What To Do With Split Peas

So, I made a nice batch of thick Green Split Pea Soup the other day.  My kids would not touch it.  So I was now stuck with a good half gallon of this very tasty soup, but did not want to eat it alone...time to experiment.

I took 4 cups of the soup which had by this time cooled down and was very thick.  To this I added 1/2 cup vital wheat gluten, 1 T granulated onion, 2 T Olive Oil and 2 t salt.  Thouroughly knead this to distribute and develop the gluten.  I then formed this into small thin patties.  I learned long ago that the chances of kids eating something increases significantly when it is made into a patty.  Brown these in olive oil on both sides and then pop into the oven for 15 minutes.  When they start to puff up, they are done.

So, a delicious soup that the kids won't eat turns into delicious patties that all will enjoy.  Serve with a salad and maybe some ketchup for the kids.

The motto of this experience:  Never give up on a dish, just reinvent it!

Beans; The more you eat, the more you toot!

Beans make up a good portion of my diet.  They play a significant role in many ethnic cuisines from Mexican to Middle Eastern.  One downside of consuming beans is that you may be prone to a bit more flatulence than you would like.  This is caused by a sugar present in most beans and legumes (oligosaccharides) that can not be broken down naturally in our bodies as we don't manufacture the necessary enzymes.  This causes the sugars to travel through our digestive system, eventually fermenting in the lower intestine.  And that is where the gas comes from.

A simple cure for this comes from the sea.  Cooking beans with a small amount of kelp helps to break down these sugars and enables them to be digested.  An added bonus of kelp is that it contains glutamates which add an umami flavor to foods, making them more savory.  So don't fear beans, embrace them.  They are a rich source of protein, folates, B vitamins and fiber among other things.  I'll post some recipes over the next couple of days to get you started.

Eating a vegan diet doesn't mean it is healthy.

I started this blog in an attempt to open some new horizons for people following a vegan diet.  I've been vegan for 11 years, and all too often I find myself going to the market to choose from one of the many vegan substitutes available today.  For the most part, my diet is pretty healthy; a good variety of beans and whole grains with plenty of fresh organic vegetables to go with it.  What is quite apparent is that a lot of people don't eat enough of the whole foods and rely upon soy and wheat products to get their protein.

Starting tomorrow, I will share my experiences with a whole food vegan diet.  It is much healthier than relying on Tofurky, Boca Burgers and the like to make fantastic meals that are easy to prepare.  Your body will thank you for it in the long run.