Pin It

HS trip Venice Beach, no doubt looking for cheap jewerly

Stars tour, we were told that was Madonnas house.

     

HS trip with family, I was in love with Tommy then!

In all seriousness I am going back to California on March 1st. I am attending a nutrition conference in Long Beach. It is put on by the lovely school I attended, Integrative Nutrition what an amazing journey I am on with them. I am starting to do what I  desire for my business, mixing “work” with pleasure. What other jobs let you go to sunny California, and learn from amazing inspiring speakers like David Avacado Wolfe,  let me say I am giddy to see him like I was my first Reba concert. Top authority in Raw food and Superfood nutrition. Primal Blueprint creator, Mark Sisson, will be speaking and I am intrigued to hear his view since the Paleo diet is becoming more and more popular.  Geneen Roth will also educating us on the link between emotions and hunger. You have probably seen her on Oprah, NBC, and 20/20. Along with other amazing nutrition experts we will learn from industry leaders in business growth, personal branding and self expression. I am over the moon about the whole event. To add icing on the cake, I was chose as a VIP blogger for the event, which includes rockstar seating, a ticket to the staff party, and more goodies. Its like when I worked in the music business and had all access lanyards, there is no other way to roll I am hoping my name is on a ticket for an iPad, I have been holding out purchasing one cause I feel one is going home with me!

I am taking BNA to LAX on Thursday before the event. I will be couching it with a friend  who grew up in Indiana (where I am from). He is a print and commercial (plus more) actor, you can see his amazingness, pre burp Here . I am in a place of comfort with going. I have my plane ticket I plan on getting a rental car, and enjoying the fresh smell of ocean… and smog.  I will visit Pressed Juicery that is founded by a former IIN grad, visit a couple raw food eateries, see a Chelsey Lately taping, and just really relax. I have been getting Long Beach and LA living social alerts to take advantage of a deal.

It is said we feel drawn to the ocean because the sound of the waves and the wind remind us of when we were in the womb. I believe this and I do not want the ocean to be just a vacation I want it to be a part of my life, and next time I will have my husband and two amazing kids with me. Stay up to date with me here, and on twitter as I rock this Mega event and hope you can feel the power with me through my blog and tweets. Do you love California, beaches and all they offer?  What is your favorite place in LA to eat?

3 main ingredients, the others in back are my add in's

I have posted my Chocolate recipe before, but I thought I would add an updated version.  This recipe is designed to be super simple. Most people to not have coconut butter or cocoa butter in their kitchen when they want some chocolate. Coconut oil, maple syrup, and cocoa powder are always in my kitchen.  Your ratio is 2:1, the 1 is the maple syrup.  Key points: let maple syrup get room temp or it will harden the coconut oil. Make sure coconut oil is “mushy” almost runny to allow it all to mix well. The pictures represent the recipe below: 1 cup coconut oil 1 cup cocoa poweder 1/2 cup maple syrup I added in, 1 tblsp of amazing grass greens (wheatgrass, barley grass, alfalfa) 2 tsp maca powder, 2 tsp of Lucuma powder.  Try mixing nut butters, dried berries, any of your favorites.

No waxed paper place olive oil on plate, or use cute molds. All my add ins are already in cocoa powder

Mix all ingredients, consistency usually depends consistency of C O when starting

score lines before cooling. I also added my bee pollen to part for me

Finished, almost fudge like after 10 min. Can be left in fridge longer to become more hard.

sorry bout pic, they aren't turning the right way

Do you tend to complicate things? sometimes I do, and I do it when it comes to food,and organization.  I need to know something that is good simple and quick, also nutritious.  I will try to offer that on simple saturday. Below is so simple and tastes so good.

Simple Sauteed Kale

coconut oil

1 large bunch of kale

Sea Salt

Lemon

Place oil in the pan begin to heat. once warm add in kale, I sprinkle the sea salt on the kale and move it around the pan so the coconut oil begins to coat each piece of kale. Once you have allowed each piece their fair share of coconut oil, squeeze lemon on the kale.   Remove.

Addi girl, my big helper

Have you ever thought to try adding Chocolate Balsamic Vinegar to a smoothie? Well I did just that, and l  tell you it is AMAZING! Since my new girlfriend Oliva came into the picture I am broadening my food scope. We are playing with new recipes, simple ways you can add her into your kitchen. Did you also know we are doing an event February 21st at 5:30 ? You have to come. So today Addi girl and I decided we would make a smoothie, even worthy for her to drink! The deets are below, and remember balsamic helps with weight loss, digestion,its High in cancer-fighting antioxidants, A natural appetite suppressant, Reduces cholesterol to prevent heart disease, Helps retard osteoporosis, and Moore. So why not use it?

Recipe for Yumminess:                                            

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup Almond Milk ( or non-dairy milk of your choice)

1 tablespoon of Oliva Chocolate Balsamic

I rimmed the glass with organic choc syrup, which I also tried to dab on top, when kids are helping pics do not always happen as fast

Blend all the ingredients, pour in our favorite glass and ENJOY!

GO GIANTS…. I can’t wait. I was married into die hard Giant fans, so of course I am excited for Sunday. I will keep the kids upstairs while I watch it and give my husband the downstairs so his blood pressure stays somewhat normal and the kids will not walk in front of TV or talk to loud over the announcers I am really excited to make some healthy food that tastes yummy.

Here’s a few of the SUPER SIMPLE things I have on tap ( and its not Beer) :

Raw Flax bread/crackers- Make these in a dehydrator to be raw. No dehydrator put the oven on low temp for a healthy gluten free cracker!

2.5 cups of Flax, ground or whole, I make the ground flax in a coffee bean grinder

2 large tomatoes

4 sundried tomatoes, do to taste, some are larger than others

4 cloves of garlic

4 large basil leaves

Based on your tomatoes they may be more juicy. To adjust the consistency I add more flax. If you have to much flax I would add some olive oil . Blend all ingredients in a food processor. Once well blended you can add them to your sheets for dehydrating, or onto a cookie sheet spread out to the level of thickness you would like. Bake on 300 and I would watch them. I have not made them in the oven.  If you are going for crackers you would leave them in longer. To dehydrate you will average 8 hours in dehydrator.

Raw “cheese” paired with probably Garden of Eaten Guacamole Chips ( my kids love these)and also raw veggies

2 cups raw cashews

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 cloves of garlic

2 tsp of Cayenne ( more if you like spice)

1 tablespoon of Nutritional Yeast (optional)

1 tsp of sea salt.

1/4 c water

Place all ingredients in a food processor or high powered blender and blend!  So easy.  Picture is shown with Gauc chips, flax bread, and sea snax (seaweed)    adapted from nativas naturals

Mini Gluten Free Pizza’s- I will use Bob’s Red Mill gluten free Pizza mix, and top it with each guest personal favorites. There are many options for gluten free crust, I find this easy and Mr Giant (ian), enjoys the taste.

I am sure we will have more, and maybe a beverage or two, but I hope these healthy ideas give you some inspiration.  Have a blast enjoy the day, and root for the Giants!!!

“Nothing great has ever been achieved except by those who dared to believe that something inside them was superior to circumstances.”

Bruce Barton
1886-1967, Author, Advertising Executive, and Politician

Dont forget today is the last day to Watch Fresh for free!

In addition to my juicing I sat in my infared sauna each day and was able to give myself a colonic on Sunday which helped with energy for sure.  I would say for anyone who hasn’t juiced to do it.  Your body will thank you and will be rewarded with a digestive tract that has been able to take a break and cells that got to purge junk since they were flooded with amazing juice goodness!

do you juice? How many days in a row have you gone? I would love to hear!

I chose this week to bring Amaranth to the kitchen. I went with a couscous type dish, but kept it gluten free.  I have never had Amaranth till now.   Here’s the wrap sheet on the healthy grain.

• High in protein
• High in Amino acid lysine
• Very Magnesium  and Calcium content
• Gluten free

Here’s the recipe

1 cup Amaranth (cooked)

1/4 cup of pure Olive Oil ( I used Basil Olivia Olive)

1/2 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup chopped scallions                    

1/2 cup chopped parsley

2-3 cloves of garlic

1 tablespoon fresh mint

sea salt to taste

optional- olives , goat cheese.  I didn’t have any olives but they would have been a nice addition.

Make amaranth to direction, set aside and allow to cool down. In a separate bowl combine all other ingredients.  Once amaranth has cooled down combine ingredients. You can then place in the fridge and allow flavors to blend, it is really good after flavors have combined.  It can also be eaten at room temp, if you are not ready for a cold “salad”

If you make it, let me know what you think!