Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

 

Have you heard about Extra Virgin Coconut Oil?  This is so so so good for you.  I have been incorporating it into my diet.  It is suggested to take in about 3 tablespoons a day.  You can cook with it - put it into smoothies, eat it by the spoonful - the options are endless.  It is full of Lauric Acid which is a medium chain fatty acid that your body NEEDS. It is considered a super food and an immediate source of energy.   You should just google: Extra Virgin Coconut Oil Benefits.

Weight Loss, Skin and Hair, Cholesterol benefits, anti fungal anti bacterial - I use it like Neosporin.

There are so many uses for this besides health benefits, that I wouldn't have believed it unless I tried it myself. Josh had a cut on his hand that was taking forever to heal, after putting EVCO on the cut with a band-aid it was good in about a day. 

Me and my girlfriend, seriously just eat it by the spoonful.  That could be because she has 4 kids and I have 3 and sometimes there just isn't enough time in the day to whip up a smoothie.  I use this in the afternoon as a pick me up! I like the taste of it because I like the mild coconut flavor. 

Different brands have different textures and Garden of Life brand is my favorite so far.  You can pick it up at your local health food market or online.

Leah's Power Breakfast

My girlfriend Leah is studying nutrition.  She has the best recipes ever and cooks amazing!  She called me the other day and told me to jot this recipe down and try it. This morning I did and man was it delicious!

 In a small skillet saute 1/4 cup chopped peppers in 1 tsp bacon grease for flavor or (for me this morning it was Olive Oil).  (Animal fat is actually good for your brain, so if you aren't on a special diet add it in for the health and flavor benefits).
Add in some mushrooms if you like them...
Next add in a large handful of baby spinach and toss.  Cook on medium for 2 minutes.

 Add two Eggs and bust the yolks.  I leave the yolks in because the Choline found in the yolk is good for you - it helps brain function. (If you are an egg white only diet - you will need another egg.)
Next add garlic salt and pepper.
Cook until it is cooked through and flip!
I served this up with Karina's Guacamole and grape tomatoes, but it is also good with toast and my Homemade Apple Butter!

Our Favorite Juice

 This recipe is simple.  It's just our favorite.  I wanted to take a beautiful picture of this so you could see it's pretty color but I couldn't resist just drinking it down. 
My kids were oooooing and awing over the taste and before I knew it - it was gone. 
Juice together:
2 apples
4 large carrots peeled
2 navel oranges

Liver Cleanse Drink

 To be drank first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.  This yummy lemony goodness will help you rid your body of toxins! 
1 Lemon
1 inch of Ginger
1 Garlic Clove

Juice or blend these and then add
about 2 tsp Olive Oil.

 You can see the lemon, garlic, and ginger don't make too much juice.

 Here it is with the olive oil added.

Now fill the glass up with some Apple juice and shake or stir well. 
I drink this down with a straw. This has a great flavor, that I was surprised by the first time I made it.  I even had my 7 year old taste this, and he didn't turn up his nose. If you are trying to cleanse your body this is a great addition to your recipe box!

Roasted Cauliflower with Red Pepper

This week I tried Cauliflower in a new way that has saved this vegetable for me.  I don't cook it much, because I haven't ever truly LOVED it.  After pulling this out of the oven and we were all fighting over the last of it - it will definitely be making it's way back into our diet!
This is so simple and super easy.  It would be good as a side, however we had it for an afternoon snack.
All you need is:
Olive Oil
Sea Salt
1 head of Cauliflower
Red Pepper Flakes
On a rimmed cookie sheet (I lined mine with foil or parchment) lay out your Cauliflower florets evenly. Drizzle them with Olive Oil, and salt well with Sea Salt then stir to coat.
Place them in a 425 degree oven to roast for 25 minutes.  Stir them about every 7 minutes for even browning.
Once they are done, sprinkle them with as much or as little Red Pepper Flakes as you like!  Delicious!
PS - this has been kid and babysitter approved at our house! They all loved it!

The Sludge Drink (A Cleanse)

This is a recipe of a cleanse that our family has used for many years.  It's specific cleansing attributes are for the colon, liver, and blood.  It should cleanse sludge from the colon within a two week period.  As with anything contact your health professional...yada yada yada!  :) You know the drill.

I cringe at the thought of putting anything disgusting in my mouth so I honestly tell you "this is not that bad." The Chlorophyll gives it a strong mint flavor.  The apple cider vinegar gives it a little bite towards the end. Here's what you need:

2 T Aloe Vera
2 T Chlorophyll
1/4 tsp Liquid Dulse (a Nature's Sunshine product)
1 T Bentonite
2 T Colloidal Minerals
1 T Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp Ascorbate Vit. C Powder
1 tsp Psyllium Hulls
Mix with 4 oz. apple juice or Recovery Drink (also a Nature's Sunshine Product).
I always use apple juice, it is one less thing I need to buy since I always have that on hand.

For these issues take along with the sludge drink:
Constipation: Magnesuim 2-4 at night
Cascara Sagrada 2 at night

I still eat while doing this.  I just try to have a clean diet while doing so. Eliminate Sugar, Dairy, Caffeine, and all the other culprits that are obvious.  Emphasis on TRY!
Also drink PLENTY OF WATER