Thursday, March 19, 2015

Berry Chia Seed Jam! Yum!

chia seed jam Jams and Jellies can be loaded with tons of refined sugar and aspartame sugar substitutes. Ewww! And making your own jam or jelly can be a huge process that takes hours. Believe me I’ve done them all from peach to fig and I’ve spent hours and hours in the kitchen sterilizing, washing, cooking down the berries, filling up the jars, and sealing them for yummy spreads. But it takes way too long! Like way too long!


Now there is a super fast way, add a little honey to sweeten up the berries or leave it out, it’s totally your call! It takes maybe 15 minutes and you can store it in your refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If it will last that long! Use it for kid’s sandwiches, spread for crackers, add it to your gourmet cheese plates, use it for topping on yogurt or ice cream!!! Did I say yum!!!


Ingredients:



  • 1/2 pound blackberries (fresh if in season-other wise use frozen)

  • 1/2 pound raspberries (same as above)

  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or for a citrusy zing use lemon juice!

  • 2 teaspoon local honey (optional)

  • 3 Tablespoon chia seeds


Directions:



  1. Wash any fresh berries. If you using frozen add to a pot and cook on low to bring to a soft boil. Make sure to continue to stir so it won’t burn the bottom or stick.

  2. Then reduce heat and simmer, continue to stir. Make sure to mash the berries or leave a little chunky, if you’d rather have a “chutney” consistency.

  3. Add honey and chia seeds and stir well.

  4. Pull from heat and let jam cool.

  5. Add vanilla extract or lemon juice once cooled and mix well again.

  6. Spoon into a clean jar and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks!


ENJOY!!




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Friday, March 6, 2015

Buddha Bowls! Ommm!

buddah Yum! Need something healthy, good for you, filling, quick, and have a bunch of hodge podge left in the refrigerator that you need to use up. This simple and fast recipe is your ticket for cleaning out the fridge, eating clean, and filling everyone’s bellies at the table.


Look through your cabinets and find different ingredients. Don’t have Kale but you have spinach go for it! No chic peas, but have edamame use it! Use all raw ingredients or roast or saute some veggies to make it warm and comforting. Eat this all year round, changing your ingredients with the season. Warm in the winter, cool for the summer. Remember you can make it your own and switch up your bowls. You can also make your own dressings to cut out the extra fats, sugar, and calories. This will also give you the freedom to change up your flavor profiles. Make your portions bigger and you can have multiple meals.


Ingredients:



  • 1 cup Basmati Rice or quinoa

  • 2 Tbsp olive oil

  • 1 cup portabella mushrooms

  • 1 cup Brussels sprouts- halved

  • 1/4 cup shredded carrots

  • 3 large kale leaves- destemmed

  • 1/2 cup shredded purple cabbage

  • 1/4 cup carrots-matchstick (slice thinly or use a mandolin)

  • 1/2 cup garbanzo or chick peas (organic in a can or soaked)

  • 1/2 ripe avocado

  • 2 cauliflower flowers

  • 3 radish slices (watermelon radish-shown in picture)

  • 1 Tbsp Hemp seeds


Dressing Ingredients:



  • 1 Tbsp Tahini

  • 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast

  • 1/2 avocado

  • 1 lemon juiced

  • pinch sea salt

  • fresh ground pepper

  • water to thin if needed


Directions:



  1. In a pot add water (2 cups water to 1 cup of grain), add rice or quinoa and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cover with a top till all the water absorbs about 25 minutes

  2. In a saute pan, add olive oil and saute brussels, mushrooms, and cauliflower on medium heat. Season with salt and pepper if you wish. Should be about 10 minutes to saute.

  3. Chop, slice, or shred raw vegetables.

  4. For chic peas: if soaking they need to soak over night in water. drain off water and rinse. If you did canned. Make sure to rinse really well.

  5. In a bowl, spoon in rice or quinoa, add sauteed brussels, cauliflower, and mushrooms, arrange them if you wish :) Add raw veggies around the bowl, carrots, kale, cabbage, radish, avocado. Add chic peas and top with Hemp seeds.

  6. For Dressing: in a food processor or immersion blender add all ingredients and blend well. Need a little heat, add a pinch of cayenne. (Add water if you need to thin it out a bit.) Pour on top for desired amount and enjoy!

  7. Left over dressing place in an old jar, mason jars work great and use for the next time. Should last a couple days.




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