Showing posts with label 5. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 5. Show all posts
Friday, March 13, 2015
Chard and Garlic Scape Pesto and Things Im Thinking About on Tuesday 5 6 14
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| Spring has sprung, and I'm rushing the season and thinking about Garlic Scape and Chard Pesto. |
It's feeling a lot like Spring at my house, and even though I already complained about it once, can I say one more time that I'm feeling pretty serious garden withdrawals? At my old house I would probably have volunteer chard coming up in the garden by now, and one of my favorite things to make in the spring is Garlic Scape and Chard Pesto like you see in the photos above. If you like garlic, but don't know what Garlic Scapes are, use that link to go and read about them. Then hit up your local organic grocer or farmer's market and make some of this amazing pesto right away!
Don't get me wrong, I love my new house, and I feel more than blessed to have a house that's big enough that my enormous family can come here for a party. But I'm also optimistically making plans for a bit more gardening on-the-fly this year (until I can build a real greenhouse, hopefully this fall.) Tonight I told my neighbor across the street how I was just going to slip a few tomato plants in among the flowers in a sunny but sheltered spot by my garage. "The deer will eat them," she said, without even thinking twice. I guess we're going to find out whether deer like tomatoes, mint, and basil, because those are the three plants I've decided I have to at least try growing outside this year.
Now on to a few more things I'm thinking about . . .
Click to continue reading
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
5 Simple Delicious Pumpkin Recipes
Most of us think of jack-o-lanterns and pie when we see pumpkins. And, they are everywhere you look at this time of year! I happen to live in Ohio, one of the top pumpkin-producing states. How bout that?
While our ancestors used pumpkins for removing freckles and curing snake bites, I prefer eating them. Pumpkins are a highly nutritious fruit (raise your hand if you thought it was a vegetable) rich in antioxidants, fiber and vitamins. Its flesh is low in calories and high in beta carotene and potassium. I love the small "pie" pumpkins. They weigh between two and five pounds, and have a firm, sweet flesh.
Pumpkin is only in season for a couple of months, so make the most of it this autumn and enjoy these raw pumpkin recipes.
While our ancestors used pumpkins for removing freckles and curing snake bites, I prefer eating them. Pumpkins are a highly nutritious fruit (raise your hand if you thought it was a vegetable) rich in antioxidants, fiber and vitamins. Its flesh is low in calories and high in beta carotene and potassium. I love the small "pie" pumpkins. They weigh between two and five pounds, and have a firm, sweet flesh.
Pumpkin is only in season for a couple of months, so make the most of it this autumn and enjoy these raw pumpkin recipes.
Pumpkin Nog
juice of one small "pie" pumpkin
1/3 C filtered water
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp local raw honey
Juice the pumpkin in your juicer (save the pulp and seeds to use in some of the other recipes). Pour fresh juice into a blender. Add spices, honey, and blend. Dilute to taste with water. Chill or serve immediately.
Pumpkin Seed Cheese
2 C sunflower seeds, soaked
1 C pumpkin seeds, soaked
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp oregano
1/4 C fresh basil, rough chopped
Braggs Liquid Aminos to taste
Combine all ingredients in a blender with enough water to completely cover. Blend until creamy, adding more water if necessary. Pour into a nut milk bag and squeeze out all the liquid.
Great for stuffing celery and mushrooms, or spreading on your favorite cracker!
Savory Pumpkin Harvest Soup2 C pumpkin, cubed
2 green apples, cored & quartered
3/4 C coconut water
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 C onion, chopped
2 Tbsp raw tahini
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp paprika
Combine ingredients in a food processor and process until smooth.
Pumpkin Smoothie
1 banana, frozen
1 C almond milk
1 C pumpkin, grated
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
agave nectar, stevia or raw honey to taste
Combine ingredients in a high-powered blender until creamy.
Not Your Grandmas Pumpkin Pie
Crust:
2 C almonds
1/2 C dates, pitted and soaked
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Pulse the almonds in a food processor until evenly ground. Do not over-process or youll end up with almond butter. Add dates and process into a dough-like consistency. Press the mixture into an 8-inch ceramic pie plate that has been greased with coconut butter. Place in the freezer to set while preparing the filling.
Filling:
2 C pumpkin, cubed
meat of 1 young coconut (reserve water)
1/2 C walnuts, soaked
1/2 C almonds, soaked
1/2 C dates, soaked
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
Begin mixing pumpkin and coconut water in a food processor until you have a smooth paste. Add in coconut meat, walnuts and almonds, blending again until smooth. Add dates and spices, and process some more.
Pour mixture on top of almond pie crust and spread evenly. Chill for several hours before serving.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
2014 The 5 Bite Diet Day 13
I had a little movement on the scale today. I still think it is just my body making adjustments to the diet. The main important thing to report is that I feel good. I try to conserve my energy so that I dont feel weak. I really dont know that I have to go to any extremes in that regard. I do physical activities, but I try to pace myself. I will eat crumbled ground beef for awhile because it is easy and quick and I like it. No one at work has really noticed anything, except that I dont except any offers to go out to lunch. I get about one - two offers a week to go to the local Chinese buffet. I just say that I am a little tight on money and I leave it at that. I think that living alone at home makes things real easy too. I dont have to watch others eat or be surrounded by lots of snacks around the house.
Start/Current/Goal
250/ 245.8 /180
Day 01 250.0 lbs
Day 02 249.0 lbs
Day 03 248.8 lbs
Day 04 248.2 lbs
Day 05 248.0 lbs
Day 06 247.6 lbs
Day 07 247.0 lbs
Day 08 246.8 lbs
Day 09 246.4 lbs
Day 10 246.2 lbs
Day 11 246.0 lbs
Day 12 246.0 lbs
Day 13 245.8 lbs
Menu
B black coffee & water
L 3 oz crumbled ground beef
D 3 oz crumbled ground beef
Friday, March 6, 2015
Weight Loss Smoothies Big 5 Superfood Smoothie
Here’s a perfect pre-workout or breakfast smoothie. Five superfoods are blended together to make one delicious, immune boosting smoothie.
We call this our Big Superfood Smoothie because it is filled with five of the best foods you can eat to boost your health. If you are looking for a healthy smoothie, this is it!
We love it for a few different reasons. First, we love smoothies. Delicious smoothie recipes making eating healthy taste great. Smoothies are filled with fruits and veggies, but they taste like a special treat. Kids love smoothies because it is like drinking a fruit shake and adults love the indulgent flavor without all the calories and unhealthy ingredients.
This smoothie is also a favorite of ours because it keeps us feeling satisfied for hours. Whether your goal is to swap this smoothie for a full meal, grab a quick breakfast you can take on the road, or you want a healthy pick-me-up before a tough workout, this smoothie can help.
Finally, we love this superfood smoothie because it tastes amazing. Smoothies are one of the best tasting healthy foods available. The fruits in smoothies give these foamy drinks a sweet taste, but since there is no added sugar or processed ingredients, these drinks are great for your body. If you find it difficult to reach your fruit and vegetable goals each day, a smoothie can help.
Yields: 3 servings | Serving size: 1 cup| Calories: 130 | Previous Points: 2 | Points Plus: 3 | Total Fat: 1 gm | Saturated Fats: 0 gm | Trans Fats: 0 gm | Cholesterol: 2 mg | Sodium: 23 mg | Carbohydrates: 27 gm | Dietary Fiber: 3 gm | Sugars: 21 gm | Protein: 5 gm
Ingredients
- 1 organic (sweet) apple, cored, keep peeling
- 1 cup frozen red grapes
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 1/2 cup kefir, plain, fat free
- 1/2 cup chilled green tea, unsweetened, home brewed is best
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
- ice cubes
Directions
Add all the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Add amount of ice according to thickness preferred.
Source: http://skinnyms.com/big-5-superfood-smoothie/
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