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Scheherazade Casserole

In the midst of figuring out my nutrition beliefs, I went from picky eater to vegetarian to vegan to omnivore.  While vegetarian and vegan, my two favorite cookbooks were “A Celebration of Wellness – A Cookbook for Vibrant Living” and “Moosewood Cookbook”.  I wanted to share with you what remains one of my favorite recipes from Moosewood Cookbook.  Scheherazade Casserole is a delicious recipe, which includes bulgur, onions, bell peppers, and soybeans (just to name a few ingredients).  I hope you enjoy this satisfying dish just as much as I do!  Maybe it will become one of your favorites too!

 

Photo Credit: Emily Barney via Compfight cc

 

Scheherazade Casserole

Makes 6-8 Servings

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup raw bulgur
  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cups minced onion
  • 3 larges cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 ½ teaspoons basil
  • black pepper and cayenne to taste
  • 1 large bell pepper, diced
  • ¾ cup dry soybeans, soaked
  • 1 14 ½ oz. can tomatoes, drained
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ cup (packed) finely minced parsley
  • 1 ½ to 2 cups crumbled feta cheese

 

Preparation:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.  Lightly oil a 9 x 13 inch baking pan.
  2. Place the bulgur in a small bowl.  Add boiling water, cover with a plate, and stand at least 15 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet.  Add onion, garlic, salt, and seasonings.  Stir occasionally as you sauté over medium heat for 5-8 minutes.  Add bell pepper and sauté about 5 minutes more.
  4. Drain the soybeans, if necessary, and place them in a blender or food processor with 1 cup fresh water.  Grind until the soybeans resemble a coarse batter.   Transfer to a large bowl.
  5. Add the soaked bulgur and sautéed vegetables to the soybeans,  Stir in the tomatoes,  breaking them up into bite-sized pieces.  Add tomato paste, the parsley, and 1 cup of the feta cheese.  Mix well.
  6. Spread into the baking pan and sprinkle the remaining feta chees on top.  Cover and bake for 30 minutes at 375°F, then uncover and bake 15 minutes more with the oven turned down to 350°F.  Serve hot.

 

 

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5 Tips for Welcoming Herbivores to the Holiday Feast

From vegetarians to vegans and pescatarians to gluten-free, throwing a holiday feast can be quite challenging. If you are planning to host a dinner party this holiday season, rest assured, entertaining guests with multiple food sensitivities does not mean you need to toss out traditional or favorite Holiday foods. With a few modifications, many foods can be easily modified.  What should you do when welcoming herbivores to your holiday feast? We’re dishing out 5 tips you need to do and know before you start cooking this holiday season.

1. Confirm Your Guests’ Dietary Restrictions – First things first, before you start purchasing any ingredients find our what type of food preferences your guests have and if they have any allergies. Keep in mind that not everyone has the same food preferences. Some people will eat dairy but not eggs and vice versa. Knowing your guests’ food styles won’t just help you plan out what dishes you can serve, but it will ensure there is something at the table for everyone.

2. Always Serve A Main Vegetarian Dish – If you pass on confirming your guests’ dietary preferences, steer on the safe side by preparing a main vegetarian dish. This way, anyone who passes up the turkey or other main meat dish will still have something just as delicious and satiating as the latter. For large crowds, a dish like vegetarian lasagna can be appetizing for both non-meat and meat eaters alike.

3.  Make Your Side Dishes Veggie-Friendly – Make sure there are side dishes that everyone can enjoy. While you don’t have to dish out a whole chicken, turkey fish or tofurkey to meet all of your guests’ dietary preferences, side dishes are where you can make something suitable for everyone’s palates and preferences. To do this, keep an open mind by serving dishes other than a simple salad. Some side dishes can include sliced fresh fruits, cheeses, crackers, bruschetta, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, deviled eggs, potato salad, roasted cauliflower, chickpeas, lentils, latkes, corn on the cob, cornbread, stuffed mushrooms, quinoa salad, garlicky kale or spinach.

4. Encourage Your Guests to Bring a Dish – After you letting your guests know in advance that you will be preparing vegetarian/vegan dishes, offer to let them bring a couple of dishes that they enjoy too. If you feel like you’re scrambling to find enough vegetarian/vegan dishes, allow your guests to bring dishes to share with everyone.

Photo Credit: Sugar Daze via Compfight cc

5. Prepare Two Dessert Options – When dishing out dessert, consider eggs and dairy products. If possible, it’s best to prepare one non-dairy dessert option. If you plan to make the dessert yourself, there are a ton of substitutions on the market that add flavor and moisture to your baked goods. For egg substitutes, you can try applesauce, chia seeds in gel form, or EnerG Egg Replacer, which can be found at a health foods store or Whole Foods Market. To substitute cow’s milk, you can use soy, almond or hemp milk and vegetable margarine in many baked goods. For those who are new to creating sweet concoctions without dairy and eggs, know that it is possible to serve a scrumptious vegan dessert!

 

Have you ever hosted a vegetarian or vegan dinner? What tips would you give to new hosts?

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Should my child become a vegetarian?

Is It Safe for My Child to Become a Vegetarian?
By Erica Leon, MS, RDN, CDN, CEDRD

Photo Credit: Pabo76 via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: Pabo76 via Compfight cc

My daughter was ten when she refused to eat meat because she didn’t want to harm animals. A class discussion had raised this topic and she was sold.  I listened calmly to her rationale, and it made sense. The bigger question for me was how to manage dinner for a vegetarian and a meat-and-potato-loving husband and preteen son!

Preparing different meals is a common concern I hear from parents with kids becoming vegetarian. Additional questions I often hear include: Is it safe? How will my child get enough protein? What other nutrients should I worry about? Here are some suggested guidelines for responding to the topic of vegetarianism if your child or teen brings it up:

Listen. Talk calmly with your child about their reason for eliminating meat. If it is about animal rights or another reason that you feel makes sense to your child, be respectful of his or her choice(s). It is not worth a power struggle and shows that you value what your child feels. If you have any concerns that your child is cutting out a category of food(s) for weight-loss purposes, it is important to talk about balanced eating and healthy habits rather than weight. In some cases, a sudden change in diet can indicate potential eating-disordered thoughts, and you may have to take the opportunity to address this swiftly.

A well-planned vegetarian diet can be nutritionally adequate according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A healthy vegetarian diet will contain a variety of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and calcium sources. Your child must learn that a steady diet of pizza, pasta, mozzarella sticks, and bagels does not constitute a “healthy” vegetarian diet.

Photo Credit: elana's pantry via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: elana’s pantry via Compfight cc

Nutrients in shortest supply in a vegetarian diet, particularly a vegan diet (one that excludes dairy and eggs), may include:

    • Protein: Vegetarian sources can include eggs and cheese, legumes (beans), nuts and nut butter, seeds, tofu, and other soy products.
    • Calcium: Vegetarian-friendly sources of calcium include: cow’s milk, yogurt and cheese, calcium-fortified soy, rice, oat or hemp milk, calcium-fortified juice, and tofu, broccoli, leafy greens, beans, almond and almond butter, sesame seeds and sesame butter, and soy nuts.
    • Iron: Rich sources for vegetarians include fortified breakfast cereals, enriched breads and pasta, eggs, beans, and dark leafy green vegetables. Soy products such as veggie burgers are generally fortified with iron. It is important to consume a good source of vitamin C in order to increase absorption of iron. Vitamin C is found in citrus, tomatoes, and peppers.
    • Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is found only in animal products including eggs and dairy. If your child is a vegan, he or she will need supplementation. Many soy products and milk substitutes are fortified, so read labels.
    • Vitamin D: Considered the “sunshine vitamin” since our body can make it from exposure to sunlight, some vegetarians who do not consume fish, eggs, or dairy and/or do not spend time in the sun will benefit from supplementation.

 Do I need to prepare two dinners? A vegetarian diet can be healthy for the whole family, so this is your chance to slowly introduce some new foods into the entire family’s diet. I usually involve my kids in planning several meals for the week.

Simple meal suggestions my kids came up with:

    • Whole grain pasta with ground turkey (son) AND vegetarian crumbles (daughter). We added salad and soy milk for calcium and protein.
    • Stir-fried vegetables with chicken AND tofu and quinoa or brown rice.
    • Rice and beans was a great main meal for my daughter and a side dish for my husband and son. Smaller amounts of red meat and vegetables rounded off the meal.
    • I experimented and would make dishes that everyone could enjoy such as whole grain vegetable lasagna using tofu instead of ricotta cheese, with lots of vegetables and soy cheese instead of mozzarella.
    • Turkey tacos and bean tacos were common fare.
    • When I made breaded chicken cutlet, I make breaded tofu cutlet.
    • On hectic nights, I confess that I have used frozen foods such as Amy’s Organic Bean Dishes, Morningstar Farm or Dr. Praeger’s Veggie Burgers, or Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods frozen vegetarian meals. Even a dietitian needs a night off from cooking!

 

Where can I read more about vegetarianism? Some great websites for vegetarian nutrition include:

 

 

 

 

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Quinoa Cornbread (gluten & dairy-free)

Whether you serve it alongside Thanksgiving dinner or as a side at a Sunday night family supper, cornbread is a great addition to a home-cooked meal. This recipe is both gluten and dairy free and could easily be made vegan by swapping the egg for a flax egg or applesauce. Plus, it’s very easy to prepare, making it a great activity to share with your children in the kitchen. We hope you enjoy this recipe, and feel free to send us your favorite cornbread recipe! Do you add quinoa to other recipes, too?

Quinoa Cornbread

Ingredients

*   2 ¼ cups unsweetened soy milk (or milk of choice)
*   2 cups gluten-free cornmeal
*   1 cup quinoa meal
*   ¼ cup agave nectar
*   1 egg, beaten (or 1 flax egg)
*   2 tbsp canola oil
*   2 tsp salt
*   1.5 tsp baking soda
*   ½ tsp baking soda

 

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. Combine dry ingredients in large mixing bowl.
  3. Mix wet ingredients in separate bowl.
  4. Combine both wet and dry ingredients, mixing well.
  5. Grease loaf pan with canola oil spray. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the golden-brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

We love quinoa! Are you new to this nutritious grain? If so, we recommend heading over to Cooking Light’s test kitchen. They have a great piece on quinoa, plus a video on how to cook it!

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Spiced Carrot & Apple Mini Muffins

Photo courtesy of Feeding Audrey

I recently attended the Citibabes’ Holiday Shopping event and had the pleasure of meeting the brains behind Feeding Audrey, a wonderful blog portraying the story of the journey through motherhood. I left the event with some beautiful recipe cards and wanted to share this delicious recipe. I hope you enjoy!

 

Spiced Carrot & Apple Mini Muffins 30 mini muffins Ingredients:

  • 2 flax eggs (see below)
  • 1.25 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour blend
  • 1/4 cup gluten-free oats
  • 1/4 cup turbinado sugar
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ginger powder
  • 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp cardamom
  • 1.25 cups unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 red apples, grated (Fuji, Gala, or Pink Lady)
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and grated

Method: To make flax eggs, combine 6 tbsp of water with 2 tbsp of flax meal. Stir well and place in fridge to set for 15 minutes. Preheat oven to 375˚F and line mini muffin pan with liners or spray with cooking spray. Whisk dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl whisk together applesauce, oil, vanilla, and flax eggs. Slowly stir the wet ingredients into dry ingredient, fold in the grated apples and carrots. Place 1 tbsp of batter into muffin pans. Bake for 25 minutes or until center comes out dry on a toothpick. Cool on a wire rack.

 

This recipe and photograph are courtesy of www.FeedingAudrey.com

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Wild Rice Burgers

We know it isn’t Meatless Monday, but we can pretend it is, right? We were just too excited to wait until next Monday to share this delicious Wild Rice Burger recipe. Laura and her family will definitely be having this for dinner tonight. Do you think Laura’s boys will like them? (We sure hope so!)

photo courtesy of missmeng


Wild Rice Burgers
Makes 4 patties

 Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup uncooked wild rice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1/3 cup small-diced onion
  • 1/3 cup small-diced celery
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup shredded aged Asiago cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/16 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 large eggs, beaten

Directions:

  1. Cook wild rice according to package instructions or use the boiling method. Cool completely. (Can make a day ahead and refrigerate.)
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat and sauté onions, celery, and garlic until onion is translucent.
  3. In a large bowl, combine onion-celery-garlic mixture with wild rice, breadcrumbs, Asiago cheese, salt, oregano, thyme, paprika, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Cool completely and then add eggs, stirring to combine.
  4. Divide mixture into 4 and shape into 1/2-inch thick patties.
  5. Heat remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry patties 2-3 minutes on each side until crisp and golden.
  6. Serve with your favorite burger toppings.

Variation:
For a vegan version, omit the Asiago cheese and replace the eggs with 2 tablespoons ground flax seeds whisked with 6 tablespoons water.


Posted by Emily Ho

Emily Ho is a writer and recipe developer. She lives in Los Angeles, where she teaches classes on food preservation, wild food, and herbalism. She is a Master Food Preserver and founder of LA Food Swap and Food Swap Network.

Read more from Emily »

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Is Your Tween Hiding Her Lunch?

REAL GRANDMOM ASKS: My 11 year old granddaughter is hiding her sandwiches and lunchables that are packed for her lunch in her room; sometimes before she even leaves for school. She takes a bite out of the sandwich or lunchable and puts in back in the container and seals it up, then hides it in her room. She doesn’t have an explanation for this and you can tell she is embarrassed when you talk to her about it. None of the food is new or disliked, that is why this is such a puzzle to us. My daughter is going bonkers over this and I simply don’t know how to advice her. Maddie has hidden evidence of “sneaked” food before when she was very young but this is a new behavior.What do you think? 

Thanks,

 

Debbie A., a perplexed Grammy

 

REAL MOM LAURA ANSWERS:

Thank you Debbie for your heartfelt question.  I am sure many other grandparents and parents share in your sincere concern for both their daughters and their  granddaughters. There are a few things you can do without alarming your granddaughter. Be sure to keep this a confidential as possible. It is  a very sensitive subject and privacy will help to ensure your granddaughter’s privacy and thus minimize any shame or embarrassment. I will answer the question directed at a mom (or dad) since mom (or the primary caregiver) will need to do the follow through.

In general when any tween is hiding food, consider checking in with the school nurse or guidance counselor (in private) to see if your tween is:

A)   Eating a different type of food at school?

B)   Eating any lunch at school?

C)   Attending lunch at school (some students hide during the lunch period to avoid social anxiety, bullying or to enable skipping the meal for restriction purposes)?

This will give you a better idea of what is happening for your daughter.  There are many things to consider such as is your child:

A)   Embarrassed to bring a home packed lunch?

B)   Perhaps your child doesn’t like the way their food smells?

C)   Perhaps your child is uncomfortable with their changing tween body?

D)   Has anyone said anything to your tween to make them feel shameful of their body?

E)   Is your child restricting their intake in effort to gain a false sense of control due to changes in friends, family, school…?

F)    Is your tween newly aware of her body and thus restricting her intake to prevent it from maturation? 

Next and most importantly, sit down with this wonderful child and let them know you are there to listen. Let them know you promise not to be angry (if you truly do) and can help to support them. Validation is the most important piece. Moms don’t need to solve every problem rather we just need to listen.  Tell your tween you love them and are there for them when they feel ready to share. Giving your tween an unbiased outlet and a few hugs may get them to be honest with you.

If your tween is not ready to confide, you can also offer to take the tween food shopping to see if that helps to resolve the issue. This may give you a better sense of what is going on if your tween actually takes you on the offer.

If the issue continues, it is best to have your tween see a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (therapist specializing in eating disorders) or a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian (RD specializing in eating disorders). This accreditation is only given to experts trained in the  prevention and treatment of eating disorders by the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (www.iaedp.com).

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Enter to Win Peter Bereley's Cookbook and Solae Prize Pack

Last month, Solae–leading company in developing soy based foods like soy milk and energy bars–hosted a dinner created by Chef Peter Bereley. Peter Bereley, author of The Flexitarian Table, prepared a 4 course dinner with every dish containing tofu. Unlike the typical tofu you might imagine, Chef Bereley used it in innovating and delicious ways: tofu-ricotta,miso salad dressing, chili, and even pie for dessert! As he demonstrated how he prepared each dish, he provided creative tips on how to incorporate soy protein to our meals.  At the end of the event, Solae provided us with an awesome giveaway, including an extra for our readers! Included in the awesome backpack are several of Solae’s soy based products and a copy of Chef Bereley’s cookbook so you can try his “soy-licious” recipes on your own!

Thanks to Solae and Peter Bereley, Mom Dishes It Out will be giving away a “Solae Prize Pack”:

· A copy of Peter Bereley’s  “The Flexitarian Table”

· Solae Backpack

· Reusable Water bottle

· Cooking Tools

· A few coupons and samples of Solae’s soy-based products like Balance Bar, 8th Continent Soy Milk, and Special K protein shakes

 

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Enter by one of the following ways. You can submit more than one entry by doing any of the following. Just be sure to leave an additional comment letting us know you did! Good luck!

Winners will be announced on Friday, November 16, 2012 at 6:00 PM EST.

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Heart Healthy Mexican Recipes: Vegetarian Burrito

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 2 tbsp garlic chopped
  • 8 whole wheat tortillas
  • 1 15 oz can low salt black beans
  • 1 15 oz can low salt kidney beans
  • 1 cup corn, frozen or fresh, steamed
  • 2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tbsp cilantro

*Optional

  • 4 cups brown rice, cooked
  • 2 cups reduced fat and grated cheese
  • 1 avocado, sliced

METHOD

  1. In a large bowl, combine the beans, corn, tomatoes, lime juice and cilantro. Drizzle oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion, and garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes. When garlic becomes fragrant, add the bean mixture and reduce to low heat.
  2. Warm tortillas in the microwave for 20 seconds or over the sauté pan. Remove from heat and spread each tortilla with ½ cup rice down the center, followed by the bean mixture. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup shredded cheese and few slices of avocado.
  3. First, fold the bottom of the tortilla over the filling and the tortilla directly on the opposite end. Wrap the left side of the tortilla over the filling and seal with a bamboo toothpick. You now have a swaddled burrito! Serve with carrot sticks and lemon lime seltzer.

 

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Mom is Dishing Out Free Yoga Sessions!

Yoga combines stretching, meditation and breathing exercises, which has shown to have many positive health benefits.  It can help improve balance, back pain or posture, tone muscles, and may even serve as a creative outlet or stress reliever.

There are different forms of yoga out there, with Hatha yoga being just one of the many. If you’re new to Hatha yoga, here’s your chance to give it a try!

Mom Dishes It Out will be giving 100 followers a free yoga class at Jivamukti Yoga Center in New York City! 

Located in NYC, the Jivamukti Yoga School offers Hatha Yoga classes to beginners, prenatal, kids/teens and families. When you’re there, be sure to check out their new cafe, where you can enjoy a tasty pre/post session vegan meal!

Want to enter for a chance to win a free yoga session?

Enter by one of the following ways:

Let us know what you like about the yoga and you could be one of the lucky winners!
Winners will be announced on Friday, October 5th, 2012 at 6:00 PM EST.