Vegetarian Chili

It's chilly outside-and you want something warm to eat for dinner tonight (and tomorrow night).  How about Chili when it's chilly?! This healthy and satisfying meal will serve your family for 2 days-who doesn't love left overs? This recipe makes a big batch-feel free to cut it in half if you don't want it for more than 1 night.

Serves 10. Prep time: 20 minutes   Cook time (hands off): 40 minutes if using a pressure cooker, 1 hr 20 minutes if using traditional pot
Ingredients:

• 8 c beans-we used kidney and black beans (we did half and half)
• 2 c chopped carrots (unpeeled)
• 2 c chopped/peeled sweet potatoes
• 3 c onions
• 1 28 oz can chopped tomatoes (or whole and cut up)
• 1 16 oz can tomatoes
• 3/4 c barley 
• 1/2 c banana peppers (or 1 c of green peppers to reduce your spice)
• 3-4 cloves garlic
• 1 dark beer (optional)-if omiting, add more liquid
• 1-2 c water (depending on how much liquid is in your tomatoes)
• 4 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp cayenne
• 2 tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Combine all of the ingredients into a pot except barley (save for later or see step 4)
2. If using a pressure cooker-bring up to boil and reduce heat once detector pop, cook for 20 minutes
   
3. If using a traditional pot, bring to a boil, and reduce to a simmer for about 50 minutes-1 hour
4. Add in barley and bring back up to a boil (we did this because we didn't want the barley to expand too much but you could add it in with everything in the beginning)
5. Cook for another 20 minutes, until barley has softened (without pressurizing if using the pressure cooker)
6. Serve over brown rice or with these awesome molasses corn muffins, top with low fat cheese. Even better the next day!
   
   
   
   

Nutritional Benefits:

• High in Protein: awesome for healing and repairing damaged tissues-1c of kidney beans=15g of protein
• High in Fiber, 1c of kidney beans=13g of fiber in just the beans, Barley= 6g of fiber in 1 cup cooked: barley expands about 3-4xs (veggies are high in fiber too): essential for eliminating toxins from the body, aiding in digestion, and helping to maintain proper blood sugar levels
• Anti-inflammatory
• Low in Fat (almost no fat, less than 1g/1c of beans)-heart healthy
• High in Vitamin A (carrots & sweet potatoes): great for bone, teeth, and eye health
• High in Potassium-840 mg in 1 cup of beans
• High in Iron-about 20% of daily needs in 1 cup of beans: essential for oxygenating your muscles and improving circulation 
• Barley: high in fiber 54% of daily needs in 1 cup of cooked barley, great for diabetics in controlling blood sugar levels, high in magnesium, helps lower cholesterol

Chicken Masala

Indian food is delicious and full of vibrant flavors. Often it is high in fat and calories, hidden in coconut milk and gee (liquified butter). This recipe uses the flavors but cuts the fat, making this a heart healthy, high protein recipe. 

Ingredients:

1c yogurt (can use low/nonfat/or Greek yogurt)

2 tsp Garam masala (Indian spice blend of cumin, curry, all-spice)

2 tsp (divided) fresh grated ginger-save 1 tsp to add to sauce at end of cooking

1 tsp cinnamon (heaping)
1 tsp tumeric
1/2 tsp cayenne (or less depending on your taste)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1-1.5 #s chicken thighs or breasts cut into strips
(plus additional below)

Mix above and marinate for 1-8 hours 

To pot on stove:

3 c chopped tomatoes

1 1/2 c chopped onion (large onion)

3 cloves garlic-chopped (can add 1/2 during cooking and other 1/2 at end of cooking-for maximum health benefits)

Simmer above and add 1/2 c of water if more liquid is needed 

Simmer until cooked and use stick blended to purée. 

Add marinated chicken and cook for about 15-20 minutes until cooked. Add garlic and ginger at end of cooking.

Nutritional Information:

Yogurt: High in Protein and calcium, beneficial bacterial cultures-great healing food

Chicken-high in protein and low in fat

Tumeric: Highly anti-inflammatory-used to decrease swelling topically or internally

Garlic: Anti-inflammatory, aids in blood flow/increased circulation, lowers triglycerides and cholesterol (best added at end of cooking)

Ginger: Anti-inflammatory, aids in blood flow/increased circulation (best added at end of cooking)

Tomato: packed with Vitamin C, which aids in healing, high in lycopene, an anti-inflammatory micronutrient that has been shown to fight cancer

For entire recipe (feeds 4)

Chicken Thighs (1.25#s)

Calories: 750

Fat: 40g

Carbohydrates: 0g

Protein: 100g

Fiber: 0%

Iron: 30%

Yogurt Sauce: 

Calories: 150

Fat: 8g

Calcium: 30%

Carbohydrates: 11g

Tomatoes: 

Calories: 97

Carbs: 21g

Fiber: 6.5 g  

Potassium: 1280mg

Vitamin C: 114%

Vitamin A: 90%

Onions:

Calories: 101

Carbs: 24g

Fiber: 3.4g

Protein: 2.2g

Potassium: 346mg

Vitamin C: 26%

Quinoa Salad with pistachios, artichokes, and avocado

Looking for a different kind of side dish? High in protein, gluten free, and delicious, this food will help you to repair and heal.  Easy to eat after any dental procedure and can be eaten cold or hot (we like it cold).

Quinoa Salad: Pistachios, Artichokes, Avocado:

Ingredients:

• 3 c cooked quinoa (or 1 cup dry and then cook)-click here for directions on how to prepare quinoa
• 1 can artichokes coarsely chopped
• 1/4 c chopped pistachios
• zest and juice of 1/2 lemon 
• 1/4 c craisins or dried cherries (unsweetened)
• 1 avocado
• pepper and salt to taste

Directions:

1. Cook quinoa and let cool if you'd like the dish to be cold (it can be made several days in advance)
2. Mix above ingredients together and enjoy! (how easy is that?)

Nutritional Benefits:

Quinoa: 1 cup cooked quinoa provides the following:

• 5 g fiber
• 8 g protein
• 4 g fat
• 39 g carbohydrates
• 222 calories (when cooked in water)

Avocado: High in Vitmains C (20% DV), K, B5, Potassium (20%), and folate (25%),fiber 9g!, and omega-3 fatty acids, avocados are a power food that helps to reduce inflammation, support heart health, and supports blood sugar regulation

Lemon: high in Vitamin C, provides antioxidants to fight infection

Artichokes:Very high in fiber (more than prunes!) 1/2 c provides 4g fiber and 2 g protein with 0g fat, helps lower bad cholesterol, cancer fighting antioxidants, and aids in digestion
Pistachios: high in protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients: copper, Vitamin B6, Manganese, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Thiamin

Edamame-awesome snack full of protein

Looking for a high protein snack? Freshly picked edamame (soybeans). Packed with protein and super easy/fast to prepare. If you get yours from the freezer-blanch in boiling water for about 2 minutes, drain, and sprinkle with kosher salt. www.altmandental.com 

Nutritional Information:

serving size 1/2 c of shelled edamame provides 

-10g protein! 

-8 g fiber

-90 calories