Thursday, September 30, 2010

Apple Cinnamon Raisin Bread

While I was at the grocery store I noticed organic apple sauce on sale! I bought 4 jars. Apple sauce is a good healthy snack if you run out of fresh fruit, as well I use it for baking too. A couple of days ago I decide to enjoy a 1/2 cup of apple sauce as a snack, when I realize that I bought sweetened! I don't understand why you would put sugar in apple sauce? It tastes so much better with out it. So to use up these jars, I will be using them for baking. If you make this recipe you may want to add a little bit of sweetener(honey, maple syrup, organic sugar) if you are using regular apple sauce. 

Apple Cinnamon Raisin Bread
  • 3 cups flour
  • 3 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups apples - peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup chopped raisins (I soak my raisins first)
Pre-heat oven to 350.  Grease loaf pan. (I used a square baking dish this time as I could not find my loaf pan...I totally suggest you use a loaf pan, so you can slice bread for the toaster.  Yummy!)
In a big bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside. 
In larger mixing bowl, add apple sauce, eggs, vanilla, raisins, and apples. 
Add dry to wet, mix till just moistened, add more applesauce if needed.
Bake  45-60 minutes or tooth pick come out clean.

    Wednesday, September 29, 2010

    Watch My Weight Wednesday!

    Healthy tips for eating out!
    • Order water instead of soda.
    • Ask for your salad dressings and sauces to be served separately. So you can be in control.
    • Ask for your vegetables to be steamed.
    • Avoid buffets.  
    • Do not eat the bread that is on the table, ask the waiter to take it away so that you are not tempted.
    • Have a starter instead of a main course. These are usually much smaller portions. 
    • Skip dessert
    • Skip the mints. Mints are very high in sugar and calories which you do not need!
    What are your healthy tips for eating out?

    ________________________________________________________________________________ 

    This is a blog hop!  Post your recipes, tips, and your weight loss stories!  It can be a new post or an older one that you would like to share.

    Would you like to be a guest blogger?  Send me an email!

    Add your old or new post below with Linky! I can't wait to see all the helpful tips/recipes/stories you have!
    Please link directly to your post and not your blog URL. If you could please link back here, so that everyone can join in the fun!

    Tuesday, September 28, 2010

    Healthy Green Cleaning Tips

    Cleaning green is so much easier and healthier than buying toxic household cleaners!  Common house hold cleaner are poisonous, carcinogenic, flammable, and also contribute to poor indoor air quality which causes asthma.  Do you ever wonder why so many house pets are getting cancer?  The labels on these toxic cleaners do have warnings but still people buy these products! It is so easy to clean green all you need is some baking soda, vinegar, and soap and water.
    And an even greater added bonus, now you will not have to worry about your kids assisting with the all the scrubbing, because all these recipes are non-toxic, and green!  Which makes a busy moms job easier and teaches kids it is fun and easy to clean green!
    How to Clean Green

    Cleaning Kitchen and Bathrooms 

    Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and keep it in your kitchen and bathrooms. Vinegar cleans mold, hard water spots, soap scum, and rust stains, perfect counter tops and sinks!  Vinegar is natural and non-toxic.

    Baking soda works well to clean greasy areas. It is slightly abrasive so it is also great for scrubbing bathtubs, and hard surfaces.

    Soap and water. Did you know you can sanitize with soap and water? There is no need at all to purchase toxic cleaners to sanitize your home. You can wash all most everything with soap and water including your kitchen floor!


    Monday, September 27, 2010

    Lavash Wraps!

    When I saw these at the store I just had to have them!  They are gigantic!  Similar to a tortilla but thinner and bigger.  We filled ours with our favorite things!  Including...
    • avocado
    • tomato
    • lettuce
    • cheese
    • mayo
    • radish
    • grilled peppers, onion, and mushrooms!
    • BBQ sauce
    • cooked chicken

    Everyone made there own to their own liking.  A fun easy dinner when you just don't feel like cooking!


    Saturday, September 25, 2010

    Wednesday, September 15, 2010

    Watch My Weight Wednesday!

    Today I am featuring Melissa from An American Girl in Bristol.  Melissa links up almost every week with awesome weight loss tips!  Please click on the below link and you will find some great weightloss tips!

    101 Ways to Lose Weight Fast

    ________________________________________________________________________________ 

    This is a blog hop!  Post your recipes, tips, and your weight loss stories!  It can be a new post or an older one that you would like to share.

    Would you like to be a guest blogger?  Send me an email!

    Add your old or new post below with Linky! I can't wait to see all the helpful tips/recipes/stories you have!
    Please link directly to your post and not your blog URL. If you could please link back here, so that everyone can join in the fun!

    Friday, September 10, 2010

    Friday Foodie Fix - Chickpea Enchilada's!

    Today’s Secret Ingredient for Friday Foodie Fix is Chickpeas
    As a flexitarian family we eat a lot of Chickpeas!  The hard part was to choose a favorite recipe.  Today I chose My Chickpea Enchilada's!  This recipe is so easy make and kids love it! 


    My family loves this recipe!  It is so easy!  And of course I just use what I have on hand.  I used my homemade tortilla's, and homemade salsa.

    2 cups                chickpeas(soaked and cooked as recommended)or you can use cooked chicken or beef leftovers!
    1 cup                  salsa
    1/2 cup               cottage cheese
    Optional add ins  onion, peppers, mushrooms, corn, black beans, garlic, spices. what ever you have on hand or like!
    1 1/2 cups         salsa
    3/4 cup              shredded cheese
    6                      tortilla's
    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    2. In a bowl mash chickpeas, mix with salsa, cheese, and any add ins.
    3. Roll even amounts of the mixture in the tortillas. Arrange in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover with salsa sauce and 3/4 cup shredded cheese.
    4. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven 30 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before serving. Best served with sour cream, guacamole, and a nice garden salad.
    If you are looking for more Chickpea recipes here are a few of my other ones!

     

    Yummy Curry

    Chickpea Sprouts


    Wednesday, September 8, 2010

    Watch My Weight Wednesday! Banana Smoothie!

    Today I am going to share with you a very easy Banana smoothie recipe!  With my diet I try to get at least 2 servings of fruit in a day.  I love smoothies cause it make getting my fruit in so easy, and so tasty!
    I always try to keep some banana's in my freezer.  I buy the half price banana's at the grocers...you know the ones that are starting to get brown spots.  So it so cheap!

    Banana Smoothie Recipe
    • Half of a banana
    • 1 cup Almond Milk
    • 1 tsp Maple Syrup(optional)
    • Just a little bit of vanilla(optional)
    • as much as you like ice

    Blend all till smooth!
    Enjoy!

    ________________________________________________________________________________ 

    This is a blog hop!  Post your recipes, tips, and your weight loss stories!  It can be a new post or an older one that you would like to share.

    Would you like to be a guest blogger?  Send me an email!

    Add your old or new post below with Linky! I can't wait to see all the helpful tips/recipes/stories you have!
    Please link directly to your post and not your blog URL. If you could please link back here, so that everyone can join in the fun!

    Monday, September 6, 2010

    Sweet Potato Breakfast Granola Squares

    School starts tomorrow for my kids! Sometimes breakfast can be hectic on the first day so I came up with this very healthy recipe!  You can trade out the almond milk for any kind of milk.  And the almond butter for real butter if you like.  I am so happy with how these squares turned out!  Even my son who hates sweet potato likes them! 

    Sweet Potato Breakfast Granola Squares 
    • 1 large sweet potato (baked and mashed)
    • 1/2 c. almond milk
    • 1 tsp. cinnamon
    • 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
    • 1/2  c. maple syrup
    • 2 Tbls. coconut butter
    • 2 c. old-fashioned oats
    • 1/2 c. nuts, seeds, coconut(chopped)
    • 1/2  c. dried fruit(chopped)

    1. Combine sweet potato, almond milk, maple syrup with cinnamon, and nutmeg.  I used a blender but you could mix it to.
    2. Add the oats, nuts, seeds, coconut and dried fruit to the mix.
    3. Press the mix evenly into a greased 8x10 pan.
    4. Bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Before cutting, cool completely.
    5. Enjoy!

    Sweet potatoes are rich in Vitamin A (betacarotene) and Vitamin C. Both Vitamins A and C are powerful antioxidants that work in the body to remove free radicals, these free radicals are chemicals that damage cells.

    Saturday, September 4, 2010

    Spinach Chopped Green Salad

    A very yummy healthy salad my family enjoys!  I am sure your family will like it too!

    Spinach Chopped Green Salad

    Ingredients

    Salad
    Cucumber
    Avocado
    Cilantro (fresh just leaves no stems)
    Green onion
    Alfalfa sprouts
    Baby spinach

    Dressing
    Olive oil
    Red wine vinegar
    Dijon mustard
    Fresh ground pepper

    Chop all salad ingredients, add half to bowl, make a well in the middle of salad bowl and add olive oil, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, and a little fresh ground pepper.  Toss salad, and add rest of ingredients.  Enjoy!


    Cilantro is a good source of folic acid, and also helps detox heavy metals out of your system including mercury, lead and cadmium.
    Spinach also a good source of folic acid, calcium, and whole list of nutrients!

    Thursday, September 2, 2010

    Kitchen Conversations By Michelle Goldbach (Guest Post)

    Kitchen Conversations

    By Michelle Goldbach
     
     Not long ago some family and friends were gathered in my kitchen on a beautiful morning in San Diego. As each person helped themselves to breakfast, coffee, and juice, conversations were provoked by some missing items in my kitchen. These items included, diet soda, margarine, artificial sweetener, regular peanut butter and coffee creamer. As each guest asked if I had one of the items I found myself saying, "no, but I do have..." I also gave them the rationale as to why they are absent, which I would like to share with my readers.

    First of all, let me clarify, even though I am a nurse and I am well educated in proper nutrition and healthy lifestyles, I do not eat 100% clean nor do I only eat raw and organic foods. I love food way too much for that! But I have made some simple changes to improve the way I do eat and live a healthier lifestyle. It is a known fact that what we eat or do not eat has a direct effect on our overall health and has been linked to several chronic, inflammatory diseases. Over 90% of those in our hospital system are suffering from such diseases. Now, nutrition is only component. Daily movement, mental stimulation, and practices to maintain spiritual and emotional health is also vital. Today, I am going to focus on the nutrition component.

    Soda
    No, but I do have sparkling water or club soda. Did you know that diet sodas actually retain fat in your body and deplete it of crucial minerals such as Calcium and Phosphate? While regular soda is better for you than diet, just remember that a can of soda contains approximately 14 sugar packets, plus sodium and caffeine. Best alternative is water, but if you like a little "fizz" now and then like I do, try sparkling water.

    Margarine
    No, but I do have butter. What! I thought margarine, especially the new ones better for you than butter! Chemicals! Chemicals! Chemicals! Did I say that margarine is full of chemicals and processed ingredients including partially hydrated oils? Margarine is probably the closest thing to eating plastic! Best Alternative is not using anything at all. I cannot believe the taste of really good bread without the use of butter. Or use it sparingly. Another alternative is natural peanut butter, macadamia butter, or almond butter. Again, watch your serving size! Note: You can also use avocados instead of butter when baking!

    Artificial Sweeteners
    No, but I do have organic raw sugar or honey. Stevia is another option. The pink stuff, the blue stuff and the yellow stuff are all just chemicals! Best Alternative- no sweeteners or use a small amount of the real stuff like organic raw sugar or honey or try Stevia.

    Coffee creamer- plain or flavored
    No, but I have low fat milk. Again, partially hydrated oils and chemicals! Best Alternative- use cream, half and half or milk (sparingly)

    Conclusion
    So, do you see a theme here? Try to avoid chemicals and things that are processed. Can we completely? Yes, you can. It is possible but not easy and it will take a lot of planning for shopping and preparation of your meals. And a lot of times it is not feasible to avoid all chemicals and processed food. However, am I able to make simple changes to improve my diet and still eat foods I love in small portions, yes? I do suggest, however that you try to eliminate the items above entirely. Start with one and be patient to yourself. Change takes time and focus.

    I would love to hear from you on your thoughts on these food items and others. Visit my website to sign up for my Newsletter or check out my blog at http://PathForHealthyLiving.com
    Michelle Goldbach, RNC, BSN, MHA
    Health and Wellness Resource
    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Goldbach

    Wednesday, September 1, 2010

    Watch My Weight Wednesday!

    Hi Everyone!  I hope your weeks have been going well?  The last 2 weeks have been so busy for me!  With all sorts of company coming and going, and being busy everyday, I have had no time for me!  My kids have been away and I was hoping on having lots of me time, just to take care of myself.  But it didn't work out that way.  So my weight is the same.  I am stuck at not such a bad number on the scale.  I am not going up, so that is good right? 

    Next week my kids go back to school.  So back to routine should help.  And I will have more free time to spend in the kitchen, planning meals, and preparing food.  Which I am positive that has been contributing to my no weightloss.

    How has your summer been?  Did you find it hard to stay on track, or found it easier?  Let me know in the comment section below.

    ________________________________________________________________________________ 

    This is a blog hop!  Post your recipes, tips, and your weight loss stories!  It can be a new post or an older one that you would like to share.

    Would you like to be a guest blogger?  Send me an email!

    Add your old or new post below with Linky! I can't wait to see all the helpful tips/recipes/stories you have!
    Please link directly to your post and not your blog URL. If you could please link back here, so that everyone can join in the fun!