Maple Pecan Muffins -- now with Pea Protein and a more Audacious Attitude

ingredients:

1/4 cup coconut oil

2 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp ground vanilla bean
1 tsp ceylon cinnamon

1/4 cup ground chia seeds
2 tbsp arrowroot flour
1/4 cup pea protein flour

2 cups almond flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 - 1/2 cup coconut flour

1/2 cup pecans -- little pieces

pecan half to put on top of each one
coconut sugar to sprinkle on top of each one



directions:

1. combine ingrediens in the order listed
2. scoop into muffin cups
3. bake at 345 for 60 minutes

Bread -- bread with seeds -- gluten free, grain free, nut free,vegan, nutritional powerhouse

Hey, I make weird stuff. This. This is my favourite kind of bread right now. So good with a little apple butter or coconut oil on it. I've updated this by throwing in whole sunflower seeds. I love the texture this produces. I've been eating a piece of this for lunch everyday. Powerhouse. One thing I've noticed as I've gotten ... ahem ... older, is that there is certainly virtue in maintaining a higher protein intake. Thus the protein powder and seeds in this bread. Makes this 40+ vegan woman feel strong.

ingredients:

2 cups water
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup finely ground chia seeds
1/2 cup ground hemp hearts
2 tbsp arrowroot flour
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
4 tbsp carob powder
4 tbsp pea protein powder

1 cup pumpkin seed flour
1 cup sunflower seed flour
3/4 cup coconut flour
1 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup whole black chia seeds
1/2 cup whole sunflower seeds


directions:

1. combine the water and vinegar
2. add in the salt, chia, hemp, arrowroot, xanthan, carob, and pea protein, and either whisk or use a hand blender. Xanthan gum is a tricky bastard if you are not careful. Slimy and clumpy? Ick. Mix that sass-monster in.
3. Add the flours and baking soda, and mix with a spoon
4. Finally stir in your whole chia seeds, and your whole sunflower seeds
5. put into a loaf pan that has been lined with parchment
6. shape the loaf
7. bake at 345 for 90 minutes
8. dehydrate at 200 for 3 hours, removing from the pan after 1 hour

(I do 2 loaves at once so as not to run the oven for this long for just 1.)

345 for 90 minutes
200 for 180 minutes

Sunflower Seed and Raisin Muffins -- morning glory breakfast muffins?

Lunch-box, smunch-box. Yeah, you heard me. Smunch-box. As in: stuff it. Stuff it in your smunch-box. Which is exactly what I did with these little bites. Lunch box muffins that will energize your ankle biter. Pea protein, hemp hearts, chia seeds, and sunflower seeds give these muffins a powerful punch. Keep your energy up, and your blood sugar stable, and taste great. Tall order, but we filled it. So go ahead and stuff it in your smunch-box. You'll be glad you did.

3 cups water  (2 cups??)
1 cup coconut sugar

1/2 tsp sea salt
3 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger

1 cup finely ground hemp hearts
1/4 cup finely ground chia seeds

1 cup ground sunflower seeds
1/2 cup pea protein powder
1 tsp baking soda


1 cup raisins
1 cup whole sunflower seeds


directions:

1. preheat the oven to 345
2. combine the ingredients in the order listed
3. scoop the batter into prepared muffin cups
4. bake at 345 for 60 to 90 minutes
5. remove from muffin cups when cool

Spelt flour and Sunflower seed Bread

I got some lovely sprouted spelt flour. Actually, I don't know if it's lovely. It seems fine. The loaf turned out well. From all accounts, sprouted grains are better.  But hey, I'm taking someone's word for it. As far as I'm concerned, it may be true, but I haven't done enough research to know. I made this bread with pea protein and chia seeds, because I like to add magical powers to my bread. Magical powers like blood sugar stabilization and hunger quenching. And the sunflower seeds are just adorable in it. Gooooooooood bread.


Making this bread doesn't give me the same satisfaction as making sourdough ... but it whips together very quickly, and can be made with only a few hours to go. Sourdough requires a lot more work. It's practically a relationship.

This bread is missing the alchemical awesomeness of sourdough, and the heady rush of harnessing the powers of airborne wild-yeast, but it's very nice bread all the same.

ingredients:

1 1/2 cups water
3 tsp bread yeast

2 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup pea protein powder
1/4 cup ground white chia seeds

3 to 3 1/2 cups spelt flour

1 cup sunflower seeds, raw but not in the shell


directions:

1. combine the sea salt, pea protein, and chia seeds with the spelt flour and the sunflower seeds
2. add in the yeast and the water
3. turn on your mixer, using the kneading hook
4. or mix by hand! and then knead!! it's fun!!
5. add flour if the mixture is too wet
6. the texture should be elastic and clammy rather than sticky
7. form into a lovely loaf and plonk it into a parchment lined baking pan
8. allow to rise for a few hours in an oven with only the light on, whilst covered with a damp cloth
9. bake at 345 for 45 minutes

Warming Post-Hallowe'en Pumpkin Soup

I know you aren't supposed to do this, but I did anyway. I had two sweet little pumpkins from an organic farmer for our hallowe'en jack-o-lanterns.  The seeds had roasted up so delectably that I really wanted to try cooking the pumpkins once their seasonal duties were finished. We had used beeswax candles in them on the festive eve, and then I cooked them in the crockpot so that the long cooking time would act as purification. I don't advocate using your hallowe'en pumpkins for food as most websites seem to suggest this is unsafe food-practice. Plus the large pumpkins are not very delicious.

Well, this worked out well for us, and if you have some pie pumpkins that haven't been jack-o-lanterned, it would be swell.

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, finely diced

2 cups celery, finely chopped

8 to 10 cups pumpkin, skin cut off, cut into chunks (I had two small pumpkins (pie pumpkins) that I used)


1 tsp coriander
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp ceylon cinnamon
3 tsp sea salt


6 cups boiling water


1. in your crockpot, melt some coconut oil, and add in the diced onion and chopped celery
2. start peeling and chopping the pumpkins.
3. add in the pumpkin and then sprinkle with the spices and salt
4. add the boiling water
5. cook until soft, and then give a light puree with a hand blender
6. season to taste with salt and pepper.

Zephyr likes to add a little lemon juice, dulse, salt, and pepper to this when he eats it.
I like it just the way it is. Warming.

Broccoli and Chickpea Crockpot

This green and white concoction is savoury, thick, and utterly comforting. The peeps in my house adore both broccoli and chickpeas, so it's really easy to love this simple dish. The cauliflower and sweet potato aren't really very noticeable, although they do provide body, flavour, and nutrition. The theme of the concoction is definitely broccoli and chickpea. Once again, I mixed a little chickpea flour into the water I added to the crockpot, which thickened up wonderfully over the cook time. Simple, satisfying, and universally enjoyed.

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, finely diced
3 cups of chopped up cauliflower florets

3 cups cooked chickpeas
3 cup frozen green peas

1/2 cup diced celery

4 cups diced white sweet potato


3 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp marjoram

3 cups boiling water
1 cup water + 1/2 cup chickpea flour

500 g broccoli florets


directions:

1. melt the coconut oil in the bottom of the crockpot as it's heating, and then go about chopping.
2. add the onions
3. add the cauliflower florets
4. add the cooked chickpeas
5. add the green peas
6. add the diced celery, followed by the white sweet potato
7. on top of all this sprinkled the seasonings
8. add the 1 cup water and 1/2 cup chickpea flour mixture
9. pour on the rest of the water
10. cook on high for 4-6 hours depending on how well your crockpot does.
11. when it's all done cooking, add in your dismembered broccoli florets, and stir in. I used frozen ones that then didn't really need to be cooked ... if yours are fresh and raw, you might give them a little cook time in the crockpot after mixing in.
12. taste, and adjust salt and pepper if needed.

Chocolate muffins

ingredients:

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup date sugar

3 cups hot water

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup raw cacao
1/4 cup pea protein powder 

1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

3/4 tsp sea salt

2 tbsp arrowroot powder
1/2 tsp xanthan gum


1 cup hemp hemp hearts, ground

1/4 cup ground chia seeds

1 cup ground sunflower seeds (raw)
1 cup ground pumpkin seeds (raw)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup krisda chocolate chips

directions:

1. combine all ingredients except sunflower seed flour and baking soda, and then mix with a hand blender.

2. mix in the sunflower seed flour and the baking soda
3. mix in the krisda chocolate chips
4. scoop into 24 prepared muffin cups

5. bake at 345 for 60 minutes

makes 24 delicious small muffins

Chocolate Energy Balls V 2.0

So, these. If you love dark chocolate, these are kind of like candy. If you hate dark chocolate, they might taste like dirt to you. We adore them. Nut free, raw, and vegan. Oh, yeah!!

ingredients:

1 cup hemp hearts
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
2  cups shredded coconut

1/4 cup ground chia

3/4  cup raw cacao
1/2 tsp sea salt
1  tbsp ground vanilla

1 1/2 cups pitted honey dates -- picked through

1 or 2 tbsp vanilla extract or water

directions:

1. process hemp hearts, sunflower seeds, shredded coconut, ground chia, raw cacao, sea salt, and ground vanilla until perfectly reduced to dust.
2. add dates and pulse until combined well. Or until you lose your mind.
3. add vanilla and as little water as possible whilst running the processor until a thick dough forms.
4. let sit for a while
5. roll into balls, and roll the balls in shredded coconut. Or cacao if you prefer. I don't prefer. I like the coconut. Says obvious guy.

Date and Pecan Energy Balls

Do not make these for school. Make these for yourself, and hoard them in your freezer. Don't tell your husband they are there. I repeat: do not tell your husband they are there. My son said they taste like caramel. I've long held that date and pecan together have some kind of alchemy. Anyway, these don't taste like they are good for you. When you want a sweet bite after dinner or a little nibble to keep you going, these fit the bill.

2 cups shredded coconut
1/4 cup ground chia
1 cup hemp hearts
1 cup pecans

3/4 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp ground vanilla bean
1 tsp ceylon cinnamon

1 1/2 cup dates


1 tbsp vanilla extract
up to 1/4 cup water


1. process the coconut, ground chia, hemp hearts, and pecans with the sea salt, ground vanilla, and cinnamon.
2. then add the dates, and pulse until fully deconstructed
3. finally, process in the vanilla extract and as little water as you can to form a homogeneous dough
4. let it sit for a little while, then roll into balls, and roll the balls in shredded coconut.
5. store in the freezer.

Apple Muffins

I don't know if I should be embarrassed or proud that my new favourite ingredient has made its way into even these. Pea protein powder, people. Creamy, smooth, mellow, mild. It adds a certain longevity to the ingredients that keeps you going. And really, who doesn't like apples with spices? These are delicious. And vegan. And grain free. And gluten free. And nut free. Yes, I am magical.

ingredients:

1/4 cup coconut oil

3/4 coconut sugar
1/4 cup date sugar

3 cups hot water
1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup pea protein powder 

1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

3/4 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ceylon cinnamon
1 tsp korintje cinnamon
1 tsp ginger

2 tbsp arrowroot powder
1/2 tsp xanthan gum


1 cup hemp hemp hearts, ground

1/4 cup ground chia seeds

2 cups ground sunflower seeds

1/4 cup coconut flour
1 tsp baking soda


1 cup diced apple -- or a little more. I used 2 teeny royal galas.


directions:

1. preheat the oven
2. combine your ingredients in the order listed.
3. I like to use to a hand blender to properly combine every thing up to the sunflower seed flour.
4. Then add the sunflower seed flour, coconut flour, and baking soda.
5. Finally, the apples. Delightful, delicious apples.
6. scoop the batter as evenly as possible into 24 prepared muffin cups -- those silicone ones are fabulous, but use a little coconut oil to grease them if they haven't been used much before
7. bake at 345 for around 60 minutes. When they are resilient to a gentle poke you will know they are done.

A Power Snack -- the trail-mix cookies

A third version of our now favourite trail-mix cookies. Delicious. Good for you. Goooooooood for you. Vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, full of mother-nature's bounty. And definitely kid approved.

ingredients:

1 cup water
1 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup date sugar
1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

1/4 cup ground chia seeds
1/4 cup raw cacao
1/4 cup carob powder
1 cup ground up hemp hearts
1 cup sunflower seed flour
1/4 cup pea protein powder

1/4 cup coconut flour
1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup whole sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup organic raisins, picked through
1/2 cup krisda chocolate chips


directions:

1. preheat the oven to 345
2. combine the ingredients in the order listed
3. form balls of the dough, and place on a lined baking sheet (lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat)
4. flatten the balls with a fork dipped in water
5. bake at 345 for 20 minutes
6. will make 2 trays -- 3 to 4 dozen depending on size

Shape Cookies -- an excellent school snack

I'm always long on intention and short on time. That's why rolled shape cookies have been in abeyance these months and months and months. Sabbatical? Study abroad? World tour? Relegated to the dust-heap? None of the above. Anyway, my small human requested shape cookies, and this is the recipe I cam up with. Yes, pea protein powder again. Do not be affeared. It's so gentle on your stomach, and has a lovely flavour. Sort of mellow and nutty. Anyway, these are super yummy. I sent my son to rock climbing with a container of these which he shared amongst all the kids in his group. They were devoured with grunts of delights. Befitting, I imagine, the shape. We like these little piggy cutters. But we also did flowers. Make sure you roll 'em between 2 layers of parchment. Or on a silicone mat covered by a layer of parchment. Trust me. You won't be happy if you do it sans ...

ingredients:

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup date sugar
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup water


1 tbsp ground vanilla bean
1/2 tsp sea salt

1/4 cup ground chia seed


1/2 cup carob powder
1/2 cup raw cacao

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup sunflower seed flour

1/4 cup pea protein powder

1/4 cup coconut flour


directions:

1. mix the coconut oil with warm water, then add coconut sugar and vanilla
2. mix in the spices and then the ground chia, using a whisk if necessary
3. add the cinnamon, vanilla, and sea salt
4. mix in the carob and cacao
5. mix in the baking soda and sunflower seed flour
6. mix in the coconut flour
7. let sit for 10 minutes
8.
9. preheat the oven to 345
10. roll out the dough in 2 or 3 parts between two sheets of parchment
11. cut using your favourite cookie cutters
12. place on a lined baking sheet, and bake for 17 or 18 minutes at 345

makes about 1 1/2 or 2 trays of cookies, quantity depends on size of cookie cutters

October Crockpot -- a rich creamy vegan stew

With the sudden change in the weather it is truly autumn. Rainy, chilly, and grey. So, this. Not that I don't make crockpots in the summer. But this time, I really mean it.

The use of chickpea flour from our local Indian super market gives this a mellow creaminess and body that is quite delightful. I have become a raging chickpea flour aficionado. I adore it. Adore, I tell you. Anyway, these creamy delicious dish is awesomeness in a pot.

The onion, cabbage, and cauliflower melt away to nothing, so this stew is about the split chickpeas, the creamy broth, and the carrot medallions. Pretty!!

Every time my husband eats a bowl of this he declares it 'delicious'. That never gets old.

I will definitely use chickpea flour to make the broth again. Inspired!!

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, finely diced
3 cups green cabbage very finely chopped
2 cups channa dall, split chickpeas (I used raw, dried, well rinsed split chickpeas. If you don't wanna, you can use canned whole chickpeas. I'm okay with that.)

2 cups white cauliflower, crumbled and very finely chopped

4 carrots -- 3 yellow and 1 orange, narrow and cut into discs (I used what I had from the market)

1 tbsp cumin
3 tsp sea salt
1 cup water + 1/2 cup chickpea flour mixed together

6 cups water

Vegetable Soup

A light vegetable soup. Hearty enough to be comforting, but basically a light soup. Serviceable soup. Savoury and tasty, made with pedestrian ingredients. A last minute soup when I realized I had nothing for dinner. The indian split peas cook up lickety-split. Thank goodness for split peas and their fast cooking. I seem to have an addiction to cumin ... I most often use the crockpot, but here is a regular soup on the stove top. Yes, a last minute soup. Yummy!

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 cup diced onion

4 cups green cabbage, finely chopped
2  cup yellow indian split peas very well rinsed (dry, not cooked or canned) (toop dahl kori)
2 cups celery hearts

2 cups diced carrot

3 tsp sea salt (4 tsp)
2 tbsp marjoram
1 tbsp cumin

10 cups water


directions:

1. I like to start a cooking pot soup by sautéing some onion in coconut oil with a little sea salt. Give it that wonderful creamy sweet cooked onion base note.
2. The cabbage received a similar sauté treatment, letting it become all wonderfully translucent and delectable.
3. Then I added the rest of the ingredients, gave it a good stir and simmered for about 45 minutes.
4. At this point, the split peas were completely soft, so I judged the soup done and ready.
5. of course, soups like this taste even better the next day.

Next time I'll add the cumin when I add the onions, and give it a bit of a sauté, too.

Bread made with Pumpkin Seed Flour -- gluten free, grain free, vegan, yummy

Bread made with pumpkin seed flour, pea protein, chia seeds, hemp hearts, and coconut flour. Yes, I am crazy. But this tastes good!! It doesn't go stale, either. Not in the same way regular bread does. Anyway, here is my weird and irregular bread. But it works.

ingredients:

2 cups water
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup finely ground chia seeds
1/2 cup ground hemp hearts
2 tbsp arrowroot flour
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
4 tbsp carob powder
(4 tbsp pea protein powder)

2 cups pumpkin seed flour
3/4 cup coconut flour
1 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup whole black chia seeds


directions:

1. combine the water and vinegar
2. add in the salt, chia, hemp, arrowroot, xanthan, carob, and pea protein, and either whisk or use a hand blender. Xanthan gum is a tricky bastard if you are not careful. Slimy and clumpy? Ick. Mix that sass-monster in.
3. Add the flours and baking soda, and mix with a spoon
4. Finally stir in your whole chia seeds
5. put into a loaf pan that has been lined with parchment
6. shape the loaf
7. bake at 345 for 90 minutes
8. dehydrate at 200 for 3 hours, removing from the pan after 1 hour

(I do 2 loaves at once so as not to run the oven for this long for just 1.)

345 for 90 minutes
200 for 180 minutes

The Trail Mix Variation -- awesome school cookies -- vegan, sugar free, nut free, gluten free, grain free!!

In addition to a nut-free lunch, I need to pack 2 nut free snacks for my grade-one kiddo. These are a good kiddie snack because they are packed with natural, high-energy components. Because, you know, I'm still on my high horse about keeping kids away from processed foods. Don't get me started!! This time, for the cookies, I decided to throw in some pea protein powder for extra 'oomph' this time, and added more mix-ins. I think they are delicious, and my child has no trouble gobbling them down when he needs a quick nibble. No nuts means they are school-safe. No sugar means I'm happy. The krisda chocolate chips are stevia sweetened, and of course entirely optional.  The sunflower-seed-and-raisin variety are terrific in my opinion. This version, with the krisda chocolate chips, raisins, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and shredded coconut as mix-ins was really just because I can. But not, strictly speaking, necessary.

1 cup water
1 cup coconut sugar
1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp ground vanilla bean

1/4 cup ground chia seeds
1/4 cup raw cacao
1/4 cup carob powder
1 cup ground up hemp hearts
1 cup sunflower seed flour
1/4 cup pea protein powder

1/4 cup coconut flour
1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup whole sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1 cup organic raisins, picked through
1/2 cup krisda chocolate chips


directions:

1. preheat the oven to 345
2. combine the ingredients in the order listed
3. form balls of the dough, and place on a lined baking sheet (lined with parchment or a silicone baking mat)
4. flatten the balls with a fork dipped in water
5. bake at 345 for 20 minutes
6. will make 2 trays -- 3 to 4 dozen depending on size

simple cake -- nut free, sugar free, grain free, gluten free, simple vegan plain cake

Did you know you can fancy up a cake by sprinkling a little sugar on top? I like to use coconut sugar for this. It takes any plain cake an elevates it to kind of wonderful. Amazing!!

3 cups of water
1 cup coconut sugar

1 tsp sea salt

1 tbsp ground vanilla
1 tsp ceylon cinnamon (I went heaping this time)
1 tsp ginger

2 tbsp arrowroot flour

1/4 cup white chia seeds
1/2 cup hemp hearts

3 cups sunflower seed flour
1 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup coconut flour

a little coconut sugar to sprinkle on the top






directions:

preheat the oven to 345!

1.  combine the ingredients in the order listed.
2. divide into 2 square silicone pans, push it down with a rubber scrapper and smooth the top.
3. sprinkle with a  little coconut sugar
4. bake at 345 for 90 minutes
5. cool fully before removing from the pan

(I cut it into squares with a blunt stainless steel spatula so as not to score the silicone, and then lifted them out. Lovely!)

Sweet Potato and Chickpea with Coconut Milk

This is a mellow, savoury dish with notes of comforting sweetness. We have to keep spicing very light due to digestive issues in this household, but if you like more spice, this dish could certainly take it. I love the way cumin interacts with the other flavours in the dish, and the individual flavours all sing forth in a harmonious way. I reserve the lime juice to add to individual portions, but personally think it is most wonderfully balanced with this addition of acid. My husband and son have both declared it delicious, and Lumahai has even used the L word to describe his relationship with it. Then again, he does have a rather keen appreciation for the humble chickpea.

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 small onion, finely diced

3 cups green cabbage, very finely chopped

3 cups split channa (dry, uncooked, split chickpeas), well rinsed

4 cups diced asian sweet potatoes (I used white ones because they are wonderfully sweet)

3 tsp sea salt
1 tsp cumin

1 can coconut milk (or 1/2 cup coconut butter and 1 1/4 cups water)

6 cups boiling water

salt and pepper to taste
a couple tbsp lime juice


directions:

1. layer the ingredients in the crockpot in the order listed
2. cook for 6 hours
3. add salt and pepper and lime juice to taste after stirring

Lumahai's Carrot-Green Soup with a secret ingredient **

My six year old thought we should reserve all the carrot tops from the bunches we bought today and create a soup out of it. I suggested that pureed soup, thick and creamy, might work. He recommended we start with an onion. I suggested the leafy bits of celery hearts we have would add a nice dimension to the soup, and added that I thought perhaps some of our green cabbage, white sweet potatoes, and split indian yellow peas would give us the body and creaminess we wanted, while giving us enough sweetness to offset the bitterness of the carrot greens in a pleasing way.

This is what we came up with, together. I adore cooking with my son. I adore cooking. This was grand. I love his recipe ideas!!

I taught him the correct way to hold and use a gigantic chef's knife shortly after he turned six and I figured his hands were both big and strong enough to start handling this instrument under supervision. (I've also taught him out to cut bread with a bread knife.)

Today, he did most of the chopping of and adding of the ingredients to the pot.

Anyway, I think this soup is delicious, and I love the flavour. Cumin and carrot greens -- who knew??

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 large cooking onion, diced (yellow kind)

2 cups chopped green cabbage

1 1/2 cups chopped celery
1 cup split yellow indian peas, very well rinsed
2 cups diced sweet potato

3 tsp sea salt
2 tsp cumin

10 cups boiling water

black pepper


3 cups carrot-greens, washed and chopped (mostly the frondly bits, removing the toughest parts of the stems)

2 tbsp marjoram


directions:

1. saute/sweat/cook down the cabbage and the onion with some of the sea salt -- we let ours get a tiny bit brown, to be honest -- 5 or 10 minutes, not long
2. layer in the celery, split peas, sweet potato
3. sprinkle on the salt and cumin
4. pour on the water
5. cover and let simmer for 40 minutes
6. add the carrot greens
7. simmer for 5 minutes
8. take off the heat
9. puree with a hand blender, and add salt and pepper to taste

** we found a wild carrot in our garden, and added the carrot, sans greens, whole to the pot to simmer for the  cooking time, and then removed before pureeing