Have Some More... Sloppy Joes.

After so many posts about dessert and smoothies, I finally have a savory recipe to rave about. Meatless Sloppy Joes. There is obviously no real reason to play around with the classic recipe as it is perfect in all its glorious sloppy splendor. However, as I was reaching for my box of cereal, I found a packet of forgotten McCormick's Sloppy Joe seasoning mix and instantly I wanted to make some. Unfortunately having no ground beef in the refrigerator (and too lazy to hit up the market) I was forced to use alternative ingredients (quinoa and kidney beans!). I took this opportunity to make a meatless version of this quick and fun childhood favorite. For those of us who choose not to eat meat or just want an easy way to add some good grains, protein, fiber and vitamins to our diet, this is a great recipe.













What you'll need:

• 1 packet (1.3 oz) McCormick's Sloppy Joe seasoning mix
• 1 can (6 oz) organic tomato paste
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 1/4 cup organic red quinoa
• 1 can organic red kidney beans
• 4 slices harvest wheat french bread (or hamburger buns)
• 2 tbsp butter
• Shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)

Step 1

Add 1 1/4 cups red quinoa to 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil and cook quinoa until soft. Drain.
While quinoa is cooking, in a separate skillet, heat 3 tbsp of olive oil on high for 1 minute. Drain and rinse kidney beans and toss in with the oil. Turn down heat to medium. Using a potato masher (a fork works too) mash beans into a chunky paste. Remove from heat.

Step 2

Add the quinoa, tomato paste, seasoning mix and 1 tbsp of warm water to the beans. Mix all ingredients well with a fork. Add more water for desired consistency.

Step 3

Lightly butter your bread and place under the broiler until just browned. Top with Sloppy Joe mixture.

Step 4 (Optional)

Spoon sloppy Joe mix on to a slice of bread, top with Mozzarella cheese and place under the broiler until cheese is melted and bubbly. Top with grilled bread and enjoy!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJf8Je5H7-k

With a recipe this healthy and delicious, there's no reason not to "Have some more sloppy Joes!"

It's Never Too Early for Dessert.

Morning! It's been a while since I posted anything. I thought I'd start small and tell you about the accidental chocolate pudding smoothie I made to follow my run. I say "accident" because I didn't intend for it to look, smell, and taste like pudding. It just happened that way.

This smoothie is much more nutritious (and decadent!) than traditional Jell-O pudding. The flax meal contributes dietary fiber, magnesium, phosphorus and copper, and is a very good source of thiamin and manganese. It also contains protein and healthy fats (omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids). The strawberries are a good source of folate and potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C and manganese. The banana adds even more dietary fiber, vitamin C, potassium and manganese, and is a great source of vitamin B6 (read more about vitamin B6 here). You can read more about all the ingredients here.

Keep in mind that while this shake is packed with vitamins, protein, and nutrients, it also contains a high amount of healthy fats (from the coconut milk) and natural sugars (fruit and maple syrup) and should be consumed in moderation in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise regime. But don't worry, 1 cup will keep you full for hours. This will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days so portion it out. Don't forget a spoon!

What you'll need:

• Blender or food processor
• 10 ripe strawberries (scoop out the hard, white pithy center)
• 2 ripe bananas
• three tbsp pure cocoa powder
• 1 cup coconut milk (can substitute with 1 cup plain yogurt mixed with a little water to thin it out)
• 2 tbsp flax meal
• Maple syrup to taste
• Sliced almonds (to garnish)

1. Start by washing and depithing the berries. Blend until smooth. 
2. Add the banana and coconut milk/yogurt and blend until smooth. 
3. Add the cocoa powder, flax meal and maple syrup and continue blending for 1 minute. 
4. Pour the mixture through a sieve into a large measuring cup or pitcher (it's thick! I used a whisk to help push the smoothie through). 
5. Add more maple syrup to taste. 
6. Pour into a glass and garnish with almonds. 

You can eat this with a spoon (like pudding!) or add a little water to make a drink of it. 

Enjoy!