Tonight I made Thai spicy vegetable soup and it really turned out great. It took me a while to find all the ingredients (or reasonable substitutes) but it was quick to make and tasted wonderful so I thought I’d pass it on. So healthy, so delicious, inexpensive, and easy to make. I’m in love.

Spicy Vegetarian Thai Soup (4 servings)
4 cups of water
1 cube of vegetable bullion (Knorr)
2 stalks fresh lemon grass
3 slices of fresh galangal or ginger root
3 fresh kaffir lime leaves
1 tablespoon tamarind paste
2 tablespoons vegetarian fish sauce
12 fresh Thai chile peppers -or- 2 medium sized jalapenos
1/2 small white onion cut into 1/4 inch slices
2 tablespoons roasted chili paste (nam prik pao) or chili sauce in a pinch
1 16 ounce can straw mushrooms (drain and rinse)
2 stalks of celery
1 large carrot
1 small ripe tomato, cut into wedges ¼ inch thick
1 small lime
2 sprigs fresh cilantro

Preparation

Prepare lemon grass by trimming off the very end of the root and smashing it with the side of a cleaver of chef’s knife then cut into 1 inch pieces. Prepare galangal or ginger root by smashing it as well.  Cut onion into 1/4 inch slices. Cut tomato into wedges 1/4 inch thick. If using jalapenos cut them lengthwise into 1/4 inch strips. Drain and rinse straw mushrooms. Squeeze lime. Cut celery and carrot into 1/4 inch slices.

Cooking Instructions

Bring water and bullion to boil over high heat in a medium-sized saucepan. Add the lemon grass (in a strainer or boiling bag if you prefer not to eat the lemon grass or pick it out of the soup), galangal (or ginger), kaffir lime leaf, fish sauce and tamarind paste (break apart the tamarind paste with your fingers as you add it). Bring back to a boil and cook 3 minutes. Add the onion, chili paste, celery, carrot, and straw mushrooms. Boil for another 7 minutes or until vegetables have desired tenderness. Add the peppers and tomatoes. Turn off the heat. Add the lime juice. Taste to adjust the seasoning. Garnish with cilantro. You can add 1/2 inch cubes of tofu at this point if you like.

You can probably tell by the recent proliferation of “Super Healthy” blog entries that I am on a bit of a health kick. In that vein I submit to you my recipe for a healthier version of the classic tuna fish sandwich. This version is made with salmon which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Yes, it’s healthy but it also tastes great. Give it a shot and let me know what you think.

• 1 packet, Chicken of the Sea smoked Pacific salmon
• 1 ½ tablespoons soy mayonnaise
• 1 stalk celery, diced
• salt, pepper, and dried dill to taste

Mix the above ingredients in a small bowl and serve on the healthiest sliced bread you can buy. Chicken of the Sea’s smoked salmon is precooked so you don’t need to heat it. That’s all there is to it.

So my friend Tom decides to blog about his sausage and egg muffin and it gives me a great idea…why not tell the world about my awesome Super Healthy Chicken McMuffin Thing! (Maybe I got the ball rolling with my Super Healthy Cookie Recipe but who’s keeping count!)

1 Thomas’ Light Multigrain Muffin

This bad boy has like 50% of your daily fiber and is guaranteed to blow the polyps right out of your colon.

1 Quorn Chicken-Style Patti

Although these are made from some kind of formed and pressed fungus-based protein mass they sure taste like chicken! Mmm!

1 Slice, Mozzarella Soy Cheese

Did you know humans are the only animal to continue drinking milk beyond infancy. Oh, and we’re also the only animal to drink another species’ milk. Choose Soy instead unless you are have excessive estrogen like our good friend Bryan.

1 Tablespoon, Mrs. Renfros’ Extra Hot Green Salsa

Somehow, the other ingredients manage to mellow the otherwise tongue torturing molten heat of this devilish concoction.

1 Tablespoon, Smart Balance Buttery Spread

The best butter substitute out there. Full of Omega-3 oils that are heart healthy. (Omega-3 oils are the “good” oils.)

Prepare these ingredients as you would expect: Heat the patti for 3 minutes or so on each side while toasting the muffin. After flipping the patti once put the cheese on top so it will melt a bit. Once the muffin is done butter one half with smart balance and slather salsa on the other.

Quick, easy, spicy, tasty, and healthy. A lot of engineering went into making a meal this healthy. Yum!