More Recipes to Complement the Chili Challenge

To complement the Chili Challenge (see our previous post), here are some more delicious recipes from the dietitians at the Block Center - enjoy!

• Hoppin’ John Soup
• ‘Messa’ Collards
• Cowgirl Cocoa Kickers
• Southwestern-Style Coleslaw
• Vegan Agave Cornbread Muffins

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Hoppin’ John Soup
Serves 6

In the South, New Year’s Day is celebrated with black-eyed peas (which symbolize good luck) and greens (which symbolize prosperity).  Peas and beans are wonderful sources of protein, fiber, and nutrients such as magnesium, zinc, and pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5).  This is a healthier version of a popular southern dish called Hoppin’ John which traditionally calls for pork kielbasa, hamhock, and bacon:

• Canola oil cooking spray
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 links Tofurkey kielbasa, cut into bite-size pieces (optional)
• 1 15oz can black-eyed peas, rinsed and drained
• 1 15oz can Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 15oz can butter beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup brown rice, cooked
• 32oz vegetable broth
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

1. Spray large soup pot with cooking spray.  Add onion and cook until translucent.
2. Add kielbasa, peas, beans, rice, broth, and seasonings.  Stir well to blend.
3. Mash beans using potato masher or stick blender to help thicken soup.  Serve when hot.

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‘Messa’ Collards
Serves 4

Collard greens are popular in the southern states, where they are often cooked for hours on top of the stove.  A slow cooker is just the thing to cook a whole “messa” collards without standing over the pot.  Wash the collards well to remove all traces of sand and grit.  Liquid smoke, available in supermarkets, adds a nice depth of flavor to the collards.

Widely considered to be healthy foods, collards are good sources of vitamin C and soluble fiber and contain multiple nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties, such as indoles and sulforaphane.

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb fresh collard greens, trimmed of heavy stems, washed, and coarsely chopped
• 1 cup vegetable stock
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 and 1/2 tbsp cider vinegar

1. Pour the oil into a saute pan set on med-high heat.
2. Add the collards and saute for a few minutes to soften.  When greens are bright greens, add stock to pan and season with the salt and pepper.  Reduce heat to medium and cover pan with lid.  Cook until the collards are tender and have turned a darker green color.
3. Just before serving, stir in the vinegar.

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Cowgirl Cocoa Kickers
Serves 4

Just a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon each day can help lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and help regulate blood sugar levels.  Cinnamon can help reduce stickiness of blood and help prevent dangerous blood clots.  Cinnamon has even been show to help slow growth of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.

Cayenne is also an LDL cholesterol-reducer.  It helps lower triglycerides while promoting blood circulation and lowering blood pressure.  Despite its spiciness, cayenne helps regenerate mouth, stomach, and intestinal tissue, helping to heal mouth sores and ulcerations.  Cayenne is even being used as a pain reliever and can be found in topical arthritis creams as an anti-inflammatory.

Cocoa is our third LDL cholesterol-reducer in this recipe.  It is very high in antioxidants and helps mop up damaging free radicals while reducing inflammation.  It helps to lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, which may help to reduce chances of blood clot formation.  Cocoa is also a mood lifter and may help depression.

• 1 cup almond butter
• 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 - 1 cup dates
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup agave
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1-2 dashes cayenne pepper

Thoroughly blend all the ingredients in food processor, then make balls or patties and roll them in the extra cocoa powder.

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Southwestern-Style Coleslaw
Makes approximately 4 servings
Recipe adapted from 1000 Vegan Recipes

• 2 cups green cabbage, shredded
• 2 cups red cabbage, shredded
• 1 each bell pepper, cored & cut into matchsticks or diced
• 2 tbsp. Fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp. Apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. Agave nectar or other approved sweetener
• 1/2 tsp. Sea salt
• 1/4 tsp. Cumin
• 1/4 tsp. Chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. Ground cayenne pepper (Optional)

1. In a large bowl, combine all vegetables and chopped herbs.
2. In a small bowl combine all other ingredients.  Pour the dressing over the vegetables.  Season to taste.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to allow flavors to develop.

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Vegan Agave Cornbread Muffins
Makes 12 muffins
Recipe from allrecipes.com

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 cup soy milk, or other non-dairy milk (rice, oat, almond, hemp, etc.)
• 1/2 cup agave nectar
• 1/4 cup canola oil

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).  Lightly grease a muffin pan.
2. Combine the cornmeal, flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl; stir in the applesauce, soy milk, and agave nectar.  Slowly add the oil while stirring.  Pour the mixture into the muffin pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick or small knife inserted in the crown of a muffin comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes.

Comments

[Claire]

This is really helpful! We're excited to try out new Block-approved recipes. Thanks!

[Andz Berzer]

In addition, a factor that plays an important role in preventing mouth sores is the person’s immune system. Some people’s immune system react to allergens by causing a formation of mouth blisters which after some time open up and result to canker sores. Research has also shown that a person’s immunity against the chicken pox virus and cytomegalovirus increases when he suffers from mouth sores. That is why canker sore treatments is of most importance right away.