Category: Organic

Food, Organic

Family Favorite Recipe: Thai Bean Spread ~ Yum!

lannholmes

We made this today, and, oh, my!  It’s delicious!  All of the flavors marry well, and, there are a lot of flavors!  Hope you decide to try.  🙂

(We doubled this recipe.)

1 15-ounce can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed

3 tablespoons almond butter (optional) – WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND USING THIS!

1/4 cup lime juice

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce or tamari, more or less to taste

1 medium carrot, grated

1 Thai red chili or 1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced (optional) – WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND USING THIS, AS WELL!

1/4 cup sliced green onion

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

2 cloves garlic, minced

  1. Combine the garbanzo bans, almond butter, lime juice, and soy sauce in a food processor and process until smooth and creamy.
  2. Spoon the mixture into a mixing bowl; add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

Super easy and super yummy!

Love,

me xoxo

 

Food, Health and Wellness, Organic

Health and Wellness Tip: Perhaps, A Smoothie? a.k.a. MEAL In A Glass?! See tips…

lannholmes

Smoothies are fun for everyone!  Our family likes to call them “fruit swirls”.  Whatever your family’s name is or will be for them, it’s a guarantee your little people will enjoy them and, they won’t even complain that they are eating a bunch of healthy green stuff, too!  (sneeeaky 😉

Here are some tips that we’d like to follow when we whip up these bad boys…to get the most bang for our buck, you know what I’m saying?  😛

TIP #1:  Pour in your liquids first for the smoothest consistency.  Then, do as follows:

  • add in any powders (protein, cacao, superfoods)
  • cover with soft items (berries, avocados, bananas, cucumbers)
  • hard ingredients next (frozen fruit, raw fibrous vegetables)
  • last, add ice

TIP #2: Soak your raw nuts, seeds or oats first.  

  • cover the item in boiling water for 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly, and add to the blender

TIP #3: Choose high-quality, easily-digestible protein powders.

  • organic, raw, sprouted
  • 1 tablespoon or 1 scoop to start; can leave a powdery aftertaste if too much is used

TIP #4: Bump up the nutritional value of your smoothie by putting in add-ins (1 tsp – 1 tbl)

  • chia, flax, or hemp seeds
  • or, 1/4 – 1/2 tsp. of green powders…spirulina or chlorella…or, 1/2 – 1 tsp. of wheatgrass powder; “good” bacteria…1/2 tsp. probiotic powder
  • 1 tsp. to 1 tbl. of healthy fats…olive, hemp, flax, pumpkin seed, macadamia nut, coconut, and avocado

TIP#5: Add in an extract if your smoothie is need of flavor (1 or more of the following):

  • extracts: almond, mint, vanilla
  • fresh citrus zest; fresh herbs: mint, basil, parsley, cilantro
  • ground spices: cloves, nutmeg, ginger, cardamon, cinnamon
  • lemon, orange or lime juice
  • raw cacao or unsweetened cocoa powder

TIP #6: Use frozen vegetables.  

  • flavor is different than fresh (you just may be able to use broccoli or brussel sprouts)
  • adds convenient nutrition
  • reduces flavor sensitivity
  • gives a frosty texture

*Clean blender right away with warm soapy water to avoid stress.  😛

Have fun smoothie making!

~Lisa

P.S.

Leave a comment and tell everyone about a recipe you loved!

 

 

Food, Organic

Family Favorite Recipe: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. YumMMee!

lannholmes
  1. PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Grease baking sheets.
  3. COMBINE flours, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, clove and salt in medium bowl.
  4. Beat sugar and vegan margarine or butter in large mixer bowl until well blended.
  5. Beat in pumpkin, applesauce and vanilla extract until smooth.
  6. Gradually beat in flour mixture.
  7. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto prepared baking sheets.
  8. BAKE for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are firm.
  9. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes;.
  10. remove to wire racks to cool completely.
  11. Drizzle glaze over cookies.
  12. FOR GLAZE: COMBINE 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons soymilk, 1 tablespoon melted vegan butter or margarine and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in small bowl until smooth.

*This type of cookie has been made in the past, many times, but, last night was the first time we made this recipe.  This one is especially tasty because it calls for ginger and nutmeg.  Yum!

*We usually add some chocolate chips…about 1 1/2 cups…mm, hm

Enjoy!

Lisa

P.S.

Let me know if you agree with the tastiness of these boogers.  🙂

 

http://www.food.com/recipe/vegan-old-fashioned-soft-pumpkin-cookies-276984

Food, Organic

Two Yummies We Would Like to Try: Homemade Pickles and Mega Omega Farfalle

lannholmes

Homemade Pickles

Divide 1 3/4 lbs halved Kirby cucumbers, 2/3 cup dill sprigs and 2 tbsp pickling spice between two 1-quart canning jar (packed tightly).  Bring 3 1/2 cups water to boil and add 6 halved cloves garlic.  After 1 minute, stir in 1 cup white vinegar and 1/4 cup kosher salt.  Return to a boil.  Pour liquid into jars; cool to room temp.  Cover and refrigerate 2 days before eating; enjoy for up to 1 month.  Makes 10 servings.

Mega Omega Farfalle

Makes 6 servings     Prep 20 minutes     Cook 11 minutes     Grill 9 minutes

1 lb salmon fillet

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 cup fresh bail leaves

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (peptitas)

1/4 cup grated Parmesan

1 clove garlic

3 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp warm water

1 lb. farfalle

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed

*Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high.  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Season salmon with 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper.

*Combine 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, the basil and next 3 ingredients in a food processor, process until finely chopped.  With machine running, gradually add oil and water.  Continue to blend until smooth.

*Add pasta to boiling water; cook 11 minutes and drain, reserving 1 cup cooking water.  Meanwhile, grill salmon 9 minutes, turning once, and asparagus 5 minutes, turning often.

*Place pasta in a large bowl.  Cut asparagus into 2-inch pieces and add to pasta.  Flake salmon with a fork (discard skin) and toss with pasta along with pesto, 1/4 tsp salt and reserved pasta water.  Serve warm.

 

 

Health and Wellness, Organic, Skincare

Beauty Tip: Identify the Problem and Read the Ingredients for the Solution.

lannholmes

Ever wish you knew exactly what ingredients to look for so you knew exactly what product to buy, targeting your specific skin and beauty issue(s) and desires?

I know, for me, ingredients of a product will either make me want the product or not. They must be pure (nature-derived), healthy and organic (or, mostly) for my skin.

So, now, after reading an issue of Cosmopolitan, we’ll have this handy go-to list as a resource for when we’re in need of some beauty help.  🙂

Here we go!

For…

  • uneven texture – use retinol to boost cell turnover for a healthy complexion
  • discoloration – phytic acid – fades everything from sun spots to acne scars and niacinamide to prevent future pigmentation
  • oily skin moisturizer – hyaluronic acid – creates balance
  • dry skin moisturizer – ceramides – cocoon skin, leaving it feeling silky-smooth
  • moisturizing body wash – sulfate-free
  • face oil – rich in vitamin C, rosehip and sea buckthorn berry – evens skin tone and boosts firmness
  • body oil – macadamia and avocado – makes skin glisten!
  • SPF for the face – 50 and sweatproof
  • SPF for the body – zinc – amazing at preventing burns
  • dry skin cleanser – jojoba and aloe – face won’t feel tight post-wash
  • oily skin cleanser – charcoal – ‘sucks gunk from pores’ and salicylic acid ‘zaps zits’
  • A.M. eye treatment – peptides – plumps thin under-eye skin
  • P.M. eye treatment – pop on eye patches
  • brightening mask – AHA and glycolic acid – resurfaces the skin, leaving a glow
  • wrinkles – hyaluronic acid and collagen – repair skin damage
  • acne – adapalene (a retinoid) – regulates cell turnover to prevent clogged pores and reduce redness
  • at-home peel – gentle fruit acids for 14 days and then, something rich in glycolic and salicylic acid for 14 days
  • lip-plumping – restylane and restylane-L – allover volume; restylane silk – subtle enhancements; juvederm ultra XC – a ‘plush, pillowy effect’; juvederm volbella XC – defines the lip line and treats fine lines around the mouth

So, there you go.  Let’s go for the natural healthy beauty products with great ingredients!

Love,

Lisa