Conscious Kitchen

10/05/2025

Garlicky white bean mushroom spinach alfredo with my amazingly creamy alfredo sauce and sautéed spinach 🌱 It is hearty and amazingly delicious with some toasted sourdough, garlic bread 🥖or over pasta!

🌿 Ingredients
• 1 can (15 oz) white beans (cannellini or Great Northern), drained and rinsed
• 2 tbsp olive oil or vegan butter
• 4 – 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 ½ cups unsweetened plant milk (oat or almond work great)
• 2 tbsp nutritional yeast (for cheesy flavor)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp sea salt, more to taste
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• Optional: pinch of nutmeg or smoked paprika
• Optional: ¼ cup soaked cashews (for extra creaminess)

⸻

🍳 Instructions
1. Sauté the garlic
In a skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil or vegan butter. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant (about 1 minute).
2. Blend the sauce
In a blender, combine the sautéed garlic, white beans, plant milk, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Blend until completely smooth and creamy.
👉 Add soaked cashews if you want it extra rich.
3. Simmer to thicken
Pour the blended sauce back into the skillet. Warm over low heat, stirring frequently, until it thickens to your desired consistency (about 5 minutes). Adjust seasonings.
4. Serve
Toss with cooked pasta, steamed veggies, or pour over baked potatoes. Garnish with fresh parsley, black pepper, and a squeeze of lemon.

⸻

🧄 Tips & Variations
• Add spinach or broccoli florets for extra greens.
• Stir in vegan parmesan or a spoon of miso paste for deeper umami.
• Use as a base for vegan white lasagna or creamy mushroom pasta.

Would you like me to include a version with caramelized onions and herbs for a fall twist?
Comment Fall 🍁Below ⬇️

09/20/2025

Stirring up some soul-warming comfort today 🍲 This creamy white bean soup is hearty, nourishing, and the perfect way to welcome fall vibes into the kitchen. Simple ingredients, big flavor, and all the cozy feels in one bowl. Who else loves a good soup season moment? 🍂💛
Recipe in Comments!

09/08/2025

🍎 Fire Cider: An Old Remedy with Modern Magic 🌿✨

Did you know Fire Cider has roots in folk herbalism from the 1970s, when renowned herbalist Rosemary Gladstar first shared the recipe? 🌱 It’s a zesty, immune-boosting tonic made by infusing raw apple cider vinegar with powerful herbs, veggies, and spices.

🌶️ What’s Inside?
• Garlic & onion for natural antibacterial support
• Ginger & horseradish for circulation and congestion relief
• Hot peppers for a warming kick
• Citrus & herbs for antioxidants + vitamin C
• Apple cider vinegar to tie it all together

💪 Why it’s Amazing:
• Supports immune function (your natural shield 🛡️)
• Eases digestion and boosts gut health 🌿
• Warms the body and clears sinuses 🌬️
• Increases circulation & energy flow ⚡

✨ To use: Take a shot daily in cold/flu season, drizzle over salads, or mix into marinades for a flavorful health kick!

📸 Here’s my latest jar in the making—packed with fresh, vibrant ingredients and soon to be a powerful tonic after a few weeks of infusion.

🍋🌿 Fire Cider is more than a recipe—it’s a tradition, a community remedy, and a reminder that nature always has our back.

08/20/2025

✨🌿 Why I Grind My Own Spices 🌿✨

There’s something almost magical about using a mortar and pestle. When I grind my own spices, I’m not just cooking — I’m waking them up. 🌶️✨ The aromas burst to life, the oils release, and the flavors deepen in a way that pre-ground spices just can’t match.

Freshly ground cumin, coriander, or cardamom makes a dish feel alive. It’s warmer, bolder, and more nourishing — like the difference between listening to a live band and a recording. 🎶

For me, the mortar and pestle isn’t just a kitchen tool, it’s a ritual. It slows me down, connects me to the food, and reminds me that flavor and wellness start with intention.

If you’ve never tried grinding your own spices, give it a go — your taste buds (and your body) will thank you. 🌿💛

Do you grind your own spices, or do you stick with the pre-ground blends?

08/09/2025

03/21/2024

Growing your own food doesn’t have to be hard!
I took my old pumpkins from fall when they began to decompose and threw them in some pots with dirt….
TBH I actually forgot about them until a few days ago I walked by and saw these beauties 😏
Stay tuned, For some reason I am feeling that I will be abundant in squash, get your pie pans ready 😅

“A great teacher plants the seeds of greatness in the minds of future generations".

03/20/2024

If you are trying to step up your water game this one’s for you.
CILANTRO🧩

Antioxidants: Cilantro contains terpinene, quercetin, tocopherols, vitamins A, C, and K, and phytochemicals
Anti-inflammatory: Cilantro can reduce inflammation and slow the growth of cancer cells
Cardiovascular health: Cilantro can lower cholesterol and triglycerides, and balance blood pressure
Digestion: Cilantro can improve digestion
Skin health: Cilantro can absorb oil, and has antifungal, antioxidant, and antiseptic properties
Sleep: Cilantro can support restful sleep
Other health benefits: Cilantro can help with anemia, bone health, eye health, menstrual health, and energy levels

LEMON🧩

Improved digestion
Lemons contain fiber that can help with digestive health problems, and the acidity of lemon juice can also improve digestion and balance blood sugar levels.
Weight management
Lemons contain vitamin C and antioxidants that may aid in healthy digestion, and they also have diuretic effects that can help with bodily detoxification and fat burning.
Healthier skin
Lemons have anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties, and compounds in lemon can scavenge free radicals, reducing inflammation in skin and making it youthful.
Immunity
Lemons are high in vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the body against harmful pathogens.
Heart health
Lemons are a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants, and research suggests that these two nutrients are beneficial for heart health and help prevent heart diseases and stroke.
Hydration
Lemon water can help the body stay hydrated.

STRAWBERRIES 🧩

Immune system support
Strawberries contain vitamin C, which can help prevent and treat respiratory and systemic infections. Vitamin C can also reduce how long a cold lasts.
Heart health
Strawberries can improve blood antioxidant status, reduce inflammation, and improve vascular function.
Blood sugar regulation
Strawberries can prevent metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Brain power
Research suggests that eating strawberries protects your brain's processing powers as you age.
Weight loss
Strawberries are a good source of fiber and antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation and promote weight loss.

CUCUMBER 🧩

Hydration
Cucumbers are over 95% water, which helps replenish fluids in the body and prevent dehydration.
Fiber
Cucumbers provide dietary fiber, which helps with digestion and prevents constipation.
Bone health
Cucumbers are a good source of calcium, which helps keep bones strong and healthy.
Blood sugar regulation
Cucumbers are non-starchy, which can help satisfy cravings without raising blood glucose levels.
Skin
A face mask of grated cucumber can help act as an astringent for oily skin, and also cools it and hydrates it.
Other nutrients
Cucumbers are rich in essential nutrients such as vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin A. Vitamin K helps blood clot and keep bones healthy, while vitamin A helps with vision, the immune system, and reproduction.

01/27/2024

Did you know that Leeks, similar to a green onion….are versatile and can be prepared in many ways:

Cooked: Leeks can be boiled, braised, pureed, steamed, or fried. They can be sliced or diced and added to dishes. Leeks can also be roasted or grilled to add flavor.

Raw: Leeks can be eaten raw as a seasoning.
In soups and stews: Leeks can be used in stocks, soups, stews, and potato leek soup.
In salads: Leeks can be used in salads.
In pasta dishes: Leeks can be used in creamy mushroom and leek pasta. (DM if you want a recipe!)

In baking: Leeks can be used in galettes.
As a seasoning: Leeks can be used as a seasoning.

Leeks have a mild onion flavor and a unique texture with a slight crunch. They are milder than regular onions and can be used as a subtle substitute in most recipes.

When cooking leeks, it's best to use similarly sized leeks to ensure uniform cooking. Leeks should not be overcooked as they will become slippery and slimy.

09/06/2023

This one’s for my sister;

04/09/2023

That table Guac 🥑

03/20/2023

When life hands you lemons it’s time to detox

02/19/2023

What’s for brunch!