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 Easy Dairy Free Smoothie: Pinterest Pin

All the ingredients I used were organic and GMO free and still it is very yummy!

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.

Need an Easy Way To Clean Copper Bottom Pans?

I saw this tip in a magazine years ago and it works! Cut a lemon in half. Sprinkle salt on the lemon. Rub it over the copper until the tarnish is gone. It probably won't get off all the tarnish but it will make them look much better!

Make Room For the Party Food!

For the perfect party you must have yummy food. Try mixing Philadelphia Milk Chocolate Cream Cheese with a tub of Cool Whip for a creamy fruit dip. A beautiful fruit presentation will make it disappear even faster. Caprese skewers are refreshing on a hot party day. Heavenly scented roses with fresh mint create a spectacular yet simple backdrop to a day everyone will enjoy.

Elegant Birthday Cake

A cake once again inspired by the pastry chefs at Whole Foods. I melted chocolate on a wax paper covered cookie sheet to create the flat chocolate pieces to create the "crust."

Carolyn Braden: Southwestern White Chicken Chili

Here's a recipe from Campbell's. It is an easy weeknight winter meal.

Carolyn Braden's No Yolks Veggie Lasagna

Try this easy lasagna recipe using Strom Products' No Yolks. I did and it was delicious!

Carolyn Braden's Parmesan Cheese Puffs

I made this Betty Crocker recipe for a New Year's Party appetizer. They were a hit! Click on the recipe photo to enlarge it.









Carolyn J. Braden
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

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