Tips to get the most out of your walk

1. Stretch before and after

2. Sun protection is important too

3. Don't forget to stay hydrated...water water water

4. Feel free to stop momentarily for a good deed

5. ...or to pick a flower (hopefully your neighbors won't mind)

6. Then of course smell the roses...or in this case tulips (although tulips don't really smell)

7. Smile: it's good for your health, and good for others too

8. After you get finished walking, don't forget to stretch again. Now you'll be hungry so eat a healthy snack.

Going on a walk is great for your body and is also great for your mind and spirit too if you enjoy the process. Wonder why you feel better after you exercise? When you exercise your body releases good mood endorphins. If you are finding yourself stressed, depressed, PMSing, pregnant, or just plain cranky grab a water bottle and get outside for a brisk walk. You'll be glad you did (B vitamins are really helpful for balancing your moods too). Just don't forget to smell the roses (or tulips) along the way!

Finding the simple beauty in everyday moments

I am a type A personality. I'm a "Martha" so wanting to be a "Mary". I rush, I rush, I multi-task to the max. I recently got Mastitis because my body was worn down. I was told to be on bed rest. What is "bed rest" to a type A personality? My resting looked like a Mary's life on speed. Did I just say that? I think I did.

This blog is not about how wonderfully successful my resting has been. I have not attained the answer to my life's goal. This is me in process. I am realizing how many wonderful activities/groups I am apart of outside of my home. Worthwhile things, relational groups, time with friends, home schooling field trips, taxiing kids to and from special classes. I have also realized that even "good" things in excess can be a detriment to myself and my family. Grrrr. Not a fun realization, but important just the same.

So in my journey to find contentment in slowing down I am beginning to look around my home and capture those priceless moments often taken for granted. To reconnect with being at home. I think it's addictive to always be on the go. I know when I get still I crave to do something else. I found that even while home I am a crazy lady whirling around my house juggling children, housework and kitchen experiments. I have today with my children young, tomorrow I will blink and I will only have memories of today. I want those memories to be centered around my home, enjoying life in it's simplest form. Life at home, simple and sweet. To find the hidden treasures that are right before my eyes.

Enjoying the child-like excitement over the first juice popsicle of the season

Noticing the beauty of cherry blossoms

Experiencing and giving true love and adoration

Realizing it's a season for new life

Finding joy in watching my children appreciate home grown things

Seeing the sweetness in a child who simply needs an extra smile from me at bedtime.

I want the grandmother's wisdom while I'm still just a mother. Today as a mother, I choose to see and appreciate the simple beauty of everyday moments with my young children. Today may we seek out the hidden treasures that are right before our eyes.

I bless you in your journey of finding joy and contentment today!

Family Bonding In The Kitchen. Raw Strawberry Pie.

Raw Strawberry Pie

If you don't need a dessert right away and have some time to make it, you'll really like this pie. The reasons we liked making this pie: (1) it only takes a handful of ingredients to make (2) it's healthy for you, (3) it tastes yummy and (4) makes you look like a pro even if you're not. This was our first time making this pie. I read the directions and helped a little with the crust but my daughter Hannah (9) did all the rest! You can do it too!

We use cooking or baking as a time to bond as a family and to teach measurements, how to follow directions, health, and self confidence. Kitchen time doubles as date time in our family. Let your children help. Even toddlers can pour ingredients into the food processor or blender and push the button. As parents it's hard to sometimes slow down long enough to teach, but I guarantee you and your children will be so thankful you did! Happy Family Bonding In The Kitchen Time!

All You'll Need!

See doesn't that look simple?

Almond-Date Crust:

1 1/4 Cups Soaked Almonds (8-12 hrs)

1 C Dates, Chopped

1 TBSP Water

1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Dash of Cinnamon

2 tsp. Flax Meal

Soak those almonds the night before so you're not waiting on them.

Put 6 Pitted Dates in Water 4-8 hrs. before you begin.

That's the hardest part, thinking ahead. You can do this, hang in there!

OK, LET'S GET STARTED!

Dry your soaked almonds for 30-60 min. in sun or dehydrator

or just with a paper towel.

Chop nuts until they are evenly ground.

Add 1 Cup chopped dates, process until finely ground.

We actually put them in whole and soaked them.

I would not recommend this cause it makes the crust a little soggy. Keep them dry.

Add Water, Vanilla, and Cinnamon while processing.

Crust must appear slightly damp, and hold together before adding flax meal.

Add Flax Meal.

Press in pie pan immediately.

Dehydrate crust for 1 hr. or leave in sun for 1-2 hrs.

or in oven on "warm" for 20 min. or you can use crust immediately.

You're done with the crust! Good Job!

Filling:

4 Cups Strawberries, sliced

Binder:

6 Pitted Dates, soaked 4-8 hrs (less in you don't have time)

Reserve the Date Soak Water (from yep, the soaked dates)

2 Cups Strawberries, quartered

Maple Syrup or Date Sugar or Stevia, to taste (optional)

Slice 4 Cups Strawberries and Quarter 2 Cups Strawberries

or just slice 6 Cups and call it good.

Spoon 4 Cups Sliced Strawberries into Crust.

Now let's make the Binder.

Put 2 Cups Quartered Strawberries into blender.

Add the 6 Soaked Dates.

Process until you have a thick puree.

Add Date Soak Water if needed (we didn't). Sweeten if you need (we didn't).

The puree was tart without sweetener, but the crust balanced it as the crust was pretty sweet.

Pour Binder on top of Sliced Strawberry Filling.

With a spatula make sure the Binder gets in all the cracks around the strawberries.

Look at how pretty it is.

Now put it in the refrigerator for 1 hour before serving

or for a frozen dessert, put in the freezer.

Enjoy!!!

You can add a cashew-date fluff topping but we ate it like this! YUM!

You can find the recipe for the topping in The Raw Gourmet on Pg 177.

Smoothie Tip

We LOVE smoothies around our house. In the summer we drink them every morning. The best time to have a smoothie is in the morning before you consume any other food. This helps with proper digestion. After you drink your smoothie try to wait at least 20 minutes before eating any other food. It gives your body a chance to continue the elimination process before taxing it with more foods.

Smoothies are great because you can pack a lot of nutrients into one serving. This blog is not about smoothie recipes but something you can add to your smoothie. I could tell you how wonderful it would be to add flax seeds, coconut oil, soaked almonds or cashews, a variety of greens, etc. but I wanted to give you a very easy ingredient that you'd for sure already have around your house...milk!

Of course raw cow's milk or nut milks are my milks of choice (that's for another blog) but take the milk you already have in the frig. and pour it into ice cube trays. When they are frozen store them in the freezer in a zip lock bag.

When ever you want to add a touch of frozen goodness, throw 4 milk cubes in your blender with fresh fruits to make a yummy and healthy smoothie! You can also make yogurt ice cubes too. It's as easy as 1-2-3.

1.

2.

3.

Raw Date Nut Torte

Raw Date Nut Torte

So I went to a Wellness Seminar at Bethel Church in Redding and now I am inspired more than ever to add raw foods into my diet. Before I went to the seminar I had a few food raw books: Raw Food Real World, The Raw Gourmet, Ani's Raw Food Kitchen, and Ani's Raw Food Desserts. I got the first two books awhile back and they are pretty involved. The Raw Food Real World is easier to me than the Raw Gourmet, but I like the variety.

I got Ani's books just this last month and how I LOVE them! They are so much easier and much more doable for a busy lifestyle. I'm learning you really can add more raw into your diet, even if you are busy! One thing I like about Ani's recipes is that she has very few ingredients for each recipe. You can check out more about Ani Phyo online.

At the Wellness Seminar I got to see a live raw food demo by Skyleene. I'll have to get her blog address on here so you can see how amazing she really is. This is her below. She demo'd the Raw Date Nut Torte that I am sharing with you today. Yay Sky! I love her!

Sky at the Wellness Conference 3/2010

RAW DATE NUT TORTE RECIPE

For Cake:

2 Cups Raw walnuts or almonds (soaked 8 hours or overnight)

2 Cups Organic Raisins

1 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Cinnamon

2-4 tbsp agave nectar (optional)

For Frosting:

1 lemon (juiced)

1 Cup of dates (soaked 20-30 min)

Little bit of the soaked date water

Step 1: Soak Walnuts or Almonds.

Okay, this is the deal about soaked nuts. They are really much more nutritious when soaked but if you have to make this NOW and you don't have any nuts soaked just make it without them soaked, but soak em next time. It's more fun and more nutritious. All you have to do is put 2 Cups of nuts in a jar and put about double the amount of water over them. Put it on your counter and go to bed, in the morning they're done. It's that simple.

Step 2: Put dates in water and let them soak for 20-30 minutes.

Step 3: Grind up soaked walnuts or almonds, organic raisins, vanilla extract, cinnamon and agave (optional) in a food processor. Grind until they become a crumble that sticks together when you squeeze a handful.

Step 4: Pour crumble on a plate or platter and mold into a "cake" with your hands. You can make a circular cake or square. Set cake aside.

Step 5: To Make Frosting. Put lemon juice from 1 lemon and 1 Cup of Soaked Dates in Processor or blender until smooth. Add Soaked water to thin if you need to.

Step 6: Spread frosting onto cake and you're done! Now enjoy!!!

This is a rich dessert so you don't have to make generous portions to satisfy, a little slice will make you happy.

A tall glass of raw milk is a perfect compliment to this sweet dessert.

Clean & Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Clean & Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

I love chicken enchiladas. Let me start there. I really do, it's just that my kitchen doesn't. I must confess I am not a clean cooker anyways. I like the idea of it, it's just the execution of creating a meal without a mess that I have a challenge with. I like the idea of every ingredient in it's own cute little bowls. Oh how I feel so Martha Stewart when I do that. Of course I'd like those bowls to match too, but they don't. One day maybe I'll break down and buy all matching ingredient bowls. So back to how I used to make enchiladas. Chicken, Sauce, Onions, Cheese all in their own clean bowls. Then I begin. Sauce somehow gets in every bowl and my hands are a mess, so my utensils are a mess and I am dripping sauce from one bowl to the next and now my counters are a mess. Everything is covered in sauce and now I have at least 4 bowls to wash, my counter and everything else in my path. Ugh! That was how I used to make enchiladas. I will still make enchiladas but I'll use a different technique.

In my quest to lower carbs I've also found a way to minimize my mess by making a Clean & Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole. Taste just the same as the enchiladas but with a fraction of the carbs, time and clean up! Yay for streamlining!

Clean & Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Serves 4 (1 serving each)

*If you want more just double the recipe in a larger pan or cook in (2) 8X8 pans

You'll Need:

• About 3-4 Chicken Breasts, Cooked & Shredded
• 1/2 Cup Chopped Onion
• 1 Small Can of Enchilada Sauce (Red or Green)
• 1 lb. Cheese, Shredded
• 2 Large Sized Whole Wheat Tortillas
• Black Olives, diced tomatoes to garnish (optional)

Step 1. Chop Onion (*Chop the whole onion and then you can put the rest in the frig for another meal)

Step 2: Shred cooked chicken in food processor (*You don't have to clean the processor in between because worse case senerio, you have just seasoned your chicken with onion and saved time).

Use Easy Make-Ahead Chicken in this recipe.

Step 3: Add the onion to the shredded chicken

Step 5: Pour enchilada sauce onto the chicken/onion mixture and mix with a spoon

(*I used a large can but didn't use half. You'll save money buying bigger, especially if you are making 2 or more batches).

Step 6: Grate cheese

(*I use raw cheddar cheese and I shred my cheese instead of buying it pre-shredded because it cost less that way. If your time is more valuable than your money, buy the shredded cheese. In the food processor, it takes all of 4 seconds to shred though).

Step 7: Pour about 1/4 C of Enchilada Sauce on the bottom of a greased pan (I use olive oil), then coat 1 tortilla with the sauce by dipping it in and then turning it to coat the other side.

If you have a large tortilla it will cover the bottom of the pan and up a touch on the side like a bowl.

If you are using a bigger pan for a double batch then lay 2 coated tortillas side by side in the pan.

Step 8: Put a layer of the chicken mix on the tortilla.

9. Add half of the shredded cheese on top of the chicken mixture.

10. Put the other tortilla on top of the cheese and take a spoon and scoop on a little enchilada sauce, smear it around and flip tortilla. Do the same to the dry side of the second tortilla so both sides are coated.

Step 11. Layer with the rest of the chicken mixture and top with cheese. (*If edges of the tortilla are above the cheese tuck the edges of the tortilla under or cut off, otherwise the edges will be crispy. We like it that way but you can cut or tuck yours so it looks prettier if you'd like).

Now wanna see something really impressive? Look at my hand! It is totally clean, no enchilada sauce. I think this is near a miracle really.

Step 12. Bake in oven at 350@ for 25-30 minutes.

...and a CLEAN counter too!!! Yahoo!

...Finished! You can garnish with sliced black olives and diced tomatoes to pretty it up a touch.