I have a joke with my mom that every traditional culture is obsessed with luck, and signs of luck. Like, it could be a leaf on your arm and someone’s tiny grandma will pipe up with “OOOHHH tree message on your arm-branch! Good Luck!!!”
So, I planned on getting up early today, this first Monday of 2015.
We went to bed early, but I was up another three hours with so much energy! I may have had some sugar, when I realize is like crack. Not only does it give me super human energy but it also makes me want more and more and more and more…. So, I was up for another three hours past my bed time so that I could obsessively Pinterest more exciting things. I totally could have done that this morning, had I not shot gunned two see’s before bed. Oops.
Anyway, woke up with sugar hangover and this little cold I let myself get by eating all the cookies. Because I’m lactose/gluten intolerant, every time I eat something with those ingredients, I get an immune response. My body has to work extra hard to get those evil doers out after I put them in, so it doesn’t have the energy to take care of vital functions, therefore, ergo, three dots, cold.
Pretty much the only thing I got excited about this morning was remembering I planned to make soup this week, and had trader joe’s mirepoix, vegetable stock, and dry green lentils, hooray!!! (forget breakfast. Soup. ALL DAY)
And the ingredient of honor? Mom-in-laws turkey gravy/bone broth with corn starch. Three cheers for bone broth!!
As this is the first post of the year, I’d like to take a moment to give a shout out to a person/entity that’s helped me all along the way with food, anxiety, and self love. Mastin Kipp over at the Daily Love put out a great manifestation guide for the coming year, and I will share with you my number one priority this year.
#1
Find a moderate approach to diet and exercise, and view only the good parts of my body. The more I love my body, the more it loves me back!!!
Also, I’d like to mention that all of my horoscopes say this is the year for my financial success–Okay! It also mentioned that I feel lucky and forget about the hard work, so it’s this cool cycle– okay!!
#2
eat some soup, get healed up, kick this week in the butt!
While wearing all of my good luck charms to keep me motivated. LOL. (And because the chinese astrology site said metal is my good luck charm… on go the jewels!!! ) Esp the ones I made–we need to pat ourselves on the back for our accomplishments instead of waiting for someone else to decide we’re awesome!
Without any further delay, here is my recipe for lentil soup. Tons of protein and fiber and brain fuel, and ever so simple.
(I used this recipe for reference: )
Lentil BRAIN Soup
Ingredients
1 tblsp coconut oil
1 package mirepoix (onions, celery, and carrots. All chopped. Yes.)
1 can roasted chopped tomato
1 tsp Cumin
3-4 cloves Garlic (I used 1 Tbsp garlic powder)
1 tsp dry basil
1/2 tsp salt, pepper,
2 cups dry green lentils
32 oz vegetable broth
1 quart turkey bone broth gravy (broth plus cornstarch?)
1/2 package of Trader joes tuscan kale or as much kale that can fit in the pot on top of the soup—it cooks down. (this is the only one I use, it’s super versatile and doesn’t taste as much like grass…)
mix ins/toppings: hot sauce, ground turkey/beef, soyrizo, quinoa crispies, meat… meat… more meat!
Equiment:
Med-Large Soup pot
big spoon
Procedure:
1. Heat up the coconut oil in the pot over medium heat, but be careful because it has a low burning point!
2. Add the mirepoix mix and stir, stir, stir. Add all the seasonings and the tomato.
3. Add the lentils, veggie stock, and gravy, and turn down for whaaaaaatt? no, just kidding. Turn down to low heat and let cook 45 mins + covered!
4. For the last 10 minutes, toss the kale right on top of the soup in the pot, and let steam, then stir about 5 mins before serving.
*Note* If you don’t like soggy kale, fill your bowl with a cup of kale and pour the soup over top, and if you’re meal prepping, leave the kale out until the soup is cool, so when you heat it up next time it will be just right.
