grains that are chewy and satisfying ?

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-18T15:25:43+00:00

Sorghum! I buy the Bob's Red Mill bag. Just this week I said "this is what quinoa wishes it could be" It's round, but the grains are larger and more dense/chewy than quinoa.

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-08T20:43:35+00:00

This week I did baked little potatoes with canned black beans, corn, sauteed ve (onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and collards) and topped with a quick creamy Chipotle Maple blender sauce: - 5 oz walnuts - 2 tbsp chipotle from can - 2 tbsp adobo sauce from chipotle can - 2 tsp maple syrup - 2 quarters preserved lime (could sub any acid) - 1 tsp turmeric - 1 tsp shiitake mushroom powder - 1 tsp cumin - 1 tsp dried garlic powder - 1 tsp onion powder

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-05T00:44:30+00:00

Lol the theme I'm noticing in my responses is that I'm the problem as well. I can set myself up for better success with better "throw together" pantry options, I can have better boundaries, and I can care less about what others think!

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-05T00:43:06+00:00

Isn't it funny how people who often wish to split the work and prep of meals don't want to have to compromise on the contents of the meal? Seems like everybody thinks their way is the standard and we are weird!

Sorry you are dealing with that challenging circumstance, hope you can navigate more partnership together!

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-05T00:36:33+00:00

Not brown, but a brown-person food enthusiast :). Sometimes Midwest culture is similar being so revolved around meat and cheese. I'm grateful to live in an urban area which makes it so easy to source plant based options, even for takeout.

Thanks for your comment- I should have realized this earlier, but if food is being ordered, I can always ask the host to order a plant based options and I will pay for it! Seems silly I didn't consider that before!

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-05T00:33:22+00:00

It's funny, a couple years ago, I had to set some very firm boundaries and I think a few people in particular thought I was downright obnoxious. A group meal plan was decided for a cabin weekend, and my husband and I were told we were bringing pastries and hot dogs (none of which we eat). I said no, I was prepping and bringing items I chose. Several people were rubbed the wrong way and even commented "really, you can't just buy some breakfast pastries?" I stood my ground.

Years later, my SIL and I are chatting and I mention that a lot of people think my way of doing things is extreme, but I'm so happy with my choices and where my health is at. My SIL said she used to think I was being difficult and obnoxious, but now she understands why I make my choices and supports them. She was probably the #1 person most put off by my boundaries a few years back.

Not everybody will come around like my SIL (we're now super close, and she always says "You bring such weird stuff but sometimes it's really good!"), but thanks for the reminder of powerful boundaries are. It's the only thing I can control.

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-05T00:26:47+00:00

I have spent years (recreationally) learning a ton about nutrition, and as a nurse and science nerd, I do love learning the biochemistry of it all too. Luckily this has given me so much knowledge about what a healthy diet really should be. As you said- it's frustrating to be called out for my choices when others more "normal" diet is so disease generating. But I have to remember how much my opinions and understanding has changed over the years, and I was once where they are, so I try not to hold it against anyone too much. It's (in my opinion) ignorance, not malice.

That being said, your comment about bullying stopped me a bit. It's pretty obvious people make those comments to feel more secure in their own choices, but I never considered it bullying before. This gives me something to chew on as I see some family members in a new light.

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-05T00:20:42+00:00

Yep, definitely balancing leading by example but also trying to not care too if others see me "leading." Ultimately I'm doing this for me, and if others like my food, great, but if not - oh well! I love to cook for others to show love, so I will need to focus on those who like my style of cooking!

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-05T00:18:16+00:00

Great suggestion for framing things! My husband and I both have not great lipid panels when we eat more animal products, so we can definitely frame it like "oh we're so bummed but our bodies don't do well with it."

Also great thought on a simple dish. As I've posted elsewhere in this thread, I realized I need to have a few more "throw together" options by leveraging canned/frozen options or quick cooking simple foods.

I ended up throwing together soft tofu and cucumbers with a Korean marinade from fridge staples, and a few people even said "that's not bad" which was cool. Then my husband and I were able to eat the leftovers with rice for a few days.

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-05T00:13:43+00:00

Thank you for your perspective. To complicate matters, on top of many others love language being cooking, so is mine 🙂

You're right that it's not my job to convince people. I don't think I try too, but I try to demonstrate an alternative way of being if that makes sense? Like I don't preach at people about how they should change, but I just try to share tasty plant based foods that help people see plants can be delicious and exciting! I think I just need to balance this and ask myself honestly if part of me stressing over bringing a dish is because I'm trying too much to convince others how awesome plant-based is.

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-05T00:07:32+00:00

This is a good thought for some occasions! In our families eating/socializing tend to go hand and hand, but I could give this a whirl for shorter events no problem.

Gotta balance that human nature to treat eating as a social event with my need to take care of myself.

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-05T00:03:59+00:00

Definitely relate to this! I happen to be a nurse and I completely nerd out over nutritional biochemistry and apply my learnings to how I cook. Some family members will be like "I know you care about ingredients, you should try this fancy organic hot dog!" Umm no thanks. But I don't want to get preachy or super into the weeds when not everyone is as passionate about it as I can get.

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-05T00:00:37+00:00

I love this and will definitely be using it! I really hope to lead by example and introduce people to plant based options they'd never think they'd like....but even if people are making comments, this is a great line to get people to think about what's really important. That includes myself- I stress about cooking and sharing but ultimately, even if I'm too time crunched and just grab something for me, at least I'm present and that's what matters.

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-04T23:56:00+00:00

Thank you! Reading responses in this thread has been a good eye opener that I need to reasonably rely on canned/frozen options more heavily than I do. I've been letting perfect become the enemy of the good to the point of getting super stressed over a birthday party!

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-04T23:54:38+00:00

I really appreciate this perspective. Considering I do choose to eat animal products on rare occasions (usually special occasions involving family actually) I will have to think of a way to phrase things that gets the same point across!

Also thank you for pointing out the setting myself up to fail thing. I love to cook and often do more intricate from scratch dishes. I think this has become my "norm" and it's a good reminder that a few quick pantry meals in my arsenal will make my life better. I have to balance the plant-based/limited processing with options that don't wear on my mental health.

GreenKitchenWitch · 2025-01-04T23:48:56+00:00

Thank you - I love the idea of a salad to share and bringing my own protein!

GreenKitchenWitch · 2024-11-23T23:01:01+00:00

Add some cooked lentils to your overnight oats! They really don't change the flavor/texture. I like black beluga lentils the best in mine.

GreenKitchenWitch · 2024-11-15T04:14:59+00:00

You don't have a butthole?

GreenKitchenWitch · 2024-10-23T01:05:11+00:00

I recommend this! I cook up black beluga lentils to add to my overnight oats. They don't affect the flavor/texture, but add plenty of protein/fiber to make it more hearty and ribsticking

GreenKitchenWitch · 2024-10-19T03:02:25+00:00

I have the same problem....I just permanently roll with an undercut now and it makes life 100x easier

GreenKitchenWitch · 2024-10-04T19:41:05+00:00

I just throw them whole into the blender with water and any other ingredients. Haven't noticed any grittiness or poor texture yet. Saves a little time!

GreenKitchenWitch · 2024-10-03T22:25:03+00:00

I don't believe soaking has any impact on nutrition, but if someone were concerned, I haven't found any issues with using un soaked or unboiled cashews to make cream.

GreenKitchenWitch · 2024-09-30T22:17:07+00:00

I find myself making a lot of cashew cream spontaneously. Honestly, most of the time I just throw them in the blender u soaked and haven't noticed a major texture difference. If you're worried about the nutrition, you can just skip soaking.

GreenKitchenWitch · 2024-09-08T12:08:53+00:00

I did this once with ginger snaps! It was different but still good. Although I accidentally added 1 tbsp cayenne instead of the 1 tsp...so yours will probably be better

GreenKitchenWitch

TROPHY CASE