We are almost done with our first month of whole foods, grain free living. It has been amazing, fun, and a lot of transition. But, things are getting so much easier. I am finding some fun and creative breakfast ideas like Banana Almond Pancakes, Quinoa and Veggie Saute, Crepes filled with fruit to name a few. As each day goes on the meals get easier lunch has been soup, lettuce wraps, salads, and dinners have not changed much. I did figure out how to make one of my favorite hot dishes that my mom use to make, we have not had it for years, it is an asian spin on hamburger rice hot dish. Some fun desserts have even emerged like the strawberry parfaits, almond joys, and squash pie with whip cream. (It was suppose to be pumpkin pie but I did not have any pumpkin so I used some leftover squash and it was delicious!)
Results: What have I seen since we have begun this new way of eating. My kids are eating MORE! And the more they are eating is healthy: fruit, veggies, flax crackers with hummus/bruchetta/carrots, olives, pickles, power bars (grain free), almond joys, salads and at meals they are cleaning up. Their tastes are changing and they don't even ask for processed foods anymore. One of my kids had a chiropractic appointment today and she tested strong enough to eat dairy and eggs (this is amazing since they have been out of her diet for 6 years!) We are not adding dairy to our diet at this point, not even raw. But, it is great to know that we can have some in the future (in limited quantities). It is nice to know eggs are ok occasionally as well, since some of the new recipes do call for egg and flax meal has not been working!
In the next few days I will be posting these new recipes, so keep watch and try them with your family. They are truly nutritious and delicious! Oh yeah, tonight we are having a chocolate pie with a walnut crust....can't wait!
Two of our kids began school last week, so another new challenge is school lunches. We will see what I come up with. I must confess they had 4 days of "gluten free bread" as I did not know what else to send- so they had PBJ. But I am ready for next week, I have purchased some ninja thermos', lunch boxes, and I am ready to take on the school lunch fiasco!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
Todays amazing recipe is Strawberry Whip Cream Parfaits! And yes they are HEALTHY! It is quick and easy to make and a great idea for a fun Valentine's Day Treat. The coconut milk gives you some good quality fats, strawberries give you vitamin c, magnesium, and fiber!
*Organic Strawberries (fresh or frozen defrosted)- quarter them
*Whip Cream:
-1 can of coconut milk (not light)- refrigerate for 24 hours, drain off all the liquid (save it for a smoothie, it is yummy stuff), take the thick stuff left in the can and put it in a bowl. Whip it with a mixer until it turns into whip cream- it takes about 5 or more minutes!
-Add 1 tsp GF vanilla
-Add maple syrup to taste (if you want to...doesn't really need it)
*Layer strawberries, whip cream, strawberries, whip cream and enjoy!
*Organic Strawberries (fresh or frozen defrosted)- quarter them
*Whip Cream:
-1 can of coconut milk (not light)- refrigerate for 24 hours, drain off all the liquid (save it for a smoothie, it is yummy stuff), take the thick stuff left in the can and put it in a bowl. Whip it with a mixer until it turns into whip cream- it takes about 5 or more minutes!
-Add 1 tsp GF vanilla
-Add maple syrup to taste (if you want to...doesn't really need it)
*Layer strawberries, whip cream, strawberries, whip cream and enjoy!
As we treck into the world of exclusively whole foods, I sometime am finding quick food a challenge. Today lunch was way behind schedule because I lost track of time. Each week I prepare my veggies by cleaning and storing them so I can quickly put them on a plate for lunch, dinner, snacks, etc... So, it was quite easy. I took out and made a plate of veggies, a plate of fruit, and a plate of meats. Then called everyone down to get lunch. I was quite surprised when an art gallery broke out! It is so true that when they play with their food they eat more! Lilli's plate was so beautiful, tasty, nutritious, and fun! The best thing is everyone filled up and was very satisfied. Have some fun for lunch and try this- make faces, name them, introduce your creation to the table, then gobble up! They all built plate after plate!
What you need:
Celery Sticks
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Red Pepper Strips
Carrot Sticks
Apple Slices
Orange Sections
Meat Bites (what ever kind of meat you like)
Veggie Dip
Veggie Dip Recipe:
1 c. Tofutti Sour Cream *
1 C. Mayo of choice *
1 tsp. Dillweed
1 tsp. Garlic Salt
1 tsp. Parsley Flakes
Put together, mix, and chill. (* denotes questionability as these really are not whole foods but it is helping us transition, hopefully we will get to a place of devouring our raw veggies with out dip!)
What you need:
Celery Sticks
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Red Pepper Strips
Carrot Sticks
Apple Slices
Orange Sections
Meat Bites (what ever kind of meat you like)
Veggie Dip
Veggie Dip Recipe:
1 c. Tofutti Sour Cream *
1 C. Mayo of choice *
1 tsp. Dillweed
1 tsp. Garlic Salt
1 tsp. Parsley Flakes
Put together, mix, and chill. (* denotes questionability as these really are not whole foods but it is helping us transition, hopefully we will get to a place of devouring our raw veggies with out dip!)
Today we had some delicious crapes filled with a maple apple filling! It was so easy and tasty. I have made these a few times and have used cultured coconut milk (which is like a coconut milk keifer) and with almond milk. The only difference I found is that when I used the cultured coconut milk I had to add a lot more water to get the right consistency! They were both tasty, not much difference in flavor, it is the filling that makes these a hit or miss. We use: maple cinnamon apple filling, This recipe is adapted from the Sally Fallon's recipe for Buckwheat Crapes
Grain Free Crapes
1 1/2 c. Buckwheat Flour (see note)
1/2 c. Coconut Flour
2 c. Cultured Coconut Milk or Almond Milk (or Rice)
3 Organic Eggs
1/2 tsp. Sea Salt
1/2 c. Melted Grass Fed Butter or Coconut Oil
Water as much as needed
Mix buckwheat,coconut flour, and salt together. Stir in Cultured Coconut Milk or Almond Milk. Stir in eggs and then melted butter. Stir until smooth....add water until you get a cream like texture (will be quite thin). Heat a griddle to 350 degrees, when hot and oiled (coconut), put about 1/4 c. of batter on griddle. Let cook until bubbly and looks dry, flip and brown (make sure they are cooked through before you try to flip them or they will fall apart. Remove from griddle, top, roll (they are kind of crumbly we tend to eat them open faced with a fork vs. rolling them, it can be done just messy!), and enjoy.
Maple Cinnamon Apple Filling
4-5 Organic Apples, peeled, cored, and diced fine
Maple Syrup
Cinnamon (about 2 tsp or more)
In a sauce pan put a bit of water (about 1/4c.), pour in apple bites, sprinkle with cinnamon (to taste). Allow to cook until tender, if you need it quicker cover the pot. Once apples begin to soften remove cover and boil off excess water, drizzle with maple syrup to taste.
We also have filled them with honey, maple syrup, blue berries, strawberries and bananas, strawberries and kiwi, juice sweetened jam.
*Note: I do not like the store boughten buckwheat that is already ground, I find it very gritty. My dear friend Cathy shared with me that if you buy buckwheat groats and throw them into a blender it makes a wonderful flour. And it works beautifully! I find buckwheat groats in the bulk section of our food co-op store.
By the time I got home tonight I had 45 minutes to get a dinner on the table before gymnastics and dance. Since I had just got home from grocery shopping a recipe from my past popped into my head. I was not sure if it could be done quickly but it was really the only option I had at the moment. So, instead of letting it simmer for the afternoon like I normally do, I just boiled it until veggies were tender and it turned out just fine! This is a quick healthy dinner you can throw together in about 1/2 hour. All you do is dice up the veggies, saute the burger, toss in tomatoes and water! Wahla...dinner.
The specifics:
Dice 2 potatoes into bite size pieces
Dice 4 carrots into bite size pieces
Dice 2 stalks of celery into bite size pieces
Dice 2 onions into bite size pieces
1 lb. grass fed beef
1 (32 oz) can of crushed or diced tomatoes
2 cans (32oz) of water
Directions: Place beef into a large soup pot. Saute with onions and celery until fully cooked. Toss in potatoes and carrots, cook a few more minutes. Add 1 can of diced (for more of a vegetable soup) or crushed (for more of a creamy tomatoish soup) and 2 cans of water. If in a hurry boil until veggies are tender and ready to eat, if you have all day do it in the morning and throw it in a crock pot on low for the day- the flavors get rich and yummy. Salt and pepper to taste and enjoy! You can also just saute up the beef and throw it all in the crock pot for the day, that works too!
One batch makes dinner for the 6 of us and 3 extra lunch meals that I freeze up for later! This is one of those meals you can double and freeze it for a quick meal. It tastes even better the second day when all the flavors settle in together! Enjoy!
The specifics:
Dice 2 potatoes into bite size pieces
Dice 4 carrots into bite size pieces
Dice 2 stalks of celery into bite size pieces
Dice 2 onions into bite size pieces
1 lb. grass fed beef
1 (32 oz) can of crushed or diced tomatoes
2 cans (32oz) of water
Directions: Place beef into a large soup pot. Saute with onions and celery until fully cooked. Toss in potatoes and carrots, cook a few more minutes. Add 1 can of diced (for more of a vegetable soup) or crushed (for more of a creamy tomatoish soup) and 2 cans of water. If in a hurry boil until veggies are tender and ready to eat, if you have all day do it in the morning and throw it in a crock pot on low for the day- the flavors get rich and yummy. Salt and pepper to taste and enjoy! You can also just saute up the beef and throw it all in the crock pot for the day, that works too!
One batch makes dinner for the 6 of us and 3 extra lunch meals that I freeze up for later! This is one of those meals you can double and freeze it for a quick meal. It tastes even better the second day when all the flavors settle in together! Enjoy!
Well, tonight it was the boys turn in the kitchen. It is the night before the "big" grocery shopping day and the cupboards get a little bit bare. Thus, creativity is birthed to make a bedtime snack out of what you can find. My 5 year old did just that. He created a new snack he calls Fire Ants on a Log. It is quite simple: Take a piece of celery and fill it with Sunbutter, place Craisins on top in a row, whala....Fire Ants on a Log! We all had quite a chuckle with that one and it actually tastes pretty good! This would be a great treat to bring on a summer camping trip.
Yes, my 13 year old daughter was playing in the kitchen and created an amazing GF/DF naturally sweetened chocolate bar. It was quick and simple.
This is what she did:
Chocolate Recipe
1/2 cocoa powder
1/4 coconut oil
1/4 maple syrup
Put cocoa powder and coconut oil in a food processor and mix it on high 'til smooth. Add the maple syrup and mix in with a fork. Once it’s all mixed in put on high for a few seconds, until smooth. If you want it sweeter or not as sweet alter the maple syrup 'til you get it to desired sweetness. Spread over wax paper on a cookie sheet. Put in freezer 'til hard. Break into squares, and serve. When liquid you can also use it to top granola/energy/power bars.
The best way to get your kids eating good healthy foods is to let them be the chefs! Victory as they are all eating a tasty treat of naturally sweetened chocolate!
This is what she did:
Chocolate Recipe
1/2 cocoa powder
1/4 coconut oil
1/4 maple syrup
Put cocoa powder and coconut oil in a food processor and mix it on high 'til smooth. Add the maple syrup and mix in with a fork. Once it’s all mixed in put on high for a few seconds, until smooth. If you want it sweeter or not as sweet alter the maple syrup 'til you get it to desired sweetness. Spread over wax paper on a cookie sheet. Put in freezer 'til hard. Break into squares, and serve. When liquid you can also use it to top granola/energy/power bars.
The best way to get your kids eating good healthy foods is to let them be the chefs! Victory as they are all eating a tasty treat of naturally sweetened chocolate!
Well, week one is almost under our belt as we are going all whole foods! It started out rough, the kids were really wanting toast, pancakes, muffins, corn chips with salsa and guacamole. But, as the week went on they began to make salads and eat fruits instead of complain! The more we stand tough the quicker they accept the change, at least at our house!
I found breakfast to be the biggest struggle without eggs or grains! I will continue my search. I did try a few things but they are not yet a total success, when they get perfected I will post the recipes! We did have some amazing tacos and crepes that just need a little tweaking!
As we are journeying into a completely whole foods world, I have been craving a granola type bar. However, every recipe I have found has been either icky or requires oats which we are not eating at the moment! But, today I finally found one that is AMAZING! It is a raw foods bar, and don't shut down yet, ( I have not had much success in the raw food department, yet) but this is quick, easy, inexpensive, healthy, and wonderfully delicious. It reminds me a lot of an Almond Joy candy bar. Try it out and let me know if you like it as much as we did.
I found the recipe on: dreaminitvegan.blogspot.com/2010/03/going-primalnew-foundation-and-raw.html
1/2 c. raw almonds
1/2 c. medjool dates(pitted)
1/4 c. shredded coconut
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. dark chocolate(melted)optional
In a food processor add almonds and blend until chopped finely, not butter. Then add the dates, coconut and vanilla. Take out and roll into balls.
If you dip in melted chocolate put on wax paper and stick in refrigerator until hardened. Pack in airtight container.
Enjoy and let me know what you think. My craving for sweet and crunchy are now satisfied! I told my kids they are candy bars and they are so excited to have candy bar to eat when ever they want!!!! I did a mix of with and without chocolate, and they enjoyed them both (I used a 90% cocoa with only 3 gr. sugar).
I found breakfast to be the biggest struggle without eggs or grains! I will continue my search. I did try a few things but they are not yet a total success, when they get perfected I will post the recipes! We did have some amazing tacos and crepes that just need a little tweaking!
As we are journeying into a completely whole foods world, I have been craving a granola type bar. However, every recipe I have found has been either icky or requires oats which we are not eating at the moment! But, today I finally found one that is AMAZING! It is a raw foods bar, and don't shut down yet, ( I have not had much success in the raw food department, yet) but this is quick, easy, inexpensive, healthy, and wonderfully delicious. It reminds me a lot of an Almond Joy candy bar. Try it out and let me know if you like it as much as we did.
I found the recipe on: dreaminitvegan.blogspot.com/2010/03/going-primalnew-foundation-and-raw.html
1/2 c. raw almonds
1/2 c. medjool dates(pitted)
1/4 c. shredded coconut
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. dark chocolate(melted)optional
In a food processor add almonds and blend until chopped finely, not butter. Then add the dates, coconut and vanilla. Take out and roll into balls.
If you dip in melted chocolate put on wax paper and stick in refrigerator until hardened. Pack in airtight container.
Enjoy and let me know what you think. My craving for sweet and crunchy are now satisfied! I told my kids they are candy bars and they are so excited to have candy bar to eat when ever they want!!!! I did a mix of with and without chocolate, and they enjoyed them both (I used a 90% cocoa with only 3 gr. sugar).
For the past week a little cold bug has been trying to catch us! It has sounded like a few seals with very sore throats live in my home with me! Well, I put them all on liquid vit. A, vit. C, and Zinc. They drank a bunch of honey lemon tea (see recipe below. Lemons help to clear your lymph system and keep it functioning at a higher level and the honey coats your throat to sooth a sore throat and calm a cough. For tough coughs try mixing 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar with 1/2 tsp. honey. You can repeat as needed. Sometimes just a big tsp. or T. works for me- but for my kids I usually stick to 1/2 to 1 tsp. of apple cider vinegar at a time. However, after two days they still had not kicked the cold, it had not gotten worse it just had not gone away so I started them on Dial Herbs Anti-Bio 2 (6 drops in the AM and 6 drops in the PM) and they all cleared up within 24 hours! (Mind you we also did no sugar and lots of water)
Yesterday afternoon I started to feel the fog of a cold coming on, so I took 6 drops of Anti-Bio 2 and by bedtime I felt normal again. For good measure I took Anti-Bio 2 one more dose before bed and woke up completely healthy this morning!
Praise God, for natural plants/herbs that boost your immune system and so your body can kill off all those nasty germs as it is designed to do!
I get my herbs from Dr. Tera at Prior Lake Natural Health! priorlakenaturalhealth.com (952) 226-1140.
Lemon Honey Tea
1 cup of hot water
Juice from one lemon
Honey to taste- we use raw honey but any will work
*If you have a juicer: buy organic lemons, juice them (the skin of the lemon has lemon oil that works better than just the squeezed juice). Add a bunch to the hot water and then sweeten with honey.
For 2012 we are going to step it up a notch at the Schulte house! We are going to quit being slaves to the "free diet"- gluten free, dairy free, soy free, corn free, sugar free and start focusing on what we CAN eat: ALL veggies, ALL fruit, ALL nuts and seeds, ALL "grass fed" meats, and natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup! I have been playing around with recipes for the last month or so and found that my kids not only are eating it but actually like it! It has been years of trying to find a replacement for this and that, so exhausting! Now I have been putting together recipes with the ingredients we can eat, it is so much easier, and it was less expensive at the grocery store this past week. I will keep you posted as we continue on this journey! I will be posting yummy recipes along with how it is going in our kitchen! Just so you have an idea of what we have been eating so far: crapes stuffed with fruit, chocolate cake with a strawberry, lemon, and lavender sauce, tacos with shells that actually rolled and lettuce wraps!
Happy New Year! 2012 is the year of favor, may you all find favor and blessing everywhere you go!
Happy New Year! 2012 is the year of favor, may you all find favor and blessing everywhere you go!
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