Organic Granny

  This pleasant herbal soup-- called Dovga-- comes from Azerbaijan, a country straddling Eastern Europe and West Asia in the South Caucasus region. Bordered by the Caspian Sea to the east, it shares boundaries with Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, and Iran. We dipped-- and cleaned up our bowls with-- warmed pita bread. All in all, this soup was a flavorful blend of Russian and Middle Eastern influences.   Here is how I put it together: (please read over complete recipe to establish all ingredients needed)   DOVGA DELIGHT  Cook on the stove:  1/2 C. Quinoa (or Rice) in 1 1/2 C. water. Set aside.  1/2 to 1 cup Green Peas (put aside for garnish) Combine in the Vita-Mix Cannister: 2 Small Yellow Onions, cut up  1 Green Onion, cut up  1 Celery stalk, cut up  2 T. Fresh Mint Leaves  4 T. Fresh Cilantro  2 C. Fresh Spinach Leaves  1/2 tsp. Celtic Sea Salt (or to taste)  Pepper to taste  Blend in Vitamix (or other blend...

  This delicious Caraway-Cauliflower Soup is based on having had a bowl of it in a local restaurant one day for lunch. I had not tasted caraway for many years and had forgotten that I liked it. INGREDIENTS: * 1 onion, chopped * Golden Bouillion , 2+ cubes *4  carrots, chopped *4 potatoes, cubed *1/2 cauliflower, cut into small florets *1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds *filtered water to cover vegetables when cooking *1 cup plant milk (unsweetened) *salt and pepper to taste *vegan cheese shreds to garnish *lemon squeeze METHOD: 1. Saute the onion in the bouillion. 2. Add the carrots, potato, cauliflower, seeds, and cover with water. Simmer until the veggies are softened 3. Add milk and salt.  4. Add in all the vegetables and blend until smooth. Alternately, leave some of the vegetables in the pot so that the soup is chunky. Stir the soup in the pot to warm through. 5. Dish soup up and garnish with vegan cheese shreds, fresh cracked pepper,and perhaps chopped onion greens. 6. Pro...

T here was once a dental emergency-- I lost part of a porcelain crown in the front of my mouth-- and lovely Parsnip-Cabbage Soup recipe is part of a 'liquid' diet meant to create less stress on my exposed root and to help me get rid of a cold I had. It worked.   This soup is quite substantial and schmecht gut (as they say in my Duolingo German class)... filling and tasty. Anyone who has done a lot of cooking in the past can freely and intuitively spice up or spice down. For novice cooks, the recipe is quite satisfying, but you might want to add more of your favourite condiments if you find it too bland.   I, personally, love the flavour of parsnips. I have a bunch of them because they were in "the expiry" cart at Edible Island, our favourite health and organic produce shop.   I also love fresh green cabbage (and raw sauerkraut, but that's for another day).   Some of the recipes I looked at called for the inclusion of an apple. I believe that appl...

Yummy, delightful black bean mulligatawny soup to serve your family or company on crisp pre-Christmas days. It smells divine! And it is soooo easy to make if you have a good blender!   This recipe can be found on the VitaMix site. Yield: 5 cups Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 7 minutes INGREDIENTS Celery & Apple Chutney  1/2 cup tart apple  1/4 cup celery  1 tablespoon fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon fresh lime or lemon juice  INSTRUCTIONS For Chutney   Place all ingredients in Vita-Mix container in order listed below Secure two-part lid. Select VARIABLE, speed #1.  Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to #4 or #5.  Run for 5-10 seconds or until ingredients are chopped to desired consistency. If necessary, use the tamper to push the ingredients into the blades while proessing. Do not over mix     Black Bean Mulligatawny Soup  2 cups 480 mL reduced sodium broth or 3 Golden Bouillion cubes/water 14 oz. black beans cook...

INGREDIENTS: 1 garlic bulb (or crown-- the whole garlic mother) 1 tsp. olive oil 1 medium 3 pound butternut squash, peeled and cubed 1 medium large potato, peeled and cubed 1 large onion, chopped 2 tablespoons Coconut Oil 3 + cups filtered water 2 cups vegetable broth OR 2 cups water and 3 Golden Bouillion cubes 1 tsp. smoked paprika 1/2 tsp. chipotle pepper 1/2 tsp. sea salt crumbled vegan cheese as a garnish METHOD for Making this Soup:  1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F./230 degrees Celsius.  I chose to use a small convection oven on my countertop.  Peel off the papery skin of the garlic bulb but do not peel or separate the cloves.  Cut the top off the bulb and brush it with oil.  Wrap well in foil with shiny side inwards and put in the oven for 30-35 minutes until softened.  Cool. 2. Melt the coconut oil and put the squash, potato, and onion cubes into a large pot, such as a Dutch oven (if using the oven-top method).  I used my Instant Pot....

From what I've heard, authentic classic Thai dishes attempt to represent all possible ranges of palate experience with taste and texture: salty, sour, sweet, crunchy, creamy, spicy, cooling! While this is a HUGE challenge for any cook, I think that you will find the following Vegan take-off of a Thai Coconut Veggie Soup achieves this pretty well-- toss in some peanuts before serving to add 'crunchy'.   Most of the ingredients you will have in your kitchen already, but there are a couple of surprises that you might want to go out and purchase for your continued foray into the exotic!  But ALL Vegan! Thai Coco-Veggie Soup INGREDIENTS: * 1 medium, organic onion, diced * 2 red bell peppers, diced * 3 cloves organic garlic, minced * 1 organic carrot, sliced * 1 can chickpeas or sweet green peas (organic, please) * 2 tbsp Virgin Coconut Oil  * 1/2 tsp cumin * 1/2 tsp coriander * 1/4 tsp cayenne * 2 1/2 cups diced tomatoes * 1 cup coconut milk * 1 cup organic peanut butter...

  This recipe for a fragrant mushroom-celery soup was a recipe I used when I had had oral (dental) surgery in the previous week and was adjusting to the upper dentures and nurturing my still-tender wounds from the several extractions I had undergone.   The recipe is pretty no-frills bland because I was taking recovery medications as well as a beta blocker and anticoagulant as per a previous diagnosis of atrial fibrillation and wanted not to have to deal with possible food and drug interactions.  Although the docs and a pharmacist had all cleared the possibility of any worrisome drug or food interactions, I felt conflicted.   The four meds alone (one of which had apparently been given Trump when he entered the hospital with a positive response to COVID19 testing --dexamethazone) filled me with awe and caution.  A few nights of mild acid reflux-- something I have not experienced-- seemed likely related to the combo of drugs and food.   I had no...

  This recipe for Simple Leek-Sweet Potato Soup is easy to pull together (the only thing you might not have on hand is the leeks or sweet potatoes) and easy to digest-- particularly comforting if you have been over-indulging in rich food over the holiday.  Enjoy! INGREDIENTS: 1/2 C. Water 1 large Onion, finely chopped 3 cloves Garlic, crushed 3 large Leeks, sliced into rounds 2 heaped tsp ground Cumin 1 thumb-size piece of organic Ginger, grated 1 litre Vegetable Stock OR             Water + 3 Golden Bouillion cubes 4 Sweet Potatoes, peeled and chopped 2 C/400 ml. of Coconut or Nut Mylk  Salt, and freshly ground Pepper METHOD for Making the Soup 1. Bring water to boil in a large saucepan. Add the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring now and then. 2. Add the garlic and leek and cook gently for 3-4 minutes, stirring often. Mix in the cumin and cook for another 2-3 minutes. 3. Add the grated ginger, then the stock or water. Bring to t...

  This potato-cabbage soup is a lovely vegetarian dish for St. Pat's day-- or, as the Irish chef states: "on a Sunday afternoon with a sandwich and a Guiness!" Watch the video HERE for details about amounts and how-to, but here is a shopping list:  *cooking oil *onion *garlic *small cabbage *Yukon Gold potatoes *vegetable broth or 3 bouillion cubes + water or just water *fresh thyme or fresh dillweed *Salt and pepper Make it a good one!  ~Cynthia

Our son gave us some kuri squash seeds-- the gift that keeps on giving--  and eventually, voila! a rich, creamy delightful kuri squash curry soup.   What is Kuri Squash?   Kuri is a smallish (5-10 pounds) hard-shelled, teardrop-shaped, bright red-orange 'winter' squash that takes about 100 days to mature after flowering. It originated in Japan. I find the flesh to be a sort of cross between a pumpkin and a yam, quite dense and starchy. It creams up beautifully in the Vitamix to a smooth, silken soup that doesn't require anything to 'thicken' it (so, yes, any soup you add it to can be creamy, gluten-free!) A radiantly beautiful Kuri Squash from our garden   Kuri Squash Curry Soup Recipe A Church friend was famous for his delicious curry pumpkin or carrot soups. I have attempted to replicate the flavour he achieves, but I suspect he might used some oil (which I have not) and perhaps even butter, maybe even chicken broth. This recipe is low-fat vegan , so, sorry, no bu...

Today's soup recipe is a delectable vegan chowder (or veggie stew) adapted from the book by Mike Anderson, " The RAVE Diet & Lifestyle " a simple enough transitional diet from the less-than-healthy Standard American Diet (SAD) to recipes for delicious foods that actually heal dis-ease.  Mike is also the author of Healing Cancer From the Inside Out (book and film) and the award-winning film Eating. <--watch free on Youtube. We heartily approve of his recipes and will be adapting them here from time to time for your eating health and pleasure! Ingredients to serve 6: 2 C. diced stewed organic tomatoes 2 C. organic vegetable broth 2 C. chopped kale 1 C. cooked brown rice or organic quinoa 2 C. cooked low-sodium organic chickpeas 1 C. chopped organic onion 1C. chopped organic red pepper 1 1/2 C. filtered water 1/2 C. chopped organic leeks 1/3 C. sliced raw organic almonds 1 T. paprika 2 tsp. vegetable broth for sautéing 2 bay leaves Instructions 1.Warm the broth over m...

When I wrote this recipe I was staying with my son in the beautiful Eastern Townships of Quebec. It was fall, the leaves were scarlet, the temperatures were pleasant (although it did rain and blow at night).  My son and his buddies are mushroom savvy.  I cannot overemphasize the importance of not picking and cooking/eating unknown mushrooms. The term "wild mushrooms" for this recipe refers mostly to the cooking style and ingredients used to prepare the store-bought mushrooms so that they resemble the taste and fragrance of wild mushrooms. This recipe is an adaptation from the Vita-Prep Cookbook (the Vita-Prep is the blender made by Vita-Mix for professional chefs.)   Ingredients: *1# (5 C.) Mushrooms, stems removed, and quartered (use fresh cremini, shitaki, etc. See the bottom warning about using unknown mushrooms.)  * 6 Tablespoons (T.) Butter or Virgin Coconut Oil  * 2 C. Carrots, chopped to 1"  * 2 C. Celery, chopped to 1"  * 2 C. Onion, chopped in...

  This recipe is for a quick and easy green pea soup-- no need to buy that dry paste that never really hydrates in your cup when you can have a lovely thermos of home-made soup that you can easily make in the hour before you leave for work (or before you go to bed).  This soup is vegan and gluten-free. INGREDIENTS: 2 medium onions, chopped 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1/2 teaspoon dry dillweed filtered water to  cover (about 1 inch above vegetables) 3 C. Frozen Peas A sprig of leaves from Fresh Thyme, or about 1/4 teaspoon of dry Thyme 1 teaspoon - 1 tablespoon Miso (to taste) Salt and Pepper to taste 1/2 C. nut, soy or oat milk This soup is highly digestible because it doesn't contain any visible fats or oils.  We are adherents of Dr. John McDougall's The Starch Solution: Eat the Foods You Love, Regain Your Health, and Lose the Weight for Good! * Saute the onions, garlic, and dillweed in about an inch of water, boiling for about 4 minutes or so.  Add in the peas an...

 This smoky, fullsome lentil soup really tastes gourmet (or is that gourmand?) when Coconut Milk is added at serving time.   I separate out the soup to be eaten for this meal, and any left-over soup I pour into glass mason jars and put in the fridge for another meal. Just stir in water when the soup is too thick, and thin to the consistency you like. The seasonings will stay vibrant throughout. Ingredients: 450 g or 2 cup dried Brown Lentils 2 tablespoons Coconut Oil 1 to 2 Onions, chopped 6 cloves Garlic, chopped or minced 4 Celery Ribs, chopped 4 Carrots, sliced in coins 6 cups vegetable broth (or bouillon) 1/2 cup Quinoa 2 teaspoons Paprika 1/2 teaspoon Cumin Celtic Sea Salt and Pepper, to taste 1 T. Bragg's GF Soy Flavoring OR GF Tamari(optional) dash Liquid Smoke 14 oz. can Coconut Milk Instructions: 1. Pick through Lentils, rinse, and cover with water to soak overnight (or 6 hours) 2. Throw out soak water and add fresh water to cover lentils in a large stock pot. Co...

Okay, so the above picture of the Easy Creamy Celery Soup looks as if some ink has leaked along the one side of the bowl... well, it's an artistic shadow, and I like it.    This smooth and creamy soup is a wonderful tasty addition to any winter-y day.  Easy to make if you have a blender.  If I use the Instant Pot, I do everything on Sauteé- never even put the lid on the thing.  Done in a jiffy. But, otherwise, just cook it in a soup pot like you normally do. However, I am getting ahead of myself! Proceed to Ingredients... ...............  INGREDIENTS: 1/2 C. Water 1/2 Yellow Onion, sliced 1/2 Bunch of Celery (or more, if you wish), chopped (Reserve the Leaves) 1 small peeled Potato, diced 1 small Bay Leaf 2 C. Vegetable Broth (I put 2 cubes of my homemade Golden Boullion in 1 3/4C. Hot Water) 1 C. Water 1/2 C. Full-Fat Coconut Milk (or other non-dairy milk-- the coconut milk does work best) 1/2 C. Fresh Parsley (Optional) Salt to Taste Garnish with Celery L...

  This delicious bean-sauerkraut soup preserves the probiotics by adding in, and blending, sauerkraut at the end of the cooking process. I am very cognizant of the delicacy of the enzymes in the sauerkraut, and am reluctant to cook the heck out of it as a result. I am so happy for the Vita-Mix that allows me to add the sauerkraut at the end and to "cook" without undue heat (through the friction of its motor-driven rotor at 240 mph). Other high speed  Ingredients: 1-2 tablespoons Olive Oil (or 2 cubes Golden Bouillion ) 1 large Onion, chopped 3 ribs of Celery, chopped 4 large Carrots, chopped 2 cups cooked Beans (your choice) 2 cups Tomato Spaghetti Sauce or Stewed Tomatoes 8 cups Vegetable Broth or Water 2 cups Sauerkraut 1-2 teaspoons Fresh Thyme herb, or to taste METHOD:  **In a large soup pot, heat the Oil and saute the Onion and Celery until golden (alternatively, use bouillion and 1/2 cup warm water for oil-free cooking) **Add the Carrots, Beans, Tomato Sauce, and Ve...

  This delicious mushroom and wild rice soup makes a very satisfying meal when it is chilly outside.  I was shocked at the cost of the wild rice(about $16/pound) but the cup we used in the recipe came out to costing less than $2 a bowl which is still pricey but quite worth the yumminess it imparted to the dining experience. INGREDIENTS 1 medium red onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 celery stalks, chopped 1 cup wild rice 2 medium carrots, chopped 1 large sweet potato, diced 1 cup baby green peas 250-500 g (1/4- 1/2 pound) Portobella and/or Crimini mushrooms, cleaned and sliced 6+ cups of water 1 can full fat coconut milk 2 tablespoons Italian spice* 1/4 cup nutritional yeast 2 cubes Golden Bouillion  Salt and pepper to suit METHOD Soak the wild rice 6 hours, or overnight. Cook the wild rice prior to making the soup (or you can cook it in the soup, but you will have better results if you cook it in advance.) Clean, chop and set aside vegetables *You can make up your ...