Cooking with Celinda

Yá’át’ééh (Hello) Friends,

Health and wellness is important to our lives which are blessings. I encourage us all to develop a healthier lifestyle with the food intake we eat and the exercise we do. Studies show that when we exercise and eat right, we have more energy, think more clearly, deal better with stress and achieve more satisfaction in work and life.

Though Native people were once strong and physically healthy, we now face many chronic health problems. But, we can educate ourselves and live better. With the New Year, I’d like to challenge us to live healthier by making two simple changes:

Cut the fast food

Prepare your food at home. Unprocessed foods are healthier and making it ourselves gives us control over what we and our families eat.

Add daily exercise

Designate a time daily to move for at least 15 minutes such as walking, stretching, swimming, chair volleyball, tai chi or yoga.

If you miss a day, no worries. Get back on track and keep going. I am excited to be here and to encourage you all to start and maintain a path of a healthy life. To help you get started, I am sharing two recipes you can make at home. Enjoy!

Turkey & Rice Soup

INGREDIENTS

6-7 cups of chicken broth

2 cups turkey or chicken

1 large onion, diced

2 large carrots, peeled and coined

2 large celery ribs, sliced into half-moons

2 cloves garlic, minced

¼ cup uncooked wild or brown rice

3 thyme stems

1 bouillon cube

Juice & zest of one lemon

Handful of fresh parsley stems

Salt & pepper to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Simmer veggies, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper with olive oil in a covered sauce pot and over medium heat. Let them sweat for about 5-10 minutes.

2. Add chicken broth.

3. Once bubbling the soup is bubbling, add turkey and fresh parsley.

4. Add rice and continue simmering about 20 minutes until rice is cooked.

5. Add bouillon cube and lemon juice and zest.

6. Pour yourself a hearty bowl and enjoy!

Chocolate Cuites

INGREDIENTS

5 mandarin oranges, peeled and divide into segments

1/4 cup melted semisweet chocolate chips

1 tsp. coconut oil

Flaky sea salt, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Stir together melted chocolate and coconut oil.

2. Dip each segment into melted chocolate and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.

3. Garnish with flaky sea salt.

4. Refrigerate until firm, 20 minutes.

5. Serve.