Broccoli Cauliflower Soup with turmeric (dairy and gluten free)

 So I have been learning the benefits of turmeric. One of the benefits is it can help in preventing cancer. It helps fight inflammation too.  The ideal is to eat 1/2 tsp a day of it. When I was making this soup the other day I decided it would make a great addition and it did. You can also add turmeric to salad dressing, cooked or raw vegetables, pastas, sprinkle on your salad etc..

This soup incorporates two great vegetables into one great soup. Ideal for lunch or dinner. What are you doing fun for the weekend? I get to go watch my grandson sing in his kindergarten program. He said he would sing all the songs except the one called "friendship". He said "That one is ridiculous." Ha ha! I love being a grandma.

Ingredients

4 C washed cauliflower cut into bite size pieces
4 C washed broccoli cut into bite size pieces
3 T olive oil
1 tsp salt
4 T olive oil
1 chopped onion
5 cloves of garlic minced
3 tsp turmeric
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp chili powder
2 C water
1 C broth (I used bone broth, vegetable for vegan)
4 C cashew milk or other milk

Directions   Serves 6

1. Heat oven to 425.  Place cauliflower and broccoli on cookie sheet drizzle on the oil and sprinkle on the salt. Place in oven. Cook until lightly brown and tender about 30 min.
2. In a stock pot on the stove heat to medium heat. Pour in the oil and let it heat up.
3. Stir in the onion and let cook a few minutes to soften. Then stir in garlic and turmeric. Cook until you start to smell the garlic.
4. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Let the soup heat up all together for a few minutes to incorporate all the flavors.
5. Then blend 1/2 the soup at a time until all smooth and creamy.
6. Return the soup back to the stove and let cook on medium low another 10 min.
7. Serve warm.
(I sprinkled chili powder on top and swirled it with a knife)

Curry Chicken with Brown Rice

My daughter has made this several times. She found the recipe in a magazine a long time ago. It is always a hit. I love eating curry more often when I read all the benefits. :) We made it a little healthier version, by adding brown rice to it. It is fast and easy too. :)

Ingredients:
1/2 C butter
1 C honey
1/2 C prepared mustard * has turmeric In it. :)
2 tsp curry powder
2 tsp salt
3 lbs chicken tenders
3 C cooked brown rice

Directions:

1. In a 9X13 mix all the ingredients together except the chicken and the rice.

2. Add the chicken to the mixture, turning the pieces to coat. Bake uncovered at 375 for 45- 60 min. Turning the chicken after 30 min and rub more sauce on the chicken.

3. Serve with the cooked rice. There will be extra sauce to pour on with the chicken.

Coconut Lime Curry Chicken with Coconut Brown Rice

This was a fun meal. We had some Thai food over the weekend that we enjoyed. :) I decided it would be fun to have some more. It went over well. It is nice to switch it up, and have something new. I guess my family gets new often. :)

Ingredients

Rice
1 1/2 C Brown Rice
1/2 Coconut milk
1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger
1 tsp coconut oil
2 tsp turmeric
1 T dried onions
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 1/2 C water

Chicken mixture
2 C cilantro chopped up
1 T olive oil
1 T coconut oil
2 T lime juice
3 T water
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp honey
1 tsp curry
1/2 C water
3/4 C coconut milk
1 lb chicken tenders
1 tsp chili garlic sauce *optional (gave it a little zip)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Pour all the ingredients for the rice in your pressure cooker, rice maker or pot. Cook the amount of time you normally do for your rice. (I cooked it in the pressure cooker for 17 min on hing pressure and let it sit while I prepared the rest of the meal)

2. Heat in a skillet oil, Cilantro, lime juice, water, honey and salt. Let it cook for about 3 min.

3. Then add the remaining ingredients. (water, 1/2 C coconut milk, curry, chicken and *optional chili garlic sauce. Let them cook together, stirring. Cut up the chicken tenders. When the chicken is all cooked turn to low, add another 1/4 C coconut milk and stir in, and let cook with lid on for 5-10 min. Salt and pepper to taste.

4. I mixed the rice with the chicken. (I didn't add a 1/2 C of the rice. It had enough without it.) You could just pour the chicken on top, it's your preference.

Enjoy! We did!

Spices (Turmeric, Garlic, Parsley)

*Image nutmegspiceco.com
Here is some more herb and spice information I have gathered and some ways they could help. Of course there are no guarantees, but they do enhance your food too. Today I will share information on Turmeric, Garlic and Parsley. The great thing is most of these are ones you are already using. I love when the foods we eat can be beneficial in promoting good health.


*Image allbestindianrecipe.com

Turmeric: I hadn't used this much until recently. I read the benefits of it, and decided it was something I could use more often.

*Some of the ways it may help you:

1. It is a potent anti-inflammatory can be as effective as hydro cortisone and Motrin.
2. Alzheimer's disease
3. positive liver and cardiovascular protection
4. helps with different forms of cancer
5. natural liver detoxifier
6. with putting the powder on cuts and wounds.

*Ways to use it:
1. It is found in mustard.
2. Indian dishes
3. Add to curry dishes
4. Using black pepper with it helps the body absorb it better
5. On vegetable dishes or stir fry
6. You can use with hot water. As a warm drink
7. Chicken Dishes
8. Add to Water when cooking rice
9. Add to egg salad *Image commons.com

Garlic:
We have all been hearing the benefits of garlic. One thing I have read in a couple different places lately is after you mince or cut up the garlic, let it sit 10 to 15 min, to triggers an enzyme reaction that can boosts the healthy compounds in garlic.

*Some ways it may help you: (You need to eat it regularly to derive the most benefits. In pill form it may not have as much of a benefit.)

1. kills Germs
2. stimulates immune system
3. beneficial in liver and heart health
4. improves digestion and can enhance absorption of minerals
5. cancer protection and destroy cancer cells (two cloves weekly could help)
6. insomnia and fatigue
7. activate liver enzymes

Ways to use it:

1. Salsa
2. Pasta dishes
3. Pizza
4. Roasted with other vegetables (How to roast a garlic)
5. Salad dressings
6. Rice Dishes
7. Chicken Dishes
8. Beef Dishes
9. Chili and soup

*imagehttp://falafel-recipes.blogspot.com/2009/11/parsley.html
Parsley: I used to only see it on a plate in restaurant as a garnish. It always made the plate pretty. Now I have been using it in when I cook and we add it to our green drink. It is one of top of 7 spices. The other ones are *Cinnamon, *Chili Peppers, *Turmeric, *Thyme *Garlic *Oregano

*Some Ways it may help you:

1. inhibits tumor formation especially in the lungs
2. source of antioxidants
3. contains heart healthy nutrients, such as beta carotene and Vitamin C and A
4. prevents build up of arteries
5. battle deafness
6. helps pass kidney stones
7. Fights bad breath

Ways to use it:

1. In your green smoothie
2. In soup (The fresh kind has extra flavor)
3. In pizza or spaghetti sauce
4. Salads and dressings
5. Meatballs
6. By itself