Lemons to Lemonade

Welcome back!

The story behind my Wordless Wednesday  post  yesterday  is about this picture that hung on my grandparent’s kitchen wall all while I was a child.  My grandmother offered the picture to me when I moved into my new house last year and I have it hung in my dining room.  People are always asking me who the man is and what does it represent, but all I was told was that it was a homeless man that is thankful for his meal.

Recently, a friend that had complimented the picture and asked about it had to call me to let me know that once she seen it at my house she has now spotted it a few other places including the dining area of a crab boat on the show “The Deadliest Catch”.

Do you know more about this picture?  If you do please comment and let us know.  If not I’ll just keep calling it “Thankful” and stick to my story:)

The following whole foods recipes will transform your ordinary taco dinner into a flavorful, healthy feast. Find more healthy recipes at Natural Mom Recipes.

Chickpea Tacos

Ingredients:

2 cups or 1 can chickpeas, drained
2 cups salad greens
1/2 cup organic sour cream
1 avocado, chopped
fresh cilantro to taste
1 cup salsa
juice of one lime
one clove garlic
corn taco shells

Instructions:

Place avocado in bowl and mash. Add chickpeas, cilantro, garlic and lime juice. Add sea salt, cumin and pepper to taste.

Fill taco shells with chickpea mash, top with greens and sour cream and salsa. These are excellent with the rice recipe below.

Mexican Style Rice

Ingredients:

1 T olive oil
1 cup brown rice
1 cup frozen organic corn
1 cup frozen peas
3 cloves garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 T tomato paste

1. Heat oil in saucepan, add rice and “toast” until you can smell a nutty aroma and rice turns darker. Add two cups water and tomato paste, and cook rice on low for 20 minutes.

1. Add vegetables and seasonings to rice and mix. Continue cooking for another 20 minutes or until rice is done. Fluff before serving.

Spanish Potato Tortilla

Ingredients:

2 T olive oil plus 1 t olive oil
1 lb. fingerling potatoes, thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
2 t chopped garlic
5 organic eggs

1. Heat 2 T oil in skillet over medium heat. Add potatoes, reduce heat somewhat and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add vegetables and cook until onion is translucent. Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper.

2. Beat eggs in another bowl and then stir into potato mixture.

3. Heat 1 t olive oil in skillet and spread egg/potato mash in, cook on medium for 5 minutes or so or until egg is almost set. Remove skillet from heat and invert tortilla onto a plate, place back in pan on the other side and cook another 5 minutes or until both sides are browned and crispy. Cut into wedges and serve.

Sticky Mango Rice Dessert

1 1/2 cups sushi rice
1 14 oz can coconut milk
1/2 cup Sucanat or Rapadura
2 t all natural vanilla extract
3 mangoes, sliced

Combine rice, 2 1/2 cups water, Sucanat and 1/2 cup of the coconut milk in a large heavy bottomed saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to med/low and cook 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in remaining coconut milk and 1 more cup water. Cover and cook 10 more minutes. Remove from heat and leave lid on for 20 minutes. Stir in vanilla. To serve, place servings of rice on a plate and top with mango slices.