Summer Vegetable Curry #Organic and #GMO Free

I found a recipe for Summer Vegetable Curry on this site: 

http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/summer-vegetable-curry-recipe.html

I changed it up a little to make it a little easier to make. 

I added 4 tablespoons of coconut milk (the thick part at the top of the can) with 2.5 tablespoons of curry paste

and 1/2 teaspoon sea salt to a large pan. I brought it to a simmer on medium heat. I added 2 chopped green

onions once it was simmering. 

I cut about 6 small purple potatoes into small chunks and the rest of the can of coconut milk and let it all 

simmer on medium, covered, for 10 minutes. 

While that cooked, I cut 3 stalks of broccoli into florets and about 6 oz. of firm tofu. I added them to the potato

mixture after the first 10 minutes. I added about 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

and 1/2 teaspoon fresh cilantro. I allowed everything to simmer on medium heat for about 5-10 more minutes. 

You can add any vegetable to this dish and add more or less curry and salt. Just taste as you go to make sure

you have it the way you want it. This was enough for 3 people to have a good sized meal. You can try serving

it over cooked quinoa so it will serve more.

Eating right can taste great! Just do a little experimenting and you can make delicious meals that are healthy for

your family every night of the week.            

Carolyn Braden's Gluten Free Pizza Attempt: Success

I am trying to add more gluten free food into my life. I am trying to rid myself of the bloated "wheat belly" we all get after eating too many carbs loaded with gluten. I found this pizza crust mix and invented a pizza that my husband and I loved. The mix is by Hodgsdon Mill. I made the crust according to the package directions. After baking the crust for the first 10 minutes, I pulled it out of the oven and let the creativity fly.
I brushed the crust with olive oil. I added organic roasted rosemary seasoned red potatoes (I made these prior to starting the crust), organic fresh spinach, organic cheeses (mozzarella and parmesan), sun dried tomato pesto and some fresh garlic. I baked it for about 15 more minutes. It is my new go-to pizza dinner. It is so worth the effort!

http://www.amazon.com/Hodgson-Mill-Gluten-Pizza-16-Ounce/dp/B004IN43TO

Carolyn Braden Is Making Life Easier, Crock Pot Style

To have homemade meals waiting on me when I walk in the door....a dream, right? Oh, but that is possible......I must use my crock pot!
Teaching elementary students can wear me out! Sometimes it seems so much easier to order some to go food and pick it up on my way home so I don't have to cook. That gets expensive.
So, this year I've decided I'm going to crock pot it as much as possible. I found this great website that will help me achieve my goal. Check it out, the recipes look yummy!

http://crockingirls.com/recipes/

Also, here is a recipe from a someone at my school for Crock Pot Lava Cake.
A book that is great for easy weeknight meals is Southern Living's Easy Weeknight Favorites.

Carolyn Braden's Taco Pie: Vegetarian Style

Here's an easy vegetarian weeknight meal. I layered small tortillas in an 8" cake pan with refried beans, Boca Crumbles, black beans and shredded cheese. I baked it at 350 degrees for about 22 minutes. I seasoned my Boca Crumbles with taco seasoning and seasoned my refried beans with Arizona Dreaming spice from Penzeys spices. I drained and rinsed the black beans prior to using them. You could use plain beans and crumbles or real meat of you prefer. The idea came from a Southern Living cookbook and I added a few twists to make it my own.

Carolyn Braden says "Easy Crustless Mini Quiche!"

Here's a new recipe I tried the other night.  It's Crustless Broccoli and Cheddar Mini Quiche.  It comes from www.meals.com but I adjusted some of the ingredients.  You can use broccoli and red pepper like the recipe calls for, or try chopped asparagus instead.

1 can (12 oz.) Evaporated lowfat 2% milk (I only had a 5 oz. can so I substituted 7 oz. fat free half & half and it worked perfectly)

3 large eggs

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 cups shredded mild or sharp cheddar cheese (I used 1 cup Italian blend and 1 cup mild cheddar instead)

2 cups chopped frozen broccoli, thawed and drained

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and lightly flour twelve 2 1/2 inch muffin cups.  (I used Baker's cooking spray with flour).

Whisk evaporated milk, eggs, flour, salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl until blended. Stir in cheese, broccoli, and bell pepper.  Spoon 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the mixture into the prepared muffin cups, filling to the rim. 

Bake for 23 to 28 minutes or until knifed inserted near centers comes out clean and tops are lightly browned. Cool in pans for 15 minutes.  Run knife or small, flat spatula around inside edges of muffin cups.  Carefully remove quiche.  

Carolyn Braden says "The Easiest Chicken and Dumplins!"

Here's what I made for dinner tonight:  Chicken and Dumplins!
Easy, easy, easy!  I always wanted to figure out how to make it more simpler for me to make, and I succeeded!  
See me make it on YouTube here:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX3htxfjVW0

1 can (10 oz.) cream of chicken soup  (I used Cambell's Healthy Request)
1 can (14 oz) chicken broth (I used Swanson's Low Sodium)
2 med. size carrots, peeled and chopped
6 stalks of asparagus, chopped (cut ends off)  If you don't like asparagus, try using celery instead
1 can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (I used Pillsbury)
1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, shredded 
1 stalk of fresh thyme (I like the taste of thyme.  You do not have to add this if you don't want to though).
salt and pepper to taste


Combine the cream of chicken soup, the chicken broth, thyme, and the chicken.  Bring it to a boil on high.  (about 5 minutes and stir consistently).  While this is cooking, flatten the biscuits on a lightly floured surface.  Then cut them into 1 inch strips.  When mixture on stove is boiling, add the carrots, asparagus, and then add the strips of biscuits one at a time.  (I used almost the whole package of biscuits because we love dumplins.  I left about 3 in the package, unused). Put the mixture on low, cover, and simmer for about 15-20 minutes.  Serve and enjoy!  Use salt and pepper to taste. This will serve 4 people.  Serve a salad on the side if you wish.   Photo by Carolyn Braden

Carolyn Braden says "Easy Picadillo/ Manwich Dinner Recipe!"

Here is a recipe I got from Woman's Day magazine but changed it up to make it much simpler. The flavor reminds me of Manwich.   


1 package ground chicken or turkey (could use beef if you are a red meat fan)
1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce
1 Tbs. Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 small zucchini, diced
1 large green pepper, diced (You can omit this and the zucchini if you aren't a veggie fan and just want a Manwich kind of a meal)
1/2 cup quick cooking oats (do not use instant) 
1/4 cup raisins (I didn't have any of these tonight when I made it and it still tasted great, so you can omit these if you wish)


Cook your ground meat in a large skillet.  When it is completely cooked, add in vinegar, marinara sauce, cumin, cinnamon, zucchini, green pepper, oats, and raisins.  Let it all cook for about 5 minutes on med-high, stirring often.  Then let it simmer on low for about 15 minutes.  Serve over rice (or put it on a bun if you want it for Manwich) and enjoy!  

Photo by Carolyn Braden

Carolyn Braden says "Super Easy Dinner Quiche!"

Here's an easy quiche I made for dinner tonight.  I originally got the recipe from the Newsweek insert in the Sunday paper, but I changed it to make it so much easier!  

You can use whatever veggies you want for this recipe.  I used asparagus cut into 1 inch lengths and chopped tomatoes.  Try it with carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, or whatever you like! 

1 lb.asparagus, ends cut off and discarded, stalks cut into one inch lengths

1 tb. olive oil

salt and ground pepper

1 frozen pie crusts (unthawed, I get mine from Whole Foods and they are whole wheat organic pie crusts...so much healthier than regular pie crust)

3 large eggs

3/4 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup sour cream (1/2 cup=4 oz.)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil (or 1 tablespoon dried basil, or use 1/2 tsp dried tarragon if you have it instead of basil)

1 1/2 cups grated Swiss cheese (or whatever grated cheese you have on hand, usually I only have a blended shredded cheese on hand so you can use that instead like I do).

1/2 of a small tomato, finely chopped (omit this if you don't like tomatoes)

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Toss asparagus and chopped tomatoes with olive oil and a generous sprinkling of salt and pepper.

In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sour cream, basil (or tarragon), and 1/4 tsp salt and pepper each.

Put the chopped veggies into the thawed pie crust.  Pour the egg mixture over the veggies.  Sprinkle the cheese on the top.  Bake on a cookie sheet for 20-25 minutes or until set.  This will feed 6 hungry people.  :)

Since my husband doesn't like tomatoes, I will usually use two pie crusts, putting asparagus and tomatoes into one, and just asparagus into the other, then divide the egg mixture evenly and pour it into each veggie filled crust.  Then I sprinkle cheese over each of them and bake for about 20 minutes.  Dividing the mixture into two pie crusts will make your quiche a little thinner, but it works so well keeping everyone happy!  

The quiche with just aparagus.  

Photo by Carolyn Braden

The quiche with tomatoes and asparagus.  
Photo by Carolyn Braden