Green Juice

I usually drink a glass of this every morning for my breakfast.

This recipe makes a whole pitcher. Usually enough for me and my husband for two days.

1 bush of kale
1 bush of collar greens
2-3 lbs of carrots
1 beet
1 cucumber
6-8 apples (when pears are in season I use them; only about half as many too)
2 stalks celery
1/2 lemon (optional)

After I juice all of these ingredients I like to strain it to get the pulp out. You don't have to if it doesn't bother you. I use a cloth strainer bag.

1 bush = one bunch of a item, how they sell it at the grocery store. I am not sure of the exact term.

What I am eating. Feb. 2012

I think I am going to start keeping a blog record of the foods that I am eating on a day to day basis. I will try to post as often as I can and let you know how I am doing and how it is making me feel. My number one goal is to not get sick. So far so good! I also want to keep my energy levels high. When I gave up eating wheat, processed sugar, and most animal products I have had so much more energy and I haven't gotten sick in a while!



Wednesday 2-29-12
Breakfast - Kale and fruit smoothie
Snack - blueberries and organic banana chips
Lunch - left over bean nachos
Dinner - salad with blackened Mahi
Dessert - popcorn

Tuesday 2-28-12
Breakfast - Gluten Free toast with organic strawberry preserves
Lunch - Potato and corn chowder
Snack - Blueberries
Dinner - Bean nachos with guacamole and tomatoes
Dessert - spoonful of coconut oil

Monday 2-27-12
Breakfast - Fruit smoothy
Lunch - Bean and rice dip with veggy chips.  Baby Carrots
Snack - blueberries
Dinner - Corn and potato chowder

Thursday 2-23-12
Breakfast - carrot, celery, apple juice
Snack - cashews and jumbo raisins
Lunch - leftover tacos
Dinner - Meatloaf Cupcakes

Wednesday 2-22-12
Breakfast - G.F. cereal and a cup of coconut water
Lunch - Organic vegetable soup
snack - ice crackers
Dinner  - Taco night

Tuesday 2-21-12
Breakfast - RAW Banana Sandwich
Lunch - salad with blackened mahi on top.
Snack- walnuts and rice cakes
Dinner - RAW Flax/Chia Crackers with extra sharp cheddar cheese. just a little. Vegetable soup
Dessert - popcorn
I am fasting chocolate today. I usually have a piece of chocolate everyday because it is my weakness. I have decided to fast it and see how it goes. Whenever I get the craving to eat some chocolate I will pray instead!!

Wednesday 2-15-12
Breakfast - celery, carrot, apple juice
Snack - nuts
Lunch - left over spaghetti and baby carrots
Snack - rice cakes
Dinner - Organic vegetable soup
Dessert - 2 kiwi's

Tuesday 2-14-12 ( Valentines Day )
Breakfast - celery, carrot, apple juice
Lunch -  RAW Banana Sandwich , baby carrots, blueberries
snack - mini rice cakes
Dinner - spaghetti with ground deer and olives. Salad.
Since I am wheat sensitive I usually don't eat any. I have been doing a little experiment with probiotics to see if they help me digest wheat products when I do eat them. If I eat something with wheat I have been taking one serving of probiotics after and so far it has worked to help me digest the wheat without the horrible cramps that I would normally have. Just a suggestion to those who have have a hard time digesting some foods.
Dessert - strawberries and banana's dipped in Dark chocolate

Sunday 2-12-12
Breakfast - celery, carrot, apple juice
Brunch - RAW Banana Sandwich
Lunch - salad with blackened mahi and quinoa
Snack - blueberries
Dinner -

Saturday 2-11-12 
Breakfast - Celery, carrot, apple juice.
Lunch - Salad with blackened salmon and quinoa
Dinner - Jambalaya

Friday 2-10-12
Breakfast - G.F. cereal with rice milk. Coconut water
Snack - some nuts and dried fruit
Lunch - RAW Flax/Chia Crackers
Snack - walnut trail mix my husband put together for me. Walnuts, cashews, jumbo raisins, pumpkin seeds, and chocolate chips. It was a really good combination
Went to the rock climbing gym after work
Dinner - Millers Cafe in Christiana. If you have never been, you should definitely go. I have Salmon Patties, corn nuggets, mashed potatoes, and a couple of hushpuppies.

Thursday 2-9-12
Breakfast - G.F cereal with rice milk. A cup of coconut water
Snack - BBQ poped potato chips from Trader Joe's. So good you will want to eat the whole bag
Lunch - salad and left over corn and potato chowder. If I make a large pot of soup or chili, I will usually freeze some in glass containers for lunches or dinners in the near future.
Went to the gym after work.
Dinner - RAW Banana Sandwich .. Mmmmmm so good!

Wednesday 2-8-12
Breakfast - Carrot, celery, apple juice with added coconut water
Lunch - left over jambalaya
Snack - rice crackers and nuts
Went to the rock climbing gym after work
Dinner - salad with blackened salmon

Tuesday 2-7-12
Breakfast - carrot, celery, apple juice. RAW Banana Sandwich
Snack - nuts and dried fruit
Lunch - Leftover bean and deer with carrot sticks. I know this sounds weird but it was really good. Like carrots and hummus. It was refried beans, black beans, ground deer meat, and tomatoes and taoc seasoning.
Dinner - Jambalaya

Sunday 2-5-12
Breakfast - carrot, apple, celery juice...Mmmmm
Snack - baked rice crackers
Lunch - skipped and went to the rock climbing gym. Didn't skip lunch on purpose I guess I was just full enough from my juice and crackers.
Dinner - Deer nachos; blue corn chips, black beans, refried beans, lettuce, rice, and ground deer meat

RAW Banana Sandwich are on the way. I am making the bread for these in the dehydrator right now!!! 

Saturday 2-4-12
Breakfast - G.F. cereal with blueberries
Snack - raisins and cashews
Lunch - Salomon patties (homemade) with mashed potatoes and corn
Dinner - Salad Bar at Jason's Deli.

Thursday 2-2-12
Breakfast - bowl of fruit. Strawberries, blueberries, and kiwi
Lunch - Gerst Haus; amazingly delicious. Salmon cakes with mashed potatoes and baked beans. It also comes with a small salad and cornbread cakes. Not really cake, like a pancake made out of cornbread batter.
Dinner - left overs from dinner
***Went to Trader Joe's today and got a ton of fantastic healthy foods. I mostly got stuff for my snacks and lunches. If you get a chance to shop at a Trader Joe's sometime I would highly recommend it. It is like a whole foods grocery store with normal grocery store prices. ;-)

Wednesday 2-1-12
Breakfast - Green Juice, Gluten Free cereal with blueberries
Snack - granola bar
Lunch - vegetable soup with vegetable crackers
Dinner - Blackened Salomon on top of salad
I put the some RAW Flax/Chia Crackers and pineapple slices in the dehydrator. They should be done tomorrow. They will make great snacks!

Tuesday 1-31-12
Breakfast - Green Juice
1 hour of gym before work
Snack - all natural rice cakes
Lunch - Salad with yellow rice
Snack - fruit: strawberries, blueberries, kiwi, banana
Lunch - Organic Vegetable soup
Monday 1-30-12
Breakfast - Green Juice
Snack - cashews and raisins
Lunch - left over potato and corn chowder, with fresh fruit; strawberries, kiwi, banana, and blueberries
Dinner - We have dinner every Monday at our church. Chicken, rice, baked vegetable, salad. I splurged and had a dessert. It was pudding with whip topping and berries.
Extra Special Snack - It was a special day so my husband made me Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries!! mmmmmm. one of my favorites!!!

Saturday 1-28-12
Breakfast- Gluten Free Cereal with rice milk
Lunch - A salad with chopped up cauliflower and broccoli on it.
Snack - RAW dates
Dinner - potato and corn chowder with added vegetables.
Dessert - RAW cacao peanut butter cups

I am not a perfect eater by any means but I do try to eat healthy everyday. Let me know what you think and if you have any suggestions.

Cranberry Date Bars

This recipe is always a great treat. It is sweet and tart at the same time. Great for the holidays or any occasion.


Ingredients
1 12-ounce package cranberries
1 8-ounce package of chopped pitted dates
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup melted butter

Directions

1. For filling, in a medium saucepan combine cranberries and dates. Cook covered over low heat 10-15 minutes, until cranberries pop, stirring frequently. 
2. Stir in vanilla and set aside
3. Mix together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Stir in butter till well blended.
4. Pat half of the mixture on the bottom of a 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
5. Bake 350 degrees for 8 minutes.
6. Take out of oven and spread filling over baked oat mixture.
7. Sprinkle remaining oat mixture on top. Pat gently.
8. Bake an additional 20 to 22 minutes.

RAW Applesauce

Do you ever go into the store and want to buy applesauce and all they have is the kind with like 10 ingredients and the only one that is actually good for you is the apples. Well say goodbye to high fructose corn syrup because this recipe only has three "good-for-you" ingredients.

8 apples
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup of water ( more if needed)
1 tbsp cinnamon (optional)

Core and slice apples
Add all ingredients to blender and blend until desired consistency

Chex Mix Muddy Buddies

An easy snack to bring to any occasion.


Ingredients

9	cups Rice Chex, Corn Chex or Chocolate Chex cereal (or combination)
1	cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2	cup peanut butter
1/4	cup butter or margarine
1	teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2	cups powdered sugar Directions 1. Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside. 2. In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag. 3. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Zula's Sweet Potato Casserole

This is my husbands Great Aunt Zula's,  Family Famous Sweet Potato Casserole. With slight modifications ;-). I reduces the amount of butter and sugar.

For Filling

• 3 cups mashed sweet potato
• 1/4 cup butter softened
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Mash all ingredients together and put in casserole dish. Smooth out top.

Topping

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/3 cup flour ( I used gluten Free flour)
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1/3 cup butter softened

cream ingredients together till crumbly. Evenly distribute over casserole.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Tip: I baked my sweet potatoes for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees to get them soft. The skin comes right off of them after you bake them.

Butternut Squash Soup

If you like butternut squash then you will probably like this recipe.

1. Peel your butternut squash
2. cut in into small cubes
3. place in blender with chicken broth( use enough liquid to get the blender to blend squash)
4. If you have a vita-mix you can let the blender cook the soup. If you don't want to do that just pour soup in a pot and heat for about 20 minutes to cook squash. 
5. you can add a handful of almonds when blending to make it a little more creamy.
6. Add salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. 

Simple and easy soup.

RAW Pear Chips

Yes it is that time of year when the pears are coming in or just came into season. I received a lot of organic pears from my mother-in-law and learned from her that dehydrating them is a great way to use them. They make a perfect snack.

You don't even need to peel them if you don't want to. Just slice them and place on dehydrator. They will shrink by about 50%.

Store them in the refrigerator to make them last longer. I jar works best to keep them in. If you keep your temperature below about 112 degrees they will store RAW.

Gluten Free Chocolate Banana Muffins

I have recently found out that I have an allergy to wheat. So.......... I am having to come up with new recipe and creative ideas that don't incorporate any wheat. You don't realize how many pre-made foods and recipes have wheat in them until you can't eat it.

This recipe is the same as my chocolatey chocolate chip Banana muffins but I replaced the flour with gluten free flour.

I actually tried this recipe a couple of times and it is better if you sift the dry ingredients a few times and beat the egg whites before adding them. This helps the muffins stay fluffy instead if dense. I also found that making them in mini size helps them bake quicker. I also tried this recipe with ground flax seed instead of the flour and the mini size works best.  

Preheat oven to 325. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until the middle is done. 

• 3 1/2 ripe medium bananas, mashed
• 1/4 cup unsweetened apple sauce
• 1 1/4 cups unbleached all purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp butter - melted
• 1/3 cup sugar ( I used Organic Whole Cane Sugar-Rapadura)
• 2 large egg whites
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Baked Apples

I was inspired by the fall weather and came up with this easy recipe. You will love the delicious smell of your house while they bake.

There isn't a specific recipe actually for this but I will just kind of tell you what I did.

Core your apples.
Cut out about half of the inside of the apples. Chop up what you took out of the middle and put in a bowl.
Chop dates, figs and raisins and add to the bowl.
Add some cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Add about 1/2 tbsp butter per apple and about 1/2 tbsp of flour and sugar per apple.
Mix everything together really well and stuff back inside of your apples.
I baked mine in my toaster over on 300 degrees for about 1 hour.

These are really filling.

You can top each one with a fig!

Yes, Plants Have Protein

You don't have to eat meat to get protein.

Click on link to enlarge

Click on link to enlarge

Epsom Salts and The Benefits

Epsom Salts are so cheap to buy. I am a huge fan of inexpensive things, especially inexpensive things that help your health.  This article tells of some of the benefits of epsom salts.
Don't chose to live your life in the dark about important information about your health. Chose to take care of yourself and your family the all natural way whenever possible.

Click on image to enlarge

Click on image to enlarge