I finally found a gluten free peanut butter chocolate chip cookie that I really really like! Yay! Sometimes a girl just needs a COOKIE. Know what I mean?
Author: Carrie Sink
Immune Tea
Fall has barely started and it seems people are starting to get the sniffles and sore throats already. đ Â Mix up this herbal immune tea and keep it in the cupboard ready to pull out when you’re feeling a little sluggish or needing a boost!
Health benefits:
- Besides lots of flavonoids and free radical-scouring antioxidants, elderberries contain 87 percent of the daily value in vitamin C, and high amounts of vitamin A, potassium, iron, vitamin B6, fiber, and beta carotene.
- Nettle is full of calcium, copper, iron, folate, magnesium, potassium , selenium & B Vitamins. Pain reliever and improves inflammatory conditions.
- Alfalfa alkalizes and detoxifies the body.
- Peppermint increases stomach acidity, aiding digestion. Useful for chills, headache, colic, IBS.
- Echinacea fights inflammation and bacterial and viral infection.  Stimulates certain white blood cells. Awesome for the immune system and lymphatic system.
Elderberry fun fact:
- As a moniker, the term “elder” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon “aeld,” meaning fire, because the hollow stems of this plant were used to gently blow on flames to intensify the fire. “Sambucus” is a Greek word meaning “wind instrument.” Native Americans once used elderberry branches to make flutes, so the tree was sometimes called “the tree of music.
Tea sourcing:
I source all my teas for this recipe from Mountain Rose Herbs. They are organic and have high quality sourcing. Get some here.
Source:http://foodfacts.mercola.com/elderberries.html
Source: Prescription for Nutritional Healing
Sausage Kale Soup
I’ve been making this sausage kale soup once a week.
That’s how good it is! Filled with gut healing bone broth, protein, greens and yummy sweet potatoes, it is a super healthy soup! I love using recipes like this one to get in a variety of nutritious foods!
Update: You can use hamburger in place of the turkey sausage. If you do, add: 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp basil & 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes.
Healthier Peanut Butter Cups
Wow! Did I stumble on an amazing treat or what?! Back in my junk eating days before I knew how much it contributed to my health problems, Reese’s were a FAVORITE! I mean the combination of peanut butter and chocolate? YUM!
Chai Tea Latte
A chai tea latte just goes perfect with that chilly weather, a good book and your favorite blanket. Â Never had chai tea? It is slightly spicy, full of antioxidants, promotes digestion and smells amazing!
Hummus
Hello hummus.
Creamy, delicious, full of protein & healthy fats. Hummus is a perfect snack, addition to your wrap or even a salad!
Unfortunately most kinds you buy from the store are full of preservatives and chemicals. Yucky. The good news? You can make it at home very easily! Â Here is a basic hummus recipe, I haven’t did much experimenting with different flavors…YET! đ
My favorite ways to use it:
- vegetable dip
- in wraps (in place of mayo)
- on salads
I want to hear from you! What are your favorite flavors and ways to eat hummus?
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Delicious. Healthy. Great side dish. EASY to make.
And the health benefits are awesome!
- Dietary fiber: helps keep things moving
- Vitamin C: boosts immunity
- Folate: B Vitamins, brain health
- Antioxidants: immune health
- Great detox food
Fresh Garden Salsa
Fresh Garden Salsa!
One of my favorite things about summer is the bountiful produce! With that comes one of my favorite recipes that I HAVE to make several times each year: Fresh Garden Salsa!
There are several different varieties of this recipe that you can use. Add black beans and corn for more of a meal, leave out the peppers, add more peppers, add avocado(if you have leftovers, they will get brown and yuck) or any other combination that sounds good.
You can serve them with blue corn tortilla chips (my favorite), add quinoa to make a salad, quesadillas..the possibilities are endless. Get creative đ
Happy Munchin’ đ Â *Please choose organic ingredients when possible.
Egg Roll In A Bowl
Egg roll in a bowl: a family favorite!
Asian food! Who doesn’t love it? I personally do, there are usually lots of yummy vegetables added and it just taste so good! My problem? Soy. Most dishes are made with with it and I generally avoid. Â Not to mention the egg rolls? Quite delicious, but deep fried in inflammatory oils. Yuck. This egg roll in a bowl recipe tastes so good and the kids love it!
I was talking to my mom the other day and she mentioned this recipe that their farm nutritionist had sent to them. It sounded so good and I was game to try it! Upon looking at the recipe, I noticed that it was a Trim Healthy Mama recipe and upon further investigation I seen that the recipe was available online in several different places. Â I decided to go ahead and post it because it is super delicious and I want to share it with all of you. Â I have made just a few minor modifications such as increasing the amounts but other than that it is the same recipe.
Did I mention that the first time I made it my husband said…”Yum, what is that flavor? It is good!” Score! I love it when I hear that, I know it is a dish I can make again.
Here it is folks! Look it over and than go make it đ
*please use grassfed or organic meat.
I Don’t Have Time to Eat Healthy
” I don’t have time to eat healthy”
A very common thing that I hear quite frequently! People feel they don’t have the time to prepare healthy meals for themselves or their families.  We all know that feeling… the one where you get home from being gone all day, or you’ve had a long afternoon and feel quite exhausted.  You’re hungry and think, oh shoot, what in the world am I going to eat? By that time, our blood sugar levels are usually low and we are willing to eat anything in sight. Which is why we often go the cupboard and grab the first available, fast thing we can see. Which is usually in the form of something processed and unhealthy. Sound familiar? I totally get it. These are two tips that I personally use!
- Meal plan! It can be overwhelming to sit down and map it out, but to actually have a plan, even if its just one meal a day, helps tremendously! Try different ways and see what works for you! Make a list of recipes you have tried and liked, use them every 2-3 weeks. If you like to try new recipes, there are tons of blogs out there that offer healthy recipes! Google it!
- Keep essential items on hand.  It is quite handy to make sure your pantry or fridge is stocked with a few “essentials”.  This is a great post from Keeper of the Home, it is packed full of pantry staples that can help you create a quick and healthy meal.  I recently opened a can of salmon, added dijon mustard, onions, avocado & spices, served it over some crackers for one meal & on salad a next.  Quick, easy, healthy & fulfilling! The more you experiment and try new things, the easier it will become to do. I’m a “follow the recipe” type of girl but will admit I have had some fun experimenting with little things like the salmon mixture.
All in all, it has to be a priority for you to fill your body with nutritious foods. While at times it can seem challenging, it is always worth it!
I would love to hear your tips on preparing healthy meals! What works for you?