Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Quinoa Pilaf recipe ~~~ Great for the Holidays

Quinoa Pilaf recipe


1 tablespoon organic coconut oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups sliced baby organic carrots
1 cup Quinoa
2 cups organic vegetable broth
2/3 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Directions: Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat-cook onion until translucent-5 minutes-Add carrots and cook 3 minutes more.Stir in Quinoa and vegetable broth-bring to boil.Reduce to simmer-cover and cook 15 to 20 minutes or until quinoa is tender and fluffy.Add almonds and parsley and salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot or room temperature. I like to serve it over a spinach salad.. So Yummy
                                          


                  

                                                

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Chia Seeds amazing little seed.......

  1. Help weight loss. Chia seeds are popular for weight loss. They reduce food cravings by preventing some of the food that you eat from getting absorbed into your system. This blockage of calorie absorption makes them a great diet helper.
  2. Feel fuller faster: They can also help your diet by making you feel full. This is because they absorb 10 times their weight in water, forming a bulky gel.
  3. Hydration for athletes: They are also great for athletes because the "chia gel" can hydrate the body.
  4. Reduce your blood pressure: There's evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure.
  5. Omega-3: They are the richest plant source of Omega-3 (the vital fats that protect againstinflammation—such as arthritis—and heart disease). In fact, they contain more Omega-3 than salmon!
  6. Benefits for diabetes: Because chia seeds slow down how fast our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugars, studies indicate they can control blood sugar. This leads scientists to believe chia seeds may have great benefits for diabetics.
  7. They are easier to digest than flax seeds, and don't need to be ground up.

Wonderful Pumpkin Pie alternative for the entire family
Ingredients
  • 2 cups plain Greek Yogurt  
  • 2- 15oz cans pumpkin puree
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 4 tbsp organic dark brown sugar  
  • 5 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp pumpkin pie spice 
  • 12 organic ginger snaps, crushed and 2 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 8 tbsp chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
  1. Mix together yogurt, and pumpkin puree.
  2. In a small bowl, mix water and brown sugar until dissolved. Poor into pumpkin mixture, add maple syrup and spice and mix well
  3. Spoon into 8 bowls, reserving 8 tablespoons. Top with chia seeds, crushed ginger snaps, 1 tablespoon of pumpkin mixture and 1 tablespoon chopped pecans or walnuts per bowl




Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Gluten Free Energy Breakfast

Organic- gluten free-No Bake Energy Breakfast cookies

1 cup of organic gluten free rolled oats ( I use Bob's Red Mill brand found at Kroger or any local health food store)
1/2 cup ground flax seed ( I use Bob's Red Mill Organic Whole ground flaxseed meal. This is found in the refrigerator section at your local health food store)
1/2 cup organic creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup of organic honey-
1/2 cup all natural dark chocolate chips
1 tsp.organic pure vanilla extract
                                                             



                     


Essential Oils for the family


    I regularly incorporate aromatherapy into my daily life to help me and my family emotionally and to aid in our physical well-being. Essential oils are extracted from leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, herbs, brushes, shrubs and trees through distillation. They have been used for medicinal and healing purposes for thousands of years. Clinical studies are currently underway in many countries to test the healing properties of various oils, and in the United States, many practices are starting to realize the benefits of essential oils.

     It’s important to purchase the purest essential oils available. I use Young Living brand oils which after researching found to be one of the purest oils.  Research the product line to ensure the items are organic; anything else could do more harm than good. Avoid the temptation to go for the cheapest option, which is likely mixed with synthetic chemicals or heavily diluted. Also, be sure the oil is sold in a dark glass bottle. This will ensure light doesn’t get to the oil, deteriorating it over time. Keep the bottle in a cool place in your home to guarantee you get the maximum benefit each time you use it.
     From the array of essential oil selections, each has its own unique properties. I suggest starting with the basics, such as lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, ginger, peppermint, orange or lemon. It’s also helpful to purchase a dictionary/reference guide to familiarize yourself with the different oils and find what’s right for you. I bought a book called Reference Guide for Essential Oils by Connie and Alan Higley.

     Essential oils carry the essence of the plants in such a potent form that a single drop of essential oil can equal multiple teaspoons of the dried herb (for instance, 1 drop of peppermint oil equals more than 25 cups of peppermint tea!). And they can be used or applied in a multitude of ways and combinations to bring powerful results to your tasks, atmosphere, and bodies.

     Enjoy researching these oils and please contact me if you have question. I am really passionate about using these essential oils in our daily lives. I make my own face cream, foot creams, deep conditioning treatments for my hair and body creams. The benefits I have seen in my life and my family are amazing. Enjoy researching ~~ Kelly Jefffrey



 


                                      

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

The dangers of processed foods for our children.


Today’s world is so busy and rushed we look for convenience and simplicity when it comes to the next meal for our families. Lifestyles are so different then they were 20 years ago. Along with such convenience and simplicity come processed foods to satisfy the appetite. Drive-thru fast food restaurants can be found at almost every corner serving foods fried in trans and saturated fats and serving strange meat products. The freezer section at the grocery store is sometime larger than the fresh produce department. Although the snack aisle has some chips made with trans fat free products, the popular fattening and tasty chips are most popular and cheaper. Anything you can think of eating may come in a can, box, or jar these days. With this diet, our society is consuming an astonishing amount of unhealthy meals without a thought of the dangers of processed foods.
Health conscious parents are often surprised to find out how often they are putting chemically engineered foods into their families diet. Even if you know enough to avoid fast foods and sugary sweets, parents could be unwittingly purchasing groceries that are processed and can affect your families health. Most foods that are packaged, canned, frozen or altered from its original form can be considered processed. Parents need to be aware and read labels on foods that can be harmful to their family.
Looking back to the days of my grandparents, food was bought fresh from the grocery store. Potatoes didn’t come in a box in the old days. Mashed potatoes were actually peeled, washed, cut up, and boiled until ready to add the fresh whole milk and butter. Yes, that was butter—not the imitation spread in a tub labeled with a promise of unsaturated fat. Well butter and imitation butter that will be a great topic for another blog. I challenge you this Thanksgiving to not make boxed potatoes, a great thing to do with you children is make homemade mashed potatoes. I know with my 3 children they LOVE when we make a meal together. What better way then on a holiday to enjoy this time shared in preparing a meal.
Our taste buds have been trained to crave foods which are sweet, salty, spicy, and probably unhealthy. With cancer and heart disease all around us, researchers are now studying the dangers of processed foods which are more of a staple in our home than a loaf of bread or carton of milk. I personally know it can be difficult to always cook a meal that is fresh and not processed. I also have a very busy life raising 3 children, 2 with Juvenile Diabetes. For me to always cook healthy is something I strive to do. It is not easy planning meals in advance and trying to find organic fruits and vegetables. We as parents need to make it our priority to feed our family healthy foods to avoid long term health issues.

So I challenge you, with Thanksgiving approaching make a non processed dinner. Enjoy your Turkey with homemade mashed potatoes, organic green beans and homemade cranberries. When it comes to dessert your children will love to make a pie with you from scratch. What better way to feed your family healthy while making wonderful memories at the same time.
                                                Have a blessed holiday ~~~ Kelly Jeffrey