Another Soupified recipe, this one has been the favorite since the project began. James and I both enjoyed this simple soup, packed full of vegetables and a flavorful broth. With some easy substitutions, this could easily transform into a vegan recipe (swap out vegetable broth for chicken stock and substitute oil for butter).

Caraway seeds do not show up often in my recipes, even though they have a wonderful, anise-like flavor. If you do not have caraway seeds, try using dried basil with a pinch of dried thyme or ground anise seed.

Cauliflower Soup
adapted from Cooking Light

2 tbsp butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 large head cauliflower, chopped or broken into florets
3 Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
1 large carrot, finely chopped
1 tsp caraway seeds
6 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Melt butter in a large stock pot over medium-high heat; add onion with a pinch of salt and saute 4 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally.

Add the cauliflower, potato, carrot, and caraway seeds. Cook 6 minutes or until cauliflower begins to brown, stirring frequently. Add broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in salt and pepper.

Above: Top individual bowls of soup with fresh ground black pepper, if desired.

I have already discussed the plight of the honeybee, but was surprised to learn about the Honey Industry’s Shady Side from Marisa McCellan at Slashfood. Among other things, there is not a legal definition for pure honey, which makes it harder to detect and recall bad honey. Also, bee hives in China contracted a bacteria and were treated with an antibiotic that is illegal in the US, Canada, and Europe. All of the hives in China are now tainted with traces of this antibiotic, which still contaminates honey imported to the US.

Aside for making an excellent case for buying local, this report highlights the vulnerability of the food supply in the US. Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food, wrote an open letter to the presidential candidates in October 2008 titled Farmer in Chief. His letter addressed many current problems in the way food is produced and distributed in the US, but also pointed out how little control the US has over the safety of imported foods and the sparse security of our food supply. President-elect Obama stated in an interview that he has read Pollan’s letter and agreed with much of its contents.

If the stories of tainted milk and toxic toys taught us anything, it is that imported goods are not subject to the same standards as domestic products. And if you were looking for incentive for buying organic and buying local, here it is. For your own health, I urge you to ditch mass-marketed honey and seek out safe, organic and/or local options. It might be a little more expensive, but it is a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Above: In my cupboard is USDA Certified 100% Organic Honey from Full Circle.

Honey might be Sweet, but contaminated food sneaking into the food supply is Bitter.

Need a little help sticking to those resolutions? Here are a few informative articles from CNN:

Necessity vs. Luxury: What Makes Resolutions Stick? Making even small concessions will take you farther and farther away from  your goals. So will lacking a specific action plan.

How to Recharge Your New Year’s Resolution: Did you fall off the resolution wagon already? Or have you even started? Rethink your resolution and create one that is specific, realistic, and give it a time frame.

Sneaky Health Tips for a Busy Life: Create a healthy lifestyle with small, simple steps.

Need a little more encouragement? Check out this eHow article on How to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions.

Falling off the resolution wagon? Bitter. Finding your way back on? Sweet.

From Cooking Light magazine, this recipe is also called Al Cuscus bil Khodar al-mausium as it hails from Morocco. Using the Ras el Hanout spice mixture and Simple Garlic Broth, I was able to incorporate previous recipes and keep this dish a nice vegetarian alternative for dinner. With loads of sweet potatoes and parsnips, plus chickpeas for protein, this is a great, all-in-one dish with a savory yet sweet flavor. Look for flavored couscous, or use whole wheat.

Above: Pine nuts in the topping add a toasty crunch to the dish.

The recipe does contain honey, and I had to catch myself from calling it vegan. To make this a vegan dish, simple omit the honey or replace it with a vegan-friendly alternative like agave nectar.

Roasted Vegetable Couscous with Chickpeas and Onion-Pine Nut Topping
adapted from Cooking Light

5 cups diced peeled sweet potato (about 1 1/2 pounds)
2 cups (1/2-inch) diced peeled parsnips (about 10 ounces) 
2 tbsp  extra-virgin olive oil 
2 tsp Ras el Hanout 
3  carrots, peeled and diced (about 9 ounces)
1 1/4  cups Simple Garlic Broth (or vegetable broth)
1 cup uncooked couscous
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, rinsed and drained

Topping:
1  tbsp olive oil
1  sweet Vidalia onion, halved and thinly sliced
1/4 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup golden raisins
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp honey

Preheat oven to 450F and cover the top of a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Drizzle olive oil over top of the foil.

In a large ziplock bag, combine sweet potatoes, parsnips, and carrots with olive oil and Ras el Hanout. Seal the bag tightly and toss vegetables to coat. Spread out on baking sheet in an even layer. Bake for 30 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

Bring broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Stir in couscous and salt. Remove from heat; cover and let stand 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork; gently stir in chickpeas. Keep warm.

To prepare topping, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add onion to pan; cook 5-7 minutes or until tender and golden brown, stirring occasionally. Add pine nuts and raisins; cook 2 minutes. Stir in cinnamon; cook 30 seconds. Stir in honey, and remove from heat.

To serve: Combine couscous mixture with roasted vegetables and toss. Top with onion mixture. Serve immediately.

Have you felt down in the dumps recently? Maybe you have contributed a case of post-holiday letdown, but there could in fact be something a bit more sinister behind a seasonal case of the blues. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that affects people during the season each year, typically winter.

The most commonly acknowledged cause of SAD is lack of sunlight, which can interrupt sleep-wake cycles and circadian rhythms. According to WebMD, symptoms of SAD include:

• Feeling sad, grumpy, moody, or anxious.

• Loss of interest in your usual activities.

• Eating more and craving carbohydrates, such as bread and pasta.

• Gaining weight.

• Sleeping more and feeling drowsy during the daytime.

Doctors often use light therapy to treat SAD, along with appropriate antidepressants and counseling. Regular exercise has also shown to decrease SAD symptoms.

This past December, Michigan experienced the least amount of sunlight ever recorded. Now, I am not saying I have SAD, but that fact is definitely depressing. In general, lack of sunlight can cause short-term symptoms similar to SAD. Not quite the blues, but what I often refer to as the grays. The grays describe the general lack of energy felt in the cold, winter months, when all you want to do is curl up on the couch and take a nap.

Here are some great ways to beat the grays:  

• Moderate exercise

• Meditation and/or yoga

• Listen to music that inspires you

• Eat healthy, regular meals

• Write in a journal (or blog!)

• Start a new hobby

• Reread your favorite book

I also advocate bubble baths, hot cocoa, and romantic comedies as solutions the the grays.

The good news? We are past the shortest day of the year, and each day we are acquiring another minute or two of daylight. Though Winter is Bitter, getting over the hump is Sweet.

**DISCLAIMER (subtitle: OBVIOUS)**
Please note that I am not a physician. I cannot diagnose SAD nor can I prescribe treatment for it. The preceding is simply the result of my own online research and personal experiences, meant to inform and entertain. If you think you may have SAD or a related disorder, please consult your doctor immediately.