So the last few posts have been rather jam-packed with information and exhortation.

Yeah?  Yeah.

Let’s take a much earned break and let a healthy dessert have the mic.  I think we all probably feel like listenin’.

Whimsicality

Since there’s been some serious lack of whimsy around here lately (I have an odd streak of it runnin’ through me like, well, gold), I thought I’d go a bit retro with my photo shoot – giving the stereofidelic font a go (isn’t it perfect?!) and arranging the cutesy pastel pinch bowls in the back (one of the few things I can afford at anthropologie.  I have a serious weakness for artsy dishware, so help me).

Anyway, since vintage is all the rage right now and since I have several girlfriends who regularly show-off their dime-store-retro-adorable-thrift-shop-finds around me (ALL. THE. TIME.) I thought I’d give thrift shopping a go and see what treasures I could find!

So the other day I found myself stepping foot into an old store in the historical part of the city with the air of a woman on a mission.

Hold that thought

Now before I go any further I must make a confession.  I really like new things.  As in, not old.  I’m the kind of girl that considers antique shops more like junk shops and I’d sooner die before rummaging through my neighbor’s garage sale.  (Going through stuff previously owned by other people just seems disrespectful to me – even though it is considered socially acceptable.)  Anyway, that’s just one of my quirks.  Please tell me I’m not alone.

Which makes the whole, stepping foot into a thrift shop with the intention of actually buying something to own, quite startling to my sensibilities.  But step forth I did and was met with exhilaration at wandering so far outside my own playground.  (I pretty much live off adventure.)

So, like, did you end up buying something already?!

Yup!  After a few moments of gazing at the much outdated finery and marveling at how people possibly could have ever worn that, my eyes locked in on a simple saucer and cup.  Yes, yes – dishware but does that really matter?!

Since I’m a history buff I got quite a thrill purchasing something that came from the kitchen of a 1950′s housewife.  Pretty cool and all.

I walked out of the shop with a retro mint green saucer and forest green tea cup wrapped in newspaper and hanging from a bag on my arm – one satisfied lady.

By the way, the mint green saucer is showing off the carrot cake bars in these photos.  See, that’s how I justify my dishware-addiction!  I need them for blogging purposes.

Where does this “plummy” word come from??

At the risk of coming across like a weirdo – you know what – forget it!

*Embrace this*

Ok.

So one of my favorite books of all time is Louisa May Alcott’s, “Old Fashioned Girl”.  She wrote “Little Women” for which she is famous, and I thought it was lovely, but for some reason “Old Fashioned Girl” tugs on my heartstrings and touches a deep place inside me every time I read it… which is about once a year and a half or so.  (How weird do you think I am now? Bahaha!)  I just identify with Polly Milton so much it scares me.  I think she and Tom (love interest – duh) are so perfect together!

But anyway what does this have to do with plumminess?  So in the book, Polly bakes a birthday cake for Tom and gives a little speech on how she hopes the cake is a “plummy one” (generously filled with plump raisins) and that the plums are properly scattered throughout the top and middle and bottom of the cake.  It was an analogy to how she wishes him a good life with many beautiful gifts along the way no matter if he be rich or poor or in-between.  SO sweet right?!  *sigh* I thought so.

Now that I’ve totally weirded you and myself out by this unusual display of sentimentality let’s talk about the these carrot cake bars and how we can make them so we can eat them!

Yes.  Please.

Moist & Plummy* Carrot Cake Bars

1  1/2 cups xylitol
1  1/2 cups oat flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 cup almond butter (make sure it tastes fresh)
3 eggs
1  1/2 cup grated carrots

1/2 cup extra-virgin coconut oil, melted over low heat
3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

3/4 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  1. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a bowl and mix up with a whisk.  2. Mix almond butter and eggs together with a fork then add grated carrots, stirring up well.  3. Combine the coconut oil, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla extract.  4. Pour into the carrot mixture, stirring quickly with a fork until smooth (or roughly smooth ).  5. Next, add that wet mixture (carrots, eggs, almond butter, ACV, vanilla) to the dry ingredients (xylitol, oat flour, spices, etc.) mixing until just incorporated.  6. Last but not least add in the pecans and plummy raisins!  7. Pour in 2 round 9-inch cake tins (greased with coconut oil and dusted with oat flour) and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean (you want a moist cake – not too dry).  8. Cool for 5-1o minutes then invert onto wire racks to cool completely.  Cut into bars OR frost before cutting into bars.

Aaand the frosting.  Ready to go barefoot?

It’s a combo of:

• organic palm oil shortening (I used Spectrum) – several big scoops from the tub
• powdered xylitol (processed regular xylitol in my blender – make sure blender is completely dry!) – about 1/2 cup
• agave nectar – couple squeezes
• vanilla extract – generous splash
• vanilla almond milk – tiny, not so generous splash

Whip it all up in the electric mixer until fluffy.  Taste it and if you like it – done!  If it needs a little extra flavor – kick off those shoes and experiment!

This cake is freezer friendly and will do quite well stored in the freezer for several weeks. It will still taste good cold if you can’t wait to heat it up.  Also, one of the most labor intensive things I find about baking carrot cakes is grating the carrots!  I simply hate doing it.  Sooo, you can double the amount of carrots you grate and then store part of the shredded carrot in a plastic baggie in the freezer for next time.  Simply take the bag out of the freezer and let thaw for half an hour, squeeze out the extra water, and throw into your batter!

*Now you know what it truly means!

Last but not least, nibble (or gobble – there’s no judgment here) on this cake, sip on a beverage, and read your favorite book whilst enjoying a treat that is gluten-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free!

And would someone please reassure me that they’ve read an “Old Fashioned Girl”, too?

Shared on: Rattlebridge Farm, Foodie Friday, Allergy-Friendly Friday, Whole Foods Fridays, Simple Meals Friday, Gluten-Free Friday, On the Menu Monday, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, Motivation Monday, Mop It Up Monday, Marvelous Mondays, Mealtime Monday, Show Me Your Plaid, Inspire Me Monday, Fat Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Hearth&Soul, Tasteful Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Wednesday Whatsits, Wheat-Free Wednesdays, Party Wave Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesdays, Waste Not Want Not, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Fresh Food Linkup, Whole Foods Wednesday, Healthy2Day Wednesdays, Real Food, Full Plate Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things, Creative Timeout Party, Live Laugh Love, Hearts 4 Home, Fantastic Thursday, Showcase Your Talent, Create It Thursday,

Hello my people!

I was just thinking today of how being in possession of one’s health is such a glorious thing!  Having personally overcome major illness and severe body toxicity through change in diet, I’m an intensely passionate (hmm is that redundant?) advocate of the belief that your diet effects a whole lot more than simply your weight.  It effects everything.

Food is often viewed as the less important component in determining the cause and cure to illness, being one-upped by a person’s health history and genetic weaknesses.  A change in diet is usually a last ditch effort for healing after medication and procedures and testing prove fruitless.  As a result, we don’t immediately link diet to our health or consider that some items we regularly consume could be responsible for our health issues.

Health = Diet

Without reiterating what we discussed in the last post (quality versus quantity of food – to catch up on that go here), allow me to build on that topic by stating that certain foods – even high-quality health foods – can trigger reactions which can virtually destroy the body from the inside out.

With toxins and GMO’s joining our food supply in droves, more and more people are suffering from food allergies.  Allergies go far beyond the common tree pollen and peanut variety (EpiPen and inhaler).  Food can be pretty subtle, undermining your health silently until you’re body has been worn down and you’re experiencing all sorts of symptoms.

Which leads me to propose…

… a question!  How can we know if we’re allergic to certain foods?  We know that testing for gluten sensitivity or Celiac’s for example, isn’t super accurate and that food allergies in general can mask themselves in the form of many other issues.  (Hence treating the “symptom” is no cure at all.  But I’ll leave that for another day.)

Skipping Down Memory Lane

When I was a kid I didn’t have any allergies.

However, my little best friend was allergic to dust.  Cute right?

I thought so.  I would judiciously dust the house whenever we had a play date and it was my turn to entertain.  I thought it was pretty cool that she was actually allergic to something and I envied her important status that required special treatment.

Now many years later…

I have many food allergies.  Haha.  And I finally feel cool.  Well not really.  I mean I feel cool but for other reasons.

The kicker is this: I had eczema off and on as a child but was told I’d grow out of it.  It wasn’t until much later that I found the link between my skin “disorder” and my body’s stubborn refusal to “grow out of it” were certain offending foods that triggered the recurring rash.  Foods I LOVED and ate multiple times a day.  Duh.  Why was that so hard??

Allergic & Don’t Know It?

The point of the trip down memory lane was to suggest that we can be allergic to something and not know it.  Sometimes we dismiss our symptoms believing that it’s simply “our normal”.  We think “this is just who I am”, “I will struggle with this because someone in my family struggled with it”, or “oh yeah you’ll just grow out of it”.

Ridiculous!

Right below is a list of some common symptoms to food allergies and sensitivities.  Several of them might be surprising to you.  But keep in mind that food sensitivities are often more subtle at first and grow to be a problem later – with symptoms increasing in seriousness as the problem goes unchecked.  If you deal with any of those symptoms more than once a month, please hear me loud and clear, that’s not normal!

This isn’t to freak you out but rather to encourage you!  You don’t have to settle for this way of life.  This half-living.  There is a way to be truly “normal” (ok we’re all pretty weird to begin with so I’m talking relatively normal here. ).  By figuring out what foods your body needs you can  experience real health.  The link is your diet.  But first let’s go over those symptoms.

Symptoms of Allergies & Sensitivities

Keep in mind you could be allergic to your environment as well as a type of food (i.e. toxic chemicals used for household cleaners, mold, new furniture that is out-gassing, etc.).

1. Skin – rashes, eczema, psoriasis, oozing skin lesions, acne
2. Hair – loss, lack of vibrancy, brittle, dull
3. Nails – weak, easily ripped or torn
4. Extreme exhaustion / energy levels abnormally low
5. Stomachaches
6. Headaches / migraines
7. Puffy or swollen eyes / face
8. Irritability / anxiety / depression
9. Gas, bloating, diarrhea / constipation
10. Joint pain
11. Inability to concentrate / fuzzy-brained
12. Congestion / running nose / itchy, watery eyes
13. Constantly sick

For me, a huge tip off in addition to the eczema, was my insanely depleted energy levels.   (It’s a major reason why I avoid gluten, dairy, and sugar.  Don’t pity me though, I actually eat like a queen now and enjoy more foods than before – like this delicious and healthy chocolate cake - check it out!  It’s win-win when you come over to the healthy side. Mwahaha!)

Figure Out Your “Food Frequency”

Now, I’m not trying to give you an I’m-allergic-to-everything-thanks-a-lot-Gabriela complex.  While I believe that unnatural “foods” (not naturally occurring in nature) should never be ingested by humans, some foods such as whole grains or raw dairy do very well for some people.  I’m not saying everyone should go gluten-free or dairy-free or Paleo or Raw or whatever.  There are elements to all of those diets that I love, as well as elements that are unhelpful and even harmful for some people.

The goal is to get in tune with your body so you notice how you respond after a certain meal or drink or dessert.

Understanding what your body thrives on and what it has a hard time processing is the goal!  Everyone needs a little something different.  The adventure is figuring out what YOU need.  It’s a gradually increasing awareness of yourself and your environment and honing in on what makes you feel better and dare I say it? – feel AWESOME!

A Parting Word

A quick word to the lucky ones who don’t struggle with food allergies:

Congratulations!  Although a word of caution.  Bad food yields “bad” consequences.  Always.  Whether you deal with those consequences now or later simply depends on your body.  While having zero food sensitivities sure makes things a lot easier, it also isn’t license to binge on junk while fending off the inevitable with the insistent “I can eat anything” mantra.

If you have food allergies or are concerned that you might have rest easy.  You have a lower tolerance for triggers and prefer to deal with them quickly.  It doesn’t mean that you’re broken.  In fact it means your body is highly intelligent and discerning.  (So I might be biased.) 

So!  Eat, be aware of how you feel, and enjoy greater health!  And if it’s maintaining energy that you struggle with, try ditching the gluten, juice it up, and snack on this heere Energy Buttuh!

Energy Butter is a blend of nuts and seeds rich in protein, healthy fats, and flavor!  It’s roasted almond butter with extra goodies added for more nutrition and staying power.  Very high in protein,  a couple spoonfuls of “butter” with celery or crackers is a great snack to fend off hunger and get some omega 3′s into you!

Energy Butter

• 1 cup roasted almonds (To roast almonds: spread on a cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes at 325 degrees, stirring twice to make sure they roast evenly.)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup flaxseeds

optional add-ins:

sea salt / cinnamon / honey / vanilla extract

Add roasted almonds, shredded coconut, sunflower seeds, and flaxseeds in a food processor until smooth.  Store in a glass jar and keep in the refrigerator for when you need a snack!

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To count a Calorie…

Or Not?

I was talking with someone the other day about food and health and such when they said they believed how much you ate of something was more important than what that something was.  Frosted oatmeal cookies, fruit cup, a hamburger and french fries, asian tossed salad, Wendy’s frosty, fried chicken – whatever.  It’s all okay just as long as everything is in moderation and you don’t over do it.

Okay.  We need a variety of nutrients that are found in a variety of foods.  After all, variety is the spice of life, right?  Balance is essential.  I’m all for balance!

So this is sort of “true”.

Rather, it would be true assuming our food supply…

1. Is untainted
2. Derived from natural sources
3. Contains all the nutrients that our great-grandparents enjoyed
4. Has been prepared well
5. Contains no artificial ingredients
6. Has not undergone harmful preparation processes (pasteurization, irradiation, microwaving – to name a few)
7. Has not been exposed to toxic pesticides & herbicides
8. Has not been genetically engineered or modified in any way
9. …to infinity and beyond…

Then yes.  It would be true.

Ah to live in such a time!  T’would be bliss!

But we don’t.

We live in a world where chemicals masquerade as candy bars and advertising “hey our salad comes with real cheese” is a selling point.  We look for “made with no artificial ingredients” on the label when we shop.  (If you don’t, please start!  Reading labels is a great way to become informed about the foods you’ve been eating.)

Humm.  But wait.  When did it become okay to eat artificial ingredients in the first place?  Artificial means “Not existing naturally; contrived or false”.  Synonyms:  “factitious – unnatural – affected – man-made”.  Ugh.  Let’s just go and chew on plastic while we’re at it!

But I digress.

My point is this: the thought that the amount of food (calorie count) consumed is of more importance than the quality of the food (nutrient level) consumed  is an incorrect, not to mention incredibly naive, view point.

Sure, portion control can lead to temporary weight loss, but we all know you can be sick and skinny at the same time.  Losing weight doesn’t equal getting healthier.

With the myriad of harmful components in food products these days, if we aren’t actively seeking to eat real and whole food, we will experience the harmful results of a diet spilling over with artificial preservatives, toxic sweeteners, chemically created coloring, and nutrient-stripped ingredients.

It’s time to de-throne calories as the be-all end-all road map to health and realize that true health comes from the nutrient level (quality) that food has to offer.  Yes, eat responsibly (this isn’t a plug for gluttony!) but you are free to eat well and be well without having to “do the math”.

To be truly healthy we must eat “truly healthy”.  What you eat is linked to how you feel and ultimately how you live your life.  You’ve heard the old saying, “you are what you eat”?  It’s true.  (Only don’t go out and eat a skinny person.)  We must be aware of what we eat because in the end, what you don’t know really can and will hurt you.

Now, I’m not trying to be all freak-out-it’s-the-end-of-the-world…again.  Yup it’s sure-fire not perfect living on this earth and you can’t worry about everything cause in the end no one gets outta here alive.  You pick your battles, right?  But I’m saying if you want to experience a higher level of health, and invest in your future, it’s a battle you just might be ready to get in on.

A word on quantity: as you eat higher quality foods your body will receive the nutrients it has been craving so desperately.  It will come into balance and you will find yourself satisfied with less and enjoy greater energy levels as well as freedom from food addictions.  Now that’s what I’m talking about!

Nom Nom

Ok.  I’m done.  Enough of the intense and informative!  I hope I wasn’t depressing…

Snack time?

*Switches gears*

Today’s recipe is Passionate Peach Pudding.  So named for the tea bag of choice that is flavoring this bowl of deliciousness (Yes I’m using tea again.  So shoot me… an email. Muwahaha. Ok. Bad.).  If you’re tired of the tea thing, use any type of flavoring extract – that’s not artificial of course.

Passionate Peach Puddin’

1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
2 tablespoons chia seeds
stevia, agave, or honey to taste
peach tea bag of choice (I LOVE “Country Peach Passion” by Celestial Seasonings.  It’s super peachy and fruity…it reminds me of a dreamsicle!)

Stir up the chia seeds with the almond milk and let sit for about 1/2 an hour in the fridge.  You could also let it sit overnight but that’s only for really good planners.  Once the seeds have absorbed fully, they’ll swell and the consistency is like a tapioca pudding!  Stir in the sweetener of choice as well as the contents of your peach tea bag.  Sit outside and soak up this gorgeous weather while you enjoy your antioxidant-rich, high in fiber, packed with omega 3′s, Passionate Peach Puddin‘.

Also shared with: Hearth&Soul, Fat Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tasteful Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Thursday Favorite Things, Live Laugh Love, Thursday’s Treasures, Tasty Thursdays, Catch a Glimpse, Showcase Your Talent Thursday, Full Plate Thursday, Raw Foods Thursdays, Creative Timeout Party, Healthy Vegan Friday, Allergy-Friendly Friday, Foodie Friday, Foodie Friday with Diane, Foodtastic Friday, Food Frenzy, Mop It Up Monday, Marvelous Mondays, Mealtime Monday, Show Me Your Plaid, Recipe Sharing, On the Menu Monday, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, Make Your Own, Mix It Up, Inspire Me, Busy Monday, Party Wave Wednesday, Wednesday WhatsIts,Wheat-Free Wednesday, AFW, GF Wednesdays, Fresh Foods Linkup, Whole Foods Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Health2Day,

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Happy Spring!

It might not be officially spring (yet) but it’s sure feelin’ like it outside my door!  Speaking of which, I wrote a guest post for my new friend, Kelli, over at Eat, Pray, {Read}, Love about winter and spring and fear and faith and fruit frittatas!

(In a nutshell.)

Head on over and check it out.  You’ll find the recipe to that fabulous fruit frenzy below, not to mention some inspiration for this fresh season, too.

So in the interest of being relevant let’s pretend it is officially spring today.

Have a lovely first day of spring friends.  May it be a victorious and beautiful and life-giving season for us all!

Coconut + Chia seeds + Chai tea = An Irresistible Concoction

Truly, these are mini delight bites.

Perfect for snacking when you don’t want to feel guilty about snacking!

A word on tea & versatility

If you simply don’t enjoy chai tea and simply cannot stand another recipe from me hooting and hollering about “how much I LOVE chai” – I’m really sorry.  I really love chai tea.

What I’m trying to say, is just cause I do, doesn’t mean you have to!  Please feel free to use another type of tea of your choosing (perhaps Country Peach Passion or Raspberry Zinger!).  Or, if tea is blasé to you (WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM?!?!?!) go for a vanilla or almond extract.

That’s one of the lovely things about these macaroons – they are super versatile.  That is, they are open to manipulation by your own creative powers.  (Cree-paay…)

OK!  If you’d like a quick look at how easy it is to whip ‘em up, give a look at the video I filmed for your express enjoyment.

If time is not on your side and you can’t wait another minute before running to the kitchen – hurriedly gathering all the ingredients (only 6 if you don’t count water) – throwing them all together – slapping teaspoon-fulls onto a baking sheet – and stuffing it into the oven…well… you should have watched the video.  Because that’s no way to bake anything.

Just kidding.  Go straight to the recipe if you wish.  It’s right below the video.

Toasted Coconut Chai Macaroons

1 tablespoon chia seeds
1/4 cup filtered water
1 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut (I like Bob’s Red Mill – it has the perfect texture for this recipe!)
2 tea bags of your favorite chai tea blend (My absolute top pick when it comes to chai tea is Celestial Seasoning’s Bengal  Chai Spice. It’s an herbal tea that’s naturally decaffeinated and has an irresistibly strong and spicy flavor!)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin coconut oil
10 drops of Vanilla Creme liquid stevia by SweetLeaf
Pinch of sea salt

Preheat heat oven to 350 degrees.  Whisk the chia seeds with water and let sit. Within minutes it will form into a sticky gel and act as our binder (egg-free!).  Rip open those tea bags and mix the loose tea together with the sea salt and shredded coconut.  Melt coconut oil and add in liquid stevia.  Next, combine EVERYTHING together in a bowl until “thoroughly incorporated” (haha! I love that phrase!).  Scoop onto a cookie sheet with a teaspoon (for bite-sized mini macaroons) or tablespoons (for the big mouth bite-size).  Bake for 8-10 minutes until coconut is golden and toasted!

 Please feel free to pin it up & share!

Also seen on Hearth & Soul, Fat Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tasteful Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Wednesday WhatsIts, Party Wave Wednesday, Allergy-Free Wednesdays, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Fresh Foods Linkup, Whole Foods Wednesday, Healthy2Day, Real Food Wednesday, Wicked Good Wednesdays, Full Plate Thursday, Favorite Things, Live Laugh Linky, Thursday’s Treasures, Tasty Thursdays, Creative Timeout Party, Catch a Glimpse, Showcase Your Talent Thursday, Healthy Vegan Friday, Allergy Friendly Friday, Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge, Foodie Friday, Foodtastic Friday, Favorite Finds, Friday Food Frenzy, Recipe Sharing Monday, On the Menu Monday, Melt In Your Mouth Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, Make Your Own Monday, Fat Tuesday, Mix It Up Monday, Mop It Up Mondays, Marvelous Mondays, Mealtime Mondays, Plaid Mondays, Two Cup Tuesday, Tuesday Talent Show, SteakNPotatoesKindaGurl, Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Terrific Tuesdays, All My Bloggy Friends, Back for Seconds, Wicked Awesome Wednesdays, What’s In Your Kitchen Wednesday, Create & Share, What’s Cookin Wednesday, Pennywise Platter, Round Up, Pin It Thursday, Weekend Potluck,

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Ok I’m going to go on a mini health coach rant.  (It won’t last long and will probably help you or help someone you know.) 

Here it is

One of the most effective changes you can make to your diet (and perhaps one of the hardest) is to completely eliminate soft drinks.

The insane amount of sugar alone is just cause to give up the habit (heads up! if you drink diet sodas be aware that aspartame is an artificial sweetener found in many diet drinks and causes serious side effects).

For added emphasis, remember the old soak-a-dirty-penny-in-a-glass-of-coke experiment we all did in kindergarten? How the coke would eat through the hardened gunk on the coin?  (I thought that was pretty cool as a kid!)

Let’s make the connection: that’s what sodas have been doing to the soft and highly absorbent lining of your intestines all this time!

I know that’s a bit graphic, but if you  struggle with weight gain, acne, inability to concentrate, insomnia, eczema (sadly I could go on!) consider eliminating soft drinks from your diet for 3 weeks and see your symptoms improve, if not disappear altogether.

Yes it’s hard to give up sodas!  After all there’s a reason so many people consume them.  They’re addictive.

But don’t be discouraged.  There is a solution.

Let me elaborate

The other day I was sipping on a can of carbonated water, mentally commenting on how delightful I found it’s fizzy texture, but that it was bland in flavor and left my palate quite wanting!

Well I got pretty excited when I remembered the Vanilla Creme stevia in the fridge and those ripe and ready strawberries on the counter.

A pour here and a plop there and a few droplets later… (what a weird combination of wording!) and Strawberry Cream Soda came into being.  While I sipped on a very enjoyable and well-balanced bubbly concoction, I realized something about myself in that moment…  And that is, if I wasn’t already supremely happy as a health coach and foodie fanatic I’d definitely want to be a chemist.

(It’s always good to have something to fall back on.)

But yes.  Back to this cream soda stuff.

It’s red.  It’s fizzy.  It’s flavorful.  It’s quite the appropriate drink for Valentine’s Day.  Or any day that you’re rejecting the harmful effect of soft drinks!

Strawberry Cream Soda

1 can club soda / sparkling or seltzer water (make sure it’s a “clean” brand without any added flavorings or added sodium)

3 ripe strawberries (whole or sliced thin)

8-10 drops of Vanilla Creme flavored liquid stevia (you can use vanilla extract too – just be sparing and note that the flavor will be a bit stronger)

Combine all 3 ingredients in a pretty glass, or even better, a glamorous champagne flute!

An excellent alternative

This cream soda is an excellent alternative to soft drinks and alcoholic cocktails.  Plus it’s pretty versatile too.  To keep this beverage non-boring, here are some random ideas to change it up:

Add blueberries instead of, or in addition to, the strawberries, use a different liquid stevia flavor (such as caramel!).  Use almond extract with chopped fresh cherries.  Try adding a little coconut milk and crushed pineapple for a pseudo-pina colada.  Hmm that might be stretching it a bit… but surprisingly the carbonation gives the drink a zing much like alcohol would.  (If a pseudo-pina calada won’t cut it and you’re looking for a beyond-all-doubt pina colada, check out this recipe.)

In honor of Valentine’s Day next week, a lovely beverage and dessert combo would be this Strawberry Cream Soda with Amaretto Affections! (pictured below)

Also seen on:  Allergy-Free Wednesdays, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Wednesday Fresh Food Link Up, Whole Foods Wednesday, Healthy2Day Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, Showcase Your Talent Thursday, Thank Your Body Thursday, Keep It Real Thursdays, Simple Lives Thursday, Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm, Fight Back Friday, Foodie Friday with Diane Balch, Fresh Bites Friday, Simple Meals Friday, Recipe-Sharing Monday, On the Menu Monday, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, Make Your Own Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Marvelous Mondays, Meal Plan Mondays, Busy Monday, Hearth and Soul Hop, Fat Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Party Wave Wednesday, Wicked Good Wednesday, Wheat Free Wednesday, Wednesday Whats Its, Fantastic Thursday, Hearts 4 Home, One Creative Weekend, Whole Food Friday, Frugal Food Thursday

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Know someone addicted to soft drinks?  Share this with them and be a part of encouraging life in the ones you love this Valentine’s Day!

Yeah.  So can anyone guess what I had a craving for?

NUTELLA!

Before my “unsaved days” (like when I ate gobs of super sweet stuff like Nutella all the time and ate a whole bag of Twizzlers in one sitting – HUGE confession – btw it’s so not worth it. )  But back on track…I’ve forgiven myself for the past.

Unlike the original, this stuff won’t give you a sugar-high or sugar-low, has REALLY GREAT FLAVOR (secret: carob powder) and includes a myriad of nutrients from the super cool “flaxseed” to my ultimate favorite health food the “coconut”.  If you don’t have time for a meal or breakfast or whatever, two spoons of this and you’ll be good to go for hours.

Oh and guess what?!  I filmed another video showing you how to make it.  It’s super easy and fun and exciting and interesting and healthy and… just watch it…

Better than Nutella Spread

1 1/2 cups roasted almonds***
1  cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup flaxseeds
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 tablespoons carob powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons xylitol (OR other type of sweetener like agave, honey, stevia, or cane sugar — the texture will vary slightly depending on sweetener you choose to use.)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

In a food processor or high powered blender process almonds until desired consistency has been reached.  I like mine really smooth.  Add the shredded coconut, flaxseeds, carob and cocoa powder and process until the flaxseeds are smooth.  Next, add in the sea salt,  your sweetener of choice, and vanilla extract.  Mix until, you guessed it, smooth.  Then… you’re ready to dig in!

***  To roast almonds: place on cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 4 minutes, stir, then bake another 4 minutes until golden brown and aromatic.  The almonds will expand slightly and will make popping sounds as they cool.

Some friends and I hung out last night and I brought the Better than Nutella Spread along for them to taste test.

THEY DEVOURED IT.  (I’m so glad that I had had some saved back home. hehe)

I got a little creative with my ingredients and this was the result!  Perfect for pinning and posting.   Please do!

Also seen on: Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm, Foodie Friday with Diane Balch, Recipe Sharing Monday, GraceLaced Monday, On the Menu Monday, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, Homestead Barn Hop, Make Your Own Monday, Fat Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Totally Tasty Tuesdays, Tasteful Tuesdays, Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Allergy Free Wednesday, Gluten-Free Wednesday, Wednesday Fresh Foods Link Up, Whole Foods Wednesdays, Healthy 2Day Wednesdays, Real Food Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, Showcase Your Talent Thursday, Allergy Friendly Friday, Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm, Foodie Friday with Diane Balch, Thank Your Body Thursday, Keep It Real Thursdays, Simple Lives Thursday, Fresh Bites Friday, Simple Meals Friday, Whole Food Fridays

Featured on Whole Food Fridays!

It’s almost New Year’s Eve!

First of all I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas!

Secondly, where did 2012 go?!

Thirdly, (as the world hasn’t ended just yet) we get to party 2013 into existence in just a few short days!

Which means (fourthly) that we will need suitable party food!

Yeah about that…

Ever at a loss with what to bring to a party as your “snack to share”?  (uh. YES.)

Doritos?  Tortilla chips with queso?  Pre-made cookies from the grocery store bakery?

Bleh.

If you operate in the world of food allergies, or if you simply want to contribute something to the party that’s actually not bad for you, look no further!

Here’s the ultimate trendy healthy party snack food list that will save your health and make you look cool to all your friends.

Keep in mind that these are fast and furiously awesome options for those of us who need to dash in and dash out of a store quickly with items in hand.  (Aka not for the baking types, or rather, for the types that don’t have a lot of leisure time for baking!)

However, if you would like to make something from your own two hands (can I just say kudos!) here’s a delectable list that will direct you to some excellent recipes:

Amaretto Affections + Chocolate Mocha Madness Cake +
Coconut Almond Sugar Cookies + Pomegranate Jewels and Dark Chocolate +
Vanilla Chai Tea Cookies +Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Short on time people you are free to proceed…

– Beverages –

Kombucha (Kom-Boo-Cha)
A-what-ah??  Kombucha is a fermented tea.  It has a delicious effervescence, mimics alcohol’s flavor but not its side effects, and has many health benefits – stimulating the liver being just one of them.  Kombucha is available in a variety of flavors and is an excellent alternative to alcohol.   For now, you can find kombucha in HEB’s Central Market and Whole Foods.

Sparkling Water
LaCroix is an all natural, sodium-free, gluten-free brand of carbonated deliciousness.  It comes in many different flavors and is the healthy choice when it comes to regular soft drinks.  Visit the website to see where you can buy it and to find the recipe for a non-alcoholic skinny mojito!

Coconut Water
This is exactly what it sounds like – water from the inside of a coconut!  It has a thicker mouth feel than water and is extremely effective for keeping the body hydrated.  Find it in the health food section of Kroger, Central Market, and Whole Foods.

– Snack Foods –

Chocolate
Grab a couple bars or better yet, get individually wrapped chocolates that won’t make a mess.  Endangered Species has some delicious natural, pre-wrapped chocolates.  (You can find them and other high-quality chocolates in most grocery stores in the health food section – i.e. Kroger, HEB, Whole Foods).  Now, in the spirit of New Year’s, I will forgo my staunch support of extreme dark chocolate only in favor of all types (milk chocolate, white chocolate, bacon chocolate – yes there is such a thing!!).  All I will say is please, please read the labels and avoid the chocolate that contains poor ingredients (i.e. high fructose corn syrup & artificial flavors).

Berries
Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries.  They are naturally sweet, fresh, and delicious – give them a quick rinse and place in a pretty bowl and they’ll look like jewels!

Hummus & Veggies
Grab a tub of hummus (read labels once again – no artificial anythings!) and pre-washed carrot and celery sticks (if you’re in a real hurry).  Arrange onto a plate with grape tomatoes to add the finishing touches!

Rice Crackers, Cheese & Sausage
This would be the allergy friendly version of a more traditional snack food.  Rice crackers are gluten-free and you can buy sausage that is all-natural, just read those labels!  Layer slices of your choice of cheese and sausage on top of the crackers to make a festive plate!  By the way, the crackers taste great with just the sausage if you’re dairy-free.

If you want to get a little creative, pile your snacks on a festive tray or large plate to make an artistic party offering!

With these options you’ll not only be showing up with chic and health conscious choices (healthy = trendy), you’ll be supporting your own health and encouraging others to treat themselves well too!

And with that I wish you a very merry and happy New Year!

See you in 2013!

Also seen on Motivation Monday, Fat Tuesday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Totally Tasty Tuesday,Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Crazy Sweet Tuesday, Allergy Free Wednesday, Gluten Free Wednesday, Whole Foods Wednesday, Healthy 2 Day Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Wheat Free Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, Showcase Your Talent Thursday, Foodie Friday, Foodie Friday @ Rattlebridge Farm

Hello everyone!

I just did a guest post outlining three powerful strategies to avoid weight gain during the holidays.   Judee, from Gluten-Free A-Z is graciously hosting me.  I invite you to check out the post here!

Oh and if you haven’t already – please watch my new video about a fountain of youth drink that will keep us in great “health-shape”, as we are currently in this glorious season of feasting and merrymaking!  (hmm I’m sounding like a hobbit aren’t I?) 

Between those 3 powerful strategies and that fountain of youth, we should be good to go.  Bring on the holidays!

Also seen on: GraceLaced Mondays, Monday Mania, Make Your Own Monday, Homestead Barn Hop

Introducing the first ever video on Renaissance Woman!

I’m in very happy spirits today!  Why you ask?  Well today marks a very special day as I am posting my first video!  Just let me be excited, k? 

For the record I’m loving this time of the year!  And who doesn’t?!  Food, family, friends, fun times…feasting.  Oh yes feasting.  That’s where we can get into trouble.

So yes, the abundant feasting of Thanksgiving can set a pretty fine stage for back-sliding all the way through to New Year’s can’t it?  Well, that’s only if we let it!  While appearances seem to be against us, rest assured it is more than possible to maintain, improve, and even come out far ahead on our health goals during the “most wonderful time of the year”!

how exactly…?

You may remember me mentioning the benefits of green juice in the past – how it’s your best friend, a super effective cleanser/immune booster, and how it will make you a million dollars (believe it!).  While I have yet to fully realize that last one, green juice has some pretty awesome benefits that you won’t want to miss out on during this holiday season.

But don’t take my word for it – watch my shiny new video and see!

For some quick and easy recipes check out these links:

• Green Smoothies: The Ultimate Fountain of Youth
• Power Juice

Also seen on: Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays, Allergy-Free Wednesdays, Whole Foods Wednesday, Healthy2Day Wednesdays, Real Food Wednesday, Full Plate Thursday, Showcase Your Talent Thursdays