When I go to Trader Joe's I buy their PERFECT Belgian Endive

Yes, each trip we make to Atlanta for stocking up on healthy food items, I do come home with Trader Joe's PERFECT Belgian Endive.

They sell them packages with 3—one Red and two White.

Perfect for a healthy salad for two!

Don't forget to take the BITTER core out with a pointed knife!

Next I slice them in half...

Slicing them up like this...

Usually I prepare the dressing from some Trader Joe's mayonaise, some Chia seeds and also add some white Modena vinegar from Trader Joe's.

Very simple and healthy!

Chia Seeds are great for 

Combat Diabetes

Get More Fibre

Stock Up On Omega–3

Stronger Teeth And Bones

Don't Forget Manganese

Plenty Of Phosphorus

Pack In The Protein

Fight Belly Fat

Get Full Faster

Improve Heart Health

Chia Seed Benefits: 10 Reasons To Add Chia To Your Diet (link from above 10)

So are you using CHIA already?

Related link:

Dad Grew Perfect WITLOF or Belgian Endive | previous post by me

Blink TV Australia used our Marl Cave Mushroom Growing Image in Guillaume's Paris Episode 9 | previous post by me also showing Belgian endive being grown

Spicy Coconut Split Pea Soup

 When the evenings are getting cooler, it is wholesome to have a spicy, hot soup.

This time I share with you a Spicy Coconut Split Pea Soup

Easy to make and so yummy when served with corn tortilla chips on the side...

Served in our Pillivuyt from France ←(click link) soup bowl and eaten with a silver Alvin Bridal Rose soup spoon.

I've also used our linen with roses French Le Jacquard Français placemats.

This one I made with Trader Joe's Coconut Cream instead of Coconut Milk

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Ingredients:

454 g dried split peas

3 cloves garlic, chopped

5 cups light tasting vegetable broth (used the low sodium from Trader Joe's)

2 teaspoons of spicy curry powder

½ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning (will also mention how to make your own!)

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 14–oz can coconut milk or cream if you desire

About 6 jalapeño peppers chopped

Instructions:

Place the rinsed split peas in a heavy bottom soup pot and just cover them with boiling water.

Let them soak for one hour, on the lowest setting—drain.

Place the soaked peas back into the soup pot and add the chopped garlic, broth, curry, Old Bay Seasoning and cayenne pepper. 

Bring the liquid to a gentle simmer and cook till the peas are soft—about one hour.

Stir in the coconut milk or cream and gently heat through and also add the jalapeños.

Serve in a shallow heated bowl and ENJOY

How to Make Old Bay Seasoning ←click link

1 tablespoon Celery Salt

2 teaspoons Ground Bay Leaves

2 teaspoons Smoked Paprika

1½ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper

1 teaspoon Ground Mustard

¼ teaspoon Allspice

¼ teaspoon Cayenne

1 pinch of Ground Cinnamon

1 pinch Ground Nutmeg

1 pinch Ground Ginger

Actually I've made my own and keep it in a little container—handy and ready to be used.

ENJOY!

Healthy 98% Lean Turkey Meatball Soup

 As stated before, for both of us, Pieter due to his heart condition and for me due to my Chronic Kidney Disease, preparing our own meals is important to avoid high sodium intake.

ALL prepared foods from the supermarket (for baking or finishing at home!) are loaded with high sodium.

Any processed food is also way too high in sodium.

Another issue is the high cholesterol and for me, avoiding to eat high–protein foods, like: red meat, dairy products and eggs makes it often challenging.

Healthy 98% Lean Turkey Meatball Soup for Supper...

Served in Pillivuyt plate and eaten with Bridal Rose (Sterling, 1903 ) by Alvin soup spoon.

At Whole Foods Market I got this 98% lean ground turkey breast—454 g or 1 pound

Adding one egg to the ground turkey breast meat, spices such as dried celery or no salt seasoning and then bread crumps or Panko. 

With your hands you kneed it through and you will notice when it becomes perfect, when it all is adhering well.

Next you roll balls and set aside.

The ONLY real low sodium (5%) soup we use is from Trader Joe's

For this soup, to serve 8 portions, I use two packs of 1 quart or almost 1 liter each.

Also love to grab Trader Joe's MIREPOIX chopped vegetable mix, a blend of carrots, onions & celery.

Also about 1 pound total and of course, you can make your own!

Then I add two hand–fulls of Italian Pearled Farro

Farro is a hearty whole wheat grain with a firm texture and delicious nutty flavor.

I've been using it for years now, instead of any pasta type things.

Make sure to stir the bottom of your soup pan as it LOVES to stick to the bottom...

When it boils, you add the meat balls and cook till they are done.

You have a quick and easy supper this way and it serves 8.

Did roll 23 balls out of my pound of ground turkey breast and this is my two–ball portion and Pieter gets his three–ball portion since he's not restricted in high–protein.

With ONLY one egg used for 23 balls, I'm not worried about my high–protein intake there.

We never can cut out something entirely from our diet.

Do you love to eat soup for supper?

Related link:

HEALTHY HEART recipe for CREAMED MUSHROOM SOUP | previous post by me

HEALTHY HEART recipe for CREAMED MUSHROOM SOUP

 For both of us it is a MUST to prepare our own meals.

So here I love to share with you a Healthy Heart Recipe.

Also for Chronic Kidney Disease where Low Sodium Food is KEY!

CREAMED MUSHROOM SOUP...

Any time I see some great quality mushrooms at Costco, I grab them for using in our kitchen.

These were Baby Bella, 680 g or 24 oz.

For Mushroom Quality Criteria:

{What YOU should LOOK for when Buying Fresh Mushrooms} ←click link to my previous post.

~

Pieter had found at Walmart Supercenter, Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Low Sodium Soup and than it disappeared...

So we contacted Campbell's Soup.

It was already on April 19, of this year, that we got a courteous email reply from Mr. Alex Jablokov, Manager, Sales Operations—Campbell's Foodservice.

We even got a direct link to Amazon for: Campbell's Classic Low Sodium Ready to Serve Cream of Mushroom Soup, 7.25 Oz, Pack of 24 ←click it.

INGREDIENTS:

24 oz of fresh baby bella, cleaned and sliced

1 bunch of chopped green onions

4–7.25 oz cans of low sodium cream of mushroom 

1–14 oz can of coconut milk

3 teaspoons of spicy curry

2 teaspoons of turmeric

pepper to taste

2 tablespoons of butter

Sauté green onions in 2 tablespoons of butter, add sliced ​​mushrooms and spices

Simmer for 5 minutes. Add coconut milk and 4 cans of Cream of Mushroom Low Sodium Soup, let heat through and SERVE...

Made this soup on June 30, after coming back from my solo trip to Europe and I used the double yellow Kalanchoe plant as a quick accent.

The yellow goes well with the soup due to the use of Spicy Curry powder and Turmeric.

Served in our French Pillivuyt soup cups with the Bridal Rose (Sterling, 1903 ) by Alvin soup spoon.

ENJOY!

Driving from Tennessee through Mississippi and Alabama home to Georgia

Our final stretch home, from this 11–day journey by car to the West.

On Interstate 22 East Byhalia, Mississippi and look at the perfect weather!

We veer off towards Holly Springs and Tupelo, Mississippi

Rolling Truck Stop & Cafe near Flatwood and Carbon Hill, Alabama on Interstate 22

Chevron in Nauvoo, Alabama

Pieter napping in Cordova, Alabama

Interstate 20 East Birmingham – Fountain Heights

Center right is the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Birmingham and made me think of Uncle Bo Whaley who worked as an FBI agent for 20 years...

We pretty soon got to change our watches again, one hour later!

Around 16:30 I was in Atlanta, Georgia veering off of Interstate 20 onto Interstate 75 South...

We both needed a human pit stop and with that we always filled up our car.

This was at Shell Oil in Jackson, Georgia

Just have to rave about these healthy snacks from Costco.

Pains au Chocolat

Product of France

No artificial colors

No artificial flavors

No high fructose corn syrup

NO GMO

European bakery items are by far not as sweet as American and this is so important for me with diabetes type 2 and CKD stage 4.

Felt great during the entire trip and we both didn't change weight.

Often the high sugar level goes hand in hand with high sodium; a no–no for both of us, also for Pieter since his heart attack and open–heart surgery on September 3, 2010.

On July 16, I started driving with the mileage on 13,633 

Home by 19:17 and the total mileage was now 18,602

My total mileage 4,969 mi or 7,996.83 km

Fuel Economy for our Infiniti QX50 was 28.9 MPG 

28.9 U.S. Mile Per Gallon =

12.29 Kilometers per Liter

Total trip and 8 dots for where we spent the night(s).

We passed through 16 states:

1. Georgia
2. Tennessee
3. Kentucky
4. Illinois
5. Missouri
6. Iowa
7. Nebraska
8. South Dakota
9. Wyoming
10. Colorado
11. New Mexico
12. Texas
13. Oklahoma
14. Arkansas
15. Mississippi
16. Alabama

Our car had its oil change and rotating of wheels done a couple of days later.

Having the appointment with Infiniti, we opted for a stay at Hyatt Regency Suites in Marietta and enjoy a swim... 

But our good luck with perfect weather seemed to be OVER with, as it RAINED!

This was next morning from our room, Atlanta skyline in the distance.

To the left is our loyal Infiniti QX50 parked, after the check up.

LOVED driving this car, perfect in the mountains and not a single issue with it. 

Hope you enjoyed traveling along and maybe learned something for not putting off things, before you will regret it.

Shared memories with your spouse are always double joy!

Enjoy one final 2 minute Relive video: