Turmeric "Latte"

So a few months ago I finally decided to cut caffeine completely.

Crazy, right??  I loved my morning cup of coffee.

What I had been noticing for the past several years is that when I was detoxing and would cut out caffeine I would feel better.  I would sleep better and over time it actually became easier for me to wake up in morning.  I was feeling super anxious and at times very irritable after I had a cup of coffee.  I guess removing it from my diet should have been a no brainer but I'm totally addicted to that feeling of something warm, tasty with a bit of sweetness every morning.

Here is my solution!

Something warm, sweet and tasty with the amazing added bonus of being very good for you!

Recently there have been countless studies, articles, etc. extolling the many benefits of turmeric and after a few weeks of drinking this every morning I am now a believer.  It helps me wake, curbs hunger & actually gives me more energy than coffee ever did without all those nasty side effects.  I even drink it at night occasionally when I have an upset stomach and within minutes I feel better.

There are so many ways that turmeric is good for you so please give this a try!   

 

 

 Turmeric "Latte"

To a blender or nutri bullet cup add:

1/4 cup raw cashews

10 oz of water

1/2 tsp turmeric

1/4 tsp cardamom

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ginger

1 tsp vanilla extract

pinch of fresh ground pepper (this is important, it helps your body absorb the turmeric)

maple syrup or other sweetener to taste

Blend until completely smooth.  If you don't have a high powdered appliance this may take a few minutes.  Gently warm in a pan on the stove. 

Enjoy! 

 

Super Brownies

 

Now I realize this is not the best looking photo and I'm going to be quite honest with you...these brownies are not beautiful.  They are also pretty crumbly.  Although,

if you are trying to eat healthy this is the perfect solution to a sweet craving!  They taste absolutely delicious and are vegan, gluten free & refined sugar free (without the addition of chips).  The perfect dessert for almost ANY diet!  They even have the stamp of approval from my most picky eater!

 

 

 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In your Kitchenaid or a large regular bowl add:

1 cup oat flour (blend gluten free oats until a fine powder)

1/4 cup raw cacao

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

Stir or beat until combined.  Then add:

1 flax egg (Mix 1 tbls. ground flax, 3 tbls. water let set for 5 minutes until thick)

1/2 cup raw almond butter

1/4 cup melted coconut oil

3/4 cup pure maple syrup (no Mrs. Butterworth type)

1 tbls. vanilla

4 oz chopped nuts (optional)

4 oz chocolate chunks or chips (optional)

Beat until well combined & then pour into a well greased 8x8 baking dish.  Bake for 30 - 35 minutes.  Let them cool completely before you cut.

 

Note about the chocolate chips:  we used a vegan carob chip but there are a lot of options out there if you are trying to avoid specific ingredients. Or you can chop up dark chocolate and sprinkle that on top.   Just keep in mind that most regular chocolate has refined sugar in it if you are trying to avoid it!     It's up to you!

Enjoy!

Superfood Smoothie Recipe

 

 

No need to buy expensive protein powders or diet shakes!!!

You can make your own super food real food smoothie with everything you need in it.

I truly believe that the less processed ingredients we put in our body the better off we will be.  Protein shakes & meal replacement powders are highly processed.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11371/why-you-really-shouldnt-use-protein-powders.html

 

Try a google search...it's a bit scary!

 

Superfood Smoothie!

1 large handful of greens (spinach, kale, chard are delicious)

1/2 cup raw cashews

1 heaping tablespoon hemp seed

1 tablespoon raw coconut butter (sometimes called manna)

1 fresh or frozen banana

1 cup or more frozen fruit (I love pineapple, mango & berries)

8 - 12oz of water depending on how you like the thickness of your smoothie

Blend until smooth.  I use my nutri bullet but a regular blender should work fine just make sure to blend it long enough to get the nuts & seeds nice and smooth.

 

Now I realize some of these ingredients may be a bit foreign so here is an explanation of the health benefits. 

 

 

Benefits of coconut butter:

It’s rich in lauric acid, which boosts immunity and destroys harmful bacteria, viruses, and     funguses.

It actually boosts your metabolism, which aids in weight loss and increases energy levels.

It’s packed with healthy fats, so you feel full longer.

It’s full of essential amino acids, calcium, and magnesium

Benefits of hemp seed:

Excellent 3:1 balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which promote cardiovascular health.

High in gamma linolenic acid (GLA), an essential omega-6 fatty acid found in borage oil and egg yolks that has been proven to naturally balance hormones.

“Perfect protein” not only containing all 20 amino acids, but also each of the 9 essential amino acids that our bodies cannot produce.

Rich in soluble and un-soluble fiber which naturally cleanses the colon and reduces sugar cravings

Benefits of cashews:

Good body builder

Cashew has no cholesterol.

Cashew helps maintain healthy gums and teeth.

Cashew is an energizing food.

Cashew contains healthy monounsaturated fat that promotes good cardiovascular health, because monounsaturated fats reduce high triglyceride levels which are associated with increased risk for heart disease.

Cashew is rich in antioxidants that help in the elimination of free radicals that may cause some cancer

Magnesium works with calcium to support healthy muscles and bones in the body. It also helps promote normal sleep patterns in menopausal women.

Cashew nuts have a high energy density and high amount of dietary fiber, both have been attributed to a beneficial effect on weight management, but only when eaten in moderation

Cashew's has high copper content is vital in energy production, greater flexibility in blood vessels, bones and joints.

Cashew nut consumption helps the body utilize iron, eliminate free radicals, develop bone and connective tissue, and produce the skin and hair pigment melanin.





I'm assuming that most of you know the benefits of greens, fruits & bananas so I won't go into that.  The really nice thing about this recipe is that you can vary your greens, nuts & fruits to give yourself different flavors and nutrients.

Enjoy!

Vegan Cream of Spinach Soup

This was an experiment that went Oh So Right!

It was surprisingly delicious.

I had a TON of spinach.  I had bought 2 bags at Trader Joe's & then got another bag in my CSA box.

I needed a serious spinach recipe.

This little experiment worked out perfectly.

Unfortunately I wasn't planning on sharing the recipe so I don't have pictures of the whole process.

I will do my best with describing my process so maybe you won't even need pictures.

 

In 2 Tbls. olive oil sauté 1 chopped onion & 4 minced cloves of garlic.

 



While the onions & garlic are sautéing, you can work on your "cream".

I added 3/4 cup raw soaked cashews & 3/4 cup water to my Magic Bullet and blend until smooth.

I soaked the cashews for about 45 minutes before I used them.

I then added the "cream" and 2 quarts veggie broth to my onion mixture in the pot.

 



 

Next I chopped 4 small potatoes and added them to the pot.

Then I dumped what would be about 2 bags full of spinach into the pot.

Bring pot to a boil and reduce to a simmer.

Simmer for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Once veggies are tender blend the soup using an immersion blender or in batches in the regular blender.

Pour soup back into the pot and season generously with salt and pepper.

Simmer until ready to serve.

 

Souper simple, very tasty!

Homemade Veggie Broth

Homemade Veggie broth is SUPER simple!!!  There are so many reasons to make your own.

1 - You know exactly what's in it.

2 - It's green.  You can reuse the jars over and over.

3 - It's cheaper....honestly it is.

4 - It tastes better.

Veggie broth can be used in a ton of different recipes and is detox friendly.  Tastes great in place of water when you make rice or quinoa.

I don't really have a recipe, it's really more of a method.

I start with my giant canning pot and fill it full of organic veggies and scraps.

For this batch I used leeks, carrots, onions, potatoes, celery, mushrooms, parsley, marjoram, thyme & a couple cloves of garlic.  I scrubbed the veggies clean with a strong bristle brush, chopped them in large chunks & added them to the pot.

My pot was about 3/4 of the way full with veggies.

I then added filtered water to about 2 inches from the top of the pot.

Bring to a rapid boil and then turn down to a simmer.  Simmer for about 4-6 hours.  The stock is done when it has a golden hue.

Next I use a large ladle and wire mesh strainer

 and strain the broth into a pitcher.  I put a small strainer on top of 1 of my jars and pour the broth into the canning jar.  I double strain because the potatoes become mush and can cause your broth to be too thick.

Fill jars but make sure you leave 2 inches of headspace, especially if you plan on freezing the stock.  Another note, you must use wide mouth jars to freeze your stock.  I use wide mouth quart jars.

Allow your jars of stock to cool overnight in the fridge before putting in the freezer.  Also, make sure to not screw the lids on too tight.  All of these things will help to keep your jars from cracking in the freezer.

Another note, you could add salt to your broth for more flavor but I prefer to not have the added sodium.

This method typically makes 12-14 quart jars of stock.

You can feed the leftover mushed veggies to your chickens or add it to your compost pile. 

Happy Healthy Eating Friends!

At It Again!

It's that time of year again...
I dread the word...
It's a love hate relationship...
You guessed it, DETOX!
I was really really bad this holiday season.  If I were to use the word indulgence it would be an understatement.  If it was in front of me and it was edible, I ate it.  Not good. 
Every part of me noticed the change, my immune system (I had to miss almost a week of work for a stupid flu bug), my sleep patterns (or lack of them), my moods (sugar makes me cranky), my gut(we won't go there) & most importantly my thighs (those super cute bright red skinny jeans had to stay in the closet).  Boy did I ever stray.  Strayed so far I ate Twinkie's, several Twinkie's.  I am so ashamed.  
Thank goodness it's a new year and I feel like I can get a fresh start.  Time to forgive myself and move forward.  But let's be honest here, detoxing is NOT my favorite.  It sucks.  Do I like eating healthy whole foods, yes.  Do I love eating fruits & veggies, yes.  Do I love bacon and bread, yes.  Woops, not part of the detox. 
I do LOVE how I feel about 8 days in.  Every part of my physical being loves it.  I sleep a very sound 8-9 hours a night and wake feeling refreshed and ready to start my day.  I seem to have super powers against all forms of cooties, or at least it seems that way.  I feel unbelievable happy, now I don't know if that's because I am rockin those red skinny jeans or if healthier eating just effects my moods but either way it's a win/win situation.  So I am going to buck up, gather my willpower and make it happen.  I would love for you to join me.  You will be amazed at how good you will feel.  I will try to be better at documenting my journey so you can follow along. 
This is now my 5th, 28 day detox.  Over the course of 2.5 years I have shed 25 pounds & lost 4 pant sizes.  Difficult yes but so worth it.  So here's to the New Year and to a much better, healthier, happier me!
            

 

Detox Day 4 Lunch

I am dying today.

So hungry & tired & cranky.

Usually I am feeling amazing at this point.  I must have had a TON of toxins built up.

This salad recipe is based off of Julie Chrisman's orzo salad recipe.  It's soooo delicious and I was totally craving it today.  So I just swapped out the orzo for some white beans & I made my own dried tomatoes.

It totally hit the spot.

I may eat the whole salad today.

Spinach & White Bean Salad

In a bowl combine 2 cups white beans, 1qt. chopped baby spinach, 1/4 cup slivered dried tomatoes in oil (or I think fresh would be really good too!), 12 sliced kalamata olives, 3tbsp each olive oil & red wine vinegar, 1/2 tsp each oregano & basil, salt & pepper to taste.

Technically, I don't think I am supposed to eat the olives (because they are processed) but I really really needed the burst of flavor.

Detox Day 3 Lunch & Dinner

I meant to post this last night but was having technical difficulties.

These chickpea patties had a very soft consistency but I loved the flavor paired with greens topped with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt & pepper.

It was yummy!  So yummy I had them for dinner & then lunch the next day.

Chickpea Patties

In a blender or food processor combine 2 cups chickpeas, 1 heaping tbls. dried parsley, 1 tsp. minced garlic, 1/4 tsp. ground cumin, salt & pepper to taste.

Form into patties & coat in brown rice flour.  (You can use regular flour, I am on a gluten free diet.)

Fry patties in olive oil for about 2-3 minutes per side.

Day 2 Detox Breakfast

 Pumpkin Protein Smoothie

1 frozen banana

1/3 cup pumpkin puree

1 - 2 cups unsweetened coconut milk (depends on how thick you like your smoothie)

1 heaping tbls. raw honey

1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 scoop vanilla rice protein

1 tbls. hemp seeds or golden ground flax (optional)

Blend until smooth.

This recipe fits perfectly into a magic bullet cup, which is what I use for my smoothies.

Day 1 Detox Lunch

 Thank goodness for my new job!

I get home by 11:45, so I actually have time to make lunch & even enjoy eating it.

Today I made a Chickpea & Spinach Salad.

1 3/4 cups cooked & drained chickpeas

1 cup chopped baby spinach

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

juice from 1 lemon

3 tbls. olive oil

1 tbls. chopped fresh parsley

1 clove minced garlic

Toss all ingredients in a bowl.

Add sea salt & pepper to taste.

Sprinkle salad with pumpkin seeds after serving.

Makes 2 large detox size servings.

Green Bean Summer Salad

I was sooo excited about this.

I don't know why.

I am a geek.

It's our first ripe red raspberry. Ever!

I have never grown raspberries before & I was screaming in hysterics calling everyone outside to look.

Thankfully, Avers was just as excited as I was, so I didn't look like a total freak.

After I snapped the pic she immediately popped it into her mouth!

I had an abundance of green beans.

I had bought some at the Farmer's Market & then when I picked up my CSA box this week there was more.

I love it!

Here's what I did with all those beauties.......

Green Bean Summer Salad
Steam 1lb. trimmed, cut & washed green beans for 5 minutes.

Immediately plunge into an ice water bath.

Strain, dry & add to a bowl.

Chop 2 large tomatoes & add to bowl.

Chop 1 large red onion & add to bowl.

Drain, rinse & add 1 can white beans to bowl.

Dressing

In a small bowl add 4 tbls. olive oil, 2-3 tbls. red wine vinegar (I like a LOT of vinegar so I add 3.), 1 large minced garlic clove, 1 tsp. fresh chopped dill or 1/2 tsp. dry, 1 tsp. fresh minced parsley, 1 tsp. dijon mustard, salt & pepper to taste.

Whisk dressing well & pour over veggies.

Toss!

You can also add 1/2 carton of feta cheese. The cheese is really delicious in this recipe but I was trying to keep it vegan for my "Detox Friends".

I doubled the recipe in this picture because I was taking this to a potluck!

This salad keeps really well in the fridge & it's also great picnic fare.

Enjoy friends!

Roasted Summer Veggies with Pasta

I made this recipe vegan for my friends who are on the "Detox Diet" & it turned out really good.

Morgan had 4 helpings......no joke.

Rough chop some summer squash, tomatoes & red onion toss it into a pan.

Next, mince 6 cloves, yes 6, of garlic. Toss it in the pan.

Drizzle your pile o' veggies with a ton (not an actual ton but I like a lot) of olive oil.

Sprinkle with sea salt & fresh cracked pepper.

Now give that pile o' veggies a good toss & spread evenly in the pan.

Roast in the oven at 375 until veggies are soft but not squishy. :)

Start cooking your pasta noodles, any kind, while your veggies are cooking.

I used 3/4 of a package of spaghetti.

When your pasta noodles are finished cooking, drain them well.

Add them to a big ol' bowl & drizzle with another ton of olive oil & sprinkle with salt & pepper.

Toss.

Dump the entire pan of roast veggies right on top of your seasoned noodles. Juicy drippings & all.

Then add a big bunch of chopped fresh basil.

Toss the whole mess together & serve.

Yum.

This was a very light & refreshing pasta dish.

If you aren't doing the Vegan thing you could add some parmesan cheese.

It would be delicious with some parm!

Hang in there Detox friends! I know you can do it!

Detox Diet: How I Did It

I wasn't really going to write a post about this but.......I am. :)

I have had many many people notice my weight loss lately.
I have also had many of my friends ask me how I did it.

It worked so well for me that I want to help others with it. So here goes......

Warning: It's NOT easy.

AT ALL.

It is so HARD.

But it was sooooo worth it. I lost 15 lbs and I am still loosing.

I don't know what the website claims but I truly believe that it reset my metabolism and definitely shrunk my stomach. It also changed my mindset in relationship to food and eating. I still love food and I still eat sweets, I just have a different attitude about it.

The plan I used is the 28 Day Action Plan from Whole Living.

It's more than just a detox. It's a lifestyle change.

There's a lot of clicking on links and reading this or that and a TON of prep work.

I will attempt to simplify most of it for you. It will make for a really LONG blog post.

Just forewarning you. :)

So first things first:

You will be eating Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Corn Free, No Caffeine, No Processed or Refined Foods, No Sugar.

What do you eat??

That's where I can help you.
Also, use the website for their recipes.

Step 1 - Sign up for the daily emails (some are really helpful, others not so much)
It helped me to see those daily reminders in my inbox either way.
It was like someone saying "HEY, you are doing this!!!"

Step 2 - Read through all the recipes & decide which ones sound good to you.

Step 3 - Make a Week 1 shopping list & buy all your supplies. (Week 1 is the hardest so it helps to clear all the junk food out of your cupboards, fridge, etc. and you MUST be prepared.)

Week 1 Tips:

• 
  
  The website has you starting on a Monday. If you work, don't do it. Start on a Friday or Saturday. You WILL FEEL LIKE TOTAL CRAP!!!!!!! Who wants to be at work when you feel like you want to bite someones head off. Literally. The first few days are tough. Have faith....it gets better and becomes so much easier.
  


• 
  
  Don't plan on going crazy with exercise, the first few days you need to take it easy. Walking or yoga are good choices.



• 
  
  Also, don't start this if you have any parties or events during your week 1. It's just too hard.



• 
  
  Anytime you leave the house for any reason take water and food with you. Every time. Trust me. Even driving by certain restaurants would make me hungry.
  


• 
  
  Try to eat 6 times a day. It was really hard for me. Most days I could only manage 4 or 5 times.

Ok so here it is......

What did I eat & drink??

My drinks.

I used these glass jars and filled them with water & some type of natural flavoring.

Some examples sliced lemons, limes, oranges, cucumbers, pineapple, mint leaves.

I always had these ready and waiting in the fridge.

And if I left the house I would make a 32 oz Nalgene bottle with the same water.

Breakfast & Morning Snacks

Every morning around 6:30 a.m. I would eat a bowl of my tweaked granola with almond milk & fresh berries or hot oatmeal with agave, almond milk & dried fruit.

I cheated and had a cup of green tea with agave the first few mornings.

My morning snack was my green smoothie.

I put 1 frozen banana, 1 scoop Amazing Meal (Whole Foods), 1/2 cup frozen fruit (peaches, berries, mango, pineapple, etc.) & almond milk in my magic bullet cup.

The smoothies are great portable snacks or meals. I just put them in a mason jar & I could keep them in the fridge or freezer at work.

Notes about breakfast foods: You will have to purchase Gluten Free oats. (Whole Foods)

You will have to look carefully for unsweetened, soy free almond milk. (Mar Val has it in the refrigerated section by the regular milk or Whole Foods)

Lunch & Afternoon Snacks

Every day for lunch I had some form of salad. At the beginning of the week I chopped up lettuce, carrots, celery, onion, tomato, beets, mushrooms, avocado, etc.

So I could quickly throw together a salad.

I would always add some type of beans & nuts for protein.

Examples: pinto beans, white beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, sunflowers seeds, pumpkin seeds, almond, pecans, walnuts.

I would top the whole thing off with olive oil & balsamic vinegar.
I also made an experimental dressing here's my recipe:

I put an avocado, cilantro, lime juice, & olive oil in my magic bullet blended until smooth.

My afternoon snacks would typically be veggies or crackers & hummus or some type of nuts/trail mix.

(Mar Val has a brand of crackers in the health food section called Mary's. They are vegan & gluten free.)

Here's an example of a salad. This is a week 4 salad (notice the corn) & it's huge because it was my dinner. I have my avocado dressing on it.

Dinner & Evening Snacks

We used several of the recipes from the website & they were actually really good.

We made the Millet Bowl with Black Beans and Vegetables, Almond Chicken Soup (Week 4), Quinoa Salad with Toasted Almonds, Two- Bean Vegetarian Chili.

I also used some of my own recipes which I will write up & post in the coming days.

I made a lot of roasted veggies.

I still had to cook for the others in my family so I would make them some kind of protein (meat for Matt) & a carb.

Here's an example of some of my roasted veggies.
Surprisingly, these are very filling.

Ok so there's how to start in a nut shell.

I will provide more in another post later.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to email me.
Best of Luck! :o)