Recipe: Roasted Yam & Edamame Salad

Happy Monday everyone! I hope everyone had a great few days! We just wrapped up a super weekend filled with kids parties and an end to an entire (wonderfully bizarre) week of parrot sitting. Yes, you did read that right! For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you may have seen little Ella perched on my tea-cup or nestled inside my shirt – she belongs to great friends who were vacationing in Mexico and we had a lovely time together indeed 🙂

Today’s recipe comes courtesy of one of my favorite ways to create recipes – using color as my inspiration. I can often be found daydreaming about new ideas, whether for the garden, for an outfit, or most likely scheming up a new food combination based on colors that go beautifully together.

With this time of year being what it is, and the darkness that fills our mornings & evenings, a little pop of color in your salad bowl is a wonderful way to bring a smile to your face and a beautiful vision to your eyes. You know what they say about first impressions right? Well this dish aims to please with its bright pop of orange & green right up front.

The Less:

Less processed soy bean products means protein that is sincere in its simplicity. Fewer processed foods (even plant-based) means less work for the body to break down. Less heavy grain-based meals means you can lighten up safely, with loads of colorful vegetables & fiber.

The More:

More fresh green edamame means more soy protein in its purest state. More bright orange veggies means more beta-carotene for your eyes and immune system. More high fiber & protein combos means clean, healthy fuel without heaviness. So lightness comes to you with out a heavy cost.

Roasted Yam & Edamame Salad:

• (1) extra large orange yam, or 2 small, peeled & chopped (4 cups chopped)
• (2) tbsp olive oil for roasting
• (1/2) tsp sea salt
• (1.5) cups shelled edamame (fresh soybeans found in the freezer section)
• (2) stalks celery hearts, or 1 large stalk of celery, minced
• (2) green onions, minced
• (1/4) cup cilantro, minced
• (1/2) tsp salt, or to taste
• (1/4) cup marinated kale vinaigrette dressing

Heat your oven to 400 degrees and lightly oil a flat baking tray. Prepare the sweet potatoes by peeling & chopping into a 1-2 inch dice. Toss with olive oil & salt for roasting, and put in the pre-heated oven. Bake for 20 minutes, and then flip them to prevent sticking and promote even roasting & browning. After tossing, roast for a further 15-20 minutes, until soft & browned. Remove from heat and add to a mixing bowl.

While the yams cook, put up the frozen edamame in a small saucepan with enough cold water to cover. Bring the water to a boil, and once boiling, turn the heat down to medium high and cook, covered for 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and drain.

While the beans cool & the yams cook, prepare the celery, green onions & cilantro and set aside. Prepare the dressing in your blender & set aside (this recipe will make enough for a batch or two of marinated kale so be sure to pick up a few bunches of green kale too!).

Once the yams are cooked, allow them to cool for 3-4 minutes before adding 2 tablespoons of the dressing to them while still warm (but not hot). Toss very gently to incorporate and coat the warm yams. After a few minutes, combine all of the ingredients, using less or more dressing as desired. Season to taste with salt & pepper and serve right away.

Serve this dish on its own with a bed of fresh greens, or keep it in the fridge to toss with warm grains such as brown rice or quinoa. Full of protein, natural carbs from the yams, as well as vitamins & minerals, this dish is one stop shop for great nutrition and clean sustenance. I also recommend mixing leftovers into your marinated kale – a great combo as well and this dressing is a classic with the lemon & fresh ginger.

Now that we are half way through this first month of the year, how is everyone feeling about the year so far? I just wrapped up reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and highly recommend it for anyone looking for encouragement on finding day-to-day happiness.

As for me, I’ve been plugging away at the ‘little things’ and feel encouraged at getting (just a little) done each day. Life is always a journey, and never really a destination after all 😉

• Are you a fresh soybean (edamame) fan?
• How do you dream up your recipes? What inspires your food choices?

Hint: my youngest daughter loves them plain, with a sprinkle of crushed sea salt. Sometimes simple really is best!  More news on the blog move coming up soon – thanks for all the support guys!

Yours in Less,

A Letter to Readers & An Upcoming Move

Dearest IPOM readers! I mentioned a few posts back that I am a big fan of the New Year, and with it all the promise each new opportunity/moment offers us in life. There should always be time to dream, and to plan the life we want, like we (maybe) used to do when we were kids.

The amazing part about being a grown up is we actually get to pursue those things we want, which is maybe a big part of why I always wanted to grow up so fast when I was young. But honestly, how awesome is that?  We are really only as limited as we think we are (IMO). My favorite quote of all time is by Goethe, “Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it.”

I was thrilled to read your comments affirming that many of you have a similar reverence for embracing the opportunity for positive change, whether it be at the beginning of a New Year or anytime, and as usual my heart balloons when I read your wonderful comments and well wishes.

As part of the evolution of this process, I will be moving this blog to a new host in the coming week or so, and want to invite you all to (hopefully – with both fingers crossed!) continue to follow me there. Not much will be changing, but you might see a slightly more streamlined site, as I prepare to further my mission of embracing less to find more.

More substance, and a whole lot more of what matters, including continuing to share with all of you, the readers of this blog. I am super excited to move forward and want to thank you all in advance as IPOM ventures forward, and grows up maybe (just a little).

Re-subscribing to the blog will be incredibly simple, and a follow by email option will be easy and accessible. The major change for many of you is that my posts will no longer appear in WordPress reader for those of you who follow me there. Those of you who already subscribe by email will not be affected at all.

Every young girl has dreams – and hopefully they stay with her even when she gets big. Thank you for all of the inspiration & encouragement this past year! I am so looking forward to the coming months of wonderful food and hope we can continue to share stories & inspire each other in the months (and years) to come.

• What changes are you implementing this year, if any?
• Got any dreams you’d like to share?

Thank you to all who have played a part in the coming together of this project, and again to all of you for sharing your hearts and your stories with us 🙂 Next up, we’ve got a sweet new recipe or two, so get ready for something delicious!

Yours in Less,

Recipe: Healing Fresh Ginger Tea

Happy New Year everyone! It’s been one of those weeks full of craziness over here as the kids have been home from school and a few girls and I were preparing to throw a baby shower for our favorite person in the world.

Yesterday we gathered 20 girls together to wish our beloved best friend well in her motherhood journey. There really is something very special about spending time with a close group of inspirational women, and it is something that as I get older I have wanted to do more. It’s okay to be real, and to get real in those situations, and yesterday we were (roller coaster of wild emotions and all). Thanks ladies, my heart is full today and I can’t wait to see what’s next! 🙂

Given the time of year, today’s recipe is all about warmth, digestion, and healing. This age-old remedy for good health has been around for ages, and for good reason. When we were kids, this was what we were given when sick, livened up with fresh lemon juice, cayenne pepper & honey. Ginger is spicy & warming and does wonders for settling a tired tummy that could use a little rest from perhaps (just a little) holiday over eating.

I’ve been nursing a pot of this on the stove for a few days now and have to thank a friend for reminding me just how amazing this drink is…so thankful. Between this and the high from being around so many cool ladies yesterday – I think I’m set for a great week to come!

The Less:

Less burden on the tummy means it can feel nourished with little food. Fewer bagged teas means less cost, waste, and more freshness. Less caffeinated & sugary drinks means health is just a cup away, so warming up & wellness come together at less cost.

The More:

More spicy, healing ginger means more warmth & aid to your guts. More aid to your guts means happy tummies all the time. More fresh ways to warm up means less reason to seek them outside, so keeping a pot on the stove makes sense all year round.

Healing Fresh Ginger Tea:

• (2) large pieces of fresh ginger, peeled, and cut into thumb sized pieces
• (6-8) cups fresh water for boiling
• Optional additions: fresh mint in summer, a cinnamon stick in winter, honey, fresh lemon juice, cayenne powder

Clean up your ginger and slice it into small thumb sized pieces. Combine the ginger in a medium sauce pan and fill with 6-8 cups of fresh water. Bring the water to a boil, and turn the heat down to medium and simmer the mixture at a gentle rolling boil for 20-30 minutes.

For cinnamon ginger tea, add a half or a whole cinnamon stick to the pot in the beginning. For mint ginger tea, add fresh mint to the pot for 5 minutes at the end.

Once ready, ladle into warm tea cups and add fresh lemon juice or honey, or both. To help ward off a cold, add a pinch or two of cayenne pepper to each cup. Enjoy by the fire with your favorite book or magazine (not required but highly recommended).

You can keep this going by adding more water to the ginger as you run low and re-boiling again. Simply leave the pot on the stove and add water and re-heat as desired. It really is the never ending ginger tea!

Wishing you all a wonderful, healthy, and feel good week – I am so excited for this year I can’t even tell you. Well, maybe I could 😉

• Are you taking any measures to restore well-being after holiday over indulgences? If so, what are they?

I’d love to know..for now I am off to make a green smoothie…

Yours in less,