Dark Chocolate Zucchini Bread

Well hello all!!  I am back!!  :)

So happy to finally say that!  Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me here at Healing Cuisine and on our Facebook page over the last few months.  I have been away while my "day job" kept me extremely tapped out.   If you remember my posts back in December/January of this year, my husband, Dr. Dave, and I opened our dream business the first week of the new year.  Our natural health clinic is called Triad Health Center and we are located in Greensboro, North Carolina.  I am happy to say I am finally at a place where I can care for our almost 2 years old Austin, manage clients and keep up with posting recipes again.  Yay!  I have a whole list of recipes to share from all the way back in December!  It's about time  :)

Hope you all have been well while I have been away.  I appreciate all the emails you have sent checking in and sharing your pictures of recipes from the archives.

I HAVE EXCITING NEWS!!!
August marks my 4th year anniversary since beginning this blog.  To celebrate, Healing Cuisine is getting a facelift!  Look forward to a BRAND NEW HealingCuisine.com in the coming weeks.  We are putting the final touches on the new design.  Some things to look forward to: simpler sleeker design, better search function, labels & categories for easy searching, easier commenting function, and more!  I hope you'll enjoy the new layout coming to Healing Cuisine in less than two weeks!

And now, on to a NEW RECIPE!  If you're growing zucchini at home this year, you've probably still got it coming out of your ears...  For me, I've made every single zucchini recipe from my archives already this summer (check them out here).  I was in need of something new.  Dr. Dave and I sure love our Advanced Plan zucchini bread, but eating it every week all summer long gets a little boring.  It was time to try making chocolate zucchini bread to fit the Advanced Plan.  Here's what we came up with, and boy is it good!  It has more of a moist cake texture than bread texture, which comes with using almond flour.  It was really good!  And it passed the toddler test!  Austin gobbled it up and asked for more!  I love it when we can take an already healthy grain-free recipe and sneak in vegetables.  Makes me feel like a supermom.  :)

Dark Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Makes 8-12 Servings

1 1/2 cups almond flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup raw cacao powder or cocoa powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 cup organic zucchini, finely grated
1 egg (room temp)
1/4 cup organic full fat plain Greek yogurt or coconut milk (room temp)
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tsp pure liquid stevia
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup raw pecans, chopped (optional)
1/2 cup 73+% dark chocolate chips (optional)

1.)  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line a medium loaf pan with unbleached parchment paper.  In a large bowl, mix together the almond flour, baking soda, cacao powder, ground cinnamon and sea salt.

2.)  In a medium bowl, whisk the egg until foamy.  Whisk in Greek yogurt, coconut oil, vanilla, stevia and apple cider vinegar until well combined.

3.)  Wrap the grated zucchini in a clean tea towel or 3-4 layers of paper towel.  Over a bowl or sink, squeeze out the excess water from the zucchini.  Shake the zucchini from the towel into the bowl of liquid ingredients.  Stir to combine the grated zucchini.  Stir in the chopped pecans and chocolate chips.

4.)  Fold in the flour mixture and stir until just combined.  Spoon the batter into loaf pan and bake for approximately 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.  Remove from oven and cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove the loaf to a wire rack to cool completely before cutting.  Store in fridge in an airtight container.

Guest Recipe: Hot Cereal for the Advanced Plan

Today I have another guest recipe to share.  This one comes from a great woman, Susan Dotters, who has been living the Maximized Living lifestyle for over a year, has been a longtime follower of Healing Cuisine, and has lost 45+ pounds by doing so!  Let's give Susan a round of applause!!

Susan sent me her recipe for Advanced Plan approved "Hot Cereal" this past fall.  We have been enjoying this creamy comforting porridge for breakfast.  You've really nailed it, Susan!  Thank you for letting me share your recipe here for all of us Advanced Planners to add to our arsenal.  I'm certain there are many moms saying "thank you" right now, too!  This is a whole food alternative to Cream of Wheat or oat meal.  Our 19 month old son gobbles it up!

Susan's Hot Cereal
Makes 2 servings

2 Tbsp chia seeds
4 Tbsp hemp seeds
1/2 cup unsweetened organic almond milk
1 organic Granny Smith apple, minced
about 1/2 cup filtered water
10-12 drops pure liquid stevia (more/less to taste)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp raw pecans/walnuts/cashews/almonds, chopped fine

1.)  In a bowl, soak the chia and hemp seeds in the almond milk for about 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes with a fork.

2.)  While the seeds soak, mince a Granny Smith apple.  Add apple bits to a small sauce pan and add just enough water to cover.  Bring the pot to a simmer and cook until apples are soft, about 10-15 minutes.

3.)  Remove from heat.  Stir in stevia, cinnamon, chopped nuts, and chia/hemp seed mixture.  Warm the cereal over Low heat until warmed through.  To keep the nuts and seeds as raw as possible, do not bring it to a boil.  Top with anything you'd like (keeping it Advanced Plan of course) and serve!

This is a fabulous breakfast full of healthy fat and protein from the chia and hemp seeds.  I like to switch the flavors up by using thawed organic peaches from the freezer, fresh strawberries or blueberries, or leaving the apple out and just having the cinnamon.  Dave likes to top his with coconut milk for a creamy richness.

I have also done this as more of a porridge by heating the almond milk on the stove top first until almost boiling.  Then add everything to the blender (chia seeds, hemp seeds, stevia, cinnamon, nuts, and hot almond milk).  Blend until smooth and serve.  The chia seeds will thicken the mixture as it sits.  This blended version is even more creamy like Cream of Wheat.

Enjoy adding this to your weekly breakfast rotation!

Guest Post: Strawberry Doughnuts!

Look at these...Advanced Plan Strawberries-n-Cream Doughnuts from Tall Girl (Jessica) over at Tall World After All!

Jessica took the original recipe for Strawberries-n-Cream Cake and, voila!, turned it into doughnuts!  Can you say GENIUS?!

Prepare the recipe as normal, but increase the baking powder by 1 teaspoon.  Spoon the batter out into the doughnut pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes.  Test with a toothpick for doneness.

Great on their own, or make a simple and lovely glaze by melting down some coconut butter.  You could stir in vanilla, stevia or a little almond milk to thin.

Be sure to check out Tall Girl's blog.  She is a world traveler, currently living in Madrid.  She always has interesting experiences and stories to share, and some new recipes along the way.  Thanks for this new spin on a recipe, Jessica!  :)

How To: Homemade Baby Formula

The science is out.  Nothing comes close to true breast milk, because there is an innate connection between baby and mother.  When baby latches onto mom's breast, baby's saliva tells mom's body what baby needs (more water, protein, fat, nutrients, etc).  Our bodies were amazingly designed!

BUT, that doesn't mean everyone is blessed with an easy time breastfeeding or the ability.  I do recommend trying everything you can to keep your natural milk supply going first before jumping into supplementing milk for your baby.  Explore all avenues before settling on formula.  You can try many things...supplements like fenugreek and nettle, extended naked chest time and "kangaroo care" with your baby, extra pumping time to increase your flow are a few common methods.  (Email me if you would like other methods, or contact your local Le Leche League.)  But sometimes no matter how hard you try you cannot keep your milk supply going, or the nursing experience does not go well for mom or baby (extreme pain, inverted nipples with a struggle to keep baby latched).  Or perhaps you are adopting a child and do not have access to donor breast milk.  After you have weighed out all your options, these are the cases where proceeding with a homemade whole food breast milk formula is a good decision.

Today I would like to share my whole food formula recipe that when used as supplement will be closer to a woman's breast milk than one with synthetic vitamins and nutrients found at the store. I will write next week about why I recommend making your formula at home using whole food ingredients versus buying a store bought formula.  There are many many many reasons why making your own is important for the better health of your baby.  For time's sake, I will save that conversation for another day. (I will come back to link it when I post it!)

This is my recipe for homemade whole food infant formula.  It is based off of Sally Fallon's recipe in her book Nourishing Traditions.  (Every home should have this book on the shelf!  It's a go-to wellness resource!  Thank you Allison for the best wedding present ever!)  I have edited Sally Fallon's recipe to make it allergen-free as most of my clients and their children have an array of milk/nut/grain allergies.  I have listed alternative options in parentheses.

Homemade Whole Food Infant Formula
Based on Sally Fallon's original recipe found in Nourishing Traditions
Makes about 36 ounces

LIQUID
2 cups of rice milk (make your own via this link) (you can also use raw cow's milk or raw goat's milk)
2 cups pure water (reverse osmosis + remineralized is best)
2 Tbsp full fat coconut milk (or organic 100% grass fed heavy cream)
2 Tbsp organic unrefined coconut oil, melted
1/2 tsp fermented cod liver oil
1 tsp  extra virgin olive oil

DRY
1 Tbsp organic pea protein (or 1/4 cup organic 100% grass fed whey protein)
2 tsp gelatin from 100% grass fed cows
1/4 tsp Acerola powder
break open 3 capsules of colostrum

2 tsp nutritional yeast

break open 1 capsule of Kirkman Labs allergen-free Bifido probiotics 

Add the rice milk to the blender with all of the dry ingredients.  Blend on Low-Medium until blended smooth.  Add remaining liquid ingredients to the blender and blend on Low-Medium until smooth.  Pour into bottles and store in fridge with airtight caps up to 5 days.  Warm each bottle in a container of warm water on the counter before feeding, and shake well.

You may notice the cold formula will be chunky from the fridge -- that's just the coconut oil and other oils solidifying from the cold.  It will thin out once it is warmed.  Do not heat the formula on the stove top.

Disclaimer: Before using any infant or toddler formula with your child, please consult with your pediatrician or main family practitioner. No parents should use this information without first seeking advice from their pediatrician or primary care physician before starting a nutritional program with their children.

Hazelnut Latte

I have another Starbucks recipe hack for you!  Sara commented on my Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe looking for a natural and whole food alternative for her hazelnut lattes.  Here's what we do when we feel like hazelnut.  We don't use any of those flavor syrups, which are loaded with high fructose corn syrup, food dyes, and chemical flavorings.  Even the "sugar-free" options use chemically made artificial sweeteners.  Sure, there are some out there that use agave syrup, but did you know agave isn't a whole food and is processed the same way as HFCS? 

So, if flavoring syrups are out, what's a girl to do?  I'll tell you, read on!

Hazelnut Latte
Makes 1-2 Servings

10 oz fresh brewed hot organic coffee
1/3 cup raw hazelnuts (about 10-12nut)
10-30 drops of pure liquid stevia (to taste)*
Splash or two of almond milk or coconut milk (optional)**

Blend on high for 1-2 minutes. You can strain it if you want to remove the hazelnut pulp, but I don’t bother. The few small pieces of nut will sink to the bottom of your cup.
1.)  Add all ingredients to the blender and start on Low speed, gradually working up to High speed.  Blend on High for 1-2 minutes until completely smooth.  Strain if you wish, but I just drink the little bit of hazelnut pulp at the bottom of the cup. 

*You may wish to wait to add the stevia the end, once you can taste the sweetness.  Add 2-3 drops at a time and mix thoroughly, tasting between additions, if you're unsure the sweetness level of stevia.

**We don't usually add any nut milks to our hazelnut lattes, as the hazelnuts get nice and creamy when blended.  But, you may prefer it!  That is why I listed it.  We do foam some almond milk on the stove top to pour over the mug for the foam effect.

Back from Break and Ready to Cook!!

I'm baaaaack!!!  And so happy to be!  Thank you to all of you for sticking with me during my extended vacation.  I thought I would come back to crickets, but you have been wonderful participating on the facebook page, twitter feed, and commenting on past blog posts.  Thank you!  I loved staying connected with you!

Well, we officially got our new Maximized Living health center up and running in early January and have had a successful first month of business!  We are Triad Health Center, located in Greensboro, North Carolina.  We are already helping so many people in need of natural health care!  But we would love to help more.  If you know anyone in the Piedmont Triad area, we would love to get connected with them and see how we can help them or see who they know that may be looking for a resource like ours.  Email me if you'd like to introduce us to your friends, family, church, or business in the area.

Here are a few pictures of our new space.  We're still getting completely moved in and settled, but it's starting to feel like our second home away from home.  :)

Our welcome desk.  We have filled it in and made it a little more cheery since this was taken!

Sitting area and kids' corner

Grand Opening sign

Exercise area and adjustment rooms along the back.

One of the adjusting rooms.  Where the healing happens!

The start of our product center.

And now, I MUST begin getting through this list of recipes that has built up since Thanksgiving  These are all recipes that you NEED TO TRY!!!  Topping that list is the Mint Creme Fudge Brownie.   To.  Die.  For.  Tastes just like (if not better than) Betty Crocker's!  We enjoyed these on Christmas night with a large mug of homemade hot chocolate.

Mint Creme Fudge Brownie
Makes 25 Bars

FUDGE BROWNIE LAYER
1 baked Healing Cuisine Signature Brownies

MINT CREME LAYER
2 Tbsp organic unsalted butter, room temp (or solid coconut oil)
1 cup powdered xylitol
1-2 Tbsp unsweetened almond milk
5 drops pure peppermint oil
8-15 drops liquid chlorophyll for green color (optional)

CHOCOLATE LAYER
3 ounces bakers chocolate
15 drops liquid stevia
1 Tbsp coconut oil

1.)  FUDGE BROWNIE LAYER  Prepare and bake my Healing Cuisine Signature Brownies.  Cool completely before proceeding.

2.)  MINT CREME LAYER  In a stand mixer, beat the butter, powdered xylitol, peppermint oil, and 1 Tablespoon of almond milk until smooth.  If mixture needs to be thinned, add the second Tablespoon of almond milk.  Add chlorophyll one drop at a time while blending until the desired green color is achieved.  Spread the mint creme over the brownies and place in fridge for 15-20 minutes while you prepare chocolate layer.

3.)  CHOCOLATE LAYER  In a small pot, over Low heat, melt the chocolate with the coconut oil.  Remove from heat.  Stir in stevia liquid until smooth.  Taste and sweeten to desired sweetness with stevia.  Place in fridge for 15 minutes to cool. 

4.)  Once chocolate is cooled, pour it over the mint cream layer and spread evenly to cover all of the mint creme.  Return to fridge to cool completely 2 hours before slicing and serving.

I hope you enjoy these!  They are so easy to prepare and a great accompaniment to coffee or hot chocolate.

Pumpkin Cheesecake Chocolate Brownies

Have you had enough chocolate yet this week?  This is the third new recipe of the week, all of which have been desserts!  In case you missed it, I shared a guest recipe for Homemade Oreo Cookies and my personal favorite Almond Flour Brownie recipe.  We're using the brownie recipe as the base for today's fall inspired treat.

Hope you enjoy these Pumpkin Cheesecake Chocolate Brownies!  I am munching on a big square of this delicious dessert now while sitting in a hotel room in Greensboro, North Carolina.  We are relaxing after a long day of searching for our new future home!  I can't remember the last update I shared on our new business progress.  Here's the quick summary --  The build out process has started on our future health center, set to open in January 2013!  It will be called Triad Health Center.  Healing Cuisine will also be expanding from my small couch and kitchen to my own office space within Triad Health Center!  We're bringing a completely new health care system to Greensboro.  We're moving from Charlotte to Greensboro the weekend after Thanksgiving.  We're up here now looking for rental homes.  That gives us two weeks to figure our lives out.  The search continues tomorrow.  Pray for us..  :)

Pumpkin Cheesecake Chocolate Brownies
Makes 25 Brownies

1 unbaked Signature Brownie batter
1 egg
8 oz organic cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup pure pumpkin puree
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 cup powdered xylitol
2 Tbsp Stevita Spoonable Stevia

1.)  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9 x 13 inch glass baking pan with coconut oil.  In blender, process together egg, cream cheese, pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, xylitol, and stevia until smooth.

2.)  Spread about two thirds of the Signature Brownie batter into prepared pan.  Spread all of the pumpkin batter over top, distributing evenly.  Drop the remaining brownie batter over the cheesecake batter.  To make the swirls, run a butter knife back and forth through the pan vertically and horizontally.

3.)  Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool completely and chill before cutting and serving.

Healing Cuisine's Signature Chocolate Brownies

I feel pretty bad about withholding this recipe from you for so long.  But the truth is, I honestly didn't realize I never posted it yet!  The realization sunk in finally when a friend, with a mouth full of chocolaty goodness, called these brownies my "secret never-tell recipe."  I looked at her puzzled, because I knew she knew how to use the Recipe Index and tries all my latest recipes.  I laughed and said, "Oh, they're on my site, you can probably find them named almond flour brownies or something like that."  She shook her head, "You've been promising me this signature brownie recipe of yours for over a year!"  Oh my goodness, how embarrassing!!

Time to make things right!  So here it is, my signature chocolate brownie recipe using almond flour and no sugar!  That's right, it's Advanced Plan!  Stay tuned tomorrow for a third new dessert recipe this week....  And here's a hint, it'll be using this brownie recipe as the base.

Healing Cuisine's Signature Chocolate Brownies
Makes 20 Brownies

1 1/4 cups fine ground blanched almond flour
1/4 tsp sea salt
3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking powder
3 Tbsp Stevita Spoonable Stevia
1/3 cup powdered xylitol
4 free-range eggs
1 free-range egg white
1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup raw butter OR coconut oil
8 Tbsp strong brewed coffee, room temperature (optional)
10 oz 73+% chocolate bar or chips

1.)  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9 x 13 inch glass pan with coconut oil.  Set aside.  In a large bowl, mix together the almond flour, sea salt, cocoa powder, baking powder, and spoonable stevia.  Set aside.

2.)  In a small saucepan over Low heat, melt together the butter with 6 ounces of dark chocolate.  (I use pure bakers chocolate.)  Remove from heat and set aside.

3.)  In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, xylitol, vanilla and coffee (if using).  Slowly drizzle the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture while whisking until incorporated. (Going too fast can cause the eggs to cook upon contact.  Go slowly to temper the egg batter.)

4.)  Stir the chocolate/egg liquid into the dry almond flour mix, stirring completely until smooth.  Chop the remaining 4 ounces of chocolate into small chunks (or use chocolate chips).  Stir chocolate chunks into the batter.  Pour batter into 9 x 13 inch pan.
   
5.)  Bake for 28-32 minutes or until a knife poked into the center comes out clean.  Let cool completely before cutting into.  Cover tightly and store at room temperature.

Guest Post: Homemade Oreo Cookies

Y'all are in for a treat today.  I have more desserts to share today, Thursday, and Friday, so keep coming back for some yummy additions to your fall and Christmas dessert spreads!

First, I have to start with a little situation control.  I hate to have to even say this, because so many of you have been with me and supported me since the early months of Healing Cuisine.  I have seen many folks posting my recipes AND my pictures online without my permission and without a backlink.  My work and content (and any blogger's work) is copy written, protected under the Creative Commons License.  Please do not copy and past my recipes onto your Facebook wall.  Please do not take the pictures from my website.  At the very least, please put a backlink to the original page where you found the recipe.  What I would most prefer is that you use the SHARE button on the Healing Cuisine Facebook page to share my content with your friends.  If you would like to use my recipes or articles in any capacity outside of your own kitchen, please email me first to get permission.  I appreciate your respect and understanding.

Okay, moving on to sharing a fabulous recipe shared with me by a fan!  This Guest Recipe comes from Janis Storring of Ontario, Canada.  Her recipe for Homemade Oreo Cookies really hits the sweet tooth.  She uses walnut flour, and I've got to say I do like the flavor of the ground walnuts in the chocolate cookie.  I have tried these with almond flour, too, and they turn out just fine.  I also made a batch using 2 Tablespoons of honey and 1/4 cup xylitol (instead of 1/2 cup xylitol) and I really liked thedm!  The little bit of sugar from the honey allows the cookies to crisp up a bit and hold their crunch (the same method used in my Snickerdoodle Cookies recipe).  Because of the lack of sugar/gluten, nut flours will get soft or soggy shortly after cooling from the oven.  It's up to you if you'd like a crunchy cookie or soft cookie texture.

To cut the perfect circles, invest in some quality cutters, or use the rim of a glass or coffee mug.  These oreo sandwiches depend on uniform cookies.

Store these finished cookie sandwiches in the freezer to prevent the creme filling from melting.  Also, it's easier if you freeze the cookies first for about 15 minutes before spreading on the creme filling

Janis likes to switch up her oreo cookie fillings.  The options are really endless!  You can do ice cream filling, add avocado/chlorophyll and pure mint essential oil for minty creme, swirl in peanut or almond butter, add almond extract and some chopped cherries, or stir in pureed berries!

Thank you, Janis, for sharing your oreo cookie recipe with us!!



Homemade Oreo Cookies
Makes 10 Cookie Sandwiches

COOKIES
1 1/2 cups fine ground walnut flour
1/2 cup pure cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
1/8 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup powdered xylitol
1/2 cup raw butter or coconut oil, solid form
1 free-range egg
1/4 cup raw flax meal
1 scoop protein powder (optional, if omitting replace with 2 Tbsp walnut flour)

CREME FILLING
1/4 cup raw butter, solid form (can replace with coconut oil)
1/4 cup coconut oil, solid form
1/2 cup powdered xylitol
2 tsp pure vanilla

1.)  COOKIES   Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and line baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper.  In a food processor, pulse together walnut flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, sea salt and xylitol until combined.  Add butter and pulse until small crumbs form.  Add the egg, ground flax, and protein powder.  Pulse until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the food processor.

2.)  Lay a sheet of unbleached parchment paper out on a counter or table.  The dough is a bit sticky, so the paper helps.  You may also wish to chill the dough in the fridge for 15 minutes before rolling out.  Scoop the dough onto the parchment.  Flatten it out a bit with your fingers to get started.  Lay a second sheet of unbleached parchment paper on top of the dough.  Use a rolling pin to roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.  Remove the top parchment layer and begin cutting your cookie circles.  Any size diameter you prefer is fine, but I like using the 2 or 2 1/2 inch circles for a more authentic Oreo.  Use a thin cookie spatula to lift the cut circles onto the lined baking sheet.  Repeat the process until all dough is cut.

3.)  Bake at 325 degrees F for 10 minutes.  Cool completely.  You may find it helpful to freeze the cookies, too, before filling.

4.)  CREME FILLING   In a mixing bowl with the paddle attachment, beat butter and coconut oil together until fluffy.  Add powdered xylitol and vanilla.  Continue to beat until the icing is light and fluffy.  Spoon creme into an icing bag or plastic bag and cut off one corner.  Squeeze creme in an even layer onto one cookie and top with another one.  Store in fridge or freezer until ready to eat.

Kombucha Tea Flavorings Round 2

Looking back through my posts in the last few years, I see it's been a while since my last post about brewing kombucha.  Hard to believe!  Well I have about a year's worth of new flavor combinations to share with you.  But first, take a look back at our past discussions about brewing kombucha at home.  If you haven't started yet, believe me it's easy and takes very little effort!  The cost savings of home brewing and health benefits of consuming regularly are abundant!

Weird science project or tasty drink?: How to Brew Kombucha

Is My SCOBY Moldy?

Kombucha Tea Flavorings Round 1

Kombucha Smoothie 

Kombucha Mojito

I hope you like some of these new kombucha flavors.  These ingredients are added during the second fermentation period.  We love to try new combinations.  Exotic blends are at the bottom.  Always use organic ingredients, because chemicals and pesticides can harm the SCOBY and kill the natural yeast production.  Be sure to check out the original kombucha tea flavorings post from 2010 first to see if you want to try any if the classic flavors, too!


Kombucha Tea Flavorings Round 2

To 3 quarts of kombucha tea for the second fermentation period, add:

Watermelon-Lime Kombucha

Watermelon-Lime:  1/3 cup fresh squeezed watermelon juice  +  1/4 cup lime peel cut into strips

Pineapple:  1/4 cup fresh pineapple

Pineapple Pomegranate:  1/4 cup fresh pineapple  +  1/4 cup pomegranate juice

Apple Berry:  1/3 cup unsweetened organic apple juice  +  1/3 cup fresh mixed berries (or thawed frozen berries, or 1/4 cup unsweetened jam)

Cherry Vanilla: 1/4 cup dried cherries OR 1/3 cup pitted fresh cherries  +  2 tsp pure vanilla extract 

Pear-Almond:  1/4 cup fresh pear  +  2 tsp pure almond extract

Orange-Grapefruit: 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice  +  1/3 cup fresh squeezed grapefruit juice   OR  1/4 cup orange peel  +  1/4 cup grapefruit peel 

Lemon-Blueberry:  1/4 cup lemon peel cut into strips  +  1/3 cup fresh blueberries (or frozen thawed blueberries, or 1/4 cup dried blueberries)

Peach:  1/3 cup fresh peaches (or thawed frozen peaches)

Strawberry-Mango: 1/4 cup fresh mango  (or frozen thawed mango)  +  1/3 cup fresh strawberries (or frozen thawed strawberries)

Kiwi:  1/3 cup fresh kiwi

Calm Blend:  1 tsp dried lavender flower  +  1 tsp dried chamomile flower

Chai Blend:  2 tsp of my favorite whole chai spice blend

Apple Pie Kombucha

Apple Pie Chai:  1/3 cup unsweetened apple juice  +  1 tsp chai spice blend  +  1 cinnamon stick

Apple Pie:  1/3 cup unsweetened apple juice  +  1 cinnamon stick

Pumpkin Pie:  1/3 cup pumpkin puree (optional)  +  4 whole cloves  +  2 cinnamon sticks  +  1/2 tsp ground nutmeg  +  3/4 tsp ground ginger  +  1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Chocolate Malt:  1 heaping Tablespoon raw cacao powder  +  1 heaping Tablespoon maca powder

Continue with the second ferment for at least 2 days.  Sometimes we forget and let our bottles go about 7 days for the second ferment.  They still taste good, but start to get a bit vinegary tasting again.  I think 3-4 days is the sweet spot.  Then pop in the fridge overnight, strain and enjoy!

Don't be afraid to experiment!  And don't be afraid to pour a batch down the drain if it didn't come out how you wanted.  I've done that a few times myself.  You can always make more!  The fun is in the experimenting, creating, and enjoying.

If you have a favorite flavor, please share it in the comments section!  I'd love to hear from you!

Whole Food 1st Birthday Party Menu

Photo courtesy of Marissa Nixon Photography

After a month of planning, our son's first birthday party arrived last weekend.  We wanted to make this a special day for Austin, even if he won't remember it.  Turning 1 is a big milestone; a momentous occasion to honor and celebrate all of his growing and learning done over the past 12 months!

We celebrated at a local park and invited Austin's closest friends.  The day was filled with extra bright sunshine!  We had a few guests with certain food allergies and some who were strictly eating the Advanced Plan, so I wanted to tailor the recipes to their nutritional needs as much as possible.  (I also wanted to design a new birthday party menu, different from my Kids Menu Planner e-book, to give you all some different options.)  I had many parents who were at the park with their children come up to me and compliment on how fresh and healthy everything looked, and one mom passing by even said she couldn't believe all the kids were eating the healthy food!  It was quite humbling to hear compliments from strangers, but also a sobering reminded me that Standard America does not associate fresh whole foods with birthday parties.  I hope some parents realized you don't have to overload kids with sugar and sweets to have a fun celebration.

We celebrated with a healthy spread of Core & Advanced Plan whole food dishes.  {Plus, a new cupcake recipe that I am in love with!}  A special thanks to our skilled photographer and friend Marissa Nixon for taking many of the photos shared today.  Her photography portfolio can be found here.

Use my invite template here.

The party planning started with the theme.  Since he was just a few months old, Austin has loved balloons.  And while Dave might have fought for a Green Bay Packers theme for a day or two, we both agreed that Austin would love a balloon party.  The invitation design was the foundation for the rest of the party decor.  I love bold colors, and picked grass green, medium blue, and sky blue as the color scheme.  I laid out a simple but cute invite layout in inDesign using the balloon as the main focus.  I also found sheets of 100 balloon stickers at the Dollar Tree, perfect to use as embellishments on the envelopes.  (The stickers were my Plan B after ordering the wrong size blue envelopes from a company online.  Oops.)  You can now customize and print the invitation template I designed at Zazzle.com

 Once the invites were sent out, I had about 3 weeks to design the table scape.  Decor items I made or purchased: polka-dot glassine cupcake wrappers from Bake It Pretty, polka-dot nut cups from Bake It Pretty, polka-dot straws from Bake It Pretty, 5 oz clear cups from Party City for white bean dip, 3-tier plate stand from Target, I spray painted the bottoms of clear plates from Dollar Tree with green & blue, spray painted cake boards green for the cupcakes, punched 2-inch circles from scrapbook paper and taped to skewers to make balloon decorations for cupcakes, 30 helium balloons from Party City, balloon napkins and banner from Dollar Tree.   The table scape also included the food!  I wanted lots of green on the tables to play against blue table cloths.  The recipes also had to be kid friendly.  Here is what I came up with:

1ST BIRTHDAY MENU

Photo courtesy of Marissa Nixon Photograpgy

White Bean Dip with fresh veggies
Makes 6 Servings
(multiplied by 4 for 30 guests)
Advanced Plan

1 15-oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 cloves garlic
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley leaves
Sea salt & fresh black pepper, to taste

Add all ingredients to food processor.  Pulse until the mixture is as smooth as you'd like it (I puree to hummus consistency, but some people like their bean dip coarse). Season with sea salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the bean puree to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.


Chickpea Pesto Salad  (YES, the kids ate this, even the babies loved it!)
Makes 6 Servings
(multiplied by 4 for 30 guests)
Advanced Plan

PESTO
1 garlic clove
1/4 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese

SALAD
2 15-oz cans organic garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
1 organic English cucumbers, sliced
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Sea salt and fresh pepper, to taste

Add garlic clove, almonds, and basil leaves to food processor.  Pulse until finely chopped.  With machine running, drizzle in olive oil.  Add Parmesan and pulse to combine.  In a large bowl, toss together together garbanzo beans, cucumber, celery, lemon juice and pesto. Season with sea salt and fresh ground pepper.  [This salad is also delicious with shredded chicken.  I often have this for lunch, replacing one can of chickpeas with roasted chicken.]

Photos courtesy of Marissa Nixon Photography

Kale-Carrot Salad  (Kiddos love this marinated kale!)
Makes 8 Servings
(multiplied by 3 for 30 guests)
Core Plan

2 bunches organic kale, destemed, rinsed, and dried
1/2 cup shredded organic carrot
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
3/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp fresh black pepper

Stack two or three kale leaves and slice into strips.  Then, chop the kale strips in half.  Add all ingredients, including the chopped kale, to a large bowl and cover with a tight fitting lid.  Shake the bowl, then turn upside down and shake some more.  Kale should be completely covered in dressing.  Let sit in fridge 24-72 hours to marinate.  Serve cold or room temperature.


Fresh Fruit with Coconut Cream Sauce  (A healthier alternative to a cool whip jello salad)
Makes 6 servings
(Multiplied by 4 for 30 guests)
Core Plan

3 organic bananas, sliced
3 organic granny smith apples, chopped
1 organic pineapple, chopped
8oz organic cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup coconut cream, chilled (the thick white fatty cream from the top half of a can of coconut milk)
1 cup powdered xylitol (pulse xylitol in a spice grinder)

In a stand mixer, whip together the cream cheese and coconut cream until smooth.  Add powdered xylitol and whip smooth.  Stir chopped fruit together in a large bowl.  Toss with whipped coconut cream.  Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve, up to 48 hours.


Healing Cuisine Chicken Salad  (A classic for outdoor parties!)


Lime-Mint Infused Stevia Water
Makes 3 Gallons

3 gallons filtered water
4 sprigs of fresh mint leaves
2 limes, sliced
2 Tbsp lime Stevita stevia powder

Stir together all ingredients in a drink dispenser or pitcher.

Photo courtesy Marissa Nixon Photography

Vanilla Buttermilk Cupcakes
Makes 36 Standard Size Cupcakes
Core Plan

1 cup organic butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cup organic sugar (or xylitol)
5 free range eggs, room temperature
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
3 cups fine ground blanched almond flour, sifted
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, room temperature

With a stand mixer, beat the butter and sugar on until light and fluffy, about five minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time until combined.  Beat in the vanilla.  In a small bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together.  With the mixer on low, add 1/2 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating to combine.  Beat in the buttermilk, then the remaining flour mixture until just combined.  Scrape down the bowl as needed.   Pour into lined cupcake tins and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.  Let cool for 10 mins then remove from pan to a cooling rack.


I cheated on the frosting for the cupcakes.  I ordered 4 pounds of butter cream frosting from Whole Foods, 2 pounds each of green and blue.  They make their frosting with all natural food dyes from fruits and veggies, so this was the least expensive route to go for colored healthier frosting.  And, since we were having a lot of babies at the party, I didn't want to make my usual xylitol sweetened frosting as babies can't digest xylitol.  I was fine with giving my baby just a little bit of sugar on his special day.  Whole Foods also uses organic rBGH-free butter and milk in their frosting, so that put my mind at ease enough to go ahead and order it.  The only thing I was bummed about is that when we went to pick up the frosting, the blue color was more purple.  It's understandable because you can't get a true blue color using natural dyes, but I was still bummed by how purple it came out.  Instead, we took home white and green frosting, and I was very pleased with how it looked on the table with the cupcakes and embellishments.

Alternatively, you can make sugar-free frosting many different ways.  I shared my 4 favorite cake and cookie frostings in my Season's Eatings holiday e-cookbook.  You can also use bananas, cashews, or avocado as the base for you frosting.  We made a bright green frosting using avocados for Austin's actual birthday at home.

Avocado Frosting

The cupcakes, the food, the colors, the details...it all came together just as I had hoped.  It was a fun 1st birthday party filled with happy memories we will cherish forever.

Photo courtesy of Marissa Nixon Photography

Photo courtesy of Marissa Nixon Photography

See more professional photos from our celebration here.

Pumpkin Spice Pudding

It's another "double feature" Wednesday!  Our usual Wordless Wednesday picture posted earlier this morning.  I also have to share my latest dessert recipe for Pumpkin Spice Pudding.  I couldn't wait another day (and neither could some of you over on the Facebook page)!  It is that good.

Ever since Dave surprised me with a Vitamix this summer, I've really been into making raw and semi-raw recipes.  I can finally get the sauces and desserts and smoothies blended super smooth compared to our generic version of Magic Bullet that I had been limited to prior.  I have always loved using raw nuts as the bases of sauces, ice creams, cheesecakes, and so many other things.  Using raw nuts allows you to get the creaminess of dairy without using it.  I recommend to anyone on the Advanced Plan to eliminate dairy as much as possible because it is sugary and an inflammatory food, even in raw or organic form.  Using blended nuts is a fabulous way to enjoy rich and creamy dishes without dairy!  It also packs in extra protein and good fats!

For this recipe, I used soaked raw cashews.  Soaking nuts prior to use does a couple of things.  People do it mostly because it starts the germination process, making the nut more nutritious (just like sprouting a grain) and helps it to shed any impurities.  Soaking also allows the nut to absorb extra water and become softer, making them easier to blend up and provide a creamier texture.  For cashews, you should soak them for at least 2 hours, but I usually recommend about 6-8 hours for full on creaminess.  Then, rinse them under cold water until the water runs clear, and they're ready to use!

Pumpkin Spice Pudding
Makes 2 Servings

1 cup soaked raw cashews
1 cup organic unsweetened almond milk
1 cup organic pumpkin puree, chilled
stevia, to taste
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground ginger
1 pinch ground cloves
1 pinch sea salt

1.)  Add the soaked cashews (drained and rinsed) to blender.  Add a few Tablespoons of almond milk and begin blending.  Gradually bring blender up to High speed and begin streaming in the almond milk until a thick cream forms.  Continue to blend until completely smooth, almost the thickness of heavy whipping cream.

2.)  Add all remaining ingredients to blender and blend on Medium-High until well combined and smooth.  [I wait to add the stevia until the end, when it's smooth and combined.  Then I taste it and gauge how much stevia is needed.  It depends on how sweet your cooked pumpkin is, each batch is different.  I usually use about 1 tsp of Spoonable Stevita stevia, give or take.]  Spoon into serving dishes, top with a sprinkle of cinnamon.  Eat immediately or store in fridge until ready to serve.

Four More One Pot Wonder Dinners

I am making an exception to our "Wordless Wednesdays."  I have too many recipes to share with you, and I need to honor someone extra close to my heart...

Yesterday was my son Austin's first birthday!  I am in awe of our little man each and every day as he is growing up and learning so quickly.  Year one has been filled with SO MANY great laughs, hugs, snuggles, and joyful memories.  I am so grateful that God gave us this bright, healthy, spunky little boy.  Happy birthday Austin!

We celebrated with a simple Advanced Plan vanilla cupcake, recipe found in my Kids Birthday Party e-book.  The frosting is whipped avocado with powdered xylitol (for Austin's cupcake I used powdered sugar, because babies cannot digest sugar alcohols).  Sunday is Austin's big 1st birthday party!  I'm excited to show you the little crafts and new recipes I have been working on for his celebration.  It's going to be a fun day, I can't wait!  I'll give you a recap next week! :)


More Quick Meals Using Spice Mixes

I have more yummy and QUICK dinner recipes to share that use the spice mix ingredients from our Spice Mix Party last month.  I'm only sharing my top favorites.  There were some dishes that didn't make the cut, so please try the ones I'm including below and in yesterday's post.  They are winners!  They're now topping my go-to list!

Summer Squash Dressing
ADVANCED PLAN 
Makes 6 Servings

2 cups organic yellow or green zucchini/squash, diced
2 cups crumbled coconut bread
1/2 cup coconut oil or raw butter, melted
2 tsp dried sage
2 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 cups cream of mushroom soup
2 eggs, beaten
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup organic unsweetened almond milk
Sea salt and fresh pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 2-3 quart casserole dish.  In a large bowl, stir together the squash, coconut bread, coconut oil, sage, garlic, cream of mushroom soup, egg, onion, almond milk, sea salt and black pepper.  Transfer to prepared baking dish.  Bake for 40 minutes, until lightly browned.  Let sit 5-10 minutes before serving.

Ranch Parmesan Chicken
CORE PLAN
Makes 6 Servings

6 free-range skinless chicken breasts (bone-in is okay)
1/2 cup organic sour cream
1/2 cup Healing Cuisine Mayonnaise
1 Tbsp homemade ranch dressing mix
1 cup almond meal
1/2 cup raw Parmesan cheese, grated
1 Tbsp season salt (salt-free and MSG-free)
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp fresh black pepper

Wash and dry chicken breasts.  In a large bowl, stir together sour cream, mayonnaise, and ranch dressing mix.  Add the chicken breasts and use your hands to coat the chicken in the ranch dressing.  Marinade chicken breasts in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Grease a glass 9x13 inch pan and set aside.  In a separate 9x13 inch pan, combine almond meal, Parmesan cheese, season salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.  Dip marinaded chicken (remove any extra dressing) in the almond crumb mixture, covering both sides evenly.  Place crumb covered chicken in greased glass baking dish.  Cover baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.  Remove foil, and bake for another 15 minutes,  until internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F and almond crust is lightly browned.  We serve with steamed broccoli or roasted veggies.  P.S., this recipe also makes great chicken strips!

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken
ADVANCED PLAN
Makes 6 Servings

6 chicken breasts (bone-in is okay, you can slice or cube the raw chicken, too)
3 Tbsp homemade Italian dressing mix
8 oz organic cream cheese, room temperature
3 cups cream of mushroom soup
2 Tbsp garlic powder

Add all ingredients to slow cooker and cook on Low for 4-6 hours.  If sauce is too thick, thin it with a little vegetable broth or almond milk.  We served over spiral brown rice noodles, but I'd like it with zucchini noodles as well.

Beef Stroganoff
ADVANCED PLAN
Makes 4 Servings

1 1/2 lbs 100% grass fed top sirloin steak strips OR ground beef
4 Tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, chopped
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
3 Tbsp homemade dry onion soup mix
2 Tbsp organic tomato paste
1 Tbsp arrowroot powder
2 cups organic sodium-free beef stock
1 cup full-fat coconut milk
Sea salt and fresh black pepper, to taste

In a skillet, heat the coconut oil over Medium-High heat.  Add the mushrooms and onion.  Saute until slightly softened and browned.  Remove to a plate.  Brown ground beef until no longer pink.  Return onion and mushrooms to pan.  Stir in garlic, dry onion soup mix, and tomato paste.  Reduce heat to Medium.  Sprinkle arrowroot powder over meat mixture and stir to combine until arrowroot is completely mixed in.  Add beef stock and  coconut milk, stirring thoroughly.  Sauce will begin to thicken as it comes to a simmer.  Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and let cool before spooning onto plates.  We serve over cooked smashed cauliflower, zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice or roasted spaghetti squash.

Spice Mix Party + 3 New Recipes

Take a gander at what a few girlfriends and I made at a Spice Mix Party we threw last month:

I'm not sure if we created the idea of a Spice Mix Party, but it sure was fun!  It all started with the realization of two Maximized mommy friends, Rachel and Jess, that pre-made spice mixes are A) SO convenient to have in the pantry, B) so gosh darn expensive, and C) commercially loaded with chemicals and preservatives.  Rachel and Jess decided to organize the spice night as a way to make delicious healthy spice mixes in bulk for $$$cheap.  When they invited me to be a part, you know I was in!

Read Rachel's account of our Spice Mix Party here!  She also lists our recipe modifications.  We had a blast cooking and mixing herbs and spices.  It was a fun excuse to get together to chat, eat, and let the kiddos mingle, too!

Here's what we made:  Dry Onion Soup Mix, Ranch Dressing Mix, Italian Dressing Mix, Taco Seasoning, and Cream of 'Something' Soup.  (In our case, we did cream of mushroom soup.)

You can make the spice mixes on your own, and still save money by making them yourself!  I also love the fact that we used organic ingredients, because conventional herbs and spices are loaded with pesticides and herbicides that concentrate as the herbs are dried.  Total, we each spent about $35 on the organic spice mixes and soups!  We each took home 2+ cups worth of each seasoning mix and 6+ 'cans' of cream-of-something soup, plenty to make months worth of tasty recipes!

WHAT TO MAKE WITH YOUR MIXES

I have waited to post about our spice party, because I wanted to share what I have been making with these new seasoning mixes.   I will share my latest recipe creations with you TODAY AND TOMORROW, so be sure to come back!  There are some great 30 Minute and One Pot Wonder meals coming!

Slow Cooked Beef Tips
ADVANCED PLAN
Makes 6 Servings

2 lbs 100% grass fed beef tenderloin, stew meat, chuck roast or chuck eye, cubed
1 onion, sliced
2 cups organic mushrooms, sliced
1 1/2 cups homemade cream of mushroom soup
1/3 cup arrowroot powder, whisked into 3 Tbsp cold water
3 cups organic sodium-free beef stock
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp fresh black pepper
1/4 tsp paprika
1/3 cup homemade dry onion soup mix
3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.  Add cubed meat, onion, and mushroom to a 9 x 13 inch pan.  In a large bowl, whisk the remaining ingredients together.  Pour over the meat and toss to coat.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 300 degrees F for 3 hours.  Do not remove foil until 3 hours is reached. Serve over zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, roasted veggies, smashed sweet potato or cauliflower mashed 'fotatoes.'  (Can be prepared in slow cooker on Low for 6 hours.)

Honey Glazed Italian Chicken
CORE PLAN
Makes 8 Servings

3 1/2 pounds skinless free-range chicken pieces (I like to use thighs and breasts, bone-in is fine)
2 Tbsp homemade Italian dressing mix
1/2 cup raw honey

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a large baking pan and set aside (or cover with foil/parchment paper).  Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towels.  Lay chicken pieces evenly onto baking sheet in one single layer.  Warm honey in a small saucepan over Low heat or using a hot water bath.  With a fork, stir in dry Italian mix.  Dip and press the chicken pieces into the honey mixture, coating front and back, and place each piece back down onto prepared pan.  Bake for 50-60 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.  Serve with steamed or roasted veggies.

Cheesy Chicken Ranch Casserole
ADVANCED PLAN
Makes 8 Servings

2 1/2 cups chopped frozen organic broccoli
1-2 cups frozen organic peas
6 Tbsp homemade ranch dressing mix
2 cans organic full-fat coconut milk
1 Tbsp arrowroot powder
2 cups shredded cooked free-range chicken
1/2 cup organic mozzarella cheese
1 cup raw cheddar cheese
sea salt & pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Blanch the frozen broccoli and peas in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, to remove ice crystals and slightly soften the outside.  Drain and shake as dry as possible.  Set aside.  In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, cornstarch, and ranch dressing mix.  Stir in the shredded chicken, blanched broccoli, blanched peas, 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese, and sea salt/black pepper to taste. Transfer to a greased 3 quart casserole dish.  Layer the mozzarella cheese slices across the top and sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese over the top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes, until heated through and cheese on top is browned.  We serve ours over wide cut zucchini noodles.  Brown rice pasta would also be tasty.

Four more delicious dinner recipes coming at you tomorrow!