Featured Recipes

MORE EASY MCDOUGALL RECIPES

JOHN'S FAVORITE SLOW WHITE BEANS

I always make this in a slow cooker.  I put the unsoaked beans in the crockpot in the morning, add the water, turn the temperature dial to high and let them cook all day.  About 2 hours before we plan to eat, I add the seasoning mixture and then stir in the spinach about 5 minutes prior to scooping the beans into large bowls for eating, usually with a fresh loaf of whole grain bread.

Preparation Time:  5 minutes
Cooking Time:  8 hours
Servings:  4-6

2 cups dried cannellini beans 
6-7 cups water
½ to 1 tablespoon Kirkland Organic No-Salt Seasoning mix
10 ounces fresh baby spinach leaves

Place the beans and water in a large crockpot (slow cooker).  Turn the heat to high and let the beans cook for at least 8 hours.  Add the seasoning mixture about 2 hours before serving, if possible, otherwise stir in whenever you have a chance.  Add the whole spinach leaves about 5 minutes before serving, stir in well, cover and let soften slightly before serving the soup.
Kirkland Seasoning mixture is sold at Costco in the spice aisle.  It has a delicious combination of 21 organic spices and seasonings, without any added salt, that I use in a lot of my soups and stews.

LETTUCE & BEAN BOWL

A really fast and easy, but very filling, summer meal.  Change the beans and dressing used to vary the dish whenever you wish.

Preparation Time:  10 minutes (need cooked rice)
Cooking time:  none
Servings:  4

4 cups cooked brown rice (may be either hot or cold)
6 cups prepackaged lettuce greens
1 15-ounce can red beans, drained and rinsed
1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
½ to ¾ cup oil free dressing of your choice

To serve, place about 1 cup of the rice in a large bowl.  Layer about 1 ½ cups of the lettuce over the rice, then top with some of each kind of the beans.  Pour dressing over the top and mix well before eating.

QUICKEST PASTA EVER

This is a fast and easy way to have an easy and delicious pasta meal on your table in hardly any time at all.  Vary the sauces used to suit your family's tastes.

Preparation Time:  15 minutes
Cooking Time:  15 minutes
Servings:  3-4

8 ounces uncooked whole grain pasta of your choice
1  15-ounce can chopped diced tomatoes, flavored or fire roasted
½ cup medium salsa of your choice
½ cup mild salsa of your choice
Strips of fresh basil, if desired

Put a large pot of water on to boil.  Drop in the pasta and cook according to package directions.  Drain and set aside.

Combine the remaining ingredients in a saucepan and cook until heated through, about 3 minutes.  Combine the pasta and sauce together and serve at once.  Season with a few strips of fresh cut basil, if desired.

This may also be made with all mild salsa instead of half medium and half mild, or if you like things spicier, then use all medium or hot salsa instead of the mild.

BREAKFAST RICE

This is a great way to use up some of the leftover rice from your dinner last night.

Preparation Time:  5 minutes (need cooked rice)

Cooking Time:  1 minute
Servings:  1

1 cup cooked brown rice
3 dates
1/3 cup water
¾ whole banana

Heat the rice in a microwave until warm (or warm in a saucepan on the stovetop).  Stir and set aside.  Place the dates and water in a blender jar and process briefly.  Add the banana and process until smooth.  Pour over the warmed rice.  Note:  The Apple Creame recipe from below would also work well as a topping for this rice.

Recipe and Note from Rosalyn Kalmar

I wanted to tell you how much I am enjoying the simple, easy recipes in the recent newsletters.  

This morning I fixed the oatmeal-barley hot cereal.  I poured "apple creame" over it.  This is a simple recipe that I developed:

APPLE CREAME

1 cup non-dairy milk (I used soy)
1 small apple, with skin on (I used Gala)

Blend well together until smooth.  Serve over hot cereal.

It really tastes yummy and like it is a very rich, high-fat cream.  I add some vanilla to the creame or a touch of ground cinnamon to the cereal for delicious options.

BTW, I used another different technique to make the cereal rather than the microwave:  Put cereal and water in a pot at night.  Bring to boil.  Leave on stove overnight.  Then heat up the next morning.  I think I learned this from you a few years ago.  You do have a plan ahead a bit, but it is easy and quite tasty.

Mary says:  This sounded like such a delicious idea to me for a simple recipe topping for cereal that I wanted to share it with you.