Spice up Your Life with Spice Mixes! (3 recipes to save your life, time, and money)

Dr Michael Greger's book, How Not to Die, has most influenced my family's diet and the recommendations I give in my practice by encouraging the use of many SPICES throughout the day, everyday! We eat veggies for their vitamins, minerals, fiber, phytochemicals, and ANTIOXIDANTS! It turns out that SPICES contains loads more ANTIOXIDANTS than most veggies! FUN FACT: coffee is the top source of antioxidants for Americans!

SPICES flavorfully replace salt, AND fill us with an abundance of antioxidants! FLAVORS in foods indicate nutrient richness in the same way COLORFUL foods indicate nutrient abundance. The superfood sweet potato is much brighter and flavorful than a white potato, which lacks nutrient richness.

• One great way to add lots of spices to your life is through spice MIXES. 
• Save TIME by measuring one mixture when cooking, rather than various individual spices. 
• Save MONEY because prepared mixes charge you extra $ for the convenience they provide. There is a super selection of individual, organic spices at Whole Foods Market. 
• You gain QUALITY by avoiding extra chemicals, preservatives, bulking agents, salt, and other junk found in prepared mixes. 
• Additionally, the bulk spices I use are ORGANIC! Amazingly, organic homemade seasoning mixes are much cheaper than alternatives that often aren't even organic! 
• Finally, these mixes have superior TASTE!

Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 c organic cinnamon

1/2 c organic ginger

1/2 c organic nutmeg

1/4 c organic cloves

1/4 c organic allspice

Italian Seasoning

1/2 c basil
1/2 c oregano
1/4 c marjoram
1/4 c garlic
1/4 c thyme
1/4 c rosemary
1/4 c black pepper
1/8 c crushed red pepper

Taco Spice Mix

1/2 c each of oregano, cumin, garlic, and paprika
1/4 c each of cayenne, onion, and black pepper
1/8 c of unsweetened cocoa

I am so very grateful that some blessed soul introduced me to the amazing Richa Hingle, and her outstanding gold mine of a website, www.veganricha.com! I just cannot wait to savor her entire website, and I even imagine buying her cookbook (and I don't use or own many cookbooks)!

Vegan Richa's Indian Kitchen

Richa shares an Indian spice mix (which I haven't tried yet) called Panch Phoran, as well as a recipe for, and other information about, Garam Masala! But really, while these mixes are fitting for the post, they are not even the tip of the iceberg for all that I want to try! Yum, and thank you, Richa!

Try ITALIAN SEASONING!
Penne Italiana   
Easy Eggplant "Parm"   
Tricky Traditional Lasagna   
Meatless Meatballs   
Hearty Lentil Stew

Try PUMPKIN PIE SPICE!
Spicy Ginger Latte
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Pumpkin Overnight Oats
Creamy Carrot Soup
Jamaican Ginger Cake

Try DIY TACO SPICE MIX!
Lentil Tacos
Tamale Pie
Avocado Quesadillas
Mexican Lasagna
Tofu Scramble

OR you can try one of these spice mixes for a quick breakfast or snack, using the EASIEST COUSCOUS PREPARATION!

Mexican Couscous = 1/2 c couscous + 1/4 tsp taco spice + black beans + diced tomato
Other add-ins: bell peppers, red onion, frozen corn

Pumpkin Couscous = 1/2 c couscous + 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice + sliced banana
Other add-ins: nuts, raisins, berries

Italian Couscous = 1/2 c couscous + 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning + diced tomato
Other add-ins: white beans, greens, hemp seed

Meatless Meatballs! AND Homemade Italian Seasoning!

My hubby used to love meatball sandwiches, and so we make MEATLESS MEATBALLS! They're great for a sandwich or with pasta! I've used lentils for "meat" in Tricky Traditional Lasagna, Tamale Pie, and Easy Lentil Tacos. This time I used TEMPEH (more on it's awesomeness in another post). For now, I'll just say it's the HEALTHIEST way to eat beans!

Also, all ingredients are on Dr Greger's Daily Dozen! (6 ingredients = 6 checkmarks!) Here is a cool animated summary of How Not to Die.

Meatless Meatballs

2 packages of tempeh (photo of package below)
1 c walnuts
2 Tbsp Italian seasoning**
1 c ground flaxseed
1 c whole wheat bread crumbs*
2 c warm tempeh water

Cook tempeh by steaming for 10 min or drop in boiling water for 5 min (reserve water for mixing with other ingredients). In food processor, blend tempeh, walnuts, and Italian seasoning. In mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, and prepare balls.*** Bake on cookie sheet for 30-50 min at 375 degrees. Top with sauce and enjoy! We love sandwiches and of course with pasta and marinara!

Check out this awesome idea for pasta! Zuchini swap with a peeler! (And this makes it even faster! A SPIRILIZER...post coming soon!)

*Manischewitz Whole Grain Matzo Meal has just ONE ingredient (in photo below on left).

** Homemade Organic Italian Seasoning
1/2 c basil
1/2 c oregano
1/4 c marjorom
1/4 c garlic
1/4 c thyme
1/4 c rosemary
1/4 c black pepper
1/8 c crushed red pepper

Combine in large shaker container (I use old spice mix containers), and store in cool, dry place.

***Avoid "food hands" by mixing and preparing balls from outside a gallon sized resealable plastic bag! Transfer tempeh mixture, remaining dry ingredients, and water (all ingredients) into a large resealable bag. Seal, shake the bag, and blend everything together. Prepare balls from outside bag, and drop each ball onto cookie sheet. Cook and enjoy!

While meatless meatballs are cooking, prepare pasta, and enjoy!

For now, read more on tempeh here from Vegan Coach

Healthy Girl's Kitchen (Wendy Solganik) and Chef AJ make some lovely, raw marinara sauce (fun video, and the marinara recipe begins at about minute 51: healthiest marinara!)

Though, we are now eating our healthier versions, we have enjoyed these: Trader Joe's Meatless Meatballs (I didn't read the article, but there is a pic of the product and the nutrition label at the bottom, so you can check them out...website looks like a cool spot to check out TJ products :)

Coming soon: tempeh introduction, some yummy tempeh sandwiches, my spiralizer!, a sodium/oil-reducing marinara sauce trick, and more!

PS - I'm teaching some classes (Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Sports Nutrition: Fueling Your Young Athlete) in January, email me if you're interested! colleen@fresh-you.com

Italian Fennel Salad for Cancer Prevention and More!

My brother-in-law, Alessandro, from Sicily made this fabulous salad as part of a huge, delicious Christmas dinner -- he is a talented chef with a lovely restaurant, Alessandro's in Geneva, Ohio.  Ever since...I have been craving this salad!  The thought of it makes my mouth water!  Finally made it today!

Along with turmeric, thyme, cumin, among others, FENNEL has been identified by the National Cancer Institute as having cancer-preventing activity.  Cumin and fennel contain TERPENOIDS, phytochemicals that may also help slow tumor growth, as well as help reduce cholesterol.

Italian Fennel and Orange Salad

Fennel bulb
2-3 oranges
vinegar
pepper

Simply slice thinly, the white of the fennel and oranges, and toss with pepper and some vinegar. The further ahead of time you do it, the more all the flavors deepen, but you can really eat it right away! Add the greens as a pretty garnish, and enjoy!

If you don't have fennel, it's a yummy way to eat an orange on it's own. Also, the oranges, olive oil, salt, and pepper mixed with any other greens is also delightful!

STILL be sure to try it with the fennel as fennel is loaded with nutrients -- one being folate, that all-important vitamin for conception and early pregnancy, and speaking of MOMMIES and MENSTRUATING WOMEN - fennel may help with milk production, and gasiness in babies, and pain during menstruation.

Other spices found helpful to National Cancer Institute:

TURMERIC -- the anti-inflammatory Indian spice found in many curries and abundant in MUSTARD
Try EASY SANDWICH SNACK

THYME -- try Hearty "Turkey" Meatloaf

CUMIN -- found in salsa: try BREAKFAST BURRITOS or MEXICAN FIESTA BOWL

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do you like to cook with spices? What are your favorites? Do you know how they benefit your health, because which ever spice, it probably does!

Hearty "Turkey" Meatloaf

This one we have been making for years, slowly adapted from a recipe my aunt and uncle made for us when I was pregnant with our almost 6 yr-old! Back then, I was pretty inexperienced with cooking, so if you're in that boat, have NO FEAR!  SO here it is!

Hearty "Turkey" Meatloaf

2 onions, large, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped1 tsp pepper
1 tsp thyme
1 lb spinach
1 c ground lentils
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp tomato paste
¼ c Worcestershire sauce
10 slices whole wheat bread, toasted, ripped in pieces
¼ c chia seeds
¼ c + 2 Tbsp ground flaxseed½ c warm water
ketchup (optional)

*Cook 1 cup lentils 20 min, combine with Italian seasoning, chop in food processor until it appears like "ground meat", adding 2 Tbsp flaxseed and ½ c warm water. Add more water as necessary.

Sauté onions and red pepper with pepper, and thyme for a few min. Add spinach, cook few more min. Add Worcestershire and tomato paste; mix well. Let mixture cool. Add ground lentils, bread, chia, and flax; mix well. Add up to 1.5 c water, so it is nice and moist. Smash into 9 x 13” rectangular glass pan (don't need to grease). Spread ketchup on top. Bake at 350° for 1 hour. Enjoy!