JELLO! From "Wellness Mama"

Many of you know I have been using Great Lakes Gelatin in just about anything I can! The nutritional value is outstanding!

Marshmallows=SUCCESS!
Now, I was determined to make Jello. My first batch was a tad runny. It was yummy, but runny :( I used freshly juiced oranges and frozen pineapple.  I think it flopped  because I added frozen pineapple. I am hearing from others this is a no-no.
So, try again...
This time I decided to try Organic Black Cherry Juice (yes, from the store, sigh...) and no fruit.
AND...
SUCCESS!
Tastes JUST. LIKE. JELLO!

I will experiment with other freshly juiced fruit in the future. I wanted to get it right and I did!

I followed the recipe from "Wellness Mama" except I did add about 5 drops of liquid Stevia to my jello. Perfection!

Here is the recipe:

http://wellnessmama.com/3803/how-to-make-healthy-jello/

If you have not signed up for Wellness Mama, do so now! Love it!

Wishing you health and happiness!
xo

Jeni Clark~

Another Hit from "Elana's Pantry" CHERRY VANILLA POWER BARS

So simple, so delicious!  I used Stevia and Vanilla as a modification to the original recipe.

http://www.elanaspantry.com/cherry-vanilla-power-bars/

Primal Pit Paste

We are talking deodorant today!  Nope, not food, but with ingredients like this, its pretty close!

Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Non-Aluminum Baking Soda, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Organic Essential Oils.

What is this? Primal Pit Paste! NO more toxic deodorant for me!

See this article to learn more about the dangers of deodorant:
http://www.naturalnews.com/033364_deodorants_chemical_ingredients.html

An example of toxicity:
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/129682/Degree_Women's_Antiperspirant_%26_Deodorant,_Ultra_Clear,_Pure_Petal_(2008_formulation)/

AND if that is not enough:
http://consciousbuyers.livejournal.com/5627.html

You can find info on the toxicity of deodorant all over the place!

BUT there IS a solution! Primal Pit Paste works! I tried the Thyme and Lemongrass Stick (they were out of Lavender at the time) and LOVE it. Day #1 I did feel a little like stinky lemon.  I read that this can be due to an initial detox.  BUT by day #2 NO STINK! Even in heat!  I have tried MANY "natural" ways of keeping the stink away and they just didn't work.

http://www.primalpitpaste.com/

AND NO, I do NOT work for the company.  Just feel strongly to post something that is a solution to a very toxic problem!

Let me know if you decide to buy it AND please comment on this post to let us know how you like it!

Wishing you happiness and health!
xo

Jeni Clark~

Tacos

Soak 1-2 cups of black beans the night before with a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

1 pound of organic grass fed ground beef

½ onion diced

3 cloves of garlic diced

¼ tsp oregano

¼ tsp paprika

½ tsp chili powder

½ tsp red pepper

½ tsp cumin

½ tsp Celtic Sea Salt

½ can organic tomato sauce

¼ cup water (optional)

1.     Prepare beans. Cook for 1-1 ½ hours until tender

2.     Sauté garlic and onion (put to the side)

3.     Brown ground beef

4.     Add garlic, onion, spices, beans and optional water

Bring to boil

Simmer for 15 minutes

Quinoa Salad

This recipe was inspired by eating Quinoa salad at Whole Foods. It is incredibly tasty! It is also super simple to make!

1 Cup Quinoa
1 Red Pepper diced
1/2 Dried Cranberry
3 Green Onions diced
1 bunch of Cilantro (use as much as you would like)
Juice from one lemon
1/2 tsp Coriander
1/2 tsp Cumin
1/2 tsp Paprika
1 tsp Celtic Sea Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper

Soak Quinoa overnight.
Rinse, Drain and Prepare Quinoa

Place cooked Quinoa in a bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Mix Well.
Serve

This can be eaten hot or cold. It's delicious either way!
Serve with Chicken.

I ate it up so fast I forgot to take a picture! It's VERY pretty. And well, based off of NO PICTURE, its VERY delicious!

Wishing you Health and Happiness
xo
Jeni Clark~

Thoughts from the Real Food Gal: CONSCIOUS EATING and GRATITUDE

I no longer take food for granted.  “Real Food”, that is.

I can’t say I felt like this while I was on SAD (Standard American Diet), while frequenting fast food joints, or eating frozen microwaved dinners where my “food” (or lack of) was delivered pretty much instantly.

I had NO consciousness of what I was eating.  None what-so-ever.  No consciousness of what exactly I was putting into my body, day in, day out.  Never once flipped over a package and read a label. Even if I did, I would have had no clue what those ingredients were.  No consciousness eating that “healthy” chicken and pasta TV dinner that was FILLED with toxins that my body could not digest nor process.  These toxins accumulate over time causing a boat load of illnesses and “symptoms” that tend to be treated with the latest “pill”.

I just did not know.

Today, I am different.  Today, I consciously think about what goes in and ON my body.  I listen to what my body needs day to day.  I am more in tune with myself than ever before. 

Following that, comes DEEP gratitude for Real Food.  Deep, like I never experienced before.  I DO NOT waste ANY food, ever, like I routinely did in the past.  All my food is greatly appreciated.  With processed food, I never knew that feeling.

There is a different energy eating plastic wrapped processed fruit snacks compared to a handful of raw Goji berries and properly prepared raw nuts.  It’s day and night.

Did you consciously eat today?

What did you consciously eat?

Every little bit counts!

Please share your Real Food thoughts and experiences!

Wishing you HEALTH and HAPPINESS!
xo

Jeni Clark

MARSHMALLOWS!

FINALLY got around to posting this and OH BOY am I EXCITED!!!!! These are DELISH! I followed recipe to a "T' but did double it.

This recipe comes from "The Nourishing Gourmet". EXCELLENT resource BTW!

http://www.thenourishinggourmet.com/2011/08/fluffy-honey-sweetened-homemade-marshmallows.html

I do not have a candy thermometer so I just set the timer for 8 minutes. I also do not have a stationary blender, so yes, I stood there for 12 minutes, again using the timer and hand-mixed these babies up! TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Again, I am always amazed how SIMPLE it is to cook REAL FOOD! REAL EASY!

Here is an example of the ingredients in STORE BOUGHT marshmallows that people eat (taken from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_ingredients_in_marshmallows):

"What are the ingredients in marshmallows?

Answer:

Ingredients In Marshmallows:
Commercially-manufactured marshmallows can include the following, ingredients, (these are listed on the label of a store-bought brand): corn syrup, sugar, modified corn starch, dextrose, water, gelatin, tetrasodium pyrophosphate (a thickener or emulsifier), artificial flavor, and blue 1(coloring additives will vary between brands and styles). "

YUCK!

In REAL Marshmallows:

REAL Gelatin, water, raw honey, celtic sea salt, vanilla. 

SEE!? 

SO ENJOY!