Meatless Mondays - Miso Soup

Ever since my sister inspired me to eat healthy, we have reduced our intake of red meat and processed foods. As a non-cook, it has been difficult figuring out what to eat. Thankfully, my cousin texted me his recipe for miso soup. This miso soup recipe is so easy, my kids can cook on their own. It's so easy - even I can make it!

Easy Peasy Miso Soup recipe:

Ingredients:

1 cup miso paste
Firm tofu
Green onions
1 packet Dashi powdered soup stock
Wakame seaweed (optional)

Japanese ingredients can be found at Marukai or Mitsuwa Japanese markets


Maru-HI Brand Hawaiian Miso from Marukai Market & Trader Joe's tofu

Yamaki Dashi and Miyako Wakame purchased at Marukai Market


1. Boil 7 cups water. Add 1 packet Dashi powdered soup stock. Mix until dissolved.

2. Add 1 cup miso paste to stock and stir until dissolved. Simmer on low heat.

3. Cut half block firm tofu into little squares. Add tofu to stock.



4. Cut Wakame in 1 - 2 inch pieces. Rinse in a bowl of cold water. Drain water.



5. Cut green onions. My kiddo uses kitchen shears to cut green onions.



6. Add Wakame and green onion to taste when plating food in individual soup bowls. Wakame and green onions are optional. One of my kids likes Wakame seaweed, but the other doesn't. Itadakimasu!

World Wide Knit in Public Day 2011

At last weekend's farmers' market, I discovered this knitting circle out in full force during World Wide Knit in Public Day. Reminds me that I need to pick up the needles and finish my works in progress. Thanks to all the knitters and crocheters for representing on WWKIP Day!

Fried Tofu Dinner

My transition to healthy eating has its ups and downs. The upside is I sleep better, my skin is clearer and shopping at local farmers' markets is fun. The downside is I feel lethargic, have headaches and junk food fantasies which I attribute to sugar/meat withdrawal. For me, eating dinner meant eating meat. Recently I've reduced meat, processed foods and candy from my diet when meat, processed foods and candy were my diet.

Yesterday, my hubby Tivo'd an episode of Your Japanese Kitchen and we tried the recipe Tofu Steak with Mushroom Sauce.

Who knew? Tofu takes longer to cook than meat.

Tofu recipe was a big hit! Even the kids liked it. Substituted snap peas for shimeji mushrooms. What is a shimeji mushroom anyway?

Inspiration to Eat Healthy

My sister and I are very close. We are close in age and live near each other. Our closeness also means we share similar lifestyles. Recently, my sister was prescribed medication for high blood pressure. Constant job stress and on the go meals have taken their toll.

Hypertension and diabetes runs in my family. I love to eat candy, but hate vegetables. Ice cream and pizza are my favorite foods. I do not cook and do not exercise. This is a photo of the candy drawer in my kitchen:



After years of eating crap, my sister and my kids have inspired me to do better. This is my wake up call to start a personal Food Revolution.



Veganomicon by Isa Chandra Moskowitz & Terry Hope Romero

Change won't be easy for this fast food carnivore, but I am committed to be a more conscious eater. I plan to take baby steps and will keep you posted.