Bring a Bagel for Lunch

Bagels are a hard food to bring for lunch because the contents get so messy and squished. I came across this picture and it's amazing because it's recycling and super convenient. Take a CD storage container, clean it and TAD-DA you have a perfect size bagel holder. No more squished bagels and messy eating!

Inside out Caramel Apples

A great snack and easy to do!
 
INGREDIENTS:
3 large Granny Smith apples
1 large lemon
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tbs butter
2 tbs light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

ACTION:Cut your apples in half and use a melon baller to scoop out the insides, leaving the walls intact at about 1/2 inch thickness.(NOTE: the more you apple you remove, the more caramel you will end up with)

Squeeze the juice from the lemon onto the apples and allow to set. This will keep them from turning brown right away.

In a sauce pan over high heat, add the brown sugar, butter, heavy cream and corn syrup. Stir until the brown sugar has dissolved. Allow to boil, stirring occasionally, until it reaches 230 degrees, about 7-10 minutes. Remove from heat and add the vanilla, stir continually until it stops bubbling. Allow to cool for about 10-15 minutes.

Using a paper towel, wipe your apples down, removing the lemon juice as much as possible. If the inside of your apple is too wet, the caramel wont stick.

Pour the caramel into the hollowed out apples until just below the top.

Sprinkle with pecans. (if desired)

Chill in the refrigerator until the caramel has set, about 20 minutes.

Cut into serving slices.

Enjoy my little herbivores.

caramel recipe courtesy of  domesticfits

 

Not Just A Weed

9 reasons why you should incorporate dandelions into your diet

#1. High in Calcium: Dandelion greens are loaded with calcium. Just one cup of chopped dandelion greens has 103 milligrams (10% of the recommended daily value) of calcium! That’s slightly more than kale!

#2. Rich in Iron: Next to fresh parsley, dandelion greens have a high iron content. One cup contains 1.7 milligrams of iron.

#3. Low Calories: Like all leafy greens, dandelions are low in calories. One cup of chopped dandelion greens has only 25 calories.

#4. Loaded With Antioxidants: Dandelion greens are high in vitamin A in the form of antioxidant carotenoid (beta-carotene) and vitamin C. Vitamin C also helps facilitate iron absorption.

#5. The Ultimate Detox & Cleansing Green: If your goal is detoxification and cleansing, dandelion greens should be the ones you use! They are said to help cleanse the liver and many detox recipes call for them.

#6. Lots Of Minerals: Dandelion greens are rich in minerals. Besides calcium and iron, they are a good source of copper (10% RDA), manganese (8% RDA), phosphorus (5% RDA), potassium (5% RDA) and magnesium (5% RDA).

#7. 14% Protein: Dandelion greens have more protein per serving than spinach. The greens themselves are 14% protein and contain all essential amino acids so it’s a complete protein. One chopped cup contains 1.5 grams of protein.

#8. Multivitamin Green: Besides vitamin A as beta-carotene (186% RDA) and vitamin C (21% RDA), each cup of chopped dandelion greens are also good sources of vitamins B1 (9% RDA), B2 (11% RDA) and B6 (11% RDA), vitamin E (13% RDA) and especially abundant in vitamin K (357% RDA).

#9. Health Benefits of Dandelion Greens: The nutrients in dandelion greens may help reduce the risk of cancer, multiple sclerosis, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and stroke. Dandelion contains anti-inflammatory properties which may provide benefit to those with asthma and other inflammatory diseases.

How To Select And Store Dandelion Greens
While dandelion greens can be found at health food stores, co-ops and farmers markets, they are probably widely available during the spring and early summer months in your own backyard.

Select unblemished, dark green leaves or bunches when purchasing them in the store. When foraging, young greens that are harvested before the flower head appears will be less bitter.

Commercially cultivated dandelion greens may have whitish/green or red stems. The leaves are highly perishable. I store them in the fridge in a large plastic tub with a piece of paper towel to absorb excess moisture and condensation. They will keep for 2-4 days this way. If you store wet leaves in a produce bag, they will likely only last a couple days.

The dandelion greens that you find in the store are typically organic. If you forage for dandelion, be sure to harvest them from land that has not been treated with pesticides, herbicides or other contaminants. Avoid harvesting dandelion greens from urban or industrial waste lots as heavy metals (lead, mercury) and other pollutants in the soil might be absorbed into the plant.

How To Use Dandelion Greens In A Green SmoothieDandelions are bitter, so it makes sense to blend them with fruit to mask the flavor. Blend the dandelion greens with sweet, flavorful fruit like banana, strawberries, mango, citrus and pineapple. If you are trying dandelion for the first time, start with a small handful or 1 cup of chopped leaves.

Here are some smoothie recipes that include your friendly neighbourhood weed courtesy of incredible smoothies.

 

Thought for Today

Crisp Cucumber Salsa

 

Note: 1/4 cup is only 16 calories!
 

In one bowl combine:
 2 cups finely chopped seeded peeled cucumber
 1/2 cup finely chopped seeded tomato
 1/4 cup chopped red onion
 2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
 4-1/2 tsp minced fresh cilantro
 1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
 

In another bowl combine: 

 1/4 c reduced-fat sour cream
 1-1/2 tsp lemon juice
 1-1/2 tsp lime juice
 1/4 tsp ground cumin
 1/4 tsp seasoned salt

Pour the liquid mix over the cucumber mixture and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately with chips.

 

Enjoy my little herbivores.

Pallet Garden

This is a cool recycling and gardening project that is fun and easy to do. Take a pallet and turn it into a organized garden for growing herbs or flowers.

Supplies

•Heat treated
•2 large bags of potting soil
•16 six packs of annual flowers (one six pack per opening on the face of the pallet, and two six packs per opening on the top of the completed pallet garden),
•A small roll of landscape fabric
•A staple gun
•Staples
•Sand paper (to smooth rough edges)






Finding a Pallet
Try looking behind dumpsters at the supermarket, at hardware stores or online. Don’t just take the first pallet you find. You’re looking for one with all the boards in good condition, no nails sticking out, no rotting, etc. If you intend to put edibles in your pallet, be sure to find one that was heat treated as opposed to fumigated with pesticides. It will be labelled as HT.

Instructions
With the pallet laying flat, start stapling the cloth landscape fabric to it, to cover the back, both sides, and bottom of the pallet. Double the landscape fabric up, this will make it sturdier.

Pour a bunch of dirt on the pallet and start filling in the spaces with it. Start at the bottom and worked my way to the top. Don’t make it too tight, you want room for the flowers/herb plants.

When you get to the top, plant those plants first. This will help hold the other plants and dirt in the pallet. Then work your way down, planting your plants in each row. Make sure the dirt is firmly packed and added more where it was needed.

Leave your pallet garden flat for at least 2 weeks, longer if you can handle the wait! This helps everything mold together and not come a part when you stand it up. The planter will be very heavy when it is time to stand it up, so make sure you make it near where you plan to put it. Also, watering can be a little tricky. Put the hose on the top “shelf” and let the water trickle its way down to the bottom. It takes a little bit of time to do it this way, but probably works best.

B-raw-nies

Here is a recipe for frosted brownies that are gluten-free, raw, and soy-free. You can feel good about munching on these raw brownies, made with nuts and dates... and don't pass on making the frosting, it's what makes these brownies especially delicious.

INGREDIENTS:
Base:
1 cup raw almonds (see note)
1/4 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup raw walnuts
1 3/4 cups (packed) pitted medjool dates (see note)
1/4 cup dried organic pitted cherries (OR more dates, ie can use 2 cups dates in whole - omit almond extract if not using cherries)
1/3 cup raw cocoa powder (or regular cocoa if you prefer)
1 vanilla bean (see note)
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)

Frosting:
1/2 cup coconut butter (not coconut oil) Artisana coconut butter
1/4 cup raw agave nectar (or can use pure maple syrup if raw not essential)
2 tbsp raw cocoa powder (or regular if you prefer)
pinch sea salt

ACTION:
In a food processor, first add almonds and cashews and process until very fine (the almonds are the hardest, and need to be worked until crumbly). Let them process for a minute or two until quite fine. Then add walnuts, dates and cherries and pulse/process until mixture is quite crumbly, but not yet coming together. Then, add cocoa powder, salt, and almond extract, and pulse through. With a sharp tip knife, slice the vanilla bean down the outer side to open up the bean. Using a blunt (butter) knife, scrape out all the tiny seeds from the bean on both sides, and add them to the processor (or add vanilla extract). Process again, along with the almond extract if using. Process until the mixture comes together. The mixture should be sticky and hold together when pressed with your fingers. You don’t want to over mix (to prevent the nuts from releasing their oils, see note), but the mixture does need to hold and be sticky. If it’s not doing so, add a few drops of water, as your dates might be dry. Once you have a good, sticky mixture that will hold together, remove it from the processor and press into a brownie pan (8” x 8”) lined with parchment paper. Use a small piece of the parchment to help press and flatten the mixture evenly into the pan. Press it firmly to ensure the mixture holds. For the frosting, in a mini-food processor, first combine the coconut butter and agave nectar until smooth. Then add the cocoa powder and salt, and pulse through again until just combined. Do not over process or the frosting will begin to separate with the heat of the churning and become oily. (If you don’t have a mini-processor, you can follow the same steps stirring by hand in a bowl). Smooth frosting over base, and refrigerate for an hour or more until set. Cut into squares and serve! You can also freeze the squares after cutting, and enjoy them out of the freezer!

NOTE:

• A combination of ¾ cup almonds and ½ cup cashews also works well.
• You can substitute 1 – 1 ½ tsp of pure vanilla extract for the vanilla bean seeds.
• If your dates are on the dry side, you can add 1-2 tbsp of water to the mixture to help assist the pureeing and the mixture easily coming together.
• If you process the mixture too long, the heat generated by the food processor will bring the oils out of the nuts. If this happens, the brownies won’t be ruined necessarily, but they will have an oily appearance and be oily to the touch. So, process minimally to begin, rather than over processing the nuts at the outset.

Recipe from the book Let Them Eat Vegan.

Weight loss Smoothie

Flat Belly Smoothie
Makes 1 serving:

Ingredients
3 ounces of vanilla non-fat Greek yogurt
1tbsp of almond butter
½ cup frozen blueberries
½ cup frozen pineapples
1 cup of kale
¾ cup of water



Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
Enjoy immediately.

A Banana a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.
But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

DEPRESSION: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

ANEMIA: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

BLOOD PRESSURE: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

BRAIN POWER: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

CONSTIPATION: High in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

HANGOVERS: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

HEARTBURN: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

MORNING SICKNESS: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

MOSQUITO BITES: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

NERVES: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

ULCERS: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has FOUR TIMES the protein, TWICE the carbohydrate, THREE TIMES the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

Click to check out more banana health facts.

Sweet Potato Breakfast Omelet

So I found this breakfast recipe for my Ovo-Vegetarians out there. It was originally made with meat but I decided that it didn’t need it. It makes 2 sweet potato crust breakfast omelets.
 

Omelet mixture:

8 whisked eggs

1.5 tbs salt
1 finely chopped sautéed onion
1 finely chopped sautéed red pepper
2 cloves of minced sautéed garlic
2 cups of lightly steamed broccoli
½ cup of sundried tomatoes

1.Lightly greases 2 pies dishes. Thinly slice 1 large (or 2 small) sweet potatoes and arrange around the bottom of the pie dishes.
2.Sprinkle sweet potatoes with sea salt and pepper.
3.Pour the omelet mixture over top.
4.Bake at 150 for about 40 minutes.