Turnip Green Soup

Frigid winter weather here up on our mountaintop hillside brings chills, ice, and cravings for some nice warm soup.  Of course me being me, I crave greens.  Already through my winter rotation of collards, kale, and mustards my body says "TURNIPS!" I mean it, in all capitals- seriously. 

It sure helps that the  turnip greens are packed with calcium and iron as well as many B vitamins and vitamin C.  Turnips themselves make lovely low carb options for soup, stews and puree dishes either replacing potatoes or used in conjunction with potatoes.  (Hence the common cauliflower or turnip switcharoo for mashed potatoes).

January being the new year resolution and diet bonanzzana that it is, low carb diets and primal type diets are all the rage.   I am not a fan of fad diets or even the notion of dieting.  Thus keeping with the "real food" mantra and eating what I have poking up between mounds of dirty snow and mulch, here's to turnips.  Ode to my mother as well for cooking greens for me (she loves kale now!) and calling my dad a "turnip head" (but not because he eats turnips).  

To me, bowl of green goodness.  To Jon, something rotting and wayy past its prime.

2 large turnips, washed
1 large bunch fresh turnip greens, washed and pat dry
2 jalapenos, seeded (optional)
2 slices nitrate free turkey (or pork if desired) bacon
1 cup dry white wine
1 cup water or gluten free chicken broth (homemade or I also use Kitchen Basics)
pink sea salt, to taste
fresh ground white pepper
Italian seasoning and parsley to taste
1 t. (gluten free) dijon mustard (Koops brand is gluten free)
2 T. virgin coconut oil (or bacon fat if desired)


This soup is a no brainer- start with not eating all the greens as you wash them (this is a clever tip I need to give myself often).  Wash and pat dry the greens and cut off the turnips and wash them.  I do not peel my turnips but peel away if you desire.  Start melting the coconut oil (or fat back) in a pot and place in the turkey bacon to brown.  Add the salt, pepper, and spices.

Wash and seed the jalapenos and set aside.  Chop the turnips into quarters or rough chunks.

Meanwhile, puree the greens in your Vitamix (or blender) with the water or stock.  Once the bacon is brown add the peppers and turnips and saute until the peppers are soft.  If you are short on time (or lazy like me) just add the wine to the peppers, bacon, and turnips and steam until the turnips are soft.  Be sure to cover the pot so you retain as much vitamin C as possible.  Once the vegetables are tender pour over the greens puree and add the dijon mustard and any other spices you want.  Let simmer until warm.  If you eat dairy I would recommend some raw cheese such as Beyond Organics's raw cheddar or your basic Parmesan cheese. Otherwise add a dollop of full fat coconut milk or creme fraiche to top the soup.   I ate it with a bow of fresh spinach, mushroom and raw apple ginger sauerkraut salad.  Now slurp away!

Notes: Jon thinks it has too much spice with 2 peppers (he's a wuss :)) and he says otherwise it tastes remarkably like split pea soup.  So there you go- a paleo low carb fake pea soup.  Exactly what I was thinking when I pureed turnip greens (sigh).  Sneak a bowl to your kids or spouse and see if they notice and comment below.

Paleo Pumpkin Spinach Curry (Chowder)

How about a quick and simple (Duh, Grok can do it) nourishing Paleo low carb soup? Yum.  It's an authentic EBTKS (everything but the kitchen sink... though I would have added it too probably if I could have unlodged it from the counter... disturbing but predictably Cindalou).  Feel free to use this as a template to get creative yourself- perhaps some turkey or buffalo sausages or shredded chicken? Or heck, a nice grass fed beef patty would do beautifully here with the curried pumpkin spinach base.  Anyways those are future pot creations I might do (it depends on what falls out of our freezer when I open the door). Gotta put that heavy stuff lower in the freezer soon (enter throbbing toe)...

 Throw in the pot:

• 1/2 c. organic plain (unsweetened) pumpkin (canned)
• 4 c. raw spinach (add near end)
• 3 softboiled eggs, divided
• 1 T. evoo
• 1 c. organic chicken broth/stock (I use homemade or gluten free versions like Kitchen Basics aseptic broth) 
• 1 small (each) red and yellow bell pepper 
• 1/4 c. whole tomatoes, smashed (I used canned)
• 1 small perch fillet (about 1-2 oz., its what I had on hand and cooks quickly)
• curry powder, cayenne, fresh pepper and sea salt to taste (I like a lot)
• guacamole (topping)

First I simmered the broth, pumpkin, spices, tomatoes, and bell peppers until the peppers were soft.  In the meantime I scooped out the softboiled yolks of some of our hens' eggs (talk about fresh- I watched an Americana plop one down.  She squatted and looked rather toliet bound if you know what I mean, very funny to watch!).  Why softboiled? I can't eat cooked egg yolks (elmer's glue anyone?).  I either take my yolks runny, soft or straight up raw.  I never get sick from it either.  As a note I can vouch 100% for the health and sanitary conditions of our eggs.

  

I add the egg whites to the soup and reserved the yolks so they do not get overcooked.  The more raw your yolk the better from a nutritional standpoint.  As with many foods cooking either destroys or inactivates many vitamins (B's in particular here) and components.

Then I added the perch and spinach, turning the heat to high.  I let the soup come to a rolling boil for about 3-5 minutes until the fish was finished (flakes easily with a fork. Like a bad case of dandruff or superficial people).  Pour the soup in your bowl and add the yolks and olive oil.  Top with guacamole and fresh pepper.  Yum (and quick)!

Mexican Pumpkin and Turkey Sausage and Shredded Chicken Stew [Low Carb][Paleo]

Cindalou's is hitting the road (hoping it isn't still iced over on our killer mountain driveway!) with a spicy low carb stew to warm even the coldest of frozen toes and fingers. It's Mexican theme at girls' night this weekend and I wanted to bring something with a little variety. For a small handful of ladies, there are enough Mexican dishes already there to feed a small Army... or a large one. All the classic Mex entrees and sides are already taken- beans, guacamole, taco salad, chalupas, quesadillas, flan, dips, and chips galore! I thought something a little different would be nice. Well, that and the fact that the hubby just bought a case of organic canned plain pumpkin from an Amazon deal last month! That's a whole lotta pumpkin for two. My stew is a variation on a common Tex-Mex pumpkin chowder, but I omit the high glycemic corn and use low carb substitutes with much more nutrition.

As you recall, pumpkin is a great low carb winter "superfood," packed with Vitamin A, C, E, magnesium, iron, and a host of other minerals. One common mistake: be sure to use the plain pumpkin, not the pumpkin pie mix!

Cilantro is a fantastic herb for detoxing the body of heavy metals. It is also a great source of B vitamins, zinc, and selenium as well as a host of other vitamins and minerals. In general, dried herbs are nutritionally dense foods, though potency of certain nutrients can be lost in the drying process.

Tomatoes and salsa provide more Vitamins A and C (better than oranges, plus less sugar), and the organic coconut milk and virgin oil provide brain nourishing and metabolism boosting medium chain good fats (the MCTs). Don't fear the coconut fat, it is burned as fuel for and repairing the body, not stored like longer chain polyunsaturated fats (bad fats like soybean, corn, and peanut oils to name a few). Vitamins A, C, E and the B assortment help strengthen your immunity in these blistery wintery days. Don't reach for a pill or softgel for health either- your body knows how to assimilate and nurture itself with vitamins and minerals from real food. Those supplements have their place but shouldn't replace basic real food... hey, you can always start with a big dollop of my warm spiced up stew! :)

Note: The turkey sausage is optional for vegetarians or vegans. For a non-Paleo ("Caveman") version add black beans. I just had a pack of gluten free Andoullie turkey sausages on hand and I wanted to combine the ideas of a typical Mexican pumpkin soup with a Brunswick stew. (Brunswick stew is out for us kosher southerners who don't do pork).

2 15 oz cans organic pumpkin (not pie mix)
1 15 oz can organic coconut milk
3/4 c water (or low sodium free range organic chicken broth- adjust for your consistency preference)
1 15 oz can Rotel tomatoes, Mexican Style Lime and Cilantro OR 1 15 oz can organic fire roasted tomatoes with green chilies (undrained)
1 7 oz can green chilies, drained
1/2 c. hot salsa (Kroger brand is gluten free according to the last list

1 T. organic virgin coconut oil
1 package Andoullie turkey sausage (I used Garrett Farms brand gluten and antibiotic free sausages)
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, shredded before serving (see below)
lime juice, to taste (I usede about 1/4 c)
stevia glycerite,~ 1 T.
1 tsp organic unsulfured blackstrap molasses (great vegan source of iron and B vitamins), optional

spices:

cilantro, ~ 2 tsp
sea salt and pepper, dash each
cumin, ~ 2 tsp
cumin seed, pinch of whole seed braised with pestle and mortar
oregano, ~ 2 tsp
thyme, ~ 1 tsp
Badia curry powder (it is gluten free, I asked the company and posted the reply on Celiac Forums at the end of the thread), ~ 1 T.

garlic powder and onion powder, ~ 1 tsp each
turmeric, ~ 1 tsp
parsley, ~ 1 tsp
paprika and cayenne pepper, ~ 1 tsp each
pinch crushed red pepper flakes (for color)

optional: 1 Reynold's slow cooker liner (makes for easy clean up)*

Preparation:

Line your slow cooker with the liner if you choose to use it.* Add the coconut oil and turn to high to melt the oil and swash it around the bottom (you can also spray the cooker or liner). Add the chicken breasts to the bottom. Add the pumpkin, undrained Rotel or fire roasted tomatoes, and coconut milk. You may wish to thin the stew with either water or organic free range chicken broth. Stir to mix well, though leave the chicken on the bottom. Cook on high for 3 hours. Check the chicken breasts with a fork and shred them a bit into large shreds if you can (to preserve the texture). My breasts were still a bit raw so I did most of my shredding at the end.

Since the sausages are already precooked and I didn't want them to get mushy, I decided to wait to add them until after the chicken had cooked a bit. The sausages can be sliced into bite sized pieces now and added to the stew. Or if you prefer, the whole sausages can be fished out at the end and sliced, though that method is a bit messy. Add the rest of the ingredients: broth or water, the drained green chilies, spices, lime juice, and salsa. Stir well. Cook on low for another 3-4 hours or until chicken is fork tender and shreds easily. Adjust the lime juice and cayenne to suit your taste. You can always cook it all on high for a shorter time as long as the chicken is well cooked. Since I have the time I wanted to let the spices and flavors simmer on low for the last few hours and "marinate" rather than just throw it all in on high for shorter.

Alternative Method (The Quickie): Throw it all in and cook on low for 6 hours or until chicken is fork tender and shreds easily.

Shred the chicken (and slice sausages if not done previously) before serving. This goes great with some guacamole or avocado and a dollop of (nondairy) sour cream (I would use my homemade coconut milk or cultured (fermented) soymilk 'yogurt'). Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro and dig in!

While this stew has a nice spice to it, feel free to experiment with spice amounts. I prefer things fiery myself :) Don't forget cayenne pepper and those healthy coconut MCTs help reduce inflammation and rev up that sluggish winter metabolism, while pumpkin and tomatoes give a low carb and low glycemic vitamin and mineral punch. Keeping up your immunity naturally and holistically with healing, warming foods and proper exercise helps balance the body. Now go run in place as hard as you can for 1 minute- burst train and stretch those lungs and achy legs! Whew, now I'm all warm and toasty!

Other add ins that would be nice are 1 c. chopped white onion and diced tri bell peppers like a frozen mix of veggies and chunks of celery and torn bits of kale. I didn't have any on hand at the time though, what a shame to miss kale!!

Note: This was not spicy enough for my taste, but a T. or so more cayenne would help.

*Note on the slow cooker liner: It does not give material but I can tell it is some form of plastic which has been apparently "approved" as food grade. I am skeptical about the liner (as well as the ceramic Crockpot) leaching into the food (acids and fats tend to degrade plastics and break them down into possibly toxic by-products like dioxins and PCBs). However since I am traveling with this whole shebang, I wanted a quick and cleaner way to transport this stew. Yes, even Cindalou up on her health soapbox chose convenience :)

Speedy Hemp Seed Cucumber Dill Soup [Low Carb] [Vegan]

3 large organic cucumbers, washed with skin
3 cloves garlic
1/4" ginger
1 c. organic coconut milk*
1 1/2 c. unsweetened original hemp milk
~2 T. extra virgin olive oil

pinch dried spearmint leaves
dash cayenne pepper (optional!)
sea salt and pepper, to taste
hefty pinch dried dill
4 fresh basil leaves
4-5 fresh mint leaves
1 T. garlic powder

1/4 c. shelled organic hemp seed (plus extra for topping)

* you can use all hemp milk if you'd like. The coconut milk makes the ordinarily thin soup a bit thicker and more satisfying to me.

Wash, dry, and cut a whole cucumber into thirds or quarters. Add the cucumber, ginger root, and garlic to your VitaMix or other blender. For about 30 seconds, blend on medium-hi (5) while using the damper (or a long-handled spoon out of reach of the running blades) to compress the cucumber. Once the larger chunks of cucumber are chopped, turn off the blender.

Add in the hemp milk, coconut milk, olive oil and spices. Use your imagination for spices. I made this soup earlier in the summer when my mint plants were taking over the porch and begging to be used. Turn your blender to high and blend it for 1-2 minutes. I blend my soup until it is thoroughly mixed but there are still shreds of cucumber not pureed so it isn't just a single consistency. Serve cold, sprinkled with hemp seeds. This soup is quick and easy as a delicious, cooling appetizer or side soup.

I used to adore the Hungarian Cucumber Soup I made every summer, but after finally saying adios to yogurt and dairy I've not made it since. A recent onslaught of cucumbers, mint, and dill sent me craving another batch of coconut yogurt for this recipe. I will still do that in the future, but for now I'm making (dairy laden) goat milk yogurt in our Crockpot for Jon. I have to appease the dairy guzzlers in the house occasionally :) I thought a good swap for this soup would be coconut milk, but after reading on and on about Karina's love for hemp milk I decided to use it as the base.

I love hemp anyways and wanted another faucet of this amazing healthfood in my diet. This soup takes about 2-3 minutes in the Vitamix and is a nice cool, refreshing appetizer or meal. For even more protein toss in a scoop of hemp protein powder if you have it on hand. If not, no worries- hemp seed is nature's perfect little vegan package of balanced Omega3:6 healing fats, fiber (low carb!), and complete protein. All those Canadian's sure make a killing off our growing American demand for hemp!

Ginger Sea Trout Asian-Style Soup [Low Carb] [Low Fat]

Sorry all for the long delay between posts, we've been busy bees trekking back and forth to Atlanta for Easter and wedding planning. Nothing like a great relaxing post-prelim break of driving furiously all around North Carolina and Georgia. If you've never been to Atlanta and like pain, I recommend I-285 during rush hour -- perfect meditation time! What else are you going to do for a 2 hour (10 mile) journey across the dry, cracked pavement? Anyways, Easter was great and family visits home were more than worth the trip (I'm not just saying that because our families read the blog... no way, ha).

I hate the girly details in wedding planning though. I still think jeans and hiking up the Appalachian Trail is a great wedding. God can hike, right? I might need to check on that before I pack my favorite washed denim $3 thrift store jeans. Weddings, I have come to realize, are complicated beasts. Do you know how difficult it is to find inexpensive sundresses or casual bridesmaid dresses?!? Suggestions? Purple and green are the colors so .. if you see any .. :) Has anyone else noticed the 30% increase in price when the "w" word is mentioned?

At least I have an army of angels (oxymoron?); my mom and her friends yanked the devilish details from me (to save my sanity, I lose weight and eat like a monster under high stress. $300+ weekly food bills are frustrating, especially when you keep losing weight!). We are very very grateful guys! How many gals are blessed with volunteer wedding planning friends and great parents (both sides, how lucky!)? ~Contended sigh~ Well, now that I have this plethora of free time nipping at my heels, I can move on and get back to some gluten free goodness. Without further ado, I give you yet another fish and soup recipe! Surprise, I bet you never would have thought I cook soup, right? Nope.

3 large leaves (with stems) Chinese broccoli

2 large handfuls (~ 1 c.) fresh organic collard greens
~1/3 c. fresh organic spinach
3 small sundried tomatoes, chopped
1/4" chunk fresh ginger root, sliced thin
1 large fillet sea trout or cod
~1 T. San-J wheat free low sodium tamari
3-4 T. extra virgin olive oil or to taste
5-6 c. water

Seasonings:
pinch crushed red pepper
sea salt and pepper
a liberal shake ginger powder
garlic powder to taste

In a medium to large pot bring the water to a boil. While the water is warming up, wash and pat dry the greens and slice the ginger thinly. You can chop the greens into bite-sized pieces, but I just tore them leaf-by-leaf directly into the pot to save time. Finely chop the sundried tomatoes and add to the water.

Add the spices and tamari to the pot. Once the water is boiling, add the torn greens to the pot. Reduce the heat and let the greens cook for a few minutes until soft but still bright green. The cooking time here is flexible and depends on how mushy you like your vegetables. I like collards very soft but the broccoli and spinach are much better if only simmered for around 3-5 minutes.

Once the greens are to your liking (this was about 5 minutes for me), add the trout fillet and olive oil. I added it whole since it will break up as it cooks. Turn the heat to low and cover. Let simmer for another 2-3 minutes so the fish can poach. You do not want to overcook the fillet, so just check on it after a few minutes by prodding it with a spoon and see how easily it flakes. If it flakes easily, it is finished. Turn off the burner and remove the pot from the heat. Serve immediately.

Optional Additions at serving time (I didn't use them this time though):

• sprinkle kelp or sea vegetable of choice (high in iodine, great for your thyroid)
• dash ginger powder
  

Hey, it's not Fish Stew of the like of Natalie @ Gluten Free Mommy (which I still want to make, by the way), but this soup had a wonderful flavor and really hit the spot. Of course, ginger and leafy greens are a far cry from a tomato-based stew, but you know I can't follow directions; I can only follow my sense of smell and taste. Besides, who can pass up fresh ginger? Fresh ginger root has many health benefits, but it is particularly excellent for digestion. I love fresh spinach too, so this was a treat. Hope you enjoy it too!

Collards are a great source of dairy free calcium and chlorophyll, so load up! Collards are also high in Vitamin K, A, C, and manganese. According to a study in The Journal of Nutrition, there is some fuss about the phytonutrients in collards helping lower liver cell secretion of the cholesterol transporter apolipoproteinB-100 (apoB) by greater than 50%. ApoB transports LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol) to tissues. Maybe eating some collards would be a wise choice in view of the many problems and complications of pharmaceutical cholesterol-lowering drugs. In reality, remember we need a balance of not only nutrients, but also things like cholesterol (ie, LDL is not "bad" unless it is out of balance with your HDL). You should aim for a varied, balanced diet with food-based nutrient sources rather than pills. Isolated vitamins, minerals, and drugs are less recognizable and absorbable to the body. Collards are also a heck of a lot cheaper than a multi vitamin and cholesterol pill. Melissa @ Gluten Free for Good made a recent post on dairy-free woes with fantastic information. Check her Moo-Free Got Milk post for high calcium dairy free foods and explanations of how dairy breaks down.... literally! On an unrelated note, coconut yogurt is incubating now, so it should be up soon... only a month or so late. That's all for my ranting, until next time...slurp!

Turkey "Chili" Cabbage Soup [Paleo] [Low Carb]

It's still January, our national soup month, and it is a bit warmer outside (in the 40's now), but since we've been on a soup binge I thought I'd squeeze this last one in. I bet everyone is sick of my soup and turkey already :) Bear with me just a bit longer here and maybe even try your hand at your own chili-soup concoction. If you don't do meat, I have just stolen my old red cabbage soup and veggie soup "recipes" (they all have similar ingredients and I don't do recipes- anyone else's or my own), so don't feel oppressed by all the recent turkey food. Cabbage is delicious in its own right. My soup archive is here if you do so dare to venture into soup-land.

Anyways, I decided that this sad package of ground turkey I had in the bottom of the fridge deserved a privileged place on my soup extravaganza list. This was inspired by both my shivering body (last week it snowed ?!?) and Melissa's latest bison chili post. I have been building on top or alongside many of Melissa's ideas lately - she provides excellent nutrition and lifestyle information. No commission, of course; I just enjoy sending you readers to a bonafide nutritionist. I am just a want-to-be nutritionist (who is working on my preliminary PhD presentation for early in February - wish me luck - I need a friggin' miracle here!)

Although the pictures look awful, this soup tasted great and is uber healthy. Be sure to add a good dose of extra virgin olive oil to the soup right before serving for extra healing monounsaturated good fat and a delicious flavor boost.

Turkey Chili Base:
1 lb ground lean turkey
2 medium to large onions
4 jalapeño with seeds, whole
6-8 cloves garlic, minced (or however many you prefer)
1/4" chunk fresh ginger, minced
2 T. organic virgin coconut oil, for sauteeing
1 T. gf bbq sauce (optional- I use Kraft Lite)

Seasonings:
garlic powder, to taste
2-3 T. dried rosemary
dash cayenne pepper (optional, but its great for a little metabolism boost, detoxing, and internal heating if you know what I mean!)
~1 t. (fiesta) chili powder- check ingredients to ensure gluten free
~2 t. turmeric
pinch paprika
~1 t. sage or gluten free poultry seasoning

Cabbage Soup Base:
8-10 c. pure water
1 c. red cabbage
~2 c. green cabbage
5-6 fresh basil leaves

Add the coconut oil to your large stockpot and turn the heat to medium to melt the oil. Roughly chop the onion, mince the garlic and ginger/horseradish mixture, and slice or mince 1-2 of the jalapeños. Add the chopped onion and garlic-pepper mix to the hot pot and saute for 2-3 minutes until the garlic is very light brown and aromatic.

Add the ground turkey and seasonings to the sauteed onion and garlic in the pot, and turn the heat to low. Break up the meat and mix in the seasonings with a spoon or spatula. Cook on low to medium low for 5-7 minutes or until the meat is ~ half done. You can cook it thoroughly, but that's unnecessary since the meat will simmer in the soup.

Next, combine all the other ingredients in the pot. I find it easiest to add all my veggies first and then pour in the water so that I do not overfill the pot. Turn the heat to low. Cover and let simmer for ~ 1 hour. Serve hot.

Easy Seaweed "Egg Drop" Soup [Low Carb]

This is a really easy, quick soup that I even make for breakfast on chilly mornings. Organic sea vegetable like kelp or dulse provide a wide array of vital minerals and nutrients, especially natural iodine. Iodine is necessary for proper function of the thyroid and has been shown to strongly benefit those with hypothyroidism. Note that too much iodine can actually block the thyroid function, so (as always) use common sense and eat it in moderation.

Sea vegetables offer high fiber, iron, calcium, vitamin C, B vitamins (pantothenic acid, riboflavin, folate), zinc, copper, and vitamin K, magnesium and manganese. Many to all of these vitamins and minerals are lacking for Celiacs and others with malabsorption issues. Nutrion Data information for kelp is here, but there are many other varieties of seaweed with fantastic health benefits. A great simple guide to the different kinds of seaweed is at World's Healthiest Foods. Their recipe for shitaki mushroom and seaweed soup is pretty good, but I prefer more protein; I replace mushrooms with free range eggs in the recipe below. If you are vegan or just don't do eggs, their soup might appeal to you more. This is my version of egg drop soup without the cornstarch (just extra carbs to thicken it). If you are concerned with glycemic index and carb count, try arrowroot as a thickener.

2 c. water
2 c. low sodium organic vegetable broth* (we use Pacific brand since it is gluten free and vegan)
~4 T. organic kelp/sea vegetable flakes
2 free range eggs, scrambled in bowl
dash sea salt and pepper
1 t. minced fresh ginger

Combine water and broth in a medium pot. Turn up the heat to get the water boiling. In the meantime, whip the eggs in a separate bowl. I sometimes whisk my eggs with coconut milk for an extra flavor and nutrient boost, but this is optional. Mince the fresh ginger finely in a food processor or by hand. Once the broth is boiling, add the ginger, kelp, and seasonings. Reduce heat to low and quickly stir in the eggs into the hot broth, whisking with the fork as you slowly pour the egg in. Serve immediately.

* If you'd rather make your own broth, that's fantastic! Homemade stock is easy - be creative. I will be making a post in the future about basic broth or soup stock, but recently Melissa, the nutritionist yoga guru over at Gluten Free for Good, gave a great "recipe" outline for how to make a fantastic health soup stock. I also have many soup recipes which are vegan, vegetarian, or grass fed meat-based.

Easy Red Cabbage Soup [Vegan] [Low Carb] [Paleo]

I love the color of this super easy soup, not to mention the vitamin-packed nutrition from the fresh red cabbage. My mother always said that color is the key to health- fresh, colorful veggies are full of vitamins and minerals essential to our health and digestion. Red cabbage is high in Vitamins C, K, and the B vitamins, as well as iron. The World's Healthiest Foods site lists cabbage and describes the detoxifying ability and digestive boost which cabbage gives the body.

This is a quick soup which we love and has even been a hit with my sometimes picky family. It makes a great simple appetizer and is very low calorie- served with a nice big green salad and a balanced entree, you're well on your way to a healthy weight loss meal. Melissa, this is my first soup for January "soup month" and I'm looking forward to many more recipes from the whole community (where's your kale and cauliflower one? :) )

6 c. water
1 whole small organic red cabbage head
sea salt
pepper
2 T. extra virgin olive oil or virgin coconut oil
1 T. organic apple cider vinegar (optional)
2 organic purple potatoes (optional for low carb)

Combine water and purple potatoes (if you are using them) in a large pot. Turn up the heat to get the water boiling. In the meantime, rinse and pat dry the cabbage. I sliced it up with our Saladmaster, but a sharp knife would also do the trick. Add the cabbage, olive (coconut) oil, and seasonings to the water, reduce heat to low, and cover.

Cook/steam for about 7 minutes or until the cabbage is tender and the water is bright purple. It is important to drink all the broth since the water soluble vitamins have all diffused into the water; the cooked cabbage adds more filling dietary fiber, but the cooking has leached most of the nutrients otherwise. Add the vinegar right before serving, if desired.

I should note that if you or someone you love has a thyroid problem (underactive), then they should consume only cooked cruciferous vegetables (of the Cruciferae family). This includes both red and green cabbage, broccoli,, cauliflower, kale, collards and Brussels sprouts. Raw cruciferous vegetables contain goitrogens which can interfere with the functioning of the thyroid gland. Some doctors recommend that people with already existing and untreated thyroid problems consider avoiding cabbage. However, there is always a danger in an unbalanced diet. It is thought that cooking inactivates the goitrogenic compounds, but by what extent is currently not obvious from the research. WHF has a page on this issue if you're concerned about your thyroid; read their article "What are goitrogens and in which foods are they found?" for more information.

Since the goitrogens put raw cabbage on the suspect list for thyroid issues, then one might lean towards only eating cooked cabbage and broccoli. Life is, of course, not so simple and it is always about balance. The cancer-fighting benefits from cabbage are best reaped from fresh, raw cabbage. These cancer-fighting organisms, or glucosinolates, are produced by myrosinase enzymes which are released when cabbage is sliced or chopped. World's Healthiest Foods gives a detailed section on this subject and notes that cooking denatures the myrosinase enzyme, thus stopping the production of glucosinolates.

Thus, if you want to get the anti-cancer benefits, eat raw or fermented cabbage. My mother in law makes fantastic red cabbage sauerkraut which is fermented with liquid whey; this lacto-fermentation (rather than vinegar based) creates a higher proportion of beneficial bacteria for the gut. This makes her delicious red cabbage kraut my cabbage treat of choice- it has the anti-cancer benefits with (possibly) less thyroid aggravation. Don't get me wrong, I am a human black hole for red cabbage, green cabbage, and assorted dark greens sauteed in virgin coconut oil, mmmmmm! The sauteed greens are a daily part of my diet, but I am also careful to add raw vegetables since cooking can damage the food's vitamins (especially the water soluble ones). My brother-in-law David makes a kill red cabbage saute too, so I guess it runs in the family :)

Lime Avocado Turkey Veggie Soup [Low Carb]

Broth Base:
~8 c. water
carcass of roast turkey, skin removed
~3 T. organic apple cider vinegar

As I mentioned previously, adding the vinegar helps leach calcium from the bones. This is a easy and inexpensive way to get the maximum benefit from your leftovers. It is always better to get your vitamins and minerals from a natural, whole food source rather than pills. Bring the water, bones, and vinegar to a rolling boil in a large stockpot. I boiled my bones for about 45 minutes, but there's no rule as far as I know. If you'd rather reduce the heat and simmer the bones for a longer time, that'd work just as well (I do this with my Grass Fed Beef Bone-Based Soups).

Soup Ingredients:
1 large ripe avocado
3 limes
~ 2 c. chopped extra dark and white meat pieces
4 large organic carrots
1 large bunch fresh collards
~1/4 head fresh red cabbage
1 large or 2 medium sweet onions
~2 c. cooked organic brown rice (I used our leftover Coconut Brown Rice)
5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 large jalapeños with seeds, sliced
~1 c. of leftover turkey drippings, skimmed of all fat

Seasonings:
dried rosemary
garlic powder
bay leaf
sea salt and pepper
5-6 fresh basil leaves, chopped for garnish

Optional Add-Ins:
2 small red potatoes or 1 large sweet potato, cut into ~fifths

While the bones are boiling, wash and pat dry the greens. Roughly chop the onions and the bunch of collards (about 10-15 very large leaves) and place in a large bowl. I used the Saladmaster to ripple cut the carrots and to shred the red cabbage. Mince the garlic and set aside. Slice two of the limes into small pieces (~8th's or so) to add to the soup and leave the last lime whole for now. Slice (or chunk) the avocado into pieces and set aside.

As the bones boil (or simmer), the leftover meat on the bones should fall off or loosen. After the bones are finished boiling, turn off the heat and use tongs to remove the bones to cool on a side plate. Once the bones are cooled a few minutes later, use a spoon or your fingers to pull off the rest of the meat from the bones. Discard the bones and add the meat back to the soup base. You can add an extra cup or so of water for more soup if you have room in your pot.**

Add all of the seasonings, the leftover roast drippings, the cooked rice, and all veggies except the avocado and the 1 whole lime. Bring the soup to a boil (we brought ours to a boil at medium heat). Once it is boiling, turn the heat to medium low and cover. Let simmer for about 20-25 minutes or until the veggies are tender.

Slice the last lime into wedges for garnish and serving. Once the veggies are tender, serve hot with the sliced avocado and lime wedges. Don't forget to squeeze the lime over the soup before eating. The water soluble vitamins and color from the red cabbage give the soup this beautiful deep purple hue, making the broth alone attractive for serving.

** If you make this ahead of time, you can refrigerate the soup base overnight. The overnight refrigeration allows the fat to congeal at the top so you can spoon it off the next day in preparation for turkey soup.

Asparagus and Basil Soup [Vegan] [Paleo] [Low Carb]

It was that time of the week again. Last Friday, it was my (Jon) turn to make dinner. As it turned out, I got away with making a soup and putting together some leftovers. Keeping in line with my previous dinner ( Seared Sashimi Tuna ), I got the idea for this soup from Alisa's Asparagus Soup w/ Wild Garlic @ Go Dairy Free. Check out my gluten free, dairy free, vegan low carb, etc asparagus soup below!

2 c. low sodium organic vegetable broth
2/3 c. dry white wine
8-10 fresh basil leaves, chopped
4 cloves fresh garlic
3/4" chunk fresh ginger
~1 lb (bundle) fresh asparagus
2 T. extra virgin olive oil

Seasonings:
1 t. gluten free "It's a Dilly" salt-free dill and lemon seasoning
sea salt and pepper
2-3 squirts lime juice

Optional:
2 T. organic hemp protein powder

Once all of your ingredients are in order, start by chopping the tips (~ 1") off your asparagus. I used these later for garnish and texture. Cut your remaining asparagus into ~ 2" sections. To soften, you're going to steam these sections for about 5 minutes. I steamed the asparagus (as opposed to boil) because I wanted to retain the nutrients and color. Fill your Vita-Mix (or other blender) with vegetable (or chicken) broth, white wine, garlic, ginger, olive oil and seasonings. Add all (depending on the strength of your blender) the steamed asparagus and blend. With a Vita-Mix, you can blend until the soup is hot and steamy. If your blender cannot heat, puree the asparagus soup ingredients and warm in your microwave. Once steamy, drop in your asparagus tips and chopped basil leaves.

For an optional protein boost, stir in hemp protein powder at any time during preparation. Serve hot and enjoy :)

Makes 5-6 cups (2+ large bowls).

Roasted Pumpkin Veggie Stew in/and Shell [Vegan]

This is the last recipe I can pump out before I crash into bed here soon to ready for my 4 am waking-eugh! I must have had way too much espresso at work when I requested a 7 am flight to Philly and then a 9 am Cessna 'hop' to Yale. This is especially true considering our airport is 45 minutes away as is! Silly me. At least I won't be writing a grumpy 3 or 4 am post for you all tomorrow. I'll save you the misery :)

Fresh pumpkins are in high season here in North Carolina, so it's uber easy to find delicious fresh local pumpkins. Shopping local has may benefits such as the food being fresher, supporting the community in which you live, and reducing pollution from transportation costs. I always loved the slogan "Spend it here, keep it here"... that should be applied more in everyday life and especially the government! [Vote Ron Paul! :) and eat more fresh, local produce]

2 medium fresh pumpkins
2 stalks fresh organic celery, chopped fine
1/2 medium onion, chopped
2 organic carrots, grated fine
1/3 lb. frozen vegetable soup mix veggies or 1/3 lb. frozen green beans and peas
1 c. unsweetened organic pineapple juice
1 c. unsweetened organic orange juice with pulp
1/4 c. fresh or frozen raw cranberries
2-3 1/4" slices red onion
1/4 c. organic raisins
1/4 c. no-sulfur organic shredded coconut (optional)
3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1/2" chunk fresh ginger, minced
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
natural brown sugar to taste (optional)
1/4 c. sunflower seeds

Optional Substitute for Fruit Juices (low carb):
1 c. low sodium organic vegetable broth (or more water)
1 c. water

Seasonings:
2 T. cinnamon
5 whole cloves
sea salt and pepper
garlic powder
oregano

Variations:
1 can organic black beans or lentils, drained

Preheat the oven to 350. Slice the top off the pumpkins, as you would for a jack-o-lantern type pumpkin. Scoop out the seeds and set aside. Rather than discard the seeds, we roasted and added some of them back into the stew and reserved the rest for salads. Place the pumpkins face down in a Pyrex baking dish filled with about 1/2" water. Bake the whole pumpkins for about 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

When the pumpkins are finished, remove them from the oven and check that they are fork tender. Let the pumpkins cool for a few minutes. Flip over the pumpkins and spoon/scrape out the meat into a large mixing bowl. You can try to preserve the cooked pumpkin shell and serve the cooked stew inside the shell, or you can just mash it all up together. I love the texture and taste of roasted pumpkin and acorn or butternut squash shells. They are completely edible after they've been washed and cooked and they provide great vitamins (hence the vibrant orange color) and fiber. I am tired and lazy so I just mashed my shell right into the rest of the pumpkin.

Add your chopped onion, drained black beans or lentils (if you're using them), and a handful of raw or roasted seeds into the mixing bowl. Mix in the extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, pepper, and all other seasonings. For a hint of sweetness, add a tablespoon of natural brown sugar if desired. Mix well.

Add in the celery, carrots, vegetable mix, raisins, coconut, cranberries and liquids (juices or broth) and mix thoroughly. Transfer the stew mixture to a large saucepan (pot) and let simmer over low heat for about 20 minutes or until everything is heated through. You can also use a Crock pot if you want- they warming method is completely up to you. When everything is warmed, get ready to serve the stew. If you preserved the shell, spoon the mix back into the pumpkin shells for serving. If not, just serve as is (delicious, of course).

Spicy Bison Meatball and Collard Soup [Paleo] [Low Carb]

Meatballs:
1 lb ground natural bison
1/2 small onion, chopped fine
2 jalapeño with seeds, chopped fine
crushed red pepper
chili powder
paprika
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4" chunk fresh ginger, minced

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Spray a large pan with nonstick cooking spray and add 2 T. of olive oil to the pan. Preheat the skillet to medium heat (4). Using a large spoon and your hands, form small balls with the meat by rolling the mixture in your palms as shown below.

Place 5 meatballs into the pan and cover, reducing the heat to medium low (3). Cook for 2 minutes then uncover the meatballs and flip them gently. Cover and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes. Promptly remove the meatballs from the pan to prevent overcooking.

Soup:
1/2 lb. chopped fresh collards
1 large grass-fed marrow bone
6 c. water
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup frozen broccoli pieces
1/2 organic carrot, grated
1 green bell pepper, chopped (optional)
2 scoops organic hemp protein powder (optional)
1/2 small onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/2" chunk fresh horseradish, minced
crushed red pepper
dash cayenne pepper

Fill a large pot with the water and soup bone. Add the minced garlic and horseradish and remaining seasonings. Bring the broth to a boil (~ 30 minutes). Add the chopped vegetables and preformed bison meatballs. Turn the heat to low. Cover and let simmer for ~ 1 hour. Serve hot.

Chunky Tomato Vegetable Soup [Vegan]

This soup is just a nothing real special thrown together blend of leftovers we had hanging around the refrigerator. Feel free to substitute chunky tomatoes, carrots, onions, cabbage, and other veggies.

1/2 medium red potato, cooked
2 c. homemade gazpacho or vegetable marinara
1 c. green beans, cooked
juice of 1 can black beans
~1 T. black beans
fresh parsley, chopped
5 fresh basil leaves, torn
ground pepper

Combine the black bean juice, marinara, green beans, and seasonings in a small pot. Chop up the cooked potato and add to the soup. Bring to a boil over medium high heat then turn to low and simmer; the longer you simmer the soup the more time the fresh basil gets to flavor the soup. Serve hot.

Paleo Salmon Stock and Soup

8 c. water

wild caught salmon trimmings (raw with fins, bones, and meat)
2 small-medium red potatoes, quartered (optional, omit for Paleo)
3 organic carrots
1 large white onion, coarsely chopped
1/4 c. dehydrated shitaki mushrooms
sea vegetable flakes
liberal squeeze lime juice
liberal squeeze lemon juice
1 large jalapeño
5 cloves garlic
1/2" chunk ginger
1/4" chunk horseradish
1 T. organic apple cider vinegar
2 T. Earth Balance vegan butter

Seasonings:
1 t. Italian seasoning
1 t. dried rosemary
sea salt and black pepper
dash crushed red pepper flakes
2 bay leaves, crushed
optional seafood seasoning (ground fennel, lemon peel, coriander, thyme)


Bring water to boil with raw wild caught salmon parts*. As the broth heats, the meat will separate from the skin easily. This happened for me within the first 10 minutes of the soup warming up. At this point, the meat and skin were not too hot to handle, so I simply removed the meat from the skin with my fingers. I added the large bones and the skin back to the soup and saved the meat in a container in the fridge for later. If you don't do this, the meat will become chewy and tough as the fish over cooks.

In a food processor, finely mince the garlic, horseradish and ginger. Add about 1/2 of this blend and the dehydrated shitaki mushrooms to the soup stock.

Grate three organic carrots with the Saladmaster. Keep the carrots in reserve until the end because they will lose their color and flavor if you add them too early; this happens since the vitamins in carrots are water soluble.

Slice the jalapeño and add it to the soup (with seeds). Add the remaining garlic-ginger-horseradish mix to the soup right before serving. Bring soup to a boil and cook for 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender. You can either turn heat down to low, cover and simmer or serve immediately. I chose to let the soup simmer. Before serving, add carrots, remaining ginger-horseradish-garlic mix, sea vegetables, and the reserved salmon meat to the stock. Garnish with fresh ground pepper, parsley, and basil.



* We used sale $0.49/lb full-fish wild salmon trimmings from Kroger. Check out your local grocery store or market to see what they offer; fish trimmings have all the health benefits of the fish skin (EFA's), bones (calcium), and meat without the high cost of fillets or fish steaks.

Paleo Creamy Spinach Soup [Vegan]

3/4 lb. frozen spinach
1 c. coconut milk or almond milk
1 c. low sodium organic vegetable broth (We use Pacific brand)
1/4 medium onion
4 cloves fresh garlic
1/2" fresh ginger (optional)
2 T. hemp protein powder (optional)
1 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 t. San-J low sodium wheat free tamari (optional)

Seasonings:
sea salt and pepper
crushed red pepper
oregano
Italian seasoning
garlic powder
gluten free, dairy free Mediterranean seasoning mix

Garnish:
chopped red onion
2 sun dried tomatoes, chopped fine

Keep about half of the spinach and a handful of chopped onion separate from the blender for a chunkier soup; I added my whole spinach and onion directly to my bowl and microwaved it about 2 minutes until the spinach was hot.

Combine everything else in the Vitamix (or your blender) on high for 6-8 minutes or until smooth. Pour into serving bowls with the reserved whole spinach and chopped onion. If the soup is not hot enough, you can warm it up in the microwave or on the stove top until steaming.