Cucumber Ginger Water infused with Mint

My goal for this year is to drink more water, but I honestly get tired of doing water without some flavor.  This blend of juices will actually tame the tummy and is an anti-bloating combo. Win-Win!

Juice:
1 Cucumber
1 Lemon or Lime
1 Quarter Size Ginger Root
Several Mint Sprigs

Juice or slice these ingredients and add to a gallon of purified water. This is cool, calming, and quite delicious!

Turkey Chili & Brown Rice

In my quest for a cleaner diet while cleansing, I have been (trying) to eat less red meat, and cut out some of those bad carbs.
Today I whipped up a chili, made much like My Grandma Branham's chili. We did do it a smidge different. 
Here is what you need:
2 pounds Ground Turkey
Olive Oil
1 Bel Pepper
1 Onion
3 little sweet peppers (red, orange, yellow) I purchase these at Costco in a huge bag.  My kids eat them like apples.
1pkg of Williams Chili Seasoning - Original
2 cans of petite chopped or stewed tomatoes
2 small cans of tomato sauce
1 can dark red kidney's
1 can of chili beans (pinto's with chili seasoning)
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp Penzey's Spices - Chili 3000
1 jar of Wickles

Here's what we did.

Fry 2 pounds of Turkey in a little olive oil or chicken stock.
Add salt & pepper, and once its frying good, add a chopped green bell pepper, and chopped onion.Once the meat is completely cooked add your spices, and Williams Chili seasoning packet.   Make sure all of the meat has the chili stirred in very well.  Next add your beans,  tomatoes and tomato sauces.  Stir very well, Bring to a boil and then reduce heat.  Let the chili simmer on low.
While the chili is working and all the flavors are getting happy together, in your rice cooker place 2 cups of brown rice, with slivers of garlic and a drizzle of olive oil and 4 cups of water.  Start the rice cooker and lunch should be ready in about 30-40 minutes!

 We always serve Chili with pickles.  If you have been hanging around the Hungry Momma very long you know that by now.  However in July we were introduced to Wickles! OH MY GOODNESS DELICIOUS!
You must pick up a jar of these.  I love their story too.  A family giving away their pickles for Christmas gifts started receiving the empty jars back for refills - they have a whole line now!  I just love that!  Yay Wickles!  I will gladly pay more for these! 

When dishing up my bowl, I replace my usual cornbread with brown rice and my splurge of course was the cheese and the pickle.  If you are not cleansing then eat it and don't let yourself feel one bit bad!  This is a good lunch!

Eat up and enjoy!

Salted Grapefruit Juice

January brings about all sorts of great inspiration for getting healthy or at least losing a few pounds for the New Year.  We all know that when July rolls around we will be firing up that smoker and having a BBQ that will not quit, but for now here's a glass to getting a little bit healthier!

 I juiced this with my Champion Juicer, Use whatever you have.  You could even do this smoothie style in your blender probably.

Juice together:
Texas Ruby Red Grapefruit
Peaches
Lime
Gala Apples
About a Nickle size of Peeled Ginger Root

After juicing add a little bit of Agave Nectar and then Salt the top of the drink.  Garnish with Mint drink it down & feel good about making a healthy choice!

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

The Sweet Potato 3 Ways

  

 

 The Sweet Potato is so versatile and so full of amazing nutrients.  Click the link to see why you should fall in love with this awesome root.

When I am preparing mine I always give the skin a good scrubbing.  When you eat the potatoe with the skin on, it gives you 4 times the amount of Beta Carotene!

I always wrap mine in foil and line my tray for easy clean up. 

 I just wrap up the foil and the clean up is nothing!

 Everyone in my house takes their Sweet Potato a little different.
My Boy's all prefer a little crunch - this is why there are chips with this  - you could make the most beautiful meal and one of the guys are going to say - "Got any Chips?"  Im okay with this now, but as a newly wed - not so much.

The little guys like their Sweet Potatoes with the traditional cinnamon, brown sugar and butter topping.  This is more of a dessert to me, but knowing all the great nutrients they are getting in their spud I let that go too!

 My girl prefers her with a Balsamic Honey Vinaigrette. It is so easy to make because I use a Good Season's Salad Dressing mix as my base.  I swap the regular vinegar the pkg calls for and use Balsamic.  Then I add Honey to sweeten the pot a little bit.  It is so delicious, I love it this way as well. 

Today I tried something new that I seen in Whole Living magazine.  I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed it.
On a Baked Sweet Potato squeeze several Orange wedges. Then top with some chopped pecans!  This has a very bright flavor.  I so enjoyed it and just had to share!  Any time there is a new idea for a way to Top a Sweet Potato I am ready to hear it.  They are so easy for this home-school momma to prepare for lunch they are a staple in our house! 

Rotisserie Chicken Tacos

I love Rotisserie Chicken. I love the wood fire roasted flavor!  We have a restaurant here in Texas called Cowboy Chicken, and it is basically every thing you can think of with Rotisserie chicken, from 1/4 Chicken served with home-style sides to Chicken Salads and Enchiladas!

Falling in love with just the smell of this place alone gave me an idea.  The other night we had Rice Bowls with rotisserie chicken, and with the remaining Chicken I decided to make a Rotisserie Chicken Taco.

Here is the run down:
Rotisserie Chicken Meat Shredded
and seasoned with your favorite spices.  ( I chose, Cumin, Garlic, and Northwoods Fire by Penzey's  Spices)
Dark Red Kidney Beans
Guacamole (homemade by Joshua)
Sauteed Peppers and Onions
Salsa
Corn Tortillas
Olive Oil

Slice your onion's and peppers very thin and saute in olive oil.  Patience while caramelizing onions and peppers is key - let them work while you begin to prepare everything else.

In a sauce pan warm your Chicken in a bit of Chicken stock and add your spices.  This can be simmering on low while preparing the rest of your toppings.

I prefer Kidney Beans rinsed and drained and at room temp - just as a normal  topping.  Prepare them whichever way you prefer.

While Joshua is making his yummy Guacamole I fry the shells - In a shallow pan. I add a little olive oil (3-4 T) and quickly cook the shells on a medium high heat.  They are still soft and can be easily rolled up this way.  If you prefer a Tostada - cook away but be prepared that it will take you much longer.

Once the toppings are out and prepared, and Shells are done, Just assembly line it - everyone builds their own and we make our way to the table.  This is also a great meal for entertaining because everyone can make their food to their liking and it's easy to love.
You can add cheese and lettuce to this if you prefer.  Like I say all the time - get creative and do your thing Honey!

Cinnamon Blueberry Kemper Muffin

While living in Iowa I was given this recipe by a dear friend Shanna.  It was her husbands Grandmother's recipe.  It is delicious!  I never thought of a bran muffin as delicious, but - it really is amazing.  The batter last for 6 weeks in the refrigerator which is nice, but it doesn't last that long in our house!  Perfect Breakfast!  Serve it with a Banana and Hot Tea - YUMMY!

(This is a previous post that appeared just as the Kemper Bran Muffin. We changed it up a bit this week and added about 4 Tablespoons of Cinnamon, and Blueberries right before baking.)



2 cups All Bran
2 cups hot water
Pour water over the bran and let set while mixing the rest.

1 cup oleo
3 cups sugar
4 eggs
Beat together and add bran/water mix.

Next add:
1 qt buttermilk
5 tsp baking soda
5 cups flour
4 cups 40% bran flakes

Keeps in fridge for over 6 weeks.
 Bake in muffin tins at 375 degrees for 12-15 minutes

Yes - it looks like mud!
The batter will become firm after being in the refrigerator overnight. 

We added our blueberries by poking them into the batter due to this batter being so firm. 
Once baked they sort of looked like M&M muffins due to the bulging blueberries! Yummy!