Hellooooo Breakfast!

Quinoa Squash Porridge - Slow Cooker Version - From Hungry Hungry Hippie blog

[vegan, gluten free]

• 1 cup quinoa
• 1/2 cup butternut squash puree
• 1 T cinnamon
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 3 cups water

I added everything together, stirred it all up and let it cook 7 hours on low heat overnight. 

Interesting!

Exercise: Exercise Linked To Change In DNA. 
Exercise almost immediately alters DNA in healthy but inactive men and women. Although the genetic makeup is not altered, DNA molecules change structurally and chemically when a person exercises. One researcher noted, "Our muscles are really plastic. We often say 'You are what you eat.' Well, muscle adapts to what you do. If you don't use it, you lost it and this is one of the mechanisms that allow that to happen." 
Cell Metabolism, March 2012

Refined Sugars vs Natural Sweeteners

I love this blog and found this to be super-informative:  CLICK

And the envelope, please....

Clara loves "envelope".... which is her way of saying 'cantaloupe'.

I will never look at that melon the same. :)

Stressed? Yoga!

Exercise: Yoga And Stress.
Yoga may be effective for stress-related psychological and medical conditions such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and cardiac disease. The theory could be used to develop specific mind-body practices for the prevention and treatment of these conditions in conjunction with standard treatments.
Medical Hypotheses, March 2012

Sweet Potato Cakes

This is my kinda cake! I don't know that I would even use the yogurt sauce since I think these look amazing naked. For flour you can use a gluten-free all purpose flour in place of the recommended flours. CLICK for recipe.

7 Health Benefits of Going Barefoot

No better feeling than bare feet dipped in the ocean!

CLICK

My Sister's White Bean and Veggie Soup Puree

Making this as I type and the house smells sooo good!

Here is the recipe - doesn't get much easier or more healthy:

Sautee a large onion (yellow or white) and a few garlic cloves in olive oil

Roughly chop a couple of carrots and celery stalks and throw into pot

Saute this much for about 5 minutes

Add chopped zuchhini, yellow squash and mushrooms

*I used an entire zucchini and 2 smaller yellow squash and baby portabellos

Add enough broth (veggie or chicken) to cover all veggies -- about 4 cups

Add white beans (I used an entire can of organic, sodium-free white beans)

Simmer for 5 minutes

Add salt and pepper and simmer for another 10-15 minutes

Pour into Blender/VitaMix and puree

Eat

The End

This girl is a genius!

Cauliflower Chicken Nuggets (CLICK) -- this is the 2nd time roasting cauliflower has come to my attention in the last week or so. I think its a sign that I need to try it!

Genius Blondies -- YUM!!!!

Thank you to my sister for passing this site to me. These recipes are awesome and are a healthy-twist on not-so-healthy favorites.

I am going to make this one this week -- looks so, so good!

Genius Blondies (CLICK)

Gluten-Free and Vegan Caesar Salad

Ingredients

1 cup Brussels sprouts

4 cups mixed greens (spinach, radicchio, etc)

1/2 cup arugula

3/4 cup almond milk

1/2 cup pumpkin

1 tsp. white balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup cashews, ground

1 ripe avocado, pitted and peeled

2 Tbsp. nutritional yeast

1/4 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1 Tbsp. agave nectar

1/6 tsp. curry powder

1/6 tsp. fresh ginger root

1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped

Pinch of sea salt

Directions

Steam Brussels sprouts on the stove top over medium heat for 10 minutes or until tender and bright green. Remove from heat; transfer to a large salad bowl. Add mixed greens and arugula.

In a blender, add remaining ingredients; pulse until smooth. Pour dressing onto salad; gently toss to combine.

Serve chilled.

Enjoy.

Coconut and Quinoa: Very Cool!

CLICK to visit!

Granola Muffins

I found this recipe while searching online for new things to try. The only problem was that the original recipe called for some ingredients I try to avoid (dairy, gluten, wheat, etc.)

Thank goodness for my 'foodie' friend, Andrea, who gave me some great substitutes to use for this recipe. I think they turned out great!

RECIPE (click)

Substitute:

1. Granola - use UDI's Gluten Free granola

2. Flour - use Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour

3. Buttermilk - use coconut milk yogurt

4. Canola Oil - use organic apple sauce

5. Milk - use any non-dairy of your choice (I used Rice Milk)

Good Answer

" A friend asked me, 'What does it really cost to eat well?'

My response? Think about the real cost of not eating well."

- Lisa Gosselin, Editorial Director at EatingWell (magazine)

Veggie Rolls

These look scrumptious. My mouth is watering just looking at the photo. You can opt to use hummus instead of the tofu and I bet it would still taste great. CLICK for recipe.

New Quinoa Find! Yummy Stew

Click HERE for recipe. Looks so good (and easy!).

Arugula Pina Colada Smoothie

Crazy but true! CLICK

Leap Day Dinner

To celebrate "Leap Day" today I made this yummy chili that you see Kayleigh posing with at left. It is a Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili served with a Sprouted Quinoa Trio. Delicious!

Just Made Trina's Tomato Soup Again. LOVE.

I

10 Daily Reminders

Adapted from MindBodyGreen...

1. Do not lose sight of what truly matters.

2. It's ok to be alone or pull back from the world for a little while.

3. You are not always in control.

4. What other people think is irrelevant.

5. Don't give up.

6. You don't have to know all the answers.

7. Stay present (don't dwell on the past).

8. Your feelings will not hurt you.

9. You are human.

10. You are enough.