Mediterranean Inspired Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Roots + Potatoes

Fall is harvest season, and spiritually symbolic to grounding oneself. It's the time of year when hibernation mode initiates and people find themselves nestled between the warmth of their blankets in home. In the past, or in ancient times, humans used food and nature as their source of medicine. 

Before modern or westernized medicine, humans were connected more to nature.  

During my recent hiking trip to Estes Park, I spoke with an intuitive woman from the Stanley Hotel. She sensed my energy was off, and said I need to ground myself. From her words, "I am here to get you back into gear. You need to ground yourself and start eating right again. I can feel your protein levels are off." 

She was worried that since I don't eat meat, I would need to be real "strict" on food combinations to ground myself. The energy everywhere is different and in Colorado I sensed the connection to the earth plane, especially with its Native American roots. 

A while back I made this recipe while craving something Mediterranean in the late summer. The Italians and Spanish use tomatoes frequently in cooking. One of the best side dishes I ever ate was a tomato potato concoction from Southern France. 

I found these beautiful vintage French porcelain dishes from an estate sale, and voila! Inspiration struck to create something inspired by my Mediterranean travels. 

Everything in life grows and harvests itself for a reason and a season. There is a reason why we crave watery fruits in the summer and hearty starches in the winter. We ground ourselves during the cooler months with produce that comes directly from the earth, which are vegetables with roots. 

Symbolically these vegetables help us grow our roots on this earth plane. We can further ground ourselves before eating by taking five deep breaths. This activates our parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes digestion. Eating while in fight or flight is not ideal as the blood flow is in our working muscles and not to our visceral organs. 

Inspired by the Southern Europeans, this meal combines a mixture of root vegetables alongside with fresh herbs to ignite a Mediterranean flavor. It also integrates a balance of protein, produce, water and herbs/spices for a well-rounded approach to healing. 

​Many people forget that we consume water through our food. Meat eaters also get water from meat, and vegetarians and vegans obtain water in their diet from plants and produce. 

​When living by the motto, "a lifestyle inspired by nature," it is of the upmost importance to consume food closet to nature as the majority of the diet, while balancing out the sweets and random processed food in lesser amounts. 

“Flying starts from the ground. The more grounded you are, the higher you fly.” 
― J.R. Rim

 Mediterranean Inspired Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Roots + Potatoes
Prep Time: 7 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Serves 6

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 large onion, chopped
2.5 cups of carrots, chopped
6 cups of white skin potatoes, chopped
2 cups kale, chopped
1 cup chickpeas, drained + washed 
2 14.5 oz cans of fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 6 oz. can of tomato paste
4 stems fresh oregano
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp dried basil
1/2 cup water 

Directions:
In a large pot, cook the onion, garlic, salt and pepper in olive oil for several minutes. Add the potatoes and carrots and water and cook for 12 minutes. Next, add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, basil and oregano and cook for 15 minutes. During the last five minutes add the kale and chickpeas. Mix continuously. When edible, garnish or mix in the parsley and remove from heat. Serve as a side dish, or eat as a main course. 

Let's Connect! Check out my other similar hearty side dish and soup recipes! 

Vegan "Cheesy" Garlic Herbed Cauliflower + Potatoes

Fresh Herb Chickpea & Collard Green Stew

Vegan Creamy Chive Potatoes

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