Kidney Bean Piquant Pepper Beet Soup & Whole Grain Rice

Kidney Bean Piquant Pepper Beet Soup flickr pics

Kidney Bean Piquant Pepper Beet Soup & Whole Grain Rice

Cumin, paprika, cayenne, turmeric, sea salt, ground pepper

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Red Lentil Vegetarian Soup – New Place Starting from Scratch

Starting from scratch in a new place without furniture and the first use of my new used kitchenware that I acquired through a local online buyers and sellers market http://offerup.com I was able to obtain these minimal pots and pans in reasonably good condition – for $20 bucks – to cook my first meal. What a deal!

Just what I needed, some used and in good condition pots & pans

Here are the pics of the ingredients I used to create the red lentil soup with vegetables and spices

And here is the audio podcast itself (which unfortunately takes you away from the pictures, which follow the same storyline). I did this on the fly without scripting it. The peppers which I hadn’t known the name of are habanero (that look like mini orange tomatoes) and I also used the dark green Jalapeño peppers.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZpcfKrrvwFUdgJzNJrpazbf_9ovCB6vO/view?usp=sharing

olive oil, sea salt, ground pepper, paprika, cumin, turmeric, onion, bell pepper, habanero and jalapeno peppers

I started my new kitchen with purchasing a sea salt and pepper grinder, and adding some spices; cumin, paprika, turmeric

I brought the red lentils to a boil, then simmered on low, adding salt, pepper and the various vegetables.

In a separate pan, I started to sauté onions on low heat, adding the spices, and then gradually each of the additional ingredients to that.

sauté onions adding the spices immediately to this low heat with olive oil

What I had not mentioned in the audio is that I learned from one of my hosts in Montpellier, France this last year about the benefits of combining beans and grains. This article http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/120914p36.shtml explains why historically, beans and grains have been combined. Various cultures already recognized the essential benefits of doing so. By combining these foods, one can source all of the necessary amino acids to derive all of the nutritional benefits of the two together. http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-combining-beans-grains-2574.html

As I explain in the audio, after I’ve sautéd the onions, mushrooms, peppers and spices, I add it to the separately cooking lentils and vegetables.

This article lists the eight essential amino acids. https://www.livestrong.com/article/351077-the-protein-in-rice-beans/ mentioning that “Beans and other legumes — also known as pulses — are nutritional complements to rice and help to complete its amino acid profile. It is not necessary to combine complementary proteins at the same meal. Just be sure to eat a variety of proteins sources throughout the day.”

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1U_vQdzFMfFCvNzLcGy1XTPXpqRZ1iwMp

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U_vQdzFMfFCvNzLcGy1XTPXpqRZ1iwMp/view?usp=sharing

Roasting as a Delicious Alternative – When you have only one pan.

delicious squash with salt pepper along with roasted garlic and onion

The Bell pepper was the first option, before I had a pan. After borrowing a shallow baking pan, I halved an acorn squash, scooped out the seeds, put it face down on a slightly oiled (olive oil) pan, and halved an onion, and plucked a few garlic cloves, leaving their skin on to retain moisture. Wow, all of the above were so delicious. This is the easiest way to cook, inside and outside.

Here are the pics, showing my pretty rustic conditions, considering I’ve moved back to the United States, to a new town, Providence, Rhode Island, and into a room with no furniture – and no kitchen ware.

I’m making it happen and eating very well, in conditions that are clean.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/21261638@N03/albums/72157692476811962

And the link for my podcast is here.

Dropbox Link “roasting acorn squash bell peppers onion.m4a”

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x9ju6v15zxy9dus/roasting%20acorn%20squash%20bell%20peppers%20onion.m4a?dl=0

bell pepper was the first option, when I had no pan at all

roasted acorn squash (sea salt & pepper only), onion and garlic

Posting a ‘job/home/community relocation’ info ad for myself!

Posting a ‘job/home/community relocation’ info ad for myself!

I, Carol Keiter, blogger, writer, musician, composer, environmental and nature enthusiast and animal activist need to relocate within weeks. I need to hone into> the right location, community and sources for work that will fulfill the job description which has evolved, as I’ve been writing this!

I realize that my job description is along the lines of broadcast journalism. The fact that I have a curiosity about many many subjects, the desire to travel and use my language skills, love of researching information, working with all sorts of digital media, interacting with people of myriad backgrounds and observing natural environments, and an interest in science and technology, with a joy in extracting and compiling information and then sharing it.

I am in search of a place to relocate, within not 6 months, but several weeks, as a start! My preference is to be based in a European city, where I can further develop and utilize my language skills (French, German, Spanish or Italian); where I can work together with a team making productions similar to what I’ve described as well as independently getting stories.

I’d like to focus on success stories about individual people and communities who have made a difference through their recognition and implementation of adopting better practices to safeguard their own environments and that of the animal habitats within their area. With a focus on the need to live interdependently and respectfully with other species; as the human species can act as caretakers of the planet and all creatures to celebrate this incredible biodiversity, not exploit it.

Within my challenge is the need to find housing, art or music cooperatives, live/work exchanges or just that perfect job I describe that will enable me to continue to do what I do best; observing, asking questions, writing and taking digital photos and sharing stories.

My goal > continuing along the lines of using my laptop computer for writing, photography, photoshop, sound recording, illustration (portrait art) and musical instrument skills (bass guitar and piano) & composition skills, and language skills to do work that involves > researching, compiling and exchanging information along the lines of technical/environmentally sustainable practices/renewable energy alternatives/habitat awareness and support for various species. All of this is relevant to the world’s current urgent need to organize campaigns to inform communities and support actions that employ and implement renewable energy systems in communities and DIY projects, awareness of how one’s own diet, transportation habits and actions reflect on the larger picture, the need for ocean cleanup, the need to wean ourselves from coal and oil and petroleum based energy resources and products to the awareness of animal rights and habitat preservation.

I wish to work with a team sharing enlightening information about what community success stories and how other communities could adopt similar practices and behaviors.

I wish to base myself in preferably a European metropolitan center to work with groups along these lines – where I can also develop and use my language skills, creativity, joy of interacting with divers peoples and groups – and a significant or equivalent amount of time traveling to areas which I wish to document and research> ideas and success stories revealing positive alternatives that can be adopted.

healthier living environments
habitat preservation
best practices as far as what types of foods one is consuming and how this affects the environment
better technological infrastructures for transportation that consider other species
healthier attitudes and respect of other species in general
infrastructure to provide mutually beneficial habitats for humans and animals and all of the interdependent life on the planet
the transition of infrastructures from coal and oil industries to the implementation of jobs supporting renewable energies; solar, wind, wave, biomass
encouraging new approaches to DIY technology to improve your own communities’ means of adapting and implementing all sorts of earth-friendly technologies for energy, healthy living and as stewards of all of the other species on the planet

Does anyone have any suggestions or leads? Along the lines of Al Jazeera America’s ‘Techknow’, National Geographic and a plethora of other environmental organizations from NRDC to Greenpeace.

Bottom line: I need to make a choice of where to relocate within weeks, and am looking for leads, ideas, groups to work with and a place to land.

Any offers or advice? I have no income or savings. Hence, sending this first ‘job/home-base search letter’ out there so that more ideas may spring up regarding what part of the world to go to?

My skills and passions are for the most part, besides motion and travel – a.k.a ‘nomadbeatz’ – as an environmental activist/researcher/journalist/portrait artist/illustrator/musician/composer/teacher/lecturer. I could be persuaded to dip towards any to these: writing, illustration, music composition for film and screenwriting. Yep, they are all over the place, yet they all interconnect.

I am physically, mentally/emotionally and spiritually fit, resilient and strong. Conversant in French, German and Spanish in addition to my native English.

The politics of fear and consent through silence and non-action, are not part of my playbook.

We can do it, if we put our minds and hearts together and sing and dance as we work.

résumé/portfolio:
http://carolkeiter.wordpress.com/2010/12/24/curriculum-vitae-portfolio
http://carolkeiter.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/parcel-of-my-portfolio

music:
http://www.myspace.com/nomadbeatz
http://www.reverbnation.com/nomadbeatz

ebook:
http://carolkeiter.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/final-metamorphosis-of-the-ebook-trailer-for-adora-vitali-a-spin-on-the-matter-of-motion/
http://spinonmatter.carbonmade.com/projects/4800092#1

social networks:
http://www.facebook.com/carol.keiter
http://carolkeiter.tumblr.com
http://www.twitter.com/carolkeiter
http://www.couchsurfing.org/people/carol_keiter
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/carol-keiter/7/124/b63

Hope walks through the fire and faith leaps over it.

Donations towards Carol Keiter’s writing, eBook, music composition, photography & illustrations are graciously accepted!

Carol Keiter the blogger with camera in hand at MMNY-MakeMusicNewYork

Carol Keiter the blogger in New York city attending a Make Music New York event at Times Square presented by Yoko Ono

Spanish Tortilla Tapas Spinoff

Here’s the audio podcast of last night’s meal: a Spanish tortilla tapas spinoff

flickr link to pics of the Spanish Tortillas Tapas spinoff in the making

I went through the whole process of making a Spanish tortilla, except without the added egg & milk mixture at the end. I ate it instead in bites together with pasta.

roasting_sweet_bell_peppers

dish_before_tuna_cheese_peppsers

final_dish Spanish tortilla without the egg with walnuts, sharp cheddar, cream cheese, tuna and peppers

I added to the sliced potatoes, onion, garlic, cayenne pepper, (ground pepper and sea salt to every new layer added), fresh mushrooms, fresh chopped tomato. And finally after flipping the whole layered potato dish, I added walnuts, a can of tuna, chopped sharp cheddar cheese, spoons of Greek cream cheese yogurt, and topped it with the roasted yellow, red and orange sweet peppers.

I ate the meal with my garlic toast, in which the bread soaked up the excess tomato juice, added chopped garlic, roasted, then poured olive oil over the piece of garlic toast.

cayenne pepper and cinnamon chocolate_double_boiler

The semi-sweet baking chocolate melted in the double boiler with cinnamon and cayenne pepper, was the desert.

Delicious, medicinal food at it’s best!

Summertime Cherry Cobbler, Spirulina fruit shake & Guacamole

Greetings and welcome to this edition of delicious medicinal food!

Carrying on with the understanding that what we do with our bodies and what we put into them is directly related to our level of health and fitness, here are some summer treats.

Here’s the link to the audio podcast of creating a Cherry Cobbler, Guacamole and Spirulina fruit shake of making a Cherry Cobbler, Guacamole and a Spirulina fruit shake.

I made the shake as an appetizer. I typically like to use honeydew melon. Ripe bananas are essential. Then you can add whatever additional fruit you may have. Rather than adding ice, I like to make a concoction of milk, some cranberry juice and some scoops of greek plain yogurt.

Spirulina yogurt fruit shake

Spirulina yogurt fruit shake in blender

The essential ingredient I like to add to my shakes, which makes them super healthy and green, is a spoonful of Spirulina powder.
Spirulina is a microalgae that has been consumed for centuries due to its high nutritional value and supposed health benefits. Today, popular lifestyle personalities endorse Spirulina as a secret, potent ‘superfood’ and ‘antioxidant’, with innumerable claims towards treating disease and leading to health

Spirulina yogurt fruit shake

Here’s a link to the 9 benefits of Spirulina

I typically make guacamole ‘from my head’. I’ve made it plenty of times, and make it a little differently each time, depending on what ingredients I have available and my whim at the moment. However, the recipes will consistently always involve fresh lime juice squeezed from a real lime, cumin, salt and pepper and sliced green jalapeño pepper.

Guacamole made from a fresh avocado.

Naturally, I prefer to use fresh cilantro, however this time I don’t have any on hand, so I substituted grinding some coriander in a mortar and pestle. And just to verify what I had already understood, cilantro and coriander are the same thing!
This Coriander, Cilantro and Chinese Parsley are the same thing. explains that “Cilantro, coriander, and Chinese parsley are the same thing! The Greeks were familiar with coriander, cultivating it and using it in a wide variety of dishes. It also is used in India; coriander is used a an ayurvedic herb to aid digestion in addition to being used as a seasoning. In the Middle East, especially in Iran, coriander is believed to be helpful for people who are nervous or insomniac.”

I investigated a cobbler recipe, having not been familiar with making it before. I found this one, and for the most part followed it, with the exception of reducing the sugar amount somewhat. I have to say, I got rave reviews! Everyone loved it. I just poured a little whole milk over the cobbler dish, though it could be eaten with vanilla ice-cream as well, as more of a dessert.

Cherry Cobbler Before Baking

Here’s the cherry cobbler recipe that I used.

Cherry Cobbler Baked Insides

Remember, less meat is better! If you want to grill during the summer months, there are plenty of vegetables that are delicious on the grill! Enjoy!

Original recipe makes 1 – 9 inch square cobbler

• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup boiling water
3 1/2 cups fresh cherries, pitted
3/4 cup white sugar

Directions
Mix 3/4 cup sugar, butter or margarine, flour, salt, baking powder, and milk together. Place cherries in the bottom of a 9 inch square pan. Spread dough over cherries.
In a small bowl, combine 1 cup sugar and cornstarch. Stir in boiling water. Pour mixture over the dough.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Serve warm.

Thanks a lot. Reminder, though I’m all about sharing, I also have essentially no income through my two blogs and food podcasts, so if you’re inclined, I’ll happily accept donations!

Hope walks through the fire and faith leaps over it.

Donations towards Carol Keiter’s writing, eBook, music composition, photography & illustrations are graciously accepted!

Thanks!

Carol Keiter, the blogger

Sautéed Salmon | Kale salad with grated Carrots and Red Beets | Chili & Cinnamon melted Bittersweet Chocolate

Here’s the link to the podcast of this particular meal: Sautéed Salmon with dill, brown rice and a colorful and delicious kale salad prepared with some chopped onion, tomato, thin slivers of cucumber, mushrooms, grated carrots and raw red beets with a topping of crumbled blue cheese and chopped walnuts with some sea salt and fresh ground pepper. This is tossed with a home-made balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

Flickr link of pics of prepared food Sautéed Salmon with dill, fresh ground pepper and sea salt. I grind the sea salt in a mortar and pestle, then keep it in a little dish that I can dip into to spread the salt rubbing it between two fingers or with a spoon to tap it in. Using fingers controls the amount more precisely. I accompanied the fish with brown rice and a salad.

pics sauteed salmon brown rice kale salad chili cinnamon chocolate

The kale salad is made adding mushrooms, tomato, cucumber to the kale and then freshly grated red beets and carrots. Then i add the sea salt and black pepper and sprinkle in some crumbled blue cheese bits and walnuts. Tossed with my favorite homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing; this involves marinating the garlic in the balsamic, then adding sea salt, fresh ground pepper, dijon mustard, a spoon of raw sugar and olive oil.

Kale Stuffed Portobello Mushroom and More

Kale stuffed Portabella Mushroom, Pork chops, Kale Salad with grated carrots and red beets, sprinkled with walnuts blue cheese with a homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette

The ingredient that went into everything was garlic! The word of the podcast is ample!

Here’s the link to the podcast describing the preparation.

Thyme accompanied the stuffing for the Portobello mushroom and was tossed onto the Pork chop.

Here are the pics, in order of progression of cooking.

shot of pics for the Stuffed Portobello Mushroom and More

I loosely followed this recipe, frankly, only the marinade, and the baking temperature and time of 15 minutes.

Enjoy! It’s delicious AND good for you!

Curried Yellow Split Pea Soup

Here’s the link to the podcast for Curried Yellow Split Pea Soup.

The few pictures at the end with the crushed chili peppers in the pan and the semi-sweet baking chocolate, is turning out to be my almost nightly desert. I play around with different concoctions of chili, paprika, cayenne, cinnamon, all tossed in with the chocolate, which I heat in that little pan (double boiler style) by letting it slowly heat up by resting on the surface of hot water. I recently saw the movie ‘Chocolat’ again, which I’m sure is what instigated me to experiment with creating my own chili, spices and chocolate combinations. It tastes great and is good for you (dark chocolate is better – and adding spices is best !-)

curried yellow split pea soup step by step pics

Hot & Sweet Chili con Carne ~ Sweetened with Molasses

I Heart Molasses

I_Heart_Molasses

11_hot_and_sweet_chili_con_carne

Molasses

Here is Carol Keiter’s podcast of Hot & Sweet Chili con Carne – sweetened with molasses.

Hot & Sweet Chili con Carne ~ Sweetened with Molasses

10_chili_con_carne

1_searing_pork

2_spices

 

 

 

After searing the pork strip, I turned down the temperature and decided to leave the meat in the pan to sauté on low heat with some chopped onion in olive oil, to which I add the spices: salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne, chili, cumin and red chili pepper flakes. Sorry, I don’t really measure the quantity, I just sort of go by feel.

 

 

 

I add some fresh chopped mushrooms soon after with the onion and wait for about 20 minutes or more to let this cook on the lowest temperature. Then I’ll add all of the other chopped vegetables together with the garlic (garlic burns so I usually add it together with the green cabbage, which produces moisture while it sautés).

5_kidney_beans

 

 

I would usually always use dry beans which I bring to a boil in water and then simmer in another pot, but I had a can of kidney beans which I used.

 

After the spices and veggies have sautéed for a bit, I’ll add the canned tomatoes and tomato paste.

8_canned_tomatos_kidney_beans

I’ll add some corn kernels at the end as well, just for flavor.

 

 

 

 

I’m sure this is going to be a pretty hot and sweet chili! Enjoy!  In fact, yes, it is, now that I’ve tasted it. It’s definitively hot & sweet!

Hot & Sweet Chile ~ Molasses as sweetener ingredients ~

• chopped onion and garlic

• chili powder
• cayenne
• red dried chili flakes

• cumin
• ground some coriander
• paprika
• salt and pepper

• celery
• carrots
• turnip
• parsnip

I’ve then added:

a can of diced tomatoes
tomato whole peeled
some tomato paste
molasses (lots of bottles of molasses to use up in the kitchen as a sweetener)

then add kidney beans & frozen corn kernels