Happy Corpus Christi!

We had a rare treat at Mass today - Panis Angelicus. Sadly, there was no procession, but maybe next year?

This is the last week before our CSA begins, so I decided to try out some new recipes before I'm finding ones that use just the veggies from the CSA. (Though I think I'm going to have to buy cucumbers at Wegmans. I've started a love-affair with cucumbers, and have discovered that I could drink Tzatziki Sauce with a side of feta cheese.)

Tonight it was Vegetable Coconut Stew, from Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint Quick & Easy Meals. We had a guest for dinner, and the stew disappeared between the three adults (along with grilled sirloin and gluten-free biscuits...the stew would not be enough alone, though in the notes it says if you want to add meat to it, saute it first then start adding the vegetables). It was kind of like a curry, without the curry. Totally delicious.

Vegetable Coconut Stew

Time in the Kitchen: 20 minutes

Servings: 4

• 1 large shallot, roughly chopped
• 1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and cut in half (I forgot to put this on my list, so I made it without)
• 2 tablespoons coocnut oil
• 1 large cucumber or several small cucumbers, peeled, seeded and sliced
• 1 small head of cauliflower, broken into florets
• 1 carrot, peeled and cut into rounds
• 2 cups green beans
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 13.5-ounce can coconut milk (about 1.5 cups)
• salt to taste
• 1/2 cup full fat Greek-style yogurt (optional, and I left it out since I didn't have any)

In a food processor, combine shallot, coconut flakes, garlic and jalapeno for about one minute until very finely shredded.

In a deep saucepan, warm coconut oil and add the shallot mixture to the pan. Saute several minutes.

Add cucumber, cauliflower, carrot, green beans, tomato, turmeric and cumin. Saute a minute or two then add coconut milk and bring to a rapid simmer. Cover and cook 8-10 minutes until vegetables are cooked, but still a bit crisp.

Add salt to taste. If using the yogurt, which will make the broth thick and creamy, stir in right before serving.

In case any one needs some dessert ideas, I'm salivating over this and this. If only I had the ingredients on hand. One of them is going on Saturday's shopping list for sure.

I can't believe that we have little more (or less!) than 10 weeks left before we get to meet this baby. The activity level in my belly gets absolutely ridiculous, occasionally keeping me up at night. It's so amazing that a small human can fit inside another human. Zach wants me to come to open lab sometime and see the stomach on one of the cadavers. He said it makes it that much harder to believe that a baby grows in there.

Love,

Jess