I’m a couple weeks out from my due date, got this book
The First 40 Days on a whim and it has been great. I highly recommend this book for every pregnant woman, especially if she doesn’t have an immigrant background that teaches these things or a supportive family. The better you take care of yourself postpartum, the healthier you’ll be in future pregnancies and post menopause, and I wish I had this from the beginning. There’s a little froo froo and cheesy new age stuff here and there, but take the best and leave the rest.
These recipes are designed to be economical, simple, nutrient-dense, and customizable. I’ve made 3 of them so far and they are so good, even kids ate everything.
Liver & Greens
•3 organic chicken livers, sliced into strips (about ½ cup/115 g)
•3 tablespoons cooking oil (avocado oil, coconut oil, or animal fat)
•¼ of a white or yellow onion, thinly sliced ½ red pepper, seeds removed, thinly sliced 3 long, thin slices of peeled, fresh ginger (each about 2 inches/5 cm long)
•2 tablespoons sov sauce, tamari, or Bragg
Liquid Aminos
•1 tablespoon sesame oil
•2 loosely packed cups (40 g) organic baby spinach
Gently rinse the chicken livers under cold water and pat dry with a paper towel, Set aside on a plate.
In a hot pan, heat the cooking oil over high heat. When the oil is smoking a bit, add the onions and red pepper and sauté for 8 to 10 minutes, until the onions are golden brown. Add the ginger and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes, then add the livers, soy sauce, and sesame oil, and cook until the livers are barely brown. They will cook fast in less than 5 minutes), so stir frequently and keep a close watch. Add the spinach and turn off the heat, covering the pan with a lid so it wilts, 3 to 5 minutes.
This dish is best eaten right when cooked, so serve immediately.
Notes:
-calls for 3 chicken livers, I used “Force of Nature Ground Chicken Ancestral Blend” which is a mix of meat and organs and used 1 whole red pepper and 1 whole onion.
-use an organic white rice, preferably grown in California.
Brown rice is so high in arsenic and so is white rice grown in certain regions. Wash rice until water runs clear to remove most of the remaining arsenic. I use Lundberg Jasmine; American grown Basmati or sushi rice works too.
-make extra rice for the Ginger Fried Rice recipe
-San-J Organic Soy Sauce (smokey flavor) instead of something like Kikkoman (too acidic/sweet)
Ginger Fried Rice
•2 cups (410 g) cooked white rice (leftover rice will work best here)
•3 tablespoons virgin sesame oil, plus more as needed
*3 pieces of 2-inch (5 cm) bacon slices
•2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
•1 slice of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 large pasture-raised eggs, beaten with a pinch of sea salt
•2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion
•Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Using 2 cups of rice, proceed to fried rice directions: Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat, add bacon, garlic, and fresh ginger, and cook until tender and fragrant. Add the cooked rice to the pan and spread it out evenly, making a thick layer, and cook, uncovered, over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Pour the beaten eggs into the rice and continue to stir frequently, until the eggs are cooked, about 5 minutes. Add the green onions and cook for another 2 minutes, uncovered, until the rice is golden in color and the eggs and onions are cooked. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Serve warm.
Notes:
-easy way to use leftover rice. I found the recipe itself a little bland, but a quality soy sauce tied it up nicely (San-J). Husband and kids preferred that plus gochujang, teriyaki & mayo.
Mexican Mother’s Bowls
-ok this one is super basic, but it just works really well and as a leftover it’s even better. Also super easy/quick to assemble.
IN A BOWL LAYER THESE:
Leftover or freshly cooked beans (any kind
you want)
Shredded lettuce
Grated cheese
Leftover ground meat (any kind-beef, lamb, chicken, bison) or cook some up quickly in a pan until browned
Salsa
Avocado slices
For an extra layer and added crunch, feel free to add organic corn chips.
