Healthy Brown Rice With Vegetables

Here is another very delicious way to enjoy brown rice.  The brown rice is baked and then added to a pan of green beans, potatoes, carrots and tomatoes.  This one pot meal is very easy to do and is both healthy and delicious.  The rice is baked prior to make sure it is done and soft and then added to the pan of cooked vegetables that are cooked with spices and chicken broth.  If you are a vegetarian, you can substitute vegetarian stock for the chicken stock. 

How to Make the Best Brown Rice

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup brown rice, rinsed well
• 2 1/2 cups of boiling water
• Salt and pepper

Simple Directions:

Just put the rice, water and seasonings in a baking dish and cover with foil.  Bake in a very hot oven of 450 degrees for 1 hour.  Remove the foil and fluff up with a fork slightly.

Vegetable Stew

Ingredients:

• 3/4 pound of green beans, ends snipped off and cut into 2 inch pieces
• 1 large tomato, cut into small pieces
• 3 large green onions, sliced
• 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1 medium hot green pepper
• 2 large carrots, cut into long 3 inch pieces
• 2 large potatoes cut into large chunks
• 2 cups of chicken broth 
• Salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons of virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Place the oil in a large skillet and heat.  Add in the chopped green onions and saute slightly.  Add in the chopped tomatoes, garlic, green pepper, seasoning and chicken broth.
2. Cook for a few minutes or until the chicken broth comes to a boil.  Add in the carrots, potatoes and green beans.
3. Add enough water to cover the stew by a few inches. Bring the pot to a boil and reduce to medium heat.  Cover the pan and cook until the green beans are done, but still have a slight crunch to them. 
4. Remove most of the liquid except for around 2/3 cup and then add in the rice.  Mix well and taste to make sure the vegetables and rice do not need more seasoning.
5. Cook until all the liquid is gone and all the flavors are mixed. Serve with a big dollop of yogurt on the side.

Very Delicious Vegetarian Pumpkin and Spinach Pizza

I never in a million years would have thought that you could use pumpkin puree on a pizza.  Fate was about to deal me another wonderful recipe to write about. Of all the pizzas I have made in my life, this one tops the cake.

I believe it is all how you make the pizza. Starting with the perfect dough is imperative.  I have seen some very simple pizza doughs, such as Jamie Olivers Pizza dough.  Don't you just love this man?  But mine is more on the healthy side.  My recipe takes a bit more time, but the health benefits for those who want to live healthy are certainly worth the trouble.

Healthy Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

• 1/2 kilo whole wheat brown flour ( 1 pound)
• 1 1/2 cups of yogurt (I used goat)
• 1/2 cup virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons yeast
• Dash salt
• 1/2 cup oatmeal
• Seasonings - optional (oregano, nigella satvia (black seeds), sesame seeds, ground whole wheat)

Directions:

1. Add half the flour, yogurt, oil, salt, yeast and oatmeal to a food processor.  If you do not have a food processor, you can do this with your hands in a large bowl or right on the counter, like Jamie does. 
2. Pulse your ingredients until mixed. Add in the seasonings and another cup of flour.  If needed add in some lukewarm water to help with the mixing.  
3. Remove the batter from the food processor and place in a large bowl and with your hands mix in the rest of the flour.  
4. Using dough hooks on your mixer or by hand beat the dough until it is pliable.  Spritz some more olive oil on the dough and cover until doubled.

Pumpkin Mixture

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of fresh pumpkin puree, cooked (canned can be used also)
• 1 cup of spinach, fresh or frozen
• 1/2 cup of fresh basil
• 1 tablespoons of dried sage leaves
• 1 teaspoons of cinnamon
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:

1. In a large skillet put the pumpkin puree in to heat.  Add a bit a water, if the puree is very thick.  Add in the spinach and basil and cook.  
2. Add in the cinnamon and salt and pepper.  Continue to cook until all the liquid is absorbed and the veggies are wilted.  I prefer my veggies to have some texture.
3. Remove from the heat to cool. 

Making the Pizza

1. Take a large pizza pan and spray with some non-stick spray.  Take enough dough and roll out the dough on a floured board  Lay in the pizza pan and with a fork make some indentions in the dough.
2. Heat the oven to 450 degrees and bake the dough in the oven until one side is lightly brown.  Flip the pizza bread over.
3. Add the pumpkin puree to the lightly browned side and cover lightly with some parmesan cheese and then either some goat cheese, Mozzarella or cheese of your choice. Fontina cheese or herbed goulda cheese would be nice also.
4. You may like to put some basil on top of the cheese for extra flavor. Bake in a very hot 450 degree oven until the cheese melts and browns on top.  

 I was pleasantly surprised with my lunch.  It was healthy and filling, but do not over do this.  Cheese is still fattening and should be limited.