Winter Vegetable Stew with Whole Wheat Couscous
Yet another winter comfort meal! Here’s the recipe we modeled ours after from Cooking Light. Our version included the following:
- 2 carrots
- 1 large stalk
- 1 large turnip
- 1/2 a medium butternut squash
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 cups water
- 3 cloves garlic
- ~3 cups kale
- 3/4 cup navy beans
- Cinnamon, cumin, red pepper, saffron (the good stuff!), S + P, and lemon juice
We sauteed the veggies in cooking spray, added the liquids, simmered until the veggies were tender, added beans, pureed with stick blender, added kale and steamed for 5-10 more minutes.
Made 2 soup servings, ~300 kcal each.
We served it over whole wheat couscous, although the couscous really just meshed into the soup, which was runny, and became part of it. Total kcal were about 440.
I also topped mine with a bit of hot sauce and some more cinnamon –
It was quite good, but not as good as our recent butternut-kale soup with turkey. I didn’t realize how similar this one would be until after it was well underway. The recipe called for swiss chard, but both the husband and I prefer kale and it was $.99 per pound vs. about $6 per pound for the chard, so we had kale, again!
I have to say that I was uncomfortably full when I was finished with dinner. I wasn’t too hungry to start, and this was a bigger portion than I needed but I didn’t focus on my hunger and ate too much before it was too late! I gave the husband my last few bites.
I also had a glass of delicious Chardonnay! I let it come to room temperature because it’s the middle of winter. I actually think white wine tastes a little better when it’s slightly warmer. When chilled you can’t taste all the wine’s complexity.
Snack
This afternoon around 4:30 I had a piece of the husband’s sourdough baguette with jam and some tea.
Tomorrow
I have my labs this week so things should be busier but my workload doesn’t REALLY pick up until next week. Although I LOVE weekends, I always sort of look forward to my Monday morning workout – getting back in the grind and all. This coming weekend we’re going skiing (East Coast – and I’m NOT a skier!) with my family. I’m looking forward to it (and will bring my laptop – there’s internet where we’re going 🙂 )
Movie Night
The husband and I are in the middle of the movie Amazing Grace and I must return! I love historical movies and always wish I could go visit the 18th century. Did you know I once talked in a British accent for a whole summer in high school?!
jenna says
Ahh I love historical movies, books, towns…anything! I’ve always been such a nerd with that kind of thing! Your dinner looks really yummy…try as I might, I have never been able to find whole wheat couscous…only regular. Looks good though! 🙂
Skiing sounds like so much fun! I have to admit, I’m not the most coordinated though…i love to sit and relax in the hot tubs before getting a massage and pedicure!
Jules says
Husband your response about bitter collards made me think of this question. I love spinach, what do those other large leafy things you and kath eat taste like? (i think kale is one of them, sorry, I’m bad with names). I am the only “experimenter” in my family, so I’m hesisitant to buy some in case I don’t like it either.
rachel says
kath–your meals look so wonderful! i really enjoy this blog–thanks much to your cute personality! ha i used to fake a british accent when i was a barista; unfortunately it never led to more tips as i had hoped it would.
Anonymous says
Kath, just curious… how did you like your deep tissue massage?
VeggieGirl says
I too am a fan of historical movies, books, etcetera – quite fun to learn about and to appreciate!! that’s funny about the british accent :0D
I’ve never been skiing before, but I HAVE been snowboarding – yeah, I’ll never make THAT mistake again, haha. fell on my face far too many times!! good luck!!
Caitlin says
Where are you going skiing?
AA says
just wanted to tell the husband that he is truly inspired me to make my own bread!
nothing beats homemade bread! =)
thanx
Amy says
Hey Kath! That’s funny about the accent. After seeing a Lily Allen concert, my friend and I talked in British accents the whole night. We still do when we’re out sometimes. You must have gotten quite good after a summer. lol
Eva Gonzalez says
Lol, that’s funny Kath! I’ve never heard of someone speaking in a different accent a whole summer, hehe..
Your dinner tonight looked quite yummy and also quite healthy! I LOVE how your food pics come out.. they look so professional and artistic, in a way.. you take really good photos and this only adds to how appealing your meals are. 🙂
Let us know how Amazing Grace is… was thinking about seeing that film… oh, and on a personal note, I was wondering, do you have a religion or a part of some faith?
Just curious, and it’s ok if you don’t want to answer that seeing that it has nothing to do with food!
Thanks for creating such an awesome blog! Have a good night!
Karen says
Your dinner looks amazing! Thanks for the recipe.
CKMeg says
Hi Kath! I just wanted to let you know I’ve still been reading…you’ve really progressed quite well with your blog, and you have quite the fan base! Good for you! Keep it up and know that lots of us appreciate all you do to maintain this awesome blog! Have a good week!
the husband says
Jules:
Regarding other leafy greens – my first question is, when you say you like spinach, are you referring to the baby spinach that you usually find in salads? These are much milder in flavor than the other types. Full-grown spinach has a stronger flavor. Personally I think adult spinach, kale, and mustard greens are all pretty similar in flavor. They’re middle of the road in terms of “leafy” flavor, and each one has a distinct texture. Kale is very ruffled and so has lots of crunch. Collard greens and swiss chard I think are the most bitter. As hippie as we are about some of these, we still don’t eat them plain cooked. You’ll probably always want to drizzle a little something on them (balsamic vinegar and honey?). Here’s my favorite that works with pretty much all of them:
8 button or cremini mushrooms, thin sliced
2 slices bacon, cut into small pieces
big ass bowl of leafy greens, with stems removed and cut into 2″ pieces
Begin by cooking your bacon pieces in a huge pan until crispy (sometimes we make so many greens we have to use our dutch oven). Remove bacon but leave drippings in pan. Add mushrooms and cook for a minute, then add greens. Use tongs to keep the greens moving. You probably won’t need salt, but a hearty dose of black pepper is great. Plate, and sprinkle with bacon crumbles. Yum!
Other additions to this recipe: my mom is always like, “these are delicious but could use a little something sweet!” so sometimes we’ll put chopped dates in (add with greens). Also you can sprinkle with some sort of bleu cheese on the plate. Give it a try, they’re delicious!
Caitlin says
Britney Spears has been talking in a British Accent lately, too! 😉
Shelley says
hahahahaha yes, Caitlin, I was about to make a comment of the same sort 🙂
here’s a link to a video of Britney speaking with a British accent, in case anyone’s interested 🙂
http://www.themockdock.com/2008/01/21/tea-and-crumpets-anyone/
Kath says
Anon,
Massage was great!! I like deep tissue so much more than Swedish. I have a husband to rub my body if I want for free, but deep tissue really gets out the kinks!
Caitlin,
Beech Mountain I think? But I’m not 100% sure! It’s in the NC mountains.
Eva,
Thanks for the photo compliments! I always try to make the food look pretty 🙂
I was raised Presbyterian, but the husband and I are not religious and are pretty scientific in thought. Although I would say we both have a spiritual worldly view. And we both like many of the concepts in Buddhism (thanks to studying it at Davidson).
CK Meg,
HI!!!! Glad you’re still reading 🙂
Brittany video = hilarious!!!
Kath