Grain Bowl Ideas

 We've also been eating tons of grain bowls lately.  There is so much you can do with them and are a GREAT way to use up leftovers!  

Choose:

• A grain, I love the 7-grain 90 second packet from Aldi that you pop in the microwave.  A quinoa blend would be great, or brown rice/cauliflower blend.
• Add a bean, like chickpeas, pinto, black beans, edamame
• Add veggies of your choice (like peppers, red onion, avocado, shredded carrots, tomato, chopped broccoli, spinach, cucumber, etc)
• Add chopped fresh herbs like cilanto, parlsey, basil, mint
• Add optional toppings like salsa, hummus, tzatziki sauce, yogurt, sour cream

Beef or pork is especially good with edamame.

Chicken pairs nicely with chickpeas

Thai pork bowl

Brown rice, leftover shredded Thai pork, fajita veggies (multicolor peppers and onions), pineapple salsa, cilantro

Steak bowl

This one sounds a bit weird but it really worked.  7 grain blend, roasted cauliflower (in seasoned salt), grilled steak (generously seasoned 2 days ahead with salt and then seasoned with a steak seasoning about an hour before grilling), thinly sliced radishes, thinly sliced celery, thinly sliced quartered cucumber, cilantro, mango salsa.

Smoothie Ideas

 We've been making lots of smoothies with the new Vitamix blender.  Here is a list of some combination ideas.  Each of these is usually enough for two.

Orange Banana

1/2 c. milk (whole, almond, whatever)

2 oranges, peeled and sliced into big rounds

1 banana

handful of spinach (optional, but seriously, why not?  You can't taste it)

3 or 4 packets stevia sweetener

1 T. flaxseed (optional)

1 T. chia seeds (optional)

2 c. ice cubes

Mango Berry

1 c. milk (any kind) or 1/2 c. and cup or two of ice cubes

scoop of greek yogurt

big handful of spinach

1 mango, diced

1 c. berries of your choice, fresh or frozen (if frozen, thaw them a bit in the microwave)

1 T. flaxseed (optional)

1 T. chia seeds (optional)

Cranberry Blueberry Banana

1 c. milk

1/2 c. greek yogurt

1 banana

3/4 c. frozen blueberries

1 c. fresh cranberries

1 packet stevia