that’s a wrap

Yesterday, I admitted to being a food hoarder.

Today, I made one big (small?) dent in my ever growing food supply. 

For whatever reason, I have the habit of trying a new food and saving just enough for one more serving.  This is especially true when it comes to cereals and grains.  I probably have at least 6 different types of grains sitting in little glass containers, way back in the pantry.  Way, way back.

But today, I decided that my food supply (and my over-abundant pantry) needed to be brought back down to normal, more realistic levels.  

Any recipe that involves wrapping, dipping, and the resulting sticky fingers is one that I must, must make.  I don’t care if you serve me the same sandwich that I’ve had for 7 days straight.  If it’s reconstructed and served in a wrap, it may as well be a brand new recipe.  I’ll love it.  All the more when there’s a sauce for dunking.

And so, with that in mind, I set out to make a wrap for dinner.  Or a roll-up.  Or whatever seemed to hold my millet concoction the best.

Unfortunately, there were no rice wrappers or flour tortillas to be found anywhere in the house.  Fortunately, there was one big head of cabbage.  Perfect.

Cabbage makes a fine wrap substitute when the need arises.

Simply peel the top layer off, one by one, and place in a pan with a bit of water and steam on medium-low.  Stop the cooking once they’ve reached the tender but crispy stage, and pat dry with a paper towel.  You now have yourself a wrapper, ready to be filled with whatever your heart so desires.

As simple as the cabbage wrappers were, I wanted my filling to be simple as well.  Millet.  Roasted Veggies.  Kidney Beans (also roasted.)  Canned, diced tomatoes.  See?  Easy.

The fun part was the rolling…

…and the dunking…

…and the eating.

Roll-ups.  Wraps.  Spring rolls.  Whichever suits your fancy, there’s something about wrapping, dunking and the resulting sticky fingers that makes any meal complete. 😀

Veggie Roll-Ups–serves 1

If by some chance you happen to have leftovers, throw together the remaining cabbage and millet mix in a large bowl.  Place in a container, and bring for lunch the following day!

• A few large leaves of cabbage
• 1/4 c. millet
• 1/2 c. diced tomatoes, drained of juice
• 1/2 c. kidney beans
• About 1/2 c. of your favorite veggies, roasted (broccoli, mushrooms, onions, turnips, etc.)
• All-Natural Dipping Sauce

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. In a medium frying pan, pour just enough water to barely cover bottom of pan.  Place the large leaves of cabbage in pan, and bring to a simmer.  Reduce heat to low and cook until tender but still firm.
3. Meanwhile, place a cookie sheet, sprayed with cooking spray, into the oven with bite sized pieces of your favorite veggies.  Cook for 10 minutes.  Stir and add kidney beans.  Continue cooking for another 10-15 or until browned.
4. While the veggies are roasting, bring 1 c. of water to a boil.  Add millet, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook for about 15 minutes or until most of the water is evaporated and/or the millet tastes tender.  Add diced tomatoes, stir and continue cooking for another 5 minutes or so.
5. After patting cabbage leaves dry, stuff with filling and wrap gently, one at a time.  Serve with favorite dipping sauce.  ENJOY! 😀

Question: Are you a food hoarder, or do you like to use things up before buying something new? 

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Breakfast Bonanza, Day 4 (don’t forget to layer!)

I went for my first chilly run this morning. 

Yes, the temperatures have previously reached 45.  Even 40.  But today it was a meer 28.  This is also known as “nose burning, bring a kleenex, wear your winter tights” kind of cold.  It was, in one word, blissful. 

Come January, after I’ve run through my third or fourth blizzard in the dead of winter, I give you full permission to taunt and tease me.  Yes, you may.

“Sarah, you said you like winter running!  Stop complaining!!”

As for now, I am fully enjoying these chilly morning runs.  They feel so refreshing. So invigorating.  Filled to the brim with energy!  Besides, I’m not really cold during these runs.  That’s what mittens, wool socks and warm winter tights are for.  It’s all about the layering!

Kind of like breakfast.  Layer after layer after layer of goodness. 

Layer 1: Pumpkin mixed with yogurt.

Layer 2: 1 T. ground flaxseed

Layer 3: 1/2 c. cooked millet

Layer 4: 1 sweet banana, sliced

Layer 5: walnuts, cranberries, coconut.  Just because.

The Mighty Millet Mish-Mash

I’m a creature of habit when it comes to whole grains.  The bulk of my diet is made up of oats, oats, and oats.  But sometimes it’s fun to try something completely new and different.

I was a little unsure of how much liquid I needed to cook the millet, and ended up going with a 2 1/2:1 ratio of water to millet (that would be 1-1/2 c. of water to 1/2 c. uncooked millet.)  It seemed to work out pretty well for me, but I did use the strainer to get rid of some excess water afterwards.

Millet is sweet, soft, and very mild flavored.  It reminded me of quinoa without the slightly “exotic flavor”.  Another plus is that it’s gluten free, making it the perfect grain option for people who have celiacs and/or a gluten intolerance.  I’m a new fan of this humble little grain, and plan on incorporating it regularly into many future breakfasts and side dishes. 

• 1/2 c. canned pumpkin
• 6-oz. plain yogurt

Combine above together and place on bottom of bowl.

• 1 T. crushed flaxseed
• 1/2 c. cooked millet, mixed with cinnamon and nutmeg if desired
• 1 banana, sliced
• toppings: walnuts, craisins, coconut

Layer the flaxseed, the millet, and lastly the banana on top of your yogurt mix.  Top with walnuts, craisins, coconut and whatever else suits your fancy.  Enjoy!

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Since we’re on the topic of breakfast, have I previously mentioned that I’m slowly weaning myself off of coffee?

 

It’s true. 

During the weekends, I find no greater pleasure than sitting down with my big blue mug, sipping on a dark, roasted coffee with soy.  Filled, filled, filled to the brim with warmth and goodness.  But during the weekday, I find myself guzzling the contents of my mug in 5 minutes flat.  The result is an overheated, slightly delirious, over-caffeinated girl.  Not pretty.

I’d like to save coffee for the weekend, when I can thoroughly enjoy each and every sip.  But since I’ve never been a cold turkey kinda gal, I’m slowly decreasing the amount that I drink each week.  Right now I’m about 3/4 of a mug full, and slowly making my way to half.  We’re getting there. 😉

Question: Are you a coffee drinker?  Do you go for “regular,” straight up coffee?  Do you have a favorite signature drink?  I like my morning cup with soy and no added sweetener, but whenever I go out to a cafe, I always order a grande soy misto with extra foam and a pump of toffee mocha, pumpkin, or cinnamon dolce.  I consider this my signature drink. 😀