By the way...thanks

Dear Family and Friends,

Thanks to all of you that have told me about your experiences with the green drinks and my recipes.  I feel so happy to know that you are trying my recipes and loving them!

I can't describe to you the change that has occurred in our home since our focus has been on getting our kids the adequate nutrition.  Our kids are happier, easier to handle, more obedient, less mood swings, they are trying new foods, doing better in school, more polite and courteous (which my mom told me she noticed when they spent the night at her house awhile ago), healthier and stronger immune systems, sick less, less allergies, and the list goes on.
I'm happy to share this with you all with the hopes that you will have some success as well. 

I hope you know, especially my family, that anything you can do in the right direction is a great start. I've gone kind of extreme as you can see, but remember I started small. Line upon line... It takes time to make changes.  Continue working, continue trying... Before long, you'll be whipping up delicious meals from scratch, blending up drinks, and making bread, etc without batting an eye.  AND more importantly feeling and looking great.  This lifestyle has helped me so much.  I love feeling good each day.  I can accomplish so much more.  I have a greater capacity to serve and to love my family especially my children.  I feel blessed everyday for good food and love to be able to share it with my family and friends.  So Thanks for allowing me to share this with you. Much love,

Melissa 

green drinks 101--simple and easy

 Hey everyone,

If you haven't figured out that I'm really into green drinks, you haven't been reading my blog.

Reasons why I love them:

• They taste good (and no it's not cuz my taste-buds are messed up; they are really good)
• Fast and easy (wash and blend--ITS SOOOO SIMPLE)
• Great way of getting the much needed nutrients that are missing from the average diet (perfect for the picky eaters who won't eat salad or vegetables)
• Makes me feel better as a mother knowing my kids are getting so many nutrients in one delicious drink
• Inexpensive--seriously-way cheaper than buying vitamins, or powders, etc.

If you are a beginner, start here

1. The first experience will be the last so make it a good one. Use less greens and more frozen fruit. I promise you kids will love it.  What's not to love its juice and frozen fruit!  Don't use as many greens as I have in my recipes...my kids are used to it now.
2. Blend it smooth.  If you give a kid a green drink with chunks, they won't like them so blend it really smooth.  I of course now don't care as much because my kids are used to it and don't mind having it blended all the way.
3. Make it fun.  Make games out of it...Like hulking out... Call it hulk juice.  Be creative, use fun jars and straws.
4. Don't let them see you make it!!!! That's a given.  If they see you putting green stuff in it and vegetables they aren't going to try it.
5. If at first you don't succeed, try again.  Stay positive and don't force the kid.  Wait awhile to get them to that point.
6. Avoid using too many types of frozen fruits in one drink or too many different types of greens.  This could cause a tummy ache.  Keep it simple.  I've tried going crazy with it and I realized that it's more beneficial keeping it simple and then rotating what I use.  For example:  Rotate the greens you use so your body can absorb more nutrients.

So what are you waiting for, mothers, fathers, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, whoever you are... if you notice the kids in your life aren't getting adequate nutrition...do something about it!!!!
  
I suggest starting with this classic recipe.

Fill blender 3/4 full of apple juice (I use unfiltered but you don't have to)
Add ice or frozen fruit (stick with one kind.  If you use too many kinds they'll get a stomach ache) 
2 chard leaves 
1 handful of spinach

 You can add more greens later.  Here you just want to get the kids used to it.   

Hulk Juice Recipe High in Vita C

This week my kids have been a bit sick so I've wanted to supplement them with Vita C (absorbic acid).

Here's a great smoothie high in antioxidants and vita c and packed full of vitamins and minerals which is especially important when you are sick.

2 handfuls spinach
2 handfuls lettuce/salad mix (i get it at costco)
4 kale or chard leaves (red chard is extremely high in magnesium which helps in Vita A absorption)
1 tsp powdered alfalfa
1 tsp spirulina
1 Tablespoon Absorbic Acid (powder)*available in the bulk herbs at health food stores** really inexpensive
3 cups Fresh Orange Juice
2 handfuls frozen apricots (can use canned and then ice)
Blend until chunks are gone (my blender takes 3-4 min)

This is a QUICK way to get your kids nutrients. My kids love this drink.  I adjusted the basic hulk juice recipe to help pick up the needed Vita C.  I've also blended other herbs into this recipe and the kids can't tell.  Other herbs/vitamins I've used: Cod Liver Oil, acidophilus, echinacea, etc.  If you've got a kid that can't swallow herbs and won't take the tinctures just disguise it in a smoothie. 

It's always best fresh right after blending but if you need to leave you can store it in stainless steel water bottles in the coolest part of the fridge. 

If your blender doesn't blend these drinks finely enough then strain it after blending.  Instead of discarding the chunks I eat them.  It tastes like salad.

Chocolate Dessert Recipes--sugarfree, gluten free

Raw Chocolate Recipes--SOOOOOOOO GOOD.  I've been making raw chocolate desserts and have shared them with friends and family.  The vote is unanimous for deliciousness.



1. Dipping Chocolate (for fruit or you can also put in molds and freeze it) Love it with strawberries

½ cup raw organic cacao powder

½ cup unrefined coconut oil

½ cup agave nectar



Blend and dip!

2. Chocolate Cups

2 bananas

1 avocado

1/3 cup raw organic cacao powder

1/3 cup agave nectar

Pinch of salt



Spoon in mini cupcake tins. Top with gogi berries, macadamia nuts, almond butter, etc.



3. Chocolate Coconut Mousse Cake

Cake Layer

3 cups shredded coconut

1 cup chopped dates

2 Tbs vanilla

Pinch of salt

2/3 cup water

Blend all ingredients in blender or food processor.


Mousse Layer

½ oz. irish moss (get at Omar’s Raw Living Cuisine Restaurant)

2 ¼ cup raw nut milk

1/3 cup chopped dates

1/3 cup agave

½ cup cacao

2 Tbs vanilla

1/8 tsp salt

1 Tbs soy lecithin

1/3 cup coconut oil

Blend irish moss and nut milk until smooth. Add dates, agave, vanilla, cacao, vanilla and salt. Blend. Add soy lecithin, coconut oil. Blend until creamy.



Whipped Cream Layer

1 ½ cups raw cashews soaked 30 minutes

2 cups coconut milk

1/3 cup agave

1 Tbs vanilla

Pinch of salt

2 Tbs soy lecithin

½ cup coconut oil

Blend all ingredients except soy lecithin and coconut oil. When mixture is smooth and creamy add lecithin and coconut oil and blend again.



Layering the cake:

Spread half of the shredded coconut mixture on the bottom of a glass pan 9x13”. Pour chocolate mousse over top. Let set in freezer approx. 30 minutes until firm. Spread remaining coconut mixture over chocolate mousse and pour whipped cream layer on top. Let set in freezer another 30 minutes. Sprinkle the top with raw cacao powder if you’d like. Serve and enjoy.


Recipes courtesy of my friend Linda. 
Check out her website here.http://www.rawrecipebox.blogspot.com/

kids are funny!

A few days ago, I was getting ready for work.  Pat had to work til 5 am so he was sleeping in.  I kissed the kids good bye after waking Pat up.  Bubbles thought there wasn't going to be anyone at the house to babysit he and Tallyoop.  I heard him say to Tally, "It's okay Tallyoop.  I'll take good care of you.  I'll make you green drinks and feed you lunch and turn a movie on for you."  How cute is my 4-yr-old boy!!!  I love how he included green drinks into how he'd take good care of her.  Precious!!!! 

My shopping deals

Well, I told several of my sisters I'd let them know what stores I shop at for specific things so here goes.
It might seem a bit overwhelming to shop at more than one place.  It's worth it though to find the best foods at the best prices especially since budgeting is so essential now days.

Costco

     Eggs (they have brown eggs without antibiotics or hormones)
     Tillamook Cheese
     Organic Salad Mix and spinach  (best price--they are washed and ready for the blender for green drinks)
     Vegetables and fruit
     Rice Milk
     Organic Quinoa
     Organic Peanut Butter
     Kids Cliff Z Bars (I get these for my purse when we are out)
     Organic Raisin Bran
     Organic Raisins
     Organic Butter or tillamook butter
     Noodles.
    

Sunflower Market:  ( my go to store)

     Organic milk (best price $3.89/ gallon)
      Yogurt (either horizon or mountain high whichever is on sale)
      Green leafy vegetables (best price for organic)
      Meats (all of the meat they sell is from a local farm without the use of antibiotics or hormones and the
                 prices are great, look for ads.  Wed is double add day.)  Family Chicken breasts (skinless,
                  boneless)  $1.77/pound  Ground beef  on sale $1.99/pound
     Fresh herbs
     Organic Mac and Cheese (best price on the sunflower brand)
     Coconut Milk
      I get all the vegetables and fruit at Sunflower.  They also have great prices on cooking oil, agave nectar,
       and cereal.  I spend 70% of my food budget at Sunflower.

Good Earth

       Sprouted Wheat Tortillas
       Organic Tortilla Chips
       Almond Milk
       Cold Cereal
       Organic Apple Juice (unfiltered)
       Bulk herbs section:  1)  can get spirulina for green drinks and other herbs like comfrey, beet powder,
                                     absorbic acid, kelp, etc
                                     2) I buy spices in the bulk herbs section.  Great prices and then I refill my spice jars
                                          at home. Ex. Curry, Chili powder, etc.
Hope this helps.  I know it probably seems extreme.  I go to Sunflower every week and Costco 2 times a month and Good Earth 2 times a month. It's worth it to get the right foods for the right prices.   Stock up on items when they are on-sale.  Azure Standard has the best prices for grains and beans.  go to www.azurestandard.com

I also buy a lot of coconut oil from a local coop.  If anyone is interested, you can buy a 5 gal bucket of coconut oil (you'll see that just about every recipe has it in it).  The price is $160.  

You noticed that I don't have a lot of processed foods on my lists.  It's because I seldom buy them.  If there's a sale sometimes I'll get the kids some fun snacks or licorice or something.  Processed food is expensive.  By not buying expensive processed foods, I can afford splurging on organic milk or good tortillas.