• Healthy Ingredients

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  • No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut. Channing Pollock

    Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity. Voltaire

    There is a lot more juice in grapefruit than meets the eye. Author Unknown

    This is every cook's opinion -no savory dish without an onion, but lest your kissing should be spoiledyour onions must be fully boiled.Jonathan Swift

    Dyspepsia is the remorse of a guilty stomach. A. Kerr

    If organic farming is the natural way, shouldn't organic produce just be called "produce" and make the pesticide-laden stuff take the burden of an adjective? Ymber Delecto

    Soup is liquid comfort. Author Unknown

    In general, mankind, since the improvement in cookery, eats twice as much as nature requires. Benjamin Franklin

    The more you eat, the less flavor; the less you eat, the more flavor. Chinese Proverb

    Eat little, sleep sound. Iranian Proverb

    Food is an important part of a balanced diet. Fran Lebowitz

    The greatest delight the fields and woods minister is the suggestion of an occult relation between man and the vegetable. I am not alone and unacknowledged. They nod to me and I to them. Ralph Waldo Emerson

    Happiness is a bowl of cherries and a book of poetry under a shade tree. Astrid Alauda

    It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician. Meryl Streep

    Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. Jim Davis

    Anyhow, the hole in the doughnut is at least digestible. H.L. Mencken

    If we're not willing to settle for junk living, we certainly shouldn't settle for junk food. Sally Edwards

    As the days grow short, some faces grow long. But not mine. Every autumn, when the wind turns cold and darkness comes early, I am suddenly happy. It's time to start making soup again. Leslie Newman

    As for butter versus margarine, I trust cows more than chemists. Joan Gussow

    After dinner sit a while, and after supper walk a mile. English Saying

    Researchers have discovered that chocolate produced some of the same reactions in the brain as marijuana. The researchers also discovered other similarities between the two, but can't remember what they are. Author Unknown

    The breakfast slimes, angel food cake, doughnuts and coffee, white bread and gravy cannot build an enduring nation. Martin H. Fischer

    Sugar is a type of bodily fuel, yes, but your body runs about as well on it as a car would. V.L. Allineare

    A nickel will get you on the subway, but garlic will get you a seat. Old New York Proverb

    Stored away in some brain cell is the image of a long-departed aunt you haven't thought of in 30 years. Stored away in another cell is the image of a pink pony stitched on your first set of baby pajamas. All it takes to get that aunt mounted on the back of that pony is to eat a hunk of meatloaf immediately before going to bed. Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

    Food is so primal, so essential a part of our lives, often the mere sharing of recipes with strangers turns them into good friends. Jasmine Heiler

    Tell me what you eat, I'll tell you who you are. Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

    Most of the food allergies die under garlic and onion. Martin H. Fischer

    Hunger is the best sauce in the world. Cervantes

    Happiness is life served up with a scoop of acceptance, a topping of tolerance and sprinkles of hope, although chocolate sprinkles also work. Robert Brault

    He that eats till he is sick must fast till he is well. English Proverb

    My soul is dark with stormy riot, Directly traceable to diet.Samuel Hoffenstein

    Chocolate is like medicine - but as with medicine, the key is the proper dose. Don't overdo it. Edward "Grandpa" Jones

    The spirit cannot endure the body when overfed, but, if underfed, the body cannot endure the spirit. St Frances de Sales

    Shipping is a terrible thing to do to vegetables. They probably get jet-lagged, just like people. Elizabeth Berry

    We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons. Alfred E. Newman

    Plant a radish, get a radish, never any doubt. That's why I love vegetables, you know what they're about! Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt

    When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste. Laiko Bahrs

    It would be nice if the Food and Drug Administration stopped issuing warnings about toxic substances and just gave me the names of one or two things still safe to eat. Robert Fuoss

    One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright

    I refuse to believe that trading recipes is silly. Tuna fish casserole is at least as real as corporate stock. Barbara Grizzuti Harrison

    All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt! Charles Schulz

    After eating chocolate you feel godlike, as though you can conquer enemies, lead armies, entice lovers. Emily Luchetti

    There is no sight on earth more appealing than the sight of a woman making dinner for someone she loves. Thomas Wolfe

    I prefer to regard a dessert as I would imagine the perfect woman: subtle, a little bittersweet, not blowsy and extrovert. Delicately made up, not highly rouged. Holding back, not exposing everything and, of course, with a flavor that lasts. Graham Kerr

    Chemicals, n: Noxious substances from which modern foods are made. Author Unknown

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December 19, 2011

Roasted Maple Nuts

This recipe has been my favorite holiday treat for years. I can eat it, still feel good, and the healthy sugar only makes it taste better.

Roasted Maple Nuts Web

The ingredients can get a bit expensive, which is why I buy in bulk beforehand, but it’s worth every penny for at least one batch. We wrap the nuts festively and share them with our best friends.

The yummiest spice combo ever

The Yummiest Spice Combo Ever (Chili Powder, Cinnamon & Allspice)

  • 2 C almonds (use all raw nuts)
  • 1 C pecans
  • 1 C walnuts
  • 1 C cashew pieces
  • 1 C pumpkin seeds (the green raw kind)
  • 1/2 C Sucanat or Florida Crystals (dried cane juice)
  • 1/2 C Pure Maple Syrup (don’t settle for the fake stuff)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp chili powder mix
  • 1 tsp allspice

Chop or break big nuts into halves or smaller pieces.

Raw Nuts

In a large bowl mix the spices together,

IMG_4404

then add the sugar and maple syrup and stir.

Maple Sugar Mixed

Dump in the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

Maple Nuts Coated

Line two large baking pans with parchment paper (it’s oh so easy to clean afterward) and heat your oven to 350°.

Lined Pans

Lightly spray the parchment paper with oil and spread mixture evenly between the pans.

Bake for 12-15 minutes on the middle rake, stirring once, until nuts are slightly brown. Watch these like a hawk when they’re almost done so they don’t over brown.

Nuts Out of Oven

Let pans cool for 10 minutes, then pull paper and nuts onto a rake or counter to finish cooling. The mixture hardens as it cools. Break into pieces.

Maple nuts broken

Here’s the gift basket I made for some family friends. The nuts are in a festive bag within the basket.

Gift Basket Web

These baskets are so easy to make! The most important thing to do is hit the after Christmas sales and buy cellophane, ribbon (Costco has it for cheap before Christmas), bags and inexpensive buckets or containers.

I included a loaf of bread in this one, but a few pieces of fruit goes a long way to make it beautiful. Then I just put in my goodies in a separate bag, wrap the whole thing in cellophane and add a pretty ribbon.

Do-it-yourself, beautiful gift giving and addictive, delicious yet healthy, holiday treats.

December 6, 2011

Popular Holiday Wassail

It’s so wonderful to have a delicious, warm drink to sip when the weather gets cold! This tangy recipe is an old favorite of mine that I get out whenever we’re getting together with family at holiday time. I make it at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and many times in between. It’s a big hit and is becoming a firm family tradition.


Holiday Wassail

1/4 C evaporated cane sugar, or brown sugar
2 C water

6 cloves, whole
4 allspice berries
1 cinnamon stick
1/2 inch slice ginger root (or 1 tsp powder in a teabag)

2 C orange juice (And 5 drops wild orange essential oil if you have it. I’m sorry if you don’t. It’s divine!)
1 C cranberry or grapefruit juice (optional)
1/2 C lemon juice or 5 drops lemon essential oil
1 quart (4 C) apple juice
dash pure stevia extract (optional)

Combine sugar, water and spices in a large pot.
Bring to a simmer for 10-15 minutes.
Strain out spices and add juices.
Bring to a simmer again.
Remove from heat and serve, or keep the pot on low and serve for a few hours.
Double this recipe for a crowd.

I made a batch last night and put a toothpick into my clove essential oil and stirred that in, along with 1 drop of doTERRA’s OnGuard blend. It was soooooo good!

 

If you already drink wassail, please share your favorite variation with me.
If not, you will LOVE this!

November 11, 2011

Mom Essentials Healthy Yummy Recipes eBook

Want more healthy recipes in your kitchen that your family will like?

Announcing Mom Essentials – Yummy, Healthy Recipes eBook

Click HERE to watch my video!

Read more…

November 2, 2011

Jenni’s Favorite Healthy Pumpkin Cookies

I LOVE these cookies. I lost the recipe for a while and made a different kind last year, but those were too heavy and dense. This recipe is more cake-like, so the cookies are lighter and moist. Read more…

October 10, 2011

Jenni’s Easy Sweet ‘n Mildly Spicy Salsa: Plus Peach Salsa

This is a very easy recipe because you don’t have to dice anything! And you can make this healthy recipe mild if you prefer.

In the fall it’s relatively easy to find bulk tomatoes for salsa-making (if you don’t already have enough from your own garden). I didn’t plant enough tomatoes myself, so I found a deal on some and decided to make salsa.

Store salsa costs on average, $3-4 a bottle, so making it yourself saves lots of money. Not to mention that salsa and chips are easy to grab (and save a trip to the store) when heading to a party or other get-together. Read more…

September 8, 2011

Sweet n’ Healthy Quinoa Salad

Hi, this is Emili, Jenni’s sister.  I am always in desperate need for healthy recipes that taste good and help satisfy my sweet tooth!  I’ve made this salad for a few different get-togethers with friends and its always been a huge hit!

I’m definitely a picky eater (you mean there are more food groups than cheese, chocolate and eggs out there?) and I’m always on the lookout for healthy recipes my family (and especially I) will like!

This salad was adapted by a friend of mine (thanks Anne) from our local Harmon’s deli, and  I’ve further evolved it to fit my tastes.  The first time I saw it I was scared to death to even give it a try.  Such a random combination of foods that I don’t know if I like, and it just looked so weird.

I took a tiny bit on my plate so as not to offend my friend who so graciously brought it, only to find out it was the most delicious concoction I had sampled in the previous month.  I went back for about 6 servings (that might be an exaggerated estimate, or not), and when no one was eating the last couple of bites, I went back for more (did I mention I was pregnant when I discovered this salad?)  And after we had licked the bowl clean, I was still left wanting.

Yep, it’s really THAT good.  So let’s get down to how you can make some of this yummy happiness for yourself. Read more…

August 8, 2011

Soda Pop Substitute: Essential Oil “Sassy” Water

Instead of drinking soda and other sugared drinks to cool off, I’ve been drinking tons of “sassy water.” This healthy substitute is filtered water with lemon and wild orange essential oils and a dash of stevia. It’s sooooo good! I’ve especially been grateful for it while getting over a sinus infection this past week.
Read more…

July 1, 2011

Easy Potato Frittata

Tonight I wanted an easy recipe for dinner that wouldn’t heat up the whole kitchen, something that would use up some of the many eggs we had from our chickens. I threw some ingredients together and when I finished, realized I’d made a form of potato frittata.

It only takes one skillet! Read more…

May 26, 2011

Fruit Drink: Power Nutrition In A Cup

We have “fruit drink” at our house everyday at 3 PM.

It serves as an afternoon snack for our family. It’s so nutritionally power-packed that I don’t have to worry about whether my kids eat their dinner veggies or not.
Raw, uncooked foods provide our bodies with live energy and enzymes, which help everything to work better. And this is the most convenient way I’ve found to make it happen.

 

Creating fruit drink only takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.

Start with water or juice. I’ve even used rice milk on occasion.

 

Add a cup of yogurt. This is optional if you’re avoiding dairy. We actually use goat yogurt made by our friends.

Add 2 cups of dark greens, either spinach, chard or kale.

 

Kale is most power-packed nutritionally and is good for cancer prevention, but it can be a bit heavy.

 

If you’re just starting, use spinach first in small amounts and then increase quantity or variety as your family adjusts to having “fruit drink.” Don’t worry! We balance it out so the kids hardly know it’s there.

Add 1-2 bananas, which add natural sweetness and smooth texture.

 

Then add one half pear or apple (or a whole for our size family).

 

I throw in whatever extra fruit is laying around needing to be eaten. In the summer I buy peaches in bulk and freeze them, so we sometimes use those as well. It’s a good idea to keep frozen ripe bananas in the freezer for days when you don’t have any ripe ones.

 

Then you need to have some kind of berries to give it good flavor and color. We use 1-2 cups of frozen blueberries or strawberries usually. If they aren’t frozen, then add a cup of ice.

Top it off with a dash of pure stevia extract if you have some. This gives it extra sweetness to hide the green, or if your kids don’t care, go without it.

 

We use a Blendtec with a pitcher that holds 3 quarts and can  handle this amount like a pro. Vitamix is another good brand that holds 8 cups at a time.

 

If you just have a regular blender, it won’t be as smooth.  Blend until no chunks remain. Adding some flax oil is a great way to get some omegas in too. I even put this in my babies’ bottle, when they’re old enough, of course.

Here’s the basic recipe:

Power Fruit Drink

  • 1-2 cups water or apple juice
  • 1 cup yogurt (optional)
  • 2 cups packed greens, stems removed (spinach, chard or kale)
  • 1-2 bananas, ripe
  • 1/2-1 pear or apple, or other fruit
  • 1-2 cups frozen berries
  • ice as needed
  • 1/8 tsp pure stevia extract
  • 1/2 TB flax oil (optional)

Blend until smooth. Make sure the lid is on tight or you might get this.

 

Have you heard of the Green Smoothie Girl? She has a website all about green smoothies and whole food nutrition. I bought and love her book “Green Smoothies Diet” and her children’s picture book “The Adventures of Junk Food Dude.” My kids adore this book and it’s a great tool for teaching good nutrition through an engaging story.

As you increase the amount of raw, whole foods you and your family eat, you will have more energy and your family will be healthier and happier.

 

If you’ve made smoothies, tell us what you put in yours!

April 15, 2011

Snazzy Snack Mix

Warning! This snack mix is addictive! Once you eat a handful, you won’t be able to stop. At least this one is on the healthier side, right?

I always make a double batch of this before our road trips or to share with friends. It’s a huge hit! Read more…

March 15, 2011

Healthy Homemade Pizza

Our family has finally settled on a mouth-watering, healthy pizza recipe we all love. I enlist the kid’s help to cut prep time.


After my diet change 10 years ago, I avoided pizza for several years. Finally I had to find a healthy substitute so my family wasn’t so tempted by the unhealthy store-bought kind. Now I love and prefer our yummy homemade pizza. Read more…

March 15, 2011

Bread Flour Recipe

Bread flour is flour that has more rising power than plain flour. Read more…

February 12, 2011

Stevia: My Sweetener of Choice

What Is Stevia?

Stevia is the name of a plant. When prepared, it can be 30-300 times sweeter than sugar. It is non-caloric and does not affect blood sugar. So it is ideal for those who struggle with diabetes and candida. It is a natural herbal product, unlike the chemical sweeteners you find that are so detrimental to health (just google them if you’re wondering).

I don’t use Stevia in baking. It just doesn’t work well for me. I do use it in drinks, herbal tea, smoothies, breakfast cereals, dressings and some desserts. I’ve been using it for 10 years now and still love it.

Some people argue that since it is a refined product, it could be detrimental to health. I have not experienced any negative effects from it’s use. Since stevia is so intensely sweet, only small quantities are used at a time. My research on the devastating effects of white sugar in the body, however, convinced me that I had to have another healthier substitute.

Why I Started Using Stevia

I started having recurrent yeast infections after I got married. I think I had a lot of yeast in my body before that, and I believe it manifested itself in other ways such as anxiety, allergies, fatigue and uncontrollable food cravings, to name a few. This imbalance was at least partially a result of a lifetime of eating refined flour, sugar and other junk foods.

I tried the conventional method for resolving yeast infections, which is anti-fungal cream. But I kept getting them again and again. One time I got a urinary tract infection at the same time, and that was PAIN. After I had my second child, I was experiencing so much fatigue and other kinds of unwellness, I was feeling frustrated and even desperate. I wondered how I would raise a family on low energy?

I took my problem to God. I had prayed about health over the years, but I was at a crisis. I prayed harder than ever. The Lord heard and answered my prayers, and has done so repeatedly since that time. My sister invited me to see a natural health doctor with her. I thought that would be interesting and perhaps helpful, so I went along.

The natural doctor took a drop of my blood and showed me on a computer screen, all the yeast and other junk it contained. He told me that to clean it up, I had to clean up my diet. The visual lesson was so powerful to me, I immediately called my husband to see if he would support me in a complete diet makeover. He said yes.

We threw out all our white bread, white pasta, white sugar and other junkie foods and started eating brown rice and steamed veggies. This cleared up most my allergy symptoms within a couple weeks. I decided that in order to get an upper hand with my yeast imbalance, I would avoid all sugar (even natural types) for a while (it ended up being a year).

The only way I was able to accomplish this was to find something to add sweetness in my diet without feeding the yeast. When I learned about Stevia I started experimenting and have loved using it since.

My Favorite Brands of Stevia

Not all brands of Stevia are created equal. Many have an unpleasant aftertaste, especially if too much is used.

 

My favorite is KAL brand Pure Stevia Extract. This large bottle could easily last a small family 6 months, and costs about $17 if bought online. In our house it lasts 1-2 months. It’s very strong so only small amounts are needed. It comes with a tiny spoon. When in doubt about how much to use, try one spoonful and taste.

I put a little tape on the inside of the lid so it doesn’t pour out too fast, especially when the kids are using it.

 

My other choice is Wisdom of the Ancients, SweetLeaf Stevia Plus. This one is a good one to start with because it’s not as strong or concentrated.

 

These can both be purchased at Vitacost. The KAL Pure Stevia Extract, 3.5 oz costs about $17.50 (but lasts a long time). The SweetLeaf Stevia Plus, 4 oz costs $8 (as of Feb, 2011).

Reasons to Avoid White Sugar

  • Leeches calcium, chromium and other vitamins and minerals out of the body, making bones weak and hampering other body functions.
  • Paralyzes and depletes levels of white blood cells for 24 hours, allowing the immune system to be more vulnerable to sickness from viruses and bacteria.
  • It is highly addictive. Neurotransmitters in the brain, like dopamine and serotonin, are impacted in the same manner as alcohol and hard drugs like cocaine.
  • The consumption of sugar is considered to be one of the three major causes of degenerative disease in America even by the American Diabetes Association.

If you need more reasons to avoid white sugar, just google it. Sometimes I need to read up on things to motivate myself to take action.

I don’t avoid white sugar 100% of the time, but I do avoid it and encourage my family to avoid it the majority of the time. I buy and make homemade desserts and candy so that we don’t miss out on treats. For baking I use evaporated cane juice crystals, which still retain their vitamins and minerals, and are much more of a whole food. My homemade treats don’t slow me down or make me feel cruddy like white sugar does (unless I eat too much).

Since I got white sugar out of my house:

  • I have more energy
  • I get sick less
  • I enjoy healthier foods more
  • I get angry less often
  • I am stronger, happier and more emotionally stable

And you can be too!

If you haven’t heard about the dangers of Aspertame, read this article by Dr. Mercola.

Have you noticed that white sugar affects you or family members in a negative way?

January 7, 2011

Grapefruit Juice: A Natural Energy Drink

During the winter, when most fruits are out of season, I crave something to balance out a heavier winter diet and decrease mucus from holiday food.

 

Thank goodness, citrus comes in season. Grapefruit is my favorite. This time of year you can buy them for $3-$5 a bag (Walmart is usually cheapest).

 

My kids love to help with juicing and eating leftover pulp.

 

Fresh-made juice gives more energy then store-bought juice. This is because the cells in fresh foods are still alive. This raw life-force goes into our bodies and gives us more vitality than processed, dead foods or juices.

I like to take the edge off the tartness by adding a mini spoonful or two of stevia extract.

 

I also love to take my green powder (dried wheat, alfalfa & barley grass juice) with grapefruit (or apple) juice. The most effective way I’ve found to alkalize my body fast is taking a teaspoon to a tablespoon of Jurassic Green daily. My kids even request that I put some (a pinch) in their juice.

 

It’s definitely worth the $10-15 investment to get an electric citrus juicer. I love mine! They are very efficient and save a ton of effort.

 

I always feel healthier after I drink this juice. I hope you’ll give it a try!

 

To your health and happiness in the new year!

December 17, 2010

Oat Chip Cookies

I found this recipe in one of my healthy cookbooks, amended it and have used it with great success.

Read more…

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