You just can not top this for satisfying and flavorful. The ingredients complement each other and is just multi-dimentional in flavor! It’s easy to mix it up with your prefered herbs as well!
Ingredients
1/4 cup harissa paste, plus more for sauce
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 2” chunks
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 white onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
3 limes
1 tablespoon butter
2 1/2 cups chicken stock, divided
1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups dry couscous
1 cup golden raisins (optional)
1/3 cup toasted pine nuts (optional)
1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
Fresh herbs, such as cilantro, dill, parsley, and/or mint, chopped, to top
Instructions
In a large, sealable plastic bag, combine the harissa paste, cumin, salt, coriander, cinnamon, and black pepper. Mix well. Add in the chicken breasts and toss to coat. Seal and refrigerate for at least one hour, or overnight.
In a large skillet over medium high heat, heat the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, remove the chicken from the bag and add it to the skillet. Cook the chicken until browned, turning occasionally, about 4 minutes.
Slice two of the limes and add the slices to the skillet, along with the onion and garlic. Cook until the chicken is cooked through but not dry, about 5 more minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. Tent with foil to keep the chicken warm.
Add the butter and 1 2/3 cups of chicken stock to the pan and bring it to a boil. Stir in the chickpeas, golden raisins, and couscous. Cover the skillet and remove it from the heat. Let sit, covered, for 5 minutes, so that the couscous absorbs the liquid.
Meanwhile, mix the greek yogurt with additional harissa paste, to taste, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Fluff the couscous with a fork and mix in the pine nuts, the juice of the remaining lime, and additional chicken stock, as needed, for moisture. Top with the chicken and then drizzle over the harissa yogurt. Sprinkle with herbs and serve.
Make in a large cast iron, stainless steel or ceramic skillet, I used my Tagine. Serve with marinated artichokes.
4-6 strands saffron threads ($$ – so just look to purchase as few as possible)
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
1 large onion, cut in half and sliced thin
1 container (8 oz.) fresh portobello or mushrooms of your choice, sliced
2 cups vegetable broth
Juice of 1 lemon (zest lemon first)
½ cup water
Zest from 1 lemon
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
1 bunch parsley, de-stemmed and chopped
1 cup frozen green peas
1 cup pitted kalamata olives
1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 tsp smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 cup uncooked short grain rice or paella rice
Instructions
Toast saffron threads by placing in aluminum foil. Place aluminum foil on hot skillet for about 1 minute. Remove and open aluminum foil.
Saute mushrooms and onion in olive oil in skillet for about 5 minutes.
Add vegetable broth, lemon juice and water. Bring to a boil.
Add rest of ingredients (including toasted saffron threads). Stir well. Bring to a boil and then simmer on a low boil. Now, do not stir! Cook until rice is desired tenderness and liquid has evaporated (again, no stirring!). This usually takes around 30-35 minutes. You want the bottom of the pan to get crusty, slightly burnt. This brings out the flavor of all of the ingredients. Remove from heat and cover for about 10 minutes.
Make sure you scrape some of the bottom crust for each serving!
As a young believer I was always taught that the Bible was written by men that were inspired through the Holy Spirit and that every word was specifically recorded as God’s plan and design…..And that is true. But I did not fully understand that The Word is God and that he is actively sanctifying me each and every time I read or hear The Word! I thought that it was a one way conversation. God –> to Me (based on what I needed at that moment). One way communication through the print on the pages. That made sense to me. When each of us independently read scripture, we often times find different little nuggets that we each can apply to our own individual lives.
But it’s so much more dynamic than that! I now understand that I can relate with God in an ‘interactive’ way and his written word can teach me all things! Let’s cover a few scriptures here to support my previous statement first:
2 Timothy 3:16: All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
So I have been interpreting this all my life, through my understanding, that as we read the Bible and we remember to ask the Holy Spirit for enlightenment and understanding that He would actually grow our faith through enhanced learning. God –> Me.
Recently as I was working through my Bible Study materials for the day, I read Hebrews 4:12-13:
“For the word of God is alive and active, Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account”.
I then searched in my study bible and saw a notation that, in this scripture, the author of Hebrews was associating the activity of the Word with the activity of God, which in a sense are associated. As I pondered this I remembered John 1:1-5 scripture:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
It’s with these additional verses of scripture that I realized that it’s actually an ‘interactive’ communication with God when we are reading the bible. As a Christian, with the gift of the Holy Spirit in me, as I am reading the scriptures that were planned specifically, perfectly, and completely by God the Father, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, it is also through Jesus (referred to as The Word) that discerns and judges the thoughts of my heart. As I am reading and internalizing The Word, The Word is reading me, my thoughts, and my heart! It’s a cyclical process, on-going, back and forth, bi-directional: God <–> Me.
I also spent some time trying to further understand Soul and Spirit. How does The Word divide my Soul and my Spirit? Without further study, I can’t even understand the difference??? Then I found an interesting article, that is supported by scripture, and a chart that helped me further understand the difference. I have more to explore regarding the fact that Adam and Eve were created in relationship with God (with Spirit) and that with sin, they lost that. The result is that we were born of sinful nature through Adam, and when we become Christians we then receive the Holy Spirit and are again in relationship with God.
I’ll update the document more as I explore more. If you have comments, please feel free to let me know your thoughts too!
Body, Soul and Spirit – Explained
These three terms – Body, Soul and Spirit – are words that most of us have heard before, yet many do not understand what they truly mean.
In this teaching, we will explore the meaning of each (Body, Soul and Spirit), and how these 3 states came into existence.
We will also examine the 3 terms: Formed, Made and Created, and understand their relationship with “Body, Soul and Spirit”.
Sections in this Biblical Teaching: 1) What are we made up of? 2) Body – Formed 3) Soul – Made 4) Spirit – Created 5) Conclusion
1) What are we made up of?
We as human beings are composed of a range of Chemical Elements by mass. (Body)
– The human body is approximately 70% water (H2O).
– Around 99% of our bodies are made up of six elements: Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Calcium, and Phosphorus.
– Of the remaining mass, about 0.75% is composed of five elements: Sodium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulfur, and Chlorine.
– The remaining elements of the body exist in trace amounts (very tiny amounts).
All of these Elements can be found in the Earth’s Crust.
The Bible says that we “Christians” are: – Formed of the Earth – Made of Soul – Created of Spirit
(Isaiah 43:3) For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:…
(Isaiah 43:7) Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Formed, Made and Created are not synonymous, they all have different meanings.
(1 Thessalonians 5:23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Neither is Body, Soul and Spirit synonymous, they each distinct from one another.
Most humans (Natural man) only have 2 of those 3 parts. Body and Soul.
(Genesis 2:7) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Dust + Breath of Life = A Living Soul {All living Organisms}
Physically, humans are no greater than Animals. Natural man can operate only by 5 senses. Everything a natural man can learn or understand comes through the senses of: Sight, Hearing, Smelling, Touch and Taste.
Humans “attain” Spirit when they confess Jesus Christ as Lord, and believe with their heart that God raised him from the dead.
As I mentioned before, all of the Elements that make up the Human Body, can be also found in the Earth’s Crust.
The Bible says that God formed man from the earth:
(Genesis 2:7) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
This is how our human bodies were “put together”. God used the elements of the earth, or “dust of the ground” to shape this marvellous body we have.
יצר yâtsar yaw-tsar’ through the squeezing into shape; to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively to determine (that is, form a resolution): – X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make (-r), potter, purpose.
The word “formed” in the Bible is translated from the Hebrew word “yâtsar”. Yâtsar means “to fashion/mould out of something that already exists”.
From Genesis 2:7: “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground…” The word “man” here is “âdâm”.
אדם ‘âdâm aw-dawm’ To show blood (in the face), that is, flush or turn rosy: – be (dyed, made) red (ruddy). That is, a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
The meaning of the name/word Adam is: ‘Man; earth; to be red’.
Our Physical bodies all return to the earth one day. This is a natural law.
(Ecclesiastes 3:20) All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
(Genesis 3:19) In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
When we die, are physical bodies go back to the earth. This goes for all living organisms, humans and animals alike.
3) Soul – Made
The Body is a “Host” or “Vessel” for the Soul. Once God formed the Body, he “made” the body into a “Living soul” by breathing the “Breath of Life” into it.
(Genesis 2:7) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
The words “soul” is translated from the Hebrew word “nephesh”.
נפשׁ nephesh neh’-fesh Properly a breathing creature, that is, animal or (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental): – any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature.
The soul is what gives a body life, it’s vitality.
The phrase ”breathed into his nostrils” is the figure of speech condescensio. God put life into Adam, making him a living soul.
“‛âśâh” is the Hebrew word for “made”.
עשׂה ‛âśâh aw-saw’ A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application: – accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy
“‛âśâh” is “a substance required or which the thing made consists”.
The soul is nothing more and nothing less than what gives a body life. It is sometimes referred to as someone’s “Life-force” or “The spirit of a man”.
Soul is not Spirit, and has nothing to do with whether you are a Christian or not. Once someone is breathing, living, they have a soul.
(Genesis 1:30) And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
The word “life” here is “soul”, translated from “nephesh”. This verse says that all living things have a soul.
(Genesis 1:20) And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
(Genesis 1:21) And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
(Genesis 1:24) And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
In both verses 21 and 24, the word “creature” here is again “soul”, translated from “nephesh”.
The Hebrew word “Chai/Chay” means “moving” life or “moving” soul.
חי chay khah’ee Alive; hence raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively.
In the above verses, the word “living” is translated from “chai”. “Nephesh Chai” is always used in the Bible as a living soul, in contrast to a “dead” or perished soul.
Where is the soul located in man?
(Leviticus 17:11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
The Bible tells us that the soul is in the blood. Thus, soul life is passed on from parent to offspring through their bloodlines.
God does not need to breathe soul again into every newly born creature. It’s passed on through the generations.
Soul life is not immortal; it is either passed on through generations, or perishes when a person dies.
4) Spirit – Created
We have looked at what all living organisms are composed of. Body and Soul. So what is Spirit about?
Let’s look at the first verse of the Bible:
(Genesis 1:1) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
“To create” means, “to bring something into existence from nothing” or “to bring something into existence which never existed before”.
In Genesis 1:3, God did not create light, it already existed before this point.
(Genesis 1:3) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
God only called “light” into existence/focus here.
Let’s see what God “created” in these “7 days of his work”.
(Genesis 1:21) And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
Here is where God is now finally creating something new.
Their physical bodies were formed out of the waters and the earth, but what is new here, is “Soul”. This is the first time God created “Soul life”.
God then uses this new “Life Force” called Soul, to “Make” all living creatures.
Let’s look at these verses to explain a little more:
(Genesis 1:24) And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
(Genesis 1:25) And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
(Genesis 1:26) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Paying close attention, God does not “Create” again here, he simply Forms and Makes these new types of life.
But why? This is because Soul was already created in verse 21, and didn’t need to be created again.
Let’s see what God does next.
(Genesis 1:27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Here we can see that God is ending his “days of work” by finally creating 1 new thing. This is, creating man in his own image.
What is God? What is his “image”?
(John 4:24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
God is Spirit.
“Genesis 1:27” is where God creates Spirit in Man. His image. Thus, finally man became Body, Soul and Spirit.
The animals did not get a Spirit, only Man.
Spirit is what we Christians use to “communicate” with God. We use it in prayer and manifestations.
As seen later in Genesis, Adam and Eve lost that “Spirit Connection” with God through their sin. Thus, the generations of Adam (natural man) also do not have that Spirit.
However, because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, we are able to receive that Holy Spirit again, and have connection with God.
In the older scriptures of the Bible, before Christ’s accomplishment, what those Prophets of God had, was “Spirit upon”, something different from what Christians have today. It was not permanent as ours is now.
Our Spirit is what goes to heaven when Jesus Christ returns, not Body or Soul.
5) Conclusion
To Conclude, we have seen that:
All living things are: – Formed of the Earth – Made of Soul Life
Christians also have something “extra”, they are: – Created of Spirit
The Physical Body returns to the earth (dust) upon dying.
The Soul is passed on (shared) through progeny from Parent to Child, or it perishes at death.
Our Spirit returns with God at the time of Jesus Christs return.
A quick update since I published these points and scriptures last year leading up to Christmas, I have tried to focus on the Joy of being in fellowship with Jesus throughout each day. I can tell you that I certainly can recognize the difference that this effort has made in my life.
In the past, I would have great days and then not so great days due to my circumstances or, quite frankly, just other people’s behaviors and words. Now, I have come to realize that if I am going try to find my joy in this world or in my circumstances, then I will continue to be be greatly disappointed. So when I am not feeling my most optimistic, I go right to prayer and ask the Lord to provision His joy to me.
It’s significant in itself to just acknowledging that my joy comes from Jesus, which then points me and my thoughts to focusing on His blessings. All that God has already provisioned to me, to us, to this world. The fact that God laid the foundations of the world and that He sustains all things! That He sent his Son Jesus Christ so I could be reconciled to God and have a relationship HIM. The fact that God is always accessible, faithful, loving, good, and soverign. He controls all things. He hears my prayers, He knows my thoughts, He knows my heart, and He wants to bless me and provide good things to me and in my life. God also wants a relationship with me. So I acknowledge His Joy, His gift of Jesus Christ, and I talk to him, and I thank God for all his blessing.
I also found a 365 Devotions from Author Sarah Young called “Embracing JOY in His Presence” Jesus Always which I now seem to seek first thing in the morning for inspiration and daily intentions. It has great scripture references for the daily topic and helps direct me on the right path each day.
In his grip!!! Right where I want to be! God Bless You.
Original Post – December 2018
Jesus is eternal / He was not created / He has always existed/ He was born a baby /He is the Joy of Christmas!
The Joy of Christmas – God Joins the Human Race
Part 1 of 3 Luke 1: 31-35
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end. “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Fellowship with God alone is our undiminished earthly and eternal joy
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of GREAT JOY, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:10
Though you have not seen him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and GLORIOUS JOY for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8, 9
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our JOY COMPLETE.1 John 1: 3, 4
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with GREAT JOY. Jude 24
God is inaccessible to men because of sin
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
But God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ his son. Romans 6:23
If you really keep the whole law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whosoever keeps the whole law, yet offends in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10
Additional reading in Exodus 19: 12-21 and Numbers 3:4 where man needed to be shielded and veiled from God (due to sin) or they were killed instantly.
We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away 2 Corinthians 3: 13, 14
Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance ad unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:20
God is patient and when you ask forgiveness for yours sins he hears you and is merciful!
“Who he is to you” determines if you really know him
I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins. John 8:24
Be careful as Satan will blind your mind and the anti-Christ is here on earth today!
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.: This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God; Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the anti-christ, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1 John 4: 1,2
Jesus is eternal / He was not created / He has always existed/ He was born a baby / A perfect embryo — He did not take another baby’s body / He is the Joy of Christmas!
“How will this be,” since I am a virgin? The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” Luke 1: 34
The Word Became Flesh (he already existed)! – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. John 1:8
The Word became Flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth John 1:1
Setting intentions in our hearts and in our minds to love others as we gather together for Thanksgiving.
As we prepare for the Holiday season and time with our families and friends, it’s typical to wrap up a few last items at work, run to the grocery store to buy the essentials, then turn to our family favorite recipes to begin prepping for that special meal.
But, what if we took a moment before we start that sprint to prepare ourselves. To fill ourselves up first to be our best and give our best to those we love the most? To take a few moments to set our hearts and minds with intentions to love on others throughout this special time regardless of any situation or circumstance that may arise.
Love, the first and greatest commandment—we all need and desire to be loved.
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus replied; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself”.
Fill yourself up with love first. Recognize how much you are loved by God who created you in his image. Special and unique.
1 John 4:16 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
1 John 4:7 “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.”
Romans 5:5 “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us”
Because God’s love is so powerful, we can love others.
Guard your heart
What does it mean to guard your heart? To me, it means setting the intention not to take things too personally and to acknowledge that everything good comes from God. Do not look for validation, acceptance, or unconditional love from anyone else. There is not one of us that is perfect and we all make mistakes along the way. Be forgiving. When we don’t guard our hearts, we are leaving an open door for hurt feelings, misunderstandings, and impacted or severed relationships.
Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”
James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ask the Lord to help you guard your heart and do not allow yourself to get sensitive in the circumstance. Focus on his love for you, the fact that his powerful love enables you to love others (regardless of their actions), and not change your behaviors based on their behaviors.
Do you ever wonder who really loves you in this world when everyone is so busy just getting through each day? Not taking time to check in with you or noticing that maybe you are not your normal uplifting self?
The great thing is that you are loved by many! You can be sure of this! Just don’t expect to hear it, see it, or feel it each moment each day. But in those moments when you need some love, a hug, a smile and there is no one in reach, just know that God loves you!
Just tell him you need to feel his love right now. When you reach out, God shows up every single time! Yes! every time. He hears you and loves you! I pray that he will wrap his loving arms around you and you will feel his love and his joy will fill you up. This is exactly what I do! And it’s free! I’m frugal. Lol
I give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love. Psalm 107:8.
This is an amazingly flavorful dish. We served it with a little baguette pieces to scoop up some of the sauce. It is a top notch vegetable tagine recipe! Simple vegetable stew packed with the perfect balance of Moroccan flavors. Vegan and Gluten free.
Ingredients
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, more for later
2 medium yellow onions, peeled and chopped
8–10 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
2 large russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed
Salt
1 tbsp Harissa spice blend
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground tumeric
2 cups canned whole peeled tomatoes
1/2 cup heaping chopped dried apricot
1 quart low-sodium vegetable broth (or broth of your choice)
2 cups cooked chickpeas
1 lemon, juice of
Handful fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
In a large heavy pot or Dutch Oven, heat olive oil over medium heat until just shimmering. Add onions and increase heat to medium-high. Saute for 5 minutes, tossing regularly.
Add garlic and all the chopped veggies. Season with salt and spices. Toss to combine.
Cook for 5 to 7 minutes on medium-high heat, mixing regularly with a wooden spoon.
Add tomatoes, apricot and broth. Season again with just a small dash of salt.
Keep the heat on medium-high, and cook for 10 minutes. Then reduce heat, cover and simmer for another 20 to 25 minutes or until veggies are tender.
Stir in chickpeas and cook another 5 minutes on low heat.
Stir in lemon juice and fresh parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt or harissa spice blend to your liking.
Transfer to serving bowls and top each with a generous drizzle of Private Reserve extra virgin olive oil. Serve hot with your favorite bread, couscous, or rice. Enjoy!
When was the last time anyone had goulash? I remembered this old recipe from the Orange Betty Crocker Cookbook from the 1980’s that my parents had purchased for me, as I had just moved into the first home of my own. I made this goulash recipe, which I remember was on page 25, and I made it and gave some of it to my dad. He loved it! He said it brought back memories for him as his mother used to make a similar recipe for their young family.
This week as I was considering what flavors I was hungry for. I remembered how the paprika and other components had a unique flavor that is accomplished once it all comes together. I decided to see what I could do to find the original recipe since I had purged many of my old books prior to a long distance relocation, I found it ! Exactly as it was written. I changed it up when I made it and I have indicated those changes in the recipe too! We had a little buttered bread on the side. A nice big glass of cold milk would have been good too since we always had a glass of milk with our dinner meal.
READY IN:3hrs (45 mins) SERVES:6-83-4 UNITS: US
INGREDIENTS
1⁄4 cup shortening
2 1 lbs beef chuck or beef round steak, cut into 1 inch cubes lean organic ground beef
1 cupmedium sliced onion
1 2 garlic clove, minced
1⁄4 cup catsup (I used a healthy choice, I purchased as I don’t keep it on hand anymore)
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1⁄2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 dash red cayenne pepper
1 1⁄2 cups water
2 tablespoons flour
1⁄4 cup water
3 1 1/2 – 2 cups hot cooked noodles
DIRECTIONS
Melt shortening in large skillet.
Add beef, onion and garlic; cook and stir until meat is brown and onion is tender.
Stir in catsup, Worcestershire, sugar, salt, paprika, mustard, cayenne and 1 1/2 cups water.
Cover; simmer 2 to 2 1/2 hours. 30 mins. is sufficient!
Blend flour and 1/4 cup water; stir gradually into meat mixture.
Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.
Boil and stir 1 minute.
Serve over noodles.
To freeze: Assemble as directed. Cover and freeze.
To serve: Thaw in the fridge. Re-heat, covered at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.
This is a quick, healthy, and flavorful dish. I had most of the herbs still growing in my garden and just had a taste for some shrimp and asparagus. We both enjoyed this easy dish. This recipe serves two people and is ready in about 30 minutes!
Ingredients
3 ounces uncooked angel hair pasta
1/2 pound uncooked shrimp (16-20 per pound), peeled and deveined
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
8 fresh asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup tomato or halfed cherry tomato
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons chopped green onion
1/2 cup white wine or chicken broth
1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh basil
1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano
1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Lemon wedges
Directions
Prep all vegetables and herbs as this will cook very quickly once started.
Put pasta water on the stove to begin heating and put the oven on Bake 400 degrees.
In small mixing bowl toss shrimp, 2 cloves garlic and 1 tbls oil, pepper flakes, and salt. Set aside while pasta water is heating and oven is heating to 400 degrees.
Once oven temp is reached, put the shrimp in a baking dish. Cook for approx. 8 mins.
Determine cooking time of the pasta (ours takes 3 mins. so we drop our pasta into the boiling water after the shrimp as cooked for 6 mins.)
While the shrimp is cooking, stir-fry the vegetables in 1 tbls oil until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Add wine and seasonings.
Drop pasta and cook according to package directions. Drain pasta.
Add wine and seasonings to the vegetable mixture, add shrimp to the mixture (including the extra juices), add the pasta and toss all gently. Cook and stir until heated, 1-2 mins.
Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve with lemon wedges.
Note: Optional cooking method for shrimp. The shrimp can be stir-fried in olive oil instead of cooking in the oven. I prefer the baked flavor over the stir-fry and it can cook while I am working on the vegetables.
This dish was so flavorful. It has a sweet and spicy pineapple chili dressing that really pulls it all together. It is also very healthy, paleo-friendly, gluten free, and full of nutrients!!
Prep 10 minutes Cook 30 minutes Total Time 40 minutes Servings 2 servings Calories 459cal
Place the chicken into a bowl and cover with the juice from half a lime. Let it sit and marinate while you prep the rest of the ingredients
Toss the cut up cauliflower with the olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook it on the grill or oven until tender, about 10-15 minutes, stir once or twice as needed.
While the cauliflower is cooking mix together all the ingredients for the dressing except for the olive oil. Then, slowly whisk in the olive oil until well mixed. Set aside.
Rub the chicken with the cumin and a pinch of salt and pepper. Then cook the chicken in the oven or on the grill.
While the cauliflower and chicken are cooking, place the corn, pineapple and onions in a grill basket and cook until sligthy charred. The pineapple rings can go directly on the grill too if you prefer. about 5-10 minutes
Now that the cauliflower is done cooking and both the chicken and salsa are cooking, place the cauliflower and cilantro into a food processor and pulse until small and rice-like.
Divide the cooked cauliflower rice, greens, tomato and avocado between two bowls. Slice the chicken and divide it between the plates, followed by the grilled salsa.
Drizzle the dressing over the top of each plate and season to taste
Living Healthful 