

1 Tbsp Poppy Seeds

Orange Chocolate

1 1/2 Cup Water

Pinch of Salt

1 Cup Old Fashion Oats

4 Tbsp Stevia

2 Tbsp Chocolate Powder

4 Drops Wild Orange Doterra oil or 1 tsp Orange Extract

Nut of your choice (Optional)

Top with Orange Zest (Optional)

I hope that you have fun with your oatmeal from now on. Also, I love to replace the old fashion oats for Stone ground oats. They have a wonderful texture they take a little longer to cook unless you remember to soak them over night first. They also take more water as it is kind of like cooking rice or Ground Wheat.

I have tried to make these measurements close to what I use. I  kind of dump when I cook instead of actually measure. Please feel free to eyeball your ingredients to your liking. I hope that you take your oatmeal to the next level and play with the flavors and textures.

Other great things to add to your oatmeal are Flax Seed, Chia Seed. These have your important Omegas as well as Protein.

 Here is to a healthy vegan breakfast!!!

Much love, Emily Bryar

Quick tip for starch based dishes!!!

Just because I had this picture already up on a post waiting for me to blog about it I will blog my quick tip for fast lunches or dinners.

I love cooking a bunch of brown rice all at once then freezing it into portion sizes. When you need or want something really fast it is so easy just take it out of your freezer empty the rice into a strainer and run hot water over it. It will thaw it as well as heat it up for you. YAY half of your work is done in like a minute. Add some Soy Sauce to your rice and add veggies. Done!!!
 Sometimes I add just Mushrooms with Smoked Paprika and Nutritional Yeast, and Salt, with just a little bit of Cumin. Today for lunch with my husband I made Mushrooms with the above seasonings and veggie broth and when the Mushrooms were done I added a bunch of Kale and let them wilt. Still a little stiff as I do not like soggy veggies. added a little bit of salt and pepper  and in the Rice I added a little bit of chili sauce as I like things just a little spicy sometimes. It was quick and easy and not to bad is I do say so myself. :)

Cheers, here is to our health!!!  Much love, Emily Bryar

As promised Easy Chili

  Sorry I don't have another picture of my chili however, you can view it on the Cheese post.
Growing up we LOVED my moms chili. It was SIMPLE, FAST, EASY, and YUMMY! Over time I have taken her recipe and made my own. Here is what I have come up with. I hope that you give it a shot

A quick side note that if you want to start cooking, and basically just know how to open a can, this is your recipe!!! Also great for kids who want or need to learn how to start cooking.

 Easy Chili
Here is what you will need.

1-4 Tbsp of Chili Powder (depending on how spicy you want it)
1 tsp Onion Powder
1/4 Cup Nutritional Yeast (if you want it cheesy. If not omit this this however, it makes it a little bit creamy)
1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika  (if you want it a little bacon flavor in it,  taste it when all is incorporated it may need a little more.)
Salt to taste.
Also if you like it really hot add in some Chipotle powder to your liking.

2- 15.25oz Cans Black Beans
2- 15.25oz Cans Pinto Beans
2- 15.25oz Can Red Kidney Bean
(I try and use no salt added beans) I open and rinse my beans but you do not have to do this. Draining works just fine also.
1 28oz can diced Tomatoes
1 15ish oz can of Caned Tomato Sauce
Open Tomatoes and set aside.

1 Large Onion
1 Pepper Green is pretty but any color will do.
Chop the onion and pepper. It doesn't have to be small unless you don't like big chunks then dice them for all I care. It is all good!!!
 Throw this into a large pot and add in some water or veggie broth. Cook until onions are translucent.
Add in your Beans, Tomatoes, and seasonings. Mix well and heat it up. I like to cook on high if you do this just make sure that you stir the bottom and just heat it until it is warm to your liking.

*Note: If I need a pizza type dinner I omit the veggie part add and open the beans, tomatoes and spices throw them all into a big pot heat, and serve. This type of ultra fast chili is best with rice, or potatoes.

More posts!!!! and Enchilada Soup

    Now that school is back in session and this year I am not home schooling, I am going to try and post once a week. We will see how I do. :0) I have been taking a lot of pictures of my food and so I just need to play catch up. For now I will post what we are having tonight. This recipe comes from my dear sister who is following my lead and leaning the vegan way of life. We are going to call this Enchilada Soup it is really good and not spicy for those of you who have little kids who don't like spice. :0)

                                               This really is very good so get excited!!!

Enchilada Soup

Boil 2 Sweet Potatoes
Boil 1 Cup of Black Forbidden Rice.
    (This adds color and texture. If you cant get it just use brown rice.)
Chop and saute Onion and Bell Peppers.
    (Use other Peppers if you want it spicy)
Open 2- 15oz cans of  Black Beans and 1-15oz can of Pinto Drain and rinse
Open 1-28oz can Medium Green Chili Enchilada Sauce

I was cooking all of these on medium to medium high so that I could multi task without burning. ;0)
  When Potatoes are done place them in the blender with its water and blend till smooth
Place that in a LARGE cooking pot and add your Onions, Peppers, Beans, Enchilada Sauce. Mix in
Rinse your Forbidden rice well so that the soup doesn't turn an unpleasant color. Add that also to your soup.
  I added blended Avocado to add creaminess, and I also added chopped Cilantro Add these at the end of it all so that the flavors are fresh. :0)
 
 I hope that you make this it is really very good and healthy. :0)
Much Love, Emily

  

Simplisity

     I was at the grocery store today, thinking about what I wanted to feed my family tonight for dinner. Standing in the produce section I was drawing a blank. Then it hit me, I didn't need to make something complicated.  I went back to the basics!!!
  So, if you ever get stuck in ideas you are not alone and its ok to go back to the basics. Things don't have to be fancy or complicated.

 This is what we are having tonight
Baked Potatoes
All but my husband who likes sweet potatoes
Steamed fresh Green Beans
Corn on the Cob
    We are having yellow but if you wanted a prettier plate the purple corn is a beautiful addition
Carrot Chips
Red Peppers cut into squares
  It is yummy and beautiful yet simple. :0)

Much love, Emily Bryar

Simple and Fast Vegan, Gluten Free, Noodle Soup

  Lets face it. We have days that we just need a "pizza night." I know that there are days that I have just been to busy, or too tired to even think about cooking. There are also days that I am rushing out the door and it was time for me to leave 10 minutes ago and I still have to brush my teeth and put on a little lip stick and out the door I go just to remember that I didn't have any dinner for the family!!!! Oh boy I don't want them to eat junk for dinner.  If they have to then I want to know what kind of "junk" goes into their bodies.  :0) So I have a few simple dinners that I will blog about. I put under that label for easy finding. Tonight I want to share what I did tonight for dinner.

 

Simple and delicious soup.

 

If you have just been to busy or are just tired or are having "one of those days" here is your dinner!!!

This makes a big pot to feed my crew of 7 so cut it in half or invite neighbors or friends etc over.

 

2- 32oz boxes of Organic Vegetable Broth Low Sodium

1- 12oz package Gluten Free Spaghetti Noodles

                                   ( I really love the texture of Heartland Noodles)

2-4 Cups of Frozen Veggies

1 tsp Dry Crushed Oregano

1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes (Optional but yummy)

Salt and Pepper to taste.

 

Heat broth with the frozen veggies in a pot. Once it is softly boiling or about to boil add your noodles and cook until the noodles are soft about 11 minutes or whatever the package says. Test noodles to make sure that they are Al dente. And there you go!!! Ready to eat and so yummy.

If you have a little more time it would be great with some onions that have been sautéed in broth first. Then add your broth, and veggies etc.

 

If you are in a SUPER big rush then just through it all in a big pot and tell whoever is in charge to check it in 15 minutes.  :0)

 

*This would be a great soup to test flavors on. Add Chili powder, dried Cilantro, Salsa, and a small can peppers and beans. Garnish with Guacamole. Yummy!!!

 

 I hope that you will try this soup my kids really loved it.

Best of my love, Emily Bryar