Cold Monday, Warm Moroccan Barley Stew

Today was a breeze with getting my crockpot going!  All I had to do was put my frozen leftover Moroccan Chickpea Stew and 1/2 can tomato sauce I also had frozen into the crockpot, along with one more can of chickpeas and 2 cups vegetable broth.  After cooking on low in the crockpot for several hours, I tasted it and added barley (~1 cup uncooked) and a small sprinkle of cyanne pepper.  I served it with a large handful of rice to mix in and some green onions on top.  Just delicious!  (But I still have tons of leftovers!)

Moroccan Barley Stew

After frozen leftover Moroccan Stew melted down

Moroccan Barley Stew after barley is cooked

 Another recipe I made today was making homemade chai spice blend.  I enjoy making blended salads, or green smoothies in the mornings, and a few of my favorite recipes call for chai spice.  Previously I had been ripping the spices out of chai tea bags, but decided that this was wasting packaging and otherwise good tea I could be having.  I found this recipe on Choosing Raw as directed by my favorite blog Healthy Girl's Kitchen.  I tweaked the recipe, as I always do, it leave out ground cardamom because my grocery store sells it in a tiny bottle for nearly $10!  Here is what I used:


Chai Spice Blend

Ingredients:

2 T ground ginger

1 1/2 T cinnamon

2 t ground cloves

2 t ground nutmeg

3 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp white pepper

Directions:  Measure out all ingredients and mix together well.  Store in an old washed and dried spice container, or in a glass jar if you want to make a double batch like I did.

Amy's Notes:  I have never used cardamom, so I don't quite know what the recipe is missing, but I like it all the same.  I plan on using this in smoothies, sprinkled onto desserts, in decaf coffee or tea, and in my oatmeal in the morning.

Yet another monday has gone by, and the crockpot has been my best friend.  The stew leftovers are going to be great for lunch all week for me!  I might try it cold in a salad or warmed up by itself.


What is your favorite dish for leftovers?  What's your favorite leftovers to have hot and cold?