Moroccan Roasted Veggie Packets

So, among other things, I love good food!  I've gotten so much more discriminating with my food over the last 10 years.  My diet is pretty restricted because of my Crohn's Disease and I thought for a while that I would never be able to eat really good food again.  I've found a way around that though.  I have found ways to still make and eat delicious food, while still avoiding the things that will make me feel bad.  I feel totally gypped if I go out to eat and have to spend money on something that I feel I could make better at home (and cheaper!)  I love trying out new recipes.  Thankfully my hubby enjoys it as well.  When I met him, he did not have an adventurous palate AT ALL!  He practically ate off the kiddie menu.  It was either Fettuccine Alfredo, pizza, or mac and cheese!  He refused to eat onions or garlic (which I can't cook without), green beans, mushrooms, pickles or beets.  OK, so he's still firm about the pickles and beets, but I've convinced him that the others aren't so bad thanks to my culinary prowess!  lol!

The beginning of the story of my Moroccan Roasted Veggie Packets starts not in Morocco, but in Sheffield, England!  My husband and I took a trip to England last year and road tripped around the country.  It was amazing!  Its so GREEN and so beautiful and the people are so nice!  They have this wonderful thing called a "Traditional English Breakfast" (which I will talk about in another blog post because its just that awesome!)  Anyway, we had spent a day traveling around the English countryside and touring Chatsworth house, which for those of you are fans of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (the best version--the one with Colin Firth) is Mr. Darcy's home.  It was amazing, and the grounds were gorgeous. 

By the time we got to our hotel that night in Sheffield we were starving since most days we only ate breakfast and dinner.  We looked at our options for eating and chose a little out of the way place called Otto's Restaurant that serves Moroccan food.  One of the great things about England is its kind of a melting pot, so you get a great variety of international cuisine.

So, back to the veggie packets.  We ordered these veggie packets for dinner there and they were so delicious!  I came home and searched all over the Internet for a recipe--none to be found.  At least not like the ones we had.  So, I decided I was just going to have to make my own version.  So, here it is!

Moroccan Roasted Veggie Packets

1 large potato, cubed
1 large carrot, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 Tbsp. Moroccan seasoning (I got mine from the Savory Spice Shop)
1/2 tsp. salt (or to taste)
1-2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/2 can garbanzo beans
Phyllo dough
Earth Balance spread

Pull out phyllo dough to thaw.  It will probably need to thaw for a couple hours.  Put all veggies,  seasonings, and olive oil into a gallon bag and shake.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and then pour contents of bag into pan and spread out evenly.  Bake for 20 minutes at 425.  Stir, then bake for another 20 minutes.  Add the garbanzo beans to the veggies.  Layer sheets of phyllo dough and brush each layer with melted Earth Balance.  Put 6-8 layers of phyllo dough down, then put 1/3 of the filling in each.  Fold corners over and brush with more Earth Balance.  If needed, you can add a few more layers of dough if you need to cover an open spot.  Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.  Serve with warmed marinara sauce.

Beginnings

Most of us don't end up being what we thought we would be when we were kids.
Nurse...
Olympic gymnast...
Veterinarian...
Even when I got to college, I couldn't seem to make up my mind.
Teacher.
Midwife.
Pilot (I actually got my private pilot's license).
Dietitian.
Pilot (again).
Wellness Manager.  That's the one I actually got my Bachelor's and Master's degree in. 
Just as I was finishing up my Master's degree (3 weeks before) I started feeling unwell.  I had only been married for 3 months.  Thanksgiving had just passed.  A month later, after losing 30 pounds, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease.  I had always tried to be really healthy.  I had never had any major health problems.  And here I was, struggling with how to deal with this.  I was mad at God at first.  I was young.  I tried to be a good Christian.  I was just beginning my adult life.  I couldn't understand how God could let this happen to me.  God ended up speaking to me through the book Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning.  Its an amazing read and will either make you fall in love with God for the first time, or fall in love with him all over again.

Three months after my diagnosis I went to a Third Day concert.  Their song, "Mountain of God" brought tears to my eyes and actually made me thankful to God.  I realized my life had been going at such a hectic pace that I really hadn't had that much time for God.  This illness had forced me to slow down and take stock of my life.  The journey hasn't been easy.  It had created challenges that I never thought I would have to deal with.  I have found that when I have nothing else to hold onto, God is always there.  I am thankful for all I have because, truly, things could be much, much worse.  God has blessed me amazingly.  My health, while not perfect, has improved and I am in remission.  I have a loving husband and a home and food and water.  This blog is about the things I am thankful for and the things that bring joy to my life.