Roasted Veggies and Transformation

There is something so special about picking out vegetables. Whether they are from a farm stand, your own garden, or even the grocery store, they look so beautiful. All the bright colors and the fantastic shapes make it hard for me to choose. Even my young children can’t wait to hand pick the ones they want to place in the grocery cart.

But what I love most about vegetables is the awesome transformation that takes place when they are roasted in the oven. Every time I make this recipe it amazes me how sweet and flavorful the veggies get. It’s magic!

I believe we all have the same capacity to transform our lives. No matter what we look like, where we come from, or the type of person we are, under the right conditions our inner sweetness and beauty can be coaxed out.

The important first step to finding this sweetness is to be kind and loving to ourselves. It's so important to take time every day to connect to our passion and enjoy what makes us happy. By the end of the day we feel better and have more patience to be gentle and kind to others. Just like the vegetables, we hold magic inside – practice seeing it. Once we realize and accept our own capacity for greatness, we can then live a wonderfully flavorful life.

Roasted Veggies Recipe- By Diane Abraham

I have included in this recipe the vegetables I like best. Please feel free to improvise and use what you like and what is available to you. In my opinion the purple onion is a must. It’s the key to maximum sweetness!

1 large purple onion cut into about 6-8 wedges

2 medium sweet potatoes cut into 2-3 inch cubes (approx. size)

10 mini assorted (red, yellow, orange) sweet peppers (cut off stems, cut in half and discard seeds)

1 head broccoli cut into florets

2-3 tbsp. olive oil (or enough to coat well) (or try coconut oil for more health benefits)

1 tsp. hot pepper flake

Salt and pepper to taste

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees

• Place cut veggies in a bowl and toss with olive oil and seasonings

• Spread veggies on a large cookie sheet, make sure they are in a single layer

• Bake for 35-45 minutes until veggies are dark and roasted (stir a few times along the way but make sure to spread into single layer for best results)

• Serve as a side dish or as a vegetarian entrée!