Family Meal Monday---Sweet Potato Soup and Kale Chips

There is nothing like a rainy day to make a batch of soup!  We have come to realize how much extra sodium is in packaged soups.  Last fall/winter I began broadening my soup making repertoire.  One of our favorites is Sweet Potato Soup.  I portion some out for Little Roo (allowing time to cool) and then add in chipotle peppers (I am kind of obsessed with them!) 

 I put some dried fruit and nuts in the bowl before serving the soup.  A little sweetness and crunch in the soup is delicious! 

 As you can see, I had a willing helper in the kitchen, mashing and sampling the sweet potatoes.  Luckily, the girl loves to wash her hands so we alternated smashing and washing.

The only other adaptation from the recipe we make it that my husband prefers a thicker, chunkier soup so rather than blending the soup, I just bake the sweet potatoes until they are really soft and mashable and don’t blend it at all.

We recently came across a huge bag of kale at BJ’s for a very small price.  I knew that it was a super food, but I hadn’t ever used it in my cooking.  I banked on Pinterest providing me with some great ideas!  I found making Kale Chips so easy, and they turn out crunchy, and yummy!! I don’t like the smell in the house as they bake, but it is a small price to pay for nutritious food.  Other seasonings can be used; I like them with chili powder!

Refrigerator Re-Do

I was tired of the outside of my refrigerator looking like this:

So, I used a little scrapbook paper to create some visually appealing places for a grocery list, artwork and a weekly menu.  I had them laminated at Staples, added some clothespins and viola! I use dry erase markers for the menu.  I am still undecided about the photos (love the actual pictures, but I am not sure if it makes it too busy?)…maybe some color ones instead of the black and whites?

Family Meal Monday--Veggie Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries

I love cooking for my family.  Finding healthy meals for everyone can be tricky.  There are almost too many places to search for recipes.  I will be sharing recipes (either my own or, more often, from other sources) and how I adapt them to meet the needs and preferences of two adults and a toddler.   We strive to eat at least one meal a day together as a family.  My husband doesn't always work the same schedule, so sometimes our meal is breakfast and other times it is dinner, on the weekends it is usually all three!  Coming together as a family and connecting over a healthy meal is a habit we knew we wanted to start with little Roo from the beginning.

First up—veggie burgers and baked sweet potato fries.  As vegetarians, we do enjoy veggie burgers, and my favorites tend to be home-made black bean burgers!  I found this recipe and love the flavor the spices bring to the burgers.  I mix in shredded zucchini and carrots to add a little extra nutrition to the meal.  Chiptole or other peppers will add some heat, if you like it!  Serve with fresh spinach, tomatoes, and avocado.  I find a bun is not necessary, the burgers are super filling.

Adapt for the younger set: make the burgers into “meatballs” (for some reason “veggie balls” just sounds weird to me).  I separate some of the mixture out for meatballs prior to adding anything spicy.  Sprinkle with a little cheese for the reluctant eater.

Sweet potato fries—These baked fries made from sweet potatoes are delicious and good for you!  I used chili powder, nutmeg, and chipotle to season ours. With the little ones in mind, you can place the cut sweet potatoes and seasoning in a large bag and let them shake it up, if they like to help in the kitchen.  I reserved a few and sprinkled with just a bit of cinnamon for Little Roo.

Any requests? Should I write about the actual process making the meals, if they aren't my own recipes? I would love feedback!