Sweet and Spicy "Sausage" Soup

Cayenne

The energy that comes with this soup is the energy of "DARING." The recipe came through just as I was deciding to take action to spread my business enterprise out over a wider audience - which definitely calls for a good dose of daring! I love shamanic cookery.... :) Beware - the soup is quite spicy - and I personally never stop at just one bowl of soup, so I was feeling it!

Sweet and Spicy "Sausage" Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 large links of vegetarian sausage (in my fridge today I have Tofurky brand Sun-dried Tomatoes and Basil flavored veggie sausage - it goes perfectly with this daring soup!) - sliced 

1 onion, diced

1/2 a green bell pepper, diced

3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

2 potatoes, cubed

1/2 can diced tomatoes (and their juice)

1 cup vegetable broth

3 cups water

8 leaves of fresh basil (I used purple basil that I grow myself), chopped

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon cumin powder

1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (daring!)

1 teaspoon raw sugar

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Sea salt to taste

...

Heat the olive oil and sauté the sausage, onion, green pepper and garlic until they start to get soft and the room smells yummy. While sautéing, add in the basil, oregano, cumin powder, cumin seeds and cayenne. Sprinkle some sea salt in there too, to bring the flavors together.

Add the tomatoes, potatoes, broth and water. Bring soup to a boil, stir in the sugar for a bit of sweetness to balance out the cayenne, turn the heat down and simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Add the apple cider vinegar - tangy! - and sea salt to taste.

Ladle it into a bowl and enjoy - if you dare!

Vibrancy Chili

Vibrancy Chili

This afternoon, after a day of working a lot, I was experiencing low blood sugar - and I knew I needed something very substantial, energizing and sustaining for dinner.

That is how Vibrancy Chili was born!

I enjoyed making it - and I am enjoying eating it - wowsers!

FYI I recommend using organic ingredients whenever possible.

VIBRANCY CHILI

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 clove garlic, chopped

1/2 of a large red onion, chopped

1 green pepper, diced

1 large carrot, diced

1 1/2 cups mushrooms, washed and sliced

3/4 cup frozen corn

3 cans black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable broth

1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed

2 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon black mustard seeds

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
black pepper to taste

1 tablespoon Bragg's Liquid Aminos (in place of salt - 

especially if the canned ingredients have salt in them)

1 bay leaf

In a large stock pot, heat the olive oil and add the garlic, red onion, green pepper, carrots and mushrooms.

Saute until veggies start to get soft and give off that amazing aroma - mmm! While sauteing, add the bay leaf, chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, mustard seeds and cumin seeds. 

Add beans, water, broth, tomato paste and diced tomatoes. Turn up heat and bring to a boil. Quickly add corn and quinoa. Allow to start bubbling again, then turn down to a simmer. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, until quinoa uncoils. Stir often - chili tends to burn on the bottom of the pot without constant attention.

When it is done add the Bragg's and black pepper (I find you only need a dash or two).

I garnished it with a dollop of sour cream and some chopped green onions. You can nix the sour cream if you want to keep it vegan.

...

A bowl and a half of Vibrancy Chili, and I am rearing to go - which is mahhhh-velous, as I have quite a technical challenge to solve tonight on one of my websites! :)

This chili is yummy, sustaining, energizing, vibrant and REALLY good for you! I am especially excited to make it again as the fall season cycles in - maybe making it a bit spicier as the weather grows colder - adding a dash of Tabasco or a chopped jalapeno!

Cook, sniff, enjoy! YUM.

Next Day Note: Beware - this chili was so vibrant, that at 3am last night we were up watching back to back episodes of "Friends." 

I said: "Why are we so energetic?" 

Rich (my partner) said: "Did you put caffeine in the chili we had for dinner?" 

I said: "No, of course not!" 

He said: "Not even chocolate?" Because a lot of chili recipes call for dark chocolate or cocoa. 

I said: "No, I checked and we didn't have any in the house." 

Then I realized - WHOA! It is a shamanic recipe and it is called VIBRANCY Chili!! And now I can testify - it sure did work!! I suggest making it for lunch (not dinner) on a day that you need to be productive into the evening. :) Live and learn! Enjoy the vibrancy!

Wisdom Vichyssoise

Sometimes recipes come to me and I am guided to write them out - and then their healing properties are shown to me.

Sometimes I am simply guided to start cooking, and the intention of the recipe then comes through as I am in the act of cooking.

Sometimes I am shown what it is I am meant to cook, and I research recipes for a general idea of how to make the dish - and then the shamanic healing version of the recipe comes through as I initiate the process of cooking.

Such was the case today as I began my adventure into the realm of "Wisdom Vichyssoise"!

For the last few days I have been delving into the world of potatoes. Yesterday I made the supreme comfort food - mashed potatoes and (vegetarian) gravy. Mmm!!!

Today all I could think of was vichyssoise.

I did not know why I was meant to make vichyssoise. I simply knew it had to be done.

So! I researched several different recipes for vichyssoise and vegan vichyssoise. Once I had a general sense of proportions and different ingredient selections, I ventured into the kitchen and allowed what needed to happen to simply flow.

I intuitively gathered my ingredients, and as I began to saute the leeks and garlic, I knew it was time to ask the question:

What is the shamanic intention behind this particular recipe?

This is the message I received:

This recipe is for opening the heart and gaining access to the wisdom that resides there. 

As the message came through, I stood with my back straight and arms opened out to my sides. I could feel a strength pulsating through my body, and I knew it was time to proceed with the cooking, the pureeing, the chilling (what a lot of patience this recipe calls for! :) and - at long last - the glorious eating!

Here is the recipe for Wisdom Vichyssoise! This soup is vegan.

WISDOM VICHYSSOISE 

Cold potato soup, warm heart, I always say! At least, I do now....:)

4 large russet potatoes, chopped (You can peel them. I like leaving the skins.)

1 large leek, chopped

4 green onions (green for the heart chakra), chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

3 tablespoons coconut oil for sauteing

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

A few shakes of powdered sage (for wisdom)

5 fennel seeds

1 cup vegetable broth

1 cup soy milk

2 cups water

sea salt to taste

black pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large soup pot, warm the coconut oil. Add and saute the garlic, leeks and 3 of the chopped green onions. Retain one green onion for garnish.

When the veggies are soft, add the liquid and the potatoes, along with a bit of sea salt for cooking. Add the thyme, sage and fennel.

Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring often. Make sure the potatoes are very soft.

Take off of heat and allow to cool for a bit, around 15 minutes. 

Puree the soup in small batches, using a blender or food processor. I use my food processor and I love it! I have also read of some people using hand-held blenders - I am sure this is also fine. 

Place the blended batches into a large bowl or pot. Add sea salt and black pepper to taste. Add a little extra liquid if necessary, and blend the pureed soup with a spoon before chilling.

Chill for at least an hour, probably more. Depends on how cold you want it. I couldn't wait too long to eat it! I enjoy instant gratification when it comes to healing foods! :)

Ladle the soup into your favorite bowl, garnish with chopped green onion, and....

ENJOY!

Astra

I'd love to hear of your heart wisdom experiences with this shamanic food.

You may contact me at thefoodshaman@gmail.com with your culinary creation news!

Potato Flower