Carmel Rolls that you can feel good about serving your family!

In our quest of delicious gluten free foods we created a fun breakfast, that we have ocassionally!  It is very tasty and I usually pair it with some sausage or bacon (for a bit of protein to off set the sugar even though it is naturally sweetened).  A dab of grass fed butter or organic coconut oil on top will also provide some quality fat to off set the sugar as well.  This is a very easy meal, but the dough does have to rise so it takes a little extra sitting/baking time!

You will need a package of Bob's Red Mill Most Wonderful Bread Mix.  I make the bread recipe you find on the side panel of the bag.  I use rice milk instead of cows milk and only 4 full eggs vs. the egg whites it calls for.  Otherwise I make the bread mix as directed.

Get a 9 X 13 glass pan.  Put 1/4 c. of organic coconut oil into the glass pan.  Place it in the oven at 170 degrees, melt completely.  Take pan out of oven, spray sides of pan with oil spray.  Pour 1c. of maple syrup evenly across the bottom of the pan.  Take large table spoons of bread dough and plop it into the coconut oil/maple syrup (on the bottom of the pan).  Place pan in oven at 170 degrees for about 1/2 hour until rolls double in size.  Then turn oven to 350 degrees and bake until golden brown and bubbling!  It will take about another 1/2 hour or so depending on your oven.  Immediately flip rolls out of pan onto a platter or cutting board.  Use a spatula to scrape any carmel left in pan onto rolls.  Allow to cool a moment.  Cut, serve, and enjoy!

Bring on the "GREEN" foods!

St. Patty's Day is right around the corner and it is a wonderful time to introduce green foods to your kids!  They are all in the festive "green" mood and are much more willing to give it a try.  So, here are a few recipes that have been a hit at our house.

St. Patties Day Shake

Take advantage of the festive mood and serve this for a fun “green” snack.

½ a fresh pineapple- chunked

1 c. organic apple juice

2 ripe bananas

1 huge handful of spinach leaves  (2 if you would like)

Place all ingredients into a blender.  Blend on high until smooth and leaves are not detectable.  Enjoy!

Avocado Chicken Salad on “Green” Leafy Lettuce

1 crushed clove garlic                           2 tsp. honey

2 T. cilantro                                             1 avocado

¾ c. rice milk                                    3 T. lime juice (if desired)

2 tsp. apple cider vinegar                           ¼ tsp. sea salt

Put all ingredients in a food processor and puree to smooth. 

For chicken wraps:

1 head leafy green or romaine lettuce

1-2 lb. chicken breast

¼ purple onion- diced fine

Cook 1-2 lbs. chicken breast.  Cut in bite size pieces.  Toss in dressing.  Add desired amount of diced purple onion  (I do about ¼ of an onion). 

Place desired amount of chicken salad on lettuce, roll, and eat.  Serve with green apples for a totally green meal!

BEET CUPCAKE, RECIPE TASTE TEST CHALLENGE!

RECIPE TASTE TEST CHALLENGE:  I found this recipe for "BEET" cupcakes and they are amazing on the website cuisinivity.com  I have tinkered a little bit with the recipe to make it gluten free, egg free, and the frosting dairy free.  Try them out and let me know if you like them or not!

Grate 1 large beet (organic peel and all)
Mix 2 T. Flax meal with 6 T. water and let sit until it turns into a gel, then dump it into a large bowl with 1/2 c. coconut sugar, 1/2 c. olive oil, 1/4 c. cranberries, 1/2 c. chocolate chips (Enjoy Life brand), orange zest from 1 orange (set aside)

Mix in a smaller bowl 1 cup Bob's Redmill all purpose GF flour, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. sea salt, 1/2 tsp. baking soda

Pour dry ingredients into wet, mix with a wooden spoon until mixed well- do not over mix.
Place in 10 lined muffin tins and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.  (Toothpick test:  insert toothpick, if it comes out clean- done, if not cook a bit longer)

FROSTING (Optional- good without it)  4 oz. Tofutti Cream Cheese, 4 oz. Smart Balance or Coconut Butter, 1 C. Powdered Sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla extract (GF)  Cream Tofutti and Butter, add sugar and vanilla.  Spread a small layer over cupcake and I refriedrgate them!
Give 'em a try and comment here or on Facebook and tell us how it goes!

My Medicine Cabinet!

When my someone in our house starts to fell less than 100% I have a little stash of natural things that boost the immune system and help the body to heal at an excellerated pace.  Here is what my medicine cabinet looks like:

(Note the item I use is followed by the brand name I buy.  If there are special directions they are listed as well.)
Overall Immune System:
*Micellized Liquid Vitamin A:  Klaire Labs (ONE Drop per day only- mixed in water)
*Zinc: Liquid form- Zinc Drink (Metagenics), or Pill form- ZnZyme (Biotics Research)
When someone isn't 100% I give vitamin A and Zinc to that person and everyone else.  We continue to take these two supplements until everyone is symptom free for three days.

For Colds/Sore Throats:
*Buffered Vitamin C- Powder form- Buffered C Powder (Thorne Research) or Pill form- Ester C (NOW)
*Flaxseed Oil- Barlean's Highest Lignan
*Lemon, Honey, and Apple Cider Vinegar
       -Organic lemon juiced (if you have a juicer) or juice by hand and add lemon zest:  Use in tea or
       make a lemonade with water and stevia to sweeten.
      -Honey:  Raw honey works best.  For sore throat I use about 1 T.
        For cough I use 1 tsp to 1 T. of apple cider vinegar followed by 1 T. honey.
      -Honey Lemon Tea:  use juiced lemon, hot water, and dissolved honey to taste for a soothing drink
        on a sore throat or to calm a cough.
*Eucalyptus Oil:  Rub on chest and outside of feet to calm cough/ elevate congestion
*EARS:  Garlic/Mullen Drops:  Herbal Pharm

For Teething:
*Teething Tablets or Gel:  Hylands
*Cloves Oil:  Aura Cacia or Wyndmere

For Belly Bugs:
*Good bacteria/probiotics:  MultiFlora Plus
*Grippe HP:  Energique
*Ginger Tea/Candies:  Local Co-op
*Peppermint Tea:  Local Co-op
*Lavendar Oil:  Aura Cacia or Wyndmere- rub on tummy

Booboos/Ankles/Bonks:
*Traumeel Lotion:  Heel
*Arnica Tabs, lotions, gels

Cuts, Scrapes:  First Aide
Calendula Gel:  Boiron

Cold Sores:
*LLysine:  Now

Fever/Aches and Pains:
*Viburcol:  Heel

Hope you find this interesting and see that there are numerous ways to treat symptom without using pharmaceuticals.  I also am hopeful that you see that there are many ways to come along side of the body by boosting the immune system to fight on its own!  The body is created to heal itself when it is given what it needs.