Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Chia Seed Pudding with Chai "Cream"

CHIA SEED PUDDING
¼ cup chia seeds
1 cup almond milk
1 tablespoon raw agave nectar
½ banana
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch salt

Blend together almond milk, agave, bananas, vanilla, and salt. Pour over chia seeds and soak for 30 minutes to an hour.

CHAI CREAM
¾ cup cashews
¼ cup raw agave nectar
¼ cup water
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cardamom
½ inch fresh ginger
4 pink peppercorns
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Portion into glass, drizzle with chai cream and fresh berries.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Shopping List 6/25

Produce

bananas (S2)
berries (B1)
orange (Din1)
kiwi (D1)
watermellon (D1)
strawberries (D1)
pineapple (D1)
pineapple juice (D1)
tomatoe (Din 3, Din 5)
bell peppers (Din4)
onion (Din 4)
zucchini (Din 4)
garlic (Din 4)
lettuce (Din5)
carrots (Din 5)
celery (Din 5)
cuccumber (Din 5)
almond slices (Din1)

Refrigerator

goat cheese (Din 3)
eggs (Din 5)

Bulk Food

mixed nuts (S1)
brown rice (Din 2, Din 4)
corn tortillas (Din 3)

Canned

red chili sauce (Din 3)
diced tomatoes (Din4)
olives (Din5)


Meat

salmon (Din 1)
ground turkey (Din 2, Din 3, Din 4)
deli meat (Din 5)

Baking/Spices

vanilla (B1)
cinnamon (B1)
honey (Din 1)
paprika (Din 1)
salt (Din 1)
pepper (Din 1)
rosemary (Din 1)

Condiments

peanut butter (S2)
salad dressing  (Din 5)

Health Food Store

GF oatmeal (B1)

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Menu 6/25

Breakfast

(B1)  Oatmeal
 Prepare oatmeal. Add vanilla and cinnamon to taste. Throw in some berries of your choice. Enjoy.




Snacks

(S1) Mixed Nuts
.


(S2)  Banana and Peanut Butter






Dinners

(Din1) Honey Citrus SalmonThis is my husbands creation and the best salmon I've ever had.


Ingredients:


2 salmon fillets
zest from 1 orange
juice from 1 orange
1 tsp honey
paprika
salt
pepper
almond slices


Directions:

In a medium sized bowl, zest one orange. Mix in juice from orange and honey. Add salmon to mixture and let marinade for 1/2 hr. flipping once during the recommended time. After salmon has marinaded, place on a broiling pan. Sprinkle desired amount of salt, pepper, paprika  and almond slices on each fillet.
Broil for 10-12 min. Salmon is done when it appears rosy in color and easily flakes. Serve with veggie of choice.
*We like to eat this with asparagus.






(Din2) Simple Rice n' meat dish


Ingredients:
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 lb. ground turkey, browned
1 tsp. rosemary


Directions:
Cook rice. While rice is cooking, brown turkey over high heat, salt and pepper to taste. Add rosemary to meat. When rice has finished cooking add to meat and mix thouroughly. Serve immediately.


(Din3) Easy Enchiladas


Ingredients:


1 lb. ground turkey
1 tomatoe, cubed
1 pkg. corn tortillas
1 can red chili sauce
cheese (optional)


Directions:


Brown Turkey. Add tomatoes and chili sauce. Let simmer for a couple of minutes to allow the flavors to blend.  Layer 1/3 meat mixture on bottom of glass pan. Lay 6 corn tortillas on top. Sprinkle cheese on top of tortilla layer. (skip this step for dairy free or try goat cheese) Repeat three times. Meat mixture, tortiallas then cheese.  Put in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or untill bubbly and brown on top.


(Din4) Summer Stuffed PeppersD4) Stu


Ingredients:


8 medium sweet red, yellow or green peppers
1-1/2 lb. ground turkey
I medium onion, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, shredded
1/2 cup finely chopped cabbage
1/2 cup shredded zucchini
1 garlic clove, minced
1 can (28 oz.) diced tomoatoes, undrained
1/2 cup cooked brown rice


Directions:


Cut the tops off each pepper and set aside. Remove seeds and membranes. Cook whole peppers in boiling water for 2-3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove and invert on paper towels to drain. Remove stems from pepper tops and chop enough of the top to make 1/3 cup. In a skillet, brown turkey over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, cabbage, zucchini, garlic and chopped peppers; saute until tender. Add tomatoes and rice. Stuff hot meat mixture into peppers. Makes 8 servings.


Tips: I make this recipe with whatever veggies I want or with what I have on hand. So if you don't like carrots, cabbage or zucchini try a veggie you do like. I like to use corn, peas, carrots, etc.  Also, if the kids won't eat a stuffed pepper, I put the meat mixture by itself in a little 8X8 pan and bake it that way for the kids.


(Din5) Chef Salad
This is a great meal that is easy to make and nice to have during the hot summer months.
Use your choice of lettuce and top with carrots, celery, cuccumbers, tomatoes, meat of your choice, hard boiled egg, olives and salad dressing.
ffed Pepper


Dessert

(D1) Frozen Fruit Pops
It is Hot Hot Hot where I live and anything cold sounds good right now. =)

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Hello Everyone!  I am Brittany, one of Megan's many cousins.  I live in Indiana with my husband and two and a half kids:) My husband is in his 3rd year of Dental School and I CAN'T. WAIT. UNTIL. IT'S. OVER! Anyway, Megan asked me to be a contributor to this blog!  I love that other people enjoy what I eat! I eat this way because I feel so much better when I do. Plain and simple. So to start off I am sharing with you my recent beauty secret:) Just kidding, it's not a secret but, I can't live without it!

The best thing I have done for my skin was to make a homemade salt scrub! I even use it on my face, I use my face wash first then apply the scrub(I haven't had any breakouts from it...yet....hopefully never...every skin is different. Mine is combination).   I use this salt scrub recipe in every shower even if it's everyday! I can feel a major difference when I don't use it.  If you want extra soft skin use your favorite body lotion following. I actually haven't found a favorite body lotion so anyone out there have any suggestions?

Here is what I use in my scrub:

Almond Oil
Jojoba Oil
Olive Oil 
 Sea Salt


There are no exact proportions that I follow. It's best if you experiment for yourself.  However, when you mix the scrub, put the salt in first then the olive oil. Put the jojoba oil in next and add the almond oil(this should get rid of the smell of olive oil).  First time I tried it, I smelled like an Italian entree':)  That is, until I rinsed off.  Let me know what you all think!  Have a Healthy Day!

PS-The Menu posted this week was from me.




Menu Week of June 18th, 2012








Breakfast


(B1) Quinoa Cakes :I made these and they were really good! My husband even liked them!  These are more savory than sweet but, can be made ahead and eaten throughout the week.  I omitted the Parmesan cheese. You can add nutritional yeast if you want. Also you can use egg whites instead of the whole egg, I did that too.


Snacks


(S1)Sweet Potato Fries with Dill Sauce: I have a confession...I love fries.  I really do!  There is just something about them that keeps me coming back for more, especially when I am pregnant! These recipes are my substitutes!  I add olive oil instead of vegetable oil or you can use egg whites.  I also added a LOT of extra dill and vinegar to the ranch sauce but, that is the way I like it! Uh-Huh Uh-Huh!


(S2)  Fruit and Almond butter:  I don't know about you but I love fruit and peanut butter together.  However, I don't digest peanut butter very well.  So, I switched to almond butter.  I eat it on bananas and bananas for a snack


Dinners


(D1)Spaghetti with Sun Dried Tomato Marinara Sauce :  This recipe is de-LISH!  I have made it more than once.  It does call for dates but, I omitted it and it still tastes good and sweet! Another variation on this would be to add salt-free tomato paste( just add a little water, extra spices and lemon juice).  The recipe calls for zucchini as the noodles but, you can use gluten-free noodles as well.  


(D2)BBQ Veggie Burger with  Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup and Mustard(opt.) : I think I ate three of these the first time I mad this! It was so yummy! It says to dehydrate the burger but, you can use the oven or fry it in olive oil.


(D3)Raw Fiesta Tacos!: What can I say, I LOVE tacos! These are really yummy! The cashew sour cream is a weird combination and it may even taste weird by itself but, on top of the tacos it's good!  You can even omit the cashew sour cream and make sour cream from greek yogurt.  Just add lemon juice and vinegar to it to taste.  You can also use beans with cumin on them instead of the walnut/soy sauce combination.


(D4)Raw Pizza on Portabello Crust: I haven't tried this recipe but, it looks really good!


(D5)Spicy Thai Peanut(I used almonds) Sauce with Veggies and Noodles: I have made this so many times with some variation.  I used almond butter instead of peanut butter and instead of chipotle peppers I used the a tablespoon of thai chili paste(It comes in a little jar in the oriental section). I make this sauce then add raw or steamed veggies like carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, snap peas, bamboo shoots etc. You can put it on gluten-free rice, noodles or just eat as is.  My family loved it!


Dessert and a Drink


Blackberry and Basil Seltzer: Just for kicks and giggles I thought I would post a refreshing drink that I saw but haven't tried yet. Would like you all to try it and give me your opinion:)


(Ds1)Lemon Sweet Cream with Fruit : I haven't tried this either, but I have made things like this and it was really good surprisingly!  I am not a big believer in eating too much coconut mainly because all the saturated fat in it(bummer!)  But, ya know....once in a while!  You can use whatever fruit is in season or what suits your fancy.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Shopping List for 6/11

Produce
broccoli (S1)

garlic (S1,D2)
Berries (S2)
onion (D1)
spinach (D1)
lemon juice (D2)
Romain lettuce hearts (D3)
avocado (D3)
tomato (D3)
iceberg lettuce (D4)
burger fixin's (D4)
kabob veggies (D5)

Refrigerator
4 eggs (B1, Des1)

Freezer

frozen winter squash puree (D1)

Bulk food

raw cashews (D2)

Canned
coconut milk (Des1)

tomato paste (D1)
beef broth (D1)

Meat
lean ground beef (D1, D4)

kabob meat (D5)

Baking/spices
agave nectar (B1)
vanilla extract (B1)

baking soda (B1, Des1)
grapeseed oil (B1)
EVOO (S1, D1, D3)
cornstarch (D1)
garlic powder (D1)
chili powder (D2)
turmeric (D2)
cayenne pepper (D2)

pine nuts (D3)
balsamic vinegar (D3)


Condiments
mustard (D2)
burger fixin's (D4)
Italian dressing (D5)

Health Food Store

almond flour (B1,Des1)
70% dark chocolate chips (Des1)
goat cheese (D1,D3)
nutritional yeast (D2)
Gluten-free pasta (D2)

Monday Menu 6/11


Breakfast (B1)
Gluten-free Pancakes: I guess I'm feeling in the mood for comfort food. There's a lot of that in this week's menu. I've made these before and they didn't set up well for me- but the pancake pieces were to die for! I've been missing a good flapjack breakfast and with the tips listed on this page, I'm sure success is not far away!

Snacks
(S1) Roasted Broccoli: She says that she's never met anyone who has not liked this recipe. I'm intrigued..... Enough to try it.....

(S2) Berry Salad: Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, you name it! Throw it all together to make a salad. Be sure to eat some protien with it (nuts, seeds, etc.) to balance out the sugars from your berries.

Dessert
(Des 1) Black and White Cake: I've made this recipe many times and it's a hit with everyone. You would never know it was grain, dairy, and sugar-free. I don't use the white chocolate chips. I add dark chocolate chips instead to keep the sugar content down. It's great with fresh strawberries!

Dinners
(D1) Shepherd's Pie: Gotta love comfort food! Use either goat cheese or omit the cheese altogether to make it dairy-free.

(D2) Vegan Mac n Cheese: Another intriguing recipe.

(D3) Avocado Salad: Romain heart, tomato, avocado, pine nuts, goat cheese, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. One of my favs.

(D4) Burgers: Get out the grill and wrap your burger in iceburg lettuce instead of a bun. Top with your favorite toppings with corn on the cob on the side.

(D5) Kabobs: Grab some skewers, a meat like chicken or steak, and chopped veggies- onion, peppers, tomatoes, etc. Once you assemble your kabobs, marinate in Italian dressing and grill those babies up!

Monday, May 28, 2012

Sugar: The Bitter Truth

 A great explanation of how sugar affects the body. This one hour-twenty nine minute video is worth your time.

Shopping List 5/28

Produce
spinach (B1)
bananas (B1, D1)
limes (B1, Din2, Din3)
apples (S1)
carrots (S2, Din2, Din4)
green pepper (Din3, Din4, Din5)
red pepper (S2, Din3, Din4, Din5)
celery (Din4, Din5)
cucumber (S2, Din4)
green onions (Din5)
iceberg lettuce (Din1, Din5)
sugar snap peas (S2)
tomatoes (Din1, Din4)
onions (Din2, Din3)
cilantro (Din2, Din3, Din4)
jalapeno (Din3)
lemon Juice (Din4)
garlic (Din3, Din4, Din5)


Refrigerator
hummus (S2)
eggs (D1)


Bakery
corn tortillas (Din3)


Freezer
frozen fruit (B1)


Bulk food
tortilla chips (Din1)
brown rice (Din2)
walnuts (Din4, D1)
roasted peanuts (Din5)

Canned
black beans (Din1)
curry paste (Din2)


Meat
chicken (Din1, Din2, Din3, Din5)
Steak (Din3)

Baking/spices
canola oil (Din5)
olive oil (Din2, Din3, Din4)
ginger (Din4, Din5)
cumin (Din3)
oregano (Din3)
salt (Din3, Din4, D1)
pepper (Din3)
baking soda (D1)
vanilla (D1)
cinnamon (D1)
coconut oil (D1)



Condiments
salsa (Din1, Din3)
gluten free soy sauce (Din5)
rice or distilled vinegar (Din5)
red pepper flakes (Din5)

Health Food Store
flax seed (S1)
coconut milk (Din2)
quinoa (Din4)
almond meal (D1)
peanut butter (S1)

Monday Menu 5/28



1 breakfast, 2 snacks, 5 dinners and 1 dessert

Breakfast
(B1) Green Smoothie: Green smoothies are quick and full of nutrients. You can follow this recipe or have fun with it and add your own fruits and veggies. No fancy blender required. I have a regular old Walmart brand blender and it works just fine.


Snacks
(S1) Apples and Peanut Butter: Slice up an apple and dip in some natural peanut butter and you've got one tasty snack. I like to get the freshly ground peanut butter at my local health food store. It's a bit more expensive but the taste is worth it. I've also heard almond butter is good too.

(S2) fresh veggies and hummus: I love me some hummus. I use it on everything. Cut up your favorite veggies and dip in hummus. I especially love carrot sticks, red bell peppers, sugar snap peas and cucumbers with hummus.


Dinners
(D1) Chicken n' black bean taco salad:

Ingredients:

2 lg. chicken breasts (Costco sized) thawed
or 4 sm. chicken breasts
3 cans black beans
8-12 oz. salsa

shredded lettuce
cubed tomatoes
1 pkg. tortilla chips

Directions:

Thaw chicken, place in crock pot.
Poor in salsa.
Drain  and rinse one can black beans and add to crock pot, add remaining 2 cans of black beans with juice.
Turn crock pot to low and cook for 6-8 hrs. High for 5-6 hrs.

During last hr. of cook time, remove chicken and shred. Place shredded chicken back into crock pot for remaining time.

Serve with shredded lettuce and cubed tomatoes over tortilla chips.

*This is one of my all-time favorite meals to make when I'm short on time. I also love that it gives us left-overs.
Enjoy!


(D2) Coconut-Chicken Curry
from Better Homes and Gardens Annual Recipes 2006

Prep: 30 min. Stand: 30 min. Cook: 16 min.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut in bite-sized pieces
1/2 C red curry paste
1 T olive oil
1 lg. onion, coarsely chopped
1 13.5 oz can unsweetened or reduced-fat coconut milk
1 1/2 C matchstick sized carrots
1 tsp. finely shredded lime peel
Hot cooked brown rice
Snipped fresh cilantro

Directions:

1. In a bowl combine chicken and curry paste; let stand at room temp. for 30 min.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add oil, onion, and chicken. Cook over medium heat for 8-10 min., stirring occasionally, until chicken is tender and no longer pink.
3. Remove chicken from skillet. Carefully add coconut milk to skillet, scraping up crusty bits. Add carrots and lime peel. Bring to boiling; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5 min. or until carrots are crisp-tender. Return chicken mixture to skillet. Simmer, uncovered, for 3-5 min. or until liquid thickens slightly. Serve with rice and snipped cilantro. Makes 4 servings.

*If you like to eat Thai curry, you will love this. It is not spicy-hot like you might imagine most Thai food to be. It is absolutely amazing.


(D3)-Fajitas

MmMm. I love me some fajitas.
For gluten free, use corn tortillas.
I also use chicken for my fajitas instead of steak because that's what I've got on hand.

(D4)- Quinoa Salad

I just tried this for the first time at a BBQ a few weeks ago and I'm totally hooked on Quinoa now. This is perfect for the summer.

(D5)  Szechwan Chicken Lettuce Wrap

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp canola or peanut oil
8 oz, chicken
1/2 medium sweet green or red pepper, diced
1 cup celery cut into slices
2 tsp/ minced fresh ginger or dash of ginger spice
2 cloves garlic minced
1 Tbsp gluten free soy sauce
1 Tbsp rice or distilled vinegar
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 Tbsp dry roasted peanuts
2 green onions, sliced short
2 large Iceberg lettuce leaves

Directions:
Heat skillet over medium heat 3 minutes. Add oil and coat pan evenly. Add chicken, red or green peppers, celery, and ginger. Cook and stir for 3 min. or until chicken is opaque. Stir in garlic. Add soy sauce, vinegar and pepper flakes. Continue to cook and stir mixture for 1 minute. Stir in peanuts and green onion. Remove pan from heat. Put mixture in lettuce leaves. Roll and eat like a burrito. 2 servings.
* hint: this is spicy. If you don't like spicy don't add the red pepper flakes


Dessert
(D1) Banana Bread

I use 4 VERY ripe bananas instead of the 2 that is called for. It turns out much better. Also, make sure to line your bread pan with wax paper or tin foil, this will allow you to remove your banana bread with ease.




Thursday, May 24, 2012

Natural Deodorant

I have been on a quest to remove personal care and beauty products that contain harmful chemicals from my routine. I've been doing a little research and have found that most beauty products contain fragrances and chemicals that can cause cancer and that are endocrine disruptors. Now- it seems like EVERYTHING causes cancer now-a-days. I don't want cancer, but I also don't want to stay locked up in a bubble.

The thing that got me as I was reading about this stuff, was that beauty products contain a lot of chemicals that can disrupt the balance and function of your endocrine system. For me, this is a big issue. My endocrine system is already incredibly disrupted. I have several endocrine disorders. They made it difficult for me to produce my adorable, perfect, chubbsters baby. As in 5 years difficult. I really DON'T need my endocrine system disrupted further.

So in the quest of mine, I have a couple of requirements from the products I switch to:

1. I don't want to smell like the health food store.
2. It has to be reasonably priced.
3. I don't want to smell like the health food store.
4. It's got to work effectively.
5. I don't want to put dirt on my face and call it makeup. 
6. I don't want to smell like the health food store.

Amazingly, there are a lot of products that fit these requirements! But I want to tell you about one of them.


This is a toothpaste. But I don't use it as a toothpaste. It has become my official deodorant.... Hear me out....

Most deodorants, if you look at the warning label (you may need to open the little label accordion folder thing on the back) you will find two warnings. One says to not use on broken skin. What that means is that you can't put it on after shaving. When you shave, it breaks the skin open. Ladies, I don't know about you, but I'd like to be able to wear deodorant on days that I shave.

The second thing the label may say is that you should not use if you have kidney disease. I've never met anyone whose kidneys were by their armpits. The chemicals in deodorant travel to your kidneys through your blood stream. So that means that the nasty aluminum (some deodorants contain 60% aluminum!) is getting into your bloodstream and may be disrupting your endocrine system- or worse.    

So I switched to a natural deodorant. Its performance stunk. And so did I. I tried another one. Same verdict. I was about ready to bag it and go back regular deodorant- I mean, cummon- beauty must come first! But then I heard about this stuff. The recommendation came from Nature's Knockout  who got it from a man who uses heavy machinery and sweats buckets. Thieves Dentarome Plus is a completely natural toothpaste which has the consistency of lotion. It's not gummy or sticky like Crest is. It dries quickly and smells like cinnamon. I'm game for trying weird stuff.

Love it! It lasts all day. It completely keeps me dry and I don't smell. (Can I get a woot, woot for not being stinky!?) I'm not one who sweats much, but from what I hear and from others who have tried it, it really works for even the most abundant perspirer. And the husband agrees too! He and I are both converted.

I can't help but feel pretty clever using it.

I thought I'd pass it on.

On a side note, Nature's Knockout is a really fun site to check out. Fun hair and make up tutorials using all natural products, as well as information on beauty products and their safety.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Shopping List 5/21

Here is the shopping list for this week's menu:

Produce
1 sweet potato (Din3)
2 garlic cloves (Din3)
1 red onion (Din3)
Granny Smith apples (S2)
Salad ingredients (Din1)
1 head cauliflower (Din2)
Veggies for pizza (Din2)
1/4 c fresh cilantro (Din4)
3 scallions (Din4)
Avocado (Din5)
Lettuce (Din5)
Tomatoes (Din5)
Sprouts (Din5)

Refrigerator
Coconut milk (B1)
1/2 c chevre goat cheese (S1, Din2)
Mozzarella goat cheese
1 egg (Din2)

Bakery
10-12 corn tortillas (Din3)

Freezer
8 oz frozen corn (Din4)

Bulk Food
Mixed nuts/seeds/almonds (B1,S2,D1)
Oats (D1)
Rice (Din4)

Canned
Pasta sauce (Din1)
Pizza sauce (Din2)
2 cans black beans (Din3, Din4)
1 can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies (Din4)
1 can chicken broth (Din4)

Meat
Hamburger (Din1)
Chicken (Din4)
Deli meat (Din5)

Baking/Spices
Oregano (Din2)
Unsweetened shredded coconut (B1)
Dried raisins or cranberries (B1, D1)
Coconut oil (B1, D1)
Vanilla (B1)
Cumin (Din3, Din4)
chili powder (Din3)
oregano (Din3)
coriander (Din3)
paprika (Din3)
chipotle chile pepper (Din3)
 lime juice (Din3)
garlic powder (din4)
onion powder (Din4)
cayenne pepper (Din4)

Condiments
Honey/Maple syrup (B1, D1)
Peanut butter (D1)
extra virgin olive oil (Din3)

Health Food Store
Gluten-free crackers (S1)
Gluten-free noodles (Din1)

Monday Menu 5/21


Excited to present our first Monday Menu. >insert cheering here< Below you will find 1 breakfast, 5 dinners, 2 snacks, and 1 dessert. All recipes are gluten, dairy, and sugar free AND easy!

So here's how it will work. All you have to do is read through the post to get the recipes for this week's menu. Then click on "This Week's Shopping List" in the toolbar above to print out what you will need. Menu planning- DONE. Isn't it always the hardest part?

Breakfast
(B1) Grain-free Granola: I love this recipe, but have made some changes for my tastes. I combine all kinds of different nuts and seeds. I've used almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds- whatever I can get my hands on. I just make sure I use roughly the same amount of nuts/seeds as the recipe requires. I also use unsweetened dried cranberries instead of raisins, and I use pure maple syrup instead of honey. I like to quadruple the recipe and bake four 9x13 pans of granola at a time. Then I freeze what I won't use within a week or two. Add a little coconut milk (vanilla flavored is my favorite) and I am full all morning!

Snacks
(S1) Goat cheese and crackers: I haven't always been a fan of goat cheese, but I found a kind I really like- chevre. It's has a tangy taste but no "barnyard" flavor. I spread it on gluten-free crackers. Yummy snack. Make it grain-free- spread cheese on celery sticks

(S2) Granny Smith apples and almonds: Granny Smith apples are great because they have the least amount of natural sugar compared to other kinds of apples.

Dessert
(D1) No Bake Cookies: Careful! These are addicting! I only use about half of the peanut butter suggested and I love to add slivered almonds. I also leave out the chocolate chips. You can also decrease the sweetener and add agave (lower glycemic index) instead of honey.

Dinners
(Din1) Spaghetti with Salad: You can find gluten-free noodles at health food stores and many grocery stores. I like quinoa pasta as it doesn't turn out as mushy as pasta made from brown rice. I recently learned from Julian Michael's podcast that if you cook your pasta al dente, it lowers the glycemic index. Be careful with the dressing you choose for your salad and the pasta sauce you choose. Many brands have sugar added to them. If spaghetti doesn't sound as good without cheese, try adding goat cheese. Make it grain-free- use quinoa instead of pasta

(Din2) Cauliflower Pizza: This recipe takes a little time to make, but worth it. So good for you and so tasty!

(Din3) Black Bean Sweet Potato Taquitos: I haven't tried this recipe, but I love the combination of black beans and sweet potatoes. Make it grain-free- Serve over quinoa or wrap in lettuce leaves

(Din4) Crock pot Santa Fe Chicken: Another new recipe. This blog looks like it's got a lot of great crock pot recipes. Make it grain-free- serve over quinoa

(Din5) Avocado Roll-ups: Simply wrap up deli meat (check label- sugar often lurks there!), avocado, tomatoes, sprouts, and/or other veggies in a lettuce leaf.

And there you have it! Let me know what you think!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Larabar

Cherry Pie
http://www.larabar.com/
Sometimes it's a Larabar day. You just need to indulge. And when this goodness-in-a-wrapper contain under 9 pronounceable ingredients, I feel pretty good about doing just that. Take Cherry Pie, for example. Its ingredient list is short- dates, almonds, and cherries. That's all. No sweetener. And that means no sweetener added to the fruit either. Made from whole food. And there are 20 different flavors which are all gluten, dairy, and soy free. I also like that each bar contains a lot of protein and fiber. It evens out the sugar that is naturally found in the dried fruit, balancing out your blood sugar instead of  it spiking.

Am I being asked to write this review? (Are you kidding!? This blog is 2 posts old!) Yeah, that would be a no. I just love me some Larabar!

Want to make a variation of your own? Check out Amy Layne's post full of recipes!

Monday, May 14, 2012

52 Uses for Coconut Oil

Got Coconut Oil?
Here are 52 ways you can use it.
  1. Eat a spoonful when you need an energy boost.
  2. Use it as the base for a homemade body scrub.
  3. Use to condition your wooden cutting boards.
  4. Use as a super conditioner on your hair (apply to dry hair, leave in as long as possible and then shampoo as normal).
  5. Use as a styling agent if you have really dry hair. Just rub a tiny bit on your palms and apply to your hair and style as normal.
  6. Keep a little container in your purse for lip moisturizer.
  7. Add a spoonful to your dog or cat’s food. CO is great for our furry friends!
  8. Replace nasty, unhealthy vegetable oils in your cooking and baking with CO.
  9. Make healthy Magic Shell ice cream topping.
  10. Use it for oil pulling (learn about oil pulling here).
  11. Use a tiny dab on your underarms for a natural deodorant.
  12. Use coconut oil instead of shaving cream.
  13. Add to your bath tub for a moisturizing soak (a drop of peppermint oil is wonderful!).
  14. Use as a makeup remover.
  15. Use it to help sooth chicken pox, shingles, or other rashes or skin irritations.
  16. Use it to treat athlete’s food, ringworm, or other fungal or yeast infections.
  17. Take a spoonful with your vitamins to help improve absorption.
  18. Spread a thin layer on cuts or burns to speed up healing.
  19. Take up to 5 spoonfuls per day for improved thyroid function.
  20. Add a spoonful to your smoothies for extra nutrition and flavor (here, here, and here).
  21. Use on the delicate tissue around your eyes to help prevent wrinkles and sagging.
  22. Use as the base for homemade toothpaste or lotion.
  23. Use in place of massage oil.
  24. Use on your baby’s diaper rash or cradle cap.
  25. Use to help reduce visibility of stretch marks or to prevent stretch marks.
  26. For nursing mothers, use coconut oil on your nipples to prevent cracking and irritation.
  27. For nursing mothers, consuming coconut oil will help increase your milk flow.
  28. Apply to bee stings or bug bites to soothe and heal the wound.
  29. Women can use in the nether regions to relieve yeast infections, dryness, and/or discomfort.
  30. Eat a spoonful with each meal to improve digestion.
  31. If you’re prone to nosebleeds, coat the inside of your nostrils with coconut oil regularly.
  32. Helps soothe and heal hemorrhoids.
  33. Take to helps reduce or eliminate migraines.
  34. Use as the base for homemade vapor rub.
  35. Mixed with peppermint, lemon balm, rosemary, or tea tree oil makes an excellent insect repellent.
  36. Mix with baking soda for a non-toxic “Goo Gone”.
  37. Use to help detox the body during a cleanse or fast.
  38. Use as a metal polish, but always test a small area first.
  39. Use as a leather moisturizer.
  40. Season your cast iron pans.
  41. Use to oil your pans and baking dishes instead of pan spray.
  42. Got gum stuck in your hair? Try using coconut oil to remove without cutting your hair.
  43. Use instead of WD-40.
  44. Use as a personal lubricant (not safe with latex).
  45. Take a spoonful to help with heartburn, acid reflux, or indigestion.
  46. Use as a natural sunscreen.
  47. Mix with a tiny bit of fresh lemon juice and use as a furniture polish (always test a small area first!).
  48. Mix with butter and toss your popcorn in it.
  49. Use on cracked or rough heals to help smooth them out.
  50. Massage into your nails and cuticles to help strengthen them.
  51. Use as the base for homemade chocolate candy (like peanut butter cups).
  52. Take a couple spoonfuls every day to help overall immune function.
Brought to you by:  http://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2012/01/52-uses-for-coconut-oil-the-simple-the-strange-and-the-downright-odd/