A new twist on Beans and Rice

I went to the Farmer's Market this morning, and I came home with a big bundle of beets with beautiful greens and some chard (among many other veggies and fruits). As I looked in my fridge and pantry, this is the dish I created from what we had. It was amazing, and what I love about it is that you can make it with anything you have on hand.

2 Cups brown rice, rinsed, soaked for 30 min, and cooked in water

Beets, peel the skin, slice thin, and cook on stove-top w/some olive oil and salt until tender

Olive oil

Chard (about 8 leaves), chopped and washed

Beet greens, chopped and washed

2 cans of white beans, drained and washed

1/2 block of feta, cubed

1/2 cup sliced almonds

fresh tarragon and rosemary, shopped

garlic powder

salt to taste

Okay, so this is what I did: While the rice and the beets were cooking, I wilted my chard and beet greens with a little bit of water and olive oil. Once they began to wilt, I added the white beans, garlic powder, and salt.

When the rice was cooked, I added it to the bean mixture to cook for another 5 min or so. Then I added the feta, almonds, and herbs.

I served it in a bowl with the beans and rice on the bottom and the beets on top. Mmmm...

Rosemary Tofu and Carrot Scramble

I made the most amazing creation yesterday, and I'm posting here so I remember what I put in it. Ah, it is so delicious!

4-5 carrots, grated

1 block of tofu, grated

1/2 block of feta, grated (sheep's milk)

2 T Fresh Rosemary, chopped

1/4 cup spelt flour

4 eggs

garlic salt, to taste

Olive oil (for cooking)

Place carrots, tofu, cheese, rosemary and flour in a large mixing bowl. Whisk eggs together and then pour over mixture. Add garlic salt and gently mix together to incorporate all ingredients.

In a large skillet, heat 1-2 T of olive oil over medium heat. When oil is hot, add some of the mixture. Cook on one side for about 5-7 min, then flip. Do not flip it until it is crisp on the first side. Mmmmm...this is so good!

My Thoughts on Health

Healthy, organic, balanced meals are imperative to health. Loving, kind relationships are imperative to health. Self-care, conscious thought, manifestation of dreams, self-expression, growth, learning, integrity, accountability, breath, awareness, and much, much more are all components of a person's health.

As a mental health professional, I see health as much more than the absence of illness, being fit, or feeling happy. When a person is truly healthy, that person can ebb and flow with the demands of life, be aware of his/her actions, and integrate the continual changing state of mind, body, spirit.

In this blog, I touch on various aspects of health: Food, relationship with food, awareness of thought, living with intention, and nurturing all aspects of life. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I love sharing it.