nourishing recipes Tag All blog entries tagged as nourishing recipes http://www.hosienaturals.com/blog/latest Thu, 28 Mar 2024 05:39:11 -0400 Joomla! - Open Source Content Management en-gb Comfort Food Recipe Round Up http://www.hosienaturals.com/blog/entry/comfort-food-recipe-round-up http://www.hosienaturals.com/blog/entry/comfort-food-recipe-round-up

When the leaves are crunchy and the scarves come out of hiding, I want warm and comforting food that hugs me from the inside. The recipes circulating on Pinterest this time of year all look drool worthy, but a bit decadent for everyday. These are lighter, but still extremely tasty and comforting dishes.

 

Spiced soup. It's this time of year that pumpkins explode all over every menu - pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bread and the ever-decadent-always-delicious pumpkin spice latte. I love pumpkin, but for this dish I use pumpkin's forgotten about cousin - butternut squash. This soup is flavorful and versatile and light while still being satisfying fall fare. I've made this vegan, but you can also make it vegetarian by using traditional dairy products. We had family stay with us recently who are oil-free vegans and we were also able to modify it for their dietary needs. Serve this Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with crusty bread and a green salad for a satisying weeknight meal.

*photo and recipe used with permission from GirlMakesFood 

 

Bread. Bread. Bread. If you aren't afraid of carbs or gluten intolerant, you will most definitely want to try these easy homemade bread recipes. If I plan ahead, I make this Crusty Bread recipe that comes out so unbelievably gorgeous that I can fool people into thinking that I'm a decent baker.

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*photo and recipe used with permission from Simply So Good

If I forget to start the dough the night before or need a last minute accompaniment to a meal, I whip up these 30 Minute Rolls. These are the fastest yeast rolls I have ever made, and vegan to boot.

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*photo and recipe used with permission from Your HomeBased Mom

 

Vegetables any which way. I credit my girls obsession with broccoli to the consistent presence of green on our dinner plates and simply prepared, appealing vegetable dishes. We keep vegetables easy by roasting or lightly steaming with a dab of coconut oil and a dash of sea salt.

 

Amazing little cookies. Our home is largely dairy free and I'm always seeking out not too complicated dairy free desserts so that everyone can enjoy a sweet treat for special occasions. I made these for a party and later for Thanksgiving and they disappeared quickly thanks to non-dairy and dairy eaters alike. This slightly sweet and robustly flavorful cookie is perfect with a cup of coffee or tea. You'll be glad to have some of this Soft Molasses Coconut Oil Crinkle Cookie dough in your freezer, ready to pop in the oven for unexpected company.

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*photo credit Averie Cooks

 

None of these recipe links have been sponsored, just sharing these talented folks' recipes because they are genuinely that delicious! They have all been in my fall menu rotation along with plenty of broth based soups. What are your go-to nourishing comfort foods in the colder months?

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nicole@hosienaturals.com (Nicole R.) Healthy Recipes Tue, 17 Dec 2013 15:29:00 -0500
Crockpot Roast Chicken and Easy Gravy http://www.hosienaturals.com/blog/entry/crockpot-roast-chicken-and-easy-gravy http://www.hosienaturals.com/blog/entry/crockpot-roast-chicken-and-easy-gravy I firmly believe a part of healthy living is good eating. Not just the food, but the experience of cooking with and for others and then eating food made with love together around the kitchen table.

It's good for the soul.

I love to cook. LOVE to. We would have amazing, from scratch dinners every single night except for one problem.

Two adorable little distractions that constantly need diapers changed, stories read, bo-bos kissed and drinks poured.

I'll get halfway through making what's destined to be a fantastic meal and then tragedy strikes. Or what a two year old deems is a tragedy, like a drop of water on her shirt or a bug outside on the other side of the window.

And then we eat scrambled eggs and toast for dinner.

But sometimes, SOMETIMES, I want to eat something that I would fix for company but that I don't have to babysit at the stove.

That's where a meal like this comes in. I smushed together a couple of recipes that are easy to make and turned it into this one: perfect roast chicken recipe.

Did you know you can make a roast chicken in the crockpot?

Alleluia.

Crockpot Roast Chicken and Easy Gravy

Ingredients

  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, chopped
  • scallions, chopped (optional)
  • olive oil
  • 1 tsp tomato paste
  • 1 whole chicken (3-5 lbs)
  • chicken stock, water or white wine
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder (or less, but I really love garlic!)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 lemon, 1 small onion, a bunch of herbs or a combo to stuff in chicken cavity

Directions

Chop onions, garlic and scallions and sauté in olive oil until translucent. Stir in tomato paste. Deglaze pan with 1/4 cup of chicken stock, water or white wine. Pour contents of pan into the bottom of slow cooker.

In a small bowl, mix together salt, paprika, poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder and pepper. Rub spice mixture all over whole chicken. Stuff cavity of chicken with half lemon, onion or herbs. Place chicken in crock pot.

Cook on low for 4-5 hours. None of that basting nonsense you have to do in the oven.

To make gravy, remove chicken and use an immersion blender to blend the onion mixture at the bottomof the crocpot into a gravy. (I used a hand mixer, but in an ideal world, it would have been an immersion blender). 

I like to serve this with rice and collard greens or roasted vegetables.

Pour gravy on everything you can.

Eat.

 

Then I would top the whole thing off with this amazing Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe. I usually modify it a bit and replace all of the flour with 1 1/6 cups whole grain spelt flour. They're eye-rolling-back-in-your-head yummy.

Then I'd give one cookie to my daughter and then eat the rest after the kids go to bed while watching Celebrity Apprentice with my husband.

And while I'm wishfully thinking, my kitchen would magically clean itself after and then every little person in my house would sleep through the night.

Bon Appétit!

 

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nicole@hosienaturals.com (Nicole R.) Healthy Recipes Wed, 10 Apr 2013 16:17:49 -0400