Spinach & Kale Soup with Sprouted Bread

The cool bite to late Autumn brings many soup recipes to mind. I love to play around with texture colour and taste when it comes to soups, and have encouraged my children to enjoy them also. To me, soup is a melting pot of great nutrition if it is used wisely. This is one of my favourite soups during winter. It is fortifying and rich in Iron, B vitamins, Folate and fibre. I use potato to thicken the soup but this is optional.....

 

 

Spinach & Kale Power Soup

This serves 2 adults and 2 children (hearty serves)

 

1 bunch of fresh English (or regular) spinach

1/2 bunch lovely vibrant deep rich green Kale

3 stalks of celery

2 organic garlic cloves crushed

1 small knob of Ginger finely sliced

*Stock (I use 2 Organic Swiss Stock cubes)

3 large Organic potatoes

Coconut cream, Natural yoghurt or regular Natural cream to add at the end!

Seasoning to taste

 

 

Steam Spinach & Kale and Celery in filtered water  in a covered saucepan for several minutes or until soft

Add garlic, ginger and stock (**and more filtered water) and stir and reduce the heat to minimum
Simmer on low heat until (or for 10 minutes for the flavours to develop)
Steam potatoes till soft and add to the reduced heat Spinach & Kale mix
Leave and stir for several minutes to allow the ingredients to break down slowly (this is to reduce the risk of releasing too much starch from the potatoes)
Using a Bamix or hand held blender to pulse the ingredients till you achieve your desired consistency.
Serve with a dollop of coconut cream, or real yoghurt to add extra creaminess and season further if required. You could also add some fresh Coriander to the top or Dulse flakes for another dimension of flavour and nutrition.

I buy Sprouted Khorosan or Ezekiel bread from the refrigerated section in my Health Food Store. This can be eaten raw or toasted with real butter. It is high in protein, complex carbohydrates, fibre, minerals and is a wonderfully tasty and hearty bread in the cooler months.

Enjoy!

*try to use stock that has NO MSG
**as for adding water, I never measure this.... but use enough to easily cover the steamed vegetables as a guide

Breakfast Challenge Day 4

Digestive enzymes are tiny active components within our digestive tract and their job is to break down our food for proper absorption. Healthy digestive enzyme activity makes for a healthy and happy gastro-intestinal tract and bowel. A diet high in refined foods and sugars disturbs the delicate balance of these enzymes and renders the gut sluggish and weak. I believe gut enzymes are too often overlooked when it comes to restoring and improving gut health.

You can supplement your diet with digestive-enzymes but it is equally important to eat foods that naturally encourage and support their growth and activity. Fermented foods such as Kefir yoghurt or REAL yoghurt, sprouted breads, various sprouts, miso, mushrooms, sauerkraut, and raw milk are examples of the kinds of foods that contain their own enzymes (and bacteria) that in turn stimulate our own. Sadly, these foods are rarely eaten today, especially by children, and our 'taste' for them has diminished as a result.

I like to eat sprouted bread occasionally (and you can make your own). It is dense, satisfying, full of protein, fibre and nutrients. I also love that rich nutty flavour and texture. It is a healthy addition to many meals such as a quick breakfast, with eggs, as a snack, and lovely with soup during the cooler months. You can toast it - as I have done in the recipe below, but as you develop a taste for it, I encourage you to eat it sliced thinly and raw (in order to retain enzymes).

There is no technique to making this breakfast. It is a simple combination of flavours and textures with hempseeds and some fresh fruit on the side. It is quick to make and full of protein, complex carbohydrates, minerals, fibre, essential fatty acids, and flavour. A cup of rooibos tea with fresh ginger on the side is a lovely compliment to the offering you are making to your wonderful body!

Macadamia Spread (or Almond/ Cashew are fine too)
Sprinkle with Hemp seeds
*a small spread of butter - if it is real and not margarine/butter spread
Sprouted Bread 1 -2 thin slices (I like the Khorasan Bread)
Fresh or frozen Raspberries and a sliced Nectarine - this I added recently to break up the dense texture of this dish. You could easily add an egg, some fresh herbs, or some raw nuts.

*If you are a health buff like me, stir in a little raw organic Coconut oil with your nut spreads. Totally yummy, and super charged with goodness!