Trail mix is usually a blend of nuts, seeds and dried fruits- all nutrient dense foods to provide lots of energy in small amounts. While this combination has many possibilities there is a little something extra I like to add- puffed brown rice. It is just like rice krispies but less refined and the only ingredient should be brown rice. It adds a nice light crunch to an otherwise very dense trail mix. This can fulfill its named purpose of providing sustenance out on the trail or it can be a topping for oatmeal or yogurt. If you are a snacker, something like this can be a good alternative to popcorn at a movie (popped corn is good but not all the chemicals and cheap oils they cover it with), chips at home or candy during work or a study session. Continue Reading →
Vegetable Trio
Back when I was younger and before I started liking vegetables I loved this dish. It actually got me excited to eat them, the combination of rich butter (or olive oil) and smoky dried thyme transforms the vegetables to become a medley much better than the sum of its parts. I made it recently for a family dinner and not only were my brothers visibly stoked for it but our parents showed some enthusiasm too. All four of them are generally against vegetables unless they are completely drenched in creamy or cheesy dressing, so any dish that gets them to eat vegetables that are visibly vegetables is a near miracle. I didn’t make this recipe up, it came from my Aunt Karen, a lovely lady and fabulous cook. Continue Reading →
Chocolate Raspberry Baked Oatmeal
Is chocolate healthy or not healthy? Well, that all depends on your definition of healthy… this is why nutrition can be so confusing. Processed chocolate, like all processed food, does not contain the nutrients that made the original ingredients so health benefitting, or healthy, and it often has some questionable additives like refined sugar and sketchy GMO oils. Many different processing techniques that are required by law to make a food stable enough to sit on the shelf for a long period of time greatly diminish the amount and quality of nutrients once present, and chemicals, flavorings and refined food items are added in to make a desirable color, taste and texture. Raw cacao however, the very base of chocolate, has some pretty potent antioxidants and a decent share of vitamins and minerals, making it beneficial to the body and therefore healthy. Continue Reading →
Green Carrot Cake Smoothie
Some people scoff at the idea of eating rabbit food, clearly they have not tried putting carrots in smoothies. With enough fruit, cashew butter and a vanilla flavored protein powder they are a nutrient dense way to get a carrot cake flavor without the low quality oils and refined flour and sugars that are normally used in the actual cake. Plus the whole food ingredients contribute fiber, healthy fats, potassium, calcium and vitamins A, C and E. Continue Reading →
Baked Eggs in Nests
Eggs have been associated with beginnings, rebirth and fertility, central themes of old pagan spring rites, since long before they were connected to Easter. When Roman Catholicism became widespread the meaning of the eggs transferred to be a symbol of Jesus’ resurrection and thus remained part of the season’s central religious celebration. They were also considered a highly desirable treat after forty days of strict Lenten dietary abstinence and fasting. Legends of a rabbit laying eggs in the garden led to the tradition of making nests for the eggs to be lain in, which has evolved to the baskets that children now use for chocolate egg hunts. Continue Reading →
Cilantro Pineapple Green Juice
Green juice is best tasting when the leafy greens are cut with some fruits and accented with crisp cucumber and fragrant herbs. This is one of my favorite combinations that I drink regularly year-round. When making juice or smoothies I like to combine ingredients that would taste good together in a dish, these ones for example could become a salsa for fresh seafood. Continue Reading →
Mushroom Thyme Frittata
Thyme is a fragrant, woodsy herb that compliments the earthiness of mushrooms and richness of eggs well. It is used frequently in modern cuisines from around the Mediterranean and has a long history of use primarily medicinally and culinarily, back when its antiseptic properties were more valuable. Continue Reading →
Chunky Monkey Trail Mix
Trail mix is an easy and versatile, completely customizable and portable snack. It provides lots of nutrients in a small package, perfect for providing fuel out on the trails, keeping you nourished on the go or satisfying cravings for something sweet. Continue Reading →
Cherry Balsamic Arugula Salad
Arugula is a delicate leafy green with a unique peppery taste. Like some of the other vegetables that are harvested early in Spring arugula has a slightly bitter taste, a flavor not too common in Western cuisines but one that is prized by some of our oldest nutritional schools of thought including Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, “the science of life” from India. Foods with bitter flavors are connected to improved digestion, enhanced cleansing and increased strength and vitality. Continue Reading →
Banana Bread Baked Oatmeal
Baked oatmeal is a cozy option for a nourishing breakfast cereal, it is both trendy and versatile, and is definitely worth trying if you have 20 minutes to leave it in the oven. This amount is for one person but it can be multiplied and cooked in individual bowls or in one large, shallow casserole dish. Oats are an inexpensive and widely available whole grain rich in fiber. They are very satiating, especially when combined with some fruit and nuts for extra nutrients like protein and healthy fats, and provide sustained energy to keep you going strong all morning. Continue Reading →