Vegan day 52: Grampa’s string bean, potato & swiss chard stew

I almost forgot that I can make a mean Italian style tomato sauce – with or now “without” the meat! I’m not a cook, however I did learn a few staple items very well – Italian sauce from my family’s recipe being one of them! It’s just been a while, since I haven’t eaten pasta in over 2 years and meat in over a year. Spinning off of this sauce, would be my Grampa’s string bean stew! I would eat the whole pot practically whenever I visited him. Grampa lived to age 92- and only died because he fell one too many times. He was a strong, independent man who always wanted to do everything himself- he would have lived to 100 years I’m sure! 


My grampa believed in eating simple, fresh food from the local market, balanced meals and not too much food. He had a routine. These basic beliefs without the indulgences and the industry modifications of today would make eating healthy and simple. It’s not so simple anymore and industry has destroyed the safety and true health qualities of many foods. As a matter of fact, it’s not even about food anymore, it’s about processing, it’s about convenience, its about packaging. The truth is– if it’s even in a package, we might want to question it. I don’t even know if I can always just “blame” the manufacturers– the suppliers. Demand=Supply and vice a versa. The supply is there because “we” as a society demand it. Our lifestyles are always busy on-the-go! We created this desire for fast, convenient foods with extended shelf lives. Ask and you shall receive– and now we need to reverse it because far too many people in this country are obese, with diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Over 2/3 of this country is overweight. Everyone knows it’s a problem and we throw all of our money into fad diets, short-term work out plans and healthcare. Changing a lifestyle with regards to diet and exercise sounds too difficult to many but I assure you from the bottom of my heart that once you pass a certain plateau, you will never look back!


Keep it simple, healthy and fresh!
Grampa’s string bean, potato & swiss chard stew 


String beans

Swiss chard
Potatoes
Onion
Garlic
Basil
Olive oil
Chick peas
Organic canned tomatoes (2 14oz cans) or fresh tomatoes
Tomato paste (1 small can)




I begin as I would with basic Italian sauce: sauté chopped onions and garlic in olive oil. Then add the tomato paste. Shortly after, add the organic canned tomatoes or fresh if you can. Then add in the potatoes cut into pieces and the basil. I used multi-colored potatoes today in case you were wondering. Let this stew for 30 to 45 minutes or so. Then add the chick peas and string beans. Let that cook for about 10 minutes. Finally add the swiss chard for about 5 minutes! You can also serve this over cous cous or I guess, pasta lol! If only I knew how to make spaghetti squash! In any case, I had ample serving and I am stuffed. I know what it is now- the salt makes you not want to stop! GO for low sodium! I used nutritional yeast to top it off- loaded with B vitamins!

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