Health Nutrient Rich Rainbow Bowl of Cheesy Comfort

Comfort food is always something we lean towards, regardless of what we are encountering in our lives. Recently, I have been craving salty and sweet bowls of warm and easy to eat comfort, without putting my heart and health at peril. This recipe can be done MANY ways, from the "cleaning out the fridge-kitchen sink" method, to a more planned one, to a thematic take on a culture and cuisine. I have eaten variations of this most days for the past week, and I have yet to grow tired of it (due to the variations one can incorporate).

I have tried this recipe with various cheeses (from fat free Kraft singles, laughing cow, cottage cheese, ricotta, Gruyere, Asiago, Gouda, cheddar, Parmesan, Romano, Havarti, and homemade Alfredo, feta, baker's cheese, to vegan takes on all the above) and they have all been amazing.

The essential aspect of this amazing meal comes from the variety of tastes and spices you add to it. I find that adding green onions to it (fresh) give it a distinct and Divine taste, while bell peppers and tomatoes provide color, sweetness, vitamins and Lycopene!

Regardless, this bowl ends up being a cornucopia of nutrients and comfort. From the anti-cancer properties of the cabbage/cauliflower/broccoli Rainbow Salad base, to the veggies and spices you choose to add. For a Middle Eastern take, I recommend adding Curry and lots of Turmeric (also potent antioxidant, anti cancer and anti bacterial/inflammatory benefits), cauliflower, goat cheese, and chick peas.

My favorite variation thus far have utilized green onions, tomatoes, orange and red bell peppers, Mann's Rainbow Salad (Broccolislaw can be used as a substitute), baby carrots, cauliflower,wax and green beans,  crisp romaine, Low Sodium Soy,hot sauce, and Kraft fat free singles in Cheddar/Mozzarella, and Shirataki noodles, whole wheat pasta, fresh linguine/fettuccine (brown rice/soba/quinoa pasta , and gluten free pasta all work well!), or Fiber Gourmet. The key is to douse the Rainbow Salad with either Walden Farms Asian/or theirBBQ or Soy Sauce, and microwave for approx 10min. Season with any spice you like (I used Johnny's Seasoning). In the meantime, chop up your veggies and drain/dry your shirataki noodles and any other add ins (for a Hawaiian take, add pineapple/papaya or Davinci SF Pineapple Syrup and for Mexican, add plum or Roma tomatoes, salsa, and crackers/tortilla's at the end- guiltless gourmet and especially falafel chips are great alternatives-SEE REVIEW ON FALAFEL CHIPS HERE). Next, add Shirataki noodles to the Rainbow Salad, seasoning, add marinade or dressing, baby carrots and microwave for another 5 or so minutes (until carrots are soft). Add as many slices of cheese as you want (I ripped about 4-5 up and made sure to distribute them throughout the bowl). Cottage cheese works great, as it will melt nicely and cover the items in the bowl. Microwave until cheese is either melted or bubbling.
Add fresh veggies to bowl and mix.

For Mexican add tortillas, salsa, lettuce, onions, ground turkey or veggie crumbles/tofu. You can also make your own tortilla chips by browning/crisping tortillas/wraps such as Mama Lupe's, La Tortilla, or any of the healthier Low Carb wraps or Flat out wraps/pitas/lavash out there. Feta, Garlic, Lemon, Tomatoes and Onions and Olives give it a great Greek spin, with Olive Oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano. Asian, add sweet peas, snap peas, baby corn, water chestnuts, mung beans, bok choy, onions and mushrooms.
Adding Squash/Zucchini, Garlic is fantastic as well. I always add GG Scandinavian Crisp Bread to my bowl, and douse the entire bowl with more Kikkoman Low Sodium Soy, and any dressing I feel like at the moment.

I then pour a bowl of my famous Salsa/Mustard dip, grab about 20 sheets of Nori Sushi Seaweed, which I then tear up into 4ths, and wrap the contents of the bowl in the Nori (like mini wraps). Delicious. Adding Mushrooms and Basil/Oregano are highly recommended!

Besides tasting like something out of a 5 star restaurant (souffled type flavor- even better when broiled in the oven if you have time), it is quick and easy to augment and prepare. This is a great way to get your veggies in, clean out your fridge and get some added nutrients and fiber into your diet. Above all, it is satisfying, warm, delicious and comforting! Perfect for winter or anytime!
I recommend serving and eating this from a huge glass bowl- the colors are beautiful!

Monday and Sunday recap

I started writing this Monday:

What started as a potentially nice day somehow got the best of me. Or I let it. I am really struggling friends. I don't know what it was, but TRY AS I MIGHT I could not find the stay power to turn things around. I ended up leaving work, avoiding uncomfortable conversation, majorly over-eating to the point I felt sick and feel overwhelmed. Where did this suddenly come from? I think I need sleep and a holiday. My friend is on his way to grab me to go to Planet Organic and maybe Iron Man 2. I don't really feel like seeing it NOW but need to get out.

Let's start from Sunday:

 I went to the T&T's to load up on SOY SAUCE and my Watson Shiritaki Noodles (20 noodles, 1 jug of lite soy) and also left with 2 packs of this awesome GRAPE AND HONEY MELON sugar free gum! I also got to cute kids stir spoons with Monkey's on them!

24 packs of Shirataki noodles.

Sugar Free Grape AND Honey Melon Gum

 

My Gum, monkey spoons all on a sheet of Nori. I'm classy like that!

I had to take a picture. Essence of Chicken? With Cordyceps. I use Cordyceps (mushroom for energy and stamina)... I found this so funny for some reason.

We made it to the 'wholesale place' to grab my radishes and I found this SUNSPUN huge tuna can funny. It looks SOO GHETTO!! Ocean's looks so nice as compared to their packaging.

Walmart was a FAIL- they had NO MANN'S produce packs at all. No Rainbow Coleslaw, Broccoli Slaw, Broccoli and Cauli etc. I got a White Board and found the LAST PACK OF THE NEW STRIDE MYSTERY GUM IN THE STORE!!! IT tastes like RAINBOW Sherbet!!!

After we went to Safeway, where I got more Crystal Light, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Bell Peppers, Tuna, Green Onions etc.

Last stop was Arirang (Korean Market) for Seaweed 100sheet packs and Community Natural Foods for MUSTARD!!!!! (YES I HAVE A SEVERE PROBLEM! ha ha)

This morning I had my first 'stress binge' in a LONG time. I realize it was 'only' Egg Cakes ( psyllium, egg whites, sweet and low, cinnamon and microwave for 1 min) but I literally went through a whole container of egg whites. I slathered them in Walden Farms Sugar Free Jam, and Walden Farms Pancake Syrup.

 This takes us to the top of this post *today.

We ended up x-naying Iron Man and went to Chapters' where I got my lap top upgraded to 1.215 GB, new virus protection and 3 books! I don't often talk about books on this blog but I am an AVID reader. I found a book I had on my wish list since I saw it reviewed on the Globe and Mail Saturday Edition a long time ago!! I happened to look down (totally forgot about the book!) and it was in clearance for $6.99 from $26.99 because it was hard cover (Novel About My Wife by Emily Perkins)! I also got the LAW OF ATTRACTION on CD, and Maarten J Troost's 'The Sex Lives Of Cannibal's" (it's not what you think- travel literature). YAY. I also did a quick Superstore run, where I grabbed a 4pack of Red Bell Peppers, THREE WALDEN FARMS CALORIE FREE STRAWBERRY JAMS AND 1 WALDEN FARMS CHOCOLATE DIP! I ALSO FINALLY GOT THE NEW SALSA!!

Not sure if you guys remember me whining about how I LOVE their new Extra Chunky President's Choice Salsa, but the NEW RECIPE (sans sugar) only came in the small jars. Every week I would check to see if the new ones were out in the JUGS (1.89L) but they kept replenishing the old ones. Monday they finally had BOTH (it wasn't there on Sunday!):

After that excitement we booked it to Costco to grab another pack of Celery!

These are the AMAZING spices/seasonings I was tell you guys about on Saturday. They are by Aromatica Organic's the new ones they added to Costco are (so far): Vegetable, Seafood, and Garlic Pepper!

I am getting the Vegetable Seasoning Next!

Very Exciting- I decided to grab the Grape Flavoured UnderWAY!

Mock me all you want- no I do not believe it will make me 'lose weight' nor am I convinced of the web sites founder's HERO FIBER. Check it out HERE. http://www.under-way.com/ What I like is that it tastes like a melted grape Popsicle- thick. It's thickened with Vegetable Glycerin and I admit it really helped hydrate me! It is not watery at all. REVIEW TO COME!

That concludes Monday. I did stop at Safeway and get 4 Mann's Broccoli Slaw's and 2 rain checks because they were out of stock and on sale for $0.99!!