My Kombucha Tea

Kombucha is a fermented tea that packs antioxidants, enzymes, probiotics & prebiotics, B-vitamins, and organic acids and it tastes delicious!

I will be honest and say that I have had to experiment with brewing my own, but I am not giving up.  I have tried making a brew from a dehydrated Scoby, to no avail. I recently purchased a Scoby from Natural Grocers and this batch seems perfect. It's sweet & a little tart, just like I like it!  Fermenting is truly trial and error, but so worth the effort.  

Ingredients:

1 Scoby (purchased or collected from a store bought bottle of Kombuch, or ask a friend who brews their own for a Scoby.)

1/4 cup of Scoby Juice (this should come with your Scoby)  If you are using a Scoby from a bottle of store bought Kombucha save some of the brew)

1 Gallon of Filtered Water

1 Cup of Organic Pure Cane Sugar 

8 Organic Black Tea Bags

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Process:

This is what worked for me: I simply purchased a Scoby from Natural Grocers, boiled a gallon of filtered water, added 1 cup of sugar until dissolved, added 8 organic black tea bags and let simmer for 10 minutes.  I then let the mixture cool completely in my 3 gallon jar and put my new scoby and the liquid it came with (about 1/4 cup) in the jar with the tea.  Make sure your tea is completely cooled to avoid damaging your scoby.  I placed my brew in a warm place that is out of direct sunlight for about 8 days.  On day 8,  I tasted my brew to ensure that it was the sweetness and tartness that I like and poured the tea into fermenting bottles that I had filled 1/4 full with my favorite organic fruit juice. Leave a little room at the top of your fermenting jars.  I will keep the brew in the fermenting jars, out of direct sunlight, for a few days to add a little fizz and then I will ENJOY!   I  then placed "Scoby" and 1/4 cup of its previous brew in a clean bowl while I prepared another batch of tea.  For a continuous brew: start your tea making process over and when cooled just add your Scoby and 1/4 of the previous brew and check it in 8 days or so.

Happy Brewing!  Happy Gut!

Healthy Coconut Macaroons

These Coconut Macaroons are a healthy snack or dessert

Ingredients:

3 Pasture raised egg whites

1/2 teaspoon of organic vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon of pink salt

1/4 cup of local raw honey

1/4 cup of local maple syrup

4-5 cups of raw shredded coconut

Process:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Mix eggs, vanilla and pink salt until stiff peaks form.  Gently mix in honey, maple syrup and coconut.  Spoon onto parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for approximately 25-30 minutes until golden.  Let cool and drizzle with honey.  Serve with organic coffee, tea or a glass of raw milk!  Yummy.

Nut Butter Shake (A little taste of Heaven)

Nut Butter Shake has only 4 ingredients and is super delicious and nutritious!

Ingredients:

2 Frozen Bananas  (freeze over- ripe bananas to use in smoothies and shakes).

1/2 cup of sprouted Raw Nut Butter (my favorite is hazelnut, but almond butter works great)

2 Tablespoons of Raw Honey or Maple Syrup (for a thicker dessert try Medjool Dates)

1/4 tsp. of Organic Vanilla Extract

Note: for a lighter texture you can add 1/2 cup of raw milk, almond milk or filtered water.

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Process:

Place all ingredients in blender/Vita-Mix and blend to desired consistency.  Makes 2-3 Servings.  Serve right away and ENJOY!

Healthy Taco Thursday...

Healthy Taco Thursday (Gluten Free, Grain Free, Nutrient-Dense)

This taco has a cauliflower tort base. 

Ingredients:

Grass Fed Ground Beef

Organic Tomatoes

Organic Cilantro

Organic Serrano Peppers

Organic Lime Juice

Raw Cheese

Cauliflower

1 Pasture Egg

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Process:

Cauliflower Tortilla: This is similar to the cauliflower pizza crust recipe, but simply add your own taco seasoning spices.

Blend 1 head of cauliflower in blender/Vita-mix until rice size

• Place rice size cauliflower in 1/2 cup filtered water and bring to boil.  Simmer for 15 minutes.

• Strain water from rice.  I have found that putting the cauliflower rice into a thin kitchen cloth and squeezing out the remaining water helps with the crispiness of the crust/tortilla.

• Place cauliflower rice into a mixing bowl and add 1 egg and 1/2 cup of raw cheese shavings or creamy goat cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon of natural salt.  Mix well. (You do not have to add cheese if you are on a non-dairy diet)

• Add any and all of your favorite spices to go along with taco trimmings. I like to add cumin, garlic and chili powder for a taco flavor.

• Drop and press desired size of tortilla onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roll/press mixture very thin for a crispy tortilla. Bake at 350 for approximately 10 minutes on each side.  I like mine to be extra "done" so I cook them a little longer.

Tips: You can make these ahead of time and keep in the refrigerator for a few days-then simply warm them on a cast iron skillet as you would a regular tortilla. You can also make these for your morning toast and simply add cinnamon, coconut sugar, etc. to your cauliflower rice mix.  It's delicious!

Taco Toppings:

Place Grass Fed Ground into cast iron skillet with your favorite spices ( I love Cumin, Cayenne, Chili Powder, Natural Salt and Pepper) and gently cook until brown.  Spoon onto your cauliflower torts and top with organic cilantro, tomato, raw cheese, Serrano pepper and your homemade salsa!

Easy Homemade Salsa

Place 1 handful of organic cilantro, tomato, 1 or 2 Serrano peppers and the juice of one lime into blender/Vita-mix and blend to desired consistency.  So simple and tasty!

Enjoy!

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Simple Coconut Cups

Simple Coconut Cups are a great way to soothe a sweet tooth and get the nutritional benefits of coconut oil!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup of virgin coconut oil

1.5 Cups of organic shredded coconut

1- 2 Tablespoons of maple syrup or raw honey (for added sweetness add 2 tablespoons)

1/2 tsp. of organic vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. of salt

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Process:

Gently melt coconut oil in saucepan, remove from heat and add shredded coconut, maple syrup/honey, vanilla extract and salt.  (You can also add any of your favorite seasons like nutmeg, cinnamon, etc.).  Pour mixture into baking cups and let cool in refrigerator for approximately 1 hour. 

Tasty & Healthy!

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Rice & Avocado Stuffed Nori Rolls

Stuffed Nori Rolls are great as a nutrient packed meal or served as an hors d'oeuvre for your guests.

Stuff Nori Roll Ingredients:

• Organic Nori Seaweed sheets. I use Emerald Cove Organic Pacific Nori (6-10 sheets)
• Sprouted Organic Rice. I use Trader Joe''s Organic Sprouted Rice- or any rice you prefer (1 1/4 Cup) 
• Ripe Avocado ( 1-2 Avocados)
• 1 Organic Lemon
• Cumin (to taste)
• Cayenne (to taste)
• Natural Salt (to taste)
• Other Spices- as you prefer (to taste)

Process:

• Prepare Rice as instructed on cooking instructions and set aside to cool
• Mash 1 - 2 Avocados and mix with desired amount of cooked sprouted rice. Use as much avocado and/or rice as you prefer. 
• Season mixture with preferred spices
• Gently toast Nori sheets in toaster oven or oven (very low temp for 1-2 minutes) You can also use them raw.  Toasting lightly will give them more of a nutty flavor.
• Tear or cut desired size of Nori roll (I cut about 3 inches long and 1 inch wide), place a small tsp. of rice and avocado mixture on Nori strip, gently squeeze lemon juice on each end to help the Nori stick, and roll up to form your Nori roll.

Enjoy!

Be Blessed.

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Black Strap Molasses- SUPERfood

This power punch superfood is a daily staple in my nutrition protocol. Mix it with a glass of raw, almond, or coconut milk for a treat, add it to your baked goods, or simply take it on a spoon. This superfood gives you a big bang for your buck.  A great whole food source of Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Iron and Vitamin B6, Manganese and more.  Blackstrap molasses has a low glycemic index resulting in a slower metabolization of glucose and carbohydrates and demanding less insulin production to stabilize blood sugar.  I love how our natural whole foods have just the perfect amounts of vitamins and minerals to metabolize and perform their respected functions in our wonderfully made bodies. Our creator knew exactly what He was doing.  Be Blessed.

Magnesium Rich Foods

Magnesium deficiency in humans can be mild or severe, and studies suggest it is more and more common. Reports published by the World Health Organization have estimated that three quarters of Americans do not meet the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of magnesium.

 Magnesium is responsible for hundred of processes within the body:

·       Magnesium regulates Calcium

·       Magnesium activates Vitamin D

·       Magnesium is essential for digestives enzymes.

·       Magnesium prevents Sudden Cardiac Death.

·       Magnesium prevents Depression.

·       Magnesium is essential for energy production.

·       Magnesium regulates the enzyme that makes cholesterol

·      Magnesium is essential for proper insulin levels

Common Causes of Magnesium Deficiency:

·       Low magnesium diet, processed foods and sodas

·       Soft water

·       Calcium supplements

·       Prescription and over the counter drugs

·       Exercise

·       Alcohol

·       Coffee

·       Illnesses

·       Digestive Distress

Eating Magnesium Rich Foods is the best way to increase your magnesium mineral status.

Foods High in Magnesium: 

·       Stabilized Rice bran, crude (781 mg)

·       Seaweed, agar, dried (770 mg)

·       Chives, freeze-dried (640 mg)

·       Spice, coriander leaf, dried (694 mg)

·       Seeds, pumpkin, dried (535 mg)

·       Cocoa, dry powder, unsweetened (499 mg)

·       Spices, basil, dried (422 mg)

·       Seeds, flaxseed (392 mg)

·       Spices, cumin seed (366 mg)

·       Nuts, brazilnuts, dried (376 mg)

·       Parsley, freeze-dried (372 mg)

·       Seeds, sesame meal (346 mg)

·       Seeds, sunflower seeds (325 mg)

·       Nut, almond butter (303 mg)

·       Nuts, cashew nuts, roasted (273 mg)

·       Bananas, dehydrated (108 mg)

·       Millet, puffed (106 mg)

·       Shallots, freeze-dried (104 mg)

·       Leeks, freeze-dried (156 mg)

·       Fish, salmon, raw (95 mg)

·       Onions, dehydrated flakes (92 mg)

·       Kale, scotch, raw (88 mg)

For those who need additional supplementation the following may be beneficial:

• Epson Salt Baths
• Magnesium Chloride Foot Baths
• Magnesium Chloride Transdermal Spray
• Magnesium Water
• Oral Supplementation