Here are a couple of great recipes for the winter.  The soup is just an awesome nourishing meal alone or as a side dish.  The BBQ sauce has become one of our staples.  My husband loves it more than any bottle brand at the grocery store.  It's amazing over some shredded pork.  Enjoy!

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CARROT, TOMATO & COCONUT SOUP

Prep 20 mins. Cooking 20 mins. Servings 4-6

Notes: If you don’t have an immersion blender, just put the soup in your regular blender in batches.  It takes a little bit more effort, but will still yield great results.

INGREDIENTS

·         1 T Cold pressed coconut or olive oil

·         1 onion, chopped

·         2 garlic cloves, pressed or chopped

·         1 t ground turmeric

·         10 medium sized carrots, sliced

·         5 fresh plum tomatoes, chopped

·         Water, enough to cover

·         Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

·         1 can full fat coconut milk

INSTRUCTIONS

1.       Heat oil in a pot.  Add onions, garlic, and turmeric, and saute until soft and fragrant.

2.       Add carrots and tomatoes, and cook for a minute or so while stirring.

3.       Add water, sea salt and pepper, cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes until carrots are tender.

4.       When soup is ready, use and immersion blender to puree until smooth.   

5.       Stir in the coconut milk and adjust the flavors with more salt and pepper if needed.

Recipe courtesy of: www.greenkitchenstories.com

Sugar Free BBQ Sauce

Makes about 1 cup of sauce

1 C Tomato Sauce (make sure to pick a brand that doesn’t have added sugar)

1/3 C unsweetened apple sauce

2 T cider vinegar

2 T coconut aminos

1 T dijon mustard

1 tsp hot pepper sauce

¼ t. black pepper

½ T clarified butter (ghee) or coconut oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 t. chili powder

½ t. paprika

Pinch of cloves

1.       In a medium bowl, whisk the tomato sauce, apple sauce, vinegar, coconut aminos, mustard, hot-pepper sauce, and black pepper until combined.

2.       Heat the clarified butter or coconut oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, then add the garlic, chili powder, paprika, and cloves, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

3.       Whisk in the sauce and bring to a boil.  Simmer gently uncovered, 25-30 minutes, until the sauce is thickened and flavorful. 

4.       Cool to room temperature before using and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.  Can also be frozen and thawed in fridge.

Recipe courtesy of: “It Starts With Food” by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig