I finally got sick!

Tis' nothing to celebrate, not in the least. On Thursday I went to my parent's house to spend time with the fam, my sister claimed she was feeling ill from a stomach/chest flu- I laughed and made her hug me anyways. Needless to say somehow, some way I caught the bug... and isn't fun or glorious at all.

I have been eating little things here and there- mostly fruit and emergenC. I did however make a delicious soup on Friday I want to share, I created another beloved soup from The Sprout House in Grosse Pointe. It's called Thai tofu peanut, and it totally kicks major ass.

First here is a picture of what you will need to create this awesome soup


You will need:
a small handful of ginger
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 carrots peeled and chopped
1 chopped onion
2 1/2 table spoons red curry paste
about 3 table spoons grade B maple syrup
3 table spoons "chicken" veggie stock
handful of chopped cilantro
1 bunch chopped green onion
1 1/2 cups wild rice
1/2 can garbanzo beans
1 can of coconut milk
(not pictured cuz I forgot!)
1 block firm tofu
and about 1/4 cup Lime juice
4 tablespoons arrowroot powder
(I also opted out on the garlic, as I realized I never tasted any garlic in theirs)

So it all goes down like this... First In a separate pot I cooked the wild rice. In another soup pot I caramelized the onion with some olive oil, then I added the chopped carrots and ginger- I cooked this down for about 10 min. I then added 9 cups of water and added the veggie stock. I then added curry paste, garbanzo beans, tofu, coconut milk, peanut butter. I let this cook down for another 20 min. When the rice is done I add it in, then lastly add the lime juice, arrowroot, maple syrup, green onion and cilantro. You only need to cook it for an additional 20 min. and then it's done, son!


It is so thick, hearty and delicious.  We also had guests when I made this so 2 other taste testers gave it a raving thumbs up, it was a really big hit and was demolished really quick!

why in the funk do you use grade B maple syrup all the time?

"The trace mineral manganese is an essential cofactor in a number of enzymes important in energy production and antioxidant defenses. For example, the key oxidative enzyme superoxide dismutase, which disarms free radicals produced within the mitochondria (the energy production factories within our cells), requires manganese. One ounce of maple syrup supplies 22.0% of the daily value for this very important trace mineral.

Maple syrup is a good sweetener to use if you are trying to protect the health of your heart. The zinc supplied by maple syrup, in addition to acting as an antioxidant, has other functions that can decrease the progression of atherosclerosis. Zinc is needed for the proper function of endothelial cells and helps to prevent the endothelial damage caused by oxidized LDL cholesterol and other oxidized fats. (The endothelium is the inner lining of blood vessels.) Endothelial membranes low in zinc are much more prone to injury. Additionally, studies have found that in adults deficient in manganese, the other trace mineral amply supplied in maple syrup, the level of HDL (the "good" cholesterol) is decreased.

Zinc and manganese are important allies in the immune system. Many types of immune cells appear to depend upon zinc for optimal function. Particularly in children, researchers have studied the effects of zinc deficiency (and zinc supplementation) on their immune response and their number of white blood cells, including specific studies on T lymphocytes, macrophages, and B cells (all types of white blood cells important for immune defenses). In these studies, zinc deficiency has been shown to compromise numbers of white blood cell and immune response, while zinc supplementation has been shown to restore conditions to normal. In addition to the role played by zinc, the manganese in maple syrup is important since, as a component of the antioxidant SOD, it helps lessen inflammation, thus supporting healing. In addition, manganese may also act as an immunostimulant.

Maple syrup may help to support reproductive health and provides special benefits for men. Zinc is concentrated more highly in the prostate than in any other human tissue, and low levels of zinc in this gland relate to a higher risk for prostate cancer. In fact, zinc is a mineral used therapeutically by healthcare practitioners to help reduce prostate size. Manganese may also play a role in supporting men's health since, as a catalyst in the synthesis of fatty acids and cholesterol, it also participates in the production of sex hormones, thus helping to maintain reproductive health.

Maple syrup is one of the many wonders of the world. This viscous amber liquid with its characteristic earthy sweet taste is made from the sap of either the sugar, black or red maple tree. The process of creating maple syrup begins with tapping (piercing) the tree, which allows the sap to run out freely. The collected clear, almost tasteless sap is then condensed by boiling, a process that helps to concentrate its initial single digit sugar content to more than 60%. This process also creates the characteristic flavor and deep color of the syrup. It takes approximately 40 liters (10 gal) of sap to be boiled down to 1 liter (1 quart) of syrup. mature sugar maple produces about 40 liters of sap during the 4-6 week sugaring season."

Source: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=115

I love to buy local Michigan maple syrup from the kind & friendly folks at Eastern Market.

could I find a smaller picture? I think not!

I also made some deep fried redskin chip/fries. These work great in the fryer, just don't forget to soak them after you cut them in cold water to release the starch. Dry them well before throwing them in the oil- water is oils enemy.


You will all be relieved in knowing I took trash mountain to the recycling center, where it will be turned into other products that I can recycle again and again.

On a side note, at the recycling center I go to there are several bins designated as trash for things that can't be recycled. I took of a picture of it

I had no idea redbull was not recyclable! I guess you learn something new everyday :-P