I was up early today creating recipes. My main focus is to keep Bob and me and well-nourished…the perk is that I get to share with you what goes on our plates. Right now, my diet is focused on whole foods (as always): fresh greens, starches, no sugar, and no added fats. Little does Bob know, but that’s his dietary focus too, since I do all the cooking.  He will still snack on some nuts or fruits, but more and more he finds that he thoroughly enjoys all the creative dishes that I come up with.

Anyway, back to this morning…I was in the mood for a thick creamy sauce to drizzle pour (that’s more like it) over our steamed veggies. Truth be told, after taste-testing the sauce, I quickly found myself wanting to drop a straw in that blender carafe and just drink the stuff. In fact, just to be funny, I poured some in a jar, put a straw in it, and snapped a photo to send to a friend.  A savory smoothie? Why not? New trends are meant to be discovered.

To Be Noted

I want to point out a few things about this recipe. First off, it makes 5 cups, which may seem excessive, especially if you live alone or just have one other in the household. One benefit of making larger quantities of food is that you can enjoy it in many different ways throughout the week. I prefer this because it saves me time in the kitchen. If you can’t get past the idea that it makes 5 cups, reduce the measurements by half.

I struggled with what to name this recipe… a sauce or a gravy. We have traditional ideas as to what each description means to us. But frankly, this recipe can be used both ways.

How to Enjoy This Recipe

• While warming the sauce, fold in some spinach and cook until the spinach wilts, then toss it with spiralized noodles for a hearty meal. Click (here) to view 16 different root noodle options!
• Use it as a gravy over Mashed Potatoes and Chives or mashed cauliflower.
• Dip your steamed veggies into it or drizzle over the top.
• Spoon some over a bowl of brown rice or beans.

Make Every Bite Count

• If possible, cook the Northern beans from scratch. Click (here) to learn how. They will be more flavorful, have an increase in nutrients, and will be less expensive than canned beans.
• Steam the cauliflower rather than boiling it, to preserve the nutrients.
• When you sit down to enjoy your dinner, do not talk about stressful life events during this time…even if you are alone and are talking to yourself. When we talk about stressful things, it starts to mess with our digestion. If you find yourself doing it out of habit, stop, take a deep breath, and change the topic.

Ingredients

Yields 5 cups

• 1  (15 oz) can or 2 cups cooked Northern beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cups steamed cauliflower
• 1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk
• 3/4 cup diced white onion
• 2 large garlic heads, minced
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast