North Barrington mother-of-four, Cara Leopardo, is welcoming us into her kitchen this week for the latest in our Homemade with Heinen’s series featuring favorite family recipes prepared with love at homes throughout Barrington.
A certified yoga instructor, Cara publishes MindfulMommyAndMore.com, a website and instagram page she launched after lessons learned leading up to the birth of her youngest child. A 6-months pregnant, a common infection turned life-threatening for Cara. She says more mindful eating, yoga and lifestyle choices helped her recover after the high-risk pregnancy that nearly took her life.
Cara says she started feeling healthier and lost 74 pounds gained during pregnancy when she switched to a meat, dairy and gluten-free diet. She’s also seen positive behavioral changes in her children, who range in age from 2-13. Here’s one of her family’s favorite meals, Homemade with Heinen’s…
“Daddy’s Home” Bok Choy
by Cara Leopardo, Mindful Mommy & More
My husband travels several days a week for work so, when he is home, I really like to make our meal with our kids special. We plan our meals around him each week and keep track on our chalk board menu wall. To keep us further organized we pre-schedule all of our meals and groceries the week before as he builds his travel schedule.
One meal that is always on the menu for his evenings home is Bok Choy. A type of Chinese cabbage, Bok Choy has become increasing popular in recent years. I’d been wanting to try it for a while before I could find it organically. Thankfully, I stumbled upon it in this form at Heinen’s Grocery about 6 months ago!
After some trial and error I have finally perfected this awesome dish for my family. I exclusively cook vegetarian or vegan so were always on the hunt for new meals that meet our nutritional needs that my entire family will love. This has thankfully become a family favorite in our household and one of the most requested meals weekly.
The first time I made this I actually had several frozen pizzas in the oven in case it was a dud with the kids and my husband. To my surprise everyone (including me) wanted seconds! Since then I’ve learned to make one bunch per person. We always have enough for seconds and a serving or two for another meal for one of my kid’s lunches the next day or mine.
“Daddy’s Home” Bok Choy
Serves 6, Soy free Vegan & Vegetarian Bok Choy
INGREDIENTS
- 4 people (add one bunch of bok choy per additional person)
- 4 bok choy
- 2 sweet onions
- 2 red peppers
- 1 8oz container of sliced mushrooms
- 6-8 whole carrots
- 1 bunch of broccoli
- 2 tablespoons of garlic
- 1 package thin rice noodles (I enjoy Thai Kitchen “thin rice noodles”)
- Walnut Oil (perfect for cooking high heat items,I like La Tourangelle )
- Bragg liquid aminos (soy sauce replacement)
Preheat Pan to medium heat for entree & boil water for noodles
TIPS
- Carefully cut open the noodle package as they break easily and add into boiling water gently.
- When fully cooked, remove from water and gently run under cool water. Ready to serve immediately.
- If you cook noodles in advance they stick together easily so run under cool water to separate.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Soak entire bok choy in cool water, then remove and pat dry.
- Cut off the green portion from the white stem and set aside.
- Once all green is removed from stem chop the stem into bite sized portions and add to pre heated pan with garlic stirring occasionally.
- Rinse and chop all other ingredients into bite size pieces and use veggie peeler to just peel the carrots and keep separated.
- Add onions by layering evenly onto of the top of the bok choy while stirring evenly.
- Continue to add red peppers, broccoli, carrots and mushrooms by layering and stirring evenly.
- Once the mushrooms seem almost completely cooked add the balance of the leafy portion of the bok choy, coating the the leaves with a drizzle of oil.
- Continue to stir until soft and reduce heat to a simmer until cooked.
Pairs well with KIM CRAWFORD SAUVIGNON BLANC.
Entree lasts nicely for several days in fridge reheats well in toaster oven. Store noodles individually and rinse with cool water to separate.
To find more of Cara’s favorite family recipes and daily yoga poses, follow her updates at Instagram.com/MindfulMommyAndMore.
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Homemade meals with Heinen’s Grocery have never been easier because you can get cooking without even leaving your kitchen! Your favorite Heinen’s products online are just a click away now that Heinen’s has partnered with Instacart for a simple and truly time-saving solution — groceries ordered online and delivered to your door in three easy steps:
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Order Heinen’s fresh produce, meat, seafood, prepared foods and more from your local store, using your computer or mobile device. - Your Personal Shopper Does the Rest
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Your order will be delivered to your doorstep in as little as an hour or whenever you schedule it to be dropped off.
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Heinen’s Grocery is located at 500 N. Hough Street, between E. Main Street and Route 14 in Barrington, Illinois. They’re open 7 days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, visit Heinens.com.
