Showing posts with label Houston TX. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Houston TX. Show all posts

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Black Bean Soup

We have had some lovely cold weather here in Houston! Our week started out quite warm for January, humid and in the 70's. But by Wednesday, cooler weather was here with highs in the mid-40's! Ahhh, it is nice to have at least a little winter weather here. Too bad it won't stay for more than a few days. The only thing predictable about Houston weather is that it is unpredictable. Sunny and warm one day, raining and cold the next. Anyway, the cold weather was just begging for a warm, comforting soup. I looked at the veggies from my co-op share as well as the beans in my pantry, and voila! Black bean soup. Perfect for a cold winter night.

Black Bean Soup
1 Tbs olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
1-2 jalapeños (depending on how spicy you want it), de-seeded and finely chopped
1 can organic diced tomatoes
3 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups vegetable broth (check to make sure it is corn free!)
2-3 tsp chili powder (depending on how spicy you want it)
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp coriander
cilantro, for garnish
sour cream, for garnish
lime wedge, for garnish

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large stockpot. Add onion, celery, carrots, and jalapeño and cook until onions are translucent and carrots are tender.
2. Meanwhile, puree tomatoes (with juice) in food processor or blender.
3. Add spices, broth, beans, and tomato puree to stockpot. Cook on medium heat for 15 minutes.
4. Transfer half of soup mixture to blender and puree until smooth.
5. Return puree to pot and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
6. Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream, cilantro, and a lime wedge.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Rawfully Organic Co-Op in Houston

One of the biggest and greatest changes of my gluten-free "life prescription" was to eat 8-10 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables per day. This was definitely a challenge for me at first! Recently, I have been trying to get as many raw fruits and veggies as possible into my diet. I joined the Rawfully Organic Co-Op here in Houston, which is all organic produce, a lot of which is also local! I love that there is an option to order whenever I need to; I usually get a half share every other week. The half share is HUGE! The co-op is run by volunteers and everyone is always so nice. I also love that we can trade items out; for instance, one week I received corn in my share (which I am allergic to) and I was able to trade it out for apples! So great! The hubby and I have been making smoothies almost every day with produce from our share; I will be posting some of our favorites in the days and weeks to come.

Check out the Rawfully Organic Co-Op if you are in the Houston area! www.rawfullyorganic.com

All of the produce from my first half-share with Rawfully Organic!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Ruggles Green - Gluten Free and Organic Dining in Houston, TX!

My very favorite place to eat for a simple night out is Ruggles Green. They are a certified green restaurant, use organic produce and meats whenever possible, and have tons of gluten-free options. The staff (especially management) is very knowledgeable about gluten-free needs, and they are always willing to ask the chef if you have other allergies. I highly recommend this restaurant if you live in the Houston area or will be visiting!

Some of my favorite dishes: (always specify gluten-free when ordering)
Texas Caesar Salad
Goat Cheese Salad
Salmon Salad
Blackened Shrimp Salad
All Natural Beef Burger (NO BUN - the GF buns contain corn)
Gluten Free Pepperoni Pizza (note - the GF crust is corn free but does contain rice. I can only tolerate this pizza on occasion but it is delicious!)

Gluten Free Dessert Options:
Creme Brule (OMG!) - grain free
Hi-Protein Hemp Brownie - grain free
Gluten Free Domino Cake - contains corn (I have not had this, but my hubby says it's great)
Macaroons - completely grain free! These are not listed on the dessert menu, so you have to ask about them! Sometimes they have raspberries or blueberries in the macaroon cookie. Yum.

Visit their website and check out the awesome menu: www.rugglesgreen.com