A stuffed sweet potato is one of our favorite go-to comfort foods. It’s so easy to make and full of vitamins and flavor. If you don’t like or don’t have a sweet potato on hand, you can use our many ideas for baked sweet potato toppings with any other sort of potato too.
Sweet Potatoes
One of our favorite ways to cook sweet potatoes is baking in the oven. We enjoy a baked whole sweet potato if it’s on the smaller side. If we have a larger one we split it into two. A baked whole sweet potato is the perfect holder for you favorite filling. Sometimes called a sweet potato jacket, we create a lot of different combinations of baked sweet potato toppings. We can customize them to make our perfect loaded sweet potato.
Depending on what baked sweet potato toppings you choose, you may just put them on top of the baked whole sweet potato or you may want to put it back in the oven to heat up or melt some more. Whatever you choose, a stuffed sweet potato is a filling, nutritious, and easy meal.
In this baked sweet potato recipe, we’ll show you the basics of how to roast sweet potatoes whole. Then we’ll give you some ideas for baked sweet potato toppings. You can also make stuffed potatoes of any kind using the same methods. While there are many ways to cook sweet potatoes, we love having a baked whole sweet potato because it retains a lot of the fiber and nutrients.
Chili Stuffed Baked Potato
But let’s get to the fun part and look at our baked sweet potato recipe and some great ideas for baked sweet potato toppings.
Stuffed Sweet Potato
Just remember, the time it takes to roast sweet potatoes whole also depends upon the size of your sweet potato and the specifics of your own oven.
Ingredients
1 sweet potato, scrubbed
toppings of your choice (we’ll give examples below)
Sheet pan covered in foil or parchment
Olive oil or softened butter (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
1. Scrub the sweet potato and dry completely.
2. Poke holes around the outside with a fork. 5 or 6 spots is plenty. This is to allow the sweet potato to have some room to let steam escape while cooking and speed cooking.
3. If you like to eat the skin (and we love it!) rub with a little olive oil or softened butter. This will help the skin get nice and crispy.
Well Cooked Sweet Potato copy
4. Place on sheet pan and roast sweet potatoes whole for 50 to 90 minutes depending upon the size of the sweet potato.
5. Check by poking with a fork from time to time to check on doneness. When fork goes in easily, it’s done!
6. Remove from oven and slice with knife to create opening. If you’re going to share a big baked whole sweet potato, then cut it in half and then slit each to make a loaded sweet potato out of each one.
Baked Sweet Potato Toppings
Here is where your imagination comes in. You can have your basic sweet potato jacket topped just with butter and salt and pepper. That’s one of the most popular ways to cook sweet potatoes and makes for a great side dish.
But if we’re going to make a meal out of our stuffed sweet potato, we’re going to need to do more than that. Here are some of our favorite ideas. We’re sure you’ll come up with some more of your own. We’ll provide a few ingredients for each. Feel free to use some, all, or make it your own.
Pro Tip: If you’re short on time you can always start cooking your potato in the microwave for about 4-5 minutes.
Mexican loaded sweet potato – olives, tomato, cilantro, corn, beans, taco meat, cheese, sour cream, guacamole or avocado. Add a squeeze of lime to brighten it up.
Mexican Flavors Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Greek – spinach, feta, (you can put these on and then broil to heat and melt the cheese a little), tomato, cucumber, onion, kalamata, drizzle with olive oil
Italian – marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, parmesan, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, olives, onions, garlic (melt again for a stuffed sweet potato pizza)
Asian – stir fry veggies with a little sesame oil, water chestnuts, bean sprouts, snow peas, broccoli, carrot, top with a sprinkle of soy sauce, tamari, or rice vinegar
Some Borrowed Combination Toppings
Sweet potato casserole – brown sugar and butter, topped with mini-marshmallows. Pop under the broiler for a minute to get the top crispy.
Roasted Marshmallow Baked Sweet Potatoes
Barbecue Ranch – barbecued meat or veggies or just your favorite bbq sauce, ranch dressing, olives, cheddar cheese
Broccoli and Cheddar – just like it sounds, some steamed broccoli and shredded cheddar, a classic combo
Broccoli And Cheese Stuffed Baked Sweet Potato
Thanksgiving – shredded turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans, or whatever tastes like Thanksgiving to you
Chili – chili beans, sour cream, crumbled bacon, chives (this one is great if you’re using a regular potato too)
Roasted Brussels Sprouts – roast some Brussels sprouts in a Tablespoon of oil, add onions and garlic, put on top of sweet potato jacket and to with parmesan or other cheese
Your Favorite Loaded Sweet Potato
As you can see, the options are endless. Depending upon what you like to eat and what you have available to you, your stuffed sweet potato playlist could cover all the options. For a healthy, tasty, and easy to make meal, try a baked whole sweet potato. Don’t forget to add your favorite baked sweet potato toppings to make this simple dish a fixture in your regular meal rotation.
We’ve had lemon pasta everywhere from New York City to Paris France. It’s a delicious dish that tastes fresh and filling while still remaining light and bright. Sometimes known as Pasta al Limone or Pasta Limone, this dish is surprisingly easy to make.
Some versions of the lemon pasta sauce calls for using cream. But we prefer to make it without cream to keep it a little lighter. You can also choose to use olive oil or butter depending upon your dietary considerations and your personal preference.
Delicious Lemon Pasta
There are lots of variations of lemon pasta recipes. One of our favorites is actually a French preparation that includes using a bit of white wine. There are also plenty of options for adding herbs or vegetables if you like. Fresh Italian parsley, watercress, or basil are just a few.
Use The Pasta You Have On Hand
You can also use any type of pasta you like or whatever you have in your pantry right now. We try to use whole grain past when we can, but you certainly can use anything you like. While we typically use a long noodle-like spaghetti, angel hair, fettuccine, or linguine, you can easily use penne, ziti, rigatoni, or any other pasta you like. Lemon pasta sauce quite flavorful so Amy pasta you choose is bound to taste great.
Different Pastas
Herbs Are Also Flexible For Lemon Pasta
Don’t worry if you don’t have fresh herbs either. We’ve made this recipe many times using dried parsley or basil or oregano or mixed Italian herbs. All of them will work well.
Cheese is one of the most prominent flavors in this lemon pasta dish. You can use grated, shaved, or shredded if you like. Parmesan is the traditional choice. But Romano, Asiago, Pecorino, and Grana Padano make great substitutes. You can really use any cheese that you like.
We like to add the zest of the lemon to give our lemon pasta a bit of citrusy oil that lifts the flavors up a bit. You can use lemon concentrate if you don’t have a fresh lemon, just be sure not to overdo the amount as it can become bitter when you use too much.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your lemon pasta with a little side salad or some crunchy garlic toast to make a completely satisfying and delicious meal you can get on the table in under 30 minutes.
Lemon Pasta
For a quick and filling meal, try this delicious and easy version of Pasta al Limone. You can use ingredients you likely have on hand and get it from stove to table in record time.
Ingredients
1 package of pasta (12 ounces), spaghetti or any other you prefer
3 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil, any olive oil or can substitute butter if that’s what you have
1 large onion, diced small
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 clove of garlic, minced
Juice and zest of one lemon, 2-3 Tablespoons of lemon juice concentrate to taste, make lemon pasta as lemony as you like
1/2 cup fresh parsley, watercress, basil or 1 Tablespoon dried herbs of choice like parsley, chives or basil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup grated, shredded, or shaved Parmesan cheese, or other cheese of your choice
Pasta Al Limone
Directions
1. Fill a pot with water and sprinkle a little olive oil in the water to keep the pasta from sticking and set over high heat.
2. When water boils add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente, about 7-8 minutes for spaghetti.
3. In a skillet heat 1 Tablespoon of olive oil and add the diced onions. Cook the onion until it is soft, but not brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant about 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Pour the wine and lemon juice and mix together.
6. Then add the lemon zest if you have it and boil for 1 minute. Lemon pasta can be made without it.
7. When the pasta is ready, remove from the water and drain, reserving some of the pasta water.
8. Place the pasta in a bowl and add the remaining 2 Tablespoons of olive oil and any herbs. If pasta sticks together, add pasta water a tablespoon at a time until the consistency is good.
9. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
10. Place in serving bowls or plates (serves 4) and sprinkle with cheese.
11. Top with garnish of fresh or sprinkle of dried herbs.
Looking for other easy pantry cooking recipes? Check out our Easy Chili Recipe and authentic Moros Y Cristianos recipe for Cuban beans and rice!
This easy chili recipe is totally flexible. It makes great pantry cooking because you can use whatever you have on hand. You can make vegetarian chili, meat chili, mixed beans chili, or anything else you like. If you have fresh veggies you can use them. Frozen and canned veggies work just as well.
Chili Is Great Comfort Food
Chili is one of the ultimate comfort foods. And it’s one that you can make in a couple of hours or let sit all day. In fact, crockpot chili is the perfect set it and forget it meal. Or, you can make stovetop chili in a pot that simmers for several hours too.
Veggie Chili
Our easy chili recipe only requires a few basic ingredients and spices. You can put it together in a few easy steps. Then the fun starts! You can top your homemade chili with all your favorite ingredients. Let your creativity soar.
Mixed Beans
Personalize As You Like
Some of our favorite toppings are onions or scallions, sour cream or Greek yogurt, and cheddar cheese. You could also top with avocado, fresh diced tomato, cilantro or parsley leaves, even corn or tortilla chips. Whatever sounds good to you, probably will taste good!
Chili With Cheese
Chili And Cornbread
So when you’re stuck at home or even if you’re not, homemade chili is a great tummy warmer. This easy chili recipe pairs well with our homemade cornbread with corn. Check out our homemade cornbread recipe too.
Corn Bread
Easy Chili Recipe
There are a lot of ways to make this homemade chili. We’ll provide you with the process for making a large pot to feed a family or have plenty left over to stow in the freezer. If you want to make a vegetarian version, just skip the meat and add more veggies or beans.
Chili With Meat
Ingredients
Carrots
2-3 pounds of ground turkey, chicken, or beef (none for vegetarian chili)
1 large onion, chopped
3 large cloves of fresh garlic or 1 teaspoon garlic powder or minced
1 small can of tomato paste (if you don’t have tomato paste, a small can of tomato sauce works too)
1 large can of diced or crushed tomatoes, or 2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes
3 large carrots, diced or sliced in rounds
2 large celery stalks, diced
1 large can kidney beans (use any beans or combination of beans you like such as black, pinto, red, Great Northern, cannellini, garbanzo, even black-eyed peas can work too – mix them up for fun)
2 Tablespoons cumin
2 Tablespoons chili powder
2-3 Tablespoons olive or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon jarred sliced jalapeños (You can use mild or “tamed” jalapeño slices, use just some of the juice or skip altogether if you don’t like heat. If you do like it hot, add some regular jalapeño slices to your taste. You can also use fresh chilis or peppers if you have them. Just be sure to continue to taste so they don’t become overpowering)
Tomatoes
Toppings of your choice. See our delicious homemade cornbread recipe for a great chili and cornbread meal.
Black And White Beans
Directions
1. Chop the onions and garlic.
2. In a large pot, cook onions until soft. Then add garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
3. Add ground meat and cook until light brown (if using meat).
4. Then add all other ingredients except tomatoes and jalapeños.
5. Stir well until evenly combined.
6. Then add tomatoes and jalapeños.
7. Simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours on low for stovetop chili.
Red Kidney Beans
If you are making crockpot chili, cook the onions garlic, and meat on the stovetop. Then place into the crockpot and add the other ingredients in the same way as directed. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4. Test doneness.
Chili With Corn
One of the other benefits of this easy chili recipe is that the chili becomes even more flavorful over time. If you make it the day before you eat it, just reheat on low. If necessary add some water, broth, tomato juice, or other savory liquid in very small amounts to keep the consistency as you like.
Make it a game day treat by making a chili cheese dog for your favorite football fans. Make sure to have plenty of cheese on hand.
Here’s an easy recipe for homemade cornbread that you’ll want to make any time. One of our favorite perfect pairings is cornbread and chili. When you’ve already got your pot on the stove, go ahead and make this homemade cornbread for a real winner of a meal.
Corn Bread
We use coarse ground cornmeal and add some fresh frozen corn kernels to give it that special crunch and sweetness you’ll love. Cornbread with corn is one of the best tummy warmers anywhere.
Corn Kernels
Ingredients
3/4 cups cornmeal
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk (whole, low-fat, skim or non-dairy are all fine)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 whole egg, beaten (or use 2 egg whites)
1 cup fresh, frozen (thawed) or canned corn kernels (be sure to rinse canned kernels)
Corn Bread Muffins
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
1. Grease 8-inch square pan (can be glass or metal), muffin pan or mini-muffin pan (you can also use baking cups for muffins). You can use butter, oil, or non-stick spray.
2. Put the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and in a mixing bowl and stir to combine well.
3. Add the milk, oil, and egg.
4. Mix together with a fork, whisk, or wooden spoon until just combined. Don’t over-mix.
5. Gently fold in corn kernels,
5. Spoon batter into a greased baking dish, muffin or mini muffin tins that have been sprayed with non-stick spray.
6. Bake for approximately 20 – 25 minutes until lightly golden and the top when pressed is firm. You can also check using a toothpick. When it comes out clean, it’s done.
7. Cool for 5 minutes and if using baking dish cut into squares. Serve warm and enjoy!
Try this delicious homemade cornbread recipe with our easy chili recipe for a totally satisfying meal.
Quinoa is a delicious and nutritious seed that we use like a grain in our Quinoa Bowl Recipe and other tasty serving ideas. Yes, I said seed. Unlike rice or wheat, for example, quinoa is a complete plant protein all on its own. That means it includes essential amino acids properly proportioned for our human health needs. It also is filling and rather neutral in flavor. This means you can use it as a canvas for creating your masterpiece of a dish for any time of day.
Quinoa Dinner Bowl
We love the flexibility of quinoa. You can serve it hot, cold, or room temperature. It’s easy to integrate it into salads, serve it as a side dish, or blanket it with your favorite combination of flavors. A quinoa bowl is a popular way to combine ingredients to make a complete meal.
It’s easy to prepare quinoa. You simply choose the amount you want to make. Then boil it briefly with the correct amount of water or broth and simmer for about 15 minutes. We’ll give you all the details below.
For Any Meal In Any Season
If there’s one thing we want to stress, it’s that quinoa itself and our Quinoa Bowl Recipe are easy to customize for your own personal taste. We will provide you with our basic recipe here. But you can dig into your pantry, fridge, freezer, and basket of goodies to put together any quinoa bowl you like. We’ll offer up some combinations that we like as well as how to season quinoa for different tastes and meals.
Quinoa Veggie Bowl With Mediterranean Flavors
We have quinoa bowls for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And every meal is different based on what ingredients we have on hand. That’s why you can be sure we usually have a bag of quinoa sitting on our pantry shelf. Depending on the season we can create a warm delicious dinner, a cool salad for lunch, or a delicious breakfast bowl with fresh or dried fruit and nuts. In less than 30 minutes, we can easily create a beautiful, tasty, nutritious meal that never gets boring.
Three Colors of Quinoa
Quinoa comes in three colors: white, red, and black. You can buy one or all colors and mix them together or serve them separately for a lovely display. You can also find premixed blends that cook up beautifully and offer a nice colorful display to brighten up your dish or bowl.
White Red And Black Quinoa
Good For Sustainability
We also like that we can buy organic quinoa from Costco and other favorite stores and support the small-holder farmers in the Andean Mountains. It’s a great way to support their cultural heritage and sustainability while enjoying a wonderful clean product.
Black Quinoa Garden Bowl
Quinoa Bowl Recipe
Here is our basic quinoa bowl recipe. Remember that the quinoa can be a platform for your other ingredients to dance on. Or, you can mix them all together. Anything goes when it comes to a delicious quinoa bowl. We’ll provide some other quinoa recipes and ideas for you too.
Quino Citrus And Tomato
Ingredients
1 cup quinoa
2 cups water or broth
vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, proteins as you like (we’ll provide you with some ideas)
salt, pepper, herbs, and spices as desired
Healthy Quinoa
Directions
Follow the directions on your package of quinoa. If there are no directions, here are the basic directions for cooking quinoa that should work for most quinoa types.
1. Place quinoa and water or broth into a saucepan.
2. Allow the pan to come to a rolling boil, then turn down to simmer and cover.
3. Check after 10 minutes to see if the water has been absorb. If not, simmer for another 3-5 minutes depending on how wet the quinoa is. You can take it off when no visible liquid remains.
4. Remove from heat and let sit for five minutes to absorb any remaining liquid.
5. While quinoa is cooking cut and prepare your choice of fruit, veggies, protein, cheese, nuts, seeds, and whatever you’d like to have in your quinoa bowl.
6. Place quinoa in a bowl and top with your favorite ingredients. You can blend together if you like.
7. Season with herbs and spices as desired.
How To Season Quinoa
Quinoa has a neutral flavor making it the perfect canvas on which to create your flavorful masterpiece. You can uses the herbs and spices of a particular place to create the taste of that cuisine. For example, oregano and basil work well for Italian while chili and cumin create a Mexican profile. Curry or garam masala help bring out Indian flavors while sesame and ginger add an Asian taste.
Mexican Quinoa Bowl
You’re not limited to herbs and spices. You can use your favorite sauce or salad dressing too. A nice Italian dressing on a bowl with tomato and mozzarella adds some brightness. A sweet and spicy peanut sauce can turn your Asian bowl into a Thai feast. Use your imagination and add whatever would taste good to you.
Quinoa Bowl Recipe Ideas
We want to give you a few ideas for creating a variety of quinoa bowls. So here are some ingredient and flavor combinations we think you might enjoy. Use them as-is or adapt to your own tastes. Your own kitchen and pantry will help you decide what quinoa bowl is just right for you. Remember, the quinoa always serves as the foundation for each bowl.
Mexican – corn, black or pinto beans, onion, tomato, cilantro
French Nicoise – canned tuna, black olives, radishes, tomatoes, green beans, hard-boiled egg
You can add a protein like chicken, tuna, turkey, fish, or any ground meat you like as well.
Quinoa Breakfast Bowl – fresh strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, chia or flax seeds, pistachios, almonds or walnuts. A splash of honey works nicely here too. If you want to serve it hot, you can add a splash of milk, cream, almond or other plant milk.
Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
Asian – broccoli, carrot, water chestnut, mushroom, bean sprouts, scallion, hard-boiled egg
More Tasty Quinoa Recipes And Ideas
Quinoa also makes a great ingredient in other dishes where it plays a supporting role.
We love to serve it as an accompaniment to fish like salmon along with some veggies.
Salmon With Quinoa
Make your favorite chili recipe and add quinoa into the mix.
Stuff your baked regular or sweet potato with a mixture of quinoa, caramelized onions, and broccoli.
Then top with some cheddar cheese for a hearty and delicious meal.
Blend quinoa with chopped parsley and mint, tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers. Add asparagus or other veggies as you like. Dress with a little lemon and olive oil for a wonderful quinoa tabbouleh.
Quinoa Tabbouleh
Add quinoa to your vegetable or chicken soup.
Mix in some veggies or sausage and top with a fried egg.
Use it as an ingredient in your favorite stuffing mix and place it inside a pepper, acorn squash, zucchini, or other vegetable. Then roast in the oven.
Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Versatile Quinoa
We hope this gives you some ideas you can use to create some of your own delicious meals with the incredibly versatile quinoa. Let us know what you do to make a dish that tastes great to you!
Check out some of our other Pantry Cooking recipes and ideas like Easy Shakshuka and traditional Cuban beans and rice Moros Y Cristianos.
Shakshuka has many variations depending upon where it is made. Our interpretation likely comes with a history from North Africa. It includes tomatoes but no meat. An earlier version from the Ottoman Empire generally contained meat but no tomatoes. These days we most closely identify the dish with Israel and the Middle East where Jewish immigrants introduced it. Mexico’s huevos rancheros and Italy’s eggs in purgatory take a similar approach to the tasty combination of eggs and a tomato-laden sauce. Of course, spices and additional ingredients give each Shakshuka recipe its own special flair.
Shakshuka With Toast
Our Shakshuka Recipe
Our easy shakshuka recipe is adapted from one given to us by our friend Susana Darwin, a filmmaker who kept us warm with it in Chicago before relocating to sunny Florida. Thanks, Susana! We’ve made a few tweaks to it to make it our own. This is a common approach to the colorful, tasty dish. It also makes it great for pantry cooking because you can easily use what you have on hand.
Shakshuka
Our shakshuka uses a sweet and savory combination of flavors. We feature green olives, onions, raisins, and chickpeas. If you don’t like or have any of those ingredients, feel free to omit or substitute. Look for what you have among your pantry items or change to suit your taste. It’s a flexible dish that you can tailor as you like. In fact, we encourage you to do so.
Shakshuka Anytime
The other great think about our easy shakshuka recipe is that you can eat it at any time. While we often think of egg dishes as a breakfast food, people eat shakshuka any time of day. It’s loaded with nutritious ingredients, fiber, and protein. Whenever you want something tasty that will fill you up, shakshuka can fit the bill. Give our shakshuka recipe a try and let us know what you change and how you like it!
Shakshuka Anytime
Easy Shakshuka Recipe
Here’s our take on the deliciously tomato and egg dish shakshuka. If you don’t have some of the ingredients or want to use something else, just go ahead. We don’t like things with too much heat, so we skip the peppers and hot sauce. But we’ll include them in the shakshuka recipe here so if you like them you can add them to your heart’s content. Also, we generally cook for two but this recipe will work for four. If you want to make it for two like us, just cut the recipe in half.
Shakshuka Medley
Ingredients
1 red bell pepper, chopped
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 large onion, diced
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
A 28-ounce can of crushed or petite diced tomatoes
1 15-ounce can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) or 1 1/2 cups dried, soaked, and cooked chickpeas
1/2 cup of raisins, golden raisins, or sultanas
1/2 cup chopped green olives
6 to 8 whole eggs
This easy shakshuka recipe is a very flexible, so adjust the seasonings to your preferred taste1-2 cloves garlic minced, or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Harissa, sriracha, or your favorite hot sauce, to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
Toast to serve with if you like
Fresh chopped Italian parsley or other herbs to garnish
Directions
Place olive oil in the pan to coat.
Add onion, pepper, and celery and cook until tender.
Drain the juice from the crushed or petite diced tomatoes, but save the juice in case you want to add it back in later.
Bring the pan to a low simmer.
Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, raisins and green olives.
Add garlic, salt, and pepper to taste.
If desired, add harissa, sriracha, or hot sauce to taste.
Stir ingredients well and simmer slightly until the liquid absorbs a little. If there is too little liquid, add back in some of the reserved tomato juice.
Make small wells evenly around the shakshuka tomato sauce and crack an egg into each well.
Cover the pan and simmer until the whites of the eggs are no longer clear.
Scoop a portion of shakshuka tomato sauce out with an egg and place it on serving plate or bowl.
Garnish with parsley or other herbs. Serve with toast if you like.
Colorful Shakshuka
Shakshuka Variations
As we mentioned, our easy shakshuka recipe takes its roots from the Middle East. You can vary the spicing to create a shakshuka recipe that is deliciously your own. Even if you just want to eat shakshuka a lot and like to mix it up, here are a few spicing variations you can try to keep things interesting.
Italianish Shakshuka
Italy – Garlic, basil, oregano, marjoram, thyme, and Italian parsley.
We love garlic, yes we do. We love garlic, how about you? Time to put that “stinking rose” in your pantry to good use. One of the best things about our Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza recipe is that you can use the garlic mushroom topping in many different ways.
Gorgeous Garlic
Don’t worry if you don’t have fresh garlic. You can use minced garlic in oil or garlic powder just as well. The technique here is so simple you can do it in short order – even when taking a half-hour break.
Health Benefits of Garlic, Onions, and Mushrooms
Garlic has a lot of health benefits. It’s good for your heart, combats sicknesses like the common cold, reduces blood pressure, and improves cholesterol. And that’s just for starters!
This easy and delicious garlic mushroom pita pizza recipe adds the delicious and mellow flavor of caramelized onions. Onions also have some benefits for health. They contain antioxidants and compounds that can fight inflammation, cancer, high blood sugar, and more.
Garlic And Onions Are Perfect Partners
These healthy ingredients paired with whole grains like whole-wheat pita bread and the vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants in mushrooms make this winning combination a great way to treat yourself and your body to a great meal.
Hot Whole Grain Pita
Here’s our super quick and easy recipe for a delicious Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza
Garlic Mushroom Pita Pizza
You’ll enjoy this healthy and delicious personal-sized pizza whenever you want to make a quick and filling meal.
Button Mushrooms
Ingredients
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, sliced or minced
1/2 cup mozzarella or other cheese, shredded
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon butter (if using only olive oil use 2 Tablespoons)
2 Tablespoons fresh herbs or 2 teaspoons dried herbs of choice (basil, oregano, parsley, marjoram are great)
1/4 cup white wine, optional
2 pita bread rounds, preferably pocketless whole wheat for your garlic mushroom crust
Fresh Pita
Directions
Preheat toaster oven or conventional oven to 425 degrees F
Put olive oil and butter into skillet and heat over medium until melted.
Add sliced onions and cook until they are soft and begin to caramelize
Put sliced mushrooms into the pan and if adding wine, do so now
Stir until mushrooms are soft and liquid is mostly absorbed
Add sliced or minced garlic and stir until fragrant, 1 or 2 minutes
Cover pita rounds with shredded cheese then top cheese with mushroom mixture and sprinkle with your herbs of choice
Place loaded pita rounds on toaster oven grill rack or in a conventional oven
Cook at 425 until the cheese begins to bubble and parts turn slightly brown
Cut your garlic mushroom pita pizza into quarters and enjoy!
Sautée Mushrooms
Mushroom, onion, garlic pita pizza
More Topping Options
You can add other ingredients to your pita pizza depending on your preference. Garlic is always a winner but you can add sun-dried or fresh tomatoes, spinach, pancetta or sausage for just a few ideas.
Add Your Favorite Toppings
The important thing to remember about garlic is that you don’t want it to burn. Sautéing it for just a minute or two is enough to make it fragrant without burning.
No Pita? No Problem!
If you don’t have any pita bread around, don’t worry. You can use lots of other things for your base. Split an English muffin or bagel into halves and pre-toast them first. Then add the cheese and toppings. You can use a tortilla. Naan or other flatbread works well too. Remember those French bread toaster oven pizzas? You can make one of those! Or use any bread you have. It will be better toast it a little before you put the cheese and toppings on to get that crunch.
If you don’t want cheese or want just a little, leave it off. Or toast your bread and add your toppings then sprinkle with a bit of goat, feta, parmesan, asiago, or other strong cheese where a little goes a long way.
Garlic Mushroom Toasts
Other Quick Garlic Ideas
If you happen to have plenty of garlic on hand, here are a few quick and easy ideas for putting it to good use.
Garlic mashed potatoes – toss some garlic cloves into a pan with olive oil and roast lightly, then smash and add to potatoes with milk or stock and butter or olive oil. You can also easily add garlic powder.
Cheesy garlic toast – Make a spread with some grated parmesan cheese, dried oregano, and basil, and pressed garlic or garlic powder. Spread on your favorite crusty bread and broil until it gets bubbly.
Garlic and oil broccoli – After steaming your broccoli, put some slices or minced garlic into a pan with 1 Tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil for a minute or two. Add the broccoli and stir. Serve with a squeeze of lemon juice.
Garlic green beans or spinach – Do the same with green beans as with broccoli. Top with slivered almonds.
Roast Garlic In The Oven
Roasted Garlic – Cut the tops off a whole head of garlic. Sprinkle with extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper (optional) and wrap in foil. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees F for 35-40 minutes until soft. Use the soft caramelized garlic as a spread on bread, topping on protein or in addition to any vegetable dish.
You can easily add garlic to many sauces and dishes. Just be sure that you use the right amount for you. Too much garlic can add unwanted heat and overwhelm other flavors. A little goes a long way!
Enjoy your garlic mushroom pita pizza and let us know what other creations you make with garlic.
Butternut squash is one of those wonderful veggies that we often have sitting around the kitchen for a long time before we decide what to do with it. Fortunately, when we want a little comfort food but want to stay healthy, easy butternut squash soup can come to the rescue.
Butternut Squash
Our butternut squash soup recipe uses no cream. Just a few simple ingredients combined in the right way can make this dish in a jiffy. It’s quick to put together and you can just let it simmer for a while then serve it when you’re ready.
As with all of the recipes in our Pantry Cooking series, we’ll give you a basic recipe that you can use. Feel free to spiff it up with anything you’d like to make your own tastebuds sing. We’ll give you a few ideas as well as some other thoughts for how you can use that butternut squash that’s been hanging around your kitchen for a while.
Soup With Onions And Herbs
Easy Butternut Squash Soup
For this simple and filling recipe, you’ll just need a few ingredients and a nice size pot. We’ll give you some additional thoughts on how to finish it off for your meal so you can happily use any leftovers later on.
Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped
A large stalk of celery, chopped
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon butter
Butternut squash, one whole, cut into cubes (you can use pre-cubed fresh or frozen squash)
1/2 Tablespoon rubbed sage (we’ll talk about spice options too)
A 32-ounce container of chicken or vegetable stock, broth or plain water
Toppings of choice, such as roasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds, croutons, plain yogurt, etc.
Cut And Clean Your Butternut Squash
Directions
1. Heat the olive oil and butter in a large stockpot. If you’re sticking to a Mediterranean diet, you can skip the butter and use 2 Tablespoons olive oil.
2. When melted add the chopped onion and celery and cook until soft, about 4 minutes.
3. Add the butternut squash cubes and sage or other spices and heat to soften about 5 minutes.
4. Pour the stock, broth, or water over the vegetables, making sure they are all covered.
5. Bring to a boil for one minute, then turn down the heat to simmer, cover the pot and simmer for one hour.
6. When all the vegetables are soft and the liquid has condensed some, remove from heat and use an immersion or hand blender to incorporate ingredients until smooth.
7. Sprinkle with your desired toppings or serve as is.
This soup is so full of fiber and vitamins it will really satisfy you. Serve it with some crusty bread or garlic toast if you want some extra crunch.
Butternut Squash Soup With Croutons
A Few Variations
If you’re not a fan of sage as a spice, you can easily vary this butternut squash soup to suit your tastes. It works well with curry if that’s your jam. Use some oregano and basil for an Italian twist. For a more Mediterranean taste, add a little nutmeg and cinnamon. Thyme works nicely or if you prefer a milder taste, try a little marjoram. Rosemary and parsley make a nice combination too. It really is up to you.
Healthy Hearty Butternut Squash Soup
You can also add some interest by including diced apple or carrot when you cook your butternut squash soup. Play around with the spicing if you do. Apple goes great with a little cinnamon and cardamon. And carrots just beg for ginger. Don’t forget to top with something for contrast like creamy plain yogurt or roasted chickpeas for a totally satisfying taste.
No Butternut? No Problem!
As we’ve mentioned before, we’re trying to provide you with lots of options for using what you have. If you don’t have a butternut squash hanging around, you can still make this wonderful soup with a variety of ingredients instead. Have any sweet potatoes? They work wonderfully well. Any kind of winter squash like acorn or delicata works too. Carrots are a great option too. You might even want to add some ginger for a little interesting twist.
Other Butternut Squash Ideas
If you’ve got a little more butternut than you need for just this soup, there are plenty of other ways that you can cube it and use it. Here are just a few of our favorites. Use these ideas or come up with your own…
Squash Veggie Tacos
Butternut squash tacos – Instead of meat, spice and cook the butternut squash for your filling. Throw in a few Mexican spiced chickpeas and add avocado, tomato, and all your faves.
Squash Stew
Butternut squash stew – Give it the curry treatment with curry, ginger, cilantro, basil, or your favorite spices. Add some chicken or a can of chickpeas and simmer your way into a delicious meal.
Butternut squash lasagna – Cook the squash and layer between lasagna noodles the same way you would meat. Add some marinara and mozzarella and mama mia, you’ve got a great meal!
Roasted Butternut Squash
Roasted butternut squash – If you have a whole or half butternut squash left, cut into slices. Lay them on a sheet pan with some olive oil and rosemary for a savory approach or butter and maple syrup to go sweet. Roast them at 375 degrees F until they’re cooked through. Roasted butternut squash goes great on top of some steamed rice or quinoa too!
Stuffed Butternut
Stuffed Butternut – Take the whole squash, cut it in half and clean it. Make your favorite stuffing, fill the squash halves and sprinkle with olive oil. Roast at 350 degrees F until fork tender.
We hope this gives you a few ideas for enjoying butternut squash in the days ahead.
Beloit WI is a great getaway to eat, shop, and play. It’s a quick and easy trip from many spots in the Midwest, within 90 minutes from Chicago and Milwaukee. Located along the Rock River, Beloit offers diverse food, a vibrant creative scene, lots of activities, and fabulous hotels. The welcoming hospitality and friendly locals make Beloit a great choice for a fun road trip any time of the year.
Disclosure: Our visit to Beloit WI was hosted by Visit Beloit. All opinions are our own, based on our experience.
Photo courtesy of Visit Beloit.
Comfy Hotels In Beloit, WI
We just love a hotel that has all the great things we want and surprises us with a few more. Beloit hotels are on top of that with warm hospitality and tons of amenities that will make your stay feel posh.
We stayed at the Ironworks Hotel, an urban chic luxury boutique in the heart of downtown Beloit. When the next words after hello were “Would you like a glass of complimentary sparkling wine?” we knew we found our people. The rooms are rustic elegance, showing off industrial materials of brick, glass, steel, and wood in unique and interesting ways.
Lobby Ironworks Hotel Beloit. Photo courtesy of Visit Beloit.
Our room was a gorgeous Legacy Suite. The suite has a long working desk area, a cushy sofa and sitting room, and a large comfy bedroom. A double-sided fireplace with a huge flatscreen television on either side separates the sitting room and bedroom. We had a lovely view of the river passing by and even got to see a few of our Canada geese friends lazily floating by our large windows. The shower is huge and the amenities are top-notch. And, when returning during the day for a break from exploring, the lobby had a hot cocoa bar to make a cup however you like – marshmallows and all.
Legacy Suite View Ironworks Hotel Beloit
Impeccable Choices
There is a wide variety of choices for hotels in Beloit WI. Just kitty-corner across the street is the Hotel Goodwin. With an equally convenient downtown location, the Goodwin offers a different sort of luxury boutique vibe. We’d call it an understated elegance, with warm wood and glass dominating the decor. In fact, one of the features that wowed us when we toured the accommodations was the enormous three-sided glass shower in the spacious Signature Rooms. The double vanity and disappearing widescreen television didn’t hurt either. They’ve also got a fun rooftop bar for a perfect evening wind down. This crisp, clean, and stylish hotel takes swanky to a whole new level – and we love that!
3 Sided Glass Bathroom Suite at the Hotel Goodwin Beloit, WIHotel Goodwin Rooftop. Photo courtesy of Visit Beloit.
Restaurants In Beloit WI
If you want to enjoy a foodie getaway, Beloit WI has it covered with restaurants that are delicious and fun. For a city with some 36,000 residents, Beloit restaurants are exceptionally diverse too. You can easily eat your way through some globally-inspired dishes while making sure to enjoy the local favorites too. Here are just a few of the tantalizing tastes that await the hungry visitor.
Blue Collar Coffee Co.
Who doesn’t like to start the day with a great cuppa? Well, in our house one of us will take a cuppa java and the other a cuppa tea. So we’re always delighted when we find a spot that offers us the best of both. Despite the name, Blue Collar Coffee Co. delivers on both sides of the morning brew. They serve handcrafted coffee drinks made with Wisconsin-based Ruby Colorful Coffees. The single origin Ethiopian I had was so sweet and smooth I drank it black – which I almost never do!
Blue Collar Coffee Beloit WI
Tea lovers have choices such as breakfast blends, green tea, tonic tea, and seasonal flavors of Spirit Tea from nearby Chicago. For something a little different Blue Collar also makes smoothies and offers Kombucha, Wisco-Pop, and Sunshine beverages to round out the choices.
I’m a fan of coffee+ in the morning, and if you are too, you’re in luck. Hearty choices like the chorizo burrito and various combinations of egg and cheese with or without meat on a croissant will fill you if you’re hungry. For a smaller nosh, muffins, danishes, and fruit are the perfect option. We love the punch cards that can be used to “pay it forward” and make a purchase for someone who can’t afford it. The purchased cards are put in the punch card dock and it was quite full when we were there. This is a community that cares. The neighborhood feel and relaxed atmosphere “for hardworking people” makes Blue Collar the kind of place we could imagine hanging out in all the time, as it seems many of the locals do.
truk’t
We love all types of Mexican food, so we were thrilled with the chance to try the unique street tacos at truk’t for lunch. It just so happens that we were there on National Margarita Day, so we had to give theirs a try – to do our research, of course. The first thing you can’t help but notice is that the atmosphere is electric. People are chatting happily and the lively scene makes you want to dive right in and join the fun. We started with roasted Brussel sprouts and fresh guacamole, which were delicious. The guac was served with jicama and radishes so low-carb eaters could munch away without chips. Brilliant! The menu has a lot of choices for whatever you’re eating style like rice bowls, salads, nachos, and, of course, tacos.
Truk’t Beloit Wi
The tacos are globally inspired edible works of art. The wide variety includes Korean BBQ, American BBQ, Baja Fish, Shrimp Curry, Peking Duck, Garbanzo Picadillo, Short Rib, Chicken Tinga, and other fun and fusion options. They also offer a couple of featured items that vary. We tried the Chicken Tinga, Peking Duck, and Surf & Turf tacos, all of which were creative and satisfying. Our margaritas were also excellent, and we were among a very happy crowd. While there was definitely some celebrating being done on this day, we’re pretty sure it’s like that most days at this fun Beloit restaurant. This should be no surprise considering the ample bar offers over 100 tequilas and whiskeys from around the world.
Photo courtesy of Visit Beloit.
Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint
When you want to sit down to a white linen tablecloth meal with top-notch service, incredible meat and seafood, and classic cocktails, but without a snippy attitude, then Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint will make you smile. As you can tell by the name, this is one of the many Beloit restaurants that offer a warm, unstuffy, and welcoming dining experience. This spot maintains a relaxed atmosphere while maintaining an aura of casual elegance.
Cocktails at Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint Beloit Wisconsin
If you’re a meat-eater, you will love the huge array of signature cuts, ranging from rib eye to tenderloin to New York strip and porterhouse. And, you can enhance your meat with a range of toppings like sauces, crab cakes, and even “the works,” which has shrimp, scallop, and lobster blended with buttery breadcrumbs. There are meat cuts for smaller appetites as well as non-meat specialties including fish and seafood, poultry, and vegetarian dishes. There’s virtually something for everyone.
Filet at Merrill & Houston’s Beloit Wisconsin
We happened to be dining on a Friday, so had the opportunity not only to try a filet of beef served with potatoes, sautéd mushrooms and crispy onions but also their traditional Friday Fish Fry. The delicately battered fish or baked cod served with your choice of potato and fresh coleslaw was a steal at under $15.
Baked Cod dinner at Merrill & Houston’s
Don’t Miss The Bar
Of course, we also had to give the cocktails a spin, so we tied the Iron Cosmo made with our favorite Tito’s Vodka and a 608 Old Fashioned, just the way we like them in Wisconsin made with Korbel brandy. By the way, 608 is the area code in this part of Wisconsin. There are plenty of wines, beers, and other beverages to choose from as well. Take your time, relax, and enjoy being taken care of by someone who’s not rushing you out the door. The food, ambiance, drinks, and hospitality make for a lovely evening. And, if you’re staying in the Ironworks Hotel, you’ll just have a short trip upstairs to get to your room.
View from Merrill & Houston’s Steakhouse. Photo courtesy of Visit Beloit.
Beloit Craft Beer And Wine Scene
Beer lovers will be happy to hear about the growing craft beer scene and the Beloit Beer Trail. Pick up a passport at a participating location, at the Beloit Welcome Center, or the Visit Beloit website. Then purchase a beer at each location, get all the stamps, and redeem your completed passport for a cool Beloit Beer Trail t-shirt. You’ll want to stop by CheezHead Brewing for some great local craft beers and maybe a tasty charcuterie tray or panini sandwich to go with them. Then head over to G5 Brewing for more craft beer and yummy snacks or order a complete meal from their extensive menu. Other beer trail stops include Lucy’s #7 Burger Bar, Boundaries Bar and Grill, and The Rock Bar & Grill.
G5 Brewing. Photo courtesy of Visit Beloit.
Wine drinkers will enjoy a visit to the DC Estate Winery just a few minutes away in South Beloit. It’s obvious why this beautiful vineyard is a popular spot for weddings and special events. But you can visit the tasting room and try a glass or a whole flight of delicious wines ranging from dry to sweet. They have some unique specialty wines too. Order some snacks and check out the fun wine-themed merchandise while you’re there. Beloit also has plenty of wine bars and restaurants with extensive wine lists for every taste.
DC Estate Winery South Beloit Wisconsin
Much, Much More
We just highlighted a few options for you to get a taste of Beloit restaurants. But there are many foodie spots to explore on your Beloit getaway. Lucy’s #7 Burger Bar buzzes with activity and if you feel like a burger, you’ll have to stop in. Lucy’s gets its name from the pride of Minneapolis, the Juicy Lucy burger, which stuffs the cheese inside the meat patty. A veggie burger, fries, salads, and a “skookie” cookie skillet add to the many fun options here.
Lucy’s #7 Beloit Wisconsin
Velvet Buffalo Café is updating its menu to an all-Italian theme. Their well-loved stone-fired pizzas are already a big hit with locals and visitors alike. Other favorite Beloit restaurants include Zen Sushi & Grill for Japanese food, and Bagels & More for fresh baked goods and breakfast specialties along with salads, housemade soups, sandwiches, and wraps.
Downtown Beloit has lots of great shopping too! Spend the day window shopping or buying jewelry, apparel, shoes, crafts, souvenirs, and other gifts at cute shops and unique boutiques. Then step into the Flying Pig or Northwoods Premium Confections for a sweet treat or popcorn.
Flying Pig Candy Selection Beloit Wisconsin
Beloit Foodie Fun
Beloit WI offers other unique and fun food experiences.
bushel & peck’s
One of our favorite shops is bushel & peck’s, a hub of foodie activity in Beloit. When you walk into the market & café in downtown Beloit, you’ll be amazed at the variety. Food, books, soaps, specialty grocery items, beverages, apparel, and all manner of fun stuff will keep you occupied for hours. Luckily they also have a café with fresh food and beverages highlighting local produce, farmers, and organic ingredients as much as possible. They also have a preservation kitchen, which produces sauces, jams, soups, fermented foods, pickles, and more. In fact, the creation of the delicious and healthful “beet ketchup” came right out of b&p.
bushel & peck’s store
Maple Sugar Festival
Maple sugar is one of our favorite tastes. We discovered that the folks in Beloit celebrate it every year with an annual Maple Sugar Festival. During our visit we had the chance to learn all about maple trees, how the sap is gathered and the sap turned into delicious syrup. Of course, we had to try the wonderful golden nectar, so we enjoyed a pancake breakfast with real Wisconsin maple syrup to adorn our plates. We were honored to see a drum circle and hear the stories of local Native Americans. It was a wonderful celebration of art, nature, music, and Wisconsin’s natural resources hosted at the Welty Environmental Center.
Drum Circle Beloit Wisconsin
Double B Farm Country Store & Café
One other experience on your getaway in Beloit is the Double B Farm Country Store & Café. Double B is a real working farm. They have cows, goats, ducks, chickens, and pigs, whom proprietors Dan & Barb Butler say are their only employees. Double B is famous for “Duck Butt” muffins. These sweet little bits of heaven are made with real butter and duck eggs, and perhaps a bit of rum or bourbon to spice things up a bit.
Double B Farms. Photo courtesy of Visit Beloit.
The café menu is loaded with breakfast favorites like omelets, bowls, pancakes, and biscuits & gravy. Lunchtime brings burgers, sandwiches, and homemade pizzas as well. June through October, you can even get a fresh homemade wood fire pizza from their outdoor grill on Saturday evenings. Add some tasty brew from their beer list (yes, of course, they have Spotted Cow!). We’d say this has all the makings for pizza farm nirvana just 15 minutes from downtown Beloit.
Film Lovers Delight In The BIFF
If you enjoy cutting edge, innovative, documentary, and other quality independent films, you’ll want to check out the annual Beloit International Film Festival. We attended BIFF and got to see why so many people can’t wait to attend this fest. The BIFF has been a fixture in the city for over fifteen years. Filmmakers from around the world submit their works in all genres from features to documentaries to shorts. There are screenings of more than 100 quality independent films and awards are given for several categories.
We had the chance to see a great behind the scenes view of the Bucky On Parade event created by our own town, Madison, WI. We also saw the amazing Beloit episode of Discover Wisconsin, the longest-running tourism show in the nation. Want a preview of your great getaway to Beloit? Now you can check out this fun Beloit WI episode too!
Golf & Dine At The Beloit Club
The Beloit Club is an exclusive private club that offers exceptional dining, golf, and amenities to its members. One of the exceptional benefits of spending a night at either the Hotel Goodwin or Ironworks Hotel is that you can receive “Member For A Stay” privileges to the club. The gorgeous dining room, cozy Standard Tavern, and pub Scratch Bar offer delicious food, beverages, and a place to relax in comfort. Golfers will love the outstanding classic 18-hole course, which you can also access with your temporary membership. And families features like the outdoor pool area and bocce ball court will keep everybody happy. You can really make time to relax and unwind during your visit to Beloit with this exclusive benefit.
Short Rib Slider Sandwich The Beloit Club
The Powerhouse At Beloit College
Beloit College educates bright and talented students from around the world. So you can imagine the excitement when the school announced its $38 million investment in a new student union and athletic facility that would be the first of its kind in the country. The Powerhouse is a multipurpose space located on the Rock River in a 120,000-square-foot former generating station. The innovative minds in Beloit have created a world-class environment that encompasses education, social, environmental, physical, and community aspects of student life and integrates them into an incredible multipurpose space. Beloit WI shows off its ingenuity, environmental savvy, and care for the quality of student life with this uniquely appealing cutting-edge resource.
The Powerhouse Beloit College Beloit Wisconsin
The Powerhouse will not only attract new students, but also lots of community engagement. The space will host events, exhibits, conferences, mixers, and other activities that everyone can attend. There’s plenty of room for students to play, study, exercise, explore, and just hang out. It’s one of the most exciting places we’ve seen on a college campus. You’ll want to check the calendar before you head to Beloit for a visit to see what’s happening when you go. And even if there’s nothing special on the calendar, you’ll enjoy just strolling along the Riverwalk area or checking out the artwork and what’s going on.
Take A Beloit Getaway
We’ve only scratched the surface of all there is to do, see, and eat on a getaway in Beloit Wisconsin. It’s an easy Midwest road trip that offers a lot of variety in a convenient location. We know that you’ll find many other great ways to explore and can’t wait to hear about your own discoveries.
Photo courtesy of Visit Beloit.
Pin It to Your Wisconsin Travel Board on Pinterest
Imagination travel allows you to go anywhere in the world by using your mind. Take a virtual vacation when time or money are tight. Or, in uncertain times such as these. Remove potential health threats and transportation issues, by enjoying a mental vacation. The best part is, you can also use imagination travel to relax, unwind, and refresh. You can do it yourself whenever and wherever you want. Virtual travels are great in any season and for any reason!
How Did You Learn About This?
You may not know this, but I lived in New York City during the 9/11 terrorism attack on the World Trade Center. At the time, I was working at an internet design and development company. Having lived through such a traumatic experience, and seeing my fellow human beings struggling to deal with it all, I decided to follow a different path. I wanted to help people directly deal with the issues that we we were all confronting.
I came to run a group of wellness clinics that helped people deal with all kinds of personal issues. In the process I became certified in hypnotherapy as well as several other related disciplines. It was during my training that I began learning many techniques that use the power of creative imagery to relax, change unwanted behaviors, and even to heal. Imagination travel is one of my favorites!
After learning the power of these techniques, I dove even more deeply into the world of subconscious behavior. My skills evolved so that I could help people quit smoking, remove an irrational fear or phobia, learn better communication strategies and improve relationships, manage physical or mental pain, and make other changes quickly and effectively by using the power of their imagination.
Relieve Stress And Anxiety
Taking a virtual vacation has a variety of health benefits. Without any cost and in short order, you can manage stress, anxiety, worry, tension, and otherwise give yourself a break. After just a brief mental vacation, you’ll feel refreshed, relaxed, rejuvenated and like you’ve actually been on a real vacation. All this without having to concern yourself with logistics, tickets, plans, or cost. Virtual travels can be fun, relaxing, exciting, and certainly engaging. Your mind actually doesn’t know the difference between virtual travels and real ones.
If you like, you can do some imagination travel in the morning to start your day with the feeling of excitement as if you’ve just returned from a holiday – only it will have been a mental holiday. Or, take a virtual tour of a favorite spot during that time of the day when you’re feeling stressed and anxious. If you have a time when your energy is low, imagination travel can put back a little pep in your step too.
Imagination Travel For Sleep
One of the best ways to use imagination travel is to help you get to sleep. If you’re like a lot of us, your mind continues to race long after you’ve gone to bed. One of the best ways to relax and help yourself fall blissfully to sleep is by using imagination travel to provide a way to slow down your mind and your body, getting to sleep faster and more easily. Sound good? Let’s show you how.
How Do I Take A Virtual Vacation?
The process of imagination travel is really quite simple. There are only a few steps, but you need to do them in order to get the best results. Before you get started, you’ll need to find a quiet place where you can sit or lie down comfortably.
You also need to make sure that you will not have any interruptions. If you’re in an office, turn off the phone and computer volume (no lights or vibrations either because you will definitely sense these). If you’re at home, be sure that any pets are not able to jump up on you because they will distract you from the process. You can take as little as 5 minutes up to as long as you want for imagination travel. I usually find that 10-15 minutes offers me the results I want.
Step By Step Instructions
Read these instructions before you take your virtual vacation. They’re pretty simple but you’ll want to be able to focus completely on yourself and your virtual travels without having to refer to anything outside of your mind during the process. To make it easy, here is a list of the steps in order so you can easily enjoy your imagination travel anytime you want.
Getting Started
Sit or lie comfortably without distraction or interruption.
Pick a spot somewhere that is at a slight distance from you and slightly above your natural sightline. For example, if you are in an office chair, pick a spot on a wall (or a photo, note, etc.) across from you. Look at the spot without raising your head, such that only your eyes are tilting upward. If you are lying down, pick a spot on the ceiling above you that requires you to move your eyes upward but again keep your chin in its natural position without moving up. Only your eyes should be above their straight forward position.
Take five deep breaths from your diaphragm. Breathe in slowly and deeply and exhale the same way. You can put your hands across your stomach to be sure you can feel your breath coming in below your chest.
On the fifth breath, close your eyes and imagine a place you’d like to take your virtual journey. It can be a place you have traveled to in the past, one you would like to travel to in the future or an imaginary place. You can simply choose a beach or a lake or a forest or a meadow. Anywhere that makes you feel happy.
Taking Your Journey
Use your creativity to imagine every detail. Engage all of your senses. What do you see, hear, taste, smell, feel? Imagine the sound of waves, wind, birds…Smell the flowers or taste a local dish…see the wildlife or people or scenery…feel the sun shining on you or the soft fur of a friendly alpaca…Make it all as clear and detailed as you can. Explore all the facets of each detail thoroughly. Leave no stone unturned.
Keep creating slowly and comfortably and enjoy exploring during your imagination travel. Take as long as you like and make your virtual journey as complete as if you were physically there. Your mind does not know the difference!
Finishing Up
When you have explored enough and are ready to emerge, breathe deeply and count backward from 3…2…1…0. On 0, slowly open your eyes and allow yourself a few moments to come back from your mental vacation. Breathe in deeply two or three times and welcome yourself back to your day.
If you are doing your imagination travel right before bed, then you can skip step 7, the emergence step, and simply allow yourself to drift off to sleep. When your virtual travels have taken you somewhere very energetic and busy, transition to a calmer, quieter scene that will allow your mind and body to slow down. If you need to relax further, you can simply count backward from 5…4…3…2…1…0 and give yourself mentally the instruction that with every number you are getting sleepier and more relaxed.
Tell Me About Your Imagination Travel!
I love seeing where people go during their virtual vacations and hearing about their experiences. If you take a mental vacation, please let me know! I can’t wait to see how you enjoy your virtual holiday. Please feel free to comment or send me an email at [email protected] to tell me all about it. I look forward to doing a little more imagination travel on my own.
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