Tag Archives: vegetarian recipes

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Naturally Healthy, Vegan Banana Bread Recipe

Banana bread.  It’s such a yummy way to use up old bananas; which are actually some of the best bananas nutritionally.  However, brown bananas aren’t always that appetizing.  Enter, banana bread.  Of course, you can use ripe bananas too (like in the photo), but the closer to rotten the bananas are, the sweeter and more flavorful they are, and, as we said, the more nutritionally optimal.

Now, we’ll readily admit that there are a lot of banana bread recipes out there many of which are very tasty.  But, some rely on a lot of refined sugars and are heavy on the fat.  This one we’re going to share here though has some amazing extras that helps it stand out while staying healthy.  Plus, it’s all  natural and totally vegan!

Don’t let those brown, nutrition filled bananas go to waste – use them in this natural banana bread recipe that’s super healthy, vegan; and that the whole family will enjoy.

 

vegan banana bread loaf on white plateorganic bananas in glass bread baking dishvegan banana bread recipe mix

 

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Naturally Healthy, Vegan Banana Bread Recipe
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
 
Ingredients
  • 3 ripe bananas (1 c)
  • ⅓ C applesauce (or oil)
  • ¼ C lemon juice
  • ½ C maple (or sugar)
  • 1½ C flour
  • ½ C wheat germ
  • ½ t salt
  • ½ t baking powder
  • ½ t baking soda
  • 1 C chopped dates
  • 1 C chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Mash bananas and mix with lemon juice, and applesauce (or oil).
  3. Add to sugar and mix well.
  4. Combine flour, wheat germ, salt, baking powder, and baking soda.
  5. Add to banana mixture and stir until combined.
  6. Add dates and nuts.
  7. Spoon mixture into greased loaf pan (4x8) and bake for 45-50 min.
  8. If you'd like to make muffins bake for about 25-30 min

 

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Veggie Stir Fry With Brown Rice – A Nutritious, No Fuss, Natural Family Meal!

Quick and healthy don’t always go together – but more and more natural mammas and pappas are making it happen!

When it’s 5:00 and I still can’t figure out what’s for dinner, I used to reach for the frozen fish sticks or chicken nuggets – not anymore!  We’ve got a stash of go to quick, easy recipes the whole family enjoys.  One of our favorites, and probably one of the most healthy, is veggie stir fry with brown rice.

Stir fry is such a great natural family meal because it’s so versatile.  Got a garden bursting with _____ veggie – make a stir fry with it.  Joined a CSA – you can make a different stir fry each week with whatever they give you.  Cleaning out your fridge and have some lone veggies?  Use them up in a stir fry!

Of course like all other meals you could actually plan a specific type of stir fry, and you can add meat too.  Or give it a bit of oomph while keeping it vegetarian by adding some seasoned tofu or tempeh.

Best of all, if you have a large family like we do, stir fry is excellent because everyone can have what they want usually with minimal fuss.  Add some soy sauce, hot sauce, or other seasonings you like and you’ve got a meal any natural family will love; and that’s easy to prepare, even in a pinch!

The one thing is it does take about 20 – 30 min to cook the brown rice.  One of the ways around this issue though is to make a bunch of brown rice one night then store the extra in the refrigerator.  That way it’s ready and waiting for whatever veggies you want to ad, as well as for other meals too like bean and rice burritos, or as an awesome side dish.

veggie stir fry and riceYou can also make stir fry quicker and easier by cutting up the veggies in advance (a great idea for making salads easier too).  You might also consider keeping a bag of organic frozen mixed veggies on hand; which will cut your prep time down considerably.

Best of all though, everyone will enjoy this yummy family meal, and, you can even puree some for the baby if needed!  Plus, this meal is super affordable, a great way to use up left overs, it’s nutritious, and, we’ll just say it again, it’s EASY!

Fix up a stir fry tonight and see what we mean!  Most likely, it’ll become a staple on your weekly natural family menu too.

PS – we’re feeling lazy – and are wicked busy right now too (like always!!) – so we didn’t include a recipe.  While it’s pretty basic, if you feel like a recipe for stir fry will help let us know and we’ll add one right away!

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Corn Chowder – A Recipe Perfect For Those Cold Winter Days

Homemade Corn chowder is a nice, comfort food of a soup.  Its rich, homey tastes all blend together for a wonderful bowl of soup that will warm you up from the inside out on those cold, dark winter days.

Soups can also make a nice way to extend your cooking as leftovers are so easy to heat up.

They can be great to take to friends who are ill, nursing a loved one back to health, enjoying their baby moon, or even to a pot luck too.  They freeze well and are easily transportable in a crock pot or even simply put into glass jars and re heated wherever you’re going.   Because most people, even kids enjoy a simple soup like corn chowder, it’s a vegetarian soup, and its even easy to make vegan, this soup in particular is perfect for all these occasions and more!

As far as the corn chowder recipe that follows – its incredibly easy to make, pretty quick for a soup, and comes out perfect every time!  Enjoy it with a fresh green salad and some tasty homemade bread or croutons for a naturally delicious meal that will keep your belly full and warm even when its cold outside.

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Corn Chowder
Recipe type: Soup
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8
 
Ingredients
  • 4 T butter
  • 2 large onions chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced (more if you like garlic)
  • 5 C vegetable stock
  • 3 medium potatoes chopped
  • 1 C (8oz) creamed corn
  • 2-3 C fresh or frozen corn kernels
  • 1 C cheddar cheese
  • ¼ C milk or cream (optional)
  • Fresh chives to garnish
Instructions
  1. Heat butter in large sauce pan and add onions and garlic to cook for about 5 min.
  2. Add vegetable stock and bring to a boil
  3. Add potatoes
  4. Simmer uncovered 10 min.
  5. Add the creamed corn and corn kernels and bring to a boil.
  6. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 min
  7. Stir the cheese through
  8. Add cream or milk
  9. Garnish with chives and serve