Day 3 - Daniel Fast

This is the last day you'll feel like you're fasting...well, bodily-speaking!  If you can get through today, then you can easily last the week!  (And if you can last the week, you'll last the 21 days!)

So, what's on the menu today?

BREAKFAST:  Oatmeal with dried fruit and nuts and cinnamon


Simmer your long-cooking (old-fashioned) oats and when they're just about done, toss in 1/4 c. of your favorite dried fruit (today I'm having cherries, three different kinds of raisins, plums, dates and craisins).  Stirring in the fruit during the last minute of cooking plumps up the pieces of fruit and makes them soft.  Then when the oatmeal is done and the consistency you like (some like runnier, some like thicker), add your favorite nuts (I'm having hazelnuts, walnuts, and pecans).  I like to toast the nuts first.  It gives them a lighter, crunchier texture and richer, roastier taste.  Then stir in a good amount of cinnamon and then add a splash of soy milk, if you like milk/cream on your oatmeal.  I had my son stop at Trader Joe's on his way home from work yesterday to pick me up the good brand, so I'll have to use up the vanilla soy after the fast in one of my favorite hot drinks...a soy mate latte ("mate" rhymes with latte).  Can't have it on the Daniel Fast because the yerba mate has tea-like qualities.  It's a nice change when you want to sip something warm that's creamy like a latte but not coffee.

LUNCH: Left-over Spinach-Leek Soup, fresh fruit

Hopefully, you liked the soup enough to eat it again today!  If not, maybe you still have some chili hanging around!  (And if you did like it, then you will have to make this soup again after the fast and use a rich chicken stock for the base instead of vegetable broth or water, and then top it with a sprinkle of fresh-grated parmesan or romano cheese.)

We had a soup-and-bread potluck at church to end the third
day of our corporate prayer and fasting time. Many people had
just completed a 3-day water-only fast, so the soups tasted
divine. My favorite was the Carrot-Ginger one of the ladies made.
 I asked her for the recipe, so I will pass it on when she gives it to me!
 A few of us are continuing on with the 21-day Daniel Fast,
so my soup and her soup were perfect for us.

DINNER:  Polenta-Quinoa Curry (Oh, this is sooo yummy!)

This is probably going to be something new for you.  I hope you found polenta at the store.  If not, just use quinoa.  My store actually carries polenta with quinoa in it, so bonus!  This recipe serves 2.

Start by sauteeing 1/2 diced onion and 1/2 yellow pepper in olive
oil, then when soft add 2 cloves of minced garlic and cook
just until fragrant.

Add half a can of coconut milk and 2 to 3 tsp. of garam masala,
which is a very flavorful Indian spice,
(or curry powder if you can't find garam masala)
and a couple dashes of ground coriander

Steam or microwave a bag of cauliflower or steam fresh cauliflower.
It is actually in season right now until March, so fresh is better.
Steam until barely tender.  Don't overcook because it's going into
the curry and will be simmering until tender.

This is what my brand of polenta looks like.
It comes in a tube like a big sausage!

It slides out of the tube and then you slice it.  You can actually
fry it up like sausage patties or you can add liquid and mix it
until it becomes creamy like mashed potatoes.  Or, you can
crumble it into your pan like this...

Here is the polenta, crumbled and stirred into the creamy curry.
Then at the very end, stir in some cilantro.  It's looking
pretty good, isn't it?

Now, the best part!  This is what makes a curry so delicious and
fun!  Toppings...whatever you like!  Be creative.  My favorites
are (from R to L beginning on top) raisins, unsweetened coconut,
mandarin oranges, pistachios (cashews work very well too),
pomegranate arils (the best!) and avocado (no, this is the best!).
Some people like peas (very East Indian), others like chutney,
relish, even hard-boiled egg!  I also like mango, but the mangoes
at the store were just a little too unripe still.

And here it is...I think this is a delicious meal and very satisfying.
I hope you like it too!