If It's Not Food, Don't Eat It! - Part 1

If It's Not Food, Don't Eat It! - Part 2

Chia Peanut Butter Balls

I got this from my friend Stefanie. The kids like them and I think that one is great before a long run. In a bowl, mix together:

1 C. organic peanut butter

1/2 C. raw honey

1/4 C. brown rice syrup

1/2 C. oats

2 T. chia seeds

2 1/2 C. brown rice cereal (at your health food store)

Mix all together and roll into balls and then roll in coconut it you want.

(I also rolled mine in puffed Amaranth for an extra crunch. Don't know what amaranth is? Check it out HERE. It is awesome...like baby popcorn. You can even pop it in a popcorn machine).

Quinao Burgers

(the dumb picture won't turn the right way...sorry)

I made these burgers yesterday and we will be having them tonight for dinner. Because I was starving yesterday, as soon as I made them, I cut one up and layered it in an Ezekiel tortilla (you can learn about these sprouted products HERE) with purple cabbage, avocado and lettuce. Yummy!

I found the recipe at: http://www.simplehealthytasty.com/:

1 Cup Quinoa, cooked (I used sprouted. Click on sprouting on the right hand side to see how to do this)

1/2 C. spinach, chopped

1/2 C. carrots, grated

1/2 C. zucchini, grated

1/2 C. tahini (sesame butter)

1/2 t. dill weed

1 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

1/4 C. oat flour (made by putting oats in the blender. I used oat groats..the whole oat kernel)

Mix the first four ingredients together. Then, in a separate bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients together. Add to first mixture and then using 1/4 C., drop onto greased and heated frying pan.

Press into a patty and cook until golden brown and then flip and cook the other side. Try not to keep turning, or they will get crumbly. Top with whatever sounds great. For our burgers tonight, we have whole wheat thin buns, avocado, tomato, Veganaise, lettuce and green pepper.

Marinated Cucumbers

This is a snack/side dish that my WHOLE family enjoys. In the bowl, I have added:

1 whole English cucumber, skin on

1/4-1/2 C. seasoned rice wine vinegar

a few splashes of sesame oil

sea salt and pepper to taste

sesame seeds for garnish

Mix all together and cover. Set in the fridge to chill for an hour! Yummy! My kids eat these like they are chips. They are gonna go great with my quinoa burgers we are having tonight.

Thai Peanut Salad!

Ok...so I know I have said over and over how much I like things I make...but this is by far my FAVORITE! David gave it an "8" out of ten. We ate this for dinner. This is from Original Fast Foods Website (http://www.danielschallenge.com/) I made a few slight changes, but it is super great! I can't wait to make it again when all my family comes into town this weekend. Here you go!

Salad Ingredients:

1.5 C. shredded carrots

1 medium zucchini, cut into thin matchsticks

1.5 sprouted mung beans (learn how to easily sprout beans, HERE).

6 Cups shredded Napa cabbage

1.2 C. cilantro, finely chopped

1/2 bunch green onions, chopped

1/4 C. sesame seeds (more for garnish)

1/2 package brown rice pad Thai noodles, cooked (found these at the health food store)

Peanut Butter Dressing:

1 T. fresh garlic, minced

1 inch fresh ginger

1/4 C. water

1/3 C. natural organic peanut butter

1/3 C. honey

1/4 t. red pepper flakes

1/4 C. Braggs Liquid Aminos (click here if you don't know what this is)

2 T. rice vinegar

1 t. chili garlic sauce (I bought the Taste of Thai brand at the grocery store)

Directions:

Combine salad ingredients together in a large bowl.

Combine dressing ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth and warm. Combine peanut dressing with salad, toss well and serve. Enjoy!

Four Thieves Formula

(Info taken from http://theherbgardener.blogspot.com/)

The Legend of the Four Thieves Vinegar:

"One version goes that in the 1630's, when the plague was raging in France, the town of Toulouse was beset with looters. Four looters were apprehended, but rather than punish them, the judge offered them a deal. Amazed at their continued health after wandering through homes and businesses abandoned by their terrified owners, the judge offered to let the thieves go if they gave him the secret of their resistance to the plague.

What was their famous secret? It was a vinegar made from thyme, rosemary, sage and lavender. This infusion was termed thieves vinegar. Although garlic was added to the mixture later, the basic infusion became famous and was used throughout Europe for hundreds of years, both internally and externally, to provide protection from the dreaded plague.

There are a number of recipes for the Four Thieves formula.

The original probably went something like this:

equal parts thyme, rosemary, sage and lavender. Place them in a gallon of vinegar and seal and put in a dark place for 6 weeks. Afterwards, strain into a clean bottle. This can also be used as a disinfectant.

The version I made was given to me by my friend, Stefanie. Here is what we did:

Take one gallon of Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar. You can read more about the benefits of this vinegar HERE on a previous post. Pour off 3 cups and put in another jar.

In the gallon container, with the rest of the vinegar, add:

1 1/2 C. fresh onions, chopped

1/2 C. chopped fresh ginger

1/3-1/2 C. chopped garlic

cayenne to taste...start with a teaspoon..depending on the heat unit of your Cayenne

Let sit for a week to 10 days in a dark place, shaking occasionally.

Strain and discard solids. I put my "Thieves" solution in the above gallon glass jar.

Take 1 tablespoon a day (1 t. for kids) to enhance immune system.

(A note on onions and garlic: "They are packed with compounds called allyl sulfides that are thought to actually de-activate cancer-causing chemicals and well as slow down proliferation of cancer cells. In addition, they provide heart-disease protection by reducing cholesterol and keeping blood from clumping on artery walls, and may boost the immune system and have an antibacterial effect"-from Looking Younger and Living Longer by Mary Roberts Smith)

(A note on Cayenne: "It has antibiotic properties and is nutritional as well and medicinal. It builds up the body's resistance and since it is antibiotic and is high in Vitamin C, it is good to take at the first symptom of a cold. In can increase energy, and is the best general stimulant of the body and organs. It also helps improve the entire circulatory system." Mary Roberts Smith)

*****This stuff is very powerful! This is 100 times stronger than the vinegar by itself. I have been drinking apple cider vinegar everyday by itself..straight up. I tried to do it with this stuff...and

WOW!!! I now add it to a tiny 1/4 C. of my morning green smoothie and then drink it down!

This REALLY will help you, with everything else you are doing, to not get sick...Give it a try! Just don't let your kids think it is apple juice...cause that is what it looks like, especially in the jar I have!