Spring is in the air | Back to Basics

I love Spring!

I love the way the warm sun and the cool breeze feels on my skin as I sit outside, close my eyes and lift my face to the sky with content and gratitude. I love the way the flowers fill the air with their sweet fragrance. I love the way the cold green grass feels on my feet when I am outside playing in the yard with my kids.

 

I love to watch as nature literally changes before my eyes and takes on new vibrant shades of greens, blues, pinks and purples. Every color of the rainbow can be found in nature. Every time, every year, it takes my breath away. Nature amazes me. I could sit outside for hours just watching life happen. I watch these two little birds that live under my carport live their lives. They are so content to do the same things over and over again everyday with great purpose and peace. They sing along as they collect twigs and random tidbits lingering about to build their nests. They hangout in a small tree that grows on the side of our house and chase each other back and forth. It is simply humbling to watch these simple and small, yet extremely important creatures

living for the moment and loving every second. It is a beautiful thing.

I have not been blessed with a natural green thumb and it shows when I have tried to do vegetable gardens in the past. However, with each year I try, I learn more and more and nature is my teacher. This year looks promising so far. I started with seeds and planted squash, zucchini, tomatoes, spinach, bell pepper, onions and jalapenos,  

My seedling got a little overtaken by mold when we had a week of rain and straight humidity.

In my search to remedy this situation as naturally as possible, I came about a post that insisted that sprinkling cinnamon on the plant's soil would help to kill any mold since cinnamon has natural

anti-fungal properties.

 As you can see it certainly didn't hurt them and also seemed to remedy my mold problem.

These little seedlings are loving the sunshine.

No matter how many times I see a plant grow from a seed into something edible, it amazes and humbles me. It is the coolest thing to see something grow right before your eyes. It is kind of like watching your children grow, but a lot less intense and emotional. These living things are just doing what comes naturally to them. JUST BEING! They have no agenda but to Grow and thrive. So humbling!

I never knew I would ever love to garden as much as I do. I love to take care of these plants, flowers and vegetables. I love to watch them grow and just marvel in the beauty that is life. It kind of puts life in perspective in a strange sort of way. It brings me peace.

Growing herbs is something else that I am trying to get good at. I cook daily and I cook okay, but I am learning to cook with a broader pallet and trying to incorporate more fresh herbs as well as unfamiliar ingredients in my food. I figured one of the best ways to do that was to start growing my own herbs and unfamiliar foods so that I am forced to experiment. I hope it works! 

 I have tried to grow food from scraps in the past, like pineapples and avocado pits, but they never worked out. So I decided to try something more simple and it just so happens that this red onion was more than happy to regrow for me. This guy has gotten like a foot and a half now. It is huge in my garden. I think it might be doing even better than all of my other plants.  

You can regrow scraps from garlic, lettuce, celery and a few other items too. Nature is so crazy.

I love it!

Getting this garden started. My love finally got one of my raised beds put together. My little plants have been holding on until they could get transplanted.

I feel very fulfilled now. It is so rewarding growing your own food. Planting a seed and watching it grow from a tiny little green sprout popping out of the dirt for the first time is really awesome. And then watching it grow and flourish into something you can feed your family and consume for a healthy body is even more awesome. I love it and I love nature. I think everyone should have the opportunity to grow their own food. It takes me back to being at my great grandmothers on her ranch in Llano, Tx and picking the beans and snapping them, picking the berries off her vines for some of her homemade jellies and jams. She made the best berry jelly. She also had the best garden that was almost as big as half my house. Those memories will last a lifetime and the older I get, the more I appreciate that simple kind of life. Here's to good memories, gardening and a simpler time. 

 The most fragrant roses! I still have this bowl sitting on my kitchen counter as the petals wilt and let off this sweet, soft and rosy fragrance that fills the house.

 Get the kids involved! Inspire! Teach! Create!

 We bought our first lemon tree this year and I was concerned that something was wrong with it. It has been growing but has not produced any flowers or blooms in the couple of months that we have had it. Then I saw this little lovely poking out of the side. Our first lemon tree blossom.

This long leafed plant was planted in my yard well before I ever moved in over 8 years ago. I never knew what it was. I just knew this big green plant won't go away. I have to admit that I have mowed over her a few times over the years. Well the day after Easter I came outside to find this. She is absolutely fabulous and gorgeous. Even when I didn't manage to mow over her, she had never bloomed. This was an awesome surprise to wake up to and find out that this strange green plant was actually a beautiful Lily all along.

 

It is a great gift to stop and watch life happen right in front of you and take notice of the simplicity and yet extreme intricacy of everything in nature.

Life is beautiful . . .When you get back to the basics.

 

Blessings to all

 

How to make easy individual mini quiches

 I love breakfast foods. However, I tend to have a hard time waking up and eating a meal right away. I like to enjoy a couple cups of coffee before I even get hungry and I find myself eating more breakfast foods at other times of the day.  However, my one year old is ready to throw down as soon as he wakes up. Since I have no appetite when I wake up, it can be challenging to cook a meal. So, I went on the search for some easy breakfast foods that I could pre-make and even possibly easily reheat for my little one in the morning. I have seen these little quiches around and thought I would give it a try. One of the biggest appeals for me is that they can be pre-made, refrigerated, frozen and then reheated again. These are also healthy if you use fresh healthy ingredients, like free-range cage-free eggs and veggies. However, use whatever your little heart desires. I won't tell. I already know how to make a quiche and I certainly know how to make an omelet. This dish combines the two, except there is not a crust, which is a good way to cut back on even more calories. 

Here are the ingredients you will need for this recipe. It Is very simple.

 

Ingredients:

8 fresh eggs (if possible cage-free)

3 tbsp. Half&Half (you may also use heavy cream and even milk)

1/2 c diced tomatoes

1/2 c shredded cheese (I use sharp cheddar)

1/2 c fresh chopped spinach

1/4 turkey lunch meat (you may also use ham or omit meat all together)

a pinch of salt to taste

 

Utensils:

Large mixing bowl

Whisk/Fork

Measuring cups/spoons

Non-stick muffin pan

knife

cheese grater

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F

 

Using a whisk or fork, scramble the eggs in a large bowl. Add cream and salt.

Whisk again! Now add the rest of the ingredient all at once and whisk until thoroughly combined. You want to make sure every quiche gets a little bit of everything in it. 

Once the mixture is combined, you can pour some into each individual muffin spot. I filled mine up to the top. I also used a large Pyrex glass measuring bowl, which has a spout and handle and that made it really easy to pour directly from the bowl into the muffin pan. This recipes yields 9 individual quiches. I also added a little extra cheese to the top of each quiche before I put it in the oven. This of course is optional but I noticed it makes it a little more moist and yes, a little yummier.

Bake the quiche in a 350 F oven for 25 minutes or until cooked thoroughly and cheese is melted. 25 minutes cooked my quiche perfectly and the cheese melted just right. Allow them to cool for a few minutes before eating them because they will be steaming hot.

Voila! 

A perfect little mini quiche!

You can store the left overs in an air-tight ziplock baggie or container and put them in the refrigerator. I wouldn't leave them in the fridge for more than a day or two. You may also freeze them and heat them up as you need them. If you double this recipe you can make 1.5 dozen and store a bunch in the freezer for quick breakfasts. When you are ready to use them from the fridge, you can microwave them for about 30 seconds and from the freezer about 1 minute. I made these yesterday morning and refrigerated them. I took one out to eat this morning and heated it up in the microwave and it tasted just as moist and delicious as when they came out of the oven and that is what I like about these.

 

Here are a few other ingredient ideas to use when making these quiche.

The options are endless:

Mushrooms, onions, chives, swiss cheese, bacon, ham, peppers

 

As always, have fun in the kitchen and Enjoy!

 

 

Nature's Bounty | Fresh, Healthy, Colorful, Vibrant Ingredients

 If I would have seen all of this fresh and delicious food when I was younger, I would have been like, Nooo!!!

I never knew I could be so in love with real food.

My horizons are expanding and I learn to cook and utilize new and different vegetables every week and I love it. Some people probably think, "why would you take pictures of your food or plain fruits and veggies", and probably think it's weird. I feel like, how can I not? Look at all of the color, and on top of their simple beauty, I know how they taste and how wonderful they are for me.

Look how different and vibrant their colors are. Shiny red tomatoes, Vibrant greens, sunny yellows, deep purples and bright oranges. You can't get any better or more beautiful than that. I got the green apples to make a few small apple pies or crisps in the next couple of days. I got jalepenos and cilantro to make some fresh salsa fresca. One of my favorites. I save a lot of money by making my own in a big batch and storing it in the fridge to snack on or add to our favorite fresh dishes, like salmon and rice. Mmm mmm good!

See those little heirloom cherry tomatoes in purple, yellow, orange and red?

Heaven! They taste like heaven.

I made a small layered dip with beans, sour cream, avocados, cheese and topped it off with those superb little tomatoes and they made the dish. The purple ones are my favorite, with a robust tart and lingering sweet flavor.

How can I not get excited about real food that is so amazing for my health? This is beautiful and it makes me happy and most importantly, it makes me want to cook well and eat well.

So grateful for this food!!! Get you some!!!

 

Blessings to all

 

 

Check out my previous post on

The Benefits of Himalayan Salt

 

Benefits of Himalayan Salt | Not all salt is created equal

Let's talk about salt, the good, the bad and why all salt is not created equal. There are many different kinds of salts to choose from. Iodized salt, un-iodized salt, sea salt, Himalayan salt...
 Many people don't even realize that certain salts, like table salt, can be very harmful to our bodies. Most importantly table salt is not pure and contains chemicals like iodine, absorbents and even sugar, which our bodies don't need.
The typical table salt has no nutritional value and is lacking in minerals. The human body has a difficult time disposing of all this salt naturally and in a healthy way and in return to much consumption of  table salt can turn into a whole mess of unnecessary health issues.
You can read more about the step-by-step process of what table salt can do here.

 

Let's talk about a salt that is actually good for you when ingested properly and in the correct amounts.
Himalayan Salt also known as (pink Himalayan salt) is the Cadillac of salts not only because of the many health benefits but also the fact that it is found naturally and has been untouched by toxins and pollutants. Himalayan salt contains the same 84 natural minerals and elements found in the human body and is much easier for the human body to absorb and digest. It is another one of those little gifts that we have been blessed with and if used properly, can aid in a healthy diet. I love finding little jewels like this.  

 

There are so many benefits to using Himalayan salt over the ordinary table salt

some of them may be:

 

Controlling the water levels within the body, regulating them for proper functioning

Promoting stable pH balance in the cells, including the brain.

Encouraging excellent blood sugar health

Aiding in reducing the common signs of aging

Promoting cellular hydroelectric energy creation

Promoting the increased absorption capacities of food elements within the intestinal tract

Aiding vascular health

Supporting healthy respiratory function

Lowering incidence of sinus problems, and promoting over-all sinus health

Reducing cramps

Increasing bone strength

Naturally promoting healthy sleep patterns

Creating a healthy libido

Circulator support

Promotes kidney and gall bladder health when compared to common chemically-treated salt

For more information on Himalayan salt, you can check out the link that I shared previously here as well as this site.

These sites do a great job at explaining the science behind this amazing natural salt.

My goal is to share this in hopes of making others aware of the dangers of table salt, as well as offer education on safe salt-alternatives.

Next time you are at your local grocery store, try and find some Himalayan salt to incorporate into your next meal. If you can't find any at your grocery store, you can find it at any health foods store or at the educational link that I previously shared.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Blessings to all



Eat & Drink

 

I love to cook. I have ever since I was a little girl. I was raised on real good southern food like buttery biscuits and creamy sausage gravy, chicken fried steak, enchiladas and all of the other fattening southern dishes you can think of. The older I got the more I loved cooking and the better I got at it. I can make some mean fried chicken and a delicious apple pie from scratch. I've always loved those southern favorites, and I still do. The older I get though, the healthier I want to eat. I do a lot of research and read a lot of articles on health and nutrition and once I became educated, I just couldn't go back to the way things were. The more I ate healthy, the better I felt. Foods that may have tasted disgusting to me before, soon became delicious and highly enjoyable. I feel great after I eat healthy food. I have become addicted to eating healthy over the past couple of years.

 

I am a baker at heart and I love sweets, so I still enjoy indulging occasionally and I still make less then healthy meals sometimes. However, the important thing to remember is always "moderation." Have some cake, but don't eat three slices. Have some bread, but not the whole loaf. It is okay to enjoy and indulge in moderation. Don't starve or deprive yourself. You will only pay for it in the end. There is some satisfaction and pride that comes from having a few bites and allowing yourself to enjoy something but then having enough self control to stop when you feel satisfied instead of gorging. Eating smaller meals throughout the day has proven to be the best way to keep the body's metabolism up and to maintain a healthy weight. It makes sense. 

 

"we all have a love affair with food"

 

You can check out my full collection of photos on my Food & Drink page. I am working on putting recipes to all of the photos. My 5 month old isn't interested in my recipes right now. So it'll take time. In the meantime, use them as inspiration to create your own healthy dish. Remember to have fun cooking! Experiment and play. Cooking is art and the expression of your soul through food. Whether you like to create or simply take part in the delicious creation someone else has made, we all have a love affair with food. We all associate memories and experiences with different events that revolved around food. Get the kids involved! It is a beautiful thing when a child is helping in the kitchen. I let my son help me cook and bake all the time and he really really loves it. Letting little ones help in the kitchen allows them to be creative and understand the process of making something with your own hands and then enjoying the fruit of their labor. It's teaching our little girls to be confident in their skills and they will take that with them to being a wonderful wife. I love cooking for my husband. I know he loves it. We are teaching our boys to be confident cooks as well, but also independent and a great husband. It's nice to know if I had a long day and don't feel like cooking every now and then that he can hold his own in the kitchen. So get cooking and enjoy the journey in the kitchen!

 

 

 

Tequila & Lime marinated Shrimp Tacos

 

 

My attempt at Chuy's Salsa Fresca

It came out REAL good! I think I may have liked mine better!!!

 

 

Giant Lump Crab Cakes

 

 

Shrimp Salad

I love making bowls. Rice, beans, cheese, veggies and sometimes a protein like shrimp or chicken. This shrimp salad bowl is so yummy. I use whole grain rice, black beans, pico de gallo, avocados, shrimp and sprinkle with a little cheese. Squeeze a little lime juice over the top. Enjoy!  I use very little fats and they are good fats. I sautee' my shrimp in extra virgin olive oil (coconut oil is a great alternative.) This reminds me of an Island dish. I love Island foods. I could probably survive off of fruits, veggies and fish.

 

 

Texas Teas at Chuy's

I love Chuy's. You may have never been there before. But let me tell you.... One, they make one of then best Texas teas that I have ever had and Two, they make some amazing salsa fresca and this delicious little concoction they came up with call "creamy jalapeno." Mmm, so good!

If you ever find yourself in San Antonio, you should stop by a Chuy's and enjoy some of their out of this world Tex-Mex dishes and taste bud tantalizing Texas Teas. You won't regret it. Spicy!!! 

 

 

A good hostess provides a collection of mixers and liquors!

Getting ready for the New Years Eve Party. I like to get at least a small to medium sized bottle of 4 to 5 liquors and at least 4 to 5 mixers as well. It is also a good idea to get a few citrus' together. Some lemons, limes and maybe oranges or pineapples for garnish too. It's always nice to have options.

 

 

This is what 21 well spent dollars at the produce market looks like. I love that I live in walking distance of the market. I put the baby in the stroller and we take a little walk. I will say that it makes it much easier to eat healthy and eat veggies when there is a convenient way to get them. A good reason to start a garden.

 

 

Banana Blueberry & Strawberry smoothies to start off the day. I love making smoothies. It is a great way to get a lot of fruits in at once if you have a hard time eating fruits. Use some sugar free natural apple juice or orange juice instead of milk. Other healthy options for smoothies include any other fruits, yogurt, honey, flax seed and kale. Their are smoothie combinations than I could even name. Have fun playing and experimenting until you find your favorite. Who knows you could come up with some amazing flavors.  

 

 

"Enjoy the Journey in the kitchen"

Delicious DIY Honey Vanilla & Coconut Oil Deep Conditioning Hair Mask

 

There are a lot of hair conditioning products on the market these days and that can make the task of choosing the right fit a little challenging.  It is also hard to find a good all-natural product that doesn't cost a fortune.

You don't need to go to the store (well you may have to buy something) or spend a small fortune (just a few well spent dollars) in order to get the best all-natural, organic (if you choose), completely edible, deep conditioning hair mask. All you need are a few ingredients that you probably already have around the house, about 5 minutes to make the mask and 20-30 minutes of deep relaxing hair therapy.

I won't lie, this is a different experience than going to the store and buying (pantene) conditioning hair mask, filled with artificial fragrances and chemicals. I'm not saying that store bought conditioners don't work, because they obviously do. However, when you make it yourself with natural ingredients, it will have a very earthy natural fragrance and texture. The mask won't feel the same as a store bought brand because the ingredients are totally different and this recipe won't contain any alcohol, waxes or harsh chemicals. The brands you find at a store may leave your hair feeling soft but most of them are not good for your hair and contain ingredients that could make you really sick if you ingested them. So why do we want to put that on our hair or body? (Good question!)

This recipe is so good for you and your hair that you could literally eat the hair conditioning mask. You read that right. This recipe only contains 3 ingredients and all three are food grade (you can eat!) You may not want to sit around eating spoons of it but the point is that it's natural enough that you could and it would cause no harm to your person. (Yay!!!)

Okay, I will get to the recipe and give you a bit of information about the ingredients and why they are so great.


Recipe:

3 Tbs. Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
2 Tbs. Raw Organic Honey
5 drops Vanilla Oil

THAT'S IT!!!

Mix all three ingredients in a small bowl or glass measuring cup (the Pyrex one with the handle work great) with a fork until well blended. Apply as much as needed to cover all you hair (damp hair works best). The conditioner will begin to melt with the heat from your hands and head as you are applying it and can become drippy, so use a towel. After you hair is saturated with the mask, then wrap your hair in a towel and let it do its magic for 30-60 minutes (the longer the better) You can also add a little heat with a blow dryer before you put the towel on but it is not necessary (about 20-30 seconds). Now it is time to wash it out. You may have to shampoo your hair twice just to make sure to get all the mask out of your hair. Style as usual. Your hair may not feel silky at first but bear with me and make it to the styling part. Blow dry your hair or give it time to air dry before you make up your mind.

Your hair will be so soft & shiny and you will feel good knowing you used something that you not only made but that is great for you and your hair, not to mention pretty cheap (Bonus). I recommend using this mask no more than once a week to avoid your hair being weighed down or a build up. You can store any left over mixture in the fridge and use it the next time. Just let the mask sit out and reach room temperature before you use it again. I hope you enjoy this hair mask and find the experience as pleasant as the results. Remember that it is going to create residual benefits and it is good for your hair!!!



A little bit of knowledge:

Your coconut oil may be in a more liquid or semisolid state depending on how you store it and the temperature of the environment at the time. Mine was in a semisolid state, but it is okay either way. If you don't have virgin coconut oil, you can use almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil or avocado oil (There are a lot of great natural oils). Coconut oil is so good for your hair and has tons of benefits (conditions, strengthens, repairs and nourishes). While the products at the store may seems great they don't actually treat your hair like coconut oil does. Coconut oil works to actually penetrate the hair and scalp to care and treat on a deeper level for the healthiest hair. Check out this link for more in depth information about the benefits of coconut oil. Coconut Oil. You can also purchase virgin coconut oil from this site.

I love raw honey and the texture. Most people usually own the regular honey and that works just as good for this recipe if you want to use that instead. However, if you have not tried raw honey, I recommend getting some. You can use it on toast or anywhere you would use the regular honey. Prepare to fall in love with raw. It is like a natural honey cream. Mmmm!!! Not only does honey taste amazing and make for a great hair mask but honey is also a natural humectant, which means it draws moisture out of the air. It makes your hair shiny and silky. (If the bees start diving at your head, it's because you smell so delicious) Honey also had antimicrobial properties, contains vitamins and minerals, has many healing properties and it is also very affordable. Click this link Honey for more great information and tips about honey and how you can incorporate it into more areas of your life.

This recipe calls for Vanilla Oil and that is not the same thing as vanilla extract and they are not the same thing at all. Vanilla extract has alcohol in it and vanilla oil is the oil that is cold pressed directly from the vanilla orchid plant (Vanilla planifolia). I used vanilla mostly for added fragrance and of course the oil is conditioning.Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world (just behind saffron). Vanilla is also the world's most labor-intensive agricultural crop, which is why it is so expensive. Check out the link to find out more about Vanilla and why it is so great.

Blessings