Tag: healthy

Applesauce Pumpkin Bread

We craved pumpkin bread but wanted a healthier option, so we tried this recipe: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/230579/applesauce-pumpkin-bread/ This recipe uses applesauce instead of oil. Our modifications: first, we used unsalted butter to grease two standard loaf pans. Second, we reduced the white sugar to 1.5 cups (from 2 cups) and utilized unsweetened applesauce. For the pumpkin puree,…… Continue reading Applesauce Pumpkin Bread

Colombian lentil and rice soup (sopa de lentejas y arroz)

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A few days ago, my husband savored a brothy lentil and rice soup at a local Italian cafe. That inspired us to make another version of lentil and rice soup, and we tried this Colombian recipe: https://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/vegetarian-lentil-and-rice-soup-sopa-de-lentejas-y-arroz/ Our modifications: first, we finely minced the 1/2 red bell pepper (seeded and quartered) and carrot (roughly cut… Continue reading Colombian lentil and rice soup (sopa de lentejas y arroz)

West African-style okra stew

I love okra and hoped to make a stew with a Ghanaian flavor profile (tomato-based, seasoned with onion, habanero, and ginger). We tried this recipe: https://honest-food.net/okra-stew-recipe/ Our modifications: first, we used only 1 habanero, which provided plenty of heat. Second, because we didn’t want a soupy stew, we reduced the liquid (no-salt chicken broth) to…… Continue reading West African-style okra stew

Black bean puree with chipotle en adobo

We made this recipe, but with significant modifications: https://vanillaandbean.com/chipotle-black-bean-dip/ Our modifications: first, we omitted the cilantro from the puree, using it only as garnish. Second, instead of pureeing the raw ingredients, we first heated the black beans (no-salt canned, rinsed and drained), garlic, chipotle en adobo, cumin, and a sprinkle of salt (1/4 tsp) in…… Continue reading Black bean puree with chipotle en adobo

Pico de gallo

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We made this recipe from Cookie and Kate: https://cookieandkate.com/classic-pico-de-gallo-recipe/ We prepared this condiment to season the bean filling for bean and cheese burritos: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1022532-bean-and-cheese-burritos?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share. We used 3 vine-ripened tomatoes (seeds and liquid removed, then finely diced) plus about 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes from our garden (finely diced). We reduced the cilantro to 1 Tbsp. At… Continue reading Pico de gallo

Greek-style lemony fish and orzo soup

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We love avgolemono (Greek lemony chicken soup), and we tried this version using cod and orzo: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023805-lemony-fish-and-orzo-soup?smid=ck-recipe-iOS-share To our surprise, the recipe didn't call for any dill. We found the soup needed more brightness, so we added more lemon juice at the end (we ended up using one entire medium lemon for the entire recipe).… Continue reading Greek-style lemony fish and orzo soup

Mexican vegetable soup with chipotle (caldo tlalpeño)

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We were in search of a plant-forward soup with Mexican flavors, so we tried this recipe: https://www.karenskitchenstories.com/2023/01/mexican-vegetable-soup-with-chipotles.html We found the blogger's recipe frustratingly incomplete (for example, she called for "some chicken broth" but did not specify the amount). Regardless, this soup was very tasty. Note: this recipe easily could be vegetarian if you use vegetable… Continue reading Mexican vegetable soup with chipotle (caldo tlalpeño)