Moroccan Sweet Potato Bisque

Vibrant, soul-satisfying sweet potato soups are a favorite of mine. This one has the luscious texture of a bisque, but none of the cream. You're free to add some heavy cream or coconut cream if you'd like. But you won't miss it. I promise. I adore this soup! I hope you'll give it a go.

Two common spices, cinnamon and cumin, infuse this recipe with Moroccan flavors. Fresh ginger brings a bit of heat. It's relatively easy to prepare too. Everything is chopped and dropped into a pot to simmer. The soup can even be made ahead of time.

Goddess Bowl

We moved closer to the coast of Cape Ann.  The ocean has always been a special place, reminding us of God and all that's beautiful. When the news of the world brings us down, we go there to walk, listen and pray. Our spirits lift with hope. Our restless hearts are filled with peace.

This Christmas we're thankful for many things. The opportunity to own a very tiny condo near the rocky New England coastline is a minor miracle. We've connected with the community here through a welcoming church. This month, an anonymous and very generous person is matching all donations raised for the poor. Humble kindness is heartwarming.

I'm keeping things simple in our new nest, hanging cross-stitched pieces and my beloved art. I'd like to have a pretty French chandelier and hardwood floors someday. But right now, I'm just so very grateful and happy to be here. This is our first home. My husband and I relocated many times for his work. It's good to plant roots.

Easy Indian Chickpea And Spinach Curry

I used to work every evening as a counselor/administrative assistant in a crisis center. Stress eating was the norm there. On busy nights, the staff (myself included) subsisted on vending-machine snacks, greasy pizza and take-out Chinese. We all wondered why our waistlines were ever expanding? Why we felt tired? Why we were never satisfied by what we ate?

Healthy Hot Cocoa

I'm sipping my usual healthy morning hot chocolate and stitching my next pattern. It has roses and butterflies. 

But, let's talk about the frothy cocoa recipe. Yes, it's possible to have a rich, intensely-flavored cup of hot cocoa that's healthy and crave-worthy. This one is brimming with antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals. 

Thai Chickpea Curry

Do you love Thai food? I adore it. The sunny flavors of curry paste, creamy coconut milk, perky ginger and fresh lime juice are refreshing in summer and real mood-boosters in winter. This wholesome and healthy chickpea curry is bright and tasty. It comes together in about 30 minutes. Everything is simmered in one pot for easy cooking. Pair the curry with steamed rice for a complete protein. I love it with Jasmine rice. For me, using a rice cooker makes this dinner even easier to prepare. The curry reheats well for workweek meals too.

Thai Chickpea Curry Recipe

Makes About 5 Cups

Some Notes & Tips:

Find a Thai curry past that you like. I love Maesri brand. 1 1 /2 tablespoons of it in this recipe is plenty spicy for me. It's a well rounded and flavorful curry paste that comes in small cans for convenience. This is not a sponsored post. It's just my recommendation. I find it in Asian supermarkets and online. It comes in green, red and yellow.

I use a microplane zester to mince the garlic and ginger.

You can use light coconut milk, but it won't be as creamy and the sauce will be thinner.

In winter, you can substitute canned chopped tomatoes for fresh.

Ingredients

• 2 16-ounce cans of chickpeas rinsed and drained
• 1 can of full fat coconut milk
• 1-2 tablespoons of red, green or yellow Thai curry paste.  I use Maesri brand. 
• 1 medium red or white onion, chopped. I use red.
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated
• A large handful of fresh Thai basil, regular basil or mint, chopped
• Oil for cooking. I use a scant tablespoon of sunflower oil.
• Salt to taste

To Serve:
lime wedges
a splash of soy sauce, shoyu or tamari for umami flavor
steamed Jasmine rice

Instructions

Put some oil in a pot or sauce pan and saute the onions, with a pinch of salt, until soft. Add the chickpeas, coconut milk, curry paste, tomatoes, garlic and ginger. Adjust the salt to your taste. Bring to a boil. Turn down the heat, cover the pot and simmer for about 10 minutes. Serve with fresh basil and a few squeezes of lime juice.

Bon Appetit!

xx ~ Jilly  

Sesame-Lime Soba Noodles

I'm half Lebanese, so eating healthy, whole foods comes natural to me. I love cooking with seasonal vegetables and whole grains. It's not so easy curbing my sweet tooth. But that's another story for another time.

Real soba noodles are made with buckwheat flour. They're much less caloric than regular pasta. They contain important vitamins, minerals and protein. They're satisfying too. Give them a go the next time you're in the mood for pasta.

Lebanese Rice & Lentils

After making this dish for several years, I've created a basic recipe without sacrificing flavor. There's a more complicated recipe on this blog too. But I rarely prepare it now because I'm busy with cross-stitch pattern making. Ain't nobody got time for that. I need simple, tasty and reheatable recipes these days.    

A whisper of cozy cinnamon, plenty of black pepper and a hit of fresh lemon juice are essential to any proper rice and lentil dish. I like more lentils than rice. If I'm in the mood, I add cumin. Cumin is lovely with lentils. But it's a strong spice, so I have to be up for it. Lentils, lemon and black pepper were made for each other.

Lebanese Chopped Salad With Tahini Dressing

Winter is behind us and Boston has turned green. Lilacs are blooming. On the river path, the air smells like moss and honeysuckle. My beagle's nose twitches as she catches all the fresh scents. Seagulls are squawking. Summer is coming soon.

Chili-Lime Tzatziki Chickpeas

Fresh salads are making their way into my kitchen. I'm half Lebanese, so I'm genetically programed to love chickpeas. I like using them as the base for satisfying salads. Here, these protein-rich beans are tossed with a creamy yogurt-cucumber dressing. The dressing is spiked with a little garlic and fresh lime juice. The recipe comes together quickly. Everything is combined in one bowl. A red chili pepper finishes things off with colorful flavor and heat. I highly recommend it. Stuff this refreshing salad into soft pita with crisp lettuce and tomato. It's great over a fluffy baked potato for a light vegetarian dinner too.   

Quick Chicken Pho

If you've visited me before, you may have noticed my deep devotion to Asian noodles, especially big brothy bowls of them. Oh how I love pho! The aroma of it alone can brighten my day. I've been making this quick and easy version for a while now. It mimics the slow-simmered flavor profile of the real deal. It's just delicious! 

Spicy Spanish Chickpeas

Chickpeas simmered in a rich and tangy tomato sauce, spiked with chili, paprika and a splash of sherry is what's for lunch today. The sherry really takes this humble bean dish to new levels. A squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of olive oil are the perfect finishes. These beans are delicious with a dollop of sour cream and some toasted slivered almonds sprinkled on top. They're also really good, served over rice, with my cooling cucumber tzatziki sauce (recipe below). Stuff them into warm pita, a baked potato or eat with crusty bread. This meal is high in vegetarian protein, especially when served with rice. It's healthy and filling too. It reheats well for workweek meals. Get your Spanish tapas fix in about 30 minutes.

Chili Garlic Glazed Salmon

Asian flavors are made for salmon. This easy and healthy recipe comes in handy when you're wondering what to serve for dinner. It's a foolproof dish that's ready in 30 minutes from start to finish. Steam some Jasmine or sushi rice, toss some sliced cucumbers with sesame oil, a drizzle of honey and rice vinegar and you've got a tasty dinner that's special enough to serve to company.

Honey-Lime Baked Chicken with Fresh Basil

My husband and I have been making this easy roasted chicken for years. We enjoy it at least twice a week, sometimes swapping lemons for limes. It's a foolproof dinner that everyone loves. The crispy and juicy chicken is lightly seasoned with honey and chili pepper, giving it a sweet and spicy vibe. Lime adds a fresh finish. Simple baked potatoes, Chopped Salad with Honey Lime Dressing, French Peas or Coconut Rice  are nice side dishes. This homey meal is one of life's deliciously simple pleasures. If you're interested in roasting a whole chicken, I provide instructions for that too.

Thai Garden Vegetable Soup

Today we care so much about what we eat. Yet we have less time to prepare nutritious food. My favorite midday meal is soup. I make a lot of quick ones. This rainbow-colored recipe is ready in about 30 minutes. A bit of chopping and dropping into a pot is all that's required. It's a fun, healthy, Thai-take on garden vegetable soup. I like it much better than the old standard. Spiked with chili, lime and creamy coconut milk, it makes a light and lively lunch paired with crusty rolls or crackers. With an abundance of vegetables, pops of  sweet peas and fresh scallions, this non-traditional veggie soup is a good choice for springtime. It's wonderful sprinkled with Thai basil or regular basil.  If you're craving a satisfying Southeast Asian bowl of deliciousness, give it a try!

Double Mushroom Soba Noodle Soup

Today, I needed a major break after a pattern I was about to publish had a mistake in it. Oh well, stuff happens, right? Cooking always soothes my soul. A big bowl of Asian noodles offered me the best kind of kitchen-comfort. After being nourished by this slurp-worthy soup, I took a long stroll with my eager beagle and switched-stitching-gears. I decided to finish working on a cheerful monogram. It's springtime colors are inspired by Cath Kidston fabrics (see below for photo).

Thai Cauliflower Curry

I love to cook Thai food. This vegetarian curry has bright flavors and a creamy, light texture. Potatoes give it substance. Cauliflower pairs well with coconut milk. Tangy lime and warm ginger..it's all here!

This cauliflower curry gives you energy and contentment. My husband loves it. Full of omegas, vitamins, antioxidants, fiber and other good things, you'll be happy you prepared this nutritious, 30-minute meal. Just chop and drop the ingredients into the pot, simmer and serve. Minimal effort, big reward. Jasmine rice, chapati or roti is nice with it too.

Spicy Sweet Potato Soup with Coconut Cream & Sriracha

Nothing says comfort to me more than soup. I come close to slurping it 365 days a year. This luscious sweet potato soup is a gift to yourself or people you love. It's rich and velvety like a bisque. It's satisfying, but not heavy. Cinnamon and coconut lend their warm notes. Perky lime and sriracha sauce counter the sweetness of the potatoes and wake up the taste buds. It hits all the right flavors and textures: creamy, spicy, tangy, sweet.

Vietnamese Vegetable Soup with Coconut Rice

By now, you know how much I adore soup. My Vietnamese vegetable soup is a quick take on traditional slow simmering pho ga. Chicken is added for protein. Tofu or shrimp work well too. Here, a light and flavorful broth is loaded with lots of tender-crisp Asian vegetables, spicy ginger and a finish of fresh lime. Soft hints of warm spices lend an authentic taste to the soup. Earthy mushrooms and soy sauce give it an umami flavor. 

This glorious soup leaves me feeling restored and content, especially during cold and flu season. It's a deliciously nutritious meal. It's ready in under 30 minutes and you control the sodium level. As the rice cooks and the soup simmers, the kitchen fills with sunny aromas. If you're in need of a reboot, put on your PJ's, line up your favorite movies, make a big pot of Vietnamese soup and slurp your stress away.

Toasted Oat & Apricot Muesli

My Saturday morning ritual involves a brisk walk by the Charles River with my beagle and making some cereal. Homemade muesli is great to have hanging around your kitchen. Muesli is a made with dried fruit and oats. It's typically eaten with cold milk. You can also sprinkle it on yogurt, which is how my husband likes it. Throw some nuts, coconut, chocolate chips or banana chips in it for a quick energy boosting snack. 

Thai Noodle Soup

Is there anything better than a big bowl of Asian noodles? It's up there on my list of favorites, along with chocolate, mashed potatoes and fresh baguette. When I was working as a young social worker in Philadelphia, I had lunch every single day at a no-frills Vietnamese noodle soup (Pho) house. They only served soup and they did it right. I slurped soup there so much that the wait staff insisted that I learn to use chopsticks properly. I love the contrasting textures and flavors of these kinds of soups: tangly noodles, crunchy bean sprouts, tender-crisp veggies and flavorful broth.