Gratitude and Thankfulness-Day Sixteen

Ready for the slow roasting.

Container of roasted, garlic goodness.  No vampires here!

Toddler approved.  Five stars!

Happy Thursday!

How is it day SIXTEEN already in our gratitude challenge.  Incredible.  Friends, I'm here to tell you today that I am having a love affair with my slow cooker-aka "The Red Mistress".  I am truly thankful for this electronic wonder.  I'm able to concoct healthy meals that everyone in the family will eat and with minimal clean-up.  Love, love, love.  Currently I'm on a jag of making healthy and vitamin filled soups.  Sure, some micro-nutrient purists could argue that trace minerals are lost when veggies are cooked so long but my feeling is EVERYONE in the family is getting more veggies than they normally would and if you have a fresh salad or other cut up fruit/veggies on the side, bingo.  Nutrient goodness for all.  And you know what?  Still don't like it?  Then come over and help me :)  We are open for business 24/7. 

Two days ago the experimentation continued and I roasted 5 heads of garlic in The Red Mistress.  All you have to do is whack the heads off of a bunch of garlic, set it in the cooker, turn the knob to low, cover and wait.  It's great because you are able to roast up a bunch of garlic without oil.  Admittedly, it's a little harder to get the cloves out with out the oil but I'm storing the heads with the skins still on in the fridge and picking them out one by one as needed.  The flavor is still good and I'd rather use the oil in something else.  Important to know that your house will be filled to the brim with the delicious smell of garlic.  It is potent but just think how jealous your neighbors will be when they are slogging up the steps in the building salivating and wondering what delicious kitchen wizardry is happening and how they are going home to boring takeout or boxed noodles.  Added bonus?  Insurance against an impending zombie-vampire attack.  Always prepare. 

I made a fantastic soup yesterday with 1 1/2 C. of the mushy white kidney beans from the great bean experiment the other day, 4 cloves of roasted garlic, some frozen chopped spinach, frozen peas, salt, pepper, ginger, basil, a healthy shake of nutritional yeast and water to cover.  I just let it simmer on low for 2-3 hours and gave it a good stir.  Delicious and full of vitamins AND toddler approved.  Win!  This soup is fairly creamy already because of the mushed beans and this would be a great base for additional veggies, added sausages, seafood or you could make a bisque and add some cream and puree it.  Go crazy!  Next up on the docket is homemade marinara for the freezer.  Onward ho!

Love, Love, Love.