Brown rice and lentil tacos

I love recipes with memories. Then whenever I cook or eat a particular dinner I can look back fondly on the days of yesteryear.

This recipe has a simple story, my friend posted a similar recipe on her blog. When I wanted to make it I couldn't find the link, so I made my own version. However, thinking of this friend reminds me of Freshman year and horrible Freddy Prinze Jr. movies. I love thinking of those memories.

As you will quickly learn I am a huge fan of vegetables. I add vegetables to any recipe I can, sometimes to the point of going overboard. But not really because they always taste so yummy!

Brown Rice and Lentil tacos

adapted from here

Combine the following into a crock pot

• 1 diced onion
• 5 cloves of minced garlic
• 1 diced pepper

• 2 Tbsp flour

• 1 cup of lentils
• 1/2 cup of brown rice
• 4 1/2 cups of water
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp chili powder
• 1/4 tsp of onion powder
• 1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

cook in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours (this will look like a soup to start with, it thickens up). 

About 15-20 minutes before dinner time throw in 1/2 c. corn and about 1 c. chopped spinach

Serve on corn tortillas with your favorite taco toppings!

If you don't want to cook in the crock pot, cook veggies in olive oil then add rest of the ingredients. Cook for about 50 mins on a low simmer (like you would with brown rice).

I usually half this meal and have plenty! It is so delicious, even picky Caleb will eat it.

smoothie smackdown

A couple of weeks ago my crazy friend decided to redo her kitchen, starting on Christmas day. I went over and helped her one day and we started talking about green smoothies. I am pretty healthy but I just couldn't get on board with that. Blending fruit and veggies together and then drinking it? No thank you. A couple of days later I was FaceTiming with my sister and she was drinking something, a green smoothie. She also assured me that they are delicious. After two trusted friends told me to try them I did. And I am hooked. I drink them every morning for breakfast. Caleb even drinks them! For a boy who won't eat vegetables this makes me super duper happy. 

My sister gave me this recipe:

2 T Bob Mills flaxseed (not the powder)

1 carrot-not peeled 

1 apple (cored and sliced to whatever your blender can handle)

1/2 c blueberries

1 c. cranberry juice

handful of spinach and kale

1 c. ice

Place the flaxseed, carrot, apple, blueberries and cranberry juice in blender and mix until smooth. Add the spinach and kale-blend. Last add ice and blend until smooth.

I admit I haven't tried this recipe yet. I love my smoothie recipe so much because it is quick, easy and has a lot random yet important ingredients (like cinnamon and honey both of which doctors say to eat every day. The big thing is the greek yogurt. I love my extra protein because I also have a boy who won't eat meat).  This one is so easy to make because nothing has to be chopped beforehand. 

1/4-1/3 c. plain greek yogurt
1 banana

1 t. honey

two dashes cinnamon

a handful of baby carrots

two handfuls of spinach

a little milk

two cupfuls (like drinking cups it would probably equate to just over an actual cup) frozen fruit (I use the mix from Sam's Club)

Blend the yogurt, honey, cinnamon, carrots, spinach and milk until smooth (sometimes I don't add the milk it depends how think I want it. Caleb only drinks smoothies through a straw so if he wants one it needs to be thinner). Add fruit and mix until smooth.

I really need to get some flaxseed and add it to this recipe for that added boast of awesomeness.

Try one or both of these outs. One day Stephanie and I will have to have a smoothie smackdown for real!